Any truth to this? certain bags flagged at security checkpoint?

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I've noticed that when I have a cotton bag (Vera Bradley) I walk through with no problem but when I carry a faux leather bag I've been stopped a few times (only at monorail resorts oddly enough not at the theme parks).

I had considered bringing a Loungefly mini backpack this trip but I had recently seen on some forum somewhere that it seems people are stopped for a bag check frequently when carrying a faux leather bag.

My goal is always to walk through with no issues because being pulled aside for a bag check when my sister keeps going is anxiety inducing and frustrating when I know there is nothing inside the bag that would have set anything off.

So now I'm seconding guessing what material my park bag should be and I'm just wondering if anyone on here has had the experience where certain bags they take tend to be flagged more than others.

 

[FreeTime]

I have been flagged with VB, Loungefly’s, leather, etc. It tends to be because of what is in it. A metal lined eyeglass case or aluminum water bottle. To minimize getting pulled, take those items out and hold them in front of you when walking through the detectors.

 

[_19disnA]

I wouldn't decide which type of bag to buy/not buy based on random social media comments. It could be that some chemicals used in the manufacturing process of fake leather bags are being picked up by whatever type of sensors they are using.

 

[kylenne]

It’s down to the contents and the actual scanners more than anything. I did all four parks this past week with the exact same bag setup (mini loungefly and fanny pack) and exact same contents. I was flagged every time at the TTC getting the Epcot monorail, but not once at the Poly monorail station, HS or AK. Sometimes the scanners take weird pics that are hard for security to read is what the guy at TTC told me and I have to think if bag material matters maybe that’s why. But I don’t really think it does.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I have been flagged with VB, Loungefly’s, leather, etc. It tends to be because of what is in it. A metal lined eyeglass case or aluminum water bottle. To minimize getting pulled, take those items out and hold them in front of you when walking through the detectors.

Thats the thing is I have nothing that would set it off.
I have my phone in my hand. I use a plastic pill container because one time I thought it was this little metal one I have.
Bus basically everything in the bag is plastic (comb/chapstick/ponchos) I don't carry much.

 

[Lewisc]

My wife's Disney D & B bag sets off the scanners. The security person said that bag always sets it off.

Bag check isn't a big deal. Otherwise a plain cotton bag.

 

[erinch]

My VB bag kept going off a few weeks ago. Finally discovered it was a little rechargeable fan. And sometimes the Bose earbuds.

 

[han22735]

It’s down to the contents and the actual scanners more than anything. I did all four parks this past week with the exact same bag setup (mini loungefly and fanny pack) and exact same contents. I was flagged every time at the TTC getting the Epcot monorail, but not once at the Poly monorail station, HS or AK. Sometimes the scanners take weird pics that are hard for security to read is what the guy at TTC told me and I have to think if bag material matters maybe that’s why. But I don’t really think it does.

Its this...I travel with the same bag and same contents...flagged sometimes not flagged at other times...Take stuff out and hold it...Leave stuff in...same randomness.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I have one specific Loungefly bag that gets flagged every time I go through security and I was told it's the zippers. I stopped bringing that bag because it was getting too annoying.

 

[ShayBells]

My apple watch always set it off before until I learned to cover it after that I never got flagged, maybe a coincidence? I usually use some time of fanny pack or small VB, but don't take much in it.

 

[bbn1122]

So, I think the answer is no type of bag is flagged. It's whatever sets off the security screening device.

I had a water bottle set it off recently and eyeglasses cases. You never know, but I am glad they check anything they need to.
Safety first!!

 

[kylenne]

My apple watch always set it off before until I learned to cover it after that I never got flagged, maybe a coincidence? I usually use some time of fanny pack or small VB, but don't take much in it.

My Apple Watch has never set it off, and I never bother to cover it up. Modern scanners don't care about wearables.

 

[fla4fun]

I do try to use bags with minimal metal on them to help prevent setting off the alarm. I also make sure nothing in my bag is metal, because a tin of breath mints kept setting it off (the breath mints go in a small ziploc bag now). I take my umbrella and phone out to carry through the checkpoint as they are the only items with any metal. Since I started doing this I haven’t been pulled aside (knocking on wood). The bag I use the most even has a nylon zipper.

I don’t think it’s necessarily the bag that sets it off, but it can be a contributing factor so as much as I would like to carry a more stylish bag, I go with what causes the least problems.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I just got from a 10 day trip to WDW, was in and out of the parks and resort scanners many times. I only got searched 4 times in all. Once was 3 times in one day (Disney Springs, MK, & Polynesian) I was carrying my diabetic test kit with me, it is medium sized rectangle so I probably looked like a block on the scanners. I transferred my test kit to a ziploc bag the next day and didn't have a problem anymore. The 4th time they said it was my eyeglass case, which is vinyl and felt. My husband got stopped on our last day too and they said it was his ear buds case. It is a mystery to me on how the scanner works, sometimes I think it is just a random pull too, but I don't know for sure. Still the scanners and the low possibility of a hand search is better than Disneyland when everything is searched by hand.

 

[_19disnA]

When traveling, I have experienced various things setting off the scanner at one airport but not at another. I would have to assume part of this relates to how they are adjusted and perhaps at some locations set to be more sensitive. Likely there are probably different companies who make these devices and they probably all have their proprietary technology to detect banned substances.

 

[summerlvr]

I usually carry a VB backpack and I don't usually get flagged unless I forget to take something out that I know I should hand carry, like my umbrella and metal water bottle . When I was there last month, I used a Loungefly that I had just purchased from Amazon. It was a larger size and fabric rather than leather. I got flagged more often than not, even though there was nothing in the bag that should have set the scanner off. As often as I go to the parks, I know what not to have in my bag. The loungefly does have rather large zipper pulls, so I'm inclined to believe that is what my problem was. Will probably go back to the Vera bag for my next trip.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I usually carry a VB backpack and I don't usually get flagged unless I forget to take something out that I know I should hand carry, like my umbrella and metal water bottle . When I was there last month, I used a Loungefly that I had just purchased from Amazon. It was a larger size and fabric rather than leather. I got flagged more often than not, even though there was nothing in the bag that should have set the scanner off. As often as I go to the parks, I know what not to have in my bag. The loungefly does have rather large zipper pulls, so I'm inclined to believe that is what my problem was. Will probably go back to the Vera bag for my next trip.

Yeah I am starting to wonder if its the metal zipper and zipper pulls rather than the material of the bag.
Seems any of the faux leather ones I use do have metal zippers and large metal pulls although the VB crossbody bags do tend to have some thicker metal rings for the straps to connect but maybe its not enough metal overall to set them off.
I think maybe I will stick with the VB.

 

[MyNewAP]

I work with these scanners all summer at my seasonal job. The material of the bag is irrelevant. The scanners are looking for metal objects. Specifically, metal objects that don't match the dimensions of known items that have been programmed in the system.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I work with these scanners all summer at my seasonal job. The material of the bag is irrelevant. The scanners are looking for metal objects. Specifically, metal objects that don't match the dimensions of known items that have been programmed in the system.

Then it really doesn't make sense as to why I'd get stopped with mostly non metal items.

 

[lovethattink]

Thats the thing is I have nothing that would set it off.
I have my phone in my hand. I use a plastic pill container because one time I thought it was this little metal one I have.
Bus basically everything in the bag is plastic (comb/chapstick/ponchos) I don't carry much.

If someone behind you is holding their umbrella or metal water bottle out and walking too close to your back, it could trigger for you.