Bomb sniffing dogs at WDW...

[zakatak]

Gotcha!

No, really... seriously, DH and I were discussing this last night. Would WDW security detect a suicide bomber walking into MK? They would check their bags, but what if he were strapped with materials? My DH walks into MK all the time with a large fleece on. He never got frisked/etc... So, here's the question...

Would you be upset or happy if WDW imposed metal detectors? You could slide you belongings down the table and walk right through the detector. Wouldn't hold up the line too much (we have them now at our local Six Flags).

What about bomb sniffing dogs wandering around the main turnstiles? Would it deter you or make you feel safer?

This isn't a debate on the effectiveness of WDW security. These are questions on whether you would or would not want to see metal detectors/bomb sniffing dogs... even if for the next couple of months...

Thanks for considering...

Karen

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I am sure others would disagree with me, but I would be happy to see it. I believe I could relax more and enjoy the magic.

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

That wouldnt bother me. Last yr the bag check was a joke. I am not going like planned this yr unless there is a drastic change in the world. Sure it is killing me but my fears and my life are more important. I am seeing on the news Disney is one place that is a big possibliity to attack. Lets face it, Disney is all AMERICAN.


God bless all the sefvice guys for defending our country.

 

[Goofyposter]

if WDW imposed metal detectors?

ineffective. any sophisicated attempt would have to be made with advanced "plastic" explosive agents. Personally...I wouldn't mind additional security...although I hope it doesn't come to that.

Remember....as with any criminal...if there are determined enough to commit a crime...they'll likely find a way....there's a catch 22 between throwing up security measures which beget new criminal tatics...which stem other security measures....kind of like the 'battle' between PC viruses and anti-virus software manufacturers....

This is why I believe only thur a combination of reducing/removing the motoviation for others to commit crimes..along with deterence, viligance and common sense are the best methods.

As to dogs...I think if anything...plastic explosive detection animals around the security check points may have some value.

 

[scarlett873]

honestly...what ever disney had to do to protect their visitors, i would be happy with...

 

[Saffron]

I wouldn't mind, but I'd be more worried about biological or germ warfare types of terrorism happnening while everyone is sittling in "It's Tough to be a Bug" or something like that, than I would an actual bomb. Like I've said on another thread, anything can happen, any place, any time, any how, so nothing is going to stop me from going to WDW or doing anything. I always feel safer with extra security, even if it may be a false sense of security.

You should see the security you have to go through to go to an Eagles football game! Wait -- now that I think about it, there's probably good reason to have the security they have. You want to see some butt kicking? Let some angry Eagles' football fans loose on ol' Saddam. Ahhh, they don't even have to be angry. Let some happy, drunk Eagles' football fans loose on ol' Saddam.

 

[anniet]

Someone just told me WDW is now a no-fly zone. That makes me feel better.

Personally, they could strip search me at the gates and I wouldn't care.

My motto whenever I go through a security checkpoint is "Do what you've got to do"

 

[Dan Murphy]

From Mary's www.mousesavers.com site February newsletter.......

How Does the Terrorism Alert Affect Your Travel Plans to the Disney Theme Parks?
MouseSavers reader Lisa L recently wrote me, "In light of the recent upgrade of the terrorism alert, I thought it might be interesting to address how this would affect WDW regarding security..."

I suspect many of us are concerned about the fact that the US government has gone to an "Orange Alert" status, indicating a "High" probability of terrorist activity. It's truly a scary world out there, and for those of us planning to travel, it's just one more thing to worry about.

But should that stop you from going to a Disney theme park? Absolutely not. I'm going myself -- to Walt Disney World in early March, and to Disneyland Paris in early April.

I'm not going to make the argument that "we have to go on living our lives, or the terrorists win" -- although I do feel that way, very strongly. No, what I want to tell you is that I think the Disney theme parks are among the safest public places to be, these days.

As you are probably aware, since 9/11 Disney has been searching guests' bags before they can enter the theme parks. I've heard some complaints that these searches are too cursory. In all honesty, however, I think the reason Disney can make these bag searches rather minimal is that even if a "bad guy" carries something into the parks, he is going to have a tough time committing any kind of crime once he's in there!

Disney has excellent security in its theme parks. There is heavy video surveillance: long before 9/11, Disney had cameras watching just about everything in the parks, and there are even infrared cameras in the dark rides. Disney also has a large number of both uniformed and undercover security officers wandering the parks at all times. A significant number of Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies are assigned to the theme parks all day, every day. Many areas where the public might try to wander "back stage" have pressure-sensitive floor mats that set off alarms. In addition, I've been told that Disney has numerous other security controls in place that it does not discuss publicly.

Disney's security procedures are so renowned that other organizations, including the Federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that now manages airport security, have "borrowed" Disney experts to assist them with developing crowd management and security measures, according to an April 2002 report by TechLive. John Hannigan, a professor at the University of Toronto, wrote in a 2001 article that "Thomas Vonier, an architect who has consulted widely with the US State Department on security matters, cites the Disney theme parks as one of the best contemporary examples of what he terms 'large-scale urban control zones'."

You'd be amazed at how quickly Disney Security will appear if anything looks "off." Just a couple of examples:

A man started yelling at his wife in a Walt Disney World gift shop. Within a minute, two Disney Security officers were at his elbows, and quietly, immediately took him "back stage" to cool off.
A child tripped on some water in front of Innoventions -- she didn't even fall down -- and within 30 seconds a Disney representative was rushing over with a Mickey Mouse medical bag. He said he'd seen her slip over closed circuit cameras.
As far as public places go, Disney has better security than almost any place you can name. I feel safer going to a Disney theme park than I would attending a ballgame or going to the mall. Yet I will do all of those things. I didn't hesitate to go to Walt Disney World two weeks after 9/11, and I'm not hesitating now.

Of course there are no guarantees in this life, but I still believe the Disney theme parks are the "happiest places on Earth" and I hope you will continue making plans to visit them and put aside your worries for awhile!

 

[Saffron]

Originally posted by anniet
...Personally, they could strip search me at the gates and I wouldn't care...

I would -- depends on whose doing the searching!

Originally posted by anniet
...My motto whenever I go through a security checkpoint is "Do what you've got to do"

Me too.

 

[Tony-NJ]

Personally, they could strip search me at the gates and I wouldn't care.

Lol - I wouldn't mind extra Security, like said above it may be a no win if someone was going to do something, but it wouldn't bother me at all if they added metal detecters or dogs.

 

[CamColt]

I agree with the OP's point about having something strapped on to a person. We went to WDW a couple weeks after 9/11 and obviously I wasnt familiar with the security checks yet. The first park we went to, I offered my fanny pack, but didnt know if I needed to. All subsequent parks, I didnt offer it and was only asked for it once. Then came the rainy morning when we were wearing ponchos. I could have had an elephant under that thing and no one would have known.
Personally I would have no problem with, and would actually like to see metal detectors. The dogs I wouldnt be happy about considering my allergies. As long as the wouldnt get to close, I wouldnt mind, but I would stress when I saw them. If I werent allergic, then I would probably be happy to see them too.

 

[wdw4us]

they already have bomb sniffing dogs and have had them for quite some time.

I was on my way home from WDW a few years ago and because I was late getting to the airport I couldn’t sit with my family on SWA. I sat next to a lovely older couple whose son is in security at WDW. They were visiting him and his children for a week.

Seems the newest addition to her son’s family was the bomb sniffing dog in anticipation of the 2000 celebration. They had been in training for a while. So YES they really do have them in WDW!

denise

 

[Talking Hands]

I wouldn't mind metal dectectors but frankly they would have to have alternative methods for some of us. My wheelchair is metal and I personally would set off the dectector with all my pins and plates in my leg. Don't mind the search though

 

[jamsmom]

I read the title and thought "It;s about time". I don't mind extra security. ...... even when I get a little impatient

 

[kylara]

Personally, I wouldn't mind if it didn't slow the lines to a crawl. The airports have gotten good about getting people through all the security checks quickly, but even with them, there are other security issues.

I do not think that someone who wants to "attacK" disney is going to come through the front gate. I do think they are going to take the back roads and hop the fence. I am sure that disney has cameras but that is a lot of fence area to cover. It wouldn't take but a few minutes for someone to get over the fence and blend into the crowd. It is for reasons like this, that I can not dwell on what could happen.

I remember being in Europe in 1986...there was a lot of terrorist bombing happening all over...mostly in shopping plazas and department stores. Sad to say, but in most malls in this country the same could happen. And that is where I think it would happen since they are easy targets. One of my strangest memories of that trip is having my bag searched and being frisked before going into a McDonalds in Paris...I even had to show my passport. The reason, the Burger King down the street had been bombed earlier that week.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Saffron...ROTFLMBO! Those Eagle fans are a different breed, just ask my husband!

I'm for any additional security that WDW sees fit. They are more aware of any particular threats that may come up and what they need to do in order to prevent them. It just makes me long for the 'good ol' days' when we didn't even think of things like this!

 

[CRB#33]

As to the OP's thought about something strapped to a person, remember it's pretty warm most days in FLA and it's probably pretty hard to hide explosives on a body. Nobody is wearing overcoats for most of the year.

I'm going. I'm praying for the best.