How bad is bag check, really?

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I go bagless because it's easier to navigate the parks without a bag, not so much because it's easier to get in the parks without a bag. Getting in the parks without a bag is a bonus.
But, when DD comes she brings a bag and I do see the bag lines and most of the time, they aren't too bad. MK especially is good.
AK can be awful. Or it can be nothing. But when AK is bad, it's REALLY bad. I've seen theirs back up to the tram lines on more than 1 occasion. Before Pandora even opened.
HS is typically fine, no significant line most of the time
Epcot can be bad, it's poorly designed and tends to look worse than it is but really, it's not big enough period. So it is just worse than others. IG is not bad.

I think ease of navigation varies depending on the type of bag you choose.
If you take a small/medium size crossbody that can keep you hands free, let you easily get things out of it without taking it off, and go on every ride with it still on your person I'd say navigation is not an issue plus you have the convenience of having what you want with you.
If you have a backpack that's another story in my opinion lol.

 

[AngiTN]

I think ease of navigation varies depending on the type of bag you choose.
If you take a small/medium size crossbody that can keep you hands free, let you easily get things out of it without taking it off, and go on every ride with it still on your person I'd say navigation is not an issue plus you have the convenience of having what you want with you.
If you have a backpack that's another story in my opinion lol.

Or you just hate having things on your body. Which is the category I fit in. Cross body, back, whatever. Hate it all. For a short while, like at home daily use no problem. Hours upon hours in a theme park, no way.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Or you just hate having things on your body. Which is the category I fit in. Cross body, back, whatever. Hate it all. For a short while, like at home daily use no problem. Hours upon hours in a theme park, no way.

Then I wouldn't say its navigational related lol.

 

[fractalpotato]

I encountered one guard like this as well. In all my visits, I have never been so annoyed at security. The guard took forever and it was before the MK changes & packed so I couldn't switch lines with 3 kids and a double stroller. I was easily in line for 20 minutes. He unpacked every little container and rechecked bags that he forgot he checked. I opened every zipper to make things easier - nothing helped. The guard said he was from NYC and overly cautious because of the things he's seen. I appreciate that as we are also from the area, but the truth was that anyone with an actual hazardous material would have switched lines. Being obviously slower than every other security guard does nothing to enhance security - just upset the mom with multiple kids who has to repack her bag while juggling her toddler. Only once in over a hundred bag checks but a truly awful experience. Most of the time bag check is quick and works as intended.

As someone who lives and works in NYC, this is garbage, it's security theater at best. The notion of "I'm from NYC and I'm justified to be paranoid" is a terrible idea, and frankly is exactly the effect that was desired from the events that transpired. It doesn't help anyone and it's ridiculous, that sort of thinking is how we've slowly chipped away at civil liberties in the name of "security". It frustrates me to no end!

Matt

 

[bluezy]

The lines aren't too bad, but occasionally you will get someone who is very thorough going through your bag, which really slows the line down. I was using a Nike cinch sack with one zippered pocket on the outside. He removed everything from that pocket because he "needed to see better." What? It was a shallow pocket with not much in there. Just gum and a few granola bars. Then he pulled out my wallet and opened that and he opened a tiny bag that held my charging cords, which he took out and then couldn't put back in properly. He opened the ziplock bag carrying my rain poncho and pulled the poncho out and shook it and then just shoved it back in the cinch sack without putting it back in the ziplock baggie. I was so annoyed and had to stop and repack everything once I got through. I have never had a security guard go through my bag like that before.

He was the only security guard who did that over my 4 day trip where I did a lot of park hopping. The rest used their flashlights to poke around my bag but none of them emptied the contents from my bag to get a better look.

Ugh. I had "that guy" one time several years ago. It was before they had metal detectors at all -- so if you had no bag, you just walked past the guard and in to the park. DH & I and the kids were on the bus on the way to Epcot when he realized he had a small pocket knife in his pocket. It was just a cheap one so he was just going to throw it away when we got off the bus. I told him not to bother because if it was in his pocket, no one was even going to know he had it. Fast forward to bag check area. I had a small crossbody bag so I got in the bag check line while DH & the kids went through the no bags entrance. It was 3:00 in the afternoon and there were very few people entering the park. There were 3 bag check tables open and I went to the one with no one in line (the other 2 each had 1 person in line). I had my bag open and every zipper open. What appeared to be a sweet older gentleman started digging through my bag like he was *sure* I had something in there. He found a wooden clothespin in the bag and asked why I had it. I thought he was joking so I said, "I have 5 kids. I do laundry wherever I can so I keep clothespins in my bag so I can hang up the wet clothing wherever we are." The truth was that I kept a few in my bag because they came in handy for clipping together receipts; "fixing" a torn rain poncho; etc. Well, the guy looked at me and in a very stern voice said, "I'm serious. Why do you have clothespins in your bag?" So I told him why I had them. He didn't seem satisfied with my answer and continued to grill me on why I was carrying clothespins. I told him more than once that he could have them, I didn't really need them. He went on to explain that you can take the metal spring off of the clothespin and use it to detonate a bomb. Who knew???? Obviously not me. I again told him to just take them. Meanwhile, my husband and kids are standing inside the "secure" area wondering what is taking me so long to get through the bag check line. I just wanted to say to the security guard, "While you're standing here grilling me about a clothespin, that guy over there just walked in the park with A KNIFE!!!!" The guy finally let me go through but told me to get rid of the clothespins when I got back to my room (as if he was doing me a favor by not confiscating them ) No guard ever questioned me about the clothespins the rest of the week.

 

[AngiTN]

Then I wouldn't say its navigational related lol.

navigate = to go about my day in the park
a way to say the same thing with fewer words
guess it didn't work

 

[prprincess]

I always take a backpack, and it's not bad. I find that what takes longer is security making small talk with the guests, but they go through the bags pretty quickly.

 

[Roxyfire]

It's not too bad at all, just take a quick look at all the tables, there might be ones further away that's less busy. I often only take a medium or small sized cross body bag and make sure all the zippers are open ready to look in. There are some screeners that are more thorough but they're just doing their job. It's important to give yourself enough time to get where you're going, bag screenig isn't the only place you can get delayed!

 

[bryanb]

As annoying as it is to go through security, it's not anything worth stressing out over or getting angry about.

I realize there are outspoken critics of security theater. Much of what is screened for (at airports, courthouses, theme parks, events, etc.) can be defeated by someone who has enough determination, uncommonly calm nerves, and disregard for humanity.

Yet I don't think we should mind it so much. It may be a net with holes in it, but it is still a net. Casual chatter can tease out red flags that could otherwise be missed. A metal detector will at least give some pause to an unstable person's plans. Take all together, it might not stop every rare cold-hearted terrorist, but it could be enough to spot or deter the nervous lone-wolf with bad intentions.

 

[DisneyOma]

I got through EPCOT security with a (tiny, bright pink) pocket knife in my bag. I didn't know it was in there. I guess the security guard didn't see it either. It's about 1 1/2 " folded up. I was horrified when I found it the next day when I decided to switch bags.

 

[mrs. magoo]

We just got back and it wasn't bad. I think I had to wait about 7 minutes tops. I chose to go bag less on our 4 parks in one day journey and it was awesome. I had my phone in my pocket and my magic band for charging. Truly liberating. I think I may go bagless more often?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Last Aug trip was a bit of a mess for us security-wise, but this trip (8/7-17) has been really good so far. We're staying at BLT so go through MK security on the walking path to MK -- easy as pie so far. Other parks have been pretty efficient... still not much of a wait when there are big crowds there. DD and I carry very small purses, and DH has a backpack.

 

[DisneyOma]

We just got back and it wasn't bad. I think I had to wait about 7 minutes tops. I chose to go bag less on our 4 parks in one day journey and it was awesome. I had my phone in my pocket and my magic band for charging. Truly liberating. I think I may go bagless more often?

Where do you carry the water and sunscreen for August?

 

[china mom]

Where do you carry the water and sunscreen for August?

I know you didn't ask me but I'll answer. I have a cross body strap attached to my metal water bottle and I don't bring sunscreeen I also carry my driver's license, AP, CC and such in a flat lanyard pouch

 

[mrs. magoo]

I didn't bring any in with me. We put sunscreen on before we left and I find that you are in and out of some many rides we were fine. We got a bottle of water in the park and just refilled that. I didn't think I would be able to do it but it was great and I didn't miss anything that I usually shove in bags. I did have a chap stick and a sun screen stick in my pocket

 

[flortlebap]

It's pretty easy. I treat it like the check out at the grocery store. Be observant, don't JUST pick a short line, but make note of what you are getting behind. The family pushing the double stroller loaded down with bags and softside coolers. . .they are going to take a lot longer to go through the bag check than 6 teenage girls with crossbody bags. (no offense to any of these families, I understand the struggle) Also, if there are a few of you with bags, instead of being in single file, line up on both sides of the table, they alternate one side, then the other, so your entire party will get through quicker if you divide and conquer.

But, like at the grocery store, whichever line I join will always be the slowest....

 

[bluezy]

Where do you carry the water and sunscreen for August?

Not the poster quoted, but here's what we do. We apply sunscreen before leaving the room in the morning. My husband and I each have a tiny bottle of sunscreen that we attach to a belt loop with a carabiner clip just in case any of us need to reapply while in the parks. We usually head back to the resort by 1:00 for a break and then we reapply before heading out again. As far as water, we buy drinks when we're thirsty.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I pay attention to who is in front of me. I stay away from people with large backpacks and also families with strollers. It never fails but I will get someone ahead of me that doesn't understand that bag check includes the bags IN the stroller, and not just the backpack Dad is carrying. I have my purse pockets open, my empty sunglass case open, any zipper pockets unzipped.

 

[peg2001]

The longest time bag check ever took was when we were returning to the park in the middle of the day and the security person was bored and wanted to chat. I thought we'd never get away.

 

[melana]

In my three trips I have never had to wait longer than about 10 minutes average. Most waits were around 5 minutes.

There is always a line that seems to move faster than others. Also, I am always ready with bag unzipped, etc.

Now, one time we went to Epcot and it took forever!! The lines were at a standstill. I think 20 minutes maybe. I sent the bagless people ahead. I didn't think I would ever get through.