The scanner distinguishes between weapons and personal items Guests simply walk through it, and security officers can see if a guest has a weapon on them. The scanners are able to distinguish between weapons and personal items, such as a phone.

At Walt Disney World security checkpoints in 2026, the primary technology used is the Evolv Express contactless screening system. These advanced AI-powered scanners allow guests to walk through at a normal pace without removing items like umbrellas, cameras, or water bottles from their bags. Unlike traditional metal detectors, the Evolv system uses low-energy sensors and artificial intelligence to distinguish between common everyday items and actual threats (like weapons). If the system detects a suspicious object, it alerts security with a red light and indicates the specific area on the person's body or bag that needs a manual "secondary" check. This has significantly reduced the long "bag check" lines that were common a decade ago. Additionally, for park entry, Disney uses biometric finger scanners (and is increasingly testing facial recognition technology) to link tickets to individual guests, ensuring that tickets are not shared or resold, while maintaining a smooth and efficient flow into the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and other theme park gates.