Metal Detectors

[likesdisney]

What are the lines like with metal detectors at the parks now. Last visit they were just setting them up (and I got asked to go through every time I went to the park) Just curious how its working now. Random picks or everyone? More than usual waiting to get in?

 

[Shanti]

What are the lines like with metal detectors at the parks now. Last visit they were just setting them up (and I got asked to go through every time I went to the park) Just curious how its working now. Random picks or everyone? More than usual waiting to get in?

We were there a few weeks ago. Selection is random, and it did not have its own line. People with bags go through bag check and those without walk past bag check, & right after that some people are directed to walk through the metal detector, which is a very quick walk. Nothing like at the airport. We had to go through almost every time, and each time the whole metal detector process took less than 30 seconds. No worries.

 

[Klayfish]

Yup. Quick and easy. We got selected quite often too, and you get so used to it that you prepare ahead. As soon as I got passed bag check, I already had anything in my pockets in my hands. Dropped it in the bin, walked through metal detector and on my way.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It's random. My shorts button set off the alarm and OMG I was treated like a criminal, seriously. The security must have wanted to impress someone. He yells at me to put hands up and turn around slowly. So I thought maybe it was my credit card that set it off. So I ask him. He yells again, just keep hands up and turn slowly. He comes at me with wand and wands me. It goes off at my waist area and he tells me to slowly lift up my shirt. He wands again and sees it was the metal button on my shorts. I have never had that happen before with any of my shorts. I was embarrassed the way he yelled. Had I not been with my family, I would have complained to guest services. I understand they have a job to do and I am all for the metal detector. I think everyone should be scanned. On same token, when it's set off, not everyone is a criminal and should not be treated as one to impress your peers or show other guests that you don't play. There was no need for him to raise his voice at me. He could have just requested me to put hands up and turn slowly instead of yelling for all around to hear

 

[cornflkgrl]

It's random. My shorts button set off the alarm and OMG I was treated like a criminal, seriously. The security must have wanted to impress someone. He yells at me to put hands up and turn around slowly. So I thought maybe it was my credit card that set it off. So I ask him. He yells again, just keep hands up and turn slowly. He comes at me with wand and wands me. It goes off at my waist area and he tells me to slowly lift up my shirt. He wands again and sees it was the metal button on my shorts. I have never had that happen before with any of my shorts. I was embarrassed the way he yelled. Had I not been with my family, I would have complained to guest services. I understand they have a job to do and I am all for the metal detector. I think everyone should be scanned. On same token, when it's set off, not everyone is a criminal and should not be treated as one to impress your peers or show other guests that you don't play. There was no need for him to raise his voice at me. He could have just requested me to put hands up and turn slowly instead of yelling for all around to hear

 

[dreiwhit]

It's random. My shorts button set off the alarm and OMG I was treated like a criminal, seriously. The security must have wanted to impress someone. He yells at me to put hands up and turn around slowly. So I thought maybe it was my credit card that set it off. So I ask him. He yells again, just keep hands up and turn slowly. He comes at me with wand and wands me. It goes off at my waist area and he tells me to slowly lift up my shirt. He wands again and sees it was the metal button on my shorts. I have never had that happen before with any of my shorts. I was embarrassed the way he yelled. Had I not been with my family, I would have complained to guest services. I understand they have a job to do and I am all for the metal detector. I think everyone should be scanned. On same token, when it's set off, not everyone is a criminal and should not be treated as one to impress your peers or show other guests that you don't play. There was no need for him to raise his voice at me. He could have just requested me to put hands up and turn slowly instead of yelling for all around to hear

I heard on this board that the folks who man the metal detectors aren't regular CMs, but contracted out.

If it was me, I would have complained. IMHO, if you have to yell at someone to get them to do what you need them to do, you've already lost.

OP, i've never seen a line at the metal detectors when they are doing random screening.

 

[cornflkgrl]

I heard on this board that the folks who man the metal detectors aren't regular CMs, but contracted out.

If it was me, I would have complained. IMHO, if you have to yell at someone to get them to do what you need them to do, you've already lost.

OP, i've never seen a line at the metal detectors when they are doing random screening.

This would scare the living daylights out of my kid if this happened, so I know I'd be complaining. This is why we don't fly with our kids. I was hoping that the security at Disney would be a little gentler at least in their demeanor than, say, TSA.

 

[CAS239]

It's still random but I can see in the near future them installing permanent metal detectors at all parks and just having a bunch of them so everyone goes through.

Nearly every other park makes every person go through metal detectors so I could see Disney doing the same. I just hope if they do they have a bunch of them to keep the lines moving. Having everyone going through metal detectors at Sea World, Busch Gardens, and HHN is brutal

 

[PrncessA]

When we were there last month it was random, unless you were going through the no bag line in Epcot or Magic Kingdom, then they were making you go through the scanners. I was pulled over once after I made it through the bag check and DH went through a few times. The security guards checking bags are much nicer and more personable that is for sure!

I was stopped at Epcot at bag check on our last day trying to bring in the Starbucks Coffee Cup from MK. We were headed into Epcot to pick up the same cup, but for Epcot. I stepped aside to wait for a manager and we waited 10 minutes, several security guards called for a manager during that time and finally one showed up. Barely glanced in the bag and said "Just keep it in the box in the park." Then walked away. I wasn't very happy.

 

[likesdisney]

Thanks. Last visit I went into the parks 4 times and 4 times I got asked to go through the metal detectors. Didn't involve a wait of much more than going through the bag check line. Nice that it seems from what you're all saying its similar. I just wondered cause at the time they had just put them in and had started using them. I never bring much with me anyway so it doesn't take long to empty my pockets. From what you're all saying it sounds like it goes fairly smoothly, which is good.

 

[Pawpsicle]

Do joint replacements tend to set off the metal detectors? I have a knee replacement that beeps at some, but not all, metal detectors.

 

[kj2mom]

We never saw a line for them. Went to EMH morning at MK and they were having everyone walk through them. Later on in the day, and at all other parks, it was random. I was picked a couple of times and not picked a few others.

 

[gap2368]

I have been there sometimes when every one goes thought them and other just just do the random thing no way to tell but the lines are always quick.

 

[dreiwhit]

I was stopped at Epcot at bag check on our last day trying to bring in the Starbucks Coffee Cup from MK. We were headed into Epcot to pick up the same cup, but for Epcot. I stepped aside to wait for a manager and we waited 10 minutes, several security guards called for a manager during that time and finally one showed up. Barely glanced in the bag and said "Just keep it in the box in the park." Then walked away. I wasn't very happy.

I'm just curious - what problem did they have with you taking in a coffee cup?

 

[smiths02]

In June it was "random" (this was the week right after the Orlando nightclub shooting). I was the only one in my family ever picked to go through over maybe 10 park entries (I'm the fat, close to middle-aged, blonde lady....DH is LEO and former military but I guess I look more threatening or just always happen to hit that random mark)...and it happened at least 3/4 of the time. The only time it was kind of a problem was when I went to Epcot with my twin 3 year olds by myself (we were going to breakfast and DH had our older son). I didn't really like having to walk away from the stroller, but it was early so Epcot wasn't crowded, so they might have been scanning everyone at that point.

ETA: I wore an underwire bra (TMI) and sometimes pants with a button and sometimes a hair clip that was metal...but I never set the thing off.

 

[dreiwhit]

It's still random but I can see in the near future them installing permanent metal detectors at all parks and just having a bunch of them so everyone goes through.

Nearly every other park makes every person go through metal detectors so I could see Disney doing the same. I just hope if they do they have a bunch of them to keep the lines moving. Having everyone going through metal detectors at Sea World, Busch Gardens, and HHN is brutal

I hope the don't! It's one thing to randomly screen people, but when everyone is going through metal detectors, I can see the lines backing up pretty quickly. If folks can't unzip their bags or take their bags out of the strollers even after people are telling them to at the bag check, I can see people not emptying their pockets, detectors being set too sensitive, going off for medical devices, etc, etc, etc.

Not to mention, I would expect Disney to take the cheap way out and only have a few detectors and minimal manning for them.

 

[AngiTN]

We are exclusively no bag people when going to the parks.
At Epcot they always send you through the metal detector. The only time they'll let folks skip is if there is a line.
At MK most of the time they send you through the metal detector. There is never a line that I've seen.
At HS and AK only occasionally do you get sent through. Most of the time we have not.

My observation is they purposely keep the lines down for them by not pulling too many guests, or in the case of Epcot, letting guests skip if they do get backed up.

This past trip (last week) it seems some of them have been set to increased sensitivity. It was the first trip where my underwire bra set them off, and it's the same bra I've worn since they were installed.

Also, I learned 2 trips back, I take off my Smart Watch. It will set it off just like a phone does.

I heard on this board that the folks who man the metal detectors aren't regular CMs, but contracted out.

If it was me, I would have complained. IMHO, if you have to yell at someone to get them to do what you need them to do, you've already lost.

OP, i've never seen a line at the metal detectors when they are doing random screening.

They were contractors but are now Disney employees.

 

[PrncessA]

That it is glass, it can be dropped and broke. What is really stupid is that they sell a million glass mugs inside the parks... but they don't like you carrying them in.

 

[Disney Khi]

We are exclusively no bag people when going to the parks.
At Epcot they always send you through the metal detector. The only time they'll let folks skip is if there is a line.
At MK most of the time they send you through the metal detector. There is never a line that I've seen.
At HS and AK only occasionally do you get sent through. Most of the time we have not.

My observation is they purposely keep the lines down for them by not pulling too many guests, or in the case of Epcot, letting guests skip if they do get backed up.

Is this new? We were there in mid-June and never had to go through metal detectors at Epcot. Twice DH got pulled at MK, but it took less than a minute for him to go through. Both times were in the early evening. We were all bagless. I was just wondering if anything has changed so I could be prepared for my trip this month.

 

[AngiTN]

Is this new? We were there in mid-June and never had to go through metal detectors at Epcot. Twice DH got pulled at MK, but it took less than a minute for him to go through. Both times were in the early evening. We were all bagless. I was just wondering if anything has changed so I could be prepared for my trip this month.

No, in our experience, monthly trips since the detectors were installed, they have always sent all guests entering the no bag line at Epcot through the metal detector. The only time we have not gone through it was if there was a significant back up. This is at both the main entrance and the IG. At the IG, everyone goes through, even those guests that went through bag check.

Not going through the metal detector is the exception, vs. the rule, at Epcot. So I would prepare to go through it at Epcot and be lucky if you don't.