Bag Search, does it help?

[reeeoga]

Do you think the bag search going into the parks helps with security? Does it make you safe?

I'm going to post my thoughts later. I want to see what you think.

 

[hugsquared]

Is it going to stop someone who really means to cause harm? No. They will find alternate methods of "getting things in". Will it deter someone who is thinking of pulling a foolish prank that could get out of hand? Maybe. If its not done, and a bomb explodes in the middle of the park like happened in Atlanta during the Olympics, the first words out of most mouths will be "If they had done something as simple as bag checks this could have been prevented". Its a no win situation. They're lazy and don't care about their guests if they don't do some sort of protective measure or they're stupid and wasting the time of those of us "who would never do anything like that at Disney" if they do. Honestly, after 9/11, the very first thing I thought about after the dust settled was, wow, what if a plane had crashed into the Castle at WDW? It really scared the bejezzus out of me for a while.

While it may provide only the scantest of preventive measures, it's something. And rest assured, for every measure you can see, there are plenty of things going on covertly. Does it irritate me to have a bag checked? Heck no. Unfortunatly, we live in a post 9/11 world and this is the least invasive thing we have to worry about in upcoming years. But if it stops just one senseless act, its worth it.

Just my thoughts.

 

[MidgeD79]

It does not make me feel safer, it is not worth it.

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

It might not make you safer but I have seen allot of liquor being confiscated.

 

[Uncleromulus]

AS Goofyfreek notes, they do collect lots of liquor, as well as the occasional pocketknife, scissors, ete etc. And that's fine with me.
But as to providing security from a terrorist type threat? Virtually useless.

 

[Kilted_Yank]

It is a cosmetic gesture only... made to deter the dummies, and to make people feel good.

If they were seirous about stopping any sort of contraband, they would search your person.

I always carry a knife in my pocket, but since it isn't in our bags, they never look and will never know.

 

[goofyernmost]

Do you think the bag search going into the parks helps with security? Does it make you safe?

I'm going to post my thoughts later. I want to see what you think.

Couldn't hurt!!!!

 

[erinstar]

I'm sure security have found things in people bags they might not have found, had they not search thru peoples bags, however I can say I don't think to my self "Oh I feel safer now, that someone has gone thru all the personal belongings in my bag". Personally I think they are just doing it so they can be seen to be doing the right thing.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

No - Because as someone mentioned they do not search your person. Anybody who really wanted to do ANYTHING could. Weapons, booze, etc if they REALLY wanted to.
HOWEVER, they did ruin my little girls birthday because they made us open her wrapped gifts before entering the park for her Cinderella breakfast for her birthday. We had to do it amongst a million people waiting in line. Hope everyone felt safer.
-Wendy

 

[vacationwoman]

IMO it's only done for public relation reasons and gives many people a false sense of security. The simple search they do of your bags is a waste of time and completely ineffectual to anyone who wants to do damage in WDW.

Some security guards there make you open everything and "paws" through your "personal items" (which is sometimes embarassing) and others merely look briefly into your bags.

It's worthless IMHO and does nothing to make me feel safer.
I'm all for security these days but the bag search at WDW is a joke.

 

[pixiedust23]

O please. They take a stick, roll it around inside your back for 0.2 seconds and say your good to go. I dont call that security, I call it disorganzing my purse!

BTW once I just threw some uumm female products on the top because I was in a rush, one look at that and the guy closed the purse immediately and said I was fine to go in. All he saw were tampons! I could have had a gun underneath them!

 

[ReggieB]

I appreciate everyones opinion on this. I can see why a lot of you feel that it really isn't going to stop someone who is committed to pulling something awful off. However if Disney did not do anything at the gates other than wave you straight through, I am sure there would be plenty of threads asking why Disney didn't have any security checks..I personally think Disney are obliged to do it. Erinstar is completely correct, they have to be seen doing something.

I have never been met by anything but pleasant and helpful security guards. I am sorry to hear that some of you have had unnecessary unpleasant experiences. However, please, you might think what they are doing is pointless, but it is their job.

 

[jerbroni]

During our last trip in February, we were behind a guy at MK with a big duffle bag full of weird stuff that you wouldn't normally bring into a park:

power drill
staple gun
socket and wrench set

and an armful of Mickey Mouse balloons. Nothing really 'dangerous' in there, but still weird nonetheless, and I was glad he didn't get into the park the same day that I was there.

 

[ReggieB]

During our last trip in February, we were behind a guy at MK with a big duffle bag full of weird stuff that you wouldn't normally bring into a park:

power drill
staple gun
socket and wrench set

and an armful of Mickey Mouse balloons. Nothing really 'dangerous' in there, but still weird nonetheless, and I was glad he didn't get into the park the same day that I was there.

????????!!!!!!!!!

 

[Leota]

I don't see it as a particularly effective defense against true terrosism. But, as said, they have to do something. I thnk they could at least have metal detectors.....

 

[Ronda93]

We've been a dozen times since 9/11 and I have not seen a single thing confiscated by Disney security. Are they really taking scissors and penknives from guests? If they're using the TSA list I hope they start taking lighters soon. I'd like to hear from someone who had something confiscated or was turned away by security.

It's as if they expect someone packing poisonous gas to label it with the little skull and crossbones. It will look like hairspray or bugspray.

I think the bag checks are just for show. I think they are completely ineffective.

 

[Uncleromulus]

leota:
Metal detectors would certainly help. But can you imagine them going off every 30 seconds or so? I'm sure that's what would happen, what with tens of thousands of people going thru. Just look at the airport snafus with merely a handfull (by comparison) of people getting screened. It would take 3-4 hours just to get in the MK!!! You'd need to be in line at 4:00 AM for the 9:00 opening!!

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

No - Because as someone mentioned they do not search your person. Anybody who really wanted to do ANYTHING could. Weapons, booze, etc if they REALLY wanted to.
HOWEVER, they did ruin my little girls birthday because they made us open her wrapped gifts before entering the park for her Cinderella breakfast for her birthday. We had to do it amongst a million people waiting in line. Hope everyone felt safer.
-Wendy

That's totally ridiculous! I know it's their job, but they should have some common sense. I could only imagine how annoyed you were. I hope your little girl enjoyed her gifts anyway.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

IMO it's only done for public relation reasons and gives many people a false sense of security. The simple search they do of your bags is a waste of time and completely ineffectual to anyone who wants to do damage in WDW.

Some security guards there make you open everything and "paws" through your "personal items" (which is sometimes embarassing) and others merely look briefly into your bags.

It's worthless IMHO and does nothing to make me feel safer.
I'm all for security these days but the bag search at WDW is a joke.

You took the words right out of my mouth. It's a big waste of time and money.

 

[reeeoga]

I am the original poster.

I started this thread to see the reaction of people out there. I have watched news from various sources. They always show people being happy that "the new security measures are keeping me safe". Every time I see this I think "That doesn't help prevent the real nut cases from doing anything". The responses on this thread makes me think that the news people are not getting a fair cross-section of the general population.

My opinion about the searchs: Disney is doing it for legal reasons. They know they can't really prevent a determined nut case from doing harm, but they need it for the future court case.

That said: I WILL NOT let a possable nut case deture my family from having fun fun fun during our next WDW trip.

Thank you to everyone who answered my question and to those who may answer in the future.