New Security Measures for MK Guests; UPDATES: Page 12 - Post 222; Live Reports - Pgs. 18-20

[megs1313]

I think this is an interesting and possibly good change. We'll have to see how it's executed. I'm looking forward to figuring it out on my work trip before our next family trip. I'll be watching for the "here now" posts next week!

 

[CarolynFH]

After enduring a huge crowd trying to get through security to enter MK on March 16, I'm encouraged that they're going to spread things out rather than forcing everyone through that bottleneck.

 

[Accident]

I'm hoping they find a way to streamline this so that people who've been screened to get on the resort monorail line can go directly to the EP monorail, while those who arrive at TTC and get on the EP monorail can be screened at TTC (thereby securing both monorail lines). Then only those arriving by bus and car at EP would have to go through EP security. I would imagine that would streamline the EP entrance as well? Bag check after the EP monorail gets so backed up, IMHO. I think just getting screened at the resort would help alleviate that. I hope they figure out a way to make monorail resort hopping a little more convenient, though. This will put a real damper on the monorail crawl!

They have to start somewhere. I'm sure they will keep iterating as they have been to get the process streamlined for guests.

you also need enough trained security to handle these locations so I can see it being a ramp up the employee base issue as well.

 

[MrsHull]

Takes the fun out of staying at a monorail resort to me.

This, exactly. The last time we stayed at the Polynesian, there was always an after-luau crowd waiting to get on the monorail. It was so bad that we nearly missed our BOG reservation one night, though we have ourselves MORE than enough time to get there. With this, I'm reluctant to stay at a monorail resort because of the extra time to send all those diners through security as well. The monorail loop just lost part of its convenience factor for me.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I always felt that the MK entry plaza was a safety issue just waiting to happen, especially with how many people gather there. This seems to make more sense from a security POV.

 

[bumbershoot]

Definitely moving to a universal-style security situation.

You are checked well before you get to the park entrance, the entrance is uncluttered and lovely, and you've already forgotten about security as you start your day.

Disneyland has been moving toward that too. As irritated as I was to see the security moved to the end of dtd there, and as outraged as I am that dlh and PPH guests can no longer go through the grand without dining there to get to the parks, to just traipse from dtd into the esplanade without the security there was lovely.

I'm staying at grand Floridian my next trip. I'm upset that I will have to go through security just to ride over to the contemporary for dinner??? Takes the fun out of staying at a monorail resort to me.

Does it? You could look at it as a way to make sure no one will bring anything nefarious to ruin your monorail ride...

This will be my dad's first time in the parks since metal detectors started being widely used (he was last there in November 2015). He's been used to just walking on by security theater. He's a pockets guy. He doesn't carry a ton but he has a couple things in his shirt pocket as well as his pants so I guess I'll just tell him to give me his stuff and I'll put it in my bag so he doesn't have to bother taking it out to go through the metal detector.

That's awfully nice of you. I wouldn't do that. Ya bring it, ya deal with it. But then my dad and I don't get along very well.

That was one part traffic flow and one part establishing the "experience" to leave the world behind.

A vision that's now utterly destroyed.

Or is it being worked back towards that vision? Check you while you're still part of the outside, and by the time you get to the park gates you know everyone is as safe as they're going to get. Kinda nice actually.

So where do I sign up for WDW TSA Precheck or would I need Global Entry considering it's security for the World?

Hmmm.

Lol. Don't forget nexus! Especially since it would get me into the Canada pavilion extra-extra-quickly.

 

[Lothlórien]

I am seeing a lot of complaining in FB groups and I do not get it. With all of the nut-jobs in the world, I am glad Disney is taking added measure to secure its parks. The only negative I see is the increases in costs for the security.

 

[yulilin3]

One of the negatives to WDW, in Walt's own words “Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland…the blessing of size. "
That same blessing has made this security checks a nightmare, for both Disney and guests. I have seen soooo many people being disgruntled even before stepping past the tapstiles because of how long the security checks have been. Like I said before this is a step in the right direction.
I have always praised how quick and easy it is at Universal but they don't have to deal with so many ways to get inside

 

[Jennasis]

This, exactly. The last time we stayed at the Polynesian, there was always an after-luau crowd waiting to get on the monorail. It was so bad that we nearly missed our BOG reservation one night, though we have ourselves MORE than enough time to get there. With this, I'm reluctant to stay at a monorail resort because of the extra time to send all those diners through security as well. The monorail loop just lost part of its convenience factor for me.

Meh. The backup that happens when the luau lets out doesn't seem like enough of an inconvenience to write off the entire monorail resort loop LOL. I've yet to have experienced any significant wait at the monorail at the resorts so don't see adding a 10 second/per passenger security check to be that much of an inconvenience. We own at BLT and have stayed at the Poly as well. I see this spreading out of the security checks to be a net positive as it will immensely decrease the wait at the park itself.

Don't panic yet. And maybe I shouldn't be optimistic yet...let's see what happens Monday aye?

 

[JohnneeO]

I was initially alerted to this a few days ago, when Chip Confer posted on FB about the expanded Security tents, and what looked like a revised ferry loading/unloading areas at the MK Entrance.

The current single security checkpoint for all MK guests was never part of the original design, and was shoehorned in. It does the job, but always had the potential to be a choke point when multiple arrival modes (buses, ferries, monoroails) dispersed large #'s of guests at the same time.

These new multiple security check points will, I assume, disperse the load of checking guests to multiple points throughout WDW. I agree that is unfortunate that resort monorail stations need checkpoints, but as long as the resort monorail loop stops at the MK, it is the only to way to insure that all MK arrivals from ANY monorail have been screened. The alternative is to manage resort-loop monorail MK arrivals with a dedicated checkpoint at the MK entrance, but that goes against the goal of dispersion.

I agree staffing and capacity to process folks through the new check points will be paramount to a smooth transition. The "post luau crowd" issue at Polynesian seems like a potential "oops, we didn't think of that!" type of oversight that will get people upset about the transition. There may be others, and I hope they are all worked out by April 28th!

 

[revdon64]

I'm not a big fan of the whole security theater thing to begin with, so I have mixed feelings about this. I certainly see the advantage of dispersing the bottleneck at the front of the park, but unless Disney security is better than the TSA (I know, not really hard to do), then is this really any more effective and does it really make us safer... or does it just make us feel safer? I guess it just remains to be seen. I'll see for myself in January.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have always praised how quick and easy it is at Universal but they don't have to deal with so many ways to get inside

Citywalk (which gets all drivers, shuttles, taxis, uber/lyft, drop offs, and even onsite guests who take the shuttles from their resort), and the pathways from the resorts. Yes I suppose there are feeer spots but I see Disney trying to do it. And imo it makes sense. Even though this transition is going to be annoying just like at Disneyland.

These new multiple security check points will, I assume, disperse the load of checking guests to multiple points throughout WDW

I agree.

I'm not a big fan of the whole security theater thing to begin with, so I have mixed feelings about this. I certainly see the advantage of dispersing the bottleneck at the front of the park, but unless Disney security is better than the TSA (I know, not really hard to do), then is this really any more effective and does it really make us safer... or does it just make us feel safer? I guess it just remains to be seen. I'll see for myself in January.

All bags checked and people going through metal detectors. What's theater about that? Not to mention the tried and true "slowing everyone down so we can scrutinize from afar" Disney method.

 

[Daisytiff]

Safety is always more important than convenience. Period. So i believe this is needed.

I just hope that Disney works out all the loopholes, ie ferry boarders, epcot monorail boarders, vips etc.

Its very important that these other areas get security checks too, and good that there wont be a massive backup at MK. That is good for safety ressons too.

Disney will have to work out the kinks but i think people should be patient and undersanding because in the end they are doing this for our safety.

 

[tksbaskets]

Definitely moving to a universal-style security situation.

You are checked well before you get to the park entrance, the entrance is uncluttered and lovely, and you've already forgotten about security as you start your day.

Disneyland has been moving toward that too. As irritated as I was to see the security moved to the end of dtd there, and as outraged as I am that dlh and PPH guests can no longer go through the grand without dining there to get to the parks, to just traipse from dtd into the esplanade without the security there was lovely.





Does it? You could look at it as a way to make sure no one will bring anything nefarious to ruin your monorail ride...



That's awfully nice of you. I wouldn't do that. Ya bring it, ya deal with it. But then my dad and I don't get along very well.



Or is it being worked back towards that vision? Check you while you're still part of the outside, and by the time you get to the park gates you know everyone is as safe as they're going to get. Kinda nice actually.



Lol. Don't forget nexus! Especially since it would get me into the Canada pavilion extra-extra-quickly.

I had queued up a bunch of these same messages but the above poster said what I was going to do in a way even better than I had imagined. Thanks bumbershoot!

Everyone must admit the crush of humanity converging on the MK from the Monorail shoot, boat dock, and but sidewalk into the security check was not a pleasant way to begin the MK experience.

I was in DL in January and after my initial snit fit about having to go ALL THE WAY AROUND to the DL DTD entrance to go through security I found it really was nice to smile as I walked up to the turnstyles and it really alleviated congestion there. Even WITH dining at the Grand Californian we had to enter through DTD. Thank goodness our June reservations are for the GCH. I'm hoping we'll be able to use that entrance then

I say bring on any measures that make the Happiest Place on Earth (well second since I love DL) safer. I always thank security. When discussing the changes with DL security during a slow time for them they said they struggled with visitors bringing knives into DTD. Moving the perimeter back discourages untoward behavior.

I'll be in WDW in April for the Star Wars 1/2 marathon so we'll see how the changes are going.

 

[yulilin3]

@revdon64 I agree that it's mostly theater, but I don't think that's the discussion that we are having on this thread.
The fact is that these security srceens are here to stay and the focus is how to make them more efficient.

 

[revdon64]

@revdon64 I agree that it's mostly theater, but I don't think that's the discussion that we are having on this thread.
The fact is that these security srceens are here to stay and the focus is how to make them more efficient.

I'm not sure that that's the focus and I'm not here to have an argument. I've expressed my opinion on this kind of security before and have no interest in rehashing it now. And BTW, I wasn't the first one to use the term "security theater" in this thread. Like I said, we'll see what this really does. I just hope it's sorted out sooner rather than later.

 

[BrianL]

Here's my question: If they implement these new security procedures to eliminate the bottlenecks in front of MK, can they bring back MK WELCOME SHOW? That is the burning issue in my mind!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I'm glad that they are doing this not just for safety, but also for getting through the gate faster. I also appreciate the fact that Disney is be proactive as opposed to reactive, just imagine if something awful happened then everyone would be posing the question of why didn't Disney do a better job, why didn't they screen people before getting on the monorail.

Heck I'm all for putting security checks at the resorts before getting on a bus. Yes it would be costly-think about the resorts with multiple stops-but I'd feel safe. If I were checked at the resort when getting on the bus I'd have that not so magical part over and forgotten by the time I got to the park. Getting to the parks would be like it was "back in the day".

 

[likesdisney]

Sorry if this has been asked already. If you're staying at a moderate/value and getting the bus to MK how does that affect the new security checks? Will it be done at the resort bus stops? Last time I was there the bus stops at MK not TTC right?

 

[revdon64]

Sorry if this has been asked already. If you're staying at a moderate/value and getting the bus to MK how does that affect the new security checks? Will it be done at the resort bus stops? Last time I was there the bus stops at MK not TTC right?

It doesn't appear that way, no. It looks as if there will be a security check point closer to the bus stops at MK for people coming from resorts not on the monorail loop. It should be shorter as it's only for bus guests, but who knows at this point.