What started as a test of a new bag check experience at Disney Springs will now expand to all four Walt Disney World theme parks. In what is a long overdue move, Disney will be moving away from a hands-on approach to bag check screening and moving into the 21st century with Artificial Intelligence screening that will greatly improve the bag check process.

As a reminder, the old bag check process would rely on a security Cast Member to search your bag by hand before sending you through a metal detector to check your person.

Of course, the level of thoroughness in the bag check varied from security Cast Member to security Cast Member, and introduced the element of human error. As you might imagine, we’ve been through security hundreds, if not thousands of times over the years, and just like everyone else, we’ve seen different levels of detail in the bag check searches. After a manual bag check search, security would randomly ask guests to walk through a metal detector, meaning not everyone had to pass through. We’ve had our qualms with the process over the years, but have largely remained silent on the topic.

Now, Disney will be moving to an Artificial Intelligence offering from Evolv technology at all four of their Walt Disney World theme parks. This is the same technology we saw in testing at Disney Springs a few weeks ago.

Currently, the new system is installed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Magic Kingdom hasn’t received the new system yet, but we’re told they should be upgrading after the scale test is complete at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While the Disney Springs test strictly didn’t allow photos, we spoke with a Security Manager today at Disney’s Animal Kingdom who walked us over to a scanner not in use and allowed us to take a photo. Of course, nothing about the Disney setup is visibly different than other installations already in use at other theme parks and venues around the country.

The experience today was seamless and even guests who were stopped simply had to take their items to a nearby security Cast Member who was able to perform a targeted inspection and send them on their way without having to perform a full bag check.

We also had the opportunity to see the Evolv system in action at Hersheypark recently, and have to say that the experience was seamless. Here’s a look at the system in place at Hersheypark, photo taken with permission from employees. As you can see, everyone will go through the Evolv Express scanner, and a secondary check is performed if the system detects an anomaly. If not, you’re free to go enjoy the theme park without ever having to take off your bag, or have it manually searched. Tablet devices will alert security guards to an anomaly if it occurs, and will pinpoint the problem area to allow for a more accurate manual search.

The Evolv Express system will not only cut down on the often times large lines to get through the tedious bag check process, it will also allow for more streamlined staffing.

According to the Evolv Technology website, Evolv Express uses advanced sensors and machine learning to automatically screen for concealed weapons on all employees, contractors and visitors entering your facility without slowing down operations.

Powered by the Evolv Cortex AI™ Software Platform, Express is the only fast, touchless, free-flow firearm and bomb detection system that screens more than 3600 people per hour (60 people per minute) and gets smarter over time. It keeps high volume entrances flowing by reliably detecting guns and other weapons as visitors walk through at a natural pace.

By switching to the Evolv Express system, not only does Disney create a more pleasant experience for the guests, but also a more reliable screening and safer experience. Use of this system versus the old bag check used before the parks closed due to COVID-19 also ensures a safer procedure for security Cast Members who are now able to screen from a distance and not have to physically interact with each and every personal item that comes through the screening.

As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com for the latest Disney Parks news and photos. We’ll continue to bring you news and photos, where possible, through the Disney Parks closure due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will resume our normal coverage once the parks reopen to guests on July 11th!