Ban The Bag Check!!!!

[I'mNoPrince]

I for one think it's a ploy to thin out the ticket terminal lines.

If you notice they will speed you through if the ticket lines are short and really go over you if the lines are long.

I just see it as another Queue area and nothing to do with security at all.

 

[Barbers2005]

I think that WDW security is inefficient and time consuming- lots of room for improvement. Either they should eliminate bag checks altogether (if they aren't really serious about security) or they should implement metal detectors and x-rays (so much faster than having to unpack every fanny pack). The way it is now, the security people sometimes don't look all that hard and it would be pretty easy to bring in a weapon on your person, plus it takes forever.

 

[Freyja]

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 agree!

 

[Remember The Magic]

this issue was raised in a thread a few weeks ago, and someone made the very good point that, if they really wanted to, all somebody has to do is strap a bomb to themselves, stand on main street during wishes (we all know how many people fill main street during wishes), and set it off. the bag checks certainly don't make me feel any safer, they're a waste of time. if they do find soemthing once in a blue moon then that's great, but clearly whatever those people had was just sitting on top of their bag because they never look any further than that. there could be anything at the bottom of anyone's bag.

 

[raidermatt]

With regard to airport security, saying its worthless is just plain wrong. There is NO doubt that without the extra security measures implemented over the last few years we would have seen a repeat of 9/11 by now.

Security is about balancing safety with what can be reasonably tolerated. That threshold for tolerance is much higher at an airport than at the park gates, so Disney security is not going to be anywhere near as stringent.

But the reality is not every potential bad guy is a super genius who learns the ins and outs of a security system before trying something. So any level of security is going to provide a detterent and also stop a certain level of "evil doers".

WDW security doesn't check every bag, but they do check some. That's enough to make somebody who has spent time observing the system know that using a bag to bring something in is a risk. So they probably won't try it. Doesn't mean they can't figure out another way, but again, all WDW can do is make things as difficult as they can for the bad guys while still keeping things tolerable for the guests. Right now, many guests just wouldn't put up with more thorough checks.

 

[Barbers2005]

I've gotta disagree that guests wouldn't tolerate more stringent security- similar systems are already in place in other touristy areas (think Smithsonian). If someone will tolerate a bag x-ray and metal detector to get into a museum (or even the museum cafe), they'll do it to get into WDW. Besides, an x-ray isn't any worse than what they're doing now...still looking at your stuff. The difference is that x-ray is faster (no unpacking bags), more efficient (security can see everything in the bag) and nobody touches your stuff.

 

[David R]

Security theater.

 

[gcoxua]

I feel like I should chime in on this as well. I worked at a bank. The bank had a security guard. We all knew that he was only there as a visual deterrent. If someone wanted to rob the bank they definitely could. The same is at WDW. The security guards, in my opinion, are there as a visual deterrent. However, I would imagine on a property as large as Manhatten Island they have good security program in place. I believe that the bag checks are the initial phase of a more complex system to make sure every guest is safe. Also, one last thing, the bag checks are there for the comfort and peace-of-mind of every guest. Millions of people visit WDW every year. We are but a few "regulars" that attend enough to make these observations. To the rest of the world Disney's attention to security may seem to be top notch.

 

[SnwflkCts]

Did you ever think that slowing you down is a good way to kind of look you over from some other vantage point? I don't know -- just a thought. Doesn't bother me at all to show them my bag. I don't mind the extra minutes.

Now when they start the full body cavity search, I will be singing a different tune ...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I agree that sometimes the bag check is a joke since anyone can walk in with weapons in their pockets and etc since there are no x-ray machines like at the Airport. However here is a solution if you don't like the bag checks. Don't bring any bags to the parks if you don't need to. They have another entrance that says guests without bags and walk right in so you don't need to stand in the bag check line.

 

[yankeepenny]

just my penny's worth-
I for one applauded the system at Smithsonian and feel more stingent security should be in a place like Disney.

 

[Blondie]

I think the bag checks at WDW give a false sense of security. Anyone with harmful intent isn't going to put their weapon in a backpack, fannie pack or purse.

I've had some security guards make me unzip every single compartment and use a flashlight. Others hardly take a look. I eye up the situation ahead of time in get in his line!

I'd rather walk through a metal detector and have my bag x-rayed.

 

[mommyaof2]

To be honest, bad things could happen anywhere we go. Not just WDW. Think of all the places in life we go with out security checks! Chances are that the bad people would go to these places. I am all for it. Deterent or not. This is not a problem for me.

 

[simzac]

I for one hope they continue it because we carry nothing into the parks with us, so we can bypass the bag check lines and enter the park very quickly.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This topic has got me wondering something. Since the only thing my Dad and I would carry when going into the parks is our digital camera and since the case could fit in his pocket is it right to walk threw the area where guests go without bags, so we don't need to stand in the bag check line? Obviously we are not planning on doing anything bad while in the parks, so why should we waste time by showing them our camera case? Besides it is so small the only thing we can fit in there is our camera and nothing else?

 

[Blondie]

They check camera cases too. I guess if it's hidden in a pocket and they can't see it, they won't bother.

 

[Disney_Freak2007]

So, some people are saying that they'd rather have metal detectors? Personally, i think that would turn people off. Having to take out money, belts, glasses, jewelery etc.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

They check camera cases too. I guess if it's hidden in a pocket and they can't see it, they won't bother.

If they check little kids bags, does it really surprise you that they also check camera cases?

 

[Blondie]

I think a metal detector is a better deterrent than simple bag checks.

Personally, I wish they'd do away with the security lines at WDW altogether, but I don't think it's ever going to happen.

 

[Barbers2005]

The point really is that Disney should either eliminate the security checkpoints where the guard kinda sorta looks at your bag or they should make real security checkpoints that provide actual security. I'm cool with it either way, but having someone check to make sure there's no bomb in my purse behind the lipstick while Joe Shmoe walks through with who knows what in the pockets of his extra baggy cargos doesn't provide me with any sense of security- it's just an annoying waste of time.