Thorough bag checks

[disney4life2008]

There were a lot of teenage/youth groups at the MK last night. A lot of rowdy kids around 11pm last night after the parade. I saw playing clothes cops (I think they were at least) roaming the Emporium.

 

[actioncookbook]

So continuing to trend toward less violence and more peace than any other known point in human history is now crazy?

lolwhut?? More peace than ever before?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[lazyboy97o]

lolwhut?? More peace than ever before?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Yes. The present is the most peaceful time in history and trends continue to be positive.

 

[mousehockey37]

Even if it was some sort of scanner the vehicle went through when going through the gates.

It's a crazy world. Whatever needs to be done to keep the parks safe!
I'm one of the ones who is happy when it takes long to board a flight. Check every last nook and cranny before getting anything or anyone on the plane I say.

Sadly, if someone is going to do something, they're going to do it, and no amount of screening is going to prevent them from at least trying.

 

[Matt_Black]

Yes. The present is the most peaceful time in history and trends continue to be positive.

What he said. Violent crime is statistically down. If it seems like awful things are more common, that's more due to the 24-hour news cycle and prevalence of social media.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

I have been through security checks where the intensity of the check varied from person to person. Last year at HSthe people in front of me had to take everything out of their bag he made them open camera bag, wallet, even make up bag and take everything out of the diaper bag. Then he gets to me barely glances at my purse (not in just at) and tells me to have a magical day.

 

[jonesenon4]

my biggest concern is not the bag checks because a cursory glance should be able to spot an explosive device.my concern is the observations i made on my most recent trip.i am ex infantry with combat so i do recognize security issues.and what concerns me most is the lack of security on non bag guests.as i walked thru the gates unobstructed it dawned on me how easy it would be to get a firearm or other device into the parks on my body.does anyone know if there are detectors located at the gates or in the park.

 

[JoeV]

One can walk through the No Bags line with pockets stuffed and over flowing.

Not necessarily. When I was going through the non-bag check line where you walk directly into the park past the guard, one of the guards stopped the guy in front of me asking what he had in his pocket. The guy was Chinese, I believe, and didn't understand or didn't hear him and he kept walking so two of the guards walked quickly, and I mean quickly, and stopped right in front of him, again asking to see what was in his pocket and they pointed to the pocket. I don't know what it was but I could clearly see he had something too.

 

[Tom]

I think it depends on the guard that you get. There maybe times that the threat level is higher and they just check better but it is not like they are going to say "hey, we feel there is an elevated threat" and cause mass hysteria.
There is also instances that a guest's behavior leads to a longer check as illustrated: We were going into the international gateway entrance to EPCOT one day and it was mid-day and not busy at all. Generally, the guards will check one person on one side and then one on the other side. There was a gentleman across from us in a wheelchair, then it should have been to our side with my bag next. Well, this woman came waltzing up in the line behind the gentleman with the wheelchair and essentially threw her purse down towards the guard and declared in her best step-sister voice "I am next" She almost pushed the poor man in the wheelchair out of the way to get closer to the guard. We were all pretty taken aback by her demeanor and behavior. So the guard gave her what she wanted, he searched her bag next. Yep, the whole bag, made her take out stuff and all. He had her cooling her heels for a couple of minutes while he leisurely inspected the bag. Then he apologized to me for the wait, glanced in my bag and told me to go ahead. She was still repacking her designer handbag when we walked away.

That's awesome!

One can walk through the No Bags line with pockets stuffed and over flowing.

Yes, one can. I just carry everything in my cargo shorts pockets. Nothing bad, but easily could be.

In regards to selfie sticks the ban seems to have almost eliminated people using their cell phones. I visited MK and EP yesterday and during dark events usage was considerably low. It was the first time in a long time I have rode Haunted Mansion and didnt see bright lights from the doombugies.

Hmmm, really?

my biggest concern is not the bag checks because a cursory glance should be able to spot an explosive device.my concern is the observations i made on my most recent trip.i am ex infantry with combat so i do recognize security issues.and what concerns me most is the lack of security on non bag guests.as i walked thru the gates unobstructed it dawned on me how easy it would be to get a firearm or other device into the parks on my body.does anyone know if there are detectors located at the gates or in the park.

No metal detectors. But you're completely right about the no-bag entry.

 

[disney4life2008]

That's awesome!



Yes, one can. I just carry everything in my cargo shorts pockets. Nothing bad, but easily could be.



Hmmm, really?



No metal detectors. But you're completely right about the no-bag entry.

Yep. Fantasmic hardly anyone had their phones out.

 

[draybook]

Be real...you should have seen what they found at bag checks this week. I saw two knives, selfie sticks, and several other sharp objects. Every time I went through they found something.

The other thing, take a look at the people casually standing around. They are observing people to see if they look suspicious. Three times last week I saw people who got through bag check who were 'greeted' by these casual observers who took them aside and did a much more thorough check, and in two of those cases called over the Orange County Sherrif officers. Be real...the real cops are there just not very obvious.

So, there is a lot more going on than you may think. Just be a bit more observant the next time.

Be real...if you think they're effective then you probably think the TSA is effective too. This stuff you "saw" is the same stuff that people have brought in for years.

 

[Matt_Black]

my biggest concern is not the bag checks because a cursory glance should be able to spot an explosive device.my concern is the observations i made on my most recent trip.i am ex infantry with combat so i do recognize security issues.and what concerns me most is the lack of security on non bag guests.as i walked thru the gates unobstructed it dawned on me how easy it would be to get a firearm or other device into the parks on my body.does anyone know if there are detectors located at the gates or in the park.

Well, 45 years thereabouts and not a single major incident speaks for itself, I'd wager.

 

[G00fyDad]

And they are not going to start patting people down. This isn't a high school after all.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Back to the OP, I have noticed over the last few weeks that bag checks have been more thorough. There are always lines that move more quickly than others, but as a whole it seems more thorough.

 

[fireworksandfairytales]

It definitely depends on the guard you get, but I personally prefer when they are more thorough. I've had guards who've barely even looked in my bag, they have no idea what I could have had in there. I think it's better to be safe than sorry, so I'm not bothered when they ask for an extra zipper to be opened or anything like that.

 

[French Quarter]

I think it depends on the guard that you get. There maybe times that the threat level is higher and they just check better but it is not like they are going to say "hey, we feel there is an elevated threat" and cause mass hysteria.
There is also instances that a guest's behavior leads to a longer check as illustrated: We were going into the international gateway entrance to EPCOT one day and it was mid-day and not busy at all. Generally, the guards will check one person on one side and then one on the other side. There was a gentleman across from us in a wheelchair, then it should have been to our side with my bag next. Well, this woman came waltzing up in the line behind the gentleman with the wheelchair and essentially threw her purse down towards the guard and declared in her best step-sister voice "I am next" She almost pushed the poor man in the wheelchair out of the way to get closer to the guard. We were all pretty taken aback by her demeanor and behavior. So the guard gave her what she wanted, he searched her bag next. Yep, the whole bag, made her take out stuff and all. He had her cooling her heels for a couple of minutes while he leisurely inspected the bag. Then he apologized to me for the wait, glanced in my bag and told me to go ahead. She was still repacking her designer handbag when we walked away.

Sweet justice!

 

[French Quarter]

Well, 45 years thereabouts and not a single major incident speaks for itself, I'd wager.

Exactly. Disney does a wonderful job at keeping the place safe and secure. Think of how many people have visited the parks. They are dealing with massive crowds every day and very few incidents have been reported and certainly nothing major.

 

[Tom P.]

Look, I don't doubt that Disney truly wants their parks to be safe, and that the people screening the bags are trying their best to do their jobs. But, I'm sorry, these bag checks are mainly accomplishing two things: make the guests *feel* safer and protect Disney from lawsuits if, God forbid, something should happen.

Yes, the bag checks they do now might keep out the selfie sticks. They might even find the occasional weapon. And they do serve some purpose. But as has been pointed out time and again in this thread, they are simply not enough to keep out someone who was really, truly intent on doing some serious damage. But, then again, neither are the TSA screenings at the airport, IMHO. There are just too many loopholes in the system. Too many ways to potentially get around it.

Am I suggesting that they should stop trying? No, of course not. But let's be honest with the limits of what they can do without subjecting people to something that would truly be intense (and impractical).

 

[Dizmunk]

I brought an old bag to the parks once, and the guards were none too pleased. Understandable- my mother-in-law gets on my nerves too!

(Kidding- I don't actually have a mother-in-law)

I actually do have a mother-in-law, consider yourself lucky! Not Sorry

 

[G00fyDad]

Look, I don't doubt that Disney truly wants their parks to be safe, and that the people screening the bags are trying their best to do their jobs. But, I'm sorry, these bag checks are mainly accomplishing two things: make the guests *feel* safer and protect Disney from lawsuits if, God forbid, something should happen.

Yes, the bag checks they do now might keep out the selfie sticks. They might even find the occasional weapon. And they do serve some purpose. But as has been pointed out time and again in this thread, they are simply not enough to keep out someone who was really, truly intent on doing some serious damage. But, then again, neither are the TSA screenings at the airport, IMHO. There are just too many loopholes in the system. Too many ways to potentially get around it.

Am I suggesting that they should stop trying? No, of course not. But let's be honest with the limits of what they can do without subjecting people to something that would truly be intense (and impractical).

It was never intended to be a catch-all for any dangers. If they found some, great (which they have). However, it was meant to be a deterrent more than anything else. Sort of the same idea behind those stupid security check points at store entrances.