Most things have returned to normal in the Disney World parks after the pandemic closures in 2020.
Planet Hollywood Entrance with social distancing markers
However, when the parks first reopened, a LOT of things were done quite differently — social distancing was required everywhere, many rides had plexiglass barriers in between rows, and masks were required. And those were just a few of the changes we saw in attempt to ensure a safer experience. All of those are gone now, but one change does remain. Honestly though, we hope it NEVER goes away!
The security lines in Disney World could be pretty MISERABLE before the pandemic-related closures. Prior to the 2020 closures, every guest with a bag had to go through a manual bag check.
Security Check Point
This meant that during peak times of day lines took what seemed like FOREVER to get into each park or onto the Monorail. While ensuring no one was bringing anything dangerous into the parks was immensely important, it meant you had to budget for even more time when arriving.
Contemporary Monorail Security Area
However, when the parks were slowly reopening after the COVID-19 closures, Disney knew that having their security touching everything inside hundreds of guests’ bags was not the best way to go about things anymore. So they introduced touchless security systems!
Security Screening
Now, guests just need to walk through the scanner with their bags in their hands (unless they’re in a mobility vehicle or have a stroller, then they go through a separate line). If nothing pings on the system, they’re good to go! If something in the bag sets off an alert, the guest is asked to walk over a few steps to get their bag checked.
Magic Kingdom Security
While this part can take a moment, it overall takes MUCH less time than it did before, and we love this change. If you’re hoping to avoid your bag going off, we recommend taking out any large metal pieces ahead of time and holding them straight out in front of you as you walk through the scanner. This could be a water bottle, an umbrella, a portable phone charger, or even a glasses case (yes, we’ve been there!).
Entrance lines at Magic Kingdom
It doesn’t look like Disney will go back to the old way of security anytime soon (hopefully not at all), since their employees are trained to read the touchless scanners, and it would likely require more staff to search through everyone’s bags once again.
Here’s how Disney World has TOTALLY changed over the past 5 years!
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Visited recently and I was surprised at the new method of security. Love it!
Try not to wear a backpack with a metal frame. I did that last year. It was an adorable Mickey Mouse backpack, and I loved how the top unzipped and opened wide, much like a doctor’s/lawyers bag. But the metal frame set off the detector every time I walked through security and my bag had to be searched. I was there for a long weekend and entering the parks more than once a day. Time waiting in the search line + time getting the bag searched = wasted time.
Also, do not bring mints sold in metal containers. My husband learned that the hard way. Carry some with you in a pill case or baggy instead.
When I was there 2 months ago the scanner went off 3 times at Animal Kingdom but never at the other parks. The guard said some of them are more sensitive than others & thought the magnetic closure on my purse was setting it off.🤷♀️
I visit both WDW and Uni every weekend. I’ve seen the difference between their security checkpoints. Granted, at Diz you just walk right through with all your stuff. And, yes, Uni subjects all your metal objects to an x-ray machine, like at MCO. I trust Uni’s system far more, since you almost never see ANYONE being “wanded ” at WDW! I hate to say it, but Diz seems more interested in processing everyone as quickly as possible than keeping them safe.
Last year I got checked almost every time I went through, but I think it was the battery pack I kept bringing through. This year I got a couple of the Fuelrods, I’m hoping I’ll get wanded less 😅
I don’t know why it took WDW so long to do this. At Disneyland Paris they were using X-ray on bags year’s ago. Granted you had to take them off & put on a conveyor belt like at an airport but it was still much quicker than the security guard searching every bag.
Well. This doesn’t happen at Disneyland. We still have security hand-check each (and every!) bag; then YOU walk through the scanner with your bag placed on a table next to the scanner. I cringe each time I see a family with several backpacks, a purse and a stroller.
Why doesn’t Cali have this system????