Park Entry Security Tips

[PPFDDisneyLover]

Does anyone have any recommendations for going through security when entering a park? We will be going next month and usually bring snacks and some bottled drinks with us in the heat. Will that be ok still or am I better off going bagless and depending on purchasing drinks and snacks in the park? Just trying to plan ahead, Thanks!

 

[Klayfish]

Going bagless is always faster because you don't have to wait in line. Otherwise, no special tips. We brought bags...very large ones, nearly every day. Packing dinner and snacks for 5 is a large task. Best tip I have is to pack it well organized so it's easy for the security guard to see everything. Have the bag open when it's your turn, that'll make it go quicker. Otherwise, it's a 30 second bag check...if that, and you're on your way. Easy peasy.

 

[MelMomOf3]

last week security was generally pretty easy, even with a bag. We never waited more than 10 minutes. Most just peeked in the bag and you were on your way. The worst was the one girl that made me remove everything from my bag as were were hurrying to your CRT breakfast. but even then it wasn't long. MK was the only place we all had to go through metal detectors. The other parks is seemed random!

 

[hakepb]

Bagless now seems to mostly mean a walk through the metal detector

 

[kj2mom]

Having a bag didn't add much time for me earlier this month. I don't think I was ever more than the 3rd person in line and most times I just walked up to the empty side of a table. I just made sure to unzip all of the pockets and I had a little wristlet type bag in my bag so I made sure to take that out and unzip that as well. Some checks were more thorough than others, some of the workers were more chatty than others but having drinks and food were no problem at all and it probably only added about 2 minutes or so to my entry time.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

If you have bags inside the bags, have them out and open. I have a TENS unit I carried with me and it stays in its case until needed. They wanted it out and open as well as the book bag I was carrying.

If it wasn't out and open, they'd hand it to me while repeating "please have all bags out and open".

 

[goldie09]

What exactly constitutes a "bag" Does a fanny pack, or small cross-body purse count as a bag that would need to be inspected?

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

What exactly constitutes a "bag" Does a fanny pack, or small cross-body purse count as a bag that would need to be inspected?

Yes. Both of those are bags.

 

[NeuroCindy]

What exactly constitutes a "bag" Does a fanny pack, or small cross-body purse count as a bag that would need to be inspected?

Yes.

 

[Accident]

In my honest opinion, this isn't the TSA or the airport disney has the staff to efficently check your bag if you want to bring one, they also have a very streamlined process to check everyone when they feel like doing that so bagless doesn't mean you will not see a line at security...

There are spots that it gets a little longer than others like near rope drop, or when a ticketed event is about to start mid afternoon but otherwise it's pretty smooth to get into the park...

Bring whatever you want to be comfortable and happy, it's not worth changing what makes you comfortable for 2-5 extra minutes out of your day...

But a bag warning.. If anything needs to be opened to look in it and you go bagless, they will send you back into the bag line.. doesn't matter how large or small it is, you don't get through bagless with a change purse for example.. that's a bag, they want to look in it and the screening line isn't the bag line..

 

[wilkeliza]

Pack your bags efficiently each morning. The easier it is for security to see there is nothing of alarm in the bag the faster the process. Also have the bag off your body, open any flaps, and unzip any zippers before you hand it to the security job. The faster they can go the faster you can go.

 

[Jennasis]

Cargo shorts!

 

[scrapquitler]

Does anyone have any recommendations for going through security when entering a park? We will be going next month and usually bring snacks and some bottled drinks with us in the heat. Will that be ok still or am I better off going bagless and depending on purchasing drinks and snacks in the park? Just trying to plan ahead, Thanks!

Here's the #1 tip that too many people don't seem to follow: Have your bag in your hand and UNZIPPED when you put it on the table. Don't put it on the table and wait for them to ask you to unzip all the sections, and don't leave it in the bottom of your stroller and then act surprised that they want you to take it out and put it on the table for them to look at it.

 

[Accident]

Cargo shorts!

I don't remember the last time I went through bagless and everyone wasn't getting scanned.. It's not really a time saver but if you like being in the park with shorts loaded up, by all means be comfortable.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't remember the last time I went through bagless and everyone wasn't getting scanned.. It's not really a time saver but if you like being in the park with shorts loaded up, by all means be comfortable.

To be fair, it was mostly tongue in cheek. I always go bagless. DH carries our small cross body park bag. He's gotten very good at having all the zippers open and ready to make a smooth trip through the security line.

 

[wilkeliza]

Cargo shorts!

In June they were making everyone with cargo shorts turn out the pockets and almost all of them went through the metal detector so it really wasn't much faster.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Here's the #1 tip that too many people don't seem to follow: Have your bag in your hand and UNZIPPED when you put it on the table. Don't put it on the table and wait for them to ask you to unzip all the sections, and don't leave it in the bottom of your stroller and then act surprised that they want you to take it out and put it on the table for them to look at it.

YES. Open those zippers. Don't wait until asked.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

In June they were making everyone with cargo shorts turn out the pockets and almost all of them went through the metal detector so it really wasn't much faster.

Seems like they are on to the trick of packing pockets, then pulling out the bag later.

 

[katt789]

Going bagless is fine, but I'd always rather have stuff with me, esp snacks & water, WAY cheaper from off property!
As for "tips"
-Be friendly, they're there to help your safety
-Have your bag open & ready to go as you approach the table, all zippers/pockets open, any big things on top of the bag hold in your hand (ie, sweaters, I usually take my dslr out, if not they usually ask me anyways)
-Remember to use BOTH sides of the table, the lines are usually crumpled all together at the beginning, remember you can split off into 2 sides of the table

 

[EdmondD]

To be fair, it was mostly tongue in cheek. I always go bagless. DH carries our small cross body park bag. He's gotten very good at having all the zippers open and ready to make a smooth trip through the security line.

Like the people who wait in a five-minute line at Starbucks and after placing their order THEN decide to start digging for their money?

To answer the the OP: leave all weapons at home.