Out of control security bag lines

[auteur55]

I really don’t think Disney does their quick food options well at places like Flo’s, Red Rose Taverne and Hungry Bear. Line for Red Rose clear outside past tables and there are two people taking orders which is crazy. I poked my head in to see if I could get the Grey Stuff and it’s not going to happen. They should have all the food prepared and they just hand it to you once you get up to counter like most fast food places.

 

[HydroGuy]

I do not remember security all that slow at DLR until a year or so ago when they added metal detectors. Now it can be slow but I have never had it take more than about 5 minutes. I just feels like 20 minutes (to me) when you are wanting to get into the park.

I have heard the "no bag" line has been hit or miss on whether they have it. Has that changed? Is it now every day all the time?

 

[auteur55]

This morning they stopped making everyone go through metal detectors to get the line through. It started to move when they started ushering us through. I think they realized the line was jamming up clear back beyond the shuttles.

 

[DizneyMommy]

They do have an AP line at WDW, I wonder why not here?

I WISH!!!

 

[StarlitNight05]

There also seems to be variation in the level of searching among the security CMs. I have had some quickly glance in each of my bag pockets, while others will go through and very diligently search the contents.

 

[auteur55]

There also seems to be variation in the level of searching among the security CMs. I have had some quickly glance in each of my bag pockets, while others will go through and very diligently search the contents.

They barely look. Would be very easy to get something through.

 

[Malcon10t]

They do have an AP line at WDW, I wonder why not here?

Because the line for the APs would be longer than the regular lines? Also, what about the "I'm an AP, but I am bringing my nephew and niece, and they can't go by them selves..." On an average day, 50% of the park can be APs.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Because the line for the APs would be longer than the regular lines? Also, what about the "I'm an AP, but I am bringing my nephew and niece, and they can't go by them selves..." On an average day, 50% of the park can be APs.

Then they go in the regular line. AP lines would be so fast because no one needs a photo taken and no one (or rarely anyone) is trying to use stolen/rented/counterfeit/expired tickets.

I personally wish they would do separate lines for “first entry” and then lines for everyone else. Or figure out a way to take those dang photos before they get in the line. Or use fingerprints instead. It is the CM’s that cant handle technology and can barely work the photo machines that make me die a slow and painful death waiting in line.

 

[LYSE]

They barely look. Would be very easy to get something through.

And they look less at strollers / car seats / children..TSA doesn't work not sure why the general population is fooled by this theatre...if the lines don't move fast it only makes us less safe sitting in a choke point PRE Security just asking for suicide bombers or some other horrible way to murder large crowds quickly.

 

[soniam]

They do have an AP line at WDW, I wonder why not here?

Yeah, but they seem to let every Tom, Dick, and Harry into the AP lines at WDW. Sometimes, the AP line is longer than the regular lines, because people don't understand what it's for and go through without an AP anyway.

 

[agamble]

They do have an AP line at WDW, I wonder why not here?

Too many APs here.

This morning they stopped making everyone go through metal detectors to get the line through. It started to move when they started ushering us through. I think they realized the line was jamming up clear back beyond the shuttles.

We witnessed this during a trip recently. Unfortunately for us we had just gotten in line for the metal detectors and they let everyone behind us skip the detectors but our group and everyone in front of us still had to use them.

 

[Pamela M]

And they look less at strollers / car seats / children..TSA doesn't work not sure why the general population is fooled by this theatre...if the lines don't move fast it only makes us less safe sitting in a choke point PRE Security just asking for suicide bombers or some other horrible way to murder large crowds quickly.

I've had them look thoroughly through my backpack each day I was there in early may. Every time they wanted me to take out my "cooler" which was just a small padded bag for my fancy camera. I had that bag open inside of my backpack with the camera in it and they still made me take it out. after a couple of days I just kept the camera bag out and added put it back after I was through security.

 

[NannyBeBe]

Are they still not checking the pockets on cargo pants? I was forced to open every tiny zipper pocket in my tiny purse, while the guy next to me walked through in cargo pants.

 

[LYSE]

I've had them look thoroughly through my backpack each day I was there in early may. Every time they wanted me to take out my "cooler" which was just a small padded bag for my fancy camera. I had that bag open inside of my backpack with the camera in it and they still made me take it out. after a couple of days I just kept the camera bag out and added put it back after I was through security.

Yeah I've had them do the same and then not check under car seat padding, extra stroller pockets, bladder storage area of back packs. With some effort you could get alot passed them.

I've also had them open a back pack pocket shine a flashlight right into it, ask me to open up the case for a spare camera lens and then miss the pocket knife sitting right at the bottom of the bag (that I discovered later in the day)

As I said TSA fails to catch things that are purposefully hidden, are you saying you believe the average Disney bag check to be more effective?

 

[Nonsuch]

...I personally wish they would do separate lines for “first entry” and then lines for everyone else. Or figure out a way to take those dang photos before they get in the line. Or use fingerprints instead. It is the CM’s that cant handle technology and can barely work the photo machines that make me die a slow and painful death waiting in line.

I visited Shanghai and Tokyo in March, and Shanghai had cameras integrated into the hand held ticket scanner. Only took about 30 seconds: enter my passport number (linked to ticket order), print 4 tickets, scan each ticket (simultaneously taking photos). Much more efficient than the DL system.
(not my picture)


Shanghai has a massive maze of switchbacks before security, enough to contain thousands of guests.
This is a low crowd day, and shows only a small part of the switchbacks:
(poor picture)


Shanghai also has a dedicated entrance for onsite hotel guests.
The path on the right is dedicated for extra special guests (Shanghai Club 33 members)


Tokyo Disney Sea had huge lines at park opening (high crowd days).
This photo shows less than 1/10 of the guests waiting. No barriers needed.

 

[HydroGuy]

Yeah I've had them do the same and then not check under car seat padding, extra stroller pockets, bladder storage area of back packs. With some effort you could get alot passed them.

I've also had them open a back pack pocket shine a flashlight right into it, ask me to open up the case for a spare camera lens and then miss the pocket knife sitting right at the bottom of the bag (that I discovered later in the day)

As I said TSA fails to catch things that are purposefully hidden, are you saying you believe the average Disney bag check to be more effective?

It seems to be the case that the Orlando nightclub bomber checked out Disney Springs in WDW with weapons in a child stroller and got scared off by seeing security there - no bag check needed. What is "effective" is a relative term but it appears Disney's WDW security may have prevented a mass shooting there on Disney property. Comparing Disney security to TSA at an airport is an apples to oranges comparison. At Disney guests are on private property and Disney can set their own rules. They also have lots of cameras inside the parks and plainclothes security - some with hidden weapons. They may be fine that a knife gets through on occasion as they weigh that against the guest experience. They have others ways of dealing with problems inside the parks. On an airplane those options may not be possible.

 

[Malcon10t]

Are they still not checking the pockets on cargo pants? I was forced to open every tiny zipper pocket in my tiny purse, while the guy next to me walked through in cargo pants.

But the guy in cargo pants will have to take anything out that is metal to go thru the metal detector. They will only let him skip it when it is really backed up.

At WDW, despite having an AP, we rarely saw AP lines. And the no bag lines were nice, but we always had a couple people (we were 12) with bags. So they would end up standing and waiting for us.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I do not remember security all that slow at DLR until a year or so ago when they added metal detectors. Now it can be slow but I have never had it take more than about 5 minutes. I just feels like 20 minutes (to me) when you are wanting to get into the park.

I have heard the "no bag" line has been hit or miss on whether they have it. Has that changed? Is it now every day all the time?

I have seen a bag line every time I have gone for a few months. A few weeks ago, I started taking pictures of it every time I enter, since its presence has been continually questioned. I'm not saying it's always there... but it's always been there when I arrive, which is on varied days of the week at varied times of day. I went through Harbor security nine times in May.

I also usually "time" my security wait times by taking photos as I walk up to the line and then once I get through, giving me an accurate timestamp of my actual wait time (I do this for a lot of things). It does indeed average 15-20 minutes in the mornings. In May, "morning" arrivals of 1 hour + or - rope drop ranged from 7 minutes to 24 minutes. I have indeed waited 40 minutes for Harbor security (not in May, though), and I've also been fortunate on a few occasions to have been in a long line when another table opened up, circumventing a long wait for me (but as mentioned, making for a rather inequitable experience for others).

As soon as the metal detector crowd backs up to the tables, they wave people through without it, but as noted by PP, that's a bummer for the last group left waiting there!

Slight side note but relevant: I often find that perception of "time waited" is very different than reality. On the PixarFest media day, I was in the RSR FP return line next to one of the media guests (identified by her lanyard and bag of swag). The FP line was VERY backed up, practically to the scanners, and she was tut-tutting the whole time and taking notes on her phone. When we got up front, she said, "what, that was about a 25 minute wait?" It had been 13, which I knew because we'd scanned in at the first moment we could, which meant I knew the time precisely... but here's a person related to media in some way, who easily could have published that the RSR FP return took her 25 minutes... when it really took 13. So I'm very wary of people's comments about how long they wait for stuff.

 

[HydroGuy]

I have seen a bag line every time I have gone for a few months. A few weeks ago, I started taking pictures of it every time I enter, since its presence has been continually questioned. I'm not saying it's always there... but it's always been there when I arrive, which is on varied days of the week at varied times of day. I went through Harbor security nine times in May.

I also usually "time" my security wait times by taking photos as I walk up to the line and then once I get through, giving me an accurate timestamp of my actual wait time (I do this for a lot of things). It does indeed average 15-20 minutes in the mornings. In May, "morning" arrivals of 1 hour + or - rope drop ranged from 7 minutes to 24 minutes. I have indeed waited 40 minutes for Harbor security (not in May, though), and I've also been fortunate on a few occasions to have been in a long line when another table opened up, circumventing a long wait for me (but as mentioned, making for a rather inequitable experience for others).

As soon as the metal detector crowd backs up to the tables, they wave people through without it, but as noted by PP, that's a bummer for the last group left waiting there!

Slight side note but relevant: I often find that perception of "time waited" is very different than reality. On the PixarFest media day, I was in the RSR FP return line next to one of the media guests (identified by her lanyard and bag of swag). The FP line was VERY backed up, practically to the scanners, and she was tut-tutting the whole time and taking notes on her phone. When we got up front, she said, "what, that was about a 25 minute wait?" It had been 13, which I knew because we'd scanned in at the first moment we could, which meant I knew the time precisely... but here's a person related to media in some way, who easily could have published that the RSR FP return took her 25 minutes... when it really took 13. So I'm very wary of people's comments about how long they wait for stuff.

@Skyegirl1999 you have proven yourself in recent weeks that you follow a dedicated scientific method and I appreciate that! Thanks for all the details! I think you meant in paragraph #1 a "no bag line", not a "bag line". Which means I will reinforce to DW the importance of going "no bag".

 

[Skyegirl1999]

@Skyegirl1999 you have proven yourself in recent weeks that you follow a dedicated scientific method and I appreciate that! Thanks for all the details! I think you meant in paragraph #1 a "no bag line", not a "bag line". Which means I will reinforce to DW the importance of going "no bag".

Haha, indeed. If there was only one bag line, we'd all be in even more trouble!