Metal Detectors and Wait Times

[BLKKROW]

Two quick questions as my wife and I are getting ready to visit the parks next week.

The first is the security check, I heard they installed metal detectors? Is this correct and if so is the time it takes to get through security increased significantly? Do you have to remove belt, empty pockets, etc?

Also, with the River's of America down and the Railroad has anyone noticed the parks being more crowded? Or have the wait times increased?

Thanks! We visit once a year and wanted to know what to expect next week.

 

[bethwc101]

You are randomly selected for the metal detector so you might not have to worry about it. Wait time is hit and miss. We went for 4 days and one day we walked immediately through bag check and one of the other days the lines backed all the way up the buses/ world of disney.

I have noticed more crowds but not necessarily because of train/ ROA, but because of spring breaks, school trips, summer vacation.

The train and ROA down just seems to make it more condensed especially by NOS.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Even though hardly anyone gets chosen for the metal detectors, I've been chosen the last 3 times I went to DL. There hasn't been a line for it. It seems like they call someone over and when they are done, they call another person over. Nobody else in my group ever gets chosen. It hasn't changed the overall line to get it, but the baggage checks can be very slow with a long line during peak times of the day.

The parks are crowded, but not more crowded than usual.

 

[LizzyS]

I was chosen for the metal detectors when we went to the park on April 30th. It takes an extra 10-20 seconds, seriously. Of course, we were there before rope drop, so I can't say what it's like going through security mid-day, etc.

 

[Rabb it]

The "random security checks" just take a couple seconds and they only ask you to remove metal items from your pockets, you don't have to empty everything out.

I'm not sure how random they are because I get "randomly selected" every single time! I have full tattoo sleeves though so it probably comes with the territory, oh well.. My girlfriend and I have made a joke about it, she HATES going through the metal detectors because she wears a ring on every finger and LOTS of bracelets! To avoid her getting selected we separate and walk through different lines during the bag check that way when I get picked she just waits for me on the other side and gets to keep her jewelry on..

As for the crowds, the weekends are pretty bad like normal cause of Spring time, but I went last Thursday night from like 7-Close and the waits were really reasonable, 20 minutes for Star Tours, 5 minutes Astro Blasters, 35 minutes Hyperspace Mountain..

 

[figment_jii]

When I was there last, in March, being selected for the secondary screening was a random selection process. As others have said, it seemed like once they were almost done with one guest, one of the security folks would go get another one. I was selected a couple of times. I had to empty my pockets, but did not have to take off my jewelry (necklace and ring). I didn't wear a belt, so I don't know about that part, but you might if there was enough metal in the buckle to set off the alarm. Guests were selected for the secondary screening after they got through bag check, so I don't think it necessarily adds to the wait time to get through bag check, but bag check lines were very long (we waited about 20 minutes on average in the morning an hour or so after park opening). We entered DCA through the GCH once after dinner and at that point, everyone entering DCA through the GCH did have to go through the metal detectors (I don't know if that's how it is at all times or just select times).

In terms of the wait times, the parks themselves seem "busier" than historically and I don't think it necessarily has to do with the closures of the Rivers of America and the train alone. I'm sure that factors into the crowds (or feeling of crowds), but I keep reading about the parks experiencing records crowd numbers, so I'm inclined to say the longer lines are due to more people in the parks in general.

 

[BLKKROW]

Thank you to everyone for your responses!

Its good to hear not everyone has to pass through the metal detector like I thought. We arrive early in the morning before the gates open so I presume there will be little to no wait like usual.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I agree it's not that random. I was really impatient one day & they picked me. I think it was on purpose.

 

[wench]

You don't have to take of your belt. The only thing they ask you to do is empty your pockets. I think the longest delay that I had because of a metal detector was about 30 seconds.

 

[ten6mom]

IME the metal detectors add almost no time at all. It's the regular security lines that take forever!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I go to Disneyland all the time and have been probably 10 times since the metal detectors were installed. I was selected to go through the metal detectors exactly once in all that time (oddly enough, the day I had my 2 year old daughter with me and no one to watch her in the stroller while I walked through--that's another story though). Anyway, as others have said, the detectors don't really add time. But, be aware that security lines do back up quite a bit anyway depending on the time of day. The best time to go through is before everyone gets to the parks, so if you go before rope drop up until about 10AM, the wait isn't bad, but in peak times, it will be bad after that.

As for crowds, I haven't noticed that it's any worse, but when was the last time you were at Disneyland? In general, the crowds for the past year have been astronomical from about noon onward due to the success of the new nighttime entertainment.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We entered DCA through the GCH once after dinner and at that point, everyone entering DCA through the GCH did have to go through the metal detectors (I don't know if that's how it is at all times or just select times).

Thanks for the heads up, we are staying at VGC and will be going through GCH's gates whenever we head into DCA. I know now that we will have to allow a little bit more time to get in line at the gate there, so we aren't stuck in the back of the line waiting.

 

[bkoyle]

Once I learned the "Random" process, I have not been selected to go through the metal detectors since. That does not include getting on the Monorail in DTD. It seems most of the time they screen everyone. My family knows to split up, walk through the bag check and wait for the rest of our party 100 feet past the detectors.

Bkoyle

 

[mad hatter fan]

Do they mostly just choose adults for the metal detectors? I'm wondering how to prepare my DD who is 16 and has severe anxiety. The problem would be separating from the family and going through it alone. Would they let one of us go with her and go through it also?

 

[figment_jii]

I didn't see them select any young children, but I would think a teenager is a possibility. In terms of going with her, I would think so...to some degree. I saw them select a mother and she ended up bringing all of her family with her and everyone of them went through the metal detector. The security CMs didn't say they couldn't go through, but they did have to go one at a time. So I do think they'll let you go to the area where the detectors are set up with your daughter and even volunteer to go through the scan, but I don't think they'd physically let you go with your daughter though the metal detector at the same time.

 

[mad hatter fan]

Thanks Figment. She is used to airport metal detectors and going through one at a time so as long as DH or I could walk to them with her it would be ok. Making plans (simple ones like if x happens we will do y) in advance for possible stressful situations helps alot.

 

[HydroGuy]

Two quick questions as my wife and I are getting ready to visit the parks next week.

The first is the security check, I heard they installed metal detectors? Is this correct and if so is the time it takes to get through security increased significantly? Do you have to remove belt, empty pockets, etc?

Also, with the River's of America down and the Railroad has anyone noticed the parks being more crowded? Or have the wait times increased?

Thanks! We visit once a year and wanted to know what to expect next week.

On the parks being crowded, none of the attractions that are down related to ROA rerouting are big people eaters. So I do not think that has much to do with crowds. However, not having one (or two) Fantasmic shows a night to hold guests for an hour or two (about 9,000 people per show) should mean more people out in line for rides. At night. Also, through the end of June the park hours are shorter than normal because of Disney cost reductions and the entertainment is also cut back a little. Both of those will mean slightly bigger crowds.

The big thing for me is with the Big Thunder Mtn walkway being closed it makes getting around DL at night extremely frustrating before, during and after the parades and fireworks. Basically all evening LOL. I am definitely planning to stay either on the east side or west side of DL at night during our visit next month and try to never cross over if possible.

 

[l4dyj8]

Yes, DH and I both went through the metal detectors at the GCH entrance while our 6 year old and baby in a stroller were nearby. It wasn't a busy time and the CM entertained the kids while we went through. (No one was behind us)

DH was randomly selected, as well, at the Downtown Disney entrance. That's a little harder as he was pushing the stroller. And as parents, we have a lot of bags. So just more chaotic. Closing up the bags after bag check then towards the detectors, watching the kids, etc. They were patient and you are out of the way at this point from the line. Still a nuisance.

 

[LizzyS]

I'd rather deal with a "nuisance" than think that people are sneaking in things they aren't supposed to, tbh.

 

[BLKKROW]

It doesn't sound that bad, typically my Wife and I split up at the security entrance so it sounds like it should be the same process. The parks open at 9:00am when are there next week, we are typically arriving at the security entrance at 8:30am so we should be okay.

My concern with ROA and the Train being closed is that those rides have to hold what 200-300+ people at a time that are now throughout the park. So I figure its going to feel more crowded than normal, this year we are going a week earlier than we usually do and I think the California schools are still in session so it may be a toss up for the crowd.