Security Check Questions

[SFMommy]

We are staying at Hojo's and I am wondering about the security check-point on Harbor Blvd.

Our first evening we are going to DTD for dinner/shopping. And our last day we will be going to the Disneyland Hotel for breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. Do we need to go through security on our way to DTD and the DLH, even if we are not going into the park? How much extra time should we allow for security?

What time does security open...30 minutes or 1 hour before park opening? What about on a Magic Morning?

Thanks!

 

[DizNee Luver]

You will need to pass thru security to walk between the parks & to get to DTD & back. The longest I've ever been at security was 10 minutes, but usually you're thru in a few minutes.

I don't remember how early they open.....we did a MM & got there really early & weren't allowed in until closer to opening (15 mins prior I believe).

 

[jernysgirl]

To get to DLH or DTD you have to cross the esplanade, so yes you will have to pass through security. To get through security, it has never taken us longer than 5-10 minutes. For you entering your first evening, it should be super quick as the crowds should be fairly low at that time of day, but in the morning going to breakfast I would plan on at least 20-30 minutes, just in case.

I believe security opens 1 hour before the parks open, hopefully someone else can confirm.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

Yes from Hojos you will have to go through security coming and going. Also be warned that if you are carrying no bags whatsoever, you will still have to go through security. My husband and I went last summer without the kids and purposely didn't carry any bags and found out that you still have to go through security. Rather redundant, but there's no other alternative.

 

[wdwfan22]

Also, just so you know, if the parks aren't open or going to be opening soon, then there is no one at security and you just walk through. For example, we were at Downtown Disney late one night when both parks closed early, so when we left Downtown Disney to walk back to HoJo, the tent where security stands was just empty, so you can just walk on through.

 

[AMouse&ADream]

I'm surprised to hear people saying that it's taken them 5-10 minutes to make it through security. We go all the time (just got back from the park a few hours ago), and it's never taken more than 20 SECONDS (not minutes) to get through security. And I always carry a backpack full of A/V equipment that they glance through.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

It is my understanding that at opening if no one at security and you walk on through they will have you go back, get in line, and go through security. I would ask. Don't want you to waste time re-tracking.

I thought that the security stations were positioned so the area between DCA and DL were both covered with one security check? I know if you leave area you must use security gate to re-enter park entrance areas.

Now think about it---- go ahead-- think. They never stop you on way out of park to check your bags. I have seen security at stations even after closing -- they checked bags even if walking through to get to Disney hotels.

It really is not to much of a pain. I have to carry medical supplies and having to explain it all; now that is the pain. But then I don't see to many guests doing home dialysis at the medical centers. Because of 99 questions I now pay mega extra to stay Disney hotel and return to hotel for treatment.

Have a great time

Patty

 

[disneychrista]

It is my understanding that at opening if no one at security and you walk on through they will have you go back, get in line, and go through security. I would ask. Don't want you to waste time re-tracking.

This is true if you get there early, before security get there and get in line for the parks.

 

[AMouse&ADream]

It is my understanding that at opening if no one at security and you walk on through they will have you go back, get in line, and go through security. I would ask. Don't want you to waste time re-tracking.

Yes, you're right. However, the OP was asking about simply passing through the security area to get to DTD, so I don't think this would apply.

I thought that the security stations were positioned so the area between DCA and DL were both covered with one security check? I know if you leave area you must use security gate to re-enter park entrance areas.

Yup, definitely. So you'd have to enter through one security area, and exit through another to get from one side to the other.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

That is nice to know about getting there early for sure. Wonder why others posted they were asked to go back and go thru security. But, just going past would be sweet. . Will find out in a few days.

For Grand kids first visit we are going to walk to main gate from Disney Hotel so they can get the full experience . I sure hope a 7 and 4 year old will owwwww and ahhhhhhh . Even looking with jaw wide open will make a nice picture.

Thank you again for the information.

Patty

 

[disneychrista]

Wonder why others posted they were asked to go back and go thru security.

Just to be clear is you get there before security and are going to the parks you will have to wait and go through security.

If you get there before security and are going to DTD or the hotels you are fine to walk through.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm surprised to hear people saying that it's taken them 5-10 minutes to make it through security. We go all the time (just got back from the park a few hours ago), and it's never taken more than 20 SECONDS (not minutes) to get through security. And I always carry a backpack full of A/V equipment that they glance through.

I was thinking the same thing, AMouse&ADream!! It takes seconds for me too, even though I have to take my stupid bag (a Baggallini) off of my neck and shoulder (that's the biggest pain of the whole thing for me - removing the bag and then putting it back on) and unzip the compartments. They only barely glance in my bags - and they don't even check all of the compartments.

Oddly, the one and only time a Security person looked twice at anything in my bag was December 2009, if I recall. I had a soft, folded up neck scarf shoved on top of everything else in my bag in case it rained or got cold later. The Security lady looked sternly at my innocent scarf, pulled up a corner of it, ran her fingers over it and said with a growl, "Is that a scarf?"

(Well...what else would it be? A machete?)

That's where the title of my December 2009 Trip Report comes from - "Stop! Or My Scarf Will Shoot!" I've been threatening in my TR to return to DLR one day and wave my menacing scarf around wildly!

But other than that, I always seem to get in a line for Security that moves very, very fast - or there is no line at all. And they only stop me for a few seconds and I am on my way. I guess I have good timing.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm surprised to hear people saying that it's taken them 5-10 minutes to make it through security. We go all the time (just got back from the park a few hours ago), and it's never taken more than 20 SECONDS (not minutes) to get through security. And I always carry a backpack full of A/V equipment that they glance through.

If you are behind many people, it's going to take some time for each person to get checked. What makes it longer is people who aren't prepared at all, and are surprised that they have to take bags off shoulders/backs, open the zippers, etc.

Each person, if prepared, takes seconds. But if you're behind 5, 10, 20 people, depending on their level of preparedness, that's going to add time.

That is nice to know about getting there early for sure. Wonder why others posted they were asked to go back and go thru security

When you are going to the parks, if you pass through the checking area without being checked, and then just go get in line at the gates, you are going to be asked to leave that area and get in line. Those are the people being asked to go back, because you need to be checked before going into the parks.

But just going through the esplanade isn't a problem, and if the bagcheck people aren't there, there's no one to ask them to be checked, and the checkers will never know they went through!



OP, just in case anyone wants to dress up and wear shoes they wouldn't wear to walk around in the parks....convince them to wear comfy shoes instead. The walk isn't a huge problem, but it is a walk, and someone wearing heels might end up with a problem.

I discovered this all on my own, walking from Hojo to PPH one lightly warm evening while wearing cute heels. Ended up with some heinous blisters, and I had to call DH at HoJo to come get me, which meant he had to wake up our 3 year old to put him in the carseat and come get me. If I'd had any cash (if DH had had any cash at the room) I would have called a cab, but I didn't so I called DH. But I literally could not walk back.

Sadly this was the night before the start of our vacation-proper (we were blocked out on the first day we got there, and hadn't been in the parks before I went to the function at the PPH), and I destroyed my feet for that trip, by thinking "oh the walk isn't that long, my feet can handle it!"

 

[Hound 109]

Bumber's info (& disneychrista's info) is accurate.

If you are behind many people, it's going to take some time for each person to get checked. What makes it longer is people who aren't prepared at all, and are surprised that they have to take bags off shoulders/backs, open the zippers, etc.

Each person, if prepared, takes seconds. But if you're behind 5, 10, 20 people, depending on their level of preparedness, that's going to add time.

Exactly. Maybe 10-20 seconds for ONE person to get thru security.....but maybe 5-10 min. to get thru THE LINE.

When you are going to the parks, if you pass through the checking area without being checked, and then just go get in line at the gates, you are going to be asked to leave that area and get in line. Those are the people being asked to go back, because you need to be checked before going into the parks.

Correct. If you get there BEFORE the Security Tents are manned. (& are in the Esplanade or at the turnstile)...then you will have to retreat back to the Security Tent line when the esplanade is cleared out at (30 - 40 min. before Gen. Adm. or MM opening).


But just going through the esplanade isn't a problem, and if the bagcheck people aren't there, there's no one to ask them to be checked, and the checkers will never know they went through!

Correct. If walking from Harbor Blvd. to DTD (or vice versa) before or after the security tents are opened, no problem....just walk on thru.

........

 

[blackjackdelta]

It is more like a food check than a security. I always have a bely knife and sometimes forget the pistol(habit) and they do not even have a clue. I always wear a very hawaiian print shirt and no one is very observant.

Jack

 

[Sherry E]

Bumber's info (& disneychrista's info) is accurate.

I think it's just that we have all had different experiences. It has not even taken me 5 or 10 minutes to get through the line. But as I said in my post above, I guess I have good timing. I've been lucky. Maybe I have ended up behind people in the line who knew the drill and were prepared, so we zoomed on through. Half the time there is no line and we walk right on up. But those have been my experiences. It could be totally different for other people five minutes later, after I've passed through. For me, it's always been a super-fast process, minus the time it took the Security woman to look at my suspicious neck scarf!

 

[abbie13_15]

So if magic morning is at 7am security will be there 30 minutes before? What about regular hours still 30 minutes before or more like an hour? Thanks we like to get there early...we just don't want to be too early and no one be there.

 

[Mama Who]

I'm surprised to hear people saying that it's taken them 5-10 minutes to make it through security. We go all the time (just got back from the park a few hours ago), and it's never taken more than 20 SECONDS (not minutes) to get through security. And I always carry a backpack full of A/V equipment that they glance through.

Getting through is fast but at peak hours there is definitely sometimes a line. I have never been stuck waiting more than 5 minutes but 20 seconds right around park opening is undrealistic.

 

[Hound 109]

Sherry.... my these posters "are correct" comment was meant to describe when the security tents open & how folks in the esplanade prior to opening would be hustled back to the end of the security line.

I agree that going thru Security could "depend" on lots of stuff....time of day etc. & that different folks might experience different things.

So if magic morning is at 7am security will be there 30 minutes before? What about regular hours still 30 minutes before or more like an hour? Thanks we like to get there early...we just don't want to be too early and no one be there.

Yes. (i'm also an early riser....& the time zone difference is your friend in getting to the park early. )

The Security tent will open up at approx. 6:30am for a 7am MM. Best to line up AT THE (unmanned) SECURITY TENT at 6:20 - 6:25am if you want to be one of the first few families in line at the turnstile.

The "get in line at :20 or :25am at the security tent" strategy works well on all days. & if it's going to be crowded that day maybe :15 would be better.

 

[jpow5]

When picking a security line, look at who is line ahead of you. If its a stroller/diaper bag family, pick another line. It will save you some time!