Here is a strategy: Dont bring all of your belongings into the parks

[KateP85]

That's me, at Disney and the grocery store check out.

This is me, in every aspect of life. If I get in a queue, it will NO QUESTION proceed to be the slowest queue that has ever been. Yesterday we went to Animal Kingdom and I got in line at Pizzafari - there was one person in front of me, and every other line had at least three families. Well, the lady in front of me was ordering for what seemed like 25 other people sat at a table and she had to keep texting them to ask about their order. I gave up and moved to another line, where a family needed several hours to study the menu before placing their order. It was unbelievable!

 

[LoopyDoopy]

Haven't had time to read the entire thread, but OP, get over it.

You haven't read the thread, but you're going to give your uninformed opinion anyway. Um, thanks?

 

[texasroni75]

I have yet to see anyone enter the parks with as much stuff as OP describes. But just because I didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen I think most people, even those who carry a ton of stuff in, want to get through the line as quickly as those with less items do. In the end, we don't get to decide what others need or don't need.

AND, even those with just one small bag can be slow at the checkpoint. Hubby has what I call the "bag of a million zippers". It's a backpack but it has numerous small zippers, some are practically decorative, because you can't fit more than a chapstick in some of the pockets. He only uses the largest area to store his stuff but security wants every zipper opened anyway. So every time we go to the parks I remind him how long it takes for him to unzip, security to check every little pocket, and for him to re-zip - and every time he brings it anyway because it's his favorite bag. So, even a guy with a water bottle, phone and jacket in his one bag can tie up a line

 

[LoopyDoopy]

I wish we could go bagless, I really do. But, with a child that's paler than paper, and myself not far behind, reapplying sunscreen is a must. We also carry water bottles, hand wipes, my wallet (because I have a knack of buying pants/shorts without pockets), ponchos, and a phone charger.

I'm in the same boat, so I definitely carry sunscreen. That's not a lot of stuff though. I've seen some wacky things in the parks like a plug-in bottle warmer! Seriously, I think the little ones can survive a meal or two with an ambient temperature bottle.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Give a little grace to the people around you. As an off-site family with five young kids, who all have special allergy diets, we are going to hold up the line with our two coolers, shoulder bags, diaper bag, and two -yep, two - double strollers. Thank goodness we don't have to go through bag check on the way out, because after we buy them each one souvenir, we will fill another duffle bag. Honestly, I expect entering the park to be the most stressful part of the day. Knowing there are pissed off people behind me makes me dread it even more. Please know that we are all doing the best we can. No one, in any security line is thinking "I hope I can make this last longer for me, and everyone behind me." And everyone has different needs for the park.
And a side note about the strollers and ECV - isn't it wonderful we have a way for all people to get around in the parks? We took our kids to a zoo today. There was an elderly lady sitting on an ECV in the penguin house, blocking off a big chunk of front row real estate for a long time. I felt a twinge of annoyance. Then I actually looked at the person sitting on that scooter. She had the biggest smile on her face as she watched the penguins jump and swim. Her 80+ year old husband was taking pictures of her as she laughed.
Try to see the person, not just the paraphernalia and stuff that's 'getting in your way.'

Welcome to the Disboards! Thank you for your post, it made me smile to think about the lady on the scooter watching the penguins. I think that it's a good reminder that we should consider other people's needs, thoughts, and feelings.

I understand the frustration of being behind the person who isn't ready when they get to the front of the line. I am thankful that we are able to go without backpacks full of stuff. We are fortunate that we can stay onsite and take breaks back to the room, there isn't much we can't live without for a few hours. I also don't travel with little ones anymore. For larger families and folks who stay offsite and/or will be in the parks all day I can understand trying to be as prepared as possible. I know I don't want to pay Disney prices for sunscreen and meds when I can bring it with me if I need it.

I think it's helpful to remember that not everyone comes from the same place and circumstances in life. When I was a kid we were lucky to get to go to the zoo or a local theme park once a year because that's what my family could afford. Lunch was walking back to the parking lot and eating a sandwich and having a soda out of the cooler in trunk of the car. So thankful to have those memories!

 

[maryj11]

I wish we could go bagless, I really do. But, with a child that's paler than paper, and myself not far behind, reapplying sunscreen is a must. We also carry water bottles, hand wipes, my wallet (because I have a knack of buying pants/shorts without pockets), ponchos, and a phone charger.

I would love to go bagless also. But we need sunscreen, raincoats, water bottles, spray misting fans, wallet, wipes for sweat , advil, snacks trading pins and that just wont fit in a small bag so we take one backpack and I usually am the one to lug it around.
I hate to take that much stuff but it is the weather that is the trouble maker ! We can not live without our spray misting fan or bottles of water and we need our ponchos along with the sun screen.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That would be nice, but I think the bottom line is the people who wait until they get to security to pull their backpack off and unzip everything. Or, they have a stroller with 2 kids walking and 5 bags completely stuffed sitting in the strollers that need to be opened 1 by 1. I do not see that more bag check lines would help. It is the guests, not Disney, that slows the process.

It is Disney slowing the process on one level. If there were more bag checkers during peak times, it would go faster. They know that half of their guests come in wheeling strollers filled to the brim lol

 

[Phishman78]

I think the lesson here is for all parties is to think about other people, and how your actions are affecting others experience. some people need to pack, but they need to be aware that they are wearing a giant backpack or that they need to be ready at security. like some people do at the supermarket, let someone go behind you that has little to nothing. The lady at the penguin tank needs to realize that she is blocking the view. Conversely the other people need to realize that they are in a crowded theme park and there are people with needs. Yes, you spent a lot of money and you went bagless to make your trip through security as quick as possible. But you aren't a special snowflake. Its not all about you.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

I love going bagless, but there are a few times when I couldn't, like when I did a weekend trip and was going straight from the parks to the airport that night. It's nice when people around you are bagless as well, but you can't control others.

 

[Minnesota!]

I do think people bringing a ton of stuff is a little bit (a lot a bit) ridiculous. However, it doesn't impact me much, so I just silently judge the ridiculousness for a bit, then move on with my day

 

[china mom]

Having two small kids, I longed for the day where I would not need haul Diapers, wipes, snacks, two changes of clothes (in case of accidents) and blanket to shield them from the sun. But at least I had a stroller to hang everything on.

That day has come.. and now, I have Mom. So I haul in diapers, wipes, snacks two changes of clothes (in case of accidents) and blanket because Mom is always cold - even in FL in July. But at least I have a wheelchair to hang everything on.

Sigh

 

[memo10]

I think this is actually a common frustration for a lot of people visiting any of the parks. And while I often wonder why so many bring so much, and it is far more becoming the rule than the exception, it is something Disney needs to address immediately.
Imo at the very least ALL stroller traffic entering the park, any park, should be designated to one side or another for inspection.
A line for no bags is already in place.
Back packs line and a small bag/ purse line. This would alleviate frustration. You read a large sign, you follow it. Simple enough.
Now, I'm a parent. Ive been traveling with my kids from very early on. I have never had or needed the amount of "stuff" for two kids and two parents that I see at WDW. When they were small, and in strollers, we brought the smallest most convienient least obtrusive one. I would have never brought a jogging stroller to WDW. They are too big, invasive of space and take up half a bus traveling between resorts and parks. I used mine for... jogging. Only jogging. Because it's a jogging stroller. Sometimes you have to think about not just yourself when traveling, but generally those around you.
So, if one must hit the parks with two jogging strollers a large full cooler, three backpacks, two duffle bags, two diaper bags, a fanny pack for everyone, a purse, six blankets, four butt cushions for curb sitting, and leashes for the kids, be prepared BEFORE you get to the tables. Everything open, ready to go. Take into account those around you. Understand their frustrations as you'd expect them to understand why you have to have all you brought. This is a two way street. It's not couth to have this "suck it up and deal with my load of stuff" attitude, and then not be ok with "well, damn, why do they have all this stuff, and aren't prepared in line, taking forever" attitude.
And when boarding the buses, it's cool to go ahead and take you kids out of the stroller fold it up and be ready to board BEFORE the bus is loading.

Not all strollers have a bunch of stuff. Ours typically has water bottles clipped to the side, maybe some small snacks in the parent console, and ponchos or jackets if needed depending on the weather. The security guard literally just has to peek in our basket and in the canopies (which we usually have open because we know the drill). I carry a small cross body bag with my wallet and phone. That's it. It takes about 15 seconds to check our double stroller.

 

[bizeemom4]

I'm always stuck behind the people with the double stroller and the 2 back packs that are over stuffed, with a small duffel bag under the stroller. I have one teeny little bag, all open as I get to the table area. I had one guard motion me forward, to go before the family that really should have been next. He just looked at the family and said 'this will take 20 secs, thanks for your patience.'. And it did....and the funny thing is the dad looked at his wife, and said "must be nice to go with such a small bag, right hon?". Pretty sure he was making an editorial comment!!!

I used to dread the Epcot lines, but since they started moving the stroller families over to the far sides, the lines moved much faster. I hope they keep that process.

We call them the sherpas and we try hard to get to the bag check line ahead of them. It doesn't always work. We literally have the 4 or 5 item string bag and wait and wait and wait for 8 bags of crap and the stroller to get searched.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

I send the husband and child through bagless and wait with our back pack. I love the conversations I end up part of and the husband has a low tolerance for disney herding. Last trip a woman with a double stroller took out several of us slamming down the middle of bag check at mk yelling, "EXCUSE me I have CHILDREN here." She was stopped by security and loudly resisted having her stroller basket and mammoth bag checked. What can you do but laugh and dig a band aid out of your own mammoth bag to stem the blood loss?

 

[RachaelA]

The day I go bagless is the day my kid who has been potty trained for 3 years will pee her pants and I'll have to buy $20 Disney underwear at a gift shop

 

[MickeyWaffles]

edited to delete post because reading this whole thread made me crabby.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Lunch was walking back to the parking lot and eating a sandwich and having a soda out of the cooler in trunk of the car.

What as interesting concept!

 

[yulilin3]

Welcome to the Disboards! Thank you for your post, it made me smile to think about the lady on the scooter watching the penguins. I think that it's a good reminder that we should consider other people's needs, thoughts, and feelings.

I understand the frustration of being behind the person who isn't ready when they get to the front of the line. I am thankful that we are able to go without backpacks full of stuff. We are fortunate that we can stay onsite and take breaks back to the room, there isn't much we can't live without for a few hours. I also don't travel with little ones anymore. For larger families and folks who stay offsite and/or will be in the parks all day I can understand trying to be as prepared as possible. I know I don't want to pay Disney prices for sunscreen and meds when I can bring it with me if I need it.

I think it's helpful to remember that not everyone comes from the same place and circumstances in life. When I was a kid we were lucky to get to go to the zoo or a local theme park once a year because that's what my family could afford. Lunch was walking back to the parking lot and eating a sandwich and having a soda out of the cooler in trunk of the car. So thankful to have those memories!

to your last sentence, do any of you remember the picnic tables set up where the guest drop off and off site bus loop is now at the TTC and also picnic tables by the bus loop at Epcot? those were put there for families with the same situation.

 

[LoopyDoopy]

Wow, reading this whole thread is so disheartening. I never knew so many people were judging others so much for what they bring to the parks. I can wait a few minutes extra for a family to get their stuff checked. It's life. I have more important things to worry about besides getting into the park at 9:01 or 9:05. I'd bet most other people do too. I know nothing about other people's needs and situations so I have honestly never been bothered by this.

I'll be bringing my double stroller and large bag packed full of diapers, clothes, layers, wipes, sunscreen, snacks, etc. (I have 2 kids in diapers) for our trip. I'm not wasting money and buying a lighter double umbrella stroller simply for a few trips to WDW to make others happier. I'm using the heavy duty all terrain double stroller we use at home. My kids are used to sitting in it, it had enough storage for our family of 4, plus miscellaneous things for my sister, her husband, my mom and dad. Is nice and comfortable in the airport in case we have a major delay. On a recent trip to Colorado, we were delayed for hours. Both kids were able to sleep in our large comfortable stroller at the gate. I'm beyond thankful for that and will bring our large stroller wherever I travel as long as our kids are young enough for it.

What works for one family doesn't work for another. I guess I apologize if someone has to wait an extra 2 minutes for my family's gear to be checked at security. I've also never thought I needed to look behind me for everyone with a smaller bag and let
them all go first after patiently waiting our turn. If this is an expectation, where does it end? You let one person with a small bag through but there are probably 35 people with small bags behind you. Someone is going to have to wait for us.

Being proud to be selfish is nothing to be proud of.

 

[Crystal824]

Having two small kids, I longed for the day where I would not need haul Diapers, wipes, snacks, two changes of clothes (in case of accidents) and blanket to shield them from the sun. But at least I had a stroller to hang everything on.

That day has come.. and now, I have Mom. So I haul in diapers, wipes, snacks two changes of clothes (in case of accidents) and blanket because Mom is always cold - even in FL in July. But at least I have a wheelchair to hang everything on.

Sigh

I hear you. I went bagless once upon a time. Then I had kids. Now, we have to bring diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, and snacks for two (soon to be three kids). If the forecast is calling for rain, we also bring ponchos and the stroller raincover. I usually do bring a light blanket to hang over the stroller for the toddler's nap. I also bring one beach towel to dry the kids if they decide to play in one of the fountains (depending on the park). My mom who is disabled usually travels with us. She brings a blanket (she is always cold) and a change of clothes (just in case). She also has certain medications that she has to bring as well. I hope to one day be bagless again, but I know it won't be anytime soon.