How Disney Bag Search Works
Before entering a park, Disney Security will check your bags, strollers, and possibly clothing that you are bringing with you. I'm personally very glad for this security measure. Not only does this help keep the parks safe, but also enjoyable for other guests.
Disney security is looking for banned items. You can find a list of banned items on the Disney web site here. Some of the items that might surprise you are:
*Alcohol - Food and drink is actually OK to bring into the parks, but alcohol is not.
*Selfie sticks - Selfie sticks are banned from all Disney parks
*Glass containers - Except for baby food
*Balloons and plastic straws (DAK only) - balloons and plastic straws are banned only at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. This is because they can be harmful to the animals if they find their way into an animal enclosure. The Animal Kingdom theme park uses only paper straws because of this.
Where You Will Encounter Security
As a rule, before you enter any theme park, you will encounter bag search. But exactly where you encounter it varies.
Disney Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Disney's Animal Kingdom
These parks all have their own parking lots and therefore have security at the park entrance before the park gates.
Disney's Magic Kingdom
The only parking for Disney's Magic Kingdom is at the Transportation and Ticket Center, so security is found there with bag check before you board any boat or monorail.
If arriving via bus or resort boat launch, security is found at the park entrance. Ropes and clear signs will guide you to the correct route depending on how you arrive.
Disney's Monorail Loop Resorts
If you are taking the monorail from the Polynesian Village Resort, Grand Floridian, or Contemporary, you will find bag check there before you board the monorail. This catches any guests that are not arriving to the Magic Kingdom via the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Given the above, the shortest bag check line I've found is at the resorts, heading to the Magic Kingdom, with the notable exception of the witching hour during park opening. I would avoid that at the resorts if at all possible or at least allow yourself plenty of time. Otherwise, the resort line is no fuss and arriving at the Magic Kingdom, you can go right in.
The most tedious security right now seems to be arriving at EPCOT via monorail. This is because you will do two bag checks - one at the Transportation and Ticket Center, and another at the EPCOT park entrance. If Disney would only divide the entrance like they do at the Magic Kingdom for guests arriving via monorail versus guests arriving otherwise, this could be corrected.
How To Do Security Like a Pro
There are a few things you can and should do to make security quicker and easier.
1. Consider not bringing a bag. I know that sometimes this doesn't work well, but at every bag check, there is a lane for "bagless guests". These guests skip the bag check line and walk right through the full body scanner and off they go. There's hardly ever a line for bagless guests. So consider whether you really need that bag every time.
2. Have your bag off and ready to hand over before you get to the table.
3. Each table has lines on either side. The security person will alternate between sides, even if one line is shorter.
4. Have all compartments of your bag unzipped and open. This saves the security person the time to do that step themselves.
5. If you have a larger bag, consider using clear gallon ziploc bags to divide the contents. Have these open too. Security likes this because they can just slide the clear ziploc bag out, glance at what's inside, and carry on. I did this a few times when I had a lot of papers/autograph books in one bag, and sweater in another. This is also smart because should it rain or should you choose to go on a wet ride, your contents will stay dry.
6. Avoid getting behind a huge stroller. Strollers are checked and people seem to use them as luggage racks at Disney. You'll see strollers with a cooler on the bottom, several jackets thrown over that, and bags hanging from the handles. Each of those things must be checked. It will take for-ev-er. Don't get behind that. And try try try not to be that person. I know kids come with a lot of baggage, but often a small folding stroller and a backpack will do.
Remember, Disney Security is there to make your day at the parks safe and enjoyable. Because the parks and guests mean so much to me, I make sure to thank them and make their lives a little easier by being ready when I get to them.
Have you ever been surprised by an item not being allowed in the park? Tell us in the comments.
