Security splitting up families / groups at entrances

[Jon81uk]

Funny.. I bet if you asked most people the reason for no-bag lines would be "to reduce waits for people by allowing them to bypass unnecessary checks" -- not to speed up the line for people with bags.

There already was a perfect post on this where someone explained why what should have been a quick bag check in the mid-afternoon took longer than it should due to large groups all going through the bag line.
One person waiting with the bag and the other members of the group waiting the other side will speed it up as the next person can get to the table and get the bag ready before the person in front is finished being checked.

Bag lines are the death of me. My wife and I carry one backpack usually, and legitimately do 'rock paper scissors' to see who has to go through the bag line. lol I can definitely see your side. However, this question does remind me of one specific instance I encountered this past September.

I had unfortunately drew the short straw and had to go through the bag line. We were at Studios. My wife was going to go on in and use the restroom and then I was going to meet her at Mickey's of Hollywood where we were going to buy a tshirt for a gift, grab her a pretzel, and head over to Tower for our fastpass. It was relatively busy, but not crazy crowded that. At this time, they didn't have anyone directing people to the no bag line. I went to the shortest bag line they had open (it was around 2:30pm, so they just had a select few)....there were probably about 20-25ish people in line in front of me. Out of those 20-25 people, there were 5 bags. No strollers. Just 5 bags. Due to each group having several people, the next bag couldn't be placed on the table and ready to go because they couldn't get to the table. So a bag would get inspected, then the person would be trying to zip everything up and corral all their group and get going to the detectors, then the next person was able to place their bag up on the table and get it unzipped. Rinse, repeat.
Swear to everything, by the time I got through that line, my wife had used the restroom, bought the tshirt (and something else for herself), got a pretzel, ate said pretzel, and was sitting outside of Terror waiting for me.
The bag inspections themselves didn't take long, it was honestly just the whole ordeal of getting to the next person with a bag that was taking so long. The no bag line never really crossed my mind that day, but reading this post, I can't help but think of how much better of an experience that would've been if only one adult kept the bag and the rest of the group were directed to go through the no bag line. That was legitimately the longest line I waited in that day.

 

[Andrew Appleby]

This is the exact same at quick service places. Would the whole family stand in line to order? Now you're not required to but most people send people to get a table whilst 1 waits to order. If everyone orders then the queue is huge when in reality it doesn't need to be.

Bag check lines are to check bags and the person with a bag. That takes longer than just checking a person but if one a bag check line there are 4 people and 1 with a bag then security has to check the bag and 4 people which doubles the time taken (if not more) meaning bag check lines move very slowly. By splitting up it means both bag check and no bag lines move at a good speed.

Now if you're in a 2 with a minor than there is no way that Disney would force you to separate, same if someone has anxiety or similar.

People are quick to moan when things take too long but when they put in practices to speed things up they get accused of being 'bad at customer service'. Can't have it all ways.

 

[Andrew Appleby]

That argument is another discussion and I'm sure would illicit a thread just as ling however the point still stands about the queuing.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

People are quick to moan when things take too long but when they put in practices to speed things up they get accused of being 'bad at customer service'. Can't have it all ways.

It does speed things up, I will agree with that. I feel like it’s putting efficiency over courtesy so yes in the end I feel like it’s bad customer service.

I did mention that I much prefer Disneyland’s security and entrance procedures better, I think they are both more customer friendly but I also think they are less effecient.

 

[jaklgreen]

Absolutely nothing wrong with you choosing that option. If a family wants to split up that works fine. For me and my senior mother, it’s much easier for us to stay together. Which we’ve been able to do at Disney parks on both coasts since security screening began.

It may not inconvenience you, but it’s a very guest unfriendly procedure. It’s really not a huge deal to me personally, it’s more about the principal. I should be able to stay with my mother at the entrance. I can’t think of any other situation where a family can’t remain in line together. TSA even allows family members without pre-check to go in the pre-check line with family members.

I have been through Epcot security more times then I can count. They are not that far away from each other that it would cause any kind of an issue with "not being able to find the other". I sent my 2 teenage daughters through the no bag check and went through with a bag. We were immediately reconnected by the metal detectors. If adults are mentally capable, then I don't see any issue with this other then being dramatic. If someone has a medical need to stay together, they will not force you apart.

 

[annabanana]

And they used to be able to smoke in them also .

Last time I was at DW in 2015, you could go to a smoking area!

 

[jaklgreen]

Sorry but I am not one of those "free range" parents, I lived right down the street from Amber Hagerman (the girl Amber alerts are named arter) when she was abducted and murdered, it happened in a nice quite neighborhood, and I made a promise to myself right then and there when I had kids I would not take my eyes off of them, my child is not going to be the next one killed.

OK, I am very safety conscious, probably more so then most people. But I have no issue with my daughters roaming around WDW on their own. My oldest went to the parks on her own while my youngest and I went to DS. She just took the bus back to the hotel. Nothing is going to happen to your child going through Disney security.

 

[correcaminos]

Bag lines used to be such a breeze. Security just glancing to make sure you didn't have like sticks of dynamite or an AK-47 but now many of them think they're cops. My friend literally had his retainer case opened and his retainer fondled. What is the point of that? These aren't cops who should be searching for drugs. It's there for security theater.

I once had one of them go through my credit cards and license card holder. My bag was tiny too - think slightly larger than a case for glasses - and they spent way too long on it. Once they started going through my cards I was shocked. I even stated those were my cards and ID. Guy was an... well you get it. Next time we put my bag in my husband's pocket and I found something else for my cell phone.

Sorry but I am not one of those "free range" parents, I lived right down the street from Amber Hagerman (the girl Amber alerts are named arter) when she was abducted and murdered, it happened in a nice quite neighborhood, and I made a promise to myself right then and there when I had kids I would not take my eyes off of them, my child is not going to be the next one killed.

Some day they will be out of your sight.

What? That says exactly what I said - you can't go through PreCheck without having PreCheck. We're talking about adults - his 'elderly mom'. Kids can't get PreCheck (because they don't have valid ID and they don't have enough of a background to actually check), thats why they can go through without it.

You absolutely can get pre check for kids. My 12 yo will get it later this year. We'll use their passport as ID. For now my kid goes through with me.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

If adults are mentally capable, then I don't see any issue with this other then being dramatic.

It’s putting efficiency over courtesy. Which Disney does a lot of these days, partially because of the increase of crowds. But that’s the issue.

As a regular, I can see the flip side of saying “well it makes the lines move faster so I’m happy” - for me and my mom it’s not any issue. It just seems like a very unfriendly policy to me to not let guests wait with their whole party.

 

[annabanana]

I once had one of them go through my credit cards and license card holder. My bag was tiny too - think slightly larger than a case for glasses - and they spent way too long on it. Once they started going through my cards I was shocked. I even stated those were my cards and ID. Guy was an... well you get it. Next time we put my bag in my husband's pocket and I found something else for my cell phone.


Some day they will be out of your sight.


You absolutely can get pre check for kids. My 12 yo will get it later this year. We'll use their passport as ID. For now my kid goes through with me.

Going through your credit cards! I've never had that happen. They barely look in my bags.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

my point is don't force people to split that are not comfortable doing so.

And you've been told multiple times they are not going to force you to split up if you don't feel comfortable....
Again you made a mountain out of it.

 

[jaklgreen]

It’s putting efficiency over courtesy. Which Disney does a lot of these days, partially because of the increase of crowds. But that’s the issue.

As a regular, I can see the flip side of saying “well it makes the lines move faster so I’m happy” - for me and my mom it’s not any issue. It just seems like a very unfriendly policy to me to not let guests wait with their whole party.

You are only a few feet away from each other. What are you accomplishing by staying together for those few minutes. Ask yourself, "why is this so important?" Do you think that your mom is incapable of being on her own? What is the underlining issue that makes this a big deal for you? Are you never separated from your mom? Do you follow her into the bathroom? I guess I just don't see why this is such a big deal for you.

 

[draybook]

Some of y'all on here giving this poster a hard time about keeping a close eye on his/her kids. I do the same thing. Heck, our oldest two are 19 and 18 and I still keep an eye on them. You know how many kids are swiped in clear view in public spaces? You should feel bad about mocking this poster's dedication to their kid's safety. I'll keep an eye on my "kids" until well after I'm a grandfather and I don't care who likes it.

And yeah, the security can be a joke sometimes, especially at the TTC. I've explained to them numerous times how easy it would be for someone to walk up and take one of our strollers with our little ones in it and they wouldn't know the difference. One step would be to upgrade their prehistoric method of bag check.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

And again they did, don't say that are not going to they did.

They did not force you. This only became an issue for you because there is one account of a 33 year old that claims he/she was FORCED but even then it wasnt the case they were asked and gave no reason to stay with their mom and agreed to leave her.
If you do not want to do it then do not do it...
If this was truly some new policy that they can force you to split up you would be seeing more threads and potential uproar.

 

[jaklgreen]

Some of y'all on here giving this poster a hard time about keeping a close eye on his/her kids. I do the same thing. Heck, our oldest two are 19 and 18 and I still keep an eye on them. You know how many kids are swiped in clear view in public spaces? You should feel bad about mocking this poster's dedication to their kid's safety. I'll keep an eye on my "kids" until well after I'm a grandfather and I don't care who likes it.

And yeah, the security can be a joke sometimes, especially at the TTC. I've explained to them numerous times how easy it would be for someone to walk up and take one of our strollers with our little ones in it and they wouldn't know the difference. One step would be to upgrade their prehistoric method of bag check.

I keep an eye on my kids and lean more toward the "paranoid" side of it. To the point that my husband's family thinks that we are too paranoid, so I get it. Plus, if you read other posts, I just posted that I won't even have a pizza delivery person come to my hotel room for safety reasons. So I am on the more safety the better side of things. But there is a difference between keeping an eye on them and not letting them leave your side for a few minutes, at WDW. They have to be out of your sight at some point in their life, school, work, going out with their friends, etc. Holding on too tight or making them feel guilty for wanting to be away from you does not end well. We are not talking about a 5 yo here. If you are at the point that having your teenager leave your sight for a few minutes is not something that you can do, then it is time for some soul searching and maybe some counseling. It is not easy to "let go" of your kids as they age. But holding on like that only hurts yourself and them. My kids are 18(almost 19) and 17.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Yes they did force us what do you call it when security yells and tells her she has to go around the tables, and I had to tell the security guy taking me to Droid depot over and over again I have got to find my daughter first?

Wait I did not think that actually happend.
It was a hypothetical of IF you were forced your dad would freak and you would not have been able to find your daughter.
From this post it certainly does not seem like it actually happened or you would have been freaking out on here back then.

"Okay, maybe for your group it's no big deal, but I seriously do not want my teen daughter roaming around Disney by herself, and some older people like my Dad will staright up go into a panic attack if separated from the rest of the family, also when you run into issues like I did where security broke my Droid Depot droid we were whisked into HS before they started letting people in and straight to Droid Depot to get my droid fixed, I did not have time to look for my family."

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Exactly I was telling this guy again and again I needed to find my daughter, her kept walking rapidly giving me no time to find her, and yes I was livid,my Dad was the what if part, the breaking of the droid and not finding my daughter was real we were almost to the entrance gate before he finally stopped and let me go find her. I was livid.

Your story is not even adding up.
Why you would even bring your droid back into the park is odd to begin with.
Plus other posts about arriving and getting a boarding group does not make your arrival seem dramatic in any way.
But ok whatever you say.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I’m not going to stand there and argue with security... I said I wanted to wait with my mom and I was told that I had to use the line for guests without bags. I’m not going to just disobey a security guard. So no I wasn’t physically dragged but it wasn’t just the normal announcement.

In this situation, I would push back.
If I felt I had to stay with someone for medical reasons, I would.

I respect the work that security does, and often thank them, but they are not gods. Sometimes people with a little authority let it go to their heads, or higher ups make absurd policies. In those situations, we all have an obligation to speak up. If possible, stay polite and emotionally neutral, but firm.

 

[flynnibus]

You are only a few feet away from each other. What are you accomplishing by staying together for those few minutes. Ask yourself, "why is this so important?" Do you think that your mom is incapable of being on her own? What is the underlining issue that makes this a big deal for you? Are you never separated from your mom? Do you follow her into the bathroom? I guess I just don't see why this is such a big deal for you.

You of all people should be sensitive to the idea of being told to do something you don't want to do as being a problem.

Everyone who is digging in over 'whats the big deal' are missing the point. It's just bad customer service period to force groups to break up against their will for little to no practical reason. It's heavy handed treatment of someone who is supposed to be YOUR GUEST - for almost no gain.

It's a customer service topic - not a safety topic. And the more strict Disney makes it, the more they risk making it into a security topic.. again for no gain.

 

[Daddyoh]

I’ve seen this at both Epcot and studios, security is now forcing guests without bags to use the no-bag line. I have a big problem with this. This morning for example going into Epcot I was forced to separate from my mom... we should be able to wait together if we want, it makes for a calmer entrance for us. I can’t imagine families would like to be separated first thing in the morning.... I also noticed half of the bag check lines were closed so I’m guessing this is to reduce security staffing?

Just to be clear... I was told by security that I had to use the no bag line. There was no option. Obviously I wasn’t gonna argue with them, not worth that to ruin a Disney day, but I really don’t like this.

I'm confused, once you go through security can't everybody just meet up on the other side ? Our family will just wait until we all get back together.