Bag Check! Ive had enough of it.

[Mac4life30]

Bag check was slower than last trip (even though crowds were bigger on the last trip...go figuer). But it wasn't too bad comparing to the buses.

Anyway, I'm just curious about something that has been mentioned many times. Many people say bag check is just an "excuse" to slow people down and let the real security do their job of watching everyone.

Okay, I always agreed with that...until I thought about the huge amount of people who have no bags and just walk right in...don't they need to be slowed down and watched too?

Seems odd to me that if the purpose of it is making guests slow down, that they would only do it to people with bags/strollers.

You can bring a lot of stuff in your pockets or a jacket. And bringing a bag or stroller doesn't make you more or less dangerous.

I don’t buy the excuse of slowing people down. Aren’t they going to be slowed down anyways when they are at the front gate waiting to put their ticket into the machine. Why not look at them there? Doesn’t everyone slow down the moment they walk into MK or Epcot look at them there. The congestion of people all on top of each other waiting for bag check hardly seems like the ideal spot for singling out potential threats.

 

[Sweettears]

Just because you're at a theme park doesn't mean you don't need "stuff". (I suppose need a subjective) I bring a bag for my camera, money, a few first aid items like bonine, asprin, bandaids, my phone if I choose to take it and a water bottle. Being hands free is a big plus. I know other people choose to bring their own snacks to cut down on costs. To each his own.

I get it. For the most part everything you mentioned is available in the parks. You choose to bring a bag in to save money therefore one shouldn't complain if the source of irritation is of their own making.

 

[SMorgan711]

DF doesn't carry a bag since I do. He never got stopped going through the no bag area, however on this past trip, one security guy stopped him and made another one pat/check the pockets of his cargo shorts. He always wear cargo shorts and we've been to Disney twice before and this never happened. Has it happened to anyone else? His pockets were empty so it's not even like they obviously full of stuff that needed to be checked.

 

[Sweettears]

DF doesn't carry a bag since I do. He never got stopped going through the no bag area, however on this past trip, one security guy stopped him and made another one pat/check the pockets of his cargo shorts. He always wear cargo shorts and we've been to Disney twice before and this never happened. Has it happened to anyone else? His pockets were empty so it's not even like they obviously full of stuff that needed to be checked.

I always have plenty of stuff in my pocket. Never been checked but then again I go through the bag less line.

 

[Jennasis]

I don’t buy the excuse of slowing people down. Aren’t they going to be slowed down anyways when they are at the front gate waiting to put their ticket into the machine. Why not look at them there? Doesn’t everyone slow down the moment they walk into MK or Epcot look at them there. The congestion of people all on top of each other waiting for bag check hardly seems like the ideal spot for singling out potential threats.

Guilty people will act quite differently at a "security check point" than they will at the "ticket taking point".

 

[waynesgirl]

I just love these useless debates where everyone wants to give their opinion...so here's mine

I read the whole thread and have a few conclusions:

1. The OP wants everyone to know he ran a 1/2 marathon. Some of you made the mistake of congratulating him on a marathon. Keep in mind he only did 1/2 of a marathon...13.1 miles and 2 hours of running is hardly impressive

OOOOOH, I just ran a 10K mud run- anybody? *crickets*

2. The bag check at WDW is just for show. The real security is hidden and flawless. Big Brother is watching and we should all feel safe.

I don't have a big brother- I feel left out

3. People who do not carry bags are smarter than those who are dependent on bags. No one should need to carry a bag for a single day at WDW. Twelve hours in the heat, with kids should require no additional provisions than what you can fit in your pocket.

That's why I don't take kids...they are so dependent on me for everything. Geez.

4. WDW should have separate lines for people with big bags, people with medium-sized bags, people with small bags and people with no bags. In fact, they should just have separate attractions for...no wait, separate theme parks for different sized-bag-people.

5. It all started with a mouse. Actually, this added security all started with the fact that the cockpit doors was not locked. Lock the cockpit door and the terrorists never devise their plan. At best they would have threatened some passengers. They certainly would not have taken control of a plane and flown it into a building. Lock the darn door. Jeez.

#5 is always said to my son...I mean reall? You can't shut the door? Or flush for that matter?

 

[atp]

Guilty people will act quite differently at a "security check point" than they will at the "ticket taking point".

But why wouldn't the people without bags need to be slowed down too?

If I wanted to cause trouble, I wouldn't go through the bag check, I would hide whatever I wanted in my pockets, jacket, etc and just walk through the other entrance.

 

[musicmantrs]

I've been stopped going through the non-bag line on previous trips. Today we are transferring room s at CBR and had to leave our bags with luggage services. I kept my work laptop and our 400 in gift cards and planned on checking then at the park putting it in a locker. Got to bag check and our checker was extra thorough... Found my scissors with my moleskin that I hadn't even thought about. Got to experience the 50 cent pre-entrance locker for my scissors. I'd be more understanding if it were a switchblade and not scissors. Oh well, we moved on and are having a great time! On the way back to CBR to see if the new room is ready then DHS tonight!

 

[Sweettears]

I've been stopped going through the non-bag line on previous trips. Today we are transferring room s at CBR and had to leave our bags with luggage services. I kept my work laptop and our 400 in gift cards and planned on checking then at the park putting it in a locker. Got to bag check and our checker was extra thorough... Found my scissors with my moleskin that I hadn't even thought about. Got to experience the 50 cent pre-entrance locker for my scissors. I'd be more understanding if it were a switchblade and not scissors. Oh well, we moved on and are having a great time! On the way back to CBR to see if the new room is ready then DHS tonight!

Just curious. Why would one need to bring scissors on a vacation. . I travel at least 4 or 5 times a year and have never thought to pack scissors and have never wished I had.

 

[stindall]

I get it. For the most part everything you mentioned is available in the parks. You choose to bring a bag in to save money therefore one shouldn't complain if the source of irritation is of their own making.

Yes it is available at the parks but for a heftier price. I wasn't complaining though.

 

[musicmantrs]

Just curious. Why would one need to bring scissors on a vacation. . I travel at least 4 or 5 times a year and have never thought to pack scissors and have never wished I had.

Moleskin is stuff you put into your shoes to help with blisters and you have to cut it to fit so we brought scissors. I normally wouldn't otherwise.

 

[atp]

Just curious. Why would one need to bring scissors on a vacation. . I travel at least 4 or 5 times a year and have never thought to pack scissors and have never wished I had.

To cut moleskin, open packages, etc.

I used to always bring scissors. I didn't this trip and had to go buy one to open some of the things I bought that were in that horrible plastic box like thing that is impossible to tear open.

 

[maxiesmom]

Moleskin is stuff you put into your shoes to help with blisters and you have to cut it to fit so we brought scissors. I normally wouldn't otherwise.

I just cut up my moleskin ahead of time into various shapes and sizes. Then I don't have to worry about sticking myself with the scissors.

 

[Sweettears]

To cut moleskin, open packages, etc.

I used to always bring scissors. I didn't this trip and had to go buy one to open some of the things I bought that were in that horrible plastic box like thing that is impossible to tear open.

Don't you love those.

 

[Jennasis]

But why wouldn't the people without bags need to be slowed down too?

If I wanted to cause trouble, I wouldn't go through the bag check, I would hide whatever I wanted in my pockets, jacket, etc and just walk through the other entrance.

It's still easier to eyeball everyone this way. Those with bags get the once over on their line and those who walk straight through still get the once over by the security watching them (there just tend to be LESS of them so they don't necessarily need to slow them down).

 

[Mac4life30]

Here is the bottom line. "It is what it is" and I will have to deal with it in order to continue to enjoy Disney. I normally take a bag this way I can throw my Camera, Water bottle, Vinylmations and Jacket. If I Visit during the summer I might be able to get away with not taking a jacket and stuffing everything else into my pocket (till I get inside and transfer to a bag). I sometimes also go with friends who refuse to use Disney Transportation so I end up driving to the Parks. I don’t like walking around all day with keys, cell phone and a camera in my pocket. So therein lies the need for the bag.

I believe it is a waste of time to check peoples bag in the fashion they are doing so and I think it causes more of a hassle then anything else. Regardless I have to accept it. thank you for your thoughts.

 

[Otter49]

I don't take bag check seriously because Disney doesn't take bag check seriously, and here's why I say that.

As most everyone knows, to the left side of the Epcot entrance, there's a small remote bag check to catch people walking in from that side of the parking lot. Over the summer, leaving the park a couple of dozen times at around 8:30 to 8:45, after the concerts, that bag check was completely abandoned.

At DHS, there is also a remote bag check. Last May, leaving the park at about 9:10pm, this station was also unmanned. This was on a night when the park was open until 10pm, with a Fantasmic scheduled for 10:30 I think.

These entries were not secured in any way and we passed many many people heading in with backpacks, strollers, purses, etc.

And I don't buy any notion of some WDW Eye in the Sky, or a Disney Jason Bourne with xray vision hiding behind a two way mirror to catch a bad guy.

Finally, it'll be a cold day when I let a private security guard invasively pat me down. That sort of thing qualifies under Fla law as misdemeanor battery and you'd have a tort action against both the employer and employee.

 

[pampam]

I know a lot of people's feel but it's unnecessary, but we never hear what happens behind the scenes. I'm sure many people have been caught, or pulled out of line with things that we have never heard of. Disney does not want us to know all their secrets. Also I'm sure many things I never revealed. Just because it doesn't make the news doesn't mean it's ineffective.

 

[Mac4life30]

If I recall didnt this start a few months after 9/11? Prior to 9/11 you could go into the parks with no bag check. Yes I know what happen on 9/11 was horrible however a mediocre bag check would not have prevented that horrible event. Therefore it does not make me feel safe that Disney has a bag check.

 

[auralia]

because of idiots like me who don't want their MnM mini tube of quarters for pressed pennies to open up in their bag so they.... duck tape it shut. OMG I am an idiot (this was a few years back). It looked like a pipe you know what... I quickly took the tape off and the guard and I had a good laugh but I felt like a HUGE idiot.