Getting through bag security

[emeraldmom]

I'm one of the ones ready for the apocalypse, I admit it. My family teases me, but they never complain when they need something. I carry my purse, and I always carry a bunch of stuff in my purse, even when not on vacation. I also bring a messenger style bag that I put around the back of my son's wheel chair. So I'm not really carrying it, we're going to be pushing the wheelchair anyway.

We go at Christmas time, the busiest time of year. I find that bag check lines are usually 5 minutes or less, maybe 10 on a bad day. Honestly it is ridiculous that they even do them at all. Most of the security people do a very cursory look. If I was a bad person with something to hide, they aren't going to find it the way they look. Every once in a while you will get one that wants you to open every single pocket..ugh.

I will say that if you have a stroller or wheelchair, they want you to have the bags off of it. We found that out the hard way. You should have seen the poor security guy's face when I had to make my son get out of his wheelchair so I could get the bag off. Now we know better. I have older ds push younger ds while I take my purse and the messenger bag, once we're through we pull off to the side so I can arrange everything.

 

[crusoe2]

I wouldn't say that I pack for the end of the world but I do always take a bag into the parks. I've tried and tried to figure out a way to go bagless and it just doesn't work for me. Fortunately I don't have to carry a ton of stuff tho - just more than would comfortably fit in pockets. I envy the folks who can get by with such a minimum of stuff. But we inevitably need something along the way - Tylenol, tissues, etc. And it just makes for an easier day when I have that stuff in my bag rather than having to go hunt for it.

I do ALWAYS carry bandages, a small tube of neosporin, and first aid tape for taping up my feet when I get blisters. That probably sounds like overkill but I am very prone to get blisters no matter what kind of shoes I wear or what precautions I take. And I have found that the only thing that really lasts thru all that walking is to cover the blister with a gauze bandage taped on with the wide first aid tape. I buy the neosporin that has pain reliever in it and put on a little of that and then bandage it up. On one of our early trips I listened to all the folks who say "just go to the first aid station in the park and they will give you whatever you need." That didn't work out so well. By the time I got there, I had a huge blister - about half dollar size - on the ball of my foot. And all they would give me at the first aid station was one measly bandaid. Just a regular old bandaid. That thing didn't last ten minutes. We ended up having to leave the park, go to a drug store to get bandages and tape, and then head back to the park after I'd bandaged my foot.

Ever since then, I've packed my own supplies and been very glad I had them. The neosporin with pain reliever in it came in very handy the day that DD got stung by one of those big red ants while we were on the boat between Epcot and DHS. I was able to give her some Tylenol and a little instant pain relief with the neosporin. After that tho, I added a ziplock and a bandana to my first aid stash so that I can grab a cup of ice from the nearest vendor and make a quick ice pack. These are little things that don't take up a lot of space and they aren't very heavy. But they sure can make a big difference.

 

[quakechicago]

I have to bring a big honking bag because my 3 yo kiddo has food allergies and reflux. I need a change of clothes in case she barfs, an extra shirt & bra for me in case, her alternative milk and a safe juice, an epipen, etc. I throw the bag in the stroller and let the husband and toddler breeze through the bagless line.

As long as you unzip the pockets first and are polite, you should get through pretty quickly. You would not believe the people who were rude to abusive to the guards and the other people around them (cursing, cutting line, demanding guard's names, refusing to allow bags open, etc ).

I saw on one occasion a guard refuse admission to someone who had a hunting knife in their bag and another person another time had mace. I don't know why the had it, but I'm glad someone was there to check.

Also after the knife, security cracked down. Fanny packs and camera bags were not allowed through the bagless line from when it happened to that night to the next morning (we were at BLT and went back and forth a lot).

 

[disnut8]

My husband and I usually will have a bag each. His, a day bag (like a backpack but more flexible) and me a small canvas bag that I cross against my body. So, we are well versed with security checks.

As stated, have every pocket open, unzipped and unvelcroed before you get to the table. Use BOTH sides of the table. Hold open the sections and let the guide do his/her work. Oh - also smile and talk to the guard - this is their job and they are doing it. If you are part of a group, you don't all have to stay together - just meet up right after the tables. And don't stop a foot from the table and block others so you can get your bag perfect - move forward so others can pass you. I don't know of any parks where that's not room between the tables and the entrance turnstiles to take that break.

The only times we've been held up is behind others who, even though their traveling companions have been told, right in front of the others, to open up everything, those people have just stood there with their bags all zipped up.

However, remember that Disney is very polite. There won't be signs screaming "OPEN ALL BAGS NOW!!!!!!!!!" There will just be security guard doing a job and being as nice as possible in a thankless position.

 

[sue Z]

I use a small back pack actually got it in WDW in 2011 fits my camera and my bottle of water or ice tea along with my cup from the resort so when I go back to the hotel I fun in and fill it up and leave it behind for the evening and refill my bottle us ing the cup too.
when going through bag check I have everything open and ready to check. I use the same philosophy as the rides since most go to the right I go to the left was weird last Oct 1st I ran over to MK before checking my luggage at POP left everything behind except my cell & wallet and went through the bag check line. the Security guard I passed said to me no bag ? I had gone through his bag check nearly every time I was at MK that week. and he remembered that I was from the Boston area as he was too. I told him that I use the Disney way at Fenway Park for their bag check how smooth it goes instead of waiting to get to the gate and openup the bags

 

[gtpoohbear]

I guess we've been unlucky, but we've had some horribly long wait at bag-check. Epcot was the worst, about 20 minutes long, before an EMH opening. And 10-15 minutes has not been uncommon at MK. DHS and AK are usually walk-throughs.

But we are one of "those" families that does not travel lightly, lol! It always seems that whatever I don't bring is what I need, so I think every trip my bag gets bigger.

What we typically have: (in approximate order of importance)
- sippy cup for DS (and extra milk)
- phones
- sunscreen
- Credit cards / ID
- change of clothes for DS (and DD too if water-rides are on the radar)
- water bottles
- medicine (for pretty much any ailment that OTC meds could cure, lol!)
- wipes, tissues, lotion, etc.
- snacks
- rain jackets (depending on the forecast)
- camera
- blanket / stuffed animals
- autograph books, Epcot passports, etc

I used to also carry a big plan book with printouts of maps, confirmations, itineraries, etc. But I've given that up now that everything is on my phone.

I wish I could look forward to the day that we would be bag free, but honestly I hate wearing any kind of pants (or shorts) with pockets. (Yeah, I'm a yoga-pants person, lol!) so it probably won't ever happen. Unless they find a way to build my iPhone into a Magic Band

 

[texasroni75]

The lines aren't too bad at bag-check. It goes faster if you start unzipping your bags as you get closer to the front of the line.

The problem we usually run into is when DH insists on bringing his favorite backpack - or, as I call it - "the bag of a million zippers". And yes, they will make him open each and every one of them, even though most of them are just for show! I swear we spend 10 minutes every park morning just waiting for him to close them all back up again after bag check.

 

[si-am]

As others have said, the lines really aren't bad and don't take long to get through.

If you're going in December, especially, you might want a small backpack to stow a sweatshirt/hoodie in. It might be pleasant during the day but turn chilly in the evening.

I always carry a small backpack for my camera, sunblock, refillable mug... And to put my souvenirs in so I don't have to carry them around the park all day in a plastic shopping bag.

 

[Cynthia1215]

I'm a mom of 3 under 6 so I am one of those strollers with a giant bag. However, we get through quick and easy. First, as we approach- really from the bus where the stroller had to be folded- the bags don't go back in/on the stroller until we get through bag check. Everything is packed in clear ziplock bags and all of them are in one of the XL ziplock bags. One adult takes the stroller and all kids, with the stroller, through the no bag line. I take the giant ziplock bag and the other adults personal small bag. The clear bag takes just a second as they can see everything easily.

 

[Jessicavoet]

DD17 brought a sling style purse with her to some of the parks last week, the line was not long at all. She was delayed by maybe a minute.