If you want to visit the “Happiest Place on Earth,” you’ll go through a new gatekeeper first: facial recognition.
The Anaheim resort has expanded facial-recognition technology at entrances to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure after months of limited testing, reads Disney’s privacy notice, in which the company states the intention is to make reentry easier and to prevent fraud.
Disney says the system is optional: Guests who do not want to use it can enter through non-facial-recognition lanes, where a cast member manually validates their ticket. However, those guests may still have their photos taken, even as Disney says biometric technology is not used on those images.
According to Disney’s privacy notice, the system compares a camera image taken at the entrance with the image saved when a guest first used a ticket or pass, converting the images into unique numerical values to look for a match. Disney says it deletes the numbers within 30 days, unless they must be kept for legal or fraud-prevention purposes. And for kids under 18, they can use the system only with parent or guardian consent.
Disney didn’t immediately responded to Fortune’s requests for comment.
“The security, integrity, and confidentiality of your information are extremely important to us,” reads the company’s privacy notice announcing the technology. “We have implemented technical, administrative, and physical security measures that are designed to protect Guest information from unauthorized access, disclosure, use and modification.”
“From time to time, we review our security procedures to consider new technology and methods, as appropriate,” it continued. “Please be aware that, despite our best efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable.”
By Friday, the tech was being used in most entrance lines at the two parks, with the Los Angeles Times finding only four lines were spared. Signs near the gates tell visitors that use of the technology is optional, but some guests told the publication they did not realize they could avoid it before entering the lines. One visitor told the LA Times the system is “a little scary” because its use was not clear, while a mother said she felt uneasy when it was used for her young children.
A user on X with the handle “DisneyScoopGuy” posted a photo of the sign, which read, “Facial Recognition at Park Entry.”
“Disneyland Resort park entries use facial recognition technology. Use of these lanes is optional,” the sign continued. “If you do not wish to participate, please enter the line lane with the following overhead signage,” before showing a silhouette of a person with a line crossed through the middle.
Prior to the change, visitors to the park would upload a photo to a portal tied to their ticket, and when they arrived and scanned their pass, a cast member would confirm the person swiping the pass matched the photo uploaded to the portal. This skips the cast member—now, it’s the computer that does the matching.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) guidance has defined biometric information processed to identify a consumer as sensitive personal information, meaning California consumers have the right to limit the use and disclosure of sensitive personal information.
More than 27 million people visit Disneyland Resort each year: In 2024, Disneyland Park saw 17.35 million visitors, while Disney California Adventure had 10.05 million, according to AECOM/TEA-based estimates. Though Disney does not disclose revenue by park, it’s broader Experiences segment, which includes parks, cruise line, and consumer-products business, generated $36.2 billion in revenue in FY2025.
Disneyland Resort, often referred to as the “Happiest Place on Earth,” has implemented a new facial recognition technology at its entrance gates for both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. This advancement follows months of limited testing and aims to streamline reentry for guests while also mitigating fraud. According to Disney’s privacy notice, the technology is designed to enhance the guest experience by expediting the entry process.
The facial recognition system is optional, as Disney provides alternative entry lanes for guests who prefer not to utilize the technology. In these non-facial-recognition lanes, cast members will manually validate tickets. However, even in these lanes, guests may still have their photos taken, although Disney asserts that biometric technology will not be applied to these images.
The process involves capturing a camera image at the entrance and comparing it to a previously saved image associated with the guest’s ticket or pass. This comparison is done by converting the images into unique numerical values to find a match. Disney commits to deleting these numerical values within 30 days unless they are required to be retained for legal or fraud-prevention reasons. For guests under 18, participation in the facial recognition system requires the consent of a parent or guardian.
Disney emphasizes the importance of security, integrity, and confidentiality regarding guest information in its privacy statement. The company claims to have established various technical, administrative, and physical measures to protect guest data from unauthorized access and misuse. Disney also acknowledges that despite implementing robust security measures, no system can be entirely foolproof.
By the time the technology was fully deployed, it was found to be in use at most entrance lines, with only a few exceptions noted by the Los Angeles Times. Some visitors expressed confusion over the optional nature of the facial recognition lanes, with reports indicating that some guests were unaware of their ability to opt-out. This has led to concerns about the clarity of communication regarding the new system, with some expressing discomfort about the mandatory photo capture for young children.
A sign displayed at the park entrances informs guests about the facial recognition technology, stating its optional status and providing directions for those who choose not to participate. Prior to this system’s introduction, visitors were required to upload a photo to a designated portal linked to their ticket. Upon arrival, a cast member would manually verify the guest’s identity against the uploaded photo. The new system replaces this manual verification with automated matching.
From a regulatory perspective, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) classifies biometric information used for consumer identification as sensitive personal information. This classification grants California residents the right to restrict the use and sharing of such sensitive data.
Disneyland Resort attracts over 27 million visitors annually, with the estimated attendance for 2024 being 17.35 million at Disneyland Park and 10.05 million at Disney California Adventure, according to estimates from AECOM/TEA. While Disney does not provide specific revenue figures for each park, the broader Experiences segment—which encompasses parks, cruise lines, and consumer products—reported $36.2 billion in revenue for the fiscal year 2025.
In summary, Disneyland Resort’s introduction of facial recognition technology aims to enhance efficiency and security at park entrances. While the system is optional and designed to protect guest information, it has raised concerns among some visitors regarding privacy and clarity of communication. As guests navigate this new entry process, it remains important for Disney to ensure that all visitors are fully informed of their options and rights regarding their personal data.
