Disneyland implements facial recognition to keep the lines moving, but guests say they didn’t know it was optional

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.