Hand scan new method for entry into Busch Williamsburg

I got to use this when I was down in Tampa at Busch. It was very interesting. I wish the card they gave you that acted as your pass was a little more durable. Its just a piece of paper that normal tickets are made of. Its pretty nifty though.

I hope Busch's scanners work better then what we use at work. We have a thumb print scanner that lets people in the front door after-hours. It can take up to 30 seconds to recognize your print, and many times you have to try it three or four times before it works. But good for them for trying something new.

I was pretty surprised when I saw this being used at BGW this weekend. We didn't use it because we allready had our pictures on our passes but from what I observed, it seemed to be going pretty smoothly. There were a few times where the person would have to have their hand scanned a couple of times before it read it though. I'm interested in seeing one of these new paper passes that they are giving out, especially if they are going to be using them for the Platinum passes. I know I use my Tampa Platinum pass all of the time in the parks for discounts and re-rides and would like something more durable than a paper one.

I was just going to ask... is the hand print in use across the entire Busch chain?

Biometric software is pretty good these days. Universal is using it now for the short-term lockers instead of the paper receipts.

Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa both are using the biometric hand scanning. You stick your entire hand on the mark and your fingers up against little pegs at the edge of the outline.

Now if Sea World/Busch Gardens could get the lockers like Universal, I'd be happy!

It actually doesn't use fingerprints at all. It basically just matches the measurements or your hand with your card. Visionland is actually using the same thing this year.*** This post was edited by Bosshawk 4/5/2004 11:18:10 PM ***

Disney has been doing this with season and annual pass holders for years.

I also saw this being used a couple of weeks ago at Sea World Texas. Very fast to set your handprint. They seemed to be getting through the line pretty fast.*** This post was edited by FScottS 4/7/2004 7:49:44 PM ***

There are time clocks that use the same system.

I think its a little time consuming personally, especially when it comes to all the out-of-state and international guests that come through BGT. They all seemed to be kinda confused by the system. (they had a hard time getting a good scan of my hand, maybe it was just a bad day) Though it is an interesting system I will say......Any one know if any other chains are looking into using this system??

Morey's Piers is also using the same system for season pass holders this season.

Goku, how would out of state and international guests make it time consuming? The system is only for season pass holders, and I know I'm going out on a limb saying that most season pass holders are generally not out stat or international visitors (coming from an Australian who has Universal and Six Flags season passes... :)), and know the park procedures well enough not to make a system like this inefficient.