Time to get through Park Security checks

[closetmickey]

How much time should we typically allow to get through park bag check/security lines? We plan to arrive at most parks around 10am which will usually be 1 or 2 hours after park opening (in the summer).
We will have a backpack to be checked.
Thank you!

 

[mister morrow]

security is pretty quick, but thorough of course.

i say no more than 10 minutes if you are going on a normal park day.

i've never waited longer than 10 minutes in line for security

 

[Klayfish]

Longest wait would be 10 minutes, usually it's far less...as in 3-5. On less crowded times of the day, you'll literally walk right up.

 

[CAS239]

Longest waits will be right before parks open and it's busiest. If you're arriving anytime after an hour after the park has been opened, you'll likely have a 20 sec-2 min wait for bag check. It's usually always very quick.

Really anytime you're spending more than 5 min at bag check, it'll be at park opening. And then then it's usually quick

 

[gharter]

Will you be staying onsite or off? It does make a difference as to where the bag search is done. We stay onsite and have never waited more than 10 minutes. Even when we waited in the main line for EPCOT, it was under 10 minutes. Just seems like so much longer.

 

[CAS239]

Will you be staying onsite or off? It does make a difference as to where the bag search is done. We stay onsite and have never waited more than 10 minutes. Even when we waited in the main line for EPCOT, it was under 10 minutes. Just seems like so much longer.

The only difference between on site and off site security would be if you're staying at one of the MK monorail resorts since security is done prior to boarding the monorail.

At the other 3 parks being on site or off site has no effect on security.

 

[HopperFan]

I usually arrive around 10, we shut parks down and sleep in mornings.

MK:
- Parking lot, cluster. If we make it through that in 10 minutes we are happy.
- Via bus, hit or miss. On arrival we are lucky if there are 3 open, usually 2. Not long but could be better. Like when there are 3 tables open but only 1 scanner and they decide to scan us all.
- We don't stay at MK resorts to experience those.

EPCOT:
- Walkers, trams, buses, monorails .... all crushing in and 10 minutes doesn't happen unless you hit a lucky window but I sure haven't since they changed this system. The worse.

DHS:
- All feed in to same security now. Find them to be extra thorough but efficient. No complaints other than the hoards of guests that walk in "bagless" and don't get checked or scanned. It's become a joke since we split up. Someone said something to our guy about how long it took (even though it didn't) and he laughed saying "This is nothing, wait until Toy Story Land opens."

AK:
- Look to the far right and left, sometimes there are hidden guys and we go straight to them. It's the ticket scanners that are inefficient.

DO NOT cut it close for ADRs or FP+ ending windows. We have learned the hard way.

 

[gharter]

As I recall, off site guests are screened at the TTC before getting on the express monorail or ferry. Hotel monorail guests are screened at the hotel before getting on the resort monorail. Onsite coming in by bus are screened once they get off the bus before the MK enterance.
The other 3 parks have one screening area where everyone goes through.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

The security line at TTC is minimal at that time, we walk from the parking lot and stick to the right hand side. Most of the tram riders seem to go towards the left since it's closer to where they are exiting the tram. It's usually 5 min or so, nothing major. You'll spend more time waiting for the monorail than security : )

 

[Klayfish]

As I recall, off site guests are screened at the TTC before getting on the express monorail or ferry. Hotel monorail guests are screened at the hotel before getting on the resort monorail. Onsite coming in by bus are screened once they get off the bus before the MK enterance.
The other 3 parks have one screening area where everyone goes through.

Yes, as mentioned above, the only difference is for MK, and only for guests staying in the monorail resorts. Otherwise, it's identical. They have so many bag check stations at the TTC that it's a breeze to go through.

 

[wgeo]

We found it to be very hit or miss. The vast majority of time it was easily less than 5 minutes. Once probably closer to 10 mins, and one horrid time parking at the TTC it was well over 20 mins it wasn't pretty. But I imagine that was more of a fluke than an every day reality. So I always plan for 10 and then am usually happy when it's much quicker then that.

 

[bashuck]

I found only EPCOT to have any wait after a park has been open for an hour or so on my trip that just ended.

 

[ali2083]

The monorail resorts get checked twice for Epcot - before you get on the monorail and then again at the park. Epcot was the absolute worst wait I ever had when I was there last month no matter what time of day. And it wasn't that crowded that week.

 

[closetmickey]

Thanks everyone! We will be staying onsite and coming from the BC on our Epcot day so it sounds like allowing 10ish min per park will work. Thanks again!

 

[BebopBaloo]

Disney security is fantastic. The wait is usually minimal, but they do a thorough inspection. The biggest back up we have had is at the front entrance of Epcot during a really busy season. Security was everywhere though even just in the waiting process. I really hope other companies and parks take note of what Disney does.

 

[coast2coastmickey]

Security is hit or miss, but usually very quick. Just a couple of minutes.

Our bad-luck spot is at the International Gateway entrance to Epcot: on multiple trips we have been stuck at that spot trying to get into the park, simply because they only had 2 people performing the checks, and there was no "no bag" line to speed things up.

 

[sponica]

The only time that felt like it took forever was animal kingdom we arrived 930ish on practically the only non EMH AM day in May so maybe that was it....it seemed like they didn't have enough people staffed at the time. When we got there they had just opened extra lanes to the far left.

I also have a tendency to get behind that one person who has 439573405 zippers on their bag and doesn't understand they all need to be opened. Makes me wish security lines had categories ranging from "i never ever go through a checkpoint and have no clue what i'm doing" to "i work in a government building everything's unzipped and ready to go, let me in"

 

[micheleq]

Thanks everyone! We will be staying onsite and coming from the BC on our Epcot day so it sounds like allowing 10ish min per park will work. Thanks again!

When we stayed at BWV last summer the wait at the IG entrance was minimal. It’s much better there than at the main gate at Epcot. Have a great trip!

 

[BarbieGal457]

I find security to be quick but thorough. A tip I always use that has always served me well (and this works with ticket/entrance lines too), always go to the far left or far right. Most people seem to go right for the middle, or the lanes closest to the bus stop that they happen upon first. Also, apparently more people tend to go to their right (which is also true when shopping in stores, etc). I almost always go to the furthest left lane if any of the entrances or bag check lines seem busy and I get through right away! Also, definitely have all the compartments open before it's your turn, it will speed up the process.

 

[BarbieGal457]

I also have a tendency to get behind that one person who has 439573405 zippers on their bag and doesn't understand they all need to be opened. Makes me wish security lines had categories ranging from "i never ever go through a checkpoint and have no clue what i'm doing" to "i work in a government building everything's unzipped and ready to go, let me in"

This happens to me as well! I understand everything can be hectic and distracting, but the security personnel in front of you announced it 10 times since we've been standing here! Another personal favorite I always get stuck behind is the caravan strollers with 72 bags that the pusher then asks "oh wait, I need to open ALL of them?!" But alas I do not want to digress. OP you will be totally okay!