"Random" Security Checks?? (at WDW now)

[SqueakyMouse]

Dd and I have been at WDW since last Saturday (6/11). There have been "random security checks" conducted at all of the parks upon every visit. Other than last Saturday mid-day at MK when everyone was being sent through the metal detectors, we have only witnessed a very few people "randomly selected" to go through the screening. It only takes a couple of minutes (at most) to do this, so it's really not a problem. However, dd and I have been "randomly selected" so many times now that we are really starting to feel targeted. (I was even selected twice by the same security guard at Epcot on two subsequent days!) Of course, I cannot figure out what our target profile would be: mothers and daughters having too much fun together, pale red-heads out in the Florida sun, two women dressed too much for comfort????

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm appalled that checks are still "random".

 

[kittyab]

how bad are the security lines?

 

[AuntDJ]

We just got home. Security lines seemed different at each park and time of day. At MK, we flew through, at the Studios, they almost took everything out of m bag. I will admit, they had LOTS of lanes open though, so even though there were lots of people, we never waited more than 10 minutes to get through the lines. Each person (except for my mom in her ECV) were randomly selected at different times.

 

[wyurm]

I'm appalled that checks are still "random".

Why? these "checks" are nothing more than theater to make you feel safe. That's all they do and all they are meant to do. The real security is not visible to you. That's the security you need to care about as it is what will actually keep you safe. I really wish they would get rid of the theater all together as it actually increases risk rather than removing it. (creates a bottleneck that is a much more inviting target for a real terrorist)

 

[mom2rtk]

Why? these "checks" are nothing more than theater to make you feel safe. That's all they do and all they are meant to do. The real security is not visible to you. That's the security you need to care about as it is what will actually keep you safe. I really wish they would get rid of the theater all together as it actually increases risk rather than removing it. (creates a bottleneck that is a much more inviting target for a real terrorist)

I've been saying that for some time.

I think they need to be "all in" or "all out" with the enhanced screenings. The random stuff they are doing nothing but bottling people up creating even more of a target.

 

[FreesiaE]

how bad are the security lines?

I was at all four parks this week. The biggest issue is that they need lines numbered and directed like the rides. People are line hopping, cutting, etc. Rope off 12 lines, or whatever and send people to specific lines. Also, with the amount of time being spent in the line, they need shade. Put up a few tents. I think if they are to go through every backpack zippered pocket perhaps it's time for clear or meshed only. It takes forever and it seems many people have big giant backpacks. We waited from 7:40-8:20 (not EMH, 8AM opening) at MK. Out of uniform Disney staff told me once past the line that the wait was ridiculous and understaffed.

 

[Slapshot1188]

Random check consists of the guards moving left to right and right to left taking the next person in line...

 

[kmb584]

We were there June 3-13 and I was selected on 7/10 days. My 82-year-old grandmother was selected 6/10. My aunt was 8/10 and my mom was 5/10. We never waited longer than 10 minutes with bag check and metal detector scans combined.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Dd and I have been at WDW since last Saturday (6/11). There have been "random security checks" conducted at all of the parks upon every visit. Other than last Saturday mid-day at MK when everyone was being sent through the metal detectors, we have only witnessed a very few people "randomly selected" to go through the screening. It only takes a couple of minutes (at most) to do this, so it's really not a problem. However, dd and I have been "randomly selected" so many times now that we are really starting to feel targeted. (I was even selected twice by the same security guard at Epcot on two subsequent days!) Of course, I cannot figure out what our target profile would be: mothers and daughters having too much fun together, pale red-heads out in the Florida sun, two women dressed too much for comfort????

We had a similar experience in DL in Jan. I must look very suspicious... in my rD tshirts with DD9 and DS11...

I believe that just the presence of "random checks" acts as a deterrent, at least.

It's not PC in this country to conduct targeted checks by truly trained personnel (eg airports in Israel), which would be more effective for ACTUAL security vs somewhat of a deterrent.

Truth is that many studies prove that any manner of prohibited items get through even TSA security where everyone is checked.

Those full body scanners were KNOWN to be less effective than conventional detectors, yet were installed at airports around the country with great fanfare (and at great taxpayer expense!) -- a show of security.

I'm not sure how much more effective making everyone walk through those machines would actually be. I wouldn't be against it -- just honestly wouldn't really feel any safer with it.

 

[revdon64]

I've been saying that for some time.

I think they need to be "all in" or "all out" with the enhanced screenings. The random stuff they are doing nothing but bottling people up creating even more of a target.

Yes, but wouldn't "all in" create an even bigger bottleneck, creating an even more enticing target?

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, but wouldn't "all in" create an even bigger bottleneck, creating an even more enticing target?

Not if they installed enough detectors and staffed up appropriately.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I was randomly selected all the time. It got irritating mainly because they always picked ME and not DH. Lol. I may or may not have also been snarky to security. I don't mean to. It's really not directed towards them. It's more I just HATE that this is what it's come to.

They really do need to set up more and be checking everyone. I also noticed pocket change didn't make it go off. Cell phones did.

 

[revdon64]

Not if they installed enough detectors and staffed up appropriately.

Ever been to a theme park or amusement park that makes everyone go through metal detectors? Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ does. If you get there less than 30 minutes before opening you're standing in a crowd of thousands of people waiting to go through the metal detectors. Every person takes 10 to 30 seconds depending on what you have and if you've been compliant (like took your belt off - yes they make you do that). Even though there is an entire row of detectors (50 or so?) it is a tedious mess. And all that is before you can even get to the ticket booth or the biometric scanner. I tend to think that something on this scale would not go over well with many Disney fans. I think that we go there to escape this kind of reminder that the world is a mess.

 

[MeganMango]

I got selected quite a few times too! And saw a lot of "suspicious" looking people go through without being selected.

 

[brertoad]

I got picked at AK this week to walk through the detector, DH just went through extra check with me. It's pretty quick, especially when there isn't a line, it takes about 20 seconds. I put my bag and sunglasses in the bucket walk though, pick up stuff and done.

I heard that if you wear baggy clothes, or cargos shorts you might be sent through the metal detector. Not sure if that is true, just something I heard.

 

[epcotty]

So so far there's one in this thread who waited a really long time, are there others who also waited a long time to get through bag check/security? Debating on whether or not to bring a bag for next time. As for the cargo short thing, in my experience it hasn't been true so far at least

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I was randomly selected all the time. It got irritating mainly because they always picked ME and not DH. Lol. I may or may not have also been snarky to security. I don't mean to. It's really not directed towards them. It's more I just HATE that this is what it's come to.

They really do need to set up more and be checking everyone. I also noticed pocket change didn't make it go off. Cell phones did.

I feel bad for the security people who are only ensuring park guests are safe - it's a sucky job already without snarkiness to them too.

 

[bryanb]

I can't comment on Universal Orlando, but in the Hollywood theme park, every guest goes through a metal detector. The plaza is built out with enough detectors fanned out across a wide circular area, so that there is no single place where people are congregating, and security actively spreads the crowds out across all of the entry points. I haven't seen more than a few people waiting to get in at any given point. But it definitely takes a large staff to do this effectively.

 

[allybabba98]

We are in Orlando and head home tomorrow. We went to four parks this week and I was randomly selected twice. It was nothing really, the bag check line was the most gruelling I found especially at MK. I find bag check was much more involved then the past years I went.
The presence of security is definitely there but as previous posters said it is for show, the real security is what we can't see.