PHOTOS - New bag check areas greatly enhance Magic Kingdom arrival experience

[Next Big Thing]

I keep seeing pictures from Disneyland's security setup. Why do they only keep a few lines open? Open more of them. I can see the complaints about waiting in THAT line but I think they all move very fast at WDW ... some just have an attitude towards security in general and are bothered by it.

Yeah security at DL can take 15-20 mins if you get there at a busy time.

 

[Texas84]

I'm always in the no bag line and the problem I have is the inconsistency. No one knows what to do. By default do we get in line for the metal detector or go around? My experience has been when it's busy bypass it and when it's not busy go through. There is no direction unless they specifically pick you for the detectors. My next trip I'm just going around them.

 

[Obobru]

As the terrorist attack in my city shows security is pointless. A suicide bomber can walk up to the massive amount of people waiting to get through security and detonate or they can edit for the massive rush as everyone leaves and do it. At my local arena the pig did it just before the security checks where he stood and existed for people to exit the arena, if they can do that to kids here then Disney would be a dream target for someone sick in the head.

I wonder if this security show had actually ever stopped anything significant.

 

[Kman101]

I'm always in the no bag line and the problem I have is the inconsistency. No one knows what to do. By default do we get in line for the metal detector or go around? My experience has been when it's busy bypass it and when it's not busy go through. There is no direction unless they specifically pick you for the detectors. My next trip I'm just going around them.

I noticed that Epcot seems to be the only park that makes no bag people go through the scanners. Guests were confused at MK when I was there and were going to go through the scanners and they were told that unless they were picked out to go through it to not go through it. That same rule seems to apply to DHS and AK. But yes, it needs to be consistent.

 

[SorcererMC]

I think it's a mistake to assume that, if you breeze past security, it means that it is lax....most of the general public is not an actual threat. Inconsistency (across the parks or on a daily basis) serves as a deterrent to an attacker's ability to adapt their tactics to any perceived vulnerabilities. To a certain extent, bag checks are perfunctory (aka theatre), but again it serves a deterrent function. While it may seem that security is not effective at a tactical level, keep in mind that it may be serving a larger strategic purpose.

The changes that WDW has implemented appears to be consistent with risk mitigation according to current counterterrorism threat assessments for soft targets, an ongoing process....certainly they work closely with local government and law enforcement, and this set-up probably gives them more flexibility to change security as needed (as the risk at any given moment is small but fluctuates with intel). Regardless, they always have to strike a balance between effective measures and public accessibility/ willingness to comply, and largely without the public being aware of any given specific threat.

 

[Kman101]

They need consistency in how they do it in each park. Guests are clearly confused. That's all people want.

 

[SorcererMC]

They need consistency in how they do it in each park. Guests are clearly confused. That's all people want.

And I'm suggesting that a bit of momentary confusion on the part of the guest is not necessarily a negative and may be intentional. It's possible that it's a tolerable trade-off given the security challenges. Just my opinion.

ETA: To elaborate - security can probably not prevent an attack 100%...but that's the goal. Unpredictable security makes it more difficult for a would-be attacker to be successful in planning an attack. I have no inside knowledge of WDW rationale...just offering one based on my knowledge of counterterrorism. It's also entirely possible that WDW doesn't have their security processes down pat yet.

 

[dmatt87]

I'm all for the bag check areas but please have consistency on the method!

 

[Texas84]

Animal Kingdom had a special Passholder security line. I'm sure the detectors were there but I didn't even see them. Epcot also had a Passholder security line. To be fair I think part of the confusion is they are still working on this. I made several trips this spring and it changed each time.