You've been randomly selected...

[pens4821]

After thinking more about our random selections I think most the times it was cargo shorts. My mom didn't have them on, but the three other times my dad and I had cargo shorts. I didn't have anything in the pockets, left my wallet in, and didn't take my belt off. I took out my phone and money in a money clip. The lady said to take the money, but leave the clip to walk through. One day my dads shorts had ponchos in them and he didn't take them out, and don't think he was asked to. He also didn't take off his belt either time and the detector never went off for either of us.

 

[maccagerl]

Has anyone actually set the metal detectors off?
I was flagged twice in 7 days, both at MK.
I was wearing the Birthday Button and they told me to take it off so it wouldn't set off the alarm.
I told them I had bilateral knee replacements and they said to go through anyway.
I went through and nothing was set off- now when I go through the airport detectors my knees always trigger the alarm, so I'm wondering if the metal detectors are even turned on!!

 

[UncleMike101]

The experience relayed by Robo in which he was able to turn down being screened with no consequences demonstrates that this process is limited in stopping bad guys (not that Robo is a bad guy). I've been through random screening areas getting onto airport ramps where I'm sure I would have been in trouble if I had turned down the screening when selected; I doubt I even had an option at that point. At WDW, a bad guy could try bringing in a weapon and if selected, just turn around and leave and try again another time.

Is there a "point of no return" at WDW where a person must give in to a search or screening with no option to retreat?

I don't believe there's a FL State law, or Federal Statute, that requires someone to submit to a search of any kind on private property.
And WDW is private property.
Submitting to a search can be a condition of being allowed to enter/stay on the private property but it is not required by Law.
Refusal to submit to a "touchless" search could be grounds to get ejected from the Park and refusing to leave when told to do so could constitute trespassing.
I'd say the best bet is to not carry forbidden objects, submit to the perfunctory search, and then enjoy the Park.

 

[ClareVoince]

Oh my gosh, we went in Feb. of this year and my mom was selected nearly every single time she walked into a park. It got to the point where in the last day or so of our trip, we just expected it to happen. We're still trying to figure out what it was. It wasn't bothersome though, nothing like the airport.

 

[UncleMike101]

Oh my gosh, we went in Feb. of this year and my mom was selected nearly every single time she walked into a park. It got to the point where in the last day or so of our trip, we just expected it to happen. We're still trying to figure out what it was. It wasn't bothersome though, nothing like the airport.

Probably because she looked harmless and would be an easy scan.
The idea of "random" is alien to Security people.
Profiling is a two way street and choosing harmless looking people makes the distasteful job of manning the scan points easier.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

We had 7-9 people on our 9 day trip and my mom got picked once and me twice, almost 3 times. All times through the no bag lines. Almost a third, because after the first two, I realized that it seemed like they were sending a guest through and then after they finished with that guest they would walk over and take the next guest through. I think it was EPCOT where as I was walking up I could see that the next guest through was likely to be selected so I hung back long enough to let someone go in front of me and sure enough they were selected, and I went on my merry way. Both times I had nothing in my pockets, so it was fast. With the no bag line if you go through right after they select someone, you are not likely to be selected. If it's not busy and no one is being screened, you are almost assured of being selected.

 

[DJinPA]

I was randomly selected 3 out of 4 days to go through the detector. My kids thought it was funny because I also get the random tsa pre check going through the the airport and end up caring everyone's laptops and iPads for that reason. All I had to do was go through a metal detector. No biggie.

 

[mkla2015]

Glad I'm not the only one... 10 park days and I was chosen "randomly" on 5 occasions. My husband who had a backpack and cargo pants never got selected... Guess I look suspicious...

 

[Wood Nymph]

We stayed at the Beach Club in February and went through the international Gateway quite a few times. The first time we approached the gateway I made the mistake of making eye contact with one of them and the next thing you know, they asked me to go through the scanner. From then on I tried not to make eye contact with any of them, but I was still randomly selected at least one other time at the International gateway and once at MK. I am a harmless looking grandma and not very dangerous at all. I wish they would leave the grandmas alone.

My husband had to go through the scanner a couple times too. And one time the security person followed him all the way to the entrance touch posts at MK to ask him if he had a knife in his pocket.

 

[metzgardesign]

I have a feeling that my DH will be "randomly" selected for the extra checks multiple times on our trip next week. He will not be feeling the disney magic

He might....

 

[TJA]

This has become quite a joke in our family. We are here now and I've been picked so many times that I finally asked them what their criteria is, and he insisted its just random. I'm a 5 foot tall female, blonde hair, fair skin, carrying a tiny bag and with 2 children! Seems like they could utilize their resources better by choosing people that fit a suspicious profile. Though now I'm wondering if I actually do fit a suspicious profile!

 

[metzgardesign]

This has become quite a joke in our family. We are here now and I've been picked so many times that I finally asked them what their criteria is, and he insisted its just random. I'm a 5 foot tall female, blonde hair, fair skin, carrying a tiny bag and with 2 children! Seems like they could utilize their resources better by choosing people that fit a suspicious profile. Though now I'm wondering if I actually do fit a suspicious profile!

No.....to pick people based on a suspicious profile would be politically incorrect profiling. You are chosen because you don't fit a particular suspicion, and are therefore, ideal to choose. That way, impartiality can be claimed.

 

[knewton64]

There's been a recall on snickers.

I definitely wasn't randomly selected. I had a poofy Flyer's winter coat on and looked like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. It just took a few seconds.

My husband wasn't randomly selected either. His cargo pants pockets were bursting with stuff. It took him FOREVER to empty his pockets. I didn't know he could carry so much stuff in his pockets! It took him a good 5 minutes or more to get through. And I was laughing so hard every time he brought more stuff out of his pockets. I don't need to carry a backpack or purse, his pockets had enough room for everything.

OMG!! TOOOO FUNNY!!

YES - I am actually munchin on a snickers bar while reading thru DISboards -


Hmmmmmm.....wonder how many times I will be told, "Sir, You've been randomly selected....."



** T-MINUS 360 HOURS AND MY DISNEY ADVENTURE BEGINS**





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[DisneyOma]

I did (sorta.)

I had been "randomly selected" about 4 times (different parks/same parks) in 5 days.
It was a COLD WINDY night with showers in the area, and we were hopping into MK, we were tired.
I had just unzipped our large backpack (7 zippers… Seven) and the security guard checked every (very full) cavity thoroughly.
I had then just RE-ZIPPED all 7 zippers (hard to do without a place to sit the bag down.)
My wife had just had HER bag searched and was re-zipping it (just 3 zippers.)

I had my (partly-metal) cell phone security case threaded onto my belt
and various other chotchkies (3" pocket knife, comb, pocket change, etc) tucked into various pockets.
We had on LAYERS of clothes (shirt, cloth sweatshirt jacket, nylon windbreaker) and

A 20-something gal in a "Security" jacket came bounding over and said, "Sir, you have been randomly selected to…"
I said, "NO!"

I was too tired to "empty your pockets and put everything in this box."
(Which would have required me to take off my belt and unthread the phone case.
Which would have required me to unzip jackets and reconfigure about everything I had on.)

Security gal restated, "But sir all we want to do is…
I said, "This has happened to me FAR too many times to be "random" and I'm too tired to go through this
again tonight."
She reiterated, but sir…
I said, "No! I'm just going to LEAVE and forget the whole thing!"
(My wife was shadowing this whole thing.)

We turned right, and walked quickly and directly to the MK "no bags" entrance/exit (security guards there, too, of course,)
and we just disappeared into the crowd.

About a minute later, we both entered the bag-check queues again, had the bags checked (10 zippers, total) and walked,
unmolested, through the MK tap-styles.

I don't understand - you went through bag check security, got asked to go through the metal detector, then walked where? You went back through the bag check the opposite way, stood around and then went through bag check again?

 

[Robo]

I don't understand -
1. you went through bag check security,
2. got asked to go through the metal detector,
3. then walked where? You went back through the bag check the opposite way,
4. stood around
5. and then went through bag check again?

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Back outside the bag-check area. Into the "before bag-check" area.
To get there, you go the opposite way ("out") the "No bags" entrance.
4. Yes. Not long.
5. Yes.

 

[knewton64]

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Back outside the bag-check area. Into the "before bag-check" area.
To get there, you go the opposite way ("out") the "No bags" entrance.
4. Yes. Not long.
5. Yes.

Thank you for the FYI / TIP should I 'get selected'




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[Robo]

Thank you for the FYI / TIP should I 'get selected'

In most cases, it would be much easier to just go through the metal detector.

But, that night... it was just too cold, I was too tired, too loaded with small metal objects, and too "layered."

 

[disfanforlife]

In January we were there for 6 days with 7 people. I was the only one randomly selected 4 times! We all laughed about it and decided it was my Disney headbands - that I wear a different one every day.

 

[lovethattink]

I was randomly selected at Epcot. This time I wasn't dressed as the Stay Puff Marshmallow man.

I told them I'm good at getting randomly selected.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I was randomly selected at Epcot. This time I wasn't dressed as the Stay Puff Marshmallow man.

I told them I'm good at getting randomly selected.

I need to remember that one....