Security

[spinnerf]

I hope this comes out the right way. When getting my baby's diaper bag rummaged through by a security guard during our last Disney visit, the guard then looked into my 8 year olds change purse hanging from her neck, he never even made mention of the cargo pants I was wearing, 8 pockets, all obviously stuffed with various essentials. So if your wearing it as clothes it doesnt get searched? I feel if they are going to do security checks they really should be "all in" or whats the point? Lets face it the lines to have your bags checked is a hassle, one we all accept in todays post 9/11 environment. Im all for it, but they should really be more thorough or stop. Honestly in the many times I have been through Disney security I have never seen them confiscate or question one thing, Whats your opinion?

[Melanie]

It's a joke, that's what I think.

I'm at the park often, and have seen all kinds of varying degrees of inspection. I'm not aware of why it's done, and hopefully someone will be along soon to explain, but it appeasing someone. Just not sure who.

[floridamom]

I agree that it is inconsistent at best. There have been some times where they barely glanced through my bag and have overlooked stroller baskets and pouches, and others when they ask me to open every internal zipper in my (not-so-large, cross body) purse. But I have never been asked to unload clothing pockets and if my husband isn't carrying a backpack he walks through the "no bags" entrance with cargo shorts full.

I file this under the same category as the "fingerprint scanners" at the turnstiles. Even if it doesn't read or comes up as an error (which happens frequently to those of us with the paper APs), I have never once been asked to provide ID...

[SandmanGStefani24]

working in law enforcement I have a huge amount of respect for any and all levels of security in WDW. However I do notice some inconsistent practice. I am of course, trustworthy and no threat, but in normal clothes, I look like almost any young man and if anything maybe someone you might not trust based strictly on appearances. Yet, since I have no bags I zip right past security and into the parks no questions asked. The bag search might need to be looked at a little and am I out of line for suggesting a metal detector could be used somewhere? (of course I don't want to see it come to this, but only searching bags and nothing else leaves many holes.) I feel safer at WDW than anywhere else in the world, and know that there are plenty of eyes on me and everyone else to keep us safe. Still, maybe the bag search idea needs to be revamped.

[White Rose]

I definitely noticed this inconsistency while I was on vacation about two weeks ago. My sister, mom and I would all have to go through with the security bag check point and my dad would just go straight through the "No bag" line. The killer for me, was, though, there were a few times we could easily tell when one guard was more thorough than the others (based on how fast that line was moving and what we could see the guard doing). When we realized that some were overly thorough, we'd simply jump into another line (that had an opening, of course. No butting!) where we noticed the guard was not nearly as thorough. This really needs to be investigated.

[micky95]

i believe its more to protect themselves.they can say we check bags,but if someone was serious, a bag check isnt going to catch them.ive been asked once to empty my pockets.i walked thru the no bag line and a guard there asked me to empty my pocket.i pulled out some napkins and my cell phone. he said ok .i meet back up with my wife and told her what had happened .we were both puzzled.i looked down at my pocket and realized that the antenna base outlined could be mistaken for the barrel of a gun.it was no problem for the 5 seconds it took.i agree it is very inconsistent when it comes to how they do it.

[BrerGnat]

It's a smoke screen. Plain and simple. What they are looking for more, to be honest, is glass bottles. That is the ONLY thing that I have ever had confiscated (this was at Disneyland resort, and I forgot I had it in the bag...was a small bottle of coke). This can pose a serious safety hazard if it breaks inside the parks.

Truthfully, though, it's just a way to slow people down as they enter the park, and to get them all funneled in one place. This is done so that the security guards and the plain clothes security can scan the crowd and note people's mannerisms. People who are intent on doing something horrible have a certain way about them, and it's detectable by people who are trained to notice it. This is what they are looking for.

My DH is military and has spent a LOT of time in hostile combat zones. He understands the point of these "bag checks" and says that they don't really care at all what is in the bags, for the most part. Its just an opportunity to "slow down and observe the crowd." He's had a lot of practice doing this sort of thing. He still does it when we're in a crowded place, and crowded unruly situations make him very nervous.

[Jim&AngieMarriner]

As an Military Intelligence professional in the Army I think I have an idea whats going on. I could be wrong but I think this is whats happening.
Depending on the length of the line they will either speed you through or take an extra few seconds going through your bags and here is why. There are several Security CMs in "civilian" attire who are watching the line. People who are bringing in contraband or dangerous items often give themselves away with thier body language. They can adjust how fast the line goes through the checkpoint in order to give those CMs the chance they need to view the crowd for guests acting suspicious or acting out of place. This could be the reason behind the percieved inconsistancy. This is a tactic I have employed many many times controlling the lines of locals attempting to gain access to our camp while deployed to the middle east. I would think that at the Parks,in most cases, the people who are acting suspicious are discreetly removed from line or some such and checked much more closely, possibly with metal detectors and chemical sniffers. I am sure that 99.99% of the guests would never dream of doing anything other than enjoying the park as intended. Its that 0.01% that could ruin it for everyone else that they are looking for.
Granted I dont know for SURE that this is what they are doing, but to me it seems likely. It probably also legally covers them like Mickey95 said.
All in all, as thorough as Disney is in alomst everything, I feel confident that even if it isnt exactly the senerio I mention, that this percieved inconsistancy in searching of bags actually has been designed to serve a greater purpose that helps keep guests safer.

These are my opinions, your mileage may vary.

[Jim&AngieMarriner]

Guess I type slow or I would have seen that BrerGnat basically already said the same thing.

[spinnerf]

I appreciate the military backgorund spin given to my question. I had never considered this perspective and it makes sense. I doubt Disney is that tactically advanced, but it will make me happier to think that on my next run through the bag check line. Very good point!

[BrerGnat]

I appreciate the military backgorund spin given to my question. I had never considered this perspective and it makes sense. I doubt Disney is that tactically advanced, but it will make me happier to think that on my next run through the bag check line. Very good point!

Disney is more tactically advanced than any other theme park in America. This is why they don't need metal detectors.

They hire lots of former military security specialists and work very closely with the Dept. of Homeland Security. Trust me, I know this personally.

[SBETigg]

They can do a bag check but they can't search your clothes without causing lots of problems. Look at the issues with lawsuits concerning alleged groping by characters. If they wanted to pat down guests coming in without bags, just imagine the extra lawsuit potential, feelings of violation, and time it would take. I appreciate that they at least do the bag check, even if it seems to be just an extra hassle. But I also try to enter without bags, just to save waiting in those lines. And if my pockets did look overstuffed, I wouldn't mind being stopped and asked to empty them. But some people would, I am sure.

[Jim&AngieMarriner]

Disney is more tactically advanced than any other theme park in America. This is why they don't need metal detectors.

They hire lots of former military security specialists and work very closely with the Dept. of Homeland Security. Trust me, I know this personally.

This is one Soon to Be Former military Security Specilist (only 15 months left) who dreams EVERY DAY of doing security for Disney. My Co Workers are sick of me saying that I want to work for the parks when i retire. Crossing my fingers for the possition to be open when it comes time for me to put resumes in.

[BrerGnat]

This is one Soon to Be Former military Security Specilist (only 15 months left) who dreams EVERY DAY of doing security for Disney. My Co Workers are sick of me saying that I want to work for the parks when i retire. Crossing my fingers for the possition to be open when it comes time for me to put resumes in.

Good luck! Hope it works out for you!

[KAJUNKING]

Guess I type slow or I would have seen that BrerGnat basically already said the same thing.

both of your statements make perfect sense and i have seen the plain clothed security guards around the entrance and on my last visit watched one stop some people from hopping the chain to get into mk right when you get off the monorail and they walked them to some hidden location, im assuming for some type of search

[Ian]

Truthfully, though, it's just a way to slow people down as they enter the park, and to get them all funneled in one place. This is done so that the security guards and the plain clothes security can scan the crowd and note people's mannerisms.

This is what it's really all about. The searches are only a way to slow folks down so the behavioral specialists can monitor the crowd for any suspicious activity.

Disney's security is actually very advanced, but like any other good security organization most of what goes on you can't see ... wouldn't be very effective if you could!

[spinnerf]

I have never noticed plain clothes security, then again I was never looking. If all ths is true it is very impressive. Why dont the airports use that type of screening? It just seemed that when I went through security at MCO and an agent literally dusted my baby's milk bottle for explosives (she was vey nice I might add) that this was TIGHT security, I didnt feel as thoroughly evaluated at Disney, maybe we are and we dont know it. I never thought of the "slow people down" factor. From my perspective with no military or no law enforcement background, I felt like we were glanced over at Disney and if this attitude was applied to everyone they could miss something. Hopefuly you all are right.

[KAJUNKING]

I have never noticed plain clothes security.

if you spend any time by the entrance youll notice, theyll have the little curly earbud wire behind there ear, but they are pretty stealthy, they look like tourist and a lot of times they hang out as couples.

[Scar]

Truthfully, though, it's just a way to slow people down as they enter the park, and to get them all funneled in one place.

It sounds to me like it is really a way to do it twice. I mean the turnstiles certainly slow people down too... no?

[Jim&AngieMarriner]

It sounds to me like it is really a way to do it twice. I mean the turnstiles certainly slow people down too... no?

There is nothing as comforting in the Security realm as redundency. I would not be surprised that the have a second team watching that area. I would also be surprised if the same set up isnt used for the monorail area. Realistically, any area outside the main gate, that people gather would make for a good place to look for possible problem behavior. I would also expect them to randomly rotate the time and location of these checks. If the checks are noticiable to the "bad guys" and if a pattern can be established to their checks, it can be deffeated or circumvented. So an element of randomness given another layer of security.

Can you tell I enjoy the field?