My washer isn't digital that I know of but once the cycle begins to wash there's no opening unless you hit pause. The instructions of course are under the lid so no opening mid cycle. I liked when all I had to do was push the cycle button in to stop and pull it to begin again. The guy at the store said it was a safety feature so kids wouldn't fall or climb inside. I used to put the fear of the banshee in me to my kids. They were never allowed to sit on it or anything. I dislike it immensely but am getting used to the way it works. My neighbor got one of those that have no agitator spin in the tub. She hated hers so bad she made she had a different one ordered. Since her hubby picked the other one out, she told him he could put it in his man cave otherwise she was going to take a sledge hammer to it.