What is it with the finger scan at the parks?

[disneymyway]

There's a little difference of opinion I'm reading this morning on another board about finger scans and tickets and getting into the parks. Lots of people are saying people just don't know what they are doing and that is what is holding up the lines and I say it's just that the darned things don't work very well.

I have trouble with them all the time and I feel like I should know what I am doing? Am I wrong?

Whatever the reason, there are too many hold ups in the lines because of problems, so in your opinions, what is the problem???

 

[ewensell3]

There's a little difference of opinion I'm reading this morning on another board about finger scans and tickets and getting into the parks. Lots of people are saying people just don't know what they are doing and that is what is holding up the lines and I say it's just that the darned things don't work very well.

I have trouble with them all the time and I feel like I should know what I am doing? Am I wrong?

Whatever the reason, there are too many hold ups in the lines because of problems, so in your opinions, what is the problem???

When I was down June 25/26, the ONLY park that scanned my finger was Epcot. All the rest the finger scanner did not light up nor was I prompted to scan a finger.

Most of the holdups I saw were people being attracted to the largest line even though there were many other turnstiles with little to no line. Polite persuasions by the CMs to get people to use the other turnstiles went unheeded (except by me and my family). Herd mentality more or less.

 

[kimmychad]

if you want to bypass the scan altogether you can show a photo id, it may save some time.

 

[disneymyway]

Actually the other discussion people are complaining about other people holding up the line. They are proposing a separate line for AP holders saying AP holder would have no trouble since they know what they are doing.

I'm an AP holder and I still have problems!

 

[disneymyway]

When I was down June 25/26, the ONLY park that scanned my finger was Epcot. All the rest the finger scanner did not light up nor was I prompted to scan a finger.

.

Well this is something I didn't know! I thought you always had to use your finger!!! Thanks for the info!

 

[RiversideBunny]

It's important when you do the very first finger scan to have your finger flat and in the natural position.
That forms the basis for later checks.

I had my finger slightly tilted the first time and thereafter I had to try to match that position so the reader would see it 'correctly'.

 

[rainfully]

All I know is the new system is a million times better than the old one!!! "Instert two fingers and squeeze" it was such a mess! No one could figure that one out at all!

 

[Chezman1399]

Actually during busier times they'll shut off the biometric scanners in order to move people through the turn styles more quickly. I've honestly, never had a problem with the scanners, except at Universal because the first time I did it the girl took my finger and pressed it down on it's side. At Universal though their lines are always slow to get in the park.

 

[disneymyway]

All I know is the new system is a million times better than the old one!!! "Instert two fingers and squeeze" it was such a mess! No one could figure that one out at all!

You can say that again!

So what do you think about their idea for a separate AP line?

 

[yankspy]

When I was down June 25/26, the ONLY park that scanned my finger was Epcot. All the rest the finger scanner did not light up nor was I prompted to scan a finger.

Most of the holdups I saw were people being attracted to the largest line even though there were many other turnstiles with little to no line. Polite persuasions by the CMs to get people to use the other turnstiles went unheeded (except by me and my family). Herd mentality more or less.

This always amazes me. I will generally go to the extreme left or right when entering because for whatever reason everyone goes to those three or four long lines in the middle. I guess if you have been there as many times as many of us have you just pick up on these little things. As far as the original question, I think a lot of it is just simply adding an extra step. Even if it worked the first time for everyone with no problems it still takes an extra 2-3 seconds for each person. That does not sound like much but when you multiply it by 100 people or so it adds up to an extra couple of minutes. This can seem like an unusually long amount of time because we are so anxious to get in and have some fun.

 

[sarabi]

I personally like the finger scan because it makes me feel safer. However, I did forget many times that I had to use the same HAND as I used when I first scanned it to form the baseline. Ha! I know... idiot. I know...
Once I started doing it right, I never had an issue. You must use the same finger, on the same hand, the same way as you did the first time.

 

[Rob562]

You can say that again!

So what do you think about their idea for a separate AP line?

You're complaining about people who can't follow a diagram to place their finger on the sensor, and you think that those people will actually read (and follow) SIGNS?!?!?? :ROFLOL:


Look at what they're trying in some airports with the screening checkpoint. (I think Orlando is one of them) They ask people to self-separate into three groups depending on their knowledge of the screening process: Beginner, Advanced and Handicapped/Families/People-that-may-need-extra-time. It still doesn't keep beginner families from clogging up and slowing down the "Advanced" lines...


A few tricks at the turnstiles...
1) DON'T mash your finger down on the sensor. Just place it gently against the glass. Mashing it down could alter the reading.

2) Look for the green arrow of open turnstiles rather than the backed-up lines at some of the turnstiles. Sometimes they're even right NEXT to the one with the long line... Combined with that, especially at the MK, walk to the far ends of the turnstiles, where there's usually plenty open and no lines at all.

3) Don't avoid the turnstile marked "Cast Member Entrance". The sign doesn't mean "Cast Members Only", but rather that's where CMs have to go to enter the park and get their Guests in on their ID,. That's the turnstile that has the supply of the paper tickets given to CM's Guests to allow for re-entry and FastPass usage. These turnstiles can handle regular Guests, too.

I personally like the finger scan because it makes me feel safer.

Ummm.... How does it make you feel safer? It has nothing to do with security or screening for criminals or terrorists or what-have-you. It simply keeps people from sharing their park tickets. (But I guess if you meant that it makes you feel "safe" that your ticket can't be used by someone else, OK...)


-Rob

 

[dcaffey]

I've also experienced many slow downs caused by people not using the proper ticket, ticket doesn't have hopper, it's moms ticket, etc.

Sometimes it takes everyone a few moments to figure out the problem and that adds to the slow down

 

[Laura]

You can say that again!

So what do you think about their idea for a separate AP line?

A lot of people only have 1 AP holder in their family (like mine) for the discounts.

Also, I don't think being an AP holder makes you any better at sticking a finger on top of a blue light.

 

[jmicro59]

if you want to bypass the scan altogether you can show a photo id, it may save some time.

What if you're too young to have a picture I.D. ?

 

[DivineMadness7]

A lot of people only have 1 AP holder in their family (like mine) for the discounts.

Also, I don't think being an AP holder makes you any better at sticking a finger on top of a blue light.

While I'm not saying an AP only line is the way to go, I think the thought behind it is that the majority of annual pass holders have used the system before and are a little more accustomed to it. Not that some AP holders don't experience issues with the system, but the thought was that people new to the process might have more problems with it.

 

[WildLodgeFan]

You're complaining about people who can't follow a diagram to place their finger on the sensor, and you think that those people will actually read (and follow) SIGNS?!?!?? :ROFLOL:


Look at what they're trying in some airports with the screening checkpoint. (I think Orlando is one of them) They ask people to self-separate into three groups depending on their knowledge of the screening process: Beginner, Advanced and Handicapped/Families/People-that-may-need-extra-time. It still doesn't keep beginner families from clogging up and slowing down the "Advanced" lines...


A few tricks at the turnstiles...
1) DON'T mash your finger down on the sensor. Just place it gently against the glass. Mashing it down could alter the reading.

2) Look for the green arrow of open turnstiles rather than the backed-up lines at some of the turnstiles. Sometimes they're even right NEXT to the one with the long line... Combined with that, especially at the MK, walk to the far ends of the turnstiles, where there's usually plenty open and no lines at all.

3) Don't avoid the turnstile marked "Cast Member Entrance". The sign doesn't mean "Cast Members Only", but rather that's where CMs have to go to enter the park and get their Guests in on their ID,. That's the turnstile that has the supply of the paper tickets given to CM's Guests to allow for re-entry and FastPass usage. These turnstiles can handle regular Guests, too.




Ummm.... How does it make you feel safer? It has nothing to do with security or screening for criminals or terrorists or what-have-you. It simply keeps people from sharing their park tickets. (But I guess if you meant that it makes you feel "safe" that your ticket can't be used by someone else, OK...)


-Rob

Thanks for the tips Rob! Since this system is new since our last trip in 2004, this will be helpful to my family.

 

[sknydave]

I personally like the finger scan because it makes me feel safer.

explain pls

 

[tinkerblonde11]

Rob562, thank you for those tips, they will really come in handy to my family when we go in about a week. I do think that these new fingerprint scanners are a much better way to go than that other one we used to have that no one could figure out. Although it may provoke long lines for people who still need help with it, it is an easy and safe way to go from park to park and know that if you lose your ticket and someone takes it, that they will not be able to use it.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

You're complaining about people who can't follow a diagram to place their finger on the sensor, and you think that those people will actually read (and follow) SIGNS?!?!?? :ROFLOL:

Ah, common sense have you! Excellent point.

A few tricks at the turnstiles...
1) DON'T mash your finger down on the sensor. Just place it gently against the glass. Mashing it down could alter the reading.

2) Look for the green arrow of open turnstiles rather than the backed-up lines at some of the turnstiles. Sometimes they're even right NEXT to the one with the long line... Combined with that, especially at the MK, walk to the far ends of the turnstiles, where there's usually plenty open and no lines at all.

3) Don't avoid the turnstile marked "Cast Member Entrance". The sign doesn't mean "Cast Members Only", but rather that's where CMs have to go to enter the park and get their Guests in on their ID,. That's the turnstile that has the supply of the paper tickets given to CM's Guests to allow for re-entry and FastPass usage. These turnstiles can handle regular Guests, too.

This is ture. At the Magic Kingdom, its amazing how the line will be 10-15 people long at the turnstiles next to the security check area, but go just 15 feet away, theres a row of open turnstiles with no one there!

And Epcot is especially frustrating. Most entrances have four turnstiles, yet people will line up and only use two of them. Hello! That green arrow means you can use that turnstile! Use it for crying out loud! Its amazing how no one wants to use it, even after me and my parents enter by using it. Its funny, because we get dirty looks after we go through as if we've done something we weren't suppossed to. Silly first timers. :hammer:

Oh, and in regards to the scanners, make sure that you place your finger flat on the scanner, and don't press down too hard. Just set it there and let the scanner do its thing.

And also, I never had a problem with the two finger thing. I didn't find it all that difficult, but then again, my mom had real trouble with it. :shrug: