Stricter Security?

[loves to dive]

I always carry a water bottle, charger and cell phone, sometimes an umbrella. I always take all of those out of my bag before I walk through the scanners and hold them out in front of me. I make sure I put them in my hands where they are all visible, water bottle hanging from a finger and phone in one hand, umbrella and charger in the other. So far, I've not been flagged in any of the parks by doing this. I don't think I have anything else metal on me except maybe sometimes a rain jacket with a zipper but that's not very often. I tend to carry a poncho or a rain jacket with plastic snaps. I do have zippers on my skorts but those don't seem to set them off.

 

[Genie+]

I agree it is a combination of things together. Staff is one of those. Newer security might go slower and strictly by the book, while the more experienced/confident can run through things quicker. If a shift has a high ratio of newer staff that alone could back things up slower than typical.

 

[georgina]

By the way, I’d rather have educated randomness to the searches than to teach someone on these boards how to get around security

Do you consider telling someone to hold their phone and sunglasses case out in front of them to be getting around security? That is what security tells you to do. If not that, I’m not sure what you are referring to. I can’t recall seeing anyone here telling someone how to ‘get around’ security.

 

[DisneyFive]

Do you consider telling someone to hold their phone and sunglasses case out in front of them to be getting around security? That is what security tells you to do. If not that, I’m not sure what you are referring to. I can’t recall seeing anyone here telling someone how to ‘get around’ security.

No and I didn't mean it that way. I should have been more clear, sorry.

In my mind I was thinking how a discussion like this could lead down that path of trying to figure out how to not get your bags checked, which could be for innocent (or not) reasons.

 

[scrappinginontario]

No and I didn't mean it that way. I should have been more clear, sorry.

In my mind I was thinking how a discussion like this could lead down that path of trying to figure out how to not get your bags checked, which could be for innocent (or not) reasons.

Trust me, any such discussions are not permitted and would be immediately removed and warnings possibly given.

This thread is to help guests with ‘normal’ park items avoid getting stopped at security. I’ve been through security 5 times in the past 3 days and stopped twice so i’m still in the process of figuring out what I need to hold in front of me. The interesting thing is I was fine the 2 times we went to MK but was stopped in DHS and Epcot.

 

[DisneyFive]

Trust me, any such discussions are not permitted and would be immediately removed and warnings possibly given.

This thread is to help guests with ‘normal’ park items avoid getting stopped at security. I’ve been through security 5 times in the past 3 days and stopped twice so i’m still in the process of figuring out what I need to hold in front of me. The interesting thing is I was fine the 2 times we went to MK but was stopped in DHS and Epcot.

Have an awesome trip! Yeah, we thought we were doing everything right a few weeks ago and we would get pulled over once in a while too. Something must be getting flagged that we’re not aware of, but it wasn’t the end of the world because we were never there when there was a huge line to get in the park.

 

[slo]

When we were there in March my DD22 had her Loungefly battery operated backpack (has lights) checked every time at the MK and no where else. Luckily we stayed at BLT and use the security on the walkway between there and the entrance and it went quickly. When you’re in a hurry it’s a drag to get stopped, but we’re grateful and always thank the security person for their thoroughness. One time the security person thanked us for their thank you and said if people knew what they find, they’d be glad they stop as many people as they do. One guard said they found gun with a guest trying to get on the monorail from the GF .

 

[slo]

Trust me, any such discussions are not permitted and would be immediately removed and warnings possibly given.

This thread is to help guests with ‘normal’ park items avoid getting stopped at security. I’ve been through security 5 times in the past 3 days and stopped twice so i’m still in the process of figuring out what I need to hold in front of me. The interesting thing is I was fine the 2 times we went to MK but was stopped in DHS and Epcot.

To add to this…..normally the security people are friendly and when I have asked them what I need to do to prevent getting stopped, they explained what I should do. One trip my eyeglass case was constantly getting me checked - even when I held it in front me - the little metal hindges was a problem. So before our next trip I got an eyeglass case with no metal. One reason we keep returning to WDW is because of the tight security. I’m very grateful for it, and if I can make the security people’s job a little easier by having them focus on something more dangerous then something small on me, then I’ll do it

 

[Lewisc]

Evolv has greatly overstated the effectiveness of their scanners..SEC, FTC, some European and UK agencies etc

They don't pick up many kinds of knives and explosives. They aren't as effective if they are set to allow guests to walk through quickly.

I don't know if these issues are the reason for more bag checks.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Have started carrying our battery pack in front (had forgotten I added it to backpack) and that has helped the past 2 park entrances.

 

[gottalovepluto]

No and I didn't mean it that way. I should have been more clear, sorry.

In my mind I was thinking how a discussion like this could lead down that path of trying to figure out how to not get your bags checked, which could be for innocent (or not) reasons.

Disney will still catch them. Even when you hold your items out front if anything looks odd in the item or if something else on your person flags they'll send you over to the line.

 

[_19disnA]

Personally, I feel safer in airports, football stadium or places like Disney knowing they have some sort of security screening in place. Nothing will ever be 100% effective, but I would assume the 'bad guys' tend to avoid places where screening might cause them to be noticed. I try to take the least amount of extra items to places like Disney so there is less to lug around all day long.

 

[mistysue]

We learned that the magnets they are giving out for annual pass or at the DVC promo stands will set off the sensors.

Our early August trip most of our security days were typical, though we got stopped at a higher than usual rate.
One afternoon we got stopped at HS and the bag checkers were in a super great mood, snapping at people, and stopping about every 3rd person whether or not the alarm went off. As we were walking through a guard was yelling at some mom about how she can't leave her kids in the stroller for the stroller line, that's never been allowed and how dare she try to get away with that.
Then they made EVERYONE they flagged go to a line for like 3 bag checkers and wait a solid 20 minutes to get checked, while the other side had people with nothing to do. The woman who got my husband actually dumped out his backpack (including a compartment holding 8 folded ponchos, unfolding them each and causing items to fall on the ground, then made him guess what was in various mini bags acting skeptical when he got things like the exact number of pencils incorrect. We were park hopping and he had just bought a mug, which she first said she was confiscating, then told him she should give him a park ban for trying to bring it in and said if they find it broken he's now on camera with a mug. She then shoved the bag toward him and got mad it was taking him more than 30 seconds to repack it all in, huffed and puffed a minute then went over to the table that wasn't servicing the line of people. While walking out, another one of the guards was blocking the exit and yelled at him for standing there waiting to get by. All the guests were making creeped out concerned faces at each other because it wasn't ok.

So I'd say security is getting different, that's for sure.