Question about Backpacks

[WDW1971]

My wife and I are going to WDW this Friday. We want to carry a small backpack to keep our digital camera and extra disks, snackbars and guidebooks. Will we be allowed to do that in the post-September 11th WDW?

 

[Worldphile]

Sure. We bring a backpack into the parks al lthe time. Your backpack will be searched at the entrance to each park, but the thoroughness of the search depends largely on the security guard you get.

We usually rent a locker at each park we visit and dump the backpack there. Then if we need something, we just go get it from the locker.

 

[WDW1971]

Thanks! Will they allow you to bring in snackbars (granola bars, breakfast bars, etc)?

 

[The Mom]

I wouldn't try to bring in one of those rolling coolers, but as long as your snack fits into your backpack, you should be fine.

 

[jhuntingdon]

Funny story!
Me and my sister went to WDW in the summer. We both had small backpacks with pretty much the same things in them. The security gaurd looked in my backpack and told me to empty everything out on to the table. He searched though my stuff, even taking the camera out of its case. Finally, after about 2 minutes of going through my stuff he let me pack it back up and let me through.
Now he tells my sister to open her backpack. He looks inside and without even going through it he lets her through.
As we're heading to the entrance I asked her why he didnt look through her stuff. She opened up her pack and showed me. she had her "femine products" placed on top! We had a good laugh and then had a great day at MK.

And by the way they will have no problem with you bring in granola bars, breakfast bars, etcinto the parks.

Have fun...

 

[CmdrTostada]

Also if you have your bag already opened when you get up there you will get less hassle.

 

[SpongeScott]

And if you have to carry around "ladies unmetionables" for that special time, be careful of a female security guard at MGM. I had the backpack and she made me open up every container in the bag looking for those things. Luckily, we didn't have anything, but she smiled and said she was trying to embarrass me. We had a good laugh, but I'll give the backpack to the Mrs. from now on!

 

[Just A Big Kid]

Actually i was pleased to see how the bag checkpoint don't really slow you down any. Just remember when your waiting to get checked, be curteous and have your backpack off and open so they can check it easily and quickly. I'm sure they appreciate it as well as the people behind you in line.

 

[Maria]

LOL with the "unmentionables"! :lol:

I was chosen for the luggage check once in Miami by a very cute guard while his friends laughed at his obvious flirt (and mine... why not!), but my face went all red when I saw my unmentionables all over the suitcase! He was cool about it and moved on to comment about my passport´s picture! :lol: :animwink:

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Are the back pack searches here to stay or will they be down scaled once the Middle East situation sorts its self out ??
Secondly, if they're searching back packs, do they do body searches ??

 

[CmdrTostada]

They do not do body searches.

 

[WDW1971]

Thank you all!

Thank you everyone for your help! We're looking forward to our trip. I haven't been since before AK opened and my wife hasn't been since sometime in the late '80s...and even then she only went for one day and only to the MK. I can't wait to share some of my favorite things to do at MGM and Epcot.

 

[RandeB]

Searches

Sometimes they will check you bag 'thoroughly' (approx. 15 seconds). Sometimes just a glance or two. As speculated before, hopefully there is some profiling going on.

 

[Holly]

I have a small purse that has about a zillion different compartments, and not once in 5 days was I asked to remove anything or have it looked at more thoroughly. It was jam packed and each time security took about a .01 second look and waved me on.

The airport was a different story though - on the way home my daughter's backpack was targeted after going through x-ray. They took it to a whole 'nother machine and did some stuff to it - though I don't know exactly what they did. Each of my daughter's has almost EXACTLY the same thing's in them (you can't buy one thing for one without getting a duplicate for the other) and only one of them was targeted.

I didn't mind though - anything they want to do to make airports more secure is fine by me.

 

[SnowWhite5669]

I always take one backpack (small) for my husband and myself and I let him just walk through the line for everyone without bags, it goes faster than waiting for the other person while they go through another backpack. Usually by the third or fourth day we leave everything in the room and go light. Makes for a faster entrance!! Have fun!!!

 

[CoraJack]

I say (due to the searches) that if you can go without a backpack or ANY sort of a pack to do so. I had one lady who was such a jerk to me I was in tears. I was going to go complain on her but I didn't want to ruin everyone else's time by bringing up something negative or waste any more time due to this guard. It was our last day (been there 6 days) and this lady made me take out everything and open up everything in my backpack and pack. I had to open all my ziplock bags (that had meds in them and wipes, etc.) I had to open and shake out all of the raingear I was carrying. My stuff was filling up the whole table. I was carrying stuff for 4 people. I asked her if she wanted to do a strip search and she said, "We didn't make the world we live in, but we have to control it." And I said then how the hell come was everyone else just getting a glance and waved through? And how come for 6 days no one EVER asked me to remove anything from the bags except for her? Sure I had to shuffle around the rain gear so they could see the bottom of the bag but that was no big deal. It took us 10 minutes to get everything back together again after she tore me apart.

I think that the searching is only for show. I also said to her that it's useless because if you were a terrorist and you knew that your bags would be searched but not your body (and there are no metal detectors) then where would you put your bomb or gun???? Duh!!!! I think they are smarter than that! You'd tape the bomb to your body and put the gun in your pocket. If you are not carrying anything then you don't have to go through any search at ALL.

I liked seeing Six Flags having a metal dectector, at least then I didn't have to show everything to the guards at the entrance. I walked through the dectector and that was it.

But then again, that woman guard could have just been doing that on purpose. It could be the only place that she has any control or authority and she was going to play it for what it was worth. Sorry to say, but it's true. Maybe she didn't like the way I looked or something. She could have something against tall, blonde, thin women because she was a hag.

Sorry to go on and on......

Christina

 

[WDW1971]

Originally posted by CoraJack
She could have something against tall, blonde, thin women because she was a hag.

Oh NO!!! My wife's a tall, thin blonde!!!!!! And she's a knockout!!!

 

[CoraJack]

LOL...unless you are kidding then I'd tell her to stay away from the women guards searching bags. Either that or don't take a bag at all. Come to think of it all the guards EXCEPT for this witch who made me completely disassemble everything I owned--was a man. Hmmmmmm......perhaps some jealousy going on at WDW?

Male guards=take it easy on the good looking women
Female guards=tear the good looking ones apart
???????????????????????????

Christina

 

[animegirllover]

LOL. I just have to bring a backpack.

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by CoraJack
Male guards=take it easy on the good looking women
Female guards=tear the good looking ones apart

Aaahh that´s very true in every way! :lol: