Ban The Bag Check!!!!

[kristytru]

Just returned from a wonderful week at WDW. Hoping the powers that be read this thread! Does anyone else find the bag check at the parks as ridiculous as I do? I am all for security and never complain when my mandarin oranges are taken from me at the airport b/c they are in a liquid. (Did you know they even consider peanut butter a liquid?...that's another thread). I just do not see how glancing into a 5 year old's princess fanny pack is going to make the park a safer place? It doesn't take a mastermind to realize that all you have to do to bring ANYTHING into the park is to put it on your person. There is no metal detector! We got so frustrated with the lines at bag check that we would fold up a plastic bag and put it in DH's pocket. We would then each carry our water bottles, autograph books, and other "necessities" throo the "guest w/o bags" line ...open up the plastic bag and throw it all in. I think if Disney wants to make the parks safer, they need to do it right (with xray and metal detectors) or not at all. Maybe requiring all bags be clear plastic would help (you know they could make a mint on clear backpacks and fanny packs with the Disney logo!) Sorry, this is my only rant for the day, I promise!

 

[MissionMouse]

I do not find the security requirements to be ridiculous. It is ridiculous that we must be left to live in a world with people who have so much hate and disrespect for life,embracing an evil way of life, that we adopt measures to keep us safe from their madness.

Airport comments - many explosives can also be liquid, gels (semi-solids), so I can easily see peanut butter included.

Disney comments - I note all the items you shifted around are not harmful and by removing them were brought out in clear view.

Overall, there are clearly different levels of security that can be brought into practice.

 

[Disney_Freak2007]

I don't find it ridiculous as well, it doesn't take very long and it helps to ensure nobody ruins the magic.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I don't find it ridiculous as well, it doesn't take very long and it helps to ensure nobody ruins the magic.

With respect, I think you're fooling yourself. They do not have metal detectors, they don't pat anyone down, they don't check pockets. You could carry in all sorts of weapons and "ruin the magic" if you were so inclined, unfortunately.

The bag checks are annoying and perfunctory -- they serve no useful purpose. Half the time the guards don't even look in my bag, for cryin' out loud.

 

[BillSears]

The security at WDW is ridiculous and worthless. It would be very easy to sneak a gun or bomb in just by carrying them in on my body instead of in a bag. The only thing that the security does at WDW is annoy people who are rational enough to realize that it's not worth the inconvenience.

 

[Disney_Freak2007]

With respect, I think you're fooling yourself. They do not have metal detectors, they don't pat anyone down, they don't check pockets. You could carry in all sorts of weapons and "ruin the magic" if you were so inclined, unfortunately.

The bag checks are annoying and perfunctory -- they serve no useful purpose. Half the time the guards don't even look in my bag, for cryin' out loud.

I see what you are saying as do I understand. I sort of think it's a long wait, but it's ok. Im not going to complain about it.

 

[weirdpaintballr]

Why is it important to check a 5 year old's fanny pack? Believe it or not, there are sickos out there that would pack the fanny pack with explosives, and blow up the poor kid, with out even thinking twice about it. I have a feeling that you would be singing a different tune if Disney did not check bags someone managed to get a bomb through. Just please be patient with the security lines...they really aren't that long.

 

[x.laura.x]

IMHO the bag checks are more of a sight thing. They look better if they seem to be doing checks. i was there in 2002 when the security was tighter and didnt find it much of a hassle.

 

[Tinkerchele]

I agree the lines are really not that bad...but, to me they don't seem to check the bags thoroughly...

 

[Rustysmom]

Yeah, I'm surprised to hear that they don't have metal detectors. Six Flags does and that's a real pain because you have to take your keys and change out of your pockets, but at least I feel a little safer.

 

[CarolA]

The security at WDW is ridiculous and worthless. It would be very easy to sneak a gun or bomb in just by carrying them in on my body instead of in a bag. The only thing that the security does at WDW is annoy people who are rational enough to realize that it's not worth the inconvenience.

So you think... how do you KNOW?

I can tell you that I saw Security pull some folks OUT of line over things in thier bags, sit them outside in the sun and call the local police. Those folks were not having fun and were not going to the park and I don't think they were trying to sneak in beer...... The three adults were seated in the sun in a triangle too far apart to speak to each other and were each being watched by a person with a GUN while Secuirty, cops and Disney executives talked...... So it appears they do find something. A lot of this type of security is "watching" If you get really nervous when they search your bag then more steps may be taken.

 

[Disney_Freak2007]

I actually think, that if people who would (i don't imagine who) were to bring something explosive into the park or a gun, or knife into the park, they'd probably get scared or look nervous because they think that the security people are going to catch them.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Just returned from a wonderful week at WDW. Hoping the powers that be read this thread! Does anyone else find the bag check at the parks as ridiculous as I do? I am all for security and never complain when my mandarin oranges are taken from me at the airport b/c they are in a liquid. (Did you know they even consider peanut butter a liquid?...that's another thread). I just do not see how glancing into a 5 year old's princess fanny pack is going to make the park a safer place? It doesn't take a mastermind to realize that all you have to do to bring ANYTHING into the park is to put it on your person. There is no metal detector! We got so frustrated with the lines at bag check that we would fold up a plastic bag and put it in DH's pocket. We would then each carry our water bottles, autograph books, and other "necessities" throo the "guest w/o bags" line ...open up the plastic bag and throw it all in. I think if Disney wants to make the parks safer, they need to do it right (with xray and metal detectors) or not at all. Maybe requiring all bags be clear plastic would help (you know they could make a mint on clear backpacks and fanny packs with the Disney logo!) Sorry, this is my only rant for the day, I promise!

I completely agree with you. I don't mind it, but they need to do it right or stop wasting our time. Several times, the security was going so fast that they just took a quick glance into the bag and moved onto the next person, and I had to wait on a line for that?

 

[mmessler]

I think it's more about deterence than anything. If it looks like people are paying attention, someone is less likely to try and do something or bring something dangerous into the park. Could it still happen? Yes, of course it could. But why make things any easier for those sickos. Every little bit helps. Like someone above posted, the worse part of all this is that there is a need to do it. I haven't noticed any unreasonable delays because of these bag lines, and I often arrive at park openings.

 

[MissionMouse]

The security at WDW is ridiculous and worthless. It would be very easy to sneak a gun or bomb in just by carrying them in on my body instead of in a bag. The only thing that the security does at WDW is annoy people who are rational enough to realize that it's not worth the inconvenience.

Search zones are always a deterrent and their based upon a variety of factors. They can also guide the threat to other avenues of 'attack.' In addition, controlling access to information is always another component of security too. Security measures utilized are typically aligned with the security risk and threat. WDW is not going to provide the public with the full scale security plan either. Again, a part of security is controlling information, to make it harder for individuals to create countermeasures or by pass their layers of security. WDW without a doubt has an in-depth security plan which you are not even aware of and that is a good thing.

Security is not based upon convenience, so security is always something people complain about even when it is in their own personal interest and safety. Not all incidents are released to the public.

 

[BillSears]

So you think... how do you KNOW?

I can tell you that I saw Security pull some folks OUT of line over things in thier bags, sit them outside in the sun and call the local police. Those folks were not having fun and were not going to the park and I don't think they were trying to sneak in beer...... The three adults were seated in the sun in a triangle too far apart to speak to each other and were each being watched by a person with a GUN while Secuirty, cops and Disney executives talked...... So it appears they do find something. A lot of this type of security is "watching" If you get really nervous when they search your bag then more steps may be taken.

But if these people actually had been trying to do something bad they would have at least visited WDW once on a planning trip. They would have seen the security checkpoints and they would have not carried a bag in on the day they planned on doing their attack. Or they're total idiots and any security system that requires that the bad guys be idiots is doomed to fail

I suspect the people you saw pulled aside did have something illegal in their bags. Maybe a gun, maybe drugs, who really knows what they had or why they were detained. But if it had been an actual terrorist attack I'm sure we would have heard about it in the news.

 

[CarolA]

But if these people actually had been trying to do something bad they would have at least visited WDW once on a planning trip. They would have seen the security checkpoints and they would have not carried a bag in on the day they planned on doing their attack. Or they're total idiots and any security system that requires that the bad guys be idiots is doomed to fail

I suspect the people you saw pulled aside did have something illegal in their bags. Maybe a gun, maybe drugs, who really knows what they had or why they were detained. But if it had been an actual terrorist attack I'm sure we would have heard about it in the news.

Using your logic then the TSA could be disbanded. It requires the bad guys to be idiots and yet we all keep dealing with them I mean don't you think EVERY terrorist worth his weight knows that the way to get your "bomb" on the plane is to give it to an airline employee (they are NOT screened) or ship it? Yeah they do, but we allow the TSA to "limit" us to 3 oz of liquid and harrass us for no good reason.

(And personally your avg TSA agent is MUCH closer to an idiot then your avg Disney security person)

 

[BillSears]

Using your logic then the TSA could be disbanded. It requires the bad guys to be idiots and yet we all keep dealing with them I mean don't you think EVERY terrorist worth his weight knows that the way to get your "bomb" on the plane is to give it to an airline employee (they are NOT screened) or ship it? Yeah they do, but we allow the TSA to "limit" us to 3 oz of liquid and harrass us for no good reason.

(And personally your avg TSA agent is MUCH closer to an idiot then your avg Disney security person)

Actually yep I do think the TSA is pretty much worthless too. They can't even stop the people who test the system from getting fake bombs onto planes.

I don't remember hearing of a single terrorist attack on an airplane being stopped by TSA security. They seem to be foiled by police work before the attack takes place or in cases like the shoe bomber stopped while on the plane.

I use a wheelchair and would find it very easy to slip a bomb into WDW in my seat cushion. Hundreds of ECVs go through screening every day at WDW and it would be simple to hide a bomb in one but they aren't examined. People walk in during the winter time wearing coats and can bypass the security check as long as they don't have a bag. They confiscate knives at the checkpoints and then give you a nice big steak knife at the park restaurants... It doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Windy City Heather]

Did you know that glass bottles are not allowed in the parks? Neither did I until after many days of taking one into the parks in my bag did a security guard inform me they were not allowed. And then he let me take it in anyway.

 

[Karnak]

I never carry anything into a park that won't fit into a pocket. (Usually limited to my billfold and one of those cheap plastic ponchos), so I never have to stop for the checks.

But, I will say one thing ... Since I am not a security expert, I really can't express an opinion one way or the other. I like to think that the security folks know what they are doing tho.

Enjoy.