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Finger scans. Just the mere mention of it suggests something out of a Star Trek movie. But finger scans at Walt Disney World are not evil. In fact, they are a necessity if you purchase any current WDW admission media. Hopefully this will take some of the fear of the unknown out of doing a finger scan for your park admission.
In early 1996, Disney began a new system to identify users of annual and seasonal passes. Abandoned was the barcoded laminated photo ID pass in favor of a new mylar paper one. This new pass had no photo and only contained minimal visual evidence of ownership - your name and the expiration date of the pass. What was new was the magnetic strip on the back.
This magnetic strip stored all of your pass information that the previous photo one had plus it would reference one new piece of information: your biometric finger scan or as Disney now calls it, your ticket tag.
Disney expanded the use of the ticket tag system in 2005 with the introduction of Magic Your Way tickets and then expanded it to include all tickets no matter when purchased.
The original scanners used two fingers inserted in a "V" shape. The original scanners required visitors to insert two fingers into a reader that identified key information about the shape of the fingers. In 2006, Disney started upgrading their scanners with single finger scanners. The single finger scanners scan one fingertip for its fingerprint information but does not store the entire fingerprint image, but only numerical information about certain points.
Why does Disney need my fingerprints?
The original admission system has nothing to do with your fingerprints. It scans your index and middle fingers (on two finger scanners) and uses a geometric formula to come up with a number that will identify your fingers. The calculated number is apparently something that is not totally unique, but is statistically significant in identifying you. The single finger scanners scan one fingertip for its fingerprint information.
How long will Disney keep this information?
The data on the scans is kept independent of all of any other system and will be purged 30 days after the ticket expires or when the computer determines that it is fully used up.
Originally posted by Hellmutt
Maybe they're comparing the fingerprints with a database of fingerprints from known pedophiles? And if they get a match, they'll keep that person under surveillance while they are there?
Security chief sued before
DISNEYLAND: The head of one of the park's security units was accused in three other jobs of heavy-handed tactics.
March 11, 2000
By BERNARD J. WOLFSON
The Orange County Register
ANAHEIM - The head of a Disneyland security unit accused recently of heavy-handed tactics against park employees has been sued in at least three previous security jobs, according to court records.
Numerous former and current Disneyland employees have criticized the park's 10-member "loss-prevention management" division, headed by Christopher S. Penton. They told The Orange County Register that the division's investigators have questioned them at length about alleged wrongdoing, often using intimidation and misleading statements to try to secure confessions. One named Penton in a civil suit filed against the park Feb. 18.
Penton, through Disneyland spokesman Ray Gomez, declined to comment on any of the complaints against him. Gomez declined to comment on any lawsuits in which Penton was named.
Some complaints by plaintiffs in the previous lawsuits against Penton echo criticisms of him in a memo recently sent to top Disney managers and those made by the Disneyland employees.
Court records from Orange and Los Angeles counties show that between 1985 and 1995, three civil lawsuits were filed against Penton and his former employers.
This information is being sent to you from a few concerned members of management at the Disneyland Resort. We do not want to identify ourselves for reasons that will become obvious to you after you read this letter.
Our concerns involve the Loss Prevention Department and Security Operations. The problem appears to lie with the supervisors who control the Loss Prevention Department.
We have seen, and have been directly or indirectly involved with, or have heard about events that are completely without ethics, professionalism and blatantly lack Disney standards, at the direction of the manager of this department, Chris Penton. This person is extremely arrogant and doesn’t attempt to disguise this trait. He believes he has the power to direct Area Management, get the results he demands and that by doing so, he can force all of the Areas to submit to his way of thinking.
Penton has turned a great number of our Areas throughout the Park against him and therefore against his Loss Prevention Department. Many of our Areas now refuse to work with him because of his inflexible attitude. We know from one of our managers that he has said certain managers "will have to answer for their decisions".
He has made decisions involving our Areas without thinking of the consequences and how they will impact the Resort in the big picture. Specifically, issues dealing with Outdoor Vending, Custodial, Main Entrance and Food Operations. We’re sure you are aware of these incidents, but as a reminder, they involve large numbers of suspensions that literally wipe out entire shifts, all without prior discussion with concerned management.
Why doesn't the Disney Company do Criminal Background Investigations prior to the employee's date of hire; before allowing them to work for one minute? Why are employees being terminated for not mentioning traffic offenses on their application? Is it not a waste of manpower, resources, training and energy to bring in a Cast Member that's destined to be terminated? Would it not be more cost-effective to delay a potential Cast Member's first day of work in order to wait for the results of their background investigation, and simply make the choice not to hire said employee? Would this not also protect Disney from allegations of hiring Child Molesters, Rapists and other criminals right from the start? Penton’s perpetuating of the status quo effects the daily operation of the Resort. Why does it take an anonymous letter such as this to point these things out? Isn't it the Area Manager of Loss Prevention and Investigation's responsibility to push for a change in policy if it's in the best interest of the company? The answers are simple:
Originally posted by dgtempe
"So this technology has been used before, and now people are complaining about it. Why??? O yeah because we have a President that people believe is a dictator. If it was under Clinton, then the fingerscanning is just harmless. Nothing to fear."
Its hard to have empathy for people who persist on making such comments. And i refer you to the thread started by Intrepid- go take a peek at it, wont you?
Originally posted by Dr Love
Has anyone emailed this to Alex Jones yet? I'd love to see him go there and do one of his demonstrations.
Originally posted by eaglewingz
Disney says it's not a fingerprint scanner, but a "finger geometry" scanner. It converts certain points on your finger into numerical values and combines them to form an almost unique identifier. A photo ID can be used in lieu of a scan.
Walt Disney World: The Government's Tomorrowland?
“It’s essentially a technology upgrade,” said Kim Prunty, spokeswoman for Walt Disney World. The new scanner, like the old finger geometry scanner, "takes an image, identifies a series of points, measures the distance between those points, and turns it into a numerical value." She added, "To call it a fingerprint is a little bit of a stretch."
Prunty said the new system will be easier for guests to use and will reduce wait times. The old machines required visitors to insert two fingers into a reader that identified key information about the shape of the fingers. The new machines scan one fingertip for its fingerprint information. Prunty said the company does not store the entire fingerprint image, but only numerical information about certain points.
Theme park consultant Arnold Tang said parks like Disney use the technology because it is more convenient for guests than showing photo identification and more accurate for theme parks, which have a significant ticket fraud problem.
Originally posted by djohnsto77
When I lived near there they only used this for season and annual pass holders. it makes sense with those, since they wouldn't want people sharing a single long term pass.
Have they expanded this beyond those types of passes now?
Originally posted by TheStarMan
The thing is, it's NOT a fingerprint scanner. It's just that the finger makes a good object to do geometric scanning on. Don't get me wrong, you could be lied to, and it's actually scanning a database, checking for warrants and such, and then you are trapped in the park and the cops come and get you. But that is doubtful.
The true "conspiracy" here is that an executive at disney probably has a friend in the scanning business. He was sold on this as a way to increase revenue for disney because it will cut down on ticket fraud, etc. Next thing you know, the sale is approved, and the system is installed. I doubt it has anything to do with disney being "pro populace chipping". What does that even mean? Walt, in his cryogenic chamber?
Originally posted by TheStarMan
The thing is, it's NOT a fingerprint scanner. It's just that the finger makes a good object to do geometric scanning on.