Bag check guard opened wallet

[nkereina]

That would apply to government agencies etc, not private property, which Disney World is. Also, similar to when you take a plane there are limitations on the right. I think the stick is more of a safety thing for the security officer. Needle sticks etc.

Are the security guards employed by Disney? I was under the impression they were contractors.

 

[Gracie09]

Are the security guards employed by Disney? I was under the impression they were contractors.

It doesn't matter who their ultimate employer is, what matters is they are not employed by a government agency. They are employed by a private employer

 

[jetdoctor]

Well I do believe that the Guards in general could use a little more tact. What I would love to know is? When I go over there I always get picked to go through the metal detectors. Not that that is a problem, but I some times I am pushing my 1 year old in a stroller. Now lets just say that I was by myself am I supposed to leave my daughter unattended when I go through the detector?
Unfortunately that is the world we live in and this is par for the course. I do believe that this should not be random, everyone should have to go through. Just wait the day is coming that we will see some sort of law suit. So if Disney where to "profile" any partial race or religion, that would be unfair that is why I believe that everyone should have to go through the screening just like the airport, to make thing fair across the board.

 

[jetdoctor]

Are the security guards employed by Disney? I was under the impression they were contractors

They are are all Disney employees Now. At its implement they did use contract people to deal with the initial use of the detectors.

 

[MamaGT]

To summarize: A person standing in a security line, having already consented to a search of any and all bags carried, is upset because a person who is paid to enforce security measures did his job by unzipping the bag the complainant should already have had unzipped.
But wait, the real issue is that the security guard, who was by no means rude, could have been more courteous by politely asking permission to do for you what you already failed to do for yourself.
But wait, the real issue is that by opening your wallet for you, he risked an inexplicable and disastrous ejection of contents, possibly into his own pocket.
Or perhaps the real issue is that Disney doesn't cavity search every single person who crosses the threshold, so the application of security measures is inconsistent.

This is not an example of trading freedom for security. This is an example of complying with rules so we can enter an amusement park. Maybe we can give the guy who makes $9 an hour a break for having a momentary lapse in what might otherwise be unfailing courtesy?

Perspective is a wonderful and very useful armor against minor annoyances and inconveniences.

 

[Albytaps]

Disney's bag inspection/security is a joke... Like someone earlier called it Security Theater.

Universal does it right... EVERYONE goes through the metal detector and get thier bags scanned like at an airport.

Wake up Disney!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Are the security guards employed by Disney? I was under the impression they were contractors.

It changed recently and they are now employed by Disney. I thought one of the main reasons given was that they wanted to better control the guest experience.

 

[nkereina]

It doesn't matter who their ultimate employer is, what matters is they are not employed by a government agency. They are employed by a private employer

It would depend on who they were contracted through, that's why I was asking. It's a moot point though because they are employed by Disney after all.

 

[cgattis]

I would be glad if they checked everything. But they don't.

One guard pulls out the wallet and unzips it. Another allows someone through the "bagless" line, with all of their stuff stuffed into pockets. Another pulls out a woman's sanitary pads and places them on the table while he looks into the rest of the bag. (Yes, I have seen this.)

When we entered AK last weekend, one of the guards was checking every single square inch of every diaper bag and stroller that came through. That line was really starting to back up, so another guy came over to work the other side of the line. I had a very small sling bag with all the zippers open. He pulled out the clear ziploc with my personal items in it and says loudly "monkey butt?!?" (I have some powder called Anti-Monkey Butt for when it's 1000 degrees outside. Embarrassing but oh well--I sweat a lot.) I really didn't appreciate him commenting on my personal items for others in line to hear. I told him I also had some tampons in there if he wanted me to whip them out for him to get a closer look. He was suddenly done with my bag. Yeah, I don't care if you only make $9 an hour--keep your comments to yourself.

 

[dreiwhit]

Can you point to this law somewhere? I'd be shocked if Disney's high priced lawyers hadn't gone over the legal ramifications of these searches with a fine tooth comb....but stranger things have happened. Nobody has ever used a stick to search our bags at WDW.

Laws vary between states, but most of the time its policy to prevent accusations of theft.

 

[Jennasis]

Laws vary between states, but most of the time its policy to prevent accusations of theft.

A company policy perhaps...but it's not law, as the poster suggested.

 

[Jennasis]

When we entered AK last weekend, one of the guards was checking every single square inch of every diaper bag and stroller that came through. That line was really starting to back up, so another guy came over to work the other side of the line. I had a very small sling bag with all the zippers open. He pulled out the clear ziploc with my personal items in it and says loudly "monkey butt?!?" (I have some powder called Anti-Monkey Butt for when it's 1000 degrees outside. Embarrassing but oh well--I sweat a lot.) I really didn't appreciate him commenting on my personal items for others in line to hear. I told him I also had some tampons in there if he wanted me to whip them out for him to get a closer look. He was suddenly done with my bag. Yeah, I don't care if you only make $9 an hour--keep your comments to yourself.

O/T,...no shame...I LOVE Anti-Monkey Butt powder!

 

[Srbright]

Private property or not, Disney security still has to respect the fourth amendment. BUT that's not what we're talking about here since the OP gave permission to search the bag when entering bag check.

I don't think there's a specific law that says they have to use a stick to search bags, but I do think it's best practice so organizations would be smart to set that as a rule.

Absolutely false. The 4th amendment pertains only to those activities conducted by federal/state/local governments. If you come into my house I have full ability to search your bag. You are welcome to take your bag and leave. If you called the police there is no crime they could charge me with. No private citizen has ever been arrested or gone to jail on a charge of "violated 4th amendment".

"Although a wrongful search or seizure conducted by a private party does not violate the fourth amendment, a private citizen’s actions may in some instances be considered state action.10 This question as to whether an individual was a private person or an agent of the state comes up time and again since evidence located on computers is often initially discovered by a computer technician, hacker, or other third party who inadvertently stumbles across the material."

http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/ncjrl/pdf/PrivateSearchDoctrine.pdf

Trespass? Nope, I can't trespass on my own property. Assault or battery? Nope, can only be done for living things. Destruction of private property? Nope, nothing was destroyed or damaged.

It's the same reason that I can prevent a person from disagreeing with me at my place of work. 1st amendment only applies to federal/state/local governments.

Stacy

 

[Gracie09]

It would depend on who they were contracted through, that's why I was asking. It's a moot point though because they are employed by Disney after all.

No it wouldn't. The fourth amendment only applies to govt activity. Disney is private property and unless they are discriminating against a protected group i.e. All black people go through the metal detector, they are within their rights to determine security protocol.

 

[smiths02]

I got put through the metal detectors at least 75% of the time. DH not once. He even got back to the hotel room once and realized he had a pocket knife in his shorts (he had been fishing in the morning and forgot-he wasn't trying to get by the rules) and he got through security.

I do have to say, they the security did usually ask me to open smaller items instead of opening it themselves

 

[smiths02]

Well I do believe that the Guards in general could use a little more tact. What I would love to know is? When I go over there I always get picked to go through the metal detectors. Not that that is a problem, but I some times I am pushing my 1 year old in a stroller. Now lets just say that I was by myself am I supposed to leave my daughter unattended when I go through the detector?
Unfortunately that is the world we live in and this is par for the course. I do believe that this should not be random, everyone should have to go through. Just wait the day is coming that we will see some sort of law suit. So if Disney where to "profile" any partial race or religion, that would be unfair that is why I believe that everyone should have to go through the screening just like the airport, to make thing fair across the board.

I had a little bit of this at Epcot. I took my 3 year old twins by myself to Akershus. We walked from Beach Club (DH and older DS were doing something else). I got picked for the metal detector. Luckily, I was the only one there and there were 3 or 4 security people, but I did get a little flustered wondering where to park the children, etc. I would have been scared if it were rope drop at MK or something.

 

[NileNellie]

Really, if it bothers you that much, don't go. I'm honestly not trying to be argumentative, but it's literally Rule A. on the park rules:

GENERAL RULES

Welcome to the Walt Disney World Resort. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our park Guests, please respect the following rules:

1. All persons, bags, parcels, clothing, and other items may be subject to screening/security checks at the Park entrances and also within the Parks.

He's not saying that it bothered him enough to not even go to the park. What I got from the post was that perhaps he was just a bit surprised about it, is all.

 

[Jaime4004]

IASW is closed friends. It puts us all in a bad mood.

I agree. My 8 yr old actually cried over this, said it was his favorite ride (which is news to me)...

 

[NileNellie]

I am not at all bothered by the security measures, and the more the better, makes me safer, but I do find it funny at times. Our first few days in the park, I wound up in the metal detector every time, I think 3 days. Rest of the trip, not once, BUT . . . . one time at MK, after I walked through the no bag line, waved on by not one, but two security guards, walked probably 8 or 10 steps past them, and all of a sudden I had 3 security guards running at my son and I, pretty well hollering for me to stop, and empty my pockets.

Now, it certainly isn't a BIG surprise to me that they wanted me to empty my pockets, I wear cargo shorts, and pack the pockets pretty full, but they COULD have simply asked me to do that when I came past them. Waiting like that, then running after me yelling made me feel like I had done something wrong, and certainly made many of the people around me think the same thing judging by the looks on some of their faces.

Once I realized it was me they were running after and yelling at, I stopped, and emptied out my pockets for them, and that was that, have a nice day.

Rest of the trip, I waked through the no bag line, pockets packed just as full, and no one ever said a word to me about them.

Is it really safer though? You can walk through the no bag line with things stuffed in your pockets but a wallet gets unzipped and checked?

 

[tmoo]

All persons, bags, parcels, clothing, and other items may be subject to screening/security checks at the Park entrances and also within the Parks.

According to this, they can strip search you, look at the inside of your underwear, and the fillings in your teeth. I hope most of you agree that is not reasonable, so please stop saying searching wallets is reasonable based on this statement. How would you feel if WalMart implemented the same policy? Is would be their right as a company to do so. Searching a large bag is one thing but searching something as personal as your wallet in public is not necessary to provide a reasonable level of protection.

Bad things are going to happen because there are bad people. Taking reasonable precautions is good, but allowing our society to crash into the thought that we must yield ALL individual privacy to make certain nothing bad ever happens anywhere at anytime is the wrong direction.

I get it that Disney is searching bags to keep weapons that can cause multiple homicides out of the park, but there is nothing I can carry in my wallet that could be reasonably used for multiple homicides. If there is, then they should close the parks immediately because life is just too dangerous. If our society is so terrified that we feel it is reasonable to open up something as small and as personal as my wallet to make sure I don't have a razor blade or credit card knife on me before I go see Goofy then the spirit that founded this country is dead.

Did it ever occur to anyone that you can hop a crowded bus, or the monorail, or the boats packed with people without any type of security check? You can access the resorts, pools, beaches, all kinds of places in Disney carrying any weapon You desire, but once I pass the ticket gate for a park I am suddenly supposed to think there is a good reason to check out my credit cards? If someone wants to stage an attack at Disney they can do it easily. I personally don't think that is likely because it is a very difficult location for someone to escape from, but we should be able to achieve a reasonable level of security by searching for firearms and other relatively large dangerous objects during bag check and not looking at my private phone or business cards.