Improve Security

[minimahaki]

IMPROVE SECURITY

Does anyone remember the days when the guard gates (especially at OKW and the Poly) were never occupied? Now they are occupied but not all of the security guards are doing what they are supposed to be doing. I think we, as members need to complain to someone in charge…. However, who is this individual? Do we call member services or the resort manager? Is there a chief of security that we can notify? I think if we all made the complaints to the correct individual maybe this would help to beef up security. Does anyone have the answer?
Lauretta
Minimahaki DVC Members since May, 1993

[LisaR]

Come on, what could they improve on? When we were there in Feb (OKW) the guard that worked the PM shift seemed to have his computer solitaire game down pat! He was able to play and glance at the gate to wave EVERYONE through without missing a single move on the computer.
On a serious note, my brother lives in Florida and always visits when we are down. He was only stopped once at the gate and asked why he was there. When he said he was visiting guests, he let him in just like that. The other times (twice, I believe), he was waved through without asking him anything. I thought they stopped people without a parking pass? That kind of bugged me.

Lisa

[DebbieB]

When I arrived at OKW last May for my first DVC trip, I was waiting for my "welcome home" at the gate. I thought they had a list of people checking in and would know I was a member. Anyway, I pulled to the gate and the guard just waived me through! No questions! I stopped and said "checking in", he said "enjoy!". :rolleyes:

[Beth]

The above responses are typically the same ones that "we" have always gotten, but, on our last trip (two weeks ago), we told the guard we were checking in, and he checked a list for our name.

I attributed it to the fact that they just got off of the "Spring Break" periods, and may have been very busy!

But normally - they just wave us through...

[jctwizzer]

It isn't clear what is being advocated here. Give some examples of the problems you've witnessed because of lax security. We've been to three different resorts a total of 20+ times and are not aware of ANY security problems. If your experience is different, spell it out.

[dtheboys]

We need to beef up security! This is "our Home" would we let just anyone in to use our yard or pool back home?!! NO!!
We would fire that gaurd if he let someone onto our property. The gaurd can't be perfect, but it can be improved on. I just stayed 12 days at BWV and was never stopped. I was stopped several times at WLV.
This is our home, we should not have people staying off premises using our facilities. This will just increase our maintenence and dues in the long run.
Join DVC or pay to stay on premises!
I had several people sitting in the pool area, that was using our pool and did not belong! This costs the resort money and we pay the resort back in higher dues.
Thanks:mad:

[Tiggeriffic]

When we checked in about a week and a half ago, April 22nd, we stopped at the gate and the guard checked for our name before letting us through.

Also, someone tried to go around us while the gate was up and the security guard got out, stopped them, and told them to wait.

So, at least when we were there, they seemed to be doing their job the whole time.

I never got a "Welcome Home" from the security guard, but I guess that I'd rather them keep out people that didn't belong.

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

We have not noticed a problem with security while at WDW. I don't think they are their to harass people but to just watch over things and stop anyone who looks like they may cause problems. If they stopped everyone the complaint would be that they are over-steping their bounds. I have been waved on at many of the resort properties without a parking pass in the window and never thought that the security guard was not doing their job. They have on occassion stopped me when I first arrived and checked my name on a list, but not all of the time. It is better than when OKW first opened and no one was in the guard gate. I think one of their main duties is to answer questions and give directions to lost guests. I have also been waved on at the guard stations going into the MK area.

[Synonymous]

I don't want to be harassed by security every time I come in. What a pain. Disney marketing ploys aside, these resorts aren't "our home," they are resorts that cater to all kinds of people, DVC and non-DVC. I've never heard of any security problem. Has anyone else?

Tom

[PamOKW]

Any time you have a comment on DVC, you should write to DVC management to express your opinion.

I don't have a problem with WDW Security. They are more diligent at the front gate at night and they are also constantly patroling the grounds. The problem lies more in checking who is using the recreation and the transportation. If they get tougher at the gate, the folks looking to spend the day will just park at DD and take the boat (or bus) over to OKW. Only members will be inconvenienced by more diligent checking. Many moons ago, at least one person in the group had to show a resort ID to board a WDW bus. I think if they returned to that system a lot of problems would be solved.

[baileybrad]

I hope that Disney never stops letting folks who are not staying a particular resort from visiting. We occasionally stay at non-Disney resorts but always visit various resort food courts and restaurants. I have heard that about half of the diners at the GF are just locals having dinner. If the pool folks did their jobs at all of the resorts as well as they do at the WL then the trespassing problem would be reduced greatly.

[tiggersnj]

As far as the BWV is concerned, I don't believe they can
stop anyone from entering. Although it is not a park, it is a place of entertainment for everyone. We have been going to WDW for many years and I have always felt safe. As far as the pools go, that should be handled by the individual resorts, managers, CM, etc. just my opinion:earsboy:

[PeggyOKW]

I just find it irratating that it is inconsistant

[CaptainMidnight]

Security needs to be improved.

Paying resort guests should have privledges and enjoy non-crowded resorts over and above locals and offsite guests wandering around the premises. If you want to enjoy a WDW resort, pay for it.

Sorry, but that's my take on it. I'm driving two days to get there. There are plenty of other Orlando activities for locals to partake in than bypassing lax security and hanging out at Disney resorts. Heck, they can get a annual pass and hang out at the parks whenever they want.

[KNWVIKING]

Something to keep in mind about OKW and other resorts is that they all have public access facilities. Someone staying at a Best Western may want to eat at Olivia's. Someone contemplating paying cash to stay at OKW may want to check out the resort before paying big $$$. You can't expect the guards to give everybody the 3rd degree or be a mind reader.The gate guards are actually useless. I would rather see the resorts use these guards to check ID's at the pools, that is about the only facility that gets abused by unwanted people.

[PamOKW]

I think the gate guards serve a purpose in keeping an initial eye out for any real trouble or illegal activity. However, the resorts have public areas (especially BW) and access can't be completely denied. I do feel that measures should be taken to keep non-resort guests out of the pool and other recreation areas and off the transportation. I don't think that falls under "Security" but should be resort policy.

[nydizfan]

first of all too much has been said about the security. its only there to make us feel safe . do u think they are there to keep all the non dvc members away ? come on . that would be non realistic. sp . the disney security is very low key BUT they are ever where . thank good nes. thanks dave

[Frank Leemadeer]

Originally posted by jctwizzer
It isn't clear what is being advocated here. Give some examples of the problems you've witnessed because of lax security. We've been to three different resorts a total of 20+ times and are not aware of ANY security problems. If your experience is different, spell it out.

The security issue is a big deal to me jct...

To illustrate my point I've reposted the following which I have previously contributed on another thread:

.....Everybody seems to automatically jump to the conclusion that it is the 'feature' type pools that are worst hit by the unauthorised visitor. My experience is that OKW is one of the worst sufferers. Many times I have been there and suddenly been accompanied (worse on a weekend) by all sorts of people who I had not seen before and who don't appear again. I took this as just normal until I overheard one family say that they came up every weekend from nearby so the kids could swim and they could relax in nice surroundings. My impression was that they were neither members nor guests.
My worst experience however occurred when I was joined in conversation by a couple one day who 'confided in me' that they were staying at The Quality Inn Plaza on International Drive but spent every day they could at OKW !!!!
I told a CM about that but there was nothing done and disappointingly no particular interest from the CM either!

No one ever seems to 'Police' OKW in the same way they do other resorts. The security guy 8 times out of 10 will wave you through whilst on the phone to someone - who do they talk to by the way? some of their conversations seem to go on for ages....

I then had a few words on the 'Towel Issue' at OKW before closing....

"Perhaps if they asked for Resort ID like they do when giving out towels at other resorts some of the freeloaders might get exposed!"

And I think jct.... that's my point - we get quizzed and some members have even been thrown out of other resorts. But never mind, need to swim? laze about for the day? Never mind you're not a DVC Member just pop down to Old Key West - no one will bother you there.

I'm with the 'Let's Beef Up security' folk on this one!

[Bugeye]

Realistically, the best that those guard stations can do is deter people from driving onto the property. If someone really wants to get in, they can just walk in from the road, or the beach, or the park, etc. I agree, however, that if they are there, they should provide at least the basics, otherwise, why spend the money. I wouldn't see them giving the 'welcome home' since non-DVC guests use the same gates.

[jcdisneyfan]

I have a solution!!! :bounce:

If the gaurds are so useless then we should have them put gate arms and attach them to a card reader mechanism. If you don't swipe your DVC card then you don't get in......lol

Actually I don't have a problem with the gaurds. In our last stay, we were always waved on but then we never left in the car but twice all of the rest of the time we took the buses from OKW to the parks.

I do know that when we went to just look around the GF they asked why we where there and we told them we were eating there and they gave us a three hour pass. This was different than WL who just waved us through.

I personally think that the gaurds at the DVC sites do a fairly good job. I'll know more in November when we stay at WVL, in June we are staying at OKW.

:cool:

[Lisa F]

I'm with the "we don't need to beef up security into the resorts" camp. In fact, it would make me feel distinctly UNcomfortable to be hassled everywhere I go on resort property. Some of the best restaurants on property are at the resorts and we frequent many of them. I don't want to be made to feel like a criminal or an outsider or like I don't belong there when I visit these resorts.

I have never felt overcrowding in any of the public spaces or restaurants in any of the resorts I have stayed at due to people visiting or using the restaurants. The pool issue is a different one and if it REALLY is a problem of non-resort guests using the pool, it should be addressed at the level of the pool and not the entire resort.

I think this whole notion of wanting to keep all of those "florida locals" out of resorts is a silly one (though keeping them out of pools is ok). Disney ENCOURAGES florida residents to visit the resorts and eat at their restaurants by allowing them to enroll in the "disney dining experience" program which gets 20% off all food and beverage (including alcoholic) at all of the sit down restaurants at WDW.

Just my $.02, but I like security the way it is... present and available if needed but otherwise low key. I bought into DVC to visit WDW, not to visit a maximum security stockade in the middle of florida!

Lisa

[prisoner]

Yes, security at the gates can probably be a little stronger, but lets understand why it isn't in many cases:

Checking everyone for everything can slow the entry down. We've tried to enter OKW when there was a line of cars trying to get in, and it quickly backed into the road causing traffic tie-ups. Bad traffic is something I go to WDW to avoid.
Spot checks can often be just as effective. If regulars "know" they might get stopped, many won't bother. The appearance of security meets many of the needs of security.
As noted, there are many reasons why non-guests might want to be there. BW is advertised as being a place for people to visit, for example.


So, lets consider what some good solutions are besides improving gate security.

Clearly, if we are concerned about specific resources (the pool, being a prime example) being incorrectly used - then put the security there. If we are concerned about general safety - lets make sure there are patrols that are visible. Over the past 2 years, we've noticed more and more Disney Security around the resorts and parks - clearly Disney takes this seriously.

Unfortunately, I think they take it so seriously that its beginning to affect how I feel when I see security itself. A few years ago, security used to wear brightly colored jackets saying "Disney Security" or with the D police badge. Bright, colorfull, and very much in the Disney theme. Nowadays, I mostly see them wearing badly tailored police uniforms and hats. Yes, they look more like police, but this is so far out of whack from what I expect that it rubs me the wrong way. I feel more intimidated than reassured.

[mamalu]

I stayed at BWV from March 11-16th, 2001. During that time, I heard on the local televised news that a young girl was molested at either the Swan or Dolphin. I believe she was staying in a first floor room and you could see into the room that she was alone. The perpretator went to her door, pretending to be room service or maintenance. So before you think that there should only be security at the swimming pools, remember that there are bigger problems out there. Because of the friendly atmosphere, you feel your children are safe everywhere at WDW, but they still need to be looked after.

[Ralph&Pam]

I agree that there is little more security can do at the entrance to the BW. The suggestion to do more to restrict access to the pool is a good one, since this seems to be one problem area. Also, for those not using valet parking, it might help to restrict access to the guest parking area. At VB, you cannot get into the parking areas by the villas (actually under the villas) without using your room key. Pool access also requires use of the room key. A similar room-key activated gate into a parking area reserved for guests staying at the BW would enhance the opportunity to actually find a parking place when not using the valet.

Ralph