Build a Droid and Epcot Security
i wanted to share my experience from yesterday to prepare others.
We had a great time building two droids, one R2 and one BB8 style. My son was doing the BB8 style, and we had a great cast member assisting us, explaining everything well, but even she had trouble joining the two half-shell body parts together. We lined up arrows, etc, but it was hard and stiff, but we did it and droid looked great when done.
We then decided to leave DHS and go to Epcot for fish n chips for lunch. After a nice boat ride, we arrived at epcot security, my husband took the R2 version through one line, and I (mum) was carrying my sons BB8 version through the adjoining line with another guard. R2 version got through no issues, just opened box looked at, sent through. My security guard opened box and said i had to take BB8 version apart to show center of the body part. Sigh. Well I couldn’t open it, it was too stuck tight together. She tried, she couldn’t do it either. Another guard came over and he tried. But then we both worked together, me holding base, him turning top and we got it open. Then we put it back together, badly. Droid no longer working. Son very upset.
The experience was very stressful, as I was worried our new droid was going to break. The fish n chips weren’t worth it, by the way, too much batter.
once home we fixed it. Takes two people, one holding base, other twisting top, to take it apart. Made sure the center bit aligned correctly, and then Put body back together, using two people method. Note: we are hoping over time putting it back together gets easier as hopefully it will become less stiff (tight).
i tell my story to warn other parents, had my son been carrying the droid, there is no way he could have got it apart for security, and if both parents through the security gates you can’t help. I don’t know if I was unlucky, or if all BB8 styles have to be taken apart at park entry security.