Disney's new security checks ...

[felice]

Will stress that my wife and I don't have a problem with the extra security, considering what is going on in parts of the world that try to extend their claws to those of us here in the West ... but we visited DTD today here in Anaheim and noticed that, as well as bags being searched, we now also need to go through airport style security doorways too.

This does have the effect of causing extra long queues, particularly at the beginning of opening today (we arrived in Anaheim mid-evening yesterday) but I guess people need to be aware and allow time for this. Even if you're not entering the parks themselves, you still have to go through the security areas.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Thanks for the info, we will be there later this year.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Alas, it is part of the current times. Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood and SeaWorld San Diego already do it. (For some reason, Knott's does it for Halloween Haunt nights, but not during the day.

Also, since the conversation to a "Resort" instead of a single park happened before September 11th, the "Secure Zone" is a big issue. If you use ART and stay at a Disney owned Hotel, you can ask for an "escort" thru the secure area if your shopping bags have something not allowed in the parks.

Is it a pain, yes, but alas, needed.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Is this a reference to the metal detectors ("airport security style doorways") or to something new?

 

[Geemo]

We were there for five days over GayDays weekend. The morning lines went real fast and we never had an issue. Middle of the day the lines were longer but they moved ok. We tried to pick a line without strollers and that seemed to help.

I see the additional screening as part of the overall entry security now.

 

[gary1955]

Will stress that my wife and I don't have a problem with the extra security, considering what is going on in parts of the world that try to extend their claws to those of us here in the West ... but we visited DTD today here in Anaheim and noticed that, as well as bags being searched, we now also need to go through airport style security doorways too.

This does have the effect of causing extra long queues, particularly at the beginning of opening today (we arrived in Anaheim mid-evening yesterday) but I guess people need to be aware and allow time for this. Even if you're not entering the parks themselves, you still have to go through the security areas.

I usually advise my friends that it may be easier to drive and park at the DTD parking lot if they are staying on the Harbor side to avoid the screening delays.

 

[Kindermouse]

Coming from harbor last week was not great in the early morning and just before the parties but not unmanageable otherwise. It seemed like in the morning everyone went through the metal detectors but at other times of the day it was random selection. I got to skip them several times mid day but in the early morning no one seemed to get to skip them.

 

[dragonflycurls]

We were there on Gay Days, and was surprised by the very long lines mid morning. Also surprised that there was not a "no bags" line. Even if you didn't have a bag, you had to wait in that line!

 

[heybets30]

We were there last week Oct 6 & 7 for parks. Thursday, we entered closest to DCA from Harbor. EVERYONE was going through metal detectors at 8am. Friday? They were handpicking people to go through detectors.

Also, we went to DtD Wednesday evening the 5th for dinner, around 4pm, everyone entering went through metal detector too. We were all fine with it. Once we got our bags opened on the tables, we were ushered through the metal detectors - they had 3 set up, I think. It all went pretty quickly, not big deal. Better safe ....

Police K9s were there too (also at O'Hare when we left - the police & dogs were STANDING IN THE AA Terminal 3 TSA LINE and you had to go by slowly - kind of freaked out our kids!!!!)

 

[Kindermouse]

Police K9s were there too (also at O'Hare when we left - the police & dogs were STANDING IN THE AA Terminal 3 TSA LINE and you had to go by slowly - kind of freaked out our kids!!!!)

I prepared my son for the dogs by saying (well lying) that the dogs were service dogs in training and they were there getting used to the crowds to be able to assist handicapped handlers when they go into crowded places. I luckily heard about the increase in dogs here on the boards before our March trip since my son has OCD and one of his thoughts/fears is about crime, terrorists and such things. If he had seen those dogs and thought they they were there because there was credible threat against his safety in the parks-whew it would have been over. Also had he thought that the dogs were sniffing him to see if he was a bad guy that they should attack he would have frozen up completely.

In my case a little white lie helped us be able to keep going and not freeze up in fear-but im sure other would think I shouldn't be lying to my kid no matter what.

 

[DavysMama]

This issue was definitely why staying at GC is a perk. Lines were minimal even with added security.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We were there on Gay Days, and was surprised by the very long lines mid morning. Also surprised that there was not a "no bags" line. Even if you didn't have a bag, you had to wait in that line!

DLR used to have a no-bags line, but it was a major FAIL. Guests could not process that NO BAGS actually meant N.O. B.A.G.S. The line was even longer than the regular line because of all the people arguing that their purse/shopping bag/diaper bag/lunch bag/etc. didn't/shouldn't count as a bag. Or the person with no bags would try to bring the whole family with bags along in that line. So now everyone, bags or no bags, has to go through the same lines.

 

[cruisehopeful]

The line was even longer than the regular line because of all the people arguing that their purse/shopping bag/diaper bag/lunch bag/etc. didn't/shouldn't count as a bag

That sounds about right.

 

[xlsm]

And just a note...something I learned in June when we were there, don't forget to take off your Minnie's breakfast button before going through the metal detector, LOL!! We only experienced any kind of wait a few times, but our first morning we had breakfast at Plaza Inn and I had pinned the button on. We left for awhile and came back later, and I dutifully took off all my Alex and Ani bracelets and fit bit, purse in the bin, etc, to get through quickly...and I kept beeping and beeping, and everyone was so confused, and then the guard started laughing and said, it's Minnie's fault!! We'd both overlooked the button...it blended in with the color of my sweater.

 

[PHXscuba]

It's really random. Six people in our group over two different mornings last week, and I was the only one put through the metal detector, once. Lines were a little long on the DTD side right before park opening (especially since they didn't open the third section of it until we were mostly through ) but not unmanageable. I am bad at picking the right option for shorter lines!

PHXscuba

 

[Kindermouse]

I am bad at picking the right option for shorter lines!

PHXscuba

My son says to me "which line is the best?". my response "Oh, you know, whichever one i'm not in!"

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I prepared my son for the dogs by saying (well lying) that the dogs were service dogs in training and they were there getting used to the crowds to be able to assist handicapped handlers when they go into crowded places. I luckily heard about the increase in dogs here on the boards before our March trip since my son has OCD and one of his thoughts/fears is about crime, terrorists and such things. If he had seen those dogs and thought they they were there because there was credible threat against his safety in the parks-whew it would have been over. Also had he thought that the dogs were sniffing him to see if he was a bad guy that they should attack he would have frozen up completely.

In my case a little white lie helped us be able to keep going and not freeze up in fear-but im sure other would think I shouldn't be lying to my kid no matter what.

My DS has OCD and anxiety, along with Tourette's, and one of his major fears is dogs. Because he's actually severely allergic to dogs, we've never been able to work on the fear. He may panic if he is forced to walk slowly by dogs and be sniffed. At the very least, if it comes as a surprise he will start moving in unpredictable ways and possibly shouting, because of his Tourette's. We are going to need to be very prepared for this. Where might we see K-9s? Did they stay at a distance or will they be moving into our personal space? Was it possible to avoid them by picking a different line/going through metal detectors?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Where might we see K-9s? Did they stay at a distance or will they be moving into our personal space?

They do not walk the dogs by you, unless the dogs already reacted to something you have with you. Since you probably won't be carrying any explosives, you don't need to worry about it. The dogs I've seen are just with their handler off to the side so that they get a whiff of everyone, but it is completely unobtrusive. While I haven't seen any of them follow anyone, I assume they will if they get a whiff of whatever they've been trained to find.

 

[Kindermouse]

They do not walk the dogs by you, unless the dogs already reacted to something you have with you. Since you probably won't be carrying any explosives, you don't need to worry about it. The dogs I've seen are just with their handler off to the side so that they get a whiff of everyone, but it is completely unobtrusive. While I haven't seen any of them follow anyone, I assume they will if they get a whiff of whatever they've been trained to find.

While that is mostly true there were also several time that they were walking them through the incoming crowd when I was there in March and in October. They might have been restless and just walking a few steps around to deal with the stiffness and monotony of standing in one spot but If you are walking in they will walk close to you.

 

[Kindermouse]

My DS has OCD and anxiety, along with Tourette's, and one of his major fears is dogs. Because he's actually severely allergic to dogs, we've never been able to work on the fear. He may panic if he is forced to walk slowly by dogs and be sniffed. At the very least, if it comes as a surprise he will start moving in unpredictable ways and possibly shouting, because of his Tourette's. We are going to need to be very prepared for this. Where might we see K-9s? Did they stay at a distance or will they be moving into our personal space? Was it possible to avoid them by picking a different line/going through metal detectors?

They are before the security tents-they are mostly unobtrusive but they do walk around a little. I think because I was so hyper vigilant about worrying where the dongs where and his reaction to them I was more aware of them then the average passer by. The mostly stood to the side and stood or sat next to their handlers. Sometimes they walked across the from and back. They weren't just coming up to people though when my son was agitated I could tell by the dog and handlers body poster they were more aware of us as opposed to just standing there resting but they didn't approach us-just got to there feet and watched us go by.

I dont remember seeing them prior to rope drop i.e on the days I arrived early they weren't there yet-or perhaps they were just off on the far hand side where the DCA entrance was maybe so I didnt see them. I am such a creature of habit I always go to the tents on the DL side and I almost have to push myself to go to the DCA side. the most the stay in the middle. If you are wanting to avoid them I would walk on the far left or right and/or try a prior to park opening arrival.

The seemed to stand where those big pole things are at either side fi that makes sense.

I approached it from the perspective of helpful working dogs because my son has had a good experience with them in the past and they wouldn't start his intrusive thoughts about crime and terrorists. Guide dogs and service animals are so perfectly well behaved and dont even come up looking for attention, or affection and dont bark unless to alert handlers of danger so they can be "trusted" more than average dogs-these things are also true of well trained security animals so when I told my son that they were there as part of there training to be service animals he knew that he could depend on their behavior to be on par with the good experiance that he had had and they did.