Bag inspection logistics

[strawberrylilacs]

I will be visiting DL the week of July 13th. I have not been there since the 50th ann. I have seen horror pictures of people waiting in line for baggage checks. I have been to WDW quite a few times and no problem at all there. But am a little concerned about navigating the lines here. I will be staying across the street at Park Inn. How are the baggage checks positioned in the area? Is there one for DL, CA, downtown, or are you able to go to all after one bag check? If you go to the Disneyland Hotel area do you need to go thru a check on the way back to a park? Thank you for helping me picture this.

 

[coaches24]

There are two bag check areas. Both are near the gates to both parks. One is located before you get to DTD from the parks (so yes coming from DLH you will have to go through this one to get to the parks but it's after walking through DTD.

The other is on the opposite end of the esplanade that separates the parks and it is where all those coming from the hotels across the street (good neighbor hotels/ motels).

I always get there early for rope drop so I have never had any trouble with the security checks. I have rarely seen more than a hand full of people in front of me.

 

[figment_jii]

At the PP said, there are two back check areas and both let guests into the Esplanade, which is the area between the DL and DCA ticket gates. If you're coming from Harbor Blvd, you'll go through bag check and then you can either go to DL or DCA or exit the Espalande to get to DTD. When returning to the hotel, you'll need to go through security again (this time on the DTD side), cross the Esplanade and then exit. Unlike WDW, there is no "no bag" line, so everyone has to wait in line for security.

 

[strawberrylilacs]

Thank you coaches24. I gather that once you go through bag check you can hop between parks without having to go through another check.

 

[strawberrylilacs]

Can't get any more explicit than your map figment. You have been a great help

 

[coaches24]

Thank you coaches24. I gather that once you go through bag check you can hop between parks without having to go through another check.

Yes that's correct. Once through security you can park hop all you want without having to go through security again. You will have to wait in line at the entrance for the park if there is a line at that time but no one will be asking to check your bag there.

 

[dotfurio]

Bag check actually goes pretty fast if people are ready. We always approach with our bags off us, unzipped, and held open for them. What holds it up is when people don't bother to take their bags off their body, out from under the stroller, or have it open until the checkers ask.

 

[mybestieismickey]

I have found that usually the lines aren't too bad, but the Harbor side security tent closest to the DCA gates tends to be less crowded. The Downtown Disney side I find to always be a bit backed up, but they are handling guests from DTD, the Disney hotels, and Mickey and Friends.

 

[4Siamese]

Have never waited more then 5-7 mins in the bag check line but your mileage may vary as there are lots of contributing factors

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Bag check actually goes pretty fast if people are ready. We always approach with our bags off us, unzipped, and held open for them. What holds it up is when people don't bother to take their bags off their body, out from under the stroller, or have it open until the checkers ask.

Yes, that's the key! Bags must be off bodies, out from under strollers, and open for the CMs to check. If there are multiple compartments, have them all unzipped and opened. It goes a lot faster if people don't have to stop at the front of the line to get things out. What also happens is that people take about two steps beyond the security table and stop to get everything situated back in their strollers, put backpacks on, etc. Then people who are done have to step around these groups and it creates a bottleneck. It works best to grab your bags, walk a good distance away from the tents, then stop to get organized if necessary.

 

[Cholula]

Yes, that's the key! Bags must be off bodies, out from under strollers, and open for the CMs to check. If there are multiple compartments, have them all unzipped and opened. It goes a lot faster if people don't have to stop at the front of the line to get things out. What also happens is that people take about two steps beyond the security table and stop to get everything situated back in their strollers, put backpacks on, etc. Then people who are done have to step around these groups and it creates a bottleneck. It works best to grab your bags, walk a good distance away from the tents, then stop to get organized if necessary.

Yes! It's especially annoying since there are benches right there where people could go to get themselves back together and be out of everyone else's way.

 

[irish1995]

Why, why, why do they not have a "No Bag" express line like WDW?! I don't carry a bag, I don't see why I should have to wait for everyone who does.

 

[Bigrob37]

I was just there on Monday morning, got to bag check around 8:30 with a park open time at 8am. Took at least 30 min to get through bag check. All lines on Harbor side was backed up to where the buses dropped you off. It was a mad house never seen that before.