Bag Check 3/28 am at Hollywood Studios.

[Sparkie]

If you have no bags you can skip the long bag check and then when you get picked "randomly" for metal detector it will be faster just to empty the pockets and go through.

This is true. But the story I read was HILARIOUS because of the amount of stuff that was stuffed into those pockets. It just kept coming and coming... kinda like the hankercheif magic trick.

 

[lugnut33]

Is there a tier 1 FP+ for bag check?

 

[yulilin3]

Is there a tier 1 FP+ for bag check?

no, but if you pay $50 there's an exclusive bag check line, with shorter waits and a free pat down

 

[AngiTN]

The bag checks are getting nuts and just not getting better.
I have been slowly adding to my stock of (expensive) running skirts with pockets so we can adopt to being bag free.
Funny thing is, I've been shopping for more skirts this morning. This thread is prompting me to hit submit
I'm just over bag check

 

[loves to dive]

We went bagless our last trip and it was definitely freeing. I normally wear sundresses so have to carry some kind of little crossbody for phone and cards since sundresses have no pockets. Since it was cooler in March then when we normally go, I took a bunch of capris with deep enough pockets to hold the phone in one and the cards and cash in the other. Now when I go in September, I'll have to carry a bag because of the poncho/raincoat/umbrella issue. Someone said carry your poncho in but wouldn't they still make you go through the line if you had it in your hand? I've seen them send people through if they were even just carrying an umbrella. I'm thinking of taking some sort of string bag that will fold tiny and fit in a pocket then putting my rain gear in it after I get in the park. I wear a long clear rain coat similar to the ones the cast members wear if I know it's going to be a gully washer. The hood has a drawstring and it snaps almost all the way to the ground. I guess I could just wear it into the park then transfer it to the bag. I've really never waited more than 10 min. to go through bag check since I don't carry a big bag even when I carry one, just big enough to hold the rain gear. I also don't go in at normal hours, I either go before park opens or wait until around 10.

 

[AngiTN]

bag check at HS took the longest out of all parks for us. Not an hour though, that's crazy!

Epcot main entrance is always the longest for us. No idea why it's always so backed up compared to other parks. It was before the added the metal detectors.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

I agree with the poster that said they enter through the far left entrance near where the trams circle about. There is typically never more than a few people entering there and the guards are always easy to get through without going through ever nook and cranny.

We were at Magic last evening and it was crowded even around 7:00 o'clock when we arrived. Yes it was East Sunday though we got through bag check fairly quickly. Less than five minutes. Now they have a lot more stalls with guards than the Studios does. Still, not long at all considering the crowd level.

Heading to the Studios in a little while to see my buddy at LMA as this is the last few shows they will be doing. Interested to see the crowds and the bag check queues.

 

[AngiTN]

We went bagless our last trip and it was definitely freeing. I normally wear sundresses so have to carry some kind of little crossbody for phone and cards since sundresses have no pockets. Since it was cooler in March then when we normally go, I took a bunch of capris with deep enough pockets to hold the phone in one and the cards and cash in the other. Now when I go in September, I'll have to carry a bag because of the poncho/raincoat/umbrella issue. Someone said carry your poncho in but wouldn't they still make you go through the line if you had it in your hand? I've seen them send people through if they were even just carrying an umbrella. I'm thinking of taking some sort of string bag that will fold tiny and fit in a pocket then putting my rain gear in it after I get in the park. I wear a long clear rain coat similar to the ones the cast members wear if I know it's going to be a gully washer. The hood has a drawstring and it snaps almost all the way to the ground. I guess I could just wear it into the park then transfer it to the bag. I've really never waited more than 10 min. to go through bag check since I don't carry a big bag even when I carry one, just big enough to hold the rain gear. I also don't go in at normal hours, I either go before park opens or wait until around 10.

I have had DH carry one of these in his pockets. Whether or not I'll need one sort of depends on what all we have going on that day and how long we'll be in the parks. And who all is with us. When it's just DH and I it seems I can get by with less than if I have DGD with me.

 

[disney world dreamer]

Epcot main entrance is always the longest for us. No idea why it's always so backed up compared to other parks. It was before the added the metal detectors.

completely agree.
i have no idea why its epcot in particular but it is.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We went bagless our last trip and it was definitely freeing. I normally wear sundresses so have to carry some kind of little crossbody for phone and cards since sundresses have no pockets. Since it was cooler in March then when we normally go, I took a bunch of capris with deep enough pockets to hold the phone in one and the cards and cash in the other. Now when I go in September, I'll have to carry a bag because of the poncho/raincoat/umbrella issue. Someone said carry your poncho in but wouldn't they still make you go through the line if you had it in your hand? I've seen them send people through if they were even just carrying an umbrella. I'm thinking of taking some sort of string bag that will fold tiny and fit in a pocket then putting my rain gear in it after I get in the park. I wear a long clear rain coat similar to the ones the cast members wear if I know it's going to be a gully washer. The hood has a drawstring and it snaps almost all the way to the ground. I guess I could just wear it into the park then transfer it to the bag. I've really never waited more than 10 min. to go through bag check since I don't carry a big bag even when I carry one, just big enough to hold the rain gear. I also don't go in at normal hours, I either go before park opens or wait until around 10.

That's exactly why I started making and selling cinch bags. It is the perfect solution.

 

[MrsDuck]

And, this is why we go bagless. We're spoiled though - no kids, AP, FL residents... not too much that we need to bring. We'll definitely have a hard time adjusting when we have to carry around a baby bag.

 

[MamaBelle4]

no, but if you pay $50 there's an exclusive bag check line, with shorter waits and a free pat down

That gave me a good chuckle.

 

[River Country]

This is exactly why I do not do Rope Drop anymore

 

[Minnie222]

The thorough checks and high crowds made it slow.
But with the amount of people in the parks, I'd rather be safe then rush thru this process though.

Last week, we arrived early (for Jedi sign-up). The bag check is thorough, but because it is early and very few people arriving, it doesn't matter.
But later in the day, the wait is long because of the amount of guests.

 

[Roobear77]

This is why we always enter through the far left walkway (to the left of the tram) where it's only one security guard. Normally no one else is over there so we get past bag check in just a couple seconds.

When we were there last December they weren't letting any guests in that entrance. They had someone stationed at the crosswalk at the end of parking lot instructing people to go to the main entrance.

 

[Hopefully]

I have noticed on our last two trips (January and March) that the Disney security guards are looking at bags much more closely than in the past (last September). They are looking in every single nook and cranny and I saw them even checking some backpacks for hidden items sewn in.

I have vowed to go bagless next trip (July) - the lines were just too long and moved too slowly in bag check lately.

As well they should, in my opinion. Security needs to be heightened everywhere crowds are.

 

[capegirl]

Since February, I have read posts, and also saw photos of long bag check lines on other threads. When they beefed up security, additional staff should have been added to handle RD crowds. I am happy that they have taken the steps to make the parks safer, but Disney knew this would have a big impact on bag check lines.
A guest's time is very valuable, and Disney encourages planning; that said, I do think security should be properly staffed to get the people into the parks without unreasonable waits.
If if is like this now, I can only imagine what summer will bring.

 

[tlmadden73]

The self-fulling prophecy.
More people know its super crowded .. more people know if you arrive at rope drop it will be less crowded .. thus more people arrive at rope drop.

Add in the new "security theater" measures and it is a nightmare.

I find it annoyingly frustrating in our world today where I pay a LOT of money for something (theme park, NFL game, airline tickets) and have to wait an hour or more to just USE that ticket that I paid a lot for.

And why? To check that someone isn't bringing in a weapon. Yet, if someone wanted to hurt a lot of people, why bother trying to commit that terror IN the park? Why not just do something at this awful chokepoint where everyone is clogged up?

 

[KathyTX]

High crowds are a factor, but the recent terror attacks in Belgium and Pakistan have triggered Disney to ramp up the thoroughness of security screenings.

 

[nkereina]

It's just hard because ponchos are needed with the midday storms.

We don't even bring ponchos anymore. If/when we encounter a mid-day storm, we go to the nearest store and just buy a WDW poncho. It's less than $10 per adult, it's good quality, and you don't have to carry it until you need it.