Question About Security

[Vacation Dad]

Hi folks. After 4 years it is time for a visit to DLR over Thanksgiving week (but definitely not on Thanksgiving Day!), and I have a question about the security tent areas. Where exactly are they located, and how are they setup? We are coming from the Harbor side and I am wondering if you get to the security check a ways before you get to the ticket booths and entrance gates, or do the lines for everything kind of intermingle? I’m picturing that the security area is right after the shuttle/bus dropoff area, but I don’t know that for sure. Also are there separate security points for DL and for DCA, or is it setup so that one time through security covers both areas.

And if you do not have any bags, is there an “express lane” that will allow you to get through the area a little quicker? I know this depends on the CM doing the checking (I have read some of the postings here about this), but in general do you get through more quickly with no bags? Since we are staying at the BWPPI we do plan on going back to our room for lunches most days, and we will leave our backpack, etc. in a locker if that will save us time. Is it likely that we could have a long wait as we go through the security line after our lunch break, even if we have no bags to be checked? It may be that these lines move so quickly that it doesn’t matter, but I just want to know what to expect.

Thanks in advance for the help, and as always thanks for the entertainment here on the “DIS”.

 

[famograham]

You were thinking the right area. They are right after the shuttle area. We were there Wed-Fri this past week and there was virtually no wait. Security was for both parks, only once. I wore a neck wallet, either they let me right through, or gave it a squish and let me through. Hubby only had his camera bags, he unzipped them they took a peek and we were through, no problems whatsoever! People who did have backpacks were getting through very quickly as well.
It was very quick, about four lines open and like I said...no wait at all really.

Thanksgiving week may be a different story, but that's how it was for us!

Best of luck,
Linda

 

[jemilah]

I try to everything open and ready to show..............I am amazed at people who fumble with the stuff when they get up there, and asked surprised they need to unzip the bags.

 

[Rapunsel]

There is no express line. People who try to get ahead are told that regardless of having bags or not you have to wait in line..

A hint... Don't tell though.. Look to see which lines have 2 CM per table. sometimes there are 3 lines but 4 Cm checking bags. So one line can go a lot quicker.

The only problems that I have encountered more than once is people trying to bring in stuff to make sandwiches inside the park with. They were told that they needed to take it to the picnic area. When ever we bring in food we make sure it is made ahead of time.. Heck we bring in tacos from taco bell...


HTH

 

[XTinabell]

I try to everything open and ready to show..............I am amazed at people who fumble with the stuff when they get up there, and asked surprised they need to unzip the bags.

Same here, always have your stuff ready to show and if you don't have any bags, check the line you're in. Sometimes we got stuck behind people with enormous backpacks stuffed to the rim and we still had to wait in line and it took forever. We made the mistake of trying to avoid lines with strollers and weren't thinking to check who ahead of us had giant backpacks. Trust me you'll know the difference between giant backpacks and a regular backpack when you see one

 

[DizneyMommy]

The ticket booths are inside the security area - after you go through security. While there are always people who feel entitled to push their way to the front because they have no bags, there is NO no bags line, everyone waits in the same line, and you will make some quick enemies if you try to jump ahead of families with anxious kids. I would just take your bags with you if it is more convenient to have them, you'll be waiting the same amount of time regardless. The lockers on the Harbour Blvd side of the esplande are inside security, so you don't really have much choice. If you leave to go back to the hotel for lunch just to avoid bringing a bag thru security, you will waste far more time walking and then in line a second time than you would have if you just brought it in to begin with. The lines move quickly, and are longest first thing in the AM and after every time the tram unloads. It is not usually really bad after 11am or so, the rest of the day it is pretty smooth.

One tip though, if you are bringing in too much food and they say no, you can ask to be escorted to the picnic area which is thru security, across the esplande and out the other security tent towards DTD. It is not as far as it sounds. They will walk you over there and out of the tent and then you can put your things in the picnic area lockers. There are picnic tables there so you can bring all the food you want and eat outside of the park.

 

[Vacation Dad]

Thanks for all the information, I have a pretty good idea of how it all works now. We will just get there EARLY in the morning, and it sounds like the lines usually won’t be a big deal the rest of the day. My 3 kids are all teenagers, so making them wait for a change (rather than having me wait for them) is OK with me. Besides, what’s a trip to Disneyland without standing in lines anyway?