Enlarge The patent rendering of the foot scanning robot that would take a depth and camera image… more 
 
 No this isn't a joke: A patent from The Walt Disney Co. wants to scan your feet for data. 
 
 The patent, dubbed "system and method using foot recognition to create a customized guest experience," seeks to use a mobile scanning mechanism or robot that would use a foot scanner to take depth information and a camera to take appearance information of a guest's foot and use that data to determine various factors like the most popular rides and common paths guests take from ride to ride. The patent, issued by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on July 19 after originally being filed in April 2015, also describes the use of concealed sensors throughout a theme park that would track the guests' movements and keep collecting data on that logistical information. 
 
 Enlarge The patent rendering of the foot scanning robot that would take a depth and camera image… more 
 
 Gathering guest movements can help a theme park see where guests are spending most of their time, what walkways are being used the most and which rides are being visited most often so it can tweak operations and staff to those areas to improve efficiency. This is very much in line with what Disney's MagicBands were designed to do by helping gather data on guests that could be used to see what stores are getting increased traffic and how the park could adjust to improve the experience in those areas. 
 
 
 
 "Recognizing individual guests or providing a method for an individual to register at certain rides or other attractions allows the amusement park to tailor certain experiences for the guest, such as creating a customized media output (e.g., photograph) directed to the particular guest," said the patent. 
 
 
 
 Disney's patent states this method would be less invasive than other biometric scanning methods like retinal or fingerprint methods or taking photographs for facial recognition. It states the foot scanners would be able to take detailed information on a shoe including the color, tread and wear patterns, stains and even if gum were on the bottom of the shoe — all to reduce confusion of following the wrong guest on the data collecting side. 
 
 Scanning a guest's feet or shoes seems to be a reliable way to track guest movements and reduce any problems that can happen if say a guest's outfit, such as their shirt or jacket, were used to identify them. "Less invasive manners, such as comparing a user's clothing or the like, can produce inaccurate results as many guests may have similar clothing or may change clothing, such putting on or taking off an outer layer or sweater, which can make detection unreliable," said the patent. It's important to note that this is just a patent and Disney files many patent that may or may not become a real part of the theme park experience. However, the theme park giant always is seeking ways to gather more information on its guests to refine its operations. Disney improving its guest experience could result in new and repeat visitation that drives Central Florida's $66 billion tourism and travel industry and attracts 60 million people annually to the region. Covers tourism, hospitality and sports business ||||| Cloud 
 
 Disney has been granted a patent for a proposed shoe recognition system, which would inconspicuously track guests’ feet around the theme parks and gather information on the popularity of rides, stores and shows. 
 
 A patent, filed in April last year and granted last week, describes a network of cameras and sensors which ‘blend’ in with the surroundings to scan visitors’ footwear on arrival, and track them as they move around the park. 
 
 A robot at the entrance area will include a foot sensor for capturing a detailed image of at least one foot of a guest, and a camera for capturing a colour image of at least one foot. Disney notes in the patent that these devices are ‘angled towards the ground’ and placed at a ‘low level’ (e.g., below a guest’s knees), and are therefore ‘easier to conceal’ from the guest. It continues that the system of sensors around the park would be ‘out of a person’s line of sight’, to ‘unobtrusively capture’ information. 
 
 Disney hopes that the data collected from the system will help improve park management and future planning. The patent states: ‘Acquiring and reacquiring guests at different locations in the amusement park can provide data to the amusement park owners, such as the most popular rides, and common guest paths from ride to ride. 
 
 ‘Additionally, recognizing individual guests or providing a method for an individual to register at certain rides or other attractions allows the amusement park to tailor certain experiences for the guest.’ 
 
 Disney explains that tracking shoes is more effective than current scanning methods. It suggests that shoe styles vary widely in appearance and colour, which helps to reduce confusion in identifying a particular guest. When two people have the same or similar shoes, Disney says that the system can also use additional information, such as lower leg data, tread wear, and foot size to distinguish between guests. 
 
 The mass media giant adds that it has rejected other tracking technologies such as biometric scanning. It argues that techniques like retinal and fingerprint identification tend to be invasive, obtrusive, and inaccurate if guests are wearing certain accessories such as sunglasses or hats. 
 
 Concerned with guest awareness of tracking, Disney also neglected plans for overall clothing recognition as, ‘those systems require cameras that are visible to the person’. It said that clothing recognition can also produce unreliable results as many guests have similar attire, and will change their clothing throughout the day, such as putting on or taking off a jacket or jumper. ||||| In a sign of how jittery the nation has become about terrorism and gun violence, Orlando's major theme parks on Thursday added metal detectors as a security precaution. 
 
 Walt Disney World placed walk-through metal detectors in front of all four of its theme parks. Universal Orlando began using wand-style metal detectors in an area leading into its parks and nightlife district. SeaWorld Orlando also began using wand-style detectors. 
 
 The safety measures extend outside Orlando. Disneyland and Universal Studios in Hollywood, Calif., are also using the devices. 
 
 Security in general has been a major concern following recent deadly attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif. On Wednesday, the federal Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin saying it was "especially concerned that terrorist-inspired individuals and homegrown violent extremists might be encouraged or inspired to target public events or places." It warned people to expect more police and more stringent security at large gathering places. 
 
 The apparently coordinated decision at theme parks seems to be "really kind of a destination statement of, 'Look, we're ensuring all our guests traveling to Orlando experiencing the parks, we're going to try to provide the safest environment possible,'" said Scott Smith, an assistant hospitality professor at the University of South Carolina. 
 
 Disney World — where a man was arrested last week after trying to enter the Magic Kingdom with a handgun — also said Thursday that it would discontinue the sale of toy guns. New rules also include a ban on costumes for visitors 14 and older, even at Halloween parties. It is unclear whether people can still wear them at Disney races. 
 
 From choice of clothing to trespassing, see why these theme park guests were asked to leave -- immediately. 
 
 More deputies and security guards have been visible at the resort lately. Specially trained dogs have been patrolling key areas. On Wednesday night, police dogs checked the outside of monorail trains before the doors closed and left the Transportation and Ticket Center. 
 
 The movie theater at Disney Springs where Thursday's premiere of the new "Star Wars" movie was taking place also was using metal detection. 
 
 "We continually review our comprehensive approach to security and are implementing additional security measures, as appropriate," Disney said in a statement. 
 
 The random scanning of visitors didn't seem to affect late-morning lines at Disney's Epcot, where they were of typical length for the holiday season. 
 
 Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said the decision to try metal detection was not driven by a specific threat. "We want our guests to feel safe when they come here," he said in an email. "We've long used metal detection for special events, such as Halloween Horror Nights. This test is a natural progression for us as we study best practices for security in today's world." 
 
 Universal uses the wands at its bag-check area, which has been moved from a hub area closer to where people exit parking garages. 
 
 SeaWorld said in an email it would be "enhancing security measures for the busy holiday season." 
 
 Asked about the additional security, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that Sheriff Jerry Demings "has regularly called for enhanced law-enforcement visibility along with additional measures to promote safety for our residents, visitors and tourists during the holiday season. In light of the recent attacks, our awareness and vigilance remain a priority." 
 
 Many theme-park visitors welcomed the changes. 
 
 "I've been kind of concerned with the domestic terrorism and some of the attacks that have been happening on soft targets like movie theaters," said Tim Harden, 24, an Orlando graphic designer. "Just going to the parks, I always thought about that in the back of my mind. 
 
 "I think the metal detectors are a reasonable precaution. You're going to wait in lines all day long, so what's one more line?" 
 
 Terrorism is not the only security concern for entertainment venues. There have also been many mass shootings that weren't politically motivated, including one in 2012 at a Colorado movie theater. 
 
 The move caught the attention of gun-control advocates. 
 
 "Now, families can't even go to 'The Happiest Place on Earth' to escape the realities of gun violence in this country," said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, in a statement. 
 
 Metal detectors have become more common for general security reasons. Travelers have walked through them at airports for years. Major League Baseball has begun requiring them for its games, and they are also used for Orlando Magic games. 
 
 Six Flags theme parks put up metal detectors, most of them after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, at the main gates. In 2004, Disney World experimented with metal detectors at its entrance but did not make them permanent. 
 
 Earlier this year, Universal put up walk-through metal detectors in front of a few rides to make sure that people don't bring on items such as keys and cellphones that could fall out and injure people. 
 
 Staffers Dewayne Bevil and Charles Minshew contributed to this report. spedicini@tribpub.com or 407-420-5240
– Disney has received a patent to take pictures of visitors' feet at its theme parks, the Los Angeles Times reports. Specifically, the patent titled System and method using foot recognition to create a customized guest experience would scan guests shoes when they enter the park then track them as the move about. According to the Orlando Business Journal, this would allow Disney to track guests' favorite rides and paths through the park. It could also allow them to have Donald Duck greet guests by name or get souvenir photos or videos to them more quickly. The scanners could discern everything from shoe color, to wear patterns, to gum stuck on the sole. Disney filed for the patent back in 2015; it was issued by the US Patent & Trademark Office on July 19. The company, however, says it has no plans to actually use its foot camera patent. A spokesperson tells the Times that Disney files a lot of patents in an "ongoing effort to relentlessly innovate and push the boundaries of creativity and technology to create immersive experiences and legendary guest service." Disney had already decided against biometric scanning—such as fingerprinting, retinal scans, and facial recognition—to track visitors because it considers it too invasive, the Stack reports. Plus those methods can be thrown off by things like hats and sunglasses. The company also didn't want to track clothing because that would "require cameras that are visible to the person." The shoe-scanning cameras throughout the park would be "out of a person's line of sight." (But will members of "Club 33" have their photos taken?)