Security at the Entrance

[joe80x86]

The fact that they search every bag makes me feel a lot safer :shrug:

Search every bag? Have you ever actually gone through the bag search? My experiance is they either skip half the pockets on my bags or even if the person does "look" in each pocket they never get half way through the stuff in the pocket. Plus there is the fact that plenty of stuff could be held on a persons body especially in a cold day.

Look the bag check is a joke. Of course there is really nothing any of the parks can do that would really insure security. Heck even the TSA can't manage it. Unless of course you want a strip/cavity search at the gate, and even then.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

Was this meant to be funny? Cuz it kinda is. :lol:

What, other than weapons, is NOT allowed to be carried in at the parks?

Yes I am making fun of the security checks at the same time talking safety LOL :wave:.

 

[CP_alum08]

WDW has way more security than must guests see. but its all kept 'invisible' to keep the magic. If there were cops walking down main street and (visible) cameras everywhere how much safer would you feel? Disney doesn't want you to feel like you're being watched. They want you to come and enjoy yourself and leave everything else behind. They want you to know you are safe, not hope.

And the front gate guards are more of a deterrent than anything else. They are like the security tags on most items...they dont do anything, but it might prevent someone from taking that initial step.

 

[the-reason14]

Overall, its a good thing. The only negative I see is waiting in an extra line to get in a park. The only problem is like someone else mentioned, them not having checks at the TTC. Its an open and unsecured area. But overall, the security is a good thing, and I think its there just to put people's mind at ease.

 

[muse1983]

Disney DOES have undercover security placed throughout the park. This has been confirmed in several places and I have a friend who personally saw an undercover Disney security guard apprehend a guy for stealing a t-shirt.

 

[luckyeye13]

Overall, its a good thing. The only negative I see is waiting in an extra line to get in a park. The only problem is like someone else mentioned, them not having checks at the TTC. Its an open and unsecured area. But overall, the security is a good thing, and I think its there just to put people's mind at ease.

Honestly, I know of only one transit system in the entire world, the Delhi Metro, that checks every single passenger as they enter the system by frisking them and going through their bags. Of course, you have to remember that the Metro is the gleaming (and, especially considering that it is India, extremely clean) pride and joy of the capital of the country with the second highest number of terrorist attacks in the world. (Back when I lived there for a study-abroad program, it was actually number one, but it has swapped spots with Iraq within the last two years or so.) Naturally, and especially at peak times, it took the rapid completely out of rapid transit and it is not unheard of for extremely long queues to build up at the checkpoints. It doesn't help, either, that you get checked again when changing lines. The effect on quick movement and the impracticality of completely securing a transit system is why no other city even makes the attempt. Even in Kolkata, the other Indian city with a metro, there is no such setup when entering the system. (As an aside, Delhi even has uniformed police and military personnel armed with machine guns and undercover security in the trains and stations!)

 

[WDW1974]

It's PR security to make ignorant folks feel safer. It also likely would have some legal ramification if some wacko did something horrific.

Yes, it has stopped some fools from bringing items into parks. But they weren't intent on doing harm and they weren't exactly trying to hide them.

I remember when a CM pulled a femine hygiene product out of a friend's pack and was asking all sorts of questions because he was clueless.

That's pretty much what I expect out of security at bag checks.

Sadly, if someone wants to do something crazy at WDW or anywhere, they can.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

And the front gate guards are more of a deterrent than anything else. They are like the security tags on most items...they dont do anything, but it might prevent someone from taking that initial step.

That's probably the best rationale for them anyone's going to come up with. Based on the lackadaisical searches I've experienced firsthand, I don't regard them as a serious line of defense through their actual methods. But maybe their presence alone does help.

 

[MAGICFLOP]

Get you oversized backpack, load with C4 til it hurts your back.

Park at MK and take the Mono to EPCOT. Thank the gate entry man for helping you thru the gate with your heavey pack and it's time for soaring....... :drevil:

 

[RAXIP]

Get you oversized backpack, load with C4 til it hurts your back.

Park at MK and take the Mono to EPCOT. Thank the gate entry man for helping you thru the gate with your heavey pack and it's time for soaring....... :drevil:

You forgot about the bag check after getting off the monorail. Sorry, no security loophole here.

 

[BigB911]

Being drunk is not a crime.
Being obnoxious is also not a crime. (as much as i'd love it to be!)

Being drunk isn't a crime, but being drunk in public is. It's called Public Intoxication. Being obnoxious can also be a crime...it's called Disorderly Conduct.

 

[AEfx]

That's probably the best rationale for them anyone's going to come up with. Based on the lackadaisical searches I've experienced firsthand, I don't regard them as a serious line of defense through their actual methods. But maybe their presence alone does help.

Yeah, that's why the "bag check" feels so cheesy. They only check the bags, when anyone with at least a second grade education would know enough to stash anything they didn't want confiscated on their person, which is not searched.

I think the reason some people think they are silly is simply because they don't go far enough to really help safety; as others have pointed out it's more of a show than anything else.

 

[StevieF8]

Seem's most people here consider the security checks as 'more show than punch'

Anything can be carried in to the parks in your pockets - knives, gun's and so on,
Disney musy know this, so what are they looking for in the bags????

Should a major terrorist attack occur in Disney the security check will come in for such a hard time over the poor checks, it would be better not to have checks at all

Some people have said they don't want to take away from the magic inside the park - so why do it outside the park?
Unless they are on a job creation exercise, they should do away with the security checks at the gate!

 

[Wilt Dasney]

For me, the assumption that it's all for show isn't even because they only search bags and pass on patdowns, cavity searches and the like — it's that they barely even make an effort with the bag searches they are doing.

Based on my experience with the bag checks, people who have been caught with weapons must have made the fatal mistake of not draping a T-shirt or a pile of chocolate bars over their guns.

 

[Monty]

For me, the assumption that it's all for show isn't even because they only search bags and pass on patdowns, cavity searches and the like — it's that they barely even make an effort with the bag searches they are doing.

Based on my experience with the bag checks, people who have been caught with weapons must have made the fatal mistake of not draping a T-shirt or a pile of chocolate bars over their guns.

Or they were just so dang proud to be a-packin'

 

[Philo]

My general feeling is that the guards are there as a deterrent more than anything. I don't think they have ever, properly searched my bag but then again, they have had no hint that there might be something suspicious.

I suppose part of it is also controlling access to the part - if someone is clearly drunk / on drugs then they can stop them gaining entry and causing more problems.

It doesn't bother me that my bag is searched - They are doing it for a good reason and as some of the posts here show, they do catch some problems.

 

[Philo]

Whilst I think about it - we went to Magic Mountain last year whilst visiting LA. As usual we got the bag search but they refused to let my brother in law take a bag of crisps (or chips as you guys know them) into the park.

He asked why but they wouldn't give him an answer. They just threw the (unopened) bag away. The only explanation I can see for this is that they want to make more money from in-park purchases.

I'm not the biggest fan of six flags anyway but things like this are just immoral and greedy.

 

[Bigart]

The bag check/security line at the entrance is not only for guest safety, but also for Disney's safety. The last thing they want is bad press or an incident. Knives, guns, bomb materials etc are what they are looking for obviously. Yes I agree the bag checks are a 50/50 shot..they look in bags only partially and do not do a body frisk, but they are trained what to look for. And anyone who thinks there are not security people dressed as tourists mulling around are insane, because there are lots of them and I know one personally. (look for ear pieces)

Everyone knows the increased security was enacted after 9/11, and it has proven to be effective. Many people have had things removed from their bags. Is it 100% effective? of course not, but it helps tremendously.
I doubt highly anyone goes to the park to intentionally hurt someone, but you never know these days. There are too many disturbed people out there. Just be assured that Disney is doing everything they can for guest saftey, so people will feel comfortable and more likely to come again...and again...and again.

 

[fosse76]

Would never happen again there have been multiple incidents on planes since 911 and the person in question was taken down within seconds.

Exactly, and it had nothing to do with security measures. People are now a little more aware and ready to respond. But the security measures obviously did nothing to prevent the attempts.

 

[fosse76]

Whilst I think about it - we went to Magic Mountain last year whilst visiting LA. As usual we got the bag search but they refused to let my brother in law take a bag of crisps (or chips as you guys know them) into the park.

He asked why but they wouldn't give him an answer. They just threw the (unopened) bag away. The only explanation I can see for this is that they want to make more money from in-park purchases.

I'm not the biggest fan of six flags anyway but things like this are just immoral and greedy.

Six Flags has NEVER allowed outside food and beverage inside the parks (they generally make exceptions with bottled water and juice boxes). If Disney weren't geared towards small children, I assure you Disney would have this same policy. Movie theaters also don't allow outside food and beverages.