Security bubble? Can someone explain new parks security checks?

[disneynanacat]

June 2nd will be my first time back to wdw since 2013. I’ve seen mentions of a security bubble and I’m getting the feeling that park security checkpoints have changed. Looked for a sticky but I can’t find one. Can someone point me in the right direction or explain where/when the security checkpoints are? TIA Jenifer

 

[rteetz]

June 2nd will be my first time back to wdw since 2013. I’ve seen mentions of a security bubble and I’m getting the feeling that park security checkpoints have changed. Looked for a sticky but I can’t find one. Can someone point me in the right direction or explain where/when the security checkpoints are? TIA Jenifer

The biggest change was at the magic kingdom. If you are coming from the TTC you go through security at the TTC the onto the ferry or monorail. If you are coming via monorail resort you go through security at that resort. If you are coming via bus you go through security near the bus stops. All other parks have security at the main entrance as of yet.

 

[SteveH]

At least for our stay in January MK had security in front before the turnstiles. Busy but moved along fast. They go through all compartments so having bulky items like jackets out can speed things up, they asked to look into a few small bags we had inside of our primary bag. However if you have something like a diabetic test kit they did not want to check that. I can't comment about the monorail or TTC as we didn't use either.

 

[gatorlisa]

The security bubble likely has to do with the way MK security is set up now and how it impacts travel from Epcot to MK via the monorail. On your last trip, MK security would have been in the plaza area in front of the MK entrance. All MK guests, whether arriving via monorail, bus, or ferry would go through security at that one point. Now, MK security is handled differently. The security area has moved closer to the bus area for those arriving by bus. All other MK security is elsewhere: at the TTC center for those traveling via the TTC by monorail and ferry and at the MK resorts for those using monorail or ferry from a resort. Because the Epcot entrance to the monorail is inside Epcot's secure area, if you take the monorail from Epcot to TTC and then transfer to one of the MK bound monorail lines, you never have to exit the secure area, so you are able to go straight to the MK entrance without going through security again. The same is not true the other way around though, because the Epcot monorail exit is outside the secure area, so you have to go back through security there. Epcot, HS, and AK all have security just outside the park entrances, pretty much the same as it was for your last trip.

 

[HopperFan]

Yup, security was moved away from MK turnstiles over a year ago.

There has been nothing in the plaza in front of the MK since March 2017.

@gatorlisa explained where all the security tables were moved to.

How will you be arriving to the MK?

 

[msb578]

The best security check I’ve ever seen is the one on the walk from the CR to MK.

It made ponying up for valet parking more than worth it.

 

[gharter]

IMHO, the change at MK has been good. It seems like you move through security faster than when it was all one place infront of the gate. It is a hassle getting on the resort monorails because of the security search before you get on the monorail, but then you are done.
the other parks have not changed.
The other change that we've liked is the dedicated gate for AP holders. Sometimes its longer than other lines, generally its much shorter.

 

[disneynanacat]

The security bubble likely has to do with the way MK security is set up now and how it impacts travel from Epcot to MK via the monorail. On your last trip, MK security would have been in the plaza area in front of the MK entrance. All MK guests, whether arriving via monorail, bus, or ferry would go through security at that one point. Now, MK security is handled differently. The security area has moved closer to the bus area for those arriving by bus. All other MK security is elsewhere: at the TTC center for those traveling via the TTC by monorail and ferry and at the MK resorts for those using monorail or ferry from a resort. Because the Epcot entrance to the monorail is inside Epcot's secure area, if you take the monorail from Epcot to TTC and then transfer to one of the MK bound monorail lines, you never have to exit the secure area, so you are able to go straight to the MK entrance without going through security again. The same is not true the other way around though, because the Epcot monorail exit is outside the secure area, so you have to go back through security there. Epcot, HS, and AK all have security just outside the park entrances, pretty much the same as it was for your last trip.

Thanks for the monorail to/from Epcot & MK. I think that is where I got confused when I saw something mentioned on another post. We're staying at BWV and may use the EP/MK monorail occasionally.

Yup, security was moved away from MK turnstiles over a year ago.

There has been nothing in the plaza in front of the MK since March 2017.

@gatorlisa explained where all the security tables were moved to.

How will you be arriving to the MK?

Either by bus or Epcot monorail.


Has this change and the fact that there's no longer a morning opening show at the train station come about due to the Las Vegas mass shooting? When I read about the morning show moving to in front of the castle, I wondered if Disney was concerned about the crowd being exposed in the front area. Maybe not?? I loved that morning show and myself and my then 6yo granddaughter were picked as "family of the day" years ago. Sigh. Good times.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Has this change and the fact that there's no longer a morning opening show at the train station come about due to the Las Vegas mass shooting? When I read about the morning show moving to in front of the castle, I wondered if Disney was concerned about the crowd being exposed in the front area. Maybe not?? I loved that morning show and myself and my then 6yo granddaughter were picked as "family of the day" years ago. Sigh. Good times.

The moving of the opening show from the train station to the castle stage and the comprehensive changes to MK security check-points were done well before the Las Vegas incident, so they aren't directly related. Although I'm sure re-arranging the setup to avoid massive amounts of un-screened people congregated in one spot just steps from the MK entrance was part of the overall goal.

Personal opinion... while I was mad/sad about the morning show change (loved that song and setup), the new security 'bubble' and park opening procedures are wonderful from a 'getting to the MK' logistics point of view, especially at rope drop. It's a much more smooth and orderly in-flow of people these days.

 

[disneyvoice]

Just wanted to pop in to add that I think the security changes are wonderful! There aren't as many bottlenecks at security anymore because everyone is distributed through several security points instead of everyone having to go through one spot. We have been several times since the changes were implemented and have found that we move much more quickly through security than in the past - especially if you have to go through the bag check lines.

 

[gap2368]

The moving of the opening show from the train station to the castle stage and the comprehensive changes to MK security check-points were done well before the Las Vegas incident, so they aren't directly related. Although I'm sure re-arranging the setup to avoid massive amounts of un-screened people congregated in one spot just steps from the MK entrance was part of the overall goal.

Personal opinion... while I was mad/sad about the morning show change (loved that song and setup), the new security 'bubble' and park opening procedures are wonderful from a 'getting to the MK' logistics point of view, especially at rope drop. It's a much more smooth and orderly in-flow of people these days.

the fact that it gets you in the park and spending money ( hello Starbucks) more than likely had nothing at all to do with it either. Yes, I do agree things run a lot smoother but I too miss the old welcome show.

 

[disneynanacat]

Sounds great!! I’ll miss the morning show but there’s soooo many new things too! 29 days and counting! I can’t wait!

 

[hildarumpole]

The morning welcome show has been moved to Cinderella's Castle. I thought I would miss the old train show, but really enjoy the new show. Plus, everyone isn't packed in like sausages and it's not so clogged and hectic at rope drop.

 

[Dbktmc]

The other change that we've liked is the dedicated gate for AP holders. Sometimes its longer than other lines, generally its much shorter.

Is there an AP entrance at every park? We haven't been to WDW in almost 2 years and I don't remember a dedicated entrance back then although I may have just missed it. We are activating our new AP's on our June trip and I would love a dedicated entrance at each park.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is there an AP entrance at every park? We haven't been to WDW in almost 2 years and I don't remember a dedicated entrance back then although I may have just missed it. We are activating our new AP's on our June trip and I would love a dedicated entrance at each park.

There is, yes. Although sometimes it can be quicker to just use the normal line. It varies by park/time of day. I’ll usually just eyeball conditions and use the AP line if it looks like a shorter line.

 

[CAS239]

Is there an AP entrance at every park? We haven't been to WDW in almost 2 years and I don't remember a dedicated entrance back then although I may have just missed it. We are activating our new AP's on our June trip and I would love a dedicated entrance at each park.

Yes at every park they have a sign up for AP holders tapstiles.

Just judge by lines though and pick the shortest. I usually always go AP line if the other lines are the same. However sometimes some tapstiles can be empty and people will just go get in the AP line.

I was at MK a couple days ago and saw around 8 people going for the AP line when directly to the left of it was 2 CM's with empty lines. So I think sometimes people are just drawn to the AP line

 

[HopperFan]

I do think the security checks are better for some, worse for some.

We have come via the TTC many times and every single time the security check took at least twice as long as it took when it was at the MK. I don't know whether the folks there are doing more extensive searches of "offsite guests", are in training so not fast or what - but it is aggravating compared to doing it at MK. Note: It's not that there are too few tables there are many.

We also come via the Bus Depot but rarely do we come at the morning rush. We tend to arrive just after park opening. We have found that the line there is equal to, sometimes longer than we had at MK. It seems to be as soon as the initial morning rush is done they shut down most the security tables and most the metal scanners. This means the table line is longer and if you have to do the metal scan you have to wait your turn. My kids who will go "no bag" and sadly never have to scan will be standing on the other side waiting way too long for me to get there. Again, frustrating.

 

[disneynanacat]

I do think the security checks are better for some, worse for some.

We have come via the TTC many times and every single time the security check took at least twice as long as it took when it was at the MK. I don't know whether the folks there are doing more extensive searches of "offsite guests", are in training so not fast or what - but it is aggravating compared to doing it at MK. Note: It's not that there are too few tables there are many.

We also come via the Bus Depot but rarely do we come at the morning rush. We tend to arrive just after park opening. We have found that the line there is equal to, sometimes longer than we had at MK. It seems to be as soon as the initial morning rush is done they shut down most the security tables and most the metal scanners. This means the table line is longer and if you have to do the metal scan you have to wait your turn. My kids who will go "no bag" and sadly never have to scan will be standing on the other side waiting way too long for me to get there. Again, frustrating.

The last time we were there they didn't use metal scanners either. Are they the type you walk through, wands, or what? Who gets scanned?

 

[wgeo]

I do think the security checks are better for some, worse for some.

We have come via the TTC many times and every single time the security check took at least twice as long as it took when it was at the MK. I don't know whether the folks there are doing more extensive searches of "offsite guests", are in training so not fast or what - but it is aggravating compared to doing it at MK. Note: It's not that there are too few tables there are many.

We also come via the Bus Depot but rarely do we come at the morning rush. We tend to arrive just after park opening. We have found that the line there is equal to, sometimes longer than we had at MK. It seems to be as soon as the initial morning rush is done they shut down most the security tables and most the metal scanners. This means the table line is longer and if you have to do the metal scan you have to wait your turn. My kids who will go "no bag" and sadly never have to scan will be standing on the other side waiting way too long for me to get there. Again, frustrating.

We too have come in from the TTC a few times over the past few months and each time I felt that security check was excessively long, as in longer than 20 minutes to get through. It seemed to me that the security guards were very slow in checking each bag, which is probably a very good thing, but man it made me pretty agitated to wait so long. It really took a lot of fun out of park hopping to have to wait so long in the middle of the day.

We're staying onsite soon and if the security process stays that long I'm telling my daughter she's not allowed to bring a bag anymore.

 

[HopperFan]

The last time we were there they didn't use metal scanners either. Are they the type you walk through, wands, or what? Who gets scanned?

The ongoing joke ....................

They have upright scanners you put your stuff in bowl and then walk through.

NOW who goes through continues to be the question of the day.
- Sometimes it's everybody
- Sometimes "you have been randomly selected"
- Sometimes doesn't matter if bag or not
- Sometimes all non-baggers
- Sometimes all baggers
- Sometimes non-baggers literally walk by ALL security, like that makes sense

The joke in my family is I am nearly 100% always selected to go through ... after they ransacked my bags, while my kids go bagless and rarely every get scanned ..... so why wouldn't I just put the bad stuff in their clothes? They say it's my face ..........

I have complained so many times to the security that unless EVERYONE scans it is completely pointless. And they ALWAYS say they agree with me totally and tell me to write to Disney.

If you have a medical reason not to go through the scanner they can wand you.