Greetings Jennifer!
You are in for a great time when you accompany first-time visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort. I have found that few folks have a grasp on how large and how magical a place the Walt Disney World Resort is!
The process of collecting a fingerprint image is called "ticket tagging." The
ticket tag process collects bio-metric data, converts it into numerical data, and matches it to your
theme park tickets. This process does not store fingerprints themselves. This technology reduces the wait time to enter the park as it reduces the need to request photo identification for each guest.
Any guest that is uncomfortable with this process can request
not to provide the scan. Guests that prefer not to scan simply provide photo identification to verify their identity. So, as long as your friends are carrying a photo id, there shouldn't be an issue.
I hope this helps with your planning. If you have more questions, come on back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel. We love to help!
See ya real soon,
Anne