Disney Security .... It's not really that bad

[DWillowBay]

I was just there last week and I can say that I am very happy and grateful for all the precautions taken in an otherwise vulnerable situation. Hopefully, we never have to know what it would be like if someone would actually intend harm. Thanks again to the men and women who are doing their job to keep us safe.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Why didn't you and anyone else in the rest of your party have a cell phone? You said you didn't in an earlier post. I can't imagine entering a Disney park without every responsible member of my visiting party having one for security and meetup purposes. Also, how far would the rest of your party really get without you? Unless they weren't immediately behind you, they surely saw you being escorted to a metal detector. And even if they didn't, telling the security staff at the metal detector that you had just lost your kids would have gotten them found for you pretty quickly. You also don't say who was in your other party, and I'm wondering if that's because it wasn't kids but a mixed group of one or more adults and kids, which makes this whole issue kind of moot. Furthermore, you don't say what the reaction was of the rest of your party when you were removed to the metal detector, and I wonder if that's because they didn't think it was a big deal?

It may have been me that said I didn't have a cell phone.
I had a phone, but apparently it didn't charge correctly and I was out of battery.

That said, my wife and I often go out soecifically without cell phones. It's truly a breath of fresh air for not having someone on their phone during a night out.

MG

 

[Hikergirl]

You're not clogging up any line if you're just passing through with your family.
But I'm glad you learned your lesson.

FWIW, I would feel anxious if I were separated from my family without a cell phone for over 30 minutes. The difference is, I would chalk it up to security just doing their job.

And me needing to carry a cell phone
(MG, that was not directed at you), I sometimes don't bring my phone with me if we are all together. Your situation is an example of how even if you are together something may happen.

 

[IrishNYC]

On top of that - Disney security was aware of him - so not only did he "not see it as a viable option" (not sure about that but there is no way to know) but they recognized something was amiss with this guy.

So even if the checks are more for show - someone is doing something right overall IMO

I believe the metal detector portion of security is there to slow down the crowd so that the real, behind the scenes security can get a better look at things.

I think my feelings are the opposite of many in that I don't think it would be better to have everybody go through the metal detectors, but rather I feel that the metal detectors are not necessary at all. It is all security theater (even if they made 100% of people go through the metal detectors). The best security is to have trained personal watching people, talking to guests, and quietly intercepting someone in the extremely rare case it is warranted. Bag check is not so much intended to catch every little item in someones bag (how could they with how quickly they do it?), but an opportunity for security to engage with the guests and feel them out.

It is simply unlikely that anyone with ill intent is sneaking a weapon into a Disney Park. I felt safe there before the metal detectors went into use and would continue to feel safe if they didn't use them.

See my above about metal detectors. There is probably Las Vegas casino level security at Disney that the public knows nothing about. The metal detectors, while sometimes helpful, are just slowing the crowd down, and helping the real security get a better read on things.

From what I understand they are also purposely slowing down the line so that the real security people can look everyone over. You don't think all of Disney's security measures are out in the open for people to see, do you? Just like any place of business much of the security is behind the scenes, where people can't look it over to find ways around it.

Yep!

I'm glad Disney security is everywhere, but I still think Disney should use the same pre-screening as the TSA.

TSA is a joke. Disney security could run circles around them.

I am pro security, but was super upset with them last week at DHS.

I went through the no bag line and was waiting for the rest of my family to come through the bag check.
Before I knew it, a security guard scooped me up with another family to take me to the far X-ray machine. I politely asked a couple times if I could go to the other machine to get screened and be reunited with my family, but I was rudely ignored. I eventually reunited, but this was truly a bonehead maneuver. They truly didn't care.

MG

And they are not there to seperate families either. All I asked is not to be seperated from my family, or at least let my family know where I will be. They were in the bag line and had no idea where I was. We were seperated for quite some time.

MG

You never should have separated yourself from your family if you were that concerned about staying together. Security would be for naught if you were allowed to request which detector you wanted to use.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I believe the metal detector portion of security is there to slow down the crowd so that the real, behind the scenes security can get a better look at things.

See my above about metal detectors. There is probably Las Vegas casino level security at Disney that the public knows nothing about. The metal detectors, while sometimes helpful, are just slowing the crowd down, and helping the real security get a better read on things.


Yep!


TSA is a joke. Disney security could run circles around them.





You never should have separated yourself from your family if you were that concerned about staying together. Security would be for naught if you were allowed to request which detector you wanted to use.

Silly. Start to finish silly.

 

[murmer]

I agree with other posters about the family issues. I don't seperate myself from my family but when I was sent through the detector they required me to leave my autistic (run away risk) child on the side in her stroller as a wheelchair for about 2 mins (long enough for her to run if she had gotten spooked by anything). It was not safe and they didn't care. They really need a better system for children and those with disabilities and right now I have not seen that. Thankfully she did not run then but i may not be that lucky next time.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Whatever you do don't fly in thru Orlando then. My family has been separated at security with part of us being forced into the tram and sent on our way.

Really?? Never saw anyone forced into a tram, and I dare to say I fly through MCO more than anyone here.

MG

 

[mom2rtk]

I believe the metal detector portion of security is there to slow down the crowd so that the real, behind the scenes security can get a better look at things.

See my above about metal detectors. There is probably Las Vegas casino level security at Disney that the public knows nothing about. The metal detectors, while sometimes helpful, are just slowing the crowd down, and helping the real security get a better read on things.


Yep!


TSA is a joke. Disney security could run circles around them.





You never should have separated yourself from your family if you were that concerned about staying together. Security would be for naught if you were allowed to request which detector you wanted to use.

I suppose it's possible that Disney security is really top notch. But I'm curious how you are so sure about that. I hope they are, and I tell myself they are so I feel better, but ultimately, I really have no idea.

I think the bottlenecks created by the security checks outside the gates of the parks are very dangerous and actually make me sort of nervous. I doubt someone wanting to create an incident at Disney cares if they do it on Main Street or right outside the gates.

 

[miamimi]

TSA is a joke. Disney security could run circles around them.

Well, I guess you don't fly then, since you have so little regard for the TSA and their ability to protect you. If you do fly, may I suggest that you hide your disdain? I don't think it would go well for you!

I fly weekly and there are always 2 people on the X-Ray machines that check the bags I also get pulled out of the line for a more thorough search. I think this is a better check that what Disney provides. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[Jennasis]

Honestly none of us know what Disney's true security presence is. Maybe it IS in reality woefully lacking...or maybe it's fantastic.

 

[chapie1968]

I have seen a bunch of threads on here with people complaining about that bag check and secondary screening at WDW. I've read people being upset their wallet was opened, people upset to walk through a metal detector, etc

I was selected twice for secondary and it added 8 seconds to my park entry.

It doesn't appear random, they pick whoever is coming through bag check at the exact time the metal detector is open. There was never a line of people waiting for the metal detector.

As far as bag check, look at every pocket, zipper, pouch,etc. I have my family and take the safety serious. Obviously Disney does as well. I'd rather they search everyone well and find something opposed to a half assed search and something getting through the line.

It's not that bad

Some guards are more thorough than others

I am glad they have it the way they do

People should stop crying, God forbid the moment someone sets off a bomb or a shooter goes wild they'll be blaming Disney and wanting to sue for "lack of security"

I'll go through all the security checks you want if it means my family and myself are safe.

 

[HBaney84]

I'm waiting for a big security screening before you even enter Disney Property. Is the only way on the property through the big welcome sign (I haven't been there in almost 10 years!!!)... I'd be up for anyone on property being screen.

 

[TavieP]

Why didn't you and anyone else in the rest of your party have a cell phone? You said you didn't in an earlier post. I can't imagine entering a Disney park without every responsible member of my visiting party having one for security and meetup purposes. Also, how far would the rest of your party really get without you? Unless they weren't immediately behind you, they surely saw you being escorted to a metal detector. And even if they didn't, telling the security staff at the metal detector that you had just lost your kids would have gotten them found for you pretty quickly. You also don't say who was in your other party, and I'm wondering if that's because it wasn't kids but a mixed group of one or more adults and kids, which makes this whole issue kind of moot. Furthermore, you don't say what the reaction was of the rest of your party when you were removed to the metal detector, and I wonder if that's because they didn't think it was a big deal?

I never said that. I have a cell phone and so did the other adult in my party. I think you're confusing me with someone else.

As to how far behind me they were, it was me, my friend, and a 6-year-old. I was right in front of them, stepped through easily, and as my friend was helping the 6-year-old, I was whisked away. My friend's attention was on the 6-year-old, not on me.

Again, it wasn't a huge deal for me (or the rest of my party, as I see you're concerned about their "reaction") because in this instance I was able to keep my eye on them and reunite fairly easily, but for someone else? A single adult traveling with just their kids, or someone whose cell phone battery had died, or someone with other reasons to be concerned about an abrupt separation from their party? It's a boneheaded move.

But, again, you're confusing me with someone else, I definitely did have a cell phone with me.

 

[TavieP]

I'm just looking at it from a security perspective. Keep your party together as you enter. That way, everyone can see what's happening. I haven't heard of any instances where children were separated and left unattended from at least one adult. That would be a different story altogether.

My party was together. We all stepped through the security line together. My friend had a stroller and a 6-year-old and was right behind me, and as I stepped forward after being cleared from the bag line, she was directly behind me with her bag and the 6-year-old. Her eyes weren't glued on me, so she didn't see that I was whisked away and I didn't have time to tell her.

Luckily, as I said, it wasn't super crowded and I was able to keep my eye on them and reunite quickly after going through the metal detectors, but it could have gone differently in another situation.

Not giving people a split second to say "Hey, I'll meet you behind the metal detectors on the other side of the entrance!" as they're dragged across the entrance plaza isn't great and that extra split-second doesn't do squat for security, all it does is separate people from their children for no reason.

 

[Disneylover99]

My party was together. We all stepped through the security line together. My friend had a stroller and a 6-year-old and was right behind me, and as I stepped forward after being cleared from the bag line, she was directly behind me with her bag and the 6-year-old. Her eyes weren't glued on me, so she didn't see that I was whisked away and I didn't have time to tell her.

Luckily, as I said, it wasn't super crowded and I was able to keep my eye on them and reunite quickly after going through the metal detectors, but it could have gone differently in another situation.

Not giving people a split second to say "Hey, I'll meet you behind the metal detectors on the other side of the entrance!" as they're dragged across the entrance plaza isn't great and that extra split-second doesn't do squat for security, all it does is separate people from their children for no reason.

Honestly? From the way you describe it, I have no problem with the way security handled it. A child was not left unattended. If it is something that you are concerned about, you should probably send an email to guest communication services.

 

[TavieP]

Honestly? From the way you describe it, I have no problem with the way security handled it. A child was not left unattended. If it is something that you are concerned about, you should probably send an email to guest communication services.

I might do that. There are more issues with parties being split up than simply a child being left unattended. Not really sure why people are so staunchly set on defending what to me is a practice that could easily be adjusted to avoid situations like Maistre Gracey's (or worse). We're not saying they're monsters who are ruining people's vacations, just that this particular security practice needs a little fine-tuning to meet everyone's needs.

 

[Disneylover99]

I might do that. There are more issues with parties being split up than simply a child being left unattended. Not really sure why people are so staunchly set on defending what to me is a practice that could easily be adjusted to avoid situations like Maistre Gracey's (or worse). We're not saying they're monsters who are ruining people's vacations, just that this particular security practice needs a little fine-tuning to meet everyone's needs.

The reason why I defend security is because they are security. They are there for our protection. They are not put in place to take people's requests. We don't know why they do what they do. As I've stated before, maybe there are reasons for separating people. You don't like it. I get it.

 

[TavieP]

I honestly have no problem with anything security has ever done except for that one little thing. I'm very glad security is there. I don't blindly follow authority unquestioningly, but I respect it, and if something could be improved, I suggest it.

That's my POV. YMMV!

 

[fla4fun]

In any situation like this where one of us could be pulled aside, we always have a pre arranged meeting spot already set. For example, we meet at the round fountain by SSE at Epcot, or outside City Hall at MK. We do the same thing at airports or stadiums or anywhere we could be briefly separated. We haven't had any issues finding each other.

 

[IrishNYC]

I suppose it's possible that Disney security is really top notch. But I'm curious how you are so sure about that. I hope they are, and I tell myself they are so I feel better, but ultimately, I really have no idea.

I think the bottlenecks created by the security checks outside the gates of the parks are very dangerous and actually make me sort of nervous. I doubt someone wanting to create an incident at Disney cares if they do it on Main Street or right outside the gates.

Well, I guess you don't fly then, since you have so little regard for the TSA and their ability to protect you. If you do fly, may I suggest that you hide your disdain? I don't think it would go well for you!

I fly weekly and there are always 2 people on the X-Ray machines that check the bags I also get pulled out of the line for a more thorough search. I think this is a better check that what Disney provides. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Honestly none of us know what Disney's true security presence is. Maybe it IS in reality woefully lacking...or maybe it's fantastic.

I do know quite a bit about both TSA and Disney's security practices. Not enough to know all of Disney's, other than there is a lot behind the scenes the public doesn't see or know about, but with TSA what you see is what you get. All you need to do is look at the the hiring criteria for each organization to see who has better standards.

I hold nothing against TSA. They're doing a job, just like Disney security is doing their job. I fly often, and I set off the detector every time I fly, I patiently await my pat down, because that's their job, and I happily chat with them while they do their job. Thinking that Disney does a better job at screening than TSA doesn't mean I hold any grudge against them.