Crime in Orlando

[Royal Duke of Epcot]

If i didnt know better, i'd think this post is a flame.

Its pretty well established that off the Disney grid, Orlando is a lot like other places in the deep south: poor and crime-ridden. Unless you are a DH with a hidden crack habit venturing past Dr. Phillips in search of a fix, these surveys are meaningless.

Reno, Steamboat Springs, as Spring Break destinations? The findings of a research firm that includes these places in their sampling should be tossed out, even if they are right about parts of orlando.

 

[shalom]

Its pretty well established that off the Disney grid, Orlando is a lot like other places in the deep south: poor and crime-ridden.

The area right around Universal, while safe in most respects, has a ginormous rape rate, and it's my guess that this is based on the fact that kids at Universal or the Fun Spot thingie across the highway are more often older and alone (or at least without adult supervision) than kids at Disney. Kids on spring break are more likely to go to Universal than Disney and more likely to get into situations where they'll be raped than most tourists are. Even so, seems unlikely to me it's more of a risk than the popular spring break locations in Daytona.

Reno and Steamboat Springs are popular spring break destinations for people in the western states, so I don't think including them disqualifies the article. Lafayette, Louisiana is the one that had me wondering.

 

[mrsbicewdw]

I lived in the city of Orlando right outside of downtown for several years (I live outside of Orlando now). I can tell you that yes, the city is not super safe (mostly at night). However, you can say that about almost anywhere.

For tourists, the main things to remember are:

Park in lit areas, around other cars
Do not leave valuables visable in the car
Stay aware of your surroundings
Keep hold of your children (like you would in any crowded place)
Don't talk to people who look...odd. You know what I mean.
Keep an eye on your purse/suitcase/etc...tourists are targets for a reason, they normally have cash on them, as well as cameras.

Bottom line, the world in general is dangerous, Orlando is really no different. And I don't think that many of the DISers are going to walk around downtown or OBT (a high crime area) at night...

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Thanks for this post you have totally scared the bgeezers out of me and I am now asking my husband if we can got DL instead but thanks for the info on Pigeon Forge because we did plan on staying there but will now go elsewhere.

But can i also say on our trip to the USA last year we felt safe in all the locations that we went to and all the hotels we stayed in but i certainely read and used the views on tripadvisor before i booked.

 

[Merryweather27]

Eh, I live on the "most" dangerous city on that list, and I'm pretty sure there's something screwy with their methodology, because we've got nothing on say, Camden (which somehow isn't on the list at all!) or Detroit.

 

[Royal Duke of Epcot]

Thanks for this post you have totally scared the bgeezers out of me and I am now asking my husband if we can got DL instead but thanks for the info on Pigeon Forge because we did plan on staying there but will now go elsewhere.

But can i also say on our trip to the USA last year we felt safe in all the locations that we went to and all the hotels we stayed in but i certainely read and used the views on tripadvisor before i booked.

Not trying to be rude, but I think I speak for 99% of Dis-ers: if you cancel your trip to WDW based on this fear-mongering article and thread, you are not playing with a full deck. The only crime you are likely to encounter between the airport and Cinderella's castle is the food at your resort.

 

[Purseval]

Not trying to be rude, but I think I speak for 99% of Dis-ers: if you cancel your trip to WDW based on this fear-mongering article and thread, you are not playing with a full deck. The only crime you are likely to encounter between the airport and Cinderella's castle is the food at your resort.

Don't forget bedbugs

 

[Brian Noble]

Much of the city of Orlando is NOT a nice area!

As noted, there is a big difference between downtown Orlando and the attractions area. One still needs to be reasonably purdent---after all tourists generally have money, and money attracts crime---but still. For a major tourist destination, the attractions zone is really quite reasonable compared to many others.

 

[Wadecool]

It doesn't matter where you go, situational awareness will keep you out of trouble as long as you stay vigilant. We are taking our first trip to WDW & Universal in May. I didn't need some article or crime statistics rankings to tell me that if go to one of the worlds most tourist concentrated places, there are going to be those malcontents who would like to rob me, assault me, etc. I choose to use simple common sense in order to avoid those scenarios that put criminals at an advantage, like PP's have already mentioned.

I also have a CCW permit, but will only be carrying my firearm during the drive down to Orlando. After checking into the hotel, it will stay in the room safe until we leave for home.

 

[Royal Duke of Epcot]

You're only bringing one gun? What if the gangs of downtown Orlando figure out there are people with money at Disney? They can take public transportation all the way within 3 miles of WDW and then coordinate an attack on you.

And what if those al-qaeda terrorists strike again?

Not only could an attack be financially or politically motivated....mentally disturbed individuals have conducted violent acts in school, malls and workplace. Yikes!

Ignorance or denial of a threat — or completely tuning out to one’s surroundings while in a public place — makes a person’s chances of quickly recognizing the threat and avoiding it slim to none. Don't let Tinkerbell lull you into a false sense of security. BE ON ALERT!!

 

[Wadecool]

You're only bringing one gun? What if the gangs of downtown Orlando figure out there are people with money at Disney? They can take public transportation all the way within 3 miles of WDW and then coordinate an attack on you.

And what if those al-qaeda terrorists strike again?

Not only could an attack be financially or politically motivated....mentally disturbed individuals have conducted violent acts in school, malls and workplace. Yikes!

Ignorance or denial of a threat — or completely tuning out to one’s surroundings while in a public place — makes a person’s chances of quickly recognizing the threat and avoiding it slim to none. Don't let Tinkerbell lull you into a false sense of security. BE ON ALERT!!

Feeble attempts at sarcasm aside, you actually nailed the appropriate attitude in your last paragraph without realizing it (or maybe you did ). People who get that "Disney Daze" are often the ones who end up in trouble as far as getting pick pocketed, vehicle broken into, etc. As mentioned earlier, just being aware of your surroundings can go a long way toward staying out of high risk situations. Oh, and yeah I only need the one gun, DW can be lethal with her purse.

 

[Royal Duke of Epcot]

As mentioned earlier, just being aware of your surroundings can go a long way toward staying out of high risk situations. Oh, and yeah I only need the one gun, DW can be lethal with her purse.

Solid retort. I guess our definition of "high risk" is different, mine being that the parking lot at the Polynesian and the notorious Hollywood Studios pickpockets don't really register.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Before we were married, we used to head over to downtown Orlando for the clubs. Didn't seem anywhere near as dangerous as Detroit or Chicago, both cites I have called home for many years.

Now that we're married with kids, the only issue I've had seems to be at the Sonic at the far end of I-Drive. Been there 3 times now, around lunch time in our car, a rental minivan, and our RV and we have had questionable people wander up to us each time.

Anyone remember the highway shootings years ago?

Unfortunately, I do remember the shootings at the rest stops many years ago. It was many years ago.

 

[shalom]

Thanks for this post you have totally scared the bgeezers out of me and I am now asking my husband if we can got DL instead but thanks for the info on Pigeon Forge because we did plan on staying there but will now go elsewhere.

Pigeon Forge is as safe, or safer, as most tourist attractions. Remember that crime statistics are often calculated on crimes per permanent population -- Pigeon Forge has a permanent population of 5700, but according to the city's tourism department gets over 11 million visitors per year. Break that down, and it's "actual" population is closer to 36,000 (it's just that it's a different 36,000 every day ). If you adjust their crime rates to THAT population, the Pigeon Forge crime rate is about half the national average.

That's in terms of total crime rate -- Pigeon Forge is also below the national average in terms of every type of crime. See the chart on this page:

http://www.clrsearch.com/Pigeon_Forge_Demographics/TN/37876/Crime_Statistics

Personally, I would never go to Pigeon Forge in tourist season because the traffic is awful (the Great Smokey Mountain National Park is wonderful, though), but trust me, no reason to avoid it for fear of crime.

 

[Purseval]

Unfortunately, I do remember the shootings at the rest stops many years ago. It was many years ago.

They still have armed security at night in the rest stops along along I-75. Perhaps that is why it was many years ago and not recently?

 

[Wadecool]

Solid retort. I guess our definition of "high risk" is different, mine being that the parking lot at the Polynesian and the notorious Hollywood Studios pickpockets don't really register.

Of course levels of risk are always relative to what a person is normally used to. I should clarify that when I referred to the "Disney Daze", I didn't just mean when people are physically on WDW property, but rather the overall lack of focus that people can have when on vacation. After spending 10 hours marching around MK, a person could get that glazed look in their eyes that may make the vulnerable to crimes they normally wouldn't be. I wouldn't call anywhere on Disney property "high risk", but the deserted rest areas we stop at on the way down to Orlando could certainly be classified as such.

 

[Wadecool]

Nah. Baghdad Airport Road in 2005, high risk. South Buffalo when the bars empty out, medium risk. That rest stop in Georgia, a virtually astronomical chance of someone bothering you. i'm just a city slicker, i reckon y'Better protect yer kin in case tho.

Oh, I get it. In that last sentence you were making a sophomoric attempt at Ky ebonics, huh? Thank goodness I've got his royal highness the duke to educate me on the ways of the great big world. And you might want to grab a copy of one of your big city papers and read it once in a while. People have been attacked, robbed, or worse at rest areas quite a few times. As far as the chances of something happening at that rest stop in Georgia, well I guess it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Do they teach that saying in the big city where you live?

 

[Purseval]

Nah. Baghdad Airport Road in 2005, high risk. South Buffalo when the bars empty out, medium risk. That rest stop in Georgia, a virtually astronomical chance of someone bothering you.

Georgia rest stops don't have armed security at night. Florida ones do and for good reason. Read up a bit on why they did what they did and perhaps you'll understand.

i'm just a city slicker,

and an amazingly uniformed one to boot.

 

[disneywhirl]

hmm.... interesting thread...

having lived in the orlando area and spent a lot of time in the disney area i would say "have fun"... but practice habits that have kept you, your family and your property safe to this point. think of it in "zones". the farther you get from disney property - say that parking lot at walmart in kissimmee - be more aware and exercise appropriate caution. you are the new kid on the block - observe your surroundings from time to time.

enjoy your time there!!!

 

[cv499]

I had to chime in here. I live in Erie, PA. Pretty sure its not on any top crime lists. There are definately parts of town that are more dangerous than others, As with every other city I have ever been to. I don't need stats or a list to tell me this. I am more comfortable in my home town because I know where these areas are. That does not mean I don't lock my car because I am in a nicer section of town. In my opinion stats can be manipulated very easily. I am always more cautious when out of town. I do not let it ruin my vacation though. Common sense goes a long way.