Stricter Security?

[JayMass]

Hi all. Just got back and noticed that security, especially at MK, was much tougher than I remember. We were rope dropping and got flagged for our back packs (we had umbrellas but held them out in front us!). It took us about 25 minutes to get through the bag check area. We park hopped to Epcot later on that day with the same stuff and didn't get flagged. I'm curious if others have experienced this. Are they just more cautious at MK than the other parks? FWIW, over our 5 days in the parks, we were only ever flagged at MK.

I'm not upset about it, I am all in on safety and security, but it just didn't seem very consistent across the parks. Also, it's good info for anyone trying to RD!

 

[kdka421]

I'm not upset about it, I am all in on safety and security, but it just didn't seem very consistent across the parks.

FWIW, I have no “official” source for this, just my own experience as well as things I’ve heard and read over the years both from guests and CMs — I believe you’re right in that it’s very much *not* consistent, intentionally. The monorail hotels often (reportedly) have stricter security than the parks. I’ve heard AK can often have more thorough screening for the safety of the animals. And I believe they can also increase or decrease the sensitivity based on any number of factors (threat level, time of year/crowds, whatever).
Again, I have no official source for this but I think most people would agree, security is a very YMMV day to day, depending on a zillion, typically unknown, factors.

 

[hardcorestitch]

FWIW, I have no “official” source for this, just my own experience as well as things I’ve heard and read over the years both from guests and CMs — I believe you’re right in that it’s very much *not* consistent, intentionally. The monorail hotels often (reportedly) have stricter security than the parks. I’ve heard AK can often have more thorough screening for the safety of the animals. And I believe they can also increase or decrease the sensitivity based on any number of factors (threat level, time of year/crowds, whatever).
Again, I have no official source for this but I think most people would agree, security is a very YMMV day to day, depending on a zillion, typically unknown, factors.

Could certainly agree with you. They always adjust the security protocols on the fly.

 

[lovethattink]

Did all in your party get flagged? We noticed that if an umbrella or metal water bottle is held too closely to the person in front, that front person will get flagged. We started leaving more space between each other and have stopped getting flagged.

 

[JayMass]

Did all in your party get flagged? We noticed that if an umbrella or metal water bottle is held too closely to the person in front, that front person will get flagged. We started leaving more space between each other and have stopped getting flagged.

My wife and I got flagged, we both had a backpacks and our kids (teens) had small string bags but did not get flagged. We held the umbrellas straight out in front of us with a good deal of space between us. I asked the security CM what it might have been and he said you can't be sure. Sometimes if there is too much metal close together that will get you flagged. I had a metal water bottle and two phone charger banks all next to each other. It might have been that. The crazy thing, though, is that doing the exact same thing at the other parks and later on at MK did not get me flagged. It did seem that they were flagging everybody with a large backpack as opposed to the detector going off. In my wait I started to make predictions about who would get flagged and it seemed like it was always someone with a large backpack. Now maybe that's because there is just more stuff in a large backpack? I don't know, it just threw me off because I rarely get flagged and when I do, it only adds 5 minutes, even at RD. This time, though, it was 25 minutes which set us back in our RD plan. Again, not a huge deal, we are flexible and know that this is for everyone's safety. I am actually more curious if others have noticed this as well.

 

[lovethattink]

Only times we were delayed that long was traveling with my mom and her wheelchair, she didn’t understand the directions. And security didn’t understand that she couldn’t stand or walk more than a few steps, she was recovering from back surgery. I had to advocate each time. And support her if she needed to stand. She didn’t go on rides where she couldn’t be in the wheelchair. Mostly she people watched and enjoyed the ambiance.

My son’s challenge coin.

Those gold medallion collector coins from the machines set off the Poly security every time.

We take only my loungefly.

 

[Dave006]

In my wait I started to make predictions about who would get flagged and it seemed like it was always someone with a large backpack. Now maybe that's because there is just more stuff in a large backpack? I

That is not just because the backpack was large, it is because guests with large backpacks tend to have the same type of items you did in yours. In the early days of the scanners, they would just take a peek, and poke around your backpack with a probe stick.

Now with the newer scanners, they are more accurate about detecting things that might be an issue. Not that you had anything of concern, just that it had materiel that the scanner triggered on.

This time, though, it was 25 minutes which set us back in our RD plan.

Yes, they are much more through these days when the scanners trigger on you due to potential safety issues.

Now days we have one member of the party carry all the items the trigger the scanners, that would be metal umbrellas, power banks, and yes metal water bottles. This way "I" get stopped almost 100% of the time, and everyone else breezes through. We now plan for a meeting point at the attraction or dining spot in the park. There we divide up all the items for each member of the group.

Dave

 

[han22735]

I can add to this...Tuesday at MK I did not get flagged shockingly...same stuff at HS the next day and did get flagged... security said they had their machines turn up higher that day. So I agree it's really random day to day and park to park.

Edited to add just entered Epcot with no bag but my belt flagged me...same belt I've had on all week.

 

[Best Aunt]

I was once told that my glass case and sunglass case were the reason I was flagged to have my tote bag hand searched. They have magnetic closures, maybe that's the problem? I hold them out in front of me when I go through the metal detector and haven't been flagged since.

I don't take a water bottle or umbrella.

 

[Dave006]

Edited to add just entered Epcot with no bag but my belt flagged me...same belt I've had on all week.

Maybe you belt picked up some extra Disney magic magnetic power / metal during the week, just kidding. The scanners are adjustable, and individual units can vary quite a bit at the same park even on the same day for reentry.

They also add some randomness to the process by stopping every 5th person for example for manual search even if the scanner does not flag you. The real key for effective Security screening is to not be predicative or use the same procedures all the time.

Dave

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

Hi all. Just got back and noticed that security, especially at MK, was much tougher than I remember. We were rope dropping and got flagged for our back packs (we had umbrellas but held them out in front us!). It took us about 25 minutes to get through the bag check area. We park hopped to Epcot later on that day with the same stuff and didn't get flagged. I'm curious if others have experienced this. Are they just more cautious at MK than the other parks? FWIW, over our 5 days in the parks, we were only ever flagged at MK.

I'm not upset about it, I am all in on safety and security, but it just didn't seem very consistent across the parks. Also, it's good info for anyone trying to RD!

I’m gonna assume you didn’t directly park hop to Epcot via the monorail?

 

[gottalovepluto]

My wife and I got flagged, we both had a backpacks and our kids (teens) had small string bags but did not get flagged. We held the umbrellas straight out in front of us with a good deal of space between us. I asked the security CM what it might have been and he said you can't be sure. Sometimes if there is too much metal close together that will get you flagged. I had a metal water bottle and two phone charger banks all next to each other. It might have been that. The crazy thing, though, is that doing the exact same thing at the other parks and later on at MK did not get me flagged. It did seem that they were flagging everybody with a large backpack as opposed to the detector going off. In my wait I started to make predictions about who would get flagged and it seemed like it was always someone with a large backpack. Now maybe that's because there is just more stuff in a large backpack? I don't know, it just threw me off because I rarely get flagged and when I do, it only adds 5 minutes, even at RD. This time, though, it was 25 minutes which set us back in our RD plan. Again, not a huge deal, we are flexible and know that this is for everyone's safety. I am actually more curious if others have noticed this as well.

25 min is crazy. Was this at MK proper or TTC?

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm local and visit the parks probably twice a week. I've not noticed any difference in security checks.

 

[JayMass]

25 min is crazy. Was this at MK proper or TTC?

MK proper. We came from the Resort Busses.

 

[JayMass]

I’m gonna assume you didn’t directly park hop to Epcot via the monorail?

Correct. We went back to our resort before going to Epcot.

 

[DisneyFive]

We were there from July 22 to July 31. In the parks for eight days. We did not notice anything different regarding security. We also had multiple umbrellas, battery packs and bottled waters each day.

Seemed pretty random whether or not we were chosen, but not more so than other years. We did hold our chargers and umbrellas out in front of us.

 

[elvispursley]

We typically wait a minimum of 15 minutes at MK to have our bags searched. Both my mother and I have medical devices that can’t go through the scanners so we have to have the bags searched or do a lay down/wand everywhere. MK by far has the worst waits for us with all the strollers, scooters/wheelchairs, and those who are pulled out to have further screening.

Best experience has been when going to AK and a dog “screened” us and we were able to head to the tap styles without having the bags checked.