Hiya Kaleigh,
Welcome to planDisney! We are happy to help with your upcoming vacation (can you believe that it is next week?)! As the designated planner for my family, I am always the one managing all the plans for the entire group. All my friends and family know that if you are traveling with me, then “Hakuna Matata.” My father refuses to download the
My Disney Experience mobile app, so if I am traveling with him, either my mom or I will have his ticket on our phone and have to go through the same process you are asking about.
So first off, Kaleigh, you can 100% scan everyone in using your device. Each individual will need to present a fingerprint at the turnstile to link it to their ticket (no biometric data is saved; each finger image is converted into a unique numerical value, then connected to your ticket as a “Ticket Tag,” before the image is deleted). But can I share something that might be a little easier? You mentioned “Key to the World” cards, and these, I think, are the perfect solution. Once you head to the theme parks, go to a ticket counter before you enter. There, you can ask a Cast Member for admission cards for each Guest. They will assign a ticket to each card, so you no longer have to worry about scanning everyone in (though you can still do so if you want). The admission cards will also link any Lightning Lane selections, resort hotel information, and charge purchases to your resort hotel, and even dining plan selections for the dining plans, so they really are a great tool to have in your back pocket (or purse).
I hope this was helpful, Kaleigh. Even though we use our My Disney Experience mobile app (and MagicBand+) every vacation, we always request a Key to the World card as a backup. I wish I were kidding, but during my last trip, my sleeping baby was grasping my
MagicBand+ in one hand, and my phone was dead in my pocket. I was incredibly grateful to have the physical card in that moment; otherwise, I would’ve been stuck outside my room. If you do decide to get the Keys to the World admission cards, you don’t have to wait until you are heading into the theme parks to pick them up. You can also get them at your resort hotel and
Disney Springs. Please come back and see us if you need anything else.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.