How long are security lines?

[deany]

I was hoping to just bring my digital camera and a few other items into the park - such as a bottle of water, bandaids, our passes of course and the camera. I have a small travel purse. However, if the security lines are really long and slow then we will lose all that time at rope drop. We have not been to WDW since 2000 and I can't remember any security checks then. What does everyone else do?

If we just take in the camera in its own case, do we still go through security?
We could get water in the parks and put our tickets, sunscreen, etc. in our pockets. Suggestions?

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Generally it doesn't take that long to go through the security lines. It mainly depends on the number of people in front of you and how slow the security guard is. If you get there early enough, that is not exactly at rope drop time, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Robo]

I was hoping to just bring my digital camera and a few other items into the park - such as a bottle of water, bandaids, our passes of course and the camera. I have a small travel purse. However, if the security lines are really long and slow then we will lose all that time at rope drop. We have not been to WDW since 2000 and I can't remember any security checks then. What does everyone else do?

If we just take in the camera in its own case, do we still go through security?
We could get water in the parks and put our tickets, sunscreen, etc. in our pockets. Suggestions?

At all parks the security is well-before the ticket gates. (Epcot can sometimes be the exception to this, but they have been doing better.)
You want to go a bit early and pass security, then stand in the turnstyles to enter.

That said, even when the parks are busy, it might be 5 to 10 minutes to pass thru, but its generally not bad at all.

ANY bag, case, or "belly-pouch" must go thru the check, but pants-pockets are not searched.

 

[slo]

When you are going, the security lines are short and move very fast. I wouldn't worry about it

 

[QT Pooh]

Yes, they generally go quickly. They'll go even quicker if everyone unzipped all of the pockets on their bags prior to getting to the guard.

 

[Robo]

They'll go even quicker if everyone unzipped all of the pockets on their bags prior to getting to the guard.

DITTO!

 

[Dan Murphy]

At all parks the security is well-before the ticket gates. (Epcot can sometimes be the exception to this, but they have been doing better.).....

I recall experiencing the change at Epcot when I was there back a few months ago in May. Epcot was really a pain, right there at the ticket/finger scan, seemed all jammed in, as compared to the other 3 parks. Sure hope that is not the way now. I wonder why they changed it to that way for Epcot from the way it previously had been, more separated.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Agree with the unzippering thing!! If everyone was ready the lines would go alot more quickly. Reguardless of the size of the bag (camera case and all) you still have to go through security.

We make sure we get there 15min before park opening anyway so its not an issue

 

[Princess_De]

If you are entering through the International Gateway, does security check you there instead?

 

[Robo]

I wonder why they changed it to that way for Epcot from the way it previously had been, more separated.

Epcot's entrance area is designed to be much more WIDE and OPEN than the other parks'.
So they decided to place the security tables AT the gates so they would not need to specially construct a "security-roped-area" every day.

Its much more "trouble" to ROPE-OFF the entire area at Epcot to do the check "in advance". (They need extra security CM's to "police" those folks who might not know and "slip through" at the wrong spot).

But, when it gets busy, the back-ups can be LONG... so at certain times, they WILL bring on the extra CM's and set up the ropes to do the "pre-check" before the gates.

So... you did not see them "make the change" in any formal way.

You just experienced it BOTH ways, one, when they had the extra CM needed for the "early search", and one, when they did not set up the extra roping to make that possible (but reverted to the "at the gate" search tables).

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) MK, Epcot and MGM go well.
2) I have seen NIGHTMARES at AK security.
3) It once took us almost 1/2-hour to get into the park.

 

[Robo]

1) MK, Epcot and MGM go well.
2) I have seen NIGHTMARES at AK security.
3) It once took us almost 1/2-hour to get into the park.

And I have only seen "nightmares" at Epcot and not a AK.

So, like so many things at Disney (and the rest of the world), it all depends on the TIMING.

 

[ToontownPrincess]

I was at Epcot over the summer and they changed the security check from right in front of each gate to one big check point like the other parks.

 

[Robo]

I was at Epcot over the summer and they changed the security check from right in front of each gate to one big check point like the other parks.

Epcot's entrance area is designed to be much more WIDE and OPEN than the other parks'.
So they decided to place the security tables AT the gates so they would not need to specially construct a "security-roped-area" every day.

Its much more "trouble" to ROPE-OFF the entire area at Epcot to do the check "in advance". (They need extra security CM's to "police" those folks who might not know and "slip through" at the wrong spot).

But, when it gets busy, the back-ups can be LONG... so at certain times, they WILL bring on the extra CM's and set up the ropes to do the "pre-check" before the gates.

So... you did not see them "make the change" in any formal way.
Its still done EITHER way, one, when they have the extra CM needed for the "early search", and one, when they don't set up the extra roping to make that possible (but revert to the "at the gate" search tables).

 

[JennyDrake]

Security can be a breeze or a nightmare. It dpends upon the readiness of the people in front of you, the crowd level and the diligence of them that search the bags.

I've had one nightmare at Ak and several at MK. Once time in early August I spent 45 minutes in line trying to get into MK.

For best results, PACK LIGHT, leave anything you think you can possibly leave at the hotel. Unzip ALL compartments before you get there and have all members of your party do the same. Then be prepared to move out of teh way VERY quickly to let the next person through.

 

[bluejasmine]

It doesnt hold lines into the parks up too often.. They are normally pretty quick checking bags as long as you have your bags open and ready. My kids and I all carry hip pouches and they know to have them open before we reach the guard, we always get thru quickly although there always seems to be someone complaining or trying to go around security or just doesnt bother to open bags until asked..