Park Entry Security Tips

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

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

My Aunt had her water bottle holder clipped to her pants (the type that keeps them cold...nothing fancy), with a water bottle inside of it. They told her she had to go through the bag check. She has that bottle holder with her on so many trips, but this was the first time they said it was checked like a bag. Of course, the day after she asked the security guard if she had to go through bag check, and he said of course not. He was shocked that anyone had questioned it.

 

[wilkeliza]

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.

Or stand in line for 5 minutes and then stand at the counter for another 5 deciding what they want. I use to hate that working at Starbucks during a morning rush. You know what you want (general you not direct you) and you get the same thing every day. Why do you need to debate with your coworkers if you are getting a skinny vanilla latte or a regular latte?! You always get the vanilla! Yes this did happen on a M-F basis for a year straight.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

In addition to having all your bags out and pockets open, if you have anything like a zippered camera case, that often has to come out.

Personally we mostly prefer bagless, unless we have to bring jackets.

If you must carry a bag, I suggest as few compartments as possible. Think if you really want to carry each item all day.

DO carry emergency meds if you need them.

Compact is good: Instead of bringing say, a giant bottle of sunscreen, consider a tiny sunscreen stick, or putting a small amount into a travel-size bottle. Lighten the load as much as possible.

 

[EdmondD]

Or stand in line for 5 minutes and then stand at the counter for another 5 deciding what they want. I use to hate that working at Starbucks during a morning rush. You know what you want (general you not direct you) and you get the same thing every day. Why do you need to debate with your coworkers if you are getting a skinny vanilla latte or a regular latte?! You always get the vanilla! Yes this did happen on a M-F basis for a year straight.

Ha - not go off topic, but years ago I managed a Starbucks. I was all about speed...and I HATED cash during the morning rush! Pay with credit cards and get moving, people. I even eliminated pennies from my store - we rounded everything.

 

[geenerbell]

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.

Open everything before getting in the bag check line. You will breeze through.

 

[TNKim]

I bought a Running Buddy pack to wear under my shirt at Disney. Will this also be considered a bag and need to be searched?

 

[wilkeliza]

I bought a Running Buddy pack to wear under my shirt at Disney. Will this also be considered a bag and need to be searched?

If it can hold stuff it is a bag. Doesn't matter if it goes under your shirt or not.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Ha - not go off topic, but years ago I managed a Starbucks. I was all about speed...and I HATED cash during the morning rush! Pay with credit cards and get moving, people. I even eliminated pennies from my store - we rounded everything.

Where I worked, we had small, med, and large coffees.

I quickly learned not to ask a customer, "What size of coffee would you like?" because they would ponder the question forever. Instead, if they said coffee, I quickly learned to ask, "Medium?"

You might think I missed the upsell, "Would you like a LARGE?" But asking about a large confused them just as much as asking them to choose one of three. Offering the middle option was significantly faster!

I REALLY feel for anyone who works at Starbucks, because I know Starbucks offers pre-caffeinated folks WAY too many coffee options!

I feel for the WDW security CM's who have to tell people 1,000's of times a day to open ALL their pouches, because 5,000 people can't be bothered to be ready. Same thing at the quick serve counters!

Likewise, I don't blame TSA for stupid passengers who don't bother to LOOK AT the CLEARLY posted rules. Rules that are written in pictures!

 

[goofy4tink]

Please...don't be 'that' family that packs 2 huge backpacks with the 'what if' mentality. Then, they have a cooler, under the stroller, and a large tote bag with baby care items!!
You're going to a theme park for the day. You're not going to a third world nation! It takes forever to check bags like that!

I always have my cross-body bag, compartments unzipped, and opened. If there is an empty, or less populated, side, I go there...despite the filthy looks I get. No, I'm not cutting the line! But, others always think I am. Use both sides!!
When your bag has been checked, step away from the table...don't stand there, bag in the table, as you zip the bag up.

 

[kj2mom]

Where I worked, we had small, med, and large coffees.

I quickly learned not to ask a customer, "What size of coffee would you like?" because they would ponder the question forever. Instead, if they said coffee, I quickly learned to ask, "Medium?"

You might think I missed the upsell, "Would you like a LARGE?" But asking about a large confused them just as much as asking them to choose one of three. Offering the middle option was significantly faster!

I REALLY feel for anyone who works at Starbucks, because I know Starbucks offers pre-caffeinated folks WAY too many coffee options!

I feel for the WDW security CM's who have to tell people 1,000's of times a day to open ALL their pouches, because 5,000 people can't be bothered to be ready. Same thing at the quick serve counters!

Likewise, I don't blame TSA for stupid passengers who don't bother to LOOK AT the CLEARLY posted rules. Rules that are written in pictures!

Funny you mention this, when I left Orlando last week they had a dog walking the security aisles so you had to put everything in your bag. There were no bins, you did not remove your shoes, you put your liquids/boarding passes/identification back in your bag, nothing in your pockets. The agent kept saying do not take off your shoes there are no bins. The family in front of me all took off their shoes so the agent kept saying (in his kind of sing song announcing voice) do not listen to me, don't bother to hear me say leave your shoes on. We exchanged a grin (although for me it might have been an eye roll) as I waited for the entire family to remove their shoes.

 

[NeuroCindy]

Please...don't be 'that' family that packs 2 huge backpacks with the 'what if' mentality. Then, they have a cooler, under the stroller, and a large tote bag with baby care items!!
You're going to a theme park for the day. You're not going to a third world nation! It takes forever to check bags like that!

I always have my cross-body bag, compartments unzipped, and opened. If there is an empty, or less populated, side, I go there...despite the filthy looks I get. No, I'm not cutting the line! But, others always think I am. Use both sides!!
When your bag has been checked, step away from the table...don't stand there, bag in the table, as you zip the bag up.

Yep, unfortunately I have to carry a backpack for medical supplies, but it's always packed so you can see everything and I approach security with it unzipped.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Open everything before getting in the bag check line. You will breeze through.

Good advice, but somehow the people in front of me never seem to follow it.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

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

This, all of this! And bring your patience. We were at WDW in June and the lines were crazy. I got so sick of listening to people complain about the wait. I had a woman in front of me at MK with her young daughter practically screaming because of how long the wait was and they had an ADR at CRT and they were going to miss it because of this ridiculous line. Security officers were walking through the lines telling everyone to have their bags out and open. She just stood there yelling and she had a large bag in the bottom of her stroller. Her poor kid was in tears because she thought she was going to miss her special breakfast. I honestly don't think we were in line for more than 10 minutes (it was at park opening) but it felt like an eternity because of that woman!

I always have my bag open (large backpack with several compartments - all unzipped). I give them a smile that they all seem so happy to see. I'm polite and I thank them for what they're doing. It's crazy hot, crazy busy, and they're just doing their jobs. I don't complain if I get chosen for the metal detector, I actually do the opposite and tell the security officer that I'm a lucky winner! It makes most of them smile a little and it shows other people it's not a big deal.

 

[mrzrich]

Use both sides of the table.

 

[docwoodstock]

Use a small Bag with as few compartments as possible. Put everything in the bag into smaller plastic bags so that you can empty the plastic bags onto the table. They can see everything and it is easy to stick everything back in the bag.
Bonus: It's waterproofed.

 

[Figment Mom]

I had one of the bag checkers thank me for how neatly my bag was packed and how easy it was to see everything.

As others have said, pack items in ziplock bags so they are easy to see/remove.

Unzip all zippers ahead of time.

Use both sides of the table.

Sometimes it pays to head to one of the tables that is a little further away. Lines can be shorter.

Smile and be courteous.

 

[cvjw]

Been at the parks for the last week. I had been reading the horror stories about the super long bag check lines, so I had planned to go bag less. That lasted one day. I have even bringing my small backpack every day since.

Bag check has been painless and most everyday the bag less people have been sent thru the metal detectors at all parks. Some days, everyone has been sent thru the metal detectors in the afternoon or evenings. Never in the morning.

At the mk and at ak, they have been allowing guests with small purses to be checked at the bag less line

 

[PonyChick79]

It never takes us more than a minute to get through bag check with a photography backpack, diaper bag, and backpack. We always have everything open and are prepared. Of course we also use the TSA precheck lines at the airport because we're also THOSE people who know how to handle security lines with ease and patience. Just be prepared to possibly wait a few minutes in line, have your bags open and ready to be inspected, and remember it's all to protect you!

 

[Wanderer72]

I wish the Disney security operation was like Universal with the airport luggage scanners. Would save so much time.

 

[Nancyg56]

Please...don't be 'that' family that packs 2 huge backpacks with the 'what if' mentality. Then, they have a cooler, under the stroller, and a large tote bag with baby care items!!
You're going to a theme park for the day. You're not going to a third world nation! It takes forever to check bags like that!

Yup...I always get behind the guy with the backpack jam packed with stuff, every pocket bulging not one zipper opened. He is with his family, who in the stroller and mom's bag have every possibility covered.

Yep, unfortunately I have to carry a backpack for medical supplies, but it's always packed so you can see everything and I approach security with it unzipped.

Oh, that is different. I think people should pack what they need, maybe a few things they may need. But not the entire household "just in case."

I carry a small cross body, or a clip on wallet type bag on my beltloops. I have the zipper open and go through the line. When I have kids with me I have a small backpack or carry bag that has the necessities for the day. I include a change of clothes in a clear zip top bag. Anything that is "floating" around get tucked in a clear bag as well, but that is so if I need it I can see it without digging around like a crazy person. I have found the clear bags work wonders for me and have the added bonus that eh bag checkers can see hat is in the bag and do not need to poke through all the stuff I have.