I generally consider myself a pretty efficient person when it comes to going through security. Whether it's TSA, Universal Studios, or a museum, I pride myself on getting through that screening quickly. But y'all, on my last trip to Walt Disney World I swear I was flagged for the complete bag-check-and-full-body-wand experience every time. Over the years, I've learned some surprising things that will set off those scanners... and a few tips for how to avoid it.
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Shop the finds
- Folding glasses case
Turns out glasses cases, in general, are tricky for the metal detectors because of the protective sheeting in the shell. I love my folding glasses case from Warby Parker!
- Laptop
I try to avoid bringing my laptop into the parks but sometimes a girl's gotta work! I own an HP Envy 360, which is portable and inexpensive and gets the job done for emails and light design work.
- Portable phone charger
This charger is great because you're never left without a cord. It has its own wall plug for charging, plus three different output plugs for all your devices. Plug it in overnight and it will give you two full device charges throughout the day!
- Tiara and pins (Ariel/Sebastian + Lilo & Stitch starter set)
The Tiana tiara isn't mine, but that doesn't mean it doesn't get shoved in my purse frequently. Turns out a tiara combined with a few rogue trading pins at the bottom of the bag is a recipe for extra screening.
- Tin of mints
You gotta love a tin of Altoids, and wintergreen is a family favorite because of its slightly sweet, not too "spicy" minty flavor. Just be careful taking that through security, because it's likely to set off the metal detector.
My security tips
Disney pros might already know these keys to getting through those metal detectors unscathed, but hopefully they help streamline your park day:
- Take any bags off your shoulder/back and hold them out in front of you (away from your body).
- If you have items in your bag that you suspect might cause an issue with the metal detectors, take them out and hold them in your hand(s).
- If you're holding multiple items, hold one hand up high and one hand down low, letting your bag hang down below. This will spread out your items as much as possible, allowing the metal detector to process them individually.
- Walk through the metal detector by yourself at a normal pace.
As witnessed by my recent trip, these tips won't keep you from getting flagged every time, but they will help improve your chances at getting through quickly and on with your fun day!
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