No bag line

[subtchr]

I noticed no difference at all in the thoroughness of bag checks Saturday to Monday. I always have a backpack, as a group tour director, and open every zipper with a smile.

Saturday at MK at about noon the line was non-existent; and Monday at DHS at about 9 am there were many people entering, but they had every table manned, so it only took about 5 minutes. (Sunday my group entered from backstage Epcot, so the bag check was a security guard walking through the bus at the gate).

Don't sweat it. Take what you need -- bag or not -- and don't be afraid of a line that looks long.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

I don't understand the bag lines. We will be the first off the boat, yet last in the lines, even though no witnessing of line cutters. And why does it take that long? It only took them two seconds to look in my back packs, and one second to look in my fanny pack. I start unzipping things when I'm next or second to next so everything's ready to go. I brought a two year old and a large stroller! It only took me 3 seconds! Why does it seem to take everyone else a minute or two? Were they not aware of what was the line was for?

 

[bookgirl]

Summer months. I put the minimum amount of stuff in my pockets including a drawstring back pack folded up. Once I'm through the gates I put stuff in backpack and go.

In the winter. Put stuff in pockets and wear the backpack under my sweatshirt or hoodie (when it's empty it lies flat).

If I'm with my mom I carry a mini hipster and go through bag check cause she refuses to go bagless and wants me to go through the line with her whether I have a bag or not. Or I go ahead and do a backpack or the drawstring bag so I can carry around her stuff (jacket, water bottle, small souveniers) so it doesn't wear on her shoulders or neck.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

In the winter. Put stuff in pockets and wear the backpack under my sweatshirt or hoodie (when it's empty it lies flat).

Love this! You're secretly smuggling things under your clothes to avoid security! Gotta remember to try this with my firearms next time, since they only seem to care about back packs and purses.


(Just kidding. Please, for the love of God, don't report me! Just pointing out the irony about the danger of baby bags, when you could just as well toss something over the fence and retrieve it later.)

 

[subtchr]

...when you could just as well toss something over the fence and retrieve it later.)

I think you're joking, but what did you mean by this? Just curious, since there is no place at Disney this would be possible...

 

[UmmYeahOk]

I think you're joking, but what did you mean by this? Just curious, since there is no place at Disney this would be possible...

Well, where it would be possible, no guest is allowed to go near. I think security would ask if you were lost first as a deterrent. But if you're breaking one rule, odds are good you don't care about others. But honestly, it would be just easier for me or someone to just stick a hand held in between one of the folds in a strollers canopy. Cuz, like, what mother would do that with their child, not to mention buying very expensive park tickets.

I'm sorry if I'm disturbing people. I understand that the bag checks are probably a big deterrent, and also make people feel safer, but there are a lot of "what ifs." I mean, if a guy can smuggle in an empty backpack under his clothes, what else could he be smuggling? They have special holsters for stuff like that.

 

[bookgirl]

if a guy can smuggle in an empty backpack under his clothes

1. BookGIRL
2. A drawstring backpack is not a regular backpack. it's nylon and thin and completely flat when empty, chances of me putting anything IN the bag and it not making a noticeable bump are zero even under a jacket, so I doubt any weapons are going to make it through there.
3. Anyone with ill content can sneak just about anything in, I always thought of bag check as more of a chance for security to get a long look at the people, because just like Vegas there are eyes everywhere in any Disney Resort/Park. Bag check is more about minor items carried in by the uninformed or the forgetful then about stopping any true threat.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

1. BookGIRL
2. A drawstring backpack is not a regular backpack. it's nylon and thin and completely flat when empty, chances of me putting anything IN the bag and it not making a noticeable bump are zero even under a jacket, so I doubt any weapons are going to make it through there.
3. Anyone with ill content can sneak just about anything in, I always thought of bag check as more of a chance for security to get a long look at the people, because just like Vegas there are eyes everywhere in any Disney Resort/Park. Bag check is more about minor items carried in by the uninformed or the forgetful then about stopping any true threat.

Sorry, I don't notice screen names, plus, I use "guy" as a gender neutral term.

I was pretty sure what you meant as far as drawstring bags go. I said backpack, because it's a pack you wear on your back, is it not? But technically the Disneyquest book bag I bring, could be emptied too and rolled up, or if I wore baggy jeans, wrap my legs with it. Kids still wear their pants saggy, right?

We're talking about hand held fire arms, not someone sneaking in an AR-15. There's a lot of international guests, but also a lot of US citizens who drove there, bypassing airport security, and in the habit of conceal carrying, and just plum forgot they had it on them when they arrive to the park. It's winter, and people are more likely to wear those hoodie pull overs with the central hand pockets. As a kid, I put all kinds of things in there's as you could store larger objects. Perfect place for a handheld, ya know?

There was that one time a gun was fired twice in DL's Haunted Mansion, but that was before the bag checks. But two years ago, someone accidentally left behind a gun at the Dinosaur ride. Thankfully an adult found it, but she was with a child. Everything in Disney is a toy for amusement, right? I'm pretty sure these lines were there pre-9/11. But I would like to know what things they've stopped and confiscated. What if a group of people did not have a bomb with them, but smuggled in things that could be used to make a bomb. Each individual person and bag carrying a component/ingredient.

Oh well, still better than the gate security at Orlando airport. Am I right? I fly out of DFW all the time, one of the biggest and busiest airports. Security line is typically short and quick. So what's Orlando doing wrong?

 

[bookgirl]

Honestly I think MCO lines are crazy because of the sheer amount of carry on. I see so many people with multiple plastic bags of souvenirs, especially a family with kids who can have two bags each person so sometimes 8-12 plastic bags wit multiple small items/bags inside them as well as their carry on items. I think it just takes longer for them to watch them go through the x-ray and I think there a lot more 'questionable' items so they have to stop often and do hand checks of bags or confiscations. I've done some pretty touristy places but Orlando has to be tops in for the 'how many bags can I get on the airplane and still make the limit' lines.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

I thought you were only allowed two carry ons per person. We always do this because checking bags makes it more likely for the airline to lose it, and time wasted looking for it at baggage claim. As a kid, our family always checked, and my father would pack an extra bag inside, a duffle. And then on the trip back, we'd put all our souvenirs in it. And that was back before 9/11. Their security got worse, but not by much. What's different? Got to take off your shoes and jacket? Certain electronics?

This year however when we were trying to check in they were trying to force us to check our bags instead of allowing them be carry on because the flight that they swore repeatedly did not even exist was going to be packed full (it was). Ended up spending TEN HOURS at the airport. And we checked out stroller at the gate when we boarded the first time, so we had a 2yo and no stroller for 8 of those hours! So we did what any responsible parent would do and let her run wild. Had we known we were going to be stuck there for that long, we would have left the terminal so we could shop and do stuff (All that stuff in DFW is after security, not before) but we didn't. We were basically held hostage because we did not want to go through 30 minutes of security again. Especially since delay times were only increasing each hour or two, not the full amount. Not going to waste 30 minutes of security for an hour or two delay.

We ended up getting on a different plane, and hardly anyone was on it. They all were lucky enough to get a different flights. The overbooked flight that "did not exist" was a damaged plane that shouldn't have even been drugged out to the gate, as the AC wasn't turned on until after and many people were getting sick and begging to get off. But anyway, thankfully all of our checked items arrived. HOWEVER, our stroller that was checked at the gate and was promised would be there when we arrived was not. We waited 20 minutes with the flight attendants in 20 degree temperatures waiting for them to bring it. My daughters heavy winter jacket... ...was in my CHECKED bag! The bag that I wanted to carry on, since we are allowed two carry on, even though the plane we eventually got on was empty. The flight attendants were kind enough to give us one of their fleece blankets. But now it was 2 in the morning, and rather than just go home, we had to find a way to get our toddler to baggage claim and find our stroller.

We bought a ton of souvenirs just like everybody else. They stayed in the carry on or checked bag. No special security nonsense. At DFW we were stopped and checked because our daughters milk bottle which she had been witnessed to be drinking turned up positive for something. And that STILL did not take very long or hold up any kind.

I dunno, maybe more kids fly out of Orlando, and parents hafta stop and help them with every little thing. I went on an off time and did not see many children, so I'm clueless about what the deal is. Maybe too many gates going through one single check point.

 

[RescueRanger]

Cell phones are fine, they aren't looking in pockets or even checking people in jackets. They will however, inspect every inch of every pocket of your bag.

Just a heads up. This post is not factual. Just got back from a thanksgiving week trip and not only were they having people open their jackets, they were checking pockets if there was something bulky. I noticed a larger than normal security and sherriff presence as well. I think Disney is being extra careful in the current political climate.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

I went the Xmas after 9/11, and they did not check pockets. Then again, I am a Caucasian female, so maybe they just don't check everyone. I would think that an attack on an American icon and on an American and/or Christian holiday would be more likely than any, but both 9/11 and the recent attacks in Paris did not occur at a special time.

 

[epcotty]

Any more updates on current wait times for those in the bag line?

 

[tmoo]

Been here since the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. No change in procedures from past trips. Bag check lines were probably shorter than on prior trips. When at one of the parks they actually called out that people with small purses could skip the line. They checked the bags reasonably well but certainly did not check pockets or anything like that. It is not airport security folks. It isn't meant to be. It would be VERY easy to get a weapon through on your person, but that really isn't the point here. I did not see any instances of checking something as small as a lanyard holder or a pocket.

This is Disney, not some evil dictatorship. Unless you are trying to smuggle your glock or other contraband in, don't get so worked up about skipping the bag line, the worst that will happen is they might check your pocket. That is HIGHLY unlikely and probably still faster than the bag check line!

 

[UmmYeahOk]

This is Disney, not some evil dictatorship.

Umm...

 

[RescueRanger]

Been here since the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. No change in procedures from past trips. Bag check lines were probably shorter than on prior trips. When at one of the parks they actually called out that people with small purses could skip the line. They checked the bags reasonably well but certainly did not check pockets or anything like that. It is not airport security folks. It isn't meant to be. It would be VERY easy to get a weapon through on your person, but that really isn't the point here. I did not see any instances of checking something as small as a lanyard holder or a pocket.

This is Disney, not some evil dictatorship. Unless you are trying to smuggle your glock or other contraband in, don't get so worked up about skipping the bag line, the worst that will happen is they might check your pocket. That is HIGHLY unlikely and probably still faster than the bag check line!

I wasn't talking about the bag check line. I was talking about the entrance for guests without bags. Believe what you want, but I witnessed it on three seperate occassions at three seperate parks. They had us open our jackets as we walked by and they were also randomly checking pockets. It always amazes me how just because someone may not witness something themselves that they act like people are making stuff up. OP I can only tell you what I witnessed. YMMV

 

[MrDVC]

I've been here since the Wed before Thanksgiving and bag check is certainly more in depth than ever before. Got a bag/case in your bag? Gotta open it up. Got a pocket on that bag? Gotta unzip it. They are ramping up security at the park entrances, no doubt. Even have K-9 units there as well. I can also report that not every security guard is as thorough as their peers. We have experienced a couple that were pretty relaxed in their checks.

 

[epcotty]

Useful info here thanks