How Does Disney Handle Guests With Orthopedic Implants That Set Off The Metal Detectors?

[Vaughn4380]

Hello everyone! Sorry if this is in the wrong forum but I wasn't sure where to put it. While not actually disabled, my mother has a metal plate, pins, and screws from an accident a few years ago. Thankfully she recovered 100% with the addition of the new hardware and has no mobility issues. However, she now sets off every metal detector she goes through.

To get through a TSA screening at the airport she has to have documentation from her doctor and a private security screening with an agent who usually wants to see the scars and pat her down in "personal areas". Since hearing about the new metal detectors at Disney, she is afraid she will have to go through a similar process and the thought of a strip search every day just to get into the park is overwhelming her. So much that she is thinking about cancelling our trip in June.

I am wondering if a note from her doctor would allow her to avoid the metal detector treatment, and if so, would there be any additional level of screening like a pat down? If so, do they take you to a private area to do this? She really wants to avoid showing off the scars in public or making a scene trying to explain why the metal detector is going off.

 

[seashoreCM]

She should point out the area of her body where the metal is located before going through the metal detector.

Disney does not do strip searches out in the open.

Most likely Disney CMs will just pass her along when the metal detector flashes lights at the same height (hip level?) where she pointed.

A doctor's note will not hurt.

 

[gap2368]

not every one goes through ( or that is how it was a few days ago when I was there last)
I think the sensitivity can be changed on melt detectors I think the ones at disney should not be going off if you have some metal in you I think they have it set to go off for much bigger things. if your mother is chose to go through I would just say I have this implant and it might set it off they may just ask her to empty her pockets and take a few minutes to talk with her.

I am sure there is some thing that they will do as your mom is not the only one like this, but I would go and really no worry too much about it I am there all the time and I have never been picket neither my friend and she goes more then I do.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Hello everyone! Sorry if this is in the wrong forum but I wasn't sure where to put it. While not actually disabled, my mother has a metal plate, pins, and screws from an accident a few years ago. Thankfully she recovered 100% with the addition of the new hardware and has no mobility issues. However, she now sets off every metal detector she goes through.

To get through a TSA screening at the airport she has to have documentation from her doctor and a private security screening with an agent who usually wants to see the scars and pat her down in "personal areas". Since hearing about the new metal detectors at Disney, she is afraid she will have to go through a similar process and the thought of a strip search every day just to get into the park is overwhelming her. So much that she is thinking about cancelling our trip in June.

I am wondering if a note from her doctor would allow her to avoid the metal detector treatment, and if so, would there be any additional level of screening like a pat down? If so, do they take you to a private area to do this? She really wants to avoid showing off the scars in public or making a scene trying to explain why the metal detector is going off.

This is not true; you do not need documentation from your physician to get through TSA screening if you have implanted medical devices. You just need to inform the screener and you will be wanded. Your mom needs to calm down; she won't get a strip search. The same for any security screening. You aren't getting a pass with a physician's note. They cannot be verified.

 

[ImDMous]

I have a metal implant in my leg from knee to ankle and a few screws from about 20 years ago, before they started giving out medical cards for them. I set off every metal detector at the airport and get the wanding, it's really no big deal. The metal detectors at Disney, concerts, national monuments, etc are usually not turned up high enough for me to set them off. If I do, I just tell them what's where and they wand me and make sure that's what's setting it off. No big deal.

 

[gap2368]

A doctor's note will not hurt.

disney will not look at DR notes so no use in having one

 

[Debbie Jean]

This is not true; you do not need documentation from your physician to get through TSA screening if you have implanted medical devices. You just need to inform the screener and you will be wanded. Your mom needs to calm down; she won't get a strip search. The same for any security screening. You aren't getting a pass with a physician's note. They cannot be verified.

I was going to say this exactly. No TSA agent has ever asked me for documentation of any kind... much less to see my scars LOL I simply point at my knees and say "knee replacements" and they send me through the body scanner. The "pat down" of "scan" is quick and efficient. Really not a big deal at all. I'm often finished before my family is.

I hadn't given the new procedures at Disney a thought since I'm sure they will be as efficient as the TSA. Tell Mom to relax... it's Disney!

 

[BabyFu18]

I have a steel plate and nine screws in my right arm (big scar from my shoulder to elbow, but obviously you can't see it if I'm wearing long sleeves) and generally when I go through any metal detector I just tell the people standing there that I have metal in my arm and they generally ask me to go through the metal detector and then they use the handheld wand as well and that's that. I've never been asked to see a scar or to see any type of card or note to prove the metal is there from a medical procedure. It's never been a big deal, even if I set off the decetors usually being scanned with a handheld wand is enough to have me passing on through after that. I haven't been to Disney yet with the new security measures but I'm sure it'll be easy enough and probably not any different than most metal decetors your mom has been through in the past.

Overall, I wouldn't say it's anything that your mom needs to be concerned about, I assure you lots and lots of people who have metal in their bodies for one reason or another go through metal detectors all the time and it's generally not an issue.

 

[SMD]

At DLR the metal detectors are not staffed by Disney and they don't determine who goes through them. They might look at a doctor's note, but I don't think it would exempt anyone from going through. They have hand scanners if it anyone sets off the metal detector they just hand scan the area the the guest points out. If it makes her feel better to have some kind of note or just a copy of some documentation on her phone then do that, but I'm sure that going through the detector, telling them she has a plate and screws and then a hand scan will be sufficient.

Hopefully someone can confirm that the process at WDW is similar.

 

[gap2368]

I know this is an older post but I thought I would answer the OP question since the last time I was at disney world I was the chosen one. ( and set it off because of the medical devices I had)

when I went up to the screening they asked if for me to take ever thing out of my pockets I did then they asked ( and I forgot exactly what they said but was something like) do you have any thing that could set of the metal detectors I said yes and pointed to one of my medical devices ( that was clipped to my paints) he said I would need to be wondded the medical device set it off I then remembered I had another medical device on the back of my arm I told him about that one ( I was wearing a sweet shirt so there was no way for him to see or know I had something there) the thing went off again and he was fine no other question at all.

my advice for the OP or any one is just let them know I have this medical device/ implant what ever and where on your body and they will tell you what to do. they never wanted to see the medical devices I think the one on my paints they could see but the other they did not nor did they ask what it was, never looked at any thing never touched me I could have easily hidden something if I really wanted to but I think they can also tell by body language who is a threat and who is not and with the 1 minute it took to go thought the second screening I guess they know.

the next day my friend was picket and she just walked right through the metal detector

also I saw more disney cast member doing the screening I do not think I remember seeing the other people but it was not like I was paying action at all I do know the one I interacted with was a disney security guard and very nice.

 

[disney david]

Disney hiring more security cms to replace the outside company so you will soon not see them anymore. But it might take sometime with training and hiring so they still might need the outside come play for awhile longer.

 

[gap2368]

Disney hiring more security cms to replace the outside company so you will soon not see them anymore. But it might take sometime with training and hiring so they still might need the outside come play for awhile longer.

come to think about it I do not remember seeing them at all last trip but I never really looked I just know I and the next day my friend both had Disney CM

 

[disney david]

come to think about it I do not remember seeing them at all last trip but I never really looked I just know I and the next day my friend both had Disney CM

Yeah Disney said this when they annouced mounted ocso would be patrolling Disney springs so maybe hey have hired the extra security cms. Well thanks for the update

 

[gap2368]

so you were picket to go through a meter detector 2x and each time you show them a letter form your DR and they dd what say you do not need to go though the meter detector? I have been told by CM and people here that they will not look at a letter form a DR as cast members are not Dr and there is no way of know if the letter actually came from a Dr. or if joe plow off the street wrote the letter. Yes they may have looked at it to please you but I think they would have done the same thing asked what on your body will set the meter detectors off and just go from there.

Right now they are not screening everyone just random people out of all the trips I have been on I have been picked 1 time ( and I do park hope to) my friend goes just as much as I go ( and we go separate some times too) and she has been picket 1 time too I think if the OP is picked it would be easer to say I have this here and it might set the meter detectors off they will more then likely use the hand wand and they will be done before they can pull a letter out have the CM read it and then do it.

 

[lanejudy]

I have cleaned out posts that were essentially OT arguing back-and-forth. Let's keep this thread to the original topic of metal detectors and screening at the parks for someone with "hardware." If you have first-hand experience to share, feel free to do so in a non-argumentative manner.

 

[KPeveler]

I can say that at this point, Disney will NOT look at doctor's notes. I know they cannot require them, but even if you have one, they will not look at it.

If you cannot go through the metal detector, or if you have medical implants that will set them off, they will ask you to describe (in general terms) where they are (head, leg, abdomen, etc), and they will likely use a wand.

For people with medical devices who cannot use either the metal detector or the wand (I am not sure if there even are any of those), it is basically a judgement call. They will have a lead come speak with you, and as long as you are straight forward with them, it should not be a problem.

My father works security at WDW, often on the metal detectors. The only people who are denied entry are the people who completely refuse security procedures, generally for personal/ideological reasons. If you answer their questions (which are general, as I have stated - they are not interested in a diagnosis, nor will they ask to view a scar or anything), it should not be a problem.

Please be aware that if you cannot go through the metal detector, or set it off due to an internal device, they ALWAYS ask for a supervisor. THIS IS STANDARD PROCEDURE. This does NOT mean that there is a problem. It just means that the regular guy working the metal detector (they call them portals) is not allowed to deal with any exceptions or exemptions.

ETA: Also at this time, my father says that they are not going to be doing pat downs, nor are there any plans to do so. So no need to worry about that happening.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for your information, KPeveler