Ban The Bag Check!!!!

[jenrose66]

I have no problem with the bag check. It doesn't take super long and it is a form of security.

 

[nyfinfan]

They should take the CM's @ the gate checking bag's and put them to better use:

A 'Stop-The-Heelie's' (at whatever cost) Task Force.

 

[Island Mouse]

I agree that the bag check security can be a little more thorough when conducting its searches, but to think that it is the only security measure in place to prevent violent terrorist acts in the parks is most likely false. I don't think Disney is that dumb or cheap to think that these quick bag searches are making the parks safe from all terrorist attacks. I think they are the first layer of a complex security system that is in place to serve multiple purposes.

1. It is a deterrant, plain and simple. By having the lines set up where bags are checked, people are less likely to bring prohibited items in the parks.

2. It controls the flow of crowds into the parks. Queing is a science and Disney is a master of it. By delaying a portion of the visitors a few minutes while bags are checked, they are better able to control the flow of guests through the turnstiles and into the park. Without that little delay, the crowds amassed at the turnstiles would be even worse than they already are. I'm not saying it works flawlessly 100% of the time, but it does work.

To say that the bag check is useless and ineffective is incorrect. Out of the millions of guests that visit WDW every year, there has to be at least one instance where someone was stopped from bringing a dangerous or illegal item into the parks. If it has possibly prevented at least one dangerous incident in the parks, then it is doing something. Just MHO.

 

[Baltosam]

The security they have in place at WDW is not tight enough to thwart a sophisticated attack and thank goodness it isn't. We would not be able to go there and actually enjoy ourselves if it were. Disney does a great job of providing reasonable security for it's guests, overall WDW is extremely safe.

Another thing that might help give you peace of mind is that just like most large private industries, a large number of law enforcement officers are on vacation at WDW at any given time. With the passing of the law enforcement officers safety act of 2004 (H.R.218) you (along with the bad guys) never know where an armed and trained officer may be.

That doubt in the minds of would be criminals and perhaps terrorists may be why popular tourist destinations are not targeted.

 

[mommyaof2]

I sure hope that crazy people are not reading the dis! Everyone keeps talking about how easy it would be to get past security. That is actually kindof scary. But, so is the world we live in now. Oh well, such is life and I will not live my life in fear. Like I said already, bag checks are okay with me. However, I do see the the aggravation of it.

 

[safetymom]

There is a lot of security at the parks. Most of it you can't see. The bag check is more to slow people down so security can watch what is going on.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

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. BUT, they do it mostly to assuage the fears of guests who don't know any better, IMO. Those people are probably comforted by it, even if only deep down, even if they complain about the holdup when THEIR bags are checked. So it will never be done away with. Drats.

 

[mb168]

Yes, the bag check is extremely ridiculous. If you wanted to take something in that would fit in a purse or diaper bag, you could bring it in without the purse and they wouldn't know. There is no "security" check, it is a "delay you from getting in" check at best, a "tick you off before your day is started" check is more like it.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

Actually all the parks have a no bags line just like at the Magic Kingdom, so all ypu have to do is look for it.

Not at Epcot. We've looked.

All of the bag checks are done right at the gate, so you just have to sit in line and wait.

Ive actually been in line, and seen people try to pass because they DONT have bags, and security has stopped them and said that regardless if you carry a bag or not, you have to wait in the line, since its the gate line as well.

 

[mb168]

Yeah, Epcot is screwy since they moved it in front the gates because the line backs up at the turnstile because of the silly biometric delay so now they can't even check bags since the line isn't moving. They did have a check further out by the street with a roped off area to walk through between the check and turnstiles, made a lot more sense, well, as long as you consider a pointless bag check making sense.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

Yeah, Epcot is screwy since they moved it in front the gates because the line backs up at the turnstile because of the silly biometric delay so now they can't even check bags since the line isn't moving. They did have a check further out by the street with a roped off area to walk through between the check and turnstiles, made a lot more sense, well, as long as you consider a pointless bag check making sense.

They should move it out, and have it like MK, where there is a line for no bags. Things would move so easier.

 

[safetymom]

There is an area to go through at Epcot at opening and most of the morning if you have no bags. If you are there later in the day you have to wait in line.

 

[mb168]

If they must have the appearance of security, they could at least have some non bag turnstiles open, then you would only be delayed by the people who can't figure out the biometric scan.

 

[Steph9072]

I think it is sad that we now live in a society were we HAVE to have security measures. Let me tell you if my family is going to be in that park I wouldn't have a problem with them strip searching everyone that entered the park. If that is what it took to ensure my family was safe.

For OP I worked at our county jail for 5 years. In that five years I bet I booked in or probably two dozen people who had given their children something to try and hide from the cops. Drugs, stolen property and even a gun. So as uncomfortable and as ridiculous it sounds to us to search a child I totally see why they do it.

That all being said I am a alarmed that WDW doesn't have metal detectors. I have been to several amusement parks sense 9/11 and they have all had metal detectors. Heck the zoo even has them

 

[mb168]

Please stop mentioning metal detectors, I cringe at the thought of standing in line like at the airport while they make people take off their shoes, undo belts, empty pockets, remove babies from strollers and fold it up to pass through an xray machine, then call more people out to the side while they wand you..... It would seriously cut back on the number of trips I go on because of the hassel factor.

So stop saying MD, they may be reading....

 

[yankeepenny]

how can metal detectors be a hassle if if does stop
weapons or knives or devices meant to implement harm from being done?

 

[Luv2Roam]

I don't see any point to the way it is. Either have it gone or do it better. It's really just an inconvenience at this point.
They don't do anything at DTD. Do I feel any safer in a park than DTD? No.
ANd you can carry just about anything on yiur body. Just not in a bag. Now that makes sense.
And I have seen people with full back packs, strollers, etc. I rarely even see the strollers looked at. It would not take any brains to figure out a way to get something bad into a park if a person so desired.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Slightly OT -- but DH and I could not figure out the security reasoning at USO for Halloween Horror Nights.
We buy the Frequent Fear Passes for HHN, and have PAPs.
So we arrive before closing, eat dinner, linger and start the fun.

When we, and other AP-ers arrive, security check is business as usual.
Once HHN begins, they start using metal detectors.
So AP-ers apparently are more trustworthy than "those others".

 

[cmwade77]

I can honestly say that I have seen too many items caught by the bag check at Disneyland to agree, now I do think there should be some sort of metal detector as all of the items that were taken could be placed in a pocket and no one would know.

 

[mb168]

All security is a trade off of "safety" vs "convenience." How much inconvenience will Americans put up with before we don't put up with it anymore. There is no metal detector at the mall or Wal-Mart, are you afraid there. Terrorists have to shoot for bang for the buck. I carry a knife into the park every time I go there, used to carry it on the airplane pre 911. There isn't much damage a terrorist could cause in Disney with a gun or knife that couldn't be done else where and have at least as good of an affect if not better. A terrorist would be more likely to drive a car bomb into Epcot and hit Spaceship Earth or sit on top of the Contemporary and fire a shoulder launched device at Space Mountain or various other targets and cause far more damage than a gun or knife snuck in, and probably get away to boot to do it another day.

The bag check is stupid, nothing more. I have pushed a stroller righ tthrough the gate in the cold with baby completely covered up fron the air and unseen while they dug through a diaper bag and didn't look twice at the baby. How much damage could a baby sized bomb caused wrapped up in a stroller?