Is Disney World Stealing Your Fingerprint Data? The Truth Behind the Scan [Video]

It can be a shock for a first-time Walt Disney World Resort visitor to scan their fingerprint upon entry to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

In the digital age, everyone’s worried about privacy and protecting personal information, so the thought of handing a megacorporation your (or your child’s!) fingerprint might feel risky. We’re here to explain the science behind the finger scan so you can enjoy your day at Walt Disney World Resort!

Overview of the Fingerprint Scanning Process

To enter a Disney park, guests must tap their tickets, MagicBands, or smartphones and place their fingerprints on a scanner. Guests only need to scan their fingers once to establish a link between their unique fingerprint and Disney Park ticket. The scanner captures a digital image of the fingerprint but does not store it; instead, it converts the image into a numerical value associated with the ticket.

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