BAD BOYS BAD BOYS!! Undercover Security

[Zdog]

Heard about this thread on the podcast, and had to share a story about our recent trip, where we witnessed something similar, but on a much smaller scale. We were exiting the gift store after a ride on Splash Mountain when my wife leans over and says to me, "something's up". Next to the bathrooms were a CM and two security people, blocking the entrance to one of the doors. Next thing we know, out pops another guard and what I presumed to be a bomb sniffing dog, then another guard carrying a cooler. Must have been an unattended cooler at that. I imagine this must happen at least once a day, considering the tens of thousands of people visiting the parks daily. My wife and son also noted later in our trip about a person who had taken ill on the sidewalk along Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom, and how Cast Members surrounded the person as to block out the view of what was going on, allowing for some privacy for the 'victim', and to keep gawkers from stopping to stare. I didn't even realize it was happening (I was in that vacation haze and just going with the flow). Another Disney touch! I'm sure they have a plan in place for any possible situation that can happen in mass crowds.

 

[Bell30012]

We've seen Disney Security in action several times. Here are three of the most memorable to me. I salute the professionalism that I have always seen from Disney's Security. I only wish that every police force was as well trained.

(1) At the Crystal Palace one evening a man was obviously intoxicated. Tigger was interacting with the family's baby when he inadvertently knocked over this guy's Coke right into his lap. He got up, got loud, got stupid. This was at the table right next to us! The characters moved on and only one cast member stayed. About one or two minutes later a group of men came out of the kitchen. One of the men told the gentleman that his day at the park was over and he would escort him to the front of the park. The guy jumped up and in what seemed like a second, one of the men grasped his wrist/hand a second pulled his chair away and in an instant all but one were gone. That one told the family that they could remain or leave as was their option but he would be at the front of the park. They left. The very interesting part was the intoxicated guest was far bigger than any of the security people but they were confident and in control. They also controlled him with very little force.

(2) We were on Tom Sawyer Island when a guest spotted an alligator! Yep, the alligator was on the island. I don't know how security got to the island before the boat got there to take us off the island but they did. One guy stayed with all the guests and was joking with us. He started asking the kids if they knew why the alligator had to go. He said it was because the alligator didn't buy a ticket. Swimming into the Magic Kingdom was not allowed. We all got fast passes. The security guy who had a Crocodile Dundee type hat gave a couple of kids pins and it was all over quickly. Tom Sawyer Island was closed that day. My daughter who was only 4 or 5 actually wanted to go back!!!

(3) On a morning bus a lady got very upset that another guest had a leash/backpack on a small child. She demanded that the leash be removed. She claimed to be a Child Protective Services case worker and just wouldn't quit. She actually got very mean with the obvious single mother with a baby plus this toddler. When the bus got to the Magic Kingdom it pulled up to a different stop. Two cast members and an Orange County deputy were there. When they led the "case worker" off the bus the whole bus cheered. Then the bus pulled to the regular stop where the bus driver remarked better a child on a leash than on a milk carton.

 

[2Tiggies]

(3) On a morning bus a lady got very upset that another guest had a leash/backpack on a small child. She demanded that the leash be removed. She claimed to be a Child Protective Services case worker and just wouldn't quit. She actually got very mean with the obvious single mother with a baby plus this toddler. When the bus got to the Magic Kingdom it pulled up to a different stop. Two cast members and an Orange County deputy were there. When they led the "case worker" off the bus the whole bus cheered. Then the bus pulled to the regular stop where the bus driver remarked better a child on a leash than on a milk carton.

Good for the bus driver; and for security! I can't imagine how that poor mother must have felt the whole ride to MK. It's amazing a scuffle didn't break out on the bus through other guests getting involved with something like that - unless this woman was talking fairly quietly.

We were on Tom Sawyer Island when a guest spotted an alligator! Yep, the alligator was on the island. I don't know how security got to the island before the boat got there to take us off the island but they did. One guy stayed with all the guests and was joking with us. He started asking the kids if they knew why the alligator had to go. He said it was because the alligator didn't buy a ticket. Swimming into the Magic Kingdom was not allowed. We all got fast passes. The security guy who had a Crocodile Dundee type hat gave a couple of kids pins and it was all over quickly. Tom Sawyer Island was closed that day. My daughter who was only 4 or 5 actually wanted to go back!!!

I love the way they handled it. Kids are funny. For better or worse they don't have the same concept of danger that we do.

 

[twitch]

(2) We were on Tom Sawyer Island when a guest spotted an alligator! Yep, the alligator was on the island. I don't know how security got to the island before the boat got there to take us off the island but they did. One guy stayed with all the guests and was joking with us. He started asking the kids if they knew why the alligator had to go. He said it was because the alligator didn't buy a ticket. Swimming into the Magic Kingdom was not allowed. We all got fast passes. The security guy who had a Crocodile Dundee type hat gave a couple of kids pins and it was all over quickly. Tom Sawyer Island was closed that day. My daughter who was only 4 or 5 actually wanted to go back!!!

She probably thought it was all part of the show!

 

[DaniB]

I feel your pain! I get Christie, Crystal and just Chris <shudder>. I am actually Christina, but my parents never called me that. I've seriously thought about legally changing my name to just Christa.

I LOVE the name Christina!

 

[Applemomma]

Anyone else hear this thread discussed on the Dis Podcast this week?

 

[Bell30012]

Good for the bus driver; and for security! I can't imagine how that poor mother must have felt the whole ride to MK. It's amazing a scuffle didn't break out on the bus through other guests getting involved with something like that - unless this woman was talking fairly quietly.

Actually several people told her to mind her own business including me, that was when she told us she was a Florida family & children's services worker and that it was her business. No one sided with her that it was bad to put the kid on the leash. I kind of thought the leash was cute. It was a monkey.

I love the way they handled it. Kids are funny. For better or worse they don't have the same concept of danger that we do.

His other really funny remark was that he really wasn't too afraid of the alligator because he didn't have to be able to outrun the alligator just the slowest one of us! The little ones were all claiming that they could run really fast at that point.

 

[robsmith1098]

This was not an incident, just another example of how quickly Security/CMs respond and seem to appear out of nowhere. We were at Hollywood Studios a few years ago (I think it may have been before the name change from Disney/MGM studios) and were waiting for the parking lot tram to arrive. I had noticed there was one Security CM and two or three park CMs nearby. There was a family who inadvertently began walking across the parking lot tram driveway (rather than walking around the guest loading area) to get to the sidewalk toward the parking lot (they appeared to be coming from the direction of the boat dock). As soon as the family entered the tram driveway, the one Security CM kindly asked them to stay on the sidewalk for their safety - which they quickly did. However, there seemed to appear out of nowhere several more Security CMs and park CMs when the one Security CM spoke up.

 

[KittyToujours]

How cool!!

 

[DreadpiratK]

(3) She claimed to be a Child Protective Services case worker and just wouldn't quit.

In other words, a professional busybody who thinks she knows better than everybody else how to raise kids, despite having none of her own. Sadly, I know the type all too well. If anyone should be banned from DW it is they.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Then the bus pulled to the regular stop where the bus driver remarked better a child on a leash than on a milk carton.

I try to stay out of the "leash" debate, only to state that I've used one on DS and he actually asked for it when we were in busy places (mueum/Easter week at WDW), and I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it makes him feel safer.

Kuddos to the bus driver for such a witty remark.

 

[CMHusband]

They have undercover in Disneyland too. The other day a young guy that looked about 20 was walking around the ticket booths with T-shirt, baggy shorts and some basic nike type tennis shoes - He could have been one of my kids but he also had the radio in his ear like the leads and managers use. I pointed him out to my wife and she said yep that's one of em...He just smiled at us but knew what we were talking about.

 

[POOHsie]

I try to stay out of the "leash" debate, only to state that I've used one on DS and he actually asked for it when we were in busy places (mueum/Easter week at WDW), and I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it makes him feel safer.

When my daughter was old enough to go to the mall with me without her stroller, (about 5) I got a leash for her. I was a concerned mom and wanted to make sure my child was "safe." She had it on less than 10 minutes before she figured it out and got it off -- then took off running!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

When my daughter was old enough to go to the mall with me without her stroller, (about 5) I got a leash for her. I was a concerned mom and wanted to make sure my child was "safe." She had it on less than 10 minutes before she figured it out and got it off -- then took off running!

I can understand that! Meh... DS has been doing really good at keeping close, we try to keep the kids in the stroller if there is any distance walking. If DS insists on hoofing it, I've tied a string to the stroller that he holds on to when we walk.

I doubt we could keep it on him now that he older, maybe DD will wear it?

 

[Eljay]

Wow, I've wondered how they would handle a problem on a bus. How cool, a special stop, so other guests won't see the removal of the offender. Excellent!

I would love love love to be able to read the incident reports for just one day at WDW. Imagine the wackiness that must go on?

 

[POOHsie]

I would love love love to be able to read the incident reports for just one day at WDW. Imagine the wackiness that must go on?

Much as I would like to read the incident reports for one day at WDW, reading through this thread, the thing that is usually always in the background of these stories is crying kids and a crying spouse and a ruined vacation. Not to mention the family situation in shambles when they arrive back home. That is gut-wrenching and sad beyond words, and it would be hard to read about. I would rather not.

 

[brerdawg]

I try to stay out of the "leash" debate, only to state that I've used one on DS and he actually asked for it when we were in busy places (mueum/Easter week at WDW), and I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it makes him feel safer.

Kuddos to the bus driver for such a witty remark.

agree!

 

[Leeanne]

In other words, a professional busybody who thinks she knows better than everybody else how to raise kids, despite having none of her own. Sadly, I know the type all too well. If anyone should be banned from DW it is they.

Hey not all of us are professional busybodies! And I disagree that we should be banned from WDW. I love going and have no children. But that doesn't mean that I agree with her. My parents used a leash on my sister and I and it was old fashioned kind with velcro that you wrapped around the wrist not the new cute monkey backpacks. I have no problems with parents using them. Please don't think all social workers are busybody's and ban us from WDW! I really think I would sit down and cry if that happened!!

 

[Eljay]

Much as I would like to read the incident reports for one day at WDW, reading through this thread, the thing that is usually always in the background of these stories is crying kids and a crying spouse and a ruined vacation. Not to mention the family situation in shambles when they arrive back home. That is gut-wrenching and sad beyond words, and it would be hard to read about. I would rather not.

Yes, my heart breaks for the kids. They are often the innocent bystanders in a disfunctional situation.

However, don't you find that there are people who wonder why these kinds of things alway seem to happen to them? I have known many people in my life like that. Then you hear the rationalizations...
Gosh, all I was doing was making an innocent comment about the leash on the kid!
They all took it the wrong way!
Why do people always over-react to the things I say?
Aren't I entitled to my opinion?
Bla, bla, bla.

Okay, I don't want to hijack the thread about Disney Security to talk about people who spoil their families vacation by acting like idiots, but sadly, I guess it happens pretty frequently.

 

[minniebride]

We saw the security cm with a dog several times at Epcot. The dog we saw was wearing a sign that says "Do not pet." My dd (major dog lover) asked if one pet would be OK, and I told her no because the dog is a working dog on the job. The cm overheard us, smiled and thanked us for not petting the dog.

I've never noticed undercover security, which is good because they blend in well. There was one time we thought that security should have helped in a situation but apparently there wasn't security present when our situation happened. At Epcot's opening, there was a stampede to Soarin. A true stampede! The kids and I somehow got separated from dh, who was behind us. We reached the bottom of the escalator in The Land and stood off to the side and waited and waited for dh. He never came. He finally showed up, very upset. He and a women were both knocked flat to the ground by some idiot running and pushing. Luckily, he and the woman were OK, but no cast members were there to witness this, help, or stop the person who ran and pushed. Is an attraction so important that you have to hurt someone, as in pushing 2 grown adults to the ground, to get there?!

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.

I feel like they should always have security present at those hotspot attractions that people run to as soon as the park opens (Soarin', TSM, etc...). I think Epcot does the best crowd control when the park opens (as compared to the other parks). I love how they form that "wall of CM's" that you follow behind when the park officially opens. But once you get past a certain point, it's every man for himself in the Land Pavilion & people are nuts trying to get down there! It would be nice if they consistently have an undercover security person monitoring those areas.