It might sound like a bizarre question to hear outside the gates of The Most Magical Place on Earth, but it’s becoming more common than you’d expect. A viral Reddit post has sparked intense discussion after one guest shared that they were asked for their theme park ticket as they exited Disney’s Hollywood Studios—better known by longtime fans as MGM.
“Can I have your ticket so I can go in?” the Redditor recalled. “Never had this happen before. Someone approached me as I was leaving MGM and said, ‘Are you leaving? Can I have your ticket? I want to use it to get in.’”
While the Annual Passholder explained that their ticket is linked to their phone—and more importantly, to their fingerprint—the exchange raised eyebrows across the Disney fan community. Is this a scam? Are guests really this confused? Or are we seeing a strange crossover from less-secure parks?
The Truth About Disney Ticketing: Why That Won’t Work
Related: I Almost Got Scammed $1000+ a Day by Fake Disney Tickets, Here’s What to Never Do
For those unfamiliar with Disney’s modern ticketing system, the idea of reusing a stranger’s ticket isn’t just against policy—it’s technologically impossible.
Every Disney World ticket, whether it’s a one-day ticket or an Annual Pass, is linked to the purchaser’s My Disney Experience account and secured using biometric verification (a fingerprint scan). That means once a guest enters the park for the first time using a ticket, it is permanently assigned to them—and cannot be used by anyone else.
Even if someone were to somehow acquire a stranger’s ticket, it would be flagged at the entry gate. Guests attempting to bypass the system can face serious consequences, including removal from the property and a potential ban.
Not a New Scam—Just an Outdated Mindset?
Reactions on Reddit have ranged from incredulous to nostalgic, with many longtime Disney fans remembering the days before biometric verification was the norm.
“That’s really shady,” one commenter noted. “That hasn’t been plausible in a really long time. That said, I remember a time when group tickets didn’t get biometrics. I assume that isn’t the case anymore, but that was way more recent.”
Others reflected on how Disney has responded to unauthorized ticket sharing over the years:
“It got so bad that they implemented a new ticket for the free ones they gave CMs for the summer and for Christmas,” another user shared. “The old ‘freebie’ tickets were just regular 1-day Park Hoppers, but in 1994 they issued these new ones that were just plain white cards with the CM’s name, department #, and a barcode. They were trying to reduce the number of CM tickets being resold at kiosks by making them not look like tickets.”
This move came after years of guests reselling or regifting Cast Member passes, often unknowingly putting others at risk of being turned away at the gates.
Disney Cast Member Weighs In: “It’s Not a Scam to You, But It Is to Disney”
In a follow-up within the Reddit thread, a verified Cast Member offered a behind-the-scenes look at how situations like this are handled.
“We do have people who show up and don’t realize how the tickets work, so they try this,” they explained. “Security watched them for a few minutes, and she ended up going up to the Guest Relations window and actually buying a ticket. Because she did that, no one made an approach to talk to her about it.”
The CM also warned that there are guests who attempt to resell tickets they claim are “extra,” even though these may have been purchased with stolen credit cards or previously used.
“If you buy it and try to use it at the touch point and it gets flagged… guess who’s going to get questioned by investigators?”
The Cast Member’s advice? Always notify Security if you witness suspicious activity like this. “We don’t allow this on property.”
A Confused Guest… or a Scam in Disguise?
Some guests pointed out that the incident may not have been malicious—just misinformed.
“I’m guessing a first-timer possibly buying tickets at the gate (can you do that?) and not realizing the ticket is connected to your fingerprint.”
“Someone taking their Six Flags ideology to Disney,” another joked. “My local park is Canada’s Wonderland and there’s always multiple people waiting outside the gate asking people leaving with FastPass wristbands to have them.”
Still, others recalled more innocent times:
“As a teenager (so 20 years ago), I had a dad leaving with his kid approach a friend and I and give us their tickets as we were walking up to the ticket window. Made our day! But I don’t think you could fudge something like that these days.”
Bottom Line: Don’t Share Your Ticket—And Report Suspicious Activity
Whether it’s a clueless newcomer or someone testing their luck, the takeaway is the same: Disney’s ticketing system is tightly controlled for a reason. No one can “borrow” your pass or enter the park using your ticket. Trying to do so violates park policy and could get both parties in serious trouble.
If you encounter someone asking for your ticket, politely decline—and inform a Security Cast Member nearby. As one CM put it: “We don’t allow this on property.”
