Avoiding bag check

[jcemom]

What are they looking for in the bags? Seems like if someone wanted to bring a weapon into a park, it would be extremely easy to conceal without the use of a bag. Sometimes I think they're just looking for drinks and food because that cuts into their profits. Maybe next time we go, I'll ask my GF to put a turkey leg in her bag and see what they say.

You can bring drinks and food into the parks, no problem. We've never brought entire meals, but we have brought snacks, especially when my kids were little. I've seen people take in small coolers.

ETA: I'm sure there are some items that are prohibited -- glass bottles? Alcohol? Massive wheeled coolers that would fit a week's worth of food? I'm not sure, but there must be some rules lol.

 

[AngiTN]

What are they looking for in the bags? Seems like if someone wanted to bring a weapon into a park, it would be extremely easy to conceal without the use of a bag. Sometimes I think they're just looking for drinks and food because that cuts into their profits. Maybe next time we go, I'll ask my GF to put a turkey leg in her bag and see what they say.

You can bring drinks and food into the parks, no problem. We've never brought entire meals, but we have brought snacks, especially when my kids were little. I've seen people take in small coolers.

ETA: I'm sure there are some items that are prohibited -- glass bottles? Alcohol? Massive wheeled coolers that would fit a week's worth of food? I'm not sure, but there must be some rules lol.

Right, they do not limit food brought in to the park. There are items as you mentioned, rolling coolers, glass, alcohol, but that's about it. You can bring in your entire days worth of food, no question asked.

I'm not sure what they could be looking for in the bags. Someone wanting to sneak something in would put it somewhere else. Having a bag check does not increase my sense of security, or lack thereof, in any way shape or form. It's just a inconvenience and nothing more

 

[lovin'fl]

I go through bag check all the time during off season; however, we are going the first time this Christmas week and I have seen the lines to get through bag check at the afternoon parks like Epcot. Yep, going without bags this time.

Yes, been on 2 WDW Xmas trips and those bag check lines get crazy long and crowded and pushy. I put cell in pocket and use lanyard with little wallet/case for ID, DVC member cards, PAP, TIW card and credit card and I tuck it under my shirt as I go in because, yes, they have made me go through bag check for it before. Could also put a string bag in your pocket to carry stuff.

 

[DisUniversal]

Having a bag check does not increase my sense of security, or lack thereof, in any way shape or form. It's just a inconvenience and nothing more

Yep...as far as making me feel safer, having some retiree poke around in a bag with a stick for 3 seconds is right up there with taking my shoes off at the airport.

 

[jcemom]

I'm not sure what they could be looking for in the bags. Someone wanting to sneak something in would put it somewhere else. Having a bag check does not increase my sense of security, or lack thereof, in any way shape or form. It's just a inconvenience and nothing more

My feelings exactly.

 

[si-am]

I always take a bag. I just like having it, especially to throw souvenirs (and refillable mugs) in. I tried going bagless for a day at Universal because so many of their rides require lockers, and I felt weird all day without my bag!

Bag check doesn't take long to go through but I agree it's more for show than real security. If I bring a backpack, usually they glance in the main compartment without even looking at what's in the other pockets.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I wish each park would put a big barrel right behind bag check for all the confiscated and dangerous items that security finds Of course that would ruin your magic Does something occasionally slip through ? I imagine so

Just for show ? These so called retirees see and do much more than you can imagine Licensed and certified through the State of Florida and CONSTANTLY participating in ongoing training Most are former military or LEOs Stop and talk to some one day

Ignorance is bliss

 

[DisUniversal]

It's pretty much for show and to make people feel safe.

http://securology.blogspot.com/2012/04/disney-world-security-part-2.html

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201203/2940/

 

[Luvchefmic]

It's pretty much for show and to make people feel safe.

http://securology.blogspot.com/2012/04/disney-world-security-part-2.html

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201203/2940/

yeah ok you're entitled to your opinion as are whatever links anyone can post I am talking facts
Period

 

[AngiTN]

I wish each park would put a big barrel right behind bag check for all the confiscated and dangerous items that security finds Of course that would ruin your magic Does something occasionally slip through ? I imagine so

Just for show ? These so called retirees see and do much more than you can imagine Licensed and certified through the State of Florida and CONSTANTLY participating in ongoing training Most are former military or LEOs Stop and talk to some one day

Ignorance is bliss

I have no doubt that things get found in a bag search. While I have no proof of it I venture to guess that in a vast majority of those cases, where something is deemed worth confiscation, the person that had said item had no ill will in mind. They had something in their bag they forgot. I maintain that if someone did want to bring something in to Disney to cause harm they would not leave it in a bag that would be found by a bag check. If someone did want to cause harm they would get through without any difficulty.

I don't consider it ignorance to say that their bag check is mostly an inconvenience and hasn't stopped a thing from happening. That isn't saying a bad thing about the folks doing the bag check either. They are doing the job as they are asked to do. Nor do I want a more through search. Not saying that.

Simply saying that having a bag check at Disney does not increase MY security.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I think we agree more than disagree

I posted addressing the people in the "it's all just for show" camp The ones that say/presume you put someone in a light blue shirt with Mickey on the sleeves teach them what is expected and throw them out on the tables These CMs are highly trained professionals and like I said licensed and certified

 

[DisUniversal]

yeah ok you're entitled to your opinion as are whatever links anyone can post I am talking facts
Period

Anyone can label their opinion as fact...it only takes 4 keystrokes...fact.

 

[bdoyledimou]

i am the bag carrier for the family -- and it takes me all of 30 extra seconds to clear the check - -

seriously --- do you also blow through yellow lights and do rolling stops at stop signs?

 

[DisUniversal]

i am the bag carrier for the family -- and it takes me all of 30 extra seconds to clear the check - -

seriously --- do you also blow through yellow lights and do rolling stops at stop signs?

Do you stop for yellow lights? I guess it depends on how long they've been yellow.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Anyone can label their opinion as fact...it only takes 4 keystrokes...fact.

Not about to argue with you but the facts I stated are not my opinion...facts are:

WDW Security CMs are licensed and certified through the state of FL Class D license
Constantly train
Most are military or LEO background

Don't believe me...find out for yourself

 

[DisUniversal]

Not about to argue with you but the facts I stated are not my opinion...facts are:

WDW Security CMs are licensed and certified through the state of FL Class D license
Constantly train
Most are military or LEO background

Don't believe me...find out for yourself

A Class D license? That is the same unarmed license that is required for "mall cops" and the 90 year old security guard that naps down at the security desk on the 1st floor of my building.

They require a whole WEEK of training for that license (prior to 2012 it was TWO days of training). There are no requirements for constant training or even any sort of ongoing training once the initial license is obtained.

I guess some of the WDW security might have a military background. I think a few I've seen could be WWII vets.

They may be a good first line of defense and a visual deterrent (as in for show) but that's about it.

 

[Firebug]

yeah ok you're entitled to your opinion as are whatever links anyone can post I am talking facts
Period

Facts? Ok, Yes some are retired military and retired LEO that is a fact. However, if you believe that the bag check they are doing will keep things out of the park that someone is determined to get in to do harm you are sadly mistaken.

I could carry on my person enough items to do significant damage. If I split items up among the people that I am traveling with and they carry things on their person again significant damage.

How about doing something harmful right there, in the crowd, in the bottleneck that the security bag check has created.

Lets talk about how that bag check is performed. If the bag is to full the security officer, will tell you to take some of the items out of the bag so he can see farther into it. They don't want to be accused of breaking things or stealing things. That is Disney Corp liability control. However, not something that is effective. If I am looking for items that are harmful or dangerous to enter the park, (read weapons, explosives ect), the last place I want the hands of the person carrying that bag is to be in that bag. They are about to find the bad thing that I want to carry into the park I guess I am going to have to do the bad thing right here.

Though I would be happy to stop and talk to the ones that are retired LEO's and have for that matter, I don't have to get the real story. I am a current LEO. What you are seeing is not an effective search. I would not let anyone into my vehicle with that type of search. What you are seeing is an exercise to make the general public FEEL safer. It is not by any standard, actually effective at finding contraband or weapons.

With all that being said, it is very effective at actually making most people FEEL safer which is what it was designed to do. It would not be feasible to put in place procedures that would actually be effective in ensuring that all contraband or weapons did not get in the park. It would take too much time, expense, and would not sit well with a majority of the customers that are attempting to enter the parks. I certainly would not want to see that level of security at the parks.

FB

 

[KimK2006]

If you stuff your shorts with your "stuff", go through the non-bag line, get out your bag, unload your shorts and put the items in the bag, have you really saved any time? (I, too believe in traveling light. I take a SMALL over the shoulder bag.) A few weeks ago, I was through the security line in anywhere from 30 seconds to less than 5 minutes. As some PP's have suggested, if there are lines, look at the security checkers. You can tell from a distance how thoroughly they are checking. I also find the lines with mainly individuals going through instead of a whole family with a stroller and 20 bags. (At DHS, I did get stuck behind a stroller family. I swear they had 5 or 6 large bags. I can't imagine you could ever need ever need that much stuff. Even when my kids were little, we went with as little as possible knowing we could buy anything we needed in case of an emergency.)

 

[jewjubean]

In the thousands of times I've walked through bag check- I've never waited longer than 1-3 minutes.

 

[AngiTN]

I've never gotten in the lucky "1-5 min line"
I find the 15-20 lines. Every single time. It would take me more than 5 min to analyze the lines like y'all are talking about just to figure out the short one. And then I would be wrong and it would still take 15 min to get through.
So yeah, putting a few items in pockets, along with a draw string bag to hold things we accumulate over the course of the day and then transferring them once inside will indeed save a lot of time. I'm not talking stuff pockets to the point where pants are falling down. But my phone, wallet and a water bottle in my hand. Probably a lip gloss and powder compact too. And while those things could remain in my pocket I'd rather put them in a bag.