BAD BOYS BAD BOYS!! Undercover Security

[Dunkeress]

 

[Whitegloves]

We were coming into the Magic Kingdom, I believe it was either Christmas Day or the next morning, back in 2003. I had gotten my middle son, who was 19 at the time, a dark blue t-shirt from Penney's that had the word SECURITY across the front. He chose to wear it that morning, with no jacket. We go through the turnstiles and before we can turn around we hear a quiet voice say 'Excuse me...Kellogg Family..we have an issue.' We look up and there is this guy in street clothes, younger, clean cut. Turns out he was security and much to our surprise...nothing brings them in quicker than a shirt with their calling on it...lol.
He explained that he (my son) either had to change it, cover it up or turn it inside out. They felt it could confuse guests who may think he was real security for the park. He ended up putting his Dad's jacket on for the rest of the day. It's also interesting to note he knew our name. They obviously do pay attention to the tickets when they are scanned.
I have to say it makes you feel more secure, knowing they are watching.
=0)

 

[Purseval]

I'm impressed. To show you the difference between WDW and Universal, I tripped and had a bad fall at Universal one evening.

(snip)

No one from Universal offered any assistance.

My wife fell at Universal and a CM had first aid on the radio and over in less than 2 minutes. He took care of her cuts and offered to get her a wheelchair or stretcher if she needed it. She didn't. We went to Guest Services to report it and they gave us express passes good for the rest of the day to compensate us for the time we took to make the report.

Do you really think a park the size of Universal Studios doesn't have the same security setup as WDW?

 

[DptyDogg]

This is such a cool thread. I always tell me wife that working WDW security following retirement is in my future.

 

[DSquare]

Couple different experiences to share.

Last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas my wife, our two kids, and I took a week vacation. Normal for us, we live in FL and go often and always try and go around Christmas time to see the decorations. This trip for some reason it was real easy to spot the undercover security at the front gates and we kind of was making a game out of who could spot them first. One morning we parked at Epcot and was planning on taking the monorail over to the TTC and then go do the resort line to see the decorations in there. We go through baggage check and we spot on on the benches then head up the monorail ramp. We waited for about 15 minutes then an annoucement came over said that the monorail is on the way over but is having trouble with a door sensor and it could be 30 more minutes. Well we didn't want to wait so we head back down the ramp to make our way to the turnstiles. On the way down my wife says there's one, I never spotted her, and she said as soon as my wife made eye contact she turned the other way, my wife thought she was watching this group of 20 college kids. We walk past her on the way to the entrance and I look back and there is a uniformed security officer talking to her and he is staring at us. He then starts walking our way and I'm thinking what is going on. They were concerned because we came down the entrance ramp to the monorail. We had to explain to them that the monorail was having problems and we didn't want to wait anymore. He questioned us for a few more minutes and I think we radio'd the monorail operators or something and then let us on our way.


That same trip on night we walked the countries at Epcot. At England in the garden area there was a CM on the ground with a family trying to help her. I ran into the store and didn't see any CM at all. I went back upto the main path around and found a CM at a vending cart, explained to him and he rushed over to her. Didn't see anyone one else rushing over and trying to help except the one family that was already with her.


A few years back my wife and SIL was at the toy store at DTD. My SIL thinks a bird flew out of a rack and smacked her in the face. I think she hit her head on an endcap or something. Anyways she had blood pouring out they didn't know if she would need stitches or what. They had three kids between them and I guess the CM's kept just handing stuff to the kids to play with and keep while security and first aid people cared for her. She asked about video footage from a security camera to see what she hit her face on and she was told that there is no security cameras in the store.

 

[Tink Mick Koda Miles]

Am I the only one that thinks it is a bit odd how much they check out bags that are left lying around, and yet 1000's of bags are left unattended (in strollers) all over the place?

my thoughts exactly!!!

 

[Kaewin]

These are great stories

 

[asta]

My wife fell at Universal and a CM had first aid on the radio and over in less than 2 minutes. He took care of her cuts and offered to get her a wheelchair or stretcher if she needed it. She didn't. We went to Guest Services to report it and they gave us express passes good for the rest of the day to compensate us for the time we took to make the report.

Do you really think a park the size of Universal Studios doesn't have the same security setup as WDW?

I don't have any idea about the relative sizes of the security forces. The only thing I can say with certainty is that they offered no, and I mean absolutely none, assistance to me when I fell. By the time I reached the entrance to the park, I had blood running down the front of my leg. I still had to walk back to the Hard Rock Hotel and we stopped at guest services for assistance and all they would offer was a small finger type bandage. If a fall and wound bad enough to rip your meniscus in three places does not merit assistance, I don't know what the folks at Universal think deserves their help.

 

[DCTooTall]

So, reading thru this thread I'm noticing a general trend here....


Is Disney's "Undercover Tourist cop" uniform khaki's with a Hawaiian shirt?

 

[clkelley]

I do wish that the pushing/running to the headliner attractions were under better control. I'm not sure what can be done because the cms try to control the crowds, but people can be downright dangerous when they run and push. If there isn't undercover security already at the Soarin/TSM/EE/Space Mountain/ToT stampedes, I'd love to see some present there.

Oh, there is an easy way to do that. California Adventure does a GREAT job on the rope drop queue for Toy Story Midway Mania!!

First off, about 20 minutes before park opening, the Sun Plaza is opened. On the far right side of the Sun Plaza is a roped off area that is a "single file line". This is the rope drop line for Toy Story Mania. At about 10 minutes till park opening, the CMs start walking folks in the TSM line back towards the attraction. SINGLE FILE. They pause the single file line at the entrance of the Paradise Pier area. Then at about 2 minutes to park opening, they continue the march into the actual TSM queue SINGLE FILE. The first folks are loaded onto the attraction and the first vehicle is launched exactly at park opening!!!

No pushing, no shoving. It's great!!!

 

[clkelley]

I've always just figured that each resort probably has some of the more popular things on hand and the "delivery" is electronic. On the same note, the rest of the deliveries could come from a central warehouse somewhere. I honestly have no idea if that is true or not, but it is my best guess.

Nope. The CMs at the store package up your package, staple it up good right there, and a copy of the form you filled out at the register is INSIDE the package AND stapled to the package.

I've personally watched my package sealed up and placed in the "resort delivery" pile behind the register.

 

[POOHsie]

This goes back a few years. At Epcot at the U.K. there is a big rectangular garden in the back with benches around it. There's shops on two sides, a maze and a bandstand. In older times, this was a smoking area and my family's smokers would stop there and smoke at the bench that had the ashtray. One year while smoking, some Disney people approached us and informed us that this was not a smoking area. OK, butts went out. We didn't realize there had been a change. So we sat at the bench for a bit more, and into the garden area comes 2 Disney employees, one on a Segway. They go around the corner to the back of one of the shops and light up. This was a no smoking place for the public, but a secret smoking spot for employees!

 

[Eljay]

...She asked about video footage from a security camera to see what she hit her face on and she was told that there is no security cameras in the store.

They must be told to say that if someone asks. Wouldn't they almost have to have cameras?

 

[campingcorgi]

Several years back we were staying at the Fort and decided to head over to the MK for the opening night of Wishes. (Where is that 'I lost my mind' smilie?) We entered the park shortly before dark, and headed down Main Street through the shops-not noticing the crowds. We exited by Casey's and WHOA! The crowds were crotch-to-crack and not moving! We managed to get over to the left by the fenced grassy area and that was as far as we could go. We couldn't go back, either, or we'd have headed out to safety. We managed to get the kiddo out of the stroller but didn't even have enough space to fold it. There was a single body-width pathway that had large numbers of people trying to go both ways, and pretty soon a shoving match broke out. I was ready to jump the fence with the kid when suddenly the 'hot and bothered' men were surrounded by soft-spoken Disney types, and all calmed down again. Did they pop up from the pavement?

We were waiting for a Fort boat last week and saw one of the 'undercover tourist' security guys sitting on a bench. Hawaiian shirt, khaki pants, and the coiled wire to his ear. He seemed to be either talking to his hand or just resting.

 

[ohanalover]

WHOA! The crowds were crotch-to-crack and not moving!

 

[Carriemel]

WHOA! The crowds were crotch-to-crack and not moving!

Ohhhhhh...TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGG FAIRYYYYYYYYYYY!!! We got a good one for ya here!

 

[JerseyDisneyGirl]

This thread is too cool! Slightly off topic, but Disney was to the rescue. This past summer we were at CBR at night playing in the pool. DH was with DD (2.5) and DS (6). DD went down the kid slide DH turned his head to watch DS and DD slipped and hit her head. DH went to get me and DD had a HUGE bump on her head. I am not a freak about medical stuff, but she scared me. I got a lifeguard and a supervisor came over in seconds. The sup asked me if I wanted to call and ambulance, I did want her checked out. An ambluance came very quickly, there were about 5 guys there to help out. One family who we met on the bus earlier that day asked if they could help, the kept an eye on DS for us while we took care of DD. The paramedics couldn't have been nicer. She didn't show signs of an concussion so they weren't concnered (at this point either was I). The paramedic said they were there to help resort guests, and if we had an concerns to call any time. They patched her up, with none other than a Bugs Bunny band-aid, we got a kick out of this since they are paramedic for Disney property. It ended up being a minor incident, but we were grateful that they responded so quickly, and did a great job!

 

[sharadoc]

WHOA! The crowds were crotch-to-crack and not moving!

Perhaps the BEST description I have EVER heard - I know exactly what you mean. Describes that situation perfectly.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Very good stories-keep it up!!

 

[Pineapple Whip]

So, reading thru this thread I'm noticing a general trend here....


Is Disney's "Undercover Tourist cop" uniform khaki's with a Hawaiian shirt?

For the men. The women wear hula skirts and coconut bras.

There has to be a mix, like uniformed, casual, and undercover. I'm pretty sure I've seen UC's and they're not in hawaiian shirts. Either that or they were cops on vacation.

I think the HWShirts are to keep the alarm level low while still being "uniformed". The actual uniforms may be in the area to control the crowd and assist the "gang of Hawaiians carrying that drunk man off" when a park guest notices a kidnapping by Elvis' backup singers. I'm sure there are UC guards all over and even UC law enforcement assisting.

Sheer staff numbers, park design, and the cameras add to the effect. Remember it takes a guest longer to get to different points in the park than a CM. Security has shortcuts, and responders can be there quickly, but I imagine that a UC spotter will perform a takedown if the situation is severe enough.