Disney Pins and Airport Security

Several readers have asked if their pins will be confiscated by security if they have them in their carryon bags. While we can't speak for airport security, we can share with you that no one has indicated to us that they have had that kind of difficulty.

Here's what readers report:

I just came back from Disney and packed all my pins in my carry-on and did not have any problems what-so-ever. I traveled through the Providence, RI — Charlotte, NC, and Tampa, FL airports. Security was heightened, but "pins" are not listed on the "forbidden" list. It was smooth sailing. (Heather Costa, 11/10/01)

*****

My husband and I just got back from WDW where he was a 32,000 point winner on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Play it!". We travel standby so all of our luggage is carry on. He was able to get through just fine with a lanyard full of his pins (ten large ones in all). Thought you'd want to know. (Susie Oviatt, 11/01)

*****

I'm a frequent flyer (four flights a week), I don't collect Disney pins, but I wear a US flag pin on my jacket which has the same type of stud and clip that the Disney pins do. Never been a problem. If your pins has a long stem (needle like) I would expect to be stopped. Alisa

*****

I've been in several airports since the bombing and have had no problems with my pins going through security. For clarification, I keep my pins on my Canon camera strap. I put my camera bag through security so I can carry it on a plane and have never been asked about them. I've gone through Detroit Metro, Orlando's airport (MCO), Ft. Myers airport, Memphis TN's airport, and Ft. Walton Beach FL's airport. In each instance, however, we have had to open our two year old daughter's diaper bag due to her baby clippers. (Brian W. Tucker, 11/01)

*****

I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Disneyworld. Before we left we were concerned about whether or not they would allow us to carry our pin collections on the plane. I called the airline, in this case Delta, and spoke with someone in their customer relations department. They assured me that carrying the pins on the plane would not be a problem. I had them in my carry on luggage both leaving NY and returning home from Orlando. We did not have a problem in either location. (Lisa, 11/01)

*****

I had all my pins in my pocket and had no problem getting through security
and on the plane. This was at the Orlando Airort in Terminal B (Ric_Flack, 11/01)

*****

Well as it turns out my husband got into the hot seat during out visit at the end of September. So when we were leaving Orlando going back to Detroit, I was carrying the 1000 point pins in our carry on luggage (we didn't check any that trip) and didn't have any problems. When I went in October, I had two Disney bags of pins and I had those in my checked luggage just in case. Donna

*****

I carried about 50-100 pins in my carryon luggage both coming and going from Orlando. I passed thru security at DFW (Dallas Ft Worth) airport with no question at all. On returning from Orlando, after the pins went thru the Xray the guy asked if he could look in my carryon bag–he said it looked like I had a bunch of belt buckles in it–I explained what the items were-he looked and sent me on my way. Lisa Allison

*****

My family and I were at WDW Oct. 28-Nov. 4th. Mmy son and daughter had each bought a couple of attraction pins to put on their backpacks. We never gave this a thought until we were at the Orlando airport, in line for x-ray check. The pins came to our attention when my daughter reached in her backpack and accidentally poked her finger on a pin, drawing blood. We were sure the pins would be confiscated, but sent the bags through the machine anyway. We were not beeped or stopped by security and the pins made it safely home! (Possibly because we only had a few?). Deneil Parker

*****

I went through Austin Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Tx and I had one of my hats in my carry on. I was worried when I was waiting in the security line and realized that I had pins on my hat. I shrugged and sent it through the xray and they didn't say anything. I don't know if I just lucked out or what. I did put that hat in my suitcase on the return trip, why tempt fate again. Mary Kay

*****

I and my two girls had no problem flying home with our pins. We went from the Tampa airport into Pittsburgh, PA on October 31st wearing our lanyards and no one said anything about them. Elizabeth Huxford

*****

We traveled Oct 8. We flew out of Toledo Ohio. I put my pins in my carry on bag. And I had my bag ran through the x-ray machine twice. They finally asked if they could open my bag to check it. They said that they couldn't tell what they were on the monitor. I of course said yes. They were very friendly. Even joke with us about not wanted to make Disney mad. On our way home in Orlando, we were checked again. This time I had purchased a pin brief case. They pull it off the belt after they could tell on the monitor what it was. However they were not friendly at all. They really didn't say anything to us. But of course it was a much busier airport. Rachelle