Avoiding bag check

[Luvchefmic]

Hmm Dilemma..either respond and it's now a back & forth useless thing getting us no where OR just walk away and let some people slap a smug face and think they " won "

I choose walk away and take with me what I " know" and how I know it
Done here

 

[DisUniversal]

Hmm Dilemma..either respond and it's now a back & forth useless thing getting us no where OR just walk away and let some people slap a smug face and think they " won "

I choose walk away and take with me what I " know" and how I know it
Done here

 

[goofy4tink]

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/

Anyone can write pretty much anything they want. Someone is always going to be able to find some article to give credence to their 'way of thinking'.

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.

I just returned from WDW. There were numerous days that as I approached the walkway area to bag check, at MK, it was full of people...huge numbers of people. Its A Small World had 30+ min waits on those days...the park was crowded. The lines at bag check were long. But.....I was able to check out the lines and choose a line that had me through the process in under 4 mins. I have never, ever (in 30+ trips) been in a bag check line for more than 8 mins...yep, I timed it.


Seriously...do I feel safer because of bag check? Nope. I fully realize that there are plenty of ways to get dangerous substances into WDW parks, either in my clothing or on my person. But truly? Do you all really think that the only security Disney has is at bag check? Or the few uniformed CMs you see in the parks? Hardly. They know what they are watching for.

When I go, I usually have a cross body Vera Bradly bag. It holds all that I need as well as a water bottle. It's easy to check at bag check. What holds up the whole process? The people that felt the need to pack back packs and strollers for any possibly contingency!!! They could probably exist in that park for a week on what they packed for that one day.

 

[DisUniversal]

Do you all really think that the only security Disney has is at bag check? Or the few uniformed CMs you see in the parks? Hardly. They know what they are watching for.

Not at all...in fact, I think one of those articles I posted touched on that. The security you typically see (ie, bag checkers) is for show. Real security is likely never seen...unless you give them a reason to be seen.

 

[Firebug]

Hmm Dilemma..either respond and it's now a back & forth useless thing getting us no where OR just walk away and let some people slap a smug face and think they " won "

I choose walk away and take with me what I " know" and how I know it
Done here

Me too. I know what I "know" and how I know it too. Years of training and personal experience actually doing the job of a Law Enforcement Officer. Hey, I bet I could get that high speed low drag job that is the Disney Security Officer.

FB

 

[jenrose66]

Going to WDW in September with my bff, no kids, and I would love to avoid the bag check line, but I'm not sure I can go completely bagless. I'll have minimal things to carry - phone, id, a bit of cash & water. I'm thinking that if I can get a small cross body bag, I could fold it up into my pocket, and put the other items in my pocket as we enter the park, then pull the bag out & use it for the day. The Lesportsac Kasey looks like a good size - does anyone know if I'll be able to fold or roll it up to put it in a pocket? Or have any suggestions for a small bag that will work for this?

I think the Kasey is a little big to roll into your pocket. The bag check lines look bad, but they move quickly.

 

[HelenParr]

OP: Personally, I wouldn't try to conceal the bag in my pocket.

I tried to go bag-less for a while, but realized I just like my stuff with me -- not much stuff, as you describe, but enough to need small sling sak to avoid weighing down my shorts.

I've found that bag check mostly is not that big a delay or hassle.

 

[sandydog]

Meh. The bag check is merely security theater to slow people down and let the sheeple, er, people think they are safe. I carry a bag most every time we go and there are some pockets they never check; those pockets aren't hidden either. They are big enough to hold a nice toy and some other stuff too. Would they notice the weight difference? Probably not with all the other stuff I've had in there. I've also had a multi-tool that I forgot about and they never found it.

I have had them question me on why I had 550 cord in my bag before. I use it to tie stuff off and for just in case. It was quite funny actually. They took it out and looked it over, turned it around and looked some more, glanced at me a couple times and questioned me about it. I have it in there for the same reason I have a first aid kit, water, rain gear, etc. I was a Boy Scout so you know the motto. If I really wanted to get some stuff in, it wouldn't be hard even if I didn't have a bag.

Bag check is annoying but it doesn't take that long. If nothing else, have one or two people take the bags through and have everyone else walk through and get in line for rope drop or whatever. It's an inconvenience, nothing more.

 

[LAS321]

I love my Vera Bradley zip ID case on a lanyard. I can carry my ID and some case in the case and put my phone in my pocket. The VB lanyards are cloth so they don't get irritating if you sweat! When I go out at night and I might want to bring a few extra things I use a VB mini-hipster....still have to go thru bag check but because it's such a small bag I got through quickly.

 

[MattDisney]

The security at bag check is useful, but not who is doing the majority of the security for Disney. Disney security is top notch and is almost all plain clothes. I have had the opportunity to work with them and I'm amazed at their technique and technology. They have the ability to respond to a "concern" quickly without other guest realizing there was any type of threat or incident.

 

[ConnieB]

Going to WDW in September with my bff, no kids, and I would love to avoid the bag check line, but I'm not sure I can go completely bagless. I'll have minimal things to carry - phone, id, a bit of cash & water. I'm thinking that if I can get a small cross body bag, I could fold it up into my pocket, and put the other items in my pocket as we enter the park, then pull the bag out & use it for the day. The Lesportsac Kasey looks like a good size - does anyone know if I'll be able to fold or roll it up to put it in a pocket? Or have any suggestions for a small bag that will work for this?

I've never found bag check to take long enough to go through all this to avoid it.....we were there last month, pretty crowded in the park and I don't think we waited more than 3 to 5 minutes to go through bag check. In slower times, which most of September would be, it should be almost walk up, unzip the purse, they glance in and you walk on.

 

[jcemom]

In slower times, which most of September would be, it should be almost walk up, unzip the purse, they glance in and you walk on.

Sometimes. There are fewer people going through, but then they also have fewer lines open/fewer security people working. In the afternoons we have breezed right through. At park opening we have encountered lines, some longer than others.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Someday, maybe after Im long gone metal detectors will come into play.

 

[seelyt2]

I have a Vera Bradley wristlet that holds cash, credit cards and my iPhone. I was told by Disney security that if I unzip it and carry it totally opened (like show and tell) as I walk through the no bag entry that I'll be fine. I've been doing it for years now. Easy peezy!

 

[ConnieB]

Sometimes. There are fewer people going through, but then they also have fewer lines open/fewer security people working. In the afternoons we have breezed right through. At park opening we have encountered lines, some longer than others.

Park opening you have lines to file through the no-bag section too, lol. Arrive early for ropedrop and it's not a big deal.

 

[jcemom]

Park opening you have lines to file through the no-bag section too, lol. Arrive early for ropedrop and it's not a big deal.

It isn't that big a deal. Even when we have to wait I don't think too much about it because it is what it is. I just wanted to mention that at slower times they have fewer lanes open, so it isn't necessarily a shorter wait than at busier times. Like everything, it seems to be hit or miss. There usually isn't a line to go through the no bags lane that I have noticed, just a steadily moving stream of people.

I like having a bag to carry my stuff, so I wait for bag check. The way I see it, the choices are take a bag and wait, or don't take a bag. LOL. If I want my bag, then I have to wait. It's a bit of a nuisance, but since there isn't anything I can do about it (other than doing without my bag) then there isn't really any point in complaining about it. The wait is minimal compared to the overall amount of time we spend waiting for everything else -- the bus, the turnstiles, rope drop, food, attractions, shows, fireworks, the bus again, LOL.

I'd rather be waiting in the bag check line at Disney than doing pretty much anything else here at home.

 

[Shannon G]

OP here - thanks for all of the input. Just to be clear (particularly to the poster who asked whether I also coast through yellow lights and stop signs - I wasn't aware that wanting to minimize my time in line was the equivalent of a traffic violation, lol), I am not talking about stuffing my pockets with a ton of stuff. Everything I plan on bringing would fit into my pockets easily (with the exception of a water bottle, which I have a clip for anyway). I just don't like to carry certain things, especially my phone, in my pocket because I am afraid it will fall out & I will lose it. I also like the extra layer of protection around it on rides where it could get wet, like Splash Mountain.

And, while the bag check lines normally aren't that long, I have encountered long lines at times, especially at AK for some reason. I was in WDW with my kids last week, and most of the bag lines were quick & uneventful (with the exception of the snarky comment from someone waiting on one side of the line when I went to the other side of the bag check table).

I have a small wallet/bag that I had forgotten about that I think will be perfect. It has room for some cash, bank card/credit card & ID, and is just long enough for my phone to fit. It has a detachable strap so that it can be used as either a wallet or carried as a very small purse. If I bring that, I can easily slip it into a pocket (if men's wallets don't cause a concern, this shouldn't either) if the bag check lines are unusually long.

 

[jcemom]

And, while the bag check lines normally aren't that long, I have encountered long lines at times, especially at AK for some reason.

I have noticed that the lines at AK always seem to take the longest. I think it might be because they check for straws and other stuff that could harm the animals, but I'm not sure.

 

[hsmamato2]

Yeah....bag check...that magical moment when strangers paw through your purse looking for.....? My guess is alcohol in glass bottles. It's not 'secure' and if a person wanted to walk thru without a bag,and concealed dangerous items,it would be easy. That said,if you look,avoid the lines with people with strollers,big bags,or who don't seem ready...also both aides of table are open,which shortens the wait quite a bit,i rarely wait for long.... They alternate sides to check,so calculate that too i always have my purse.sigh.

 

[ZoZo]

Thanks for all the tips. I really would love to go bag-free (love the idea of not have to carry anything at all), but I'm not sure I can do it. My biggest worry is whether my phone will fall out of my pocket. I won't actually need much cash, since I can charge most things to the room, and with the magic bands, I won't have park tickets to hold, so maybe it's do-able.

I was at WDW in February this year, and had tucked my cell phone in my pocket. I stopped to watch some street performers at AK, and as I was walking away, a young woman stopped me and said, "is that your cell phone?" It dropped out of my pocket onto the ground, and I didn't even notice! I'm so glad she stopped me.

So I say, if you put your phone in your pocket, make sure it's a deep one - or even better, a cargo pocket that buttons or zips!