How big of a folding pocket knife can I carry in LA, Disney, San Francisco, etc?  3"?
I've got a Leek and a flashlight, is that about it? Am I gonna die?

I carry a 3" folder everyday.  Never had a problem.

These are my personal maunderings and meanderings and carry no official weight, and if necessary, I will deny any part or all.

Officially you can't bring the knife into Disney or California.  There is a bag check process where bags are checked.  People aren't patted down, or pockets checked.  All the people that I know of, who have been turned away at the gate for knifes were spotted because they had a big ass clip showing.

Today for the first time, I am aware of, (and this is not necessarily indicative of standard procedures it might be just the first time somebody let us know about it) and the first time several other employees are aware of, they checked if an electronic device was functional and when it didn't turn on had the owner return it to their vehicle.  Not sure what it was, about 5x7 in size.  The owner opted to take it back to their car.

Note 1 : Today was the 60th Anniversary, there was the shooting in Chattanooga yesterday, and today IIRC was the last day of Ramadan.  What was the behind the decision to be more thorough on the checks.  I expect the first reason almost entirely.

Today, I also saw a service dog in a wagon.  Large shaved area and dressings.  They were waiting on the ramp to get on the trams.  There was a lead and a few other employees talking to them, this could just have been seeing how things were going with one of the regular visitors and their person.  I have no idea what the disposition was.  I expect the answer was to let the Main Gate people work it out.

The initial screenings and decisions are made by the Main Gate personnel.  If necessary, Supervisors, Managers, Security and APD can get involved.  Getting Security and/or APD involved is not a good thing.


Note 2 :  When an item on the "prohibited" "list" is presented at the entry gates or bag check, the employee will inform the guest that one or more items, is inappropriate and will not be allowed in to the park(s).  Some items, the employee may suggest that the items can fit in to nearby lockers and stored there.  Primarily this is usually smaller coolers and other food.  Generally the guest is informed that the object is not coming in, disposition is up to the guest.  Although the real answer to the question, "Do you want me to throw this thing away?" is "YES, you MORON, did you even think to call or look up whether you could bring your World's Largest Off-Road Wagon in to the parks?"  the official answer is, "Sir, the item is your what you decide to do with it is up to you.  Most people take them back to their cars. (motel rooms, etc)"  

    Wagons (or other wheeled and normally pulled objects)  Aren't going in unless they are being used for a medical or similar purpose.  Carrying oxygen bottles, rigged up to carry a disabled child in lieu of a wheelchair or gurney, etc.  Because you brought enough stuff to fill a small station wagon doesn't fly.

    Weapons - Normally asked to return it to the vehicle, I have seen guests escorted by Security back to ensure it was taken to the car.  I expect the guest raised a stink.  Security is not part of the normal practice.  I have seen people try to take real bows and arrows in to the park.  (Security and APD handled that one.)  I have seen kids with the toy gun that was purchased in the park before lunch get asked to return it to the car.  The involved employee was reminded that guests may return with purchased items.  To the best of my knowledge the only concealed carriers that are allowed on a regular basis to carry in the park are members of local PDs or on-duty officers.  Non-sworn carriers can't.  If there are lockers, there aren't that many, it's a hassle.  (Part of this is that there are in reality extremely few civilian CCW in CA.  whine about the word elsewhere.  It just doesn't come up all that often.  Don't screw it up for others..  The other aspect is safety.  A pistol that may pass simple drop tests that is launched from a ride may not pass that drop test.  It may also hit somebody..

    Selfie Sticks - Officially BANNED as of two weeks ago.  For a short time, duration un-announced, guests will be allowed to check them in at Lost and Found.  This is an attempt to accommodate those guests living under rocks that didn't see or hear about the ban on media.  The practice will not last, Lost and Found has neither the space or people to accommodate it.  If found with a selfie stick in the park, the guest will be escorted to Lost and Found for storage.  Any objection the guest will be escorted out.  Rides and guests have been damaged by these things

    Commercial grade cameras and other recording devices - Allowed after coordination with Media Relations  (You ain't goona make money on the property without the mouse getting his cut.)

    Animals, pets-  go to the kennels.  Must present record of current vaccinations.  The list changes and comes from the County.  No record or missing vaccine, no boarding.  The only one who can make any exception is Walt, and yeah, he's dead.  The county can and does make surprise inspections.  Fail the inspection, immediate closure.  Hence, no exceptions.  Historically any legal non-venomous pet was allowed if the fit.  If they didn't fit Circle D would take to the "ranch".  Apparently larger animals are no longer accepted.

    Animals, Service - Allowed in parks. Supposed to be certified, which is still in limbo.

    Drugs - A good way to get immediate involvement with Security and APD.  Not a good way to start your day at the happiest place on earth.

    Dress Code - Nobody likes to enforce it, but see through garments, overly revealing garments, sexually or politically or both  inappropriate messages, etc, adults in costumes, especially skimpy Princess costumes, etc.  Using a little smarts goes a long way.  I have seen older female German guest wearing too transparent tops with no bras (my eyes).  I have seen a few boobs get through

Ask for a Just Married button at the trams, shuttle buses or Main GAte.

If you go to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor (it's free by the way, parking surprise, isn't) at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.  Also at the museum on exhibit are Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules, other full size spacecraft from JPL, TRW and Hughes.  Several fighters.  (Most of the planes are currently off display as the Air and Space portion is being rebuilt to include the shuttle in it's final display setting.)  Currently a 3d presentation on Dead Sea Scrolls.   Make sure you go to the adjacent LA County Museum of Natural History.  Great museum, dinosaurs, animals, mummies, and you'll think you have been there before.  In lot's of movies, tv shows, just the building with stone work, colored marble floors, tiled ceilings, bronze chandeliers.  Go to the east rotunda for a big deja vue incident.

This museum complex is the "Jeffersonian" from Bones.

On the north side of the complex is the real USC, on the south side is the LA Coliseum.  

Depending on where you stay, you might want to consider a day similar to what we just did with our South Carolina relations.  Took Metrolink from Fullerton (my son's Mother-in-law had never been on a real train, so that checked of another line on her bucket list) to LA Union Station in downtown LA.  From there took Metrorail Red Line (subway) to Expo Line to Expo/USC station, 15 - 20 minutes from downtown including connections.  Drops you off right at the Rose Garden between the Museums. The round-trip MetroLink ticket is good for all day on all the Metrorail lines.  Since our grandson was along and pooping out a bit and to make a dinner appointment we returned to Fullerton.  You can take the Red line out to Hollywood and see Graumans and Walk of Fame (blech) or out to Universal Studios. Check out the Union Station, again another fixture of TV and movies.  Across the street is Olvera Street and the Old PLaza.  (the only "old" part of LA), and a block north is Chinatown, such as it is.  Good eats at both, but I would suggest Chinatown, and be a little adventurous.

Disney has been well covered.  One thing, they do allow flashlights.  

In L.A. and surrounding area, just go online and try to determine where your interests lie.  From the beach to the valley there is more stuff than one can do in a lifetime, though I am trying.

Ditto with San Francisco.

Re: knives.  There are both state and local laws to contend with.  Most public venues, museums and such do not allow "weapons" of any sort.  This includes defense sprays.

Will you survive?  Well, that all depends on just how much attention you pay to your bride and how much you pay to the local female residents.  Your bride will the determiner of that.

Schedule in more SFO time. re the above.  

The Exposition Park Museums  didn't check bags or go through detectors.

Survived, had lots of fun, no real bum issues, except one in Bloomingdales stomping around smelling up the stores, ranting gibberish to himself.

I've had worse rental cars, but this thing felt like a boat, and it was harsh and mushy at the same time.  It had paddles but the transmission is retarded.  I'll keep my manual 350Z.

Congrats!

Glad you had fun.


Wife is a hottie!