Disneyland resort installing automated entry gates

What do they have there now? I generally like the approach at WDW, as there is a lot of room to move around, and it's easy to get around someone who has a problem (usually not having a reservation, or dated tickets, and sometimes a biometric failure).

I was just there in the fall and I think I remember them having your standard turnstiles.

It's been awhile since I was there, but I remember the same thing. Not the open concept like WDW.

Epic Universe is rumored to use facial recognition technology in their park entrance. It is supposed to work like magic, allowing guests to walk right in as the computer roots out problem tickets. From what I read, it is being tested in some way at Universal right now. I really love how theme parks employ technology to their advantage.

It's strange to think about how this kind of technology will affect not having to speak to another human to get into the park. I can walk into my local Dollar General, grab my items, ring them up at the self-checkout, and leave without even seeing or speaking to an employee. In the future, robots will empty self-driving trucks, stock shelves, and stores will run themselves. I see Disneyland's new entrance gate being similar.

This stuff exists among airlines and international customs agencies, but I'm not crazy about it in theme parks. It's privacy invasive if used in certain ways. I'm good with biometric hash algorithms, but only with assurance and third party confirmation that's all it is.

For the non-techies, a hash is a cryptographic calculation that only goes one way. To confirm two values are the same, you hash the value in front of you, and compare it to the one stored. If they match, you have the right person. For example, I don't store your password to CoasterBuzz. I can't look it up. I have a hash of it though, so when you enter your password, I run the algorithm on it, and if the result matches what I have, then it's the right password. You can't go in reverse, because there are too many possible reverse outcomes to ever find the right one, and even if you could, it's impossible to validate which one is right.

Take the same approach with fingerprints or even faces, and the same concept applies. But it doesn't mean that the device can't take an actual snapshot and store it, without you knowing it.

I was semi-surprised that Delta boarded me by facial recognition, despite the fact that I never opted in to their program. It was an international flight, and presumably some Three Letter Agency supplied the tech--which might go a ways to explain how they knew I was me. At the very least, they have my passport photo.

I've only seen that for international as well. And by the way, entering the UK via Heathrow was the easiest thing ever. No waiting at all, plop you passport on the machine, wait a few seconds, and walk in. When I got back to Orlando, we waited almost an hour.

Global Entry. Get some. A quality use of $100 (and several credit cards will comp it). Comes with TSA PreCheck included. Fly like it's pre-9/11 all over again!

I got my global entry card late December. My airline credit card comp'd it. Just need to do some flying now!

What do they have there now?

Turnstiles each with a CM like its 2006, also no modern fancy security scanning devices to just walk through.

Global Entry only works when MCO staffs the post. It's the same post they use to pre-declare on an app, and it's closed when you get there.

That stinks. A lot.

I've never seen that in DTW. Ever. That might be because DTW has switched to the automated kiosks (which also use face recognition now) and you end up handing the receipt to a "regular" immigration officer.

I was disappointed to after using the TSA's app. And in that shiny new Terminal C, no less. TSA performance in general seems particularly bad at our airport, like, all of the time.

DTW has yet to be included in Mobile Passport Control. It's Global Entry or wait in line. The GE application process is a pain, but one hour-long wait to see an immigration agent was all it took to get me to do it.

Fortunately I don't fly international very often (though I would like to do it more), and it would always be with my family. I've never had to wait for customs at Port Canaveral though, and that I've done so many times.