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

[BernardandBianca]

As you leave Epcot (from the right side exit as you face the exit) the ramp to the monorail will be right in front of you. To your left will be tram loading / ticketing, to your right will be a Joffrey's shop and the exit to the parking lot. On that side there is also an alternate bag check spot. You're still within the bounds of security until you pass the bag checks and exit to the parking lot.

Having just done this yesterday, I can confirm that what you described is correct - the ramp up to the monorail is still within the security perimeter even though you don't think much about it because the space is so wide open.

 

[RustySpork]

Having just done this yesterday, I can confirm that what you described is correct - the ramp up to the monorail is still within the security perimeter even though you don't think much about it because the space is so wide open.

I spend significantly more time in the parks than I care to admit.

 

[Ransom]

I hope the day will come when the bag check stations will be removed from in front of MK. Restore the view!

 

[MichWolv]

Allow me to attempt to clarify the Epcot front gate question. Can I enter at International Gateway, and monorail to MK without going through security again? Likewise could I board at Poly and monorail to Epcot without going through security again? Basically is there a secure connection between the Epcot front turnstiles and the monorail station.

At Epcot, the monorail entrance is inside the secured area, but the monorail exit (until they fix it) is outside the secured area. So, to answer your questions...

1. If you enter at International Gateway, you go through security there. You can then monorail to MK without going through security again.
2. If you board at Poly, you go through security there. When you exit the monorail at Epcot, however, you will be outside the secured zone, and will need to be checked again. This is something that should be fixed at some point by a reconfiguration of the exit ramp or the security area at Epcot, but for now, is an unnecessary inconvenience.

 

[21stamps]

Sorry if this has been asked, but if you are coming from a monorail resort to the TTC,

When you switch to the Epcot line, do you go through security again before boarding?

 

[MichWolv]

Sorry if this has been asked, but if you are coming from a monorail resort to the TTC,

When you switch to the Epcot line, do you go through security again before boarding?

Apology accepted. No, you don't go through again before boarding the Epcot monorail. However, you do go through again at Epcot, until they reconfigure things, because the monorail exit at Epcot takes you outside the secured zone.

 

[Kman101]

Plenty of other threads on which to debate the merits of security. This thread is supposed to be about the new location experience and execution.

If it were a problem it will be taken care of

 

[Gabe1]

Right now as you exit the monorail at Epcot you then go through security. To board the monorail at Epcot you're already inside the "secure" area.

Somewhere buried in all these pages possibly answered....

What happens with your bag, purse etc when you are walking through the metal detector...how are you reunited with your belongings? Especially in a few of these areas if you set off the metal detector.

 

[trampdog]

!!!!!????!!!!!!

Now I can't CCW from resort to resort unless I drive or walk. I can't even carry an EDC blade anymore. This is stupid and very nanny-state like.

 

[No Name]

Wow!!! How did I not know this was to happen? I've been, perhaps annoyingly, calling for this for the longest time. This is an excellent change, as it frees up space and no longer creates a "danger zone" in front of the park.

I hope it works well.

My only real qualm is, with the freed up space, the old Welcome Show could've stayed! Can they please bring it back? I think it has an unrivaled effect on people's day and makes a great first impression, so from both a business perspective and fan perspective I think it makes sense to resurrect. If not sooner, that would be a wonderful idea for one of the 50th's 50 enhancements.

Placement at the contemporary seems intrusive and problematic. How do guests access that restroom now?

It all looks very sloppy and thrown together. I seriously hope it will become more well integrated and presentable

This whole big change had to be implemented pretty much all at once, so I'm sure their first concern was getting the new layout/system up and running, and working efficiently.

Also, it would be a bit of a waste to make everything more integrated and presentable now, only to find out over the next few days that station X doesn't work here and needs to be moved or reoriented, etc. For example, maybe that contemporary station is problematic. Better they find out now before making it more permanent. With a big change like this, I'd be shocked if they didn't encounter any issues.

I don't mean to defend sloppiness, I just think they have valid reason for it to look temporary now.

But yes, after all is settled and they've worked out the kinks, I too seriously hope they make it all look more integrated and presentable.

 

[MikeyK72]

Like others have mentioned, my only concern is the impact on resort to resort travel using the monorail line. I'm thinking that for the resort line only, it would make more sense to bag check at the monorail station instead of at each resort. I'm sure folks here that are way more familiar with the layout of the MK monorail station will point out reasons why that would be challenging or impossible but from a logical point of view I think it makes more sense to check immediately at drop off. Then, only folks intending to go to MK would be checked while others are free to travel resort to resort as usual.

 

[21stamps]

I read someone on here say that they use Poly's monorail and launch while staying at Shades of Green. I wonder how many people actually do that, and if more may start because they want shorter security lines.
This could definitely create a problem at the resorts.

If it isn't abused, then this way should be ok, even if a little annoying for resort to resort travel.

ETA- meant to quote @MikeyK72

 

[rogerrabbitfan9]

I read someone on here say that they use Poly's monorail and launch while staying at Shades of Green. I wonder how many people actually do that, and if more may start because they want shorter security lines.
This could definitely create a problem at the resorts.

If it isn't abused, then this way should be ok, even if a little annoying for resort to resort travel.

ETA- meant to quote @MikeyK72

I don't think the abuse is going to be a problem in practice. Because people's arrival to the platform is staggered, I don't think there will ever be that big a back up at the resorts. I think a bigger issue will be how the security handles events like the end of the Luau at the Poly, where a lot of people show up at once.

The Contemporary's set up looks sort of odd right now. My guess is that it will be adjusted as Disney goes through the test and adjust phase of this project.

 

[_ZJ]

If anything, this means there's little incentive to "get people through" quickly since there's no bottleneck/trafficjam at the entry anymore, which means that they can just let the lines get a bit longer without that problem presenting itself anymore. I hope I'm wrong though.

People can't spend money in a security queue. That seems like incentive to me.

 

[ford91exploder]

***!!!!!????!!!!!!

Now I can't CCW from resort to resort unless I drive or walk. I can't even carry an EDC blade anymore. This is stupid and very nanny-state like.

It's called a kubotan and a mini-maglite is quite an acceptable substitute and once you understand the kubotan system and the pressure points it's a really good way to disarm a gun or knife wielder if you are in the unfortunate circumstance of being up close and personal without the risk a compact edged weapon presents to the user (no hilt).

Plus the mini maglite is useful for finding your way out of the park, amusing small children and pets and looking for your keys in addition to being a useful self defense weapon.

 

[Disney2017]

Does anyone know if the security fort thingy will be destroyed at mk and if they will put new bricks or concreate where the unloading for the tram is? Because that looks a bit ugly for disney.

 

[disney4life2008]

But it would make a better location for screening instead of crowding the already crowded area that it is in now. Im sure it wouldn't take much to reconfigure the chains between the light post to adjust for different crowd levels.

Welcome back to mco lol

 

[wdwmagic]

Sorry if this has been asked, but if you are coming from a monorail resort to the TTC,

When you switch to the Epcot line, do you go through security again before boarding?

No

 

[EOD K9]

It's called a kubotan and a mini-maglite is quite an acceptable substitute and once you understand the kubotan system and the pressure points it's a really good way to disarm a gun or knife wielder if you are in the unfortunate circumstance of being up close and personal without the risk a compact edged weapon presents to the user (no hilt).

Plus the mini maglite is useful for finding your way out of the park, amusing small children and pets and looking for your keys in addition to being a useful self defense weapon.

I keep one in my cruiser

 

[EOD K9]

And to sum up, the monorails and the guests are considered secure packages....yes?