Disney reverses 4 teens' lifetime ban

[crazy4wdw]

Disney reverses 4 teens' lifetime ban
Scott Powers and Henry Pierson Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writers

June 29, 2007

The four Florida State University football prospects who were kicked out of Downtown Disney for loitering last week and banned for life from Walt Disney World can now come back.

Disney World announced Thursday that it has decided to reduce the sanctions against the four high-schoolers, whose banishment last weekend amplified a controversy about Disney's recent efforts to reduce teen loitering and sparked accusations of racial profiling. All four of the students are 17 years old and black.

Disney officials, after talking with the mother of one of the teens, decided to revise the trespass warnings so that the four are banned only from Downtown Disney -- not from the theme parks, water parks or other parts of Disney World. And the Downtown Disney ban will last only for one year, not a lifetime.

But the families of the teens were uncertain Thursday how to respond to Disney's decision. One parent said they would discuss it and get back to Disney today.

"We were hoping they would lift the ban entirely. We felt like they shouldn't have been banned at all. We also wanted an apology," said Mark Nugent, stepfather of Vincent Williams, a football star at Ridge Community High School in Polk County. "It looks like we're not getting either of those two things."

Final decision, not an offer

Disney has not changed its mind about the incident last Friday and is not contemplating an apology, spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said. She also said the move to reduce the sanctions was a final decision by the resort, not an offer.

Polak would not elaborate on what had emerged during discussions with the four teens' families that led Disney World to scale back its sanctions against the students, all of whom have given oral commitments to attend Florida State University in 2008.

"Our review of the incident has not changed our determination that the behavior of these four individuals was not appropriate," Polak said.

Crackdown on loitering

The four students -- who, in addition to Williams, also included Nigel Carr, Avis Commack and Nickolas Moody -- were kicked off Disney property as part of larger crackdown on youth loitering this month that has resulted in dozens of trespass warnings and banishments.

Polak said Thursday's decision does not affect the other trespass cases, though Disney could reconsider any case if asked.

Disney World had grown concerned this spring about teen loitering and the possibility of an emerging street-gang presence at Downtown Disney, a complex of stores, restaurants, nightclubs and shows.

So two weeks ago, Disney security officers, bolstered by Orange County deputy sheriffs, began a late-night crackdown on Fridays and Saturdays, hoping to drive out loitering youth before trouble could begin.

Those youths who cannot convince Disney security officers that they have a good reason to be in Downtown Disney late at night are told to leave; those who then refuse to do so are issued trespass warnings banning them from Disney World for life and are expelled from the property.

When the Orlando Sentinel obtained 46 Disney World trespass-warning documents from the past two weekends, all but one turned out to have been issued to black or Hispanic visitors.

That led some of the family members, including Nugent and a Philadelphia-based civil-rights lawyer -- Adrian J. Moody, father of Nickolas, one of the four football players -- to openly question whether Disney's security was using racial profiling to target and drive out minority youth.

The elder Moody, however, sounded encouraged Thursday by Disney's response.

"That makes me feel a little better," he said. "I think they should give these kids some kind of an apology, but I need to look into this more."

Disney has maintained that the crackdown has been aimed at loitering youth and possible gang members regardless of ethnicity or race. The four players who were banned late last Friday had loitered for more than an hour, responded inappropriately to security officers and refused to leave when told to go, Disney officials have said.

Sheriff's Office concurs

The Sheriff's Office has backed up the resort and agreed Thursday that the incident had been handled properly.

"The Orange County Sheriff's Office from the very beginning of this case took appropriate action at the request of Walt Disney World and issued proper trespass warnings," sheriff's Capt. Mark Strobridge said. "It is and remains Walt Disney World's decision to set the guidelines and enforce trespass warnings as they see fit."

There is no formal appeals process for lifetime trespass bans, but the company does review trespass warnings and listens whenever people want to discuss them, Polak said.

Other people who think they have been unfairly banished from the resort can always call and ask to discuss their cases, she said. She suggested people could start with the Disney World general switchboard, 407-824-2222.

Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441. Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at 407-420-5257 or hcurtis@orlandosentinel.com.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think banning them for life from Disney property is a bit harsh unless they commit a more serious crime (theft, destruction of property, etc.)

 

[MasterShake]

I think banning them for life from Disney property is a bit harsh unless they commit a more serious crime (theft, destruction of property, etc.)

I agree that a life time ban sounds too harsh for this incident. However, I don't think Disney owes these kids an apology. If they were loitering and asked to leave, they should not verbally abuse police/security and refuse to go.

I'm sure someone will sue Disney over this incedent.

 

[disneykid4ever]

I agree that Disney does NOT owe these kids an apology. I have no doubt that when asked to leave the premises (because they had been loitering for an hour) they gave security officers attitude and resistance. This may, in my opinion, have more to do with being "star football players" and ego than anything else. I hate to say it but I have seen lots of posturing by star football players in my time since my brother was one, and it is never attractive or appreciated (and it is almost never necessary except maybe on the field). I think their race has no bearing on why they were asked to leave; Disney strives to appeal to the widest audience possible and I believe it would never be in their best interest to operate with any type of racial profiling objective. Remember this is not public property, this is DISNEY property and they essentially have the right to keep anyone they want out.

 

[dwelty]

This is private property. Disney can refuse service to anyone, as long as it is not based on race, (And I do not think it was in this case). According to Orange County Records, the majority of tresspassing warrants given by Disney last year were to Whites. (This was reported by the Orlando Sentinel).

 

[Dznefreek]

Just exactly how would a lifetime ban be enforced . . . . . . . . . . ??????????

 

[G8RFAN]

Just exactly how would a lifetime ban be enforced . . . . . . . . . . ??????????

It just means that you are trespassing if you ever set foot on the property again. Should you get caught or get in trouble there, you are looking at civil trespass and misdemeanor crime. It's not like they can post no trespassing signs outside of DTD. There is an implied level of public access to the property, so the ban makes it official and clear that these individuals are not welcome and would be trespassing.

 

[thefirebuilds]

"We were hoping they would lift the ban entirely. We felt like they shouldn't have been banned at all. We also wanted an apology," said Mark Nugent, stepfather of Vincent Williams, a football star at Ridge Community High School in Polk County. "It looks like we're not getting either of those two things."


I've quoted this before:
"What do you think special interest groups do when they get their way? Pack up their stationary and pens and say "i won."?" - Anthony Cumia

Of course she's not satisfied, she wants more time in the sun. Good for Disney for sticking to this decision to a point, they need to or they're going to get sued, that's the next step. This is racial terrorism like most of what's going on in the news right now. I'm X colour so you have to do Y thing to make me happy or ill call Z politcal leader. //irritated.

 

[Dznefreek]

It just means that you are trespassing if you ever set foot on the property again. Should you get caught or get in trouble there, you are looking at civil trespass and misdemeanor crime. It's not like they can post no trespassing signs outside of DTD. There is an implied level of public access to the property, so the ban makes it official and clear that these individuals are not welcome and would be trespassing.

So technically you could go as long as you behave properly and do not cause a rucous(sic). . . .

 

[G8RFAN]

So technically you could go as long as you behave properly and do not cause a rucous(sic). . . .

Funny, I know that the casinos in Vegas share a database of cheats, so they do look out for these people and many times they never make it to a table before they are recognized. I seriously doubt WDW employs that level of sophistication in surveilence and training as there isn't much of an economic incentive. You just have to assume the effectiveness is in direct correlation to whether or not they care about a possible misdemeanor arrest record. Sort of like a restraining order... it's only good if the person cares about not getting arrested.

 

[EUROPACL]

So technically you could go as long as you behave properly and do not cause a rucous(sic). . . .

Yes just like most laws or rules people can and do break them...the problem is getting caught.

 

[DIXIEDIVAMOM]

When I read the article it really made me mad!!!! Why is it these days that parents think their children should never be corrected by anyone or brought to task for incorrect behavior. What is wrong with the parents??? I have a 17 year old and believe me if she was found to have caused a problem to the point that security was brought in because of bad behavior she would be in troulbe from my husband and myself. I read the article several times just to make sure I was getting the right angle on this. It seems to me that if Disney nips this stuff early on then it should not be a problem . Why would these kids mess up a great place to visit???

 

[manning]

There is a program out there used by casinos in Vegas that measures features on your face. These features are unique for each individual, like fingerprints. When your face is logged in as someone banned, future pictures taken from security cameras can be fed into the computer and a match will be made in a matter of seconds.

 

[huge mickey fan]

I think Disney did the right thing. It makes me so mad when people are being that rude and obnoxious and then play the well they targeted me because I am a (insert desired race). Behave yourself to begin with and it won't become a problem!!! I am happy that Disney is cracking down on possible gang related behavior before something really terrible happens. I say be pro active instead of reactive. As for the lifetime ban? Maybe harsh but they were asked to leave and refused so it wasn't like they were not given a chance.

 

[mmiller711]

My child would be giving an apology to the security office and Disney in general! Why is rude behavior ok for teens? I just don't get the parents train of thought here.

 

[thefirebuilds]

There is a program out there used by casinos in Vegas that measures features on your face. These features are unique for each individual, like fingerprints. When your face is logged in as someone banned, future pictures taken from security cameras can be fed into the computer and a match will be made in a matter of seconds.

I don't believe these systems are error-proof yet, they are also insanely expensive. Facial recognition technology in the real world isn't quite as accurate as one is lead to beleive on the T.V. For Disney there is no risk to mitigate with a system of this complexity and cost, they don't have the same level of costs associated with Vegas in terms of cheaters or thiefs. The point of the trespassing warnings is to make a statement with these kids, and most people are respectful enough to understand that represents a line in the sand. If these kids aren't then Disney has the paperwork not to involve the real 5-0 and let em look at the wrong side of jail bars for a few days. Unless the parents step in and back up Disney's point though it won't do much, and once these kids are in the system it is a damn hard life ahead of them.

 

[thefirebuilds]

My child would be giving an apology to the security office and Disney in general! Why is rude behavior ok for teens? I just don't get the parents train of thought here.

Chances are if your kid did this, and apologized, they'd lift the band. In the end they are a company, they dont need bad PR and they dont need less customers.