Bag Security Lines

[sleepingbeauty17]

I remember seeing a thread a few weeks back about there being massive lines for security as HS. For those who have been recently, are the lines still long or are they back to normal?

 

[disney world dreamer]

i haven't been since december so i can't speak from first hand experience but as i was reading those couple threads it seemed like the people that were encountering the really long lines were showing up just before RD or within the first couple hours of park opening.
other posters that said they either showed up about 30 minutes prior to RD or in the afternoon said they encountered waits of only a couple minutes.

i get to the parks at about 30 minutes prior to RD pretty much every time and i only ever wait for a couple minutes.

 

[jat1977]

We were there on Sunday, got there around 9:15, went right through bag check on the left-hand side (to the left of where the tram stops) and then our entire party got picked for extra screening. That took all of a minute and we walked right into the park. HS was pretty crowded that day compared to the last time we were there (about 3 years ago), but it didn't appear there were any backups at any of the entrances.

 

[alliecat523]

We were there during Easter week and were through within 5 minutes around 11am. No problems.

 

[redsbe]

And issue is not just with bag checks (which have been in place for sometime) but newer policy of random screening beyond and not just bags.

 

[MolonLabe]

I was down 2~ weeks ago for a few hours on a Friday night and again Saturday Morning. Friday night doesn't count because there were only a handful of people as I arrived right at fireworks. I did close to rope drop at Epcot, lines seemed normal but since it was just me I walked through "no bags". Had a security guy stop me and ask to see what was in my cargo pocket, pulled it out and that was it. This trip I lucked out , single guy, cargo pockets, zero criminal treatment at the metal detectors. During Christmas I was "randomly selected" 6 of 7 mornings walking in with my wife and three daughters. Pure stupidity.

After EP for 2 hours I booked it over to MK for a few hours before my flight out, again no bag but the bag check lines looked normal to me, especially for 11ish on a Saturday morning.

Bag check in WDW over Christmas and then in DL in mid January were nothing much over what it normally is. Also appeared to be less people getting accosted at the metal detectors in April than back when it started.

 

[sleepingbeauty17]

So it doesn't matter if you have a bag or not with this new system? You could be selected for a random screening regardless? And will they make me go through the bag line if I have a wristlet?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Yes, you have to bring your wristlet through the bag line and show it to them.

Yes, you could be selected for the metal detector even if you don't have a bag.

Some parks have separate gates for those with no bags, I don't think they were near the metal detector. But I've been at IG when they were sending everybody through the detector because there weren't many going in.

 

[disney world dreamer]

So it doesn't matter if you have a bag or not with this new system? You could be selected for a random screening regardless? And will they make me go through the bag line if I have a wristlet?

a bag is a bag regardless of its size so yes wristlets have always and still do have to go through bag check.

and yes you could still be chosen for random extra screening if you don't have a bag.

in fact i almost wonder if more folks that go bagless end up with the extra screening because its more likely that they have multiple items in their pockets that if they had a bag would have been seen during bag check.
thats just a theory of mine though not sure about the actual stats of bag people vs bagless people going through extra screening.

 

[serenitynow]

So is there a consensus, which is faster? Bring a bag, stand in line or no bag with higher frequency of random extra screening???

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Last time we entered MK was last August. I'd say, much like WDW transportation, it was a toss up.

I'll add, in recent months we've had more experience over at Universal, which has also added extra security. Universal used to just do a bag check, but now everyone goes through a metal detector. Mind, we stayed onsite. I think it is smart that US screens everyone who bards a shuttle boat! If you walk to the park, they screen you outside the front gate.

It didn't matter much if you had a bag or not, even kids were screened.

It slowed everyone down a little, but was about equal to WDW.

Last August, we did a combo of bags and no bags. To me, bulging cargo pockets= maybe getting extra screening.

OH- DO expect LONGER lines at airport screenings this summer, unless you pay for one of the express lines.

Also at US, it pays to be bag-free in the parks, because US doesn't allow bags on many rides. Some rides also require empty pockets (Hulk, Dragon Challenge). US provides free lockers (while you ride), but using the lockers adds several minutes at each attraction. There's usually a short line in each end, and plenty of idiots in between.

 

[loves to dive]

So is there a consensus, which is faster? Bring a bag, stand in line or no bag with higher frequency of random extra screening???

It was my experience when we were there that there wasn't a line for random screening, they pulled you and you emptied anything metal or your cell phone out of your pockets like you do at the airport and walk through the metal detector. It slowed me down by about 45 seconds if you don't count the happy dance that the security people and I did after I went through and nothing was detected.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

I had a solo business trip with 3 nights and one morning in the parks after meetings - no bags and no bag check. I got selected for additional screening every time. Apparently I've got a sketchy look going on under my WDW hat

The good news is it was quick.

 

[heidijanesmith]

Just got back a two weeks ago and thought the lines were short. They moved very quickly and I had no issues. Every time I made eye contact with a security guard I was chosen for a random selection security screen.... no eye contact no additional screening. The metal detector line was super short and took no time at all.

 

[Tiki Sean]

Friends of mine waited 35 mins to get into Magic Kingdom on Sunday at rope drop.

 

[disney world dreamer]

Friends of mine waited 35 mins to get into Magic Kingdom on Sunday at rope drop.

this is why i get to the parks at least 30 minutes prior to RD and i only wait a minute or two.
seems like going within a few minutes of RD makes for a longer wait because so many people are entering at the same time.

 

[sleepingbeauty17]

So what will be faster, bags or no bags? Obviously I'd prefer to take a small cross body if it makes no difference but if it means I'll wait 35 minutes in security I can go bagless. Also I'm assuming it's beneficial to get there earlier than normal to get through security in time for rope drop right?

 

[Tiki Sean]

this is why i get to the parks at least 30 minutes prior to RD and i only wait a minute or two.
seems like going within a few minutes of RD makes for a longer wait because so many people are entering at the same time.

Yeah it is probably the best thing to do or wait an hour after the park opens.

 

[Miss Frankie J]

The only park I rope drop is Epcot and during June last year it took me a total of maybe 5 minutes to go through the line. MK and AK we arrived about 20 mins after Rope drop and had minimal waits.

 

[MinnieMSue]

So what will be faster, bags or no bags? Obviously I'd prefer to take a small cross body if it makes no difference but if it means I'll wait 35 minutes in security I can go bagless. Also I'm assuming it's beneficial to get there earlier than normal to get through security in time for rope drop right?

No bags is faster. You might have to go through the metal detector but they don't have a line at it so they pull you over to it and you put anything metal in your pockets into a bin (I only had a phone) and walk through. My metal on clothing didn't set it off like I have had happen at other places. It took only a minute as opposed to waiting a few minutes at least in line for bag check. why do I always get behind someone with lots of bags with lots of pockets and little zipper bags inside none of which have they opened ahead of time? Why?