Hi Calum,
Thank you for coming to planDisney with your important questions about the role of privacy, data collection, and the scanning of your finger to enter a theme park on a
Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Privacy of your personal information and associated data remains top-of-mind at Disney, and while I adore the use of digital tools for enhancing our vacations, I also like to understand more about how they protect my information collected during essential processes. I’m happy to share the details of what is (and more importantly,
what isn’t) read and stored during your theme park visit and share an alternative for your comfort and peace of mind.
Please see the full
Privacy Policy of the Walt Disney Company at large here, and the detailed
Privacy Statements and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding your Walt Disney World Resort vacation here.
Digital tapstyles at the entrance to theme parks remain the primary way to enter in order to protect your valuable tickets and other vacation entitlements stored in your
My Disney Experience account. It is a misconception that Disney captures your fingerprint or other biometric data. Upon arrival Guests scan a finger and their
MagicBand, MagicBand+, Disney MagicMobile Pass, or physical key card. This service is called a “Ticket Tag” and is designed to ensure that another Guest isn’t using your tickets as well as streamline your subsequent theme park entries. Please be reassured that while your finger is being scanned, no biometric data is being saved. The technology takes an image of your finger, converts the image to a unique extensive numerical value, and immediately deletes the image of your finger. After the initial scan, the system will read that coded numerical value to associate you with your tickets.
These details are outlined by Disney in their privacy statements here, for your review.If you do not wish to use this feature by having your finger scanned the first time you enter a theme park, you may carry and show a photo identification that matches the name associated with your ticket (or matching the adult with a ticket for any children without photo identification). Please stop by
Guest Relations for support in this process to bypass the finger scan prior to approaching the tapstyles at the entrance to any theme park.
You are right to ask about data privacy in our swiftly moving digital world, Calum. My career is in this field and while I always want to learn more, I am reassured by the controls in place to protect all Guests by the Walt Disney Company. I can relax on vacation to Walt Disney World knowing that my data is being used responsibly and that no biometric data is being kept.
Please stop by Guest Relations, the
Guest Experience Team, or your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel front desk for any additional concerns or questions while on your vacation this week.
Wishing you a safe and magical holiday,
Amy