WDW Security? Effective or for show?

[DawnCt1]

When I refer to "security", I am not referring to the cameras on property, the presence of security guards, etc. I am referring to the security station that all must pass through to have their back packs and fanny pouches checked before entering the park. I tend to avoid these, even leaving my fanny pack behind. I use a surf safe which I carry around my neck with some cash, drivers' license, room key and a credit card. However, a huge amount of people are screened. They are men, women and children wearing shorts, thin tops and all are most cooperative. It would be hard to imagine that any thing of any significance is ever found or confiscated. On the other hand there is another group of people who may or may not pass through but they are wearing flowing robes and are covered, sometimes head to toe. Frankly, some of this clothing could contain a whole other person and go unnoticed. If there is to be an effective screening process, shouldn't they resort to metal detectors and shut down the check stations altogether? It seems that the people that are being checked, statistically speaking are not from the group that has historically waged terrorist attacks. And isn't that what the security personnel is actually searching belonging to avoid. I do expect to be flamed.

 

[Crankyshank]

Honestly? I don't think they are effective at all. They only quickly check backpacks. It would be pretty easy to sneak something in and get it past security
When I was there last year they didn't even more the shopping bag in my backpack to see what was underneath.

 

[missypie]

I think they're efffective in keeping out glass containers, which is probably a more real threat to the guests (probably to the guest carrying the glass bottle) than anything more exotic we could think of.

 

[MidgeD79]

I feel the bag check is just for show. It would be interesting to see if Disney has a list of things that they have confiscated from the bag checks.

 

[skiwee1]

I don't think they are effective at all. I don't think I've ever had all my stuff checked when I go through.

 

[Daxx]

When we were in WDW in July, security removed beer from some guy's back pack. Guy was very surprised. Funny thing is, this is the 2nd time we've seen people trying to smuggle beer into the park!

ETA - Going through bag check, we've had DS's autograph book tucked in the plastic Disney shopping bag in our backpack and they made us open the plastic bag to inspect it.

 

[missypie]

When I visited Universal Hollywood, they were clearly checking for "outside" food. It was a hardship for those who got caught, because there are no lockers before you get into the parks; the folks with food either had to take it all the way back to their cars, or pitch it. (I thought that that would be a good way for bad guys to bring weapons into the park - put a big ol' coke or bag of chips at the top of their back pack, then the guards would be paying so much attention to having them get rid of the food, that they wouldn't check again for the weapon.)

 

[Aidensmom]

Honestly? I don't think they are effective at all. They only quickly check backpacks. It would be pretty easy to sneak something in and get it past security
When I was there last year they didn't even more the shopping bag in my backpack to see what was underneath.

This is the same kind of experience I have always had at WDW, Busch Gardens, and Universal/IOA. Just a quick scan of the items sitting at the top of the bag.

 

[diznygirl]

DH used to work bag check at MK. He has confiscated all sorts of alcoholic beverages - including full-sized bottles of vodka. It all gets dumped.

He has also confiscated knives and guns. Off-duty police officers must check their guns in with Disney - they keep them in a safe until you exit the park.

I agree that not all security guards are checking the way they are supposed to. But DH heard frequently from guests that they felt safer knowing that bags were being checked.

 

[Chicago526]

It's better than nothing!

 

[Crankyshank]

I have to say I definitely don't feel safer with WDW bag checks because the first thing I think of is how easy it would be to smuggle contraband in. All I need to do is put a shopping bag on top of it and if I could think of it, so could a lot of other people.

 

[Lessa of Pern]

Six Flags in New Jersey has metal detectors at the turnstiles. they installed them years ago...before 9/11 I think...to keep weapons out of the park.

I don't know if WDW wants to go down that path.

 

[Towncrier]

They managed to stop my bringing a bag full of dangerous Badge-A-Minit buttons into the parks on at least two occasions.

The purpose of the security checkpoints is to discourage people from attempting to smuggle dangerous items into the parks. The theory is that if you know you are going to be searched (even randomly), that you will leave your dangerous weapons (and contraband food items) in either your automobile or back at your hotel room.

 

[Aidensmom]

you will leave your dangerous weapons (and contraband food items) in either your automobile or back at your hotel room.

Do you think the mousekeepers mind that I leave my shotgun next to the bed?!

 

[Princess Nancy]

Aren't there metal detectors as you enter the park? I am surprised. I thought surely there is. All the local parks have them now!

 

[tekmom]

I don't believe its effective. Last month at WDW we carried a back pack the first day and waited on a bag check line. The next day my husband had bought on of those Safari type, fisherman type, khaki colored vests from AK. Pockets galore. Everyday after that, we crammed everything we owned into just about every pocket, zip and snap in that thing. We could have packed dynamite into it and no one would have noticed. We were told we had no bag and to go through the no bag check line.

 

[Honu]

Aren't there metal detectors as you enter the park? I am surprised. I thought surely there is. All the local parks have them now!

There are not. We have them here locally too. I would be in favor of them at Disney.

The bag check is useless. I usually open just one zipper of my multi compartment fanny pack and they don't even look at that.

This summer we saw a couple get caught who had smuggled a big bottle of JD in their stroller. That was in the park, they got through bag check with it.

 

[Towncrier]

Aren't there metal detectors as you enter the park? I am surprised. I thought surely there is. All the local parks have them now!

I think that Disney was experimenting with metal detectors.

 

[mermaidlady]

We had one security guard check everything and another barely look in the bags. It was a PIA and I didn't feel safer after

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Not very effective, but most likely required by their insurance carrier. Like someone else said, it is better than nothing.