[cinnamon]

this is also my delurking post :)

I am leaving for Disney this coming Tuesday. In reading some of the threads, I see many people saying to bring snacks in your backpacks.

Now, is this okay? I haven't been to Disney in years, my only recent experiences are to Six Flags and places like that, where you're *not* allowed to bring your own food or drink (save a water bottle) in.

So, if a screener finds a bag of lollipops or a few cans of soda, will I get in trouble? Should I hide it? Any help welcome, and thanks in advance.

cin

[timsha]

Cinnamon, welcome to DC!!!!!. The screeners will not take away things like snacks or juice boxes..... they are mostly looking for things like alcohol and weapons. It is a very cursory screening... Hope you enjoy your trip.

Tim

[BDavis932]

Welcome to Disney Central!! Glad to have you here!

Bag screening was implemented after 9/11. The process is very quick, yet I have found most screeners to be very thorough. They will have you open all bags and zippers and they will look through the entire contents of all the pockets.

You can bring in as much outside food or drinks that you want. They are looking for "suspicious" items such as pocket knives, or any other type of weapon.

[cinnamon]

thanks for your welcomes :) and what a relief, that they're looking for "bad stuff" rather than money-savers.

I'll never forget going to a state zoo once, and having a staff member give me the third degree about bringing a Nesquik for my then-2 year old. "We sell juice here, you know," he said to me, wagging finger and all. I was shocked, but found my voice, turned up the volume so the parents behind us on line could hear me and asked, "You're denying my child his milk?!"

Other parents spoke up, the guy got redfaced and backed down. But I was really embarrassed. And at Six Flags, I got flagged for having a piece of fruit in my purse. It was there because my blood sugar likes to jump around, and I'd rather get the sugar from that than candy. But I got embarrassed again.

And when I went to a concert recently, I had a bottle of water, which they made me dump out before I was let in the gate. It wasn't a rock concert, really. It was Sting, and the crowd was 30-40ish. It was a plastic bottle, the original one I bought the water in, not like a thermos or anything. It was also 3/4 empty, but I wasn't going to argue.

So to learn that I *can* maybe even pack a couple of peanut butter sandwiches in my purse, rather than be a sneak, is really welcome to hear and heartening. Thanks so much :)

cin

[dznygrl]

Hi cinnamon, welcome to DC! Obviously your question has already been answered...but I was just going to second what some others said, and maybe add a comment or two. The "screeners" won't even say anything about food. I've seen people bringing in large soft-sided coolers full of food, and the screeners simply check the cooler for those "suspicious items."

When I worked for Disney, I went through the bag checks sometimes 4-10 times per day, and the screeners' thoroughness definitely varies. Some of them will barely glance into your bag (assuming you already have it open for them), others will actually reach in and move items...some of them will even take the liberty of opening every zipper. Personally, I find it a lot more polite when they ask *me* to open the zippers for them, rather than shoving their arms in my purse...but that's just personal opinion. :o

Have a wonderful time!!!

[bumble]

Hey Dznygrl, My Dad is in Alaska also!!! He is in Kodiak now but bounces between there and Ankorage. Are you close to where he is? I hope you love it there, he does. Quite a change fron Florida tho. He goes every summer, for the whole summer, but it looks like he may stay for the long haul this time. He doesnt know if he wants to come back to Fl!!

[llama]

Nothing to add, but welcome to DC and have a great trip!

[MrDisneyfan1]

They are looking for Universal Studio passes....hahahaha.
No really, we never had a problem with waters, snacks etc.
But it does save some time, especially in the morning crunch, to not have any bags. (is that possible...no bags...not with us)

By the way, the security stand at the MK is on my brick. They always will move the table for us, because every year I plop my children on the brick and snap their pictures.
Have fun.
Den

[DisneyDreamer16]

If you are found with straws in your bag when going to animal kingdom they will take them away for the safety of the animals.

[EmpressJenny]

What's a scraw? And welcome, cinnamon.

[cahogbin]

Welcome to DC. Please post a trip report when you get back. I'd love to hear all your details!!

[TinksFriend]

Originally Posted by EmpressJenny

What's a scraw? And welcome, cinnamon.

Haha...Somethin' tells me he meant straw?! LOL.

[Dana]

Welcome to DC! A helpful hint for the screening process: have all your zippers and stuff open before you go in line. It makes it faster for everyone. They will not say anything about snacks. I have seen many guests bring them in. Have a great trip!

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by bumble73

Hey Dznygrl, My Dad is in Alaska also!!! He is in Kodiak now but bounces between there and Ankorage. Are you close to where he is? I hope you love it there, he does. Quite a change fron Florida tho. He goes every summer, for the whole summer, but it looks like he may stay for the long haul this time. He doesnt know if he wants to come back to Fl!!

Hey bumble! You want to know something funny? I'm not even actually *in* Alaska yet...but I changed my location from Anaheim, CA to Wasilla, AK because we are currently en route. I still have not even visited Alaska in my entire life, but I'm in the process of moving there! Right now we are stopped in Salem, OR, visiting my family (and my hometown.) We pick up and leave tomorrow morning to make the final haul to Alaska. It's gonna be a looooong trip! I get to meet my husband's family for the first time when we get there, too!

I believe Wasilla and Kodiak are about 500-600 miles apart? Just a rough guess. But we will probably be pretty far away from where your dad is. However, if he ever comes back to Anchorage...we will be nice and close to him then. In fact, we may move to Anchorage at some point!

Boy, you're right. That is quite a change from Florida! I'm glad you guys are still safe down there, though. Keep us posted!

[JOANN]

Originally Posted by llama

Nothing to add, but welcome to DC and have a great trip!

I second that!!!! JOANN