Every guest who walks through Disneyland Resort's theme park gates has their photo taken, and the Southern California vacation destination is now warning families about its facial recognition technology.
New Warning Signs at Disneyland Resort
According to WDWNT, new notices appeared in the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure at Disneyland Resort on April 21, placed between the security checkpoint and the tram boarding area. For the first time, Disney Park guests are being explicitly informed about the facial recognition system used at park entry and directed toward an alternative lane if they'd prefer not to participate. The signs read:
“Facial Recognition at Park Entry
Disneyland Resort park entries use facial recognition technology. Use of these lanes is optional.
If you do not wish to participate, please enter the line lane with the following overhead signage:”
Similar notices are expected to roll out to the Pixar Pals Parking Structure and other parking areas around the Southern California Disney destination.
What Disney Is Actually Doing With Your Photo
The system works like this: on a guest's first visit to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park, a Disney cast member takes their photograph. That image is then used on every subsequent visit to match the guest's face at entry, tying their identity to their ticket and preventing it from being shared or used by someone else.
The approach differs from that used by Walt Disney World Resort. In Florida, guests press their fingers to a scanner, and Disney converts that fingerprint data into a numerical code — the actual fingerprint is never stored. At Disneyland Resort, by contrast, the system retains a photo of each guest.
Anyone who would rather not have their image in the system can request that a Disney cast member manually verify their identity at entry instead. Walt Disney World Resort offers the same opt-out for guests who don't want to use the fingerprint scanners.
Do you opt out of the use of facial recognition technology at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
