Disney Security: Inconsistent, Useless

[NewEnglandDisney]

1) I agree, the actual bag check is pretty useless. It's just the first part of the "show".

2) There are many, many security measures you will never know about or see (thankfully). The parks are self-contained - they are as safe as you could possibly be in public (and private, unless you lock yourself in a bunker).

3) This really isn't a rag on the OP, but she seems to have spent WAY too much time thinking about this - I know the media and government want to scare you with all the "terror, terror!" warnings (the "color coded threat level" is nothing but a mass hysteria building device), but you really need to step back and think about the big picture. You have much more of a chance of getting struck by lightning then you do being a victim of a terrorist attack on US soil. We all know the possibilities - but there comes a point when you just have to realize that the chances of it happening to you are infinitely small.

aw:
N.E.D.

 

[ECurto]

Couldn’t of said it better. Its a way for the “worst president in history”, to use his position to scare Americans into thinking the war we are fighting and fought in Iraq (you know the places him and his family benefit from, not where Bin Laden could be, or even where terrorists come from) is justified. Watch BBC news, you’ll get a real feel for how the world sees us, and you’ll get real news on terrorism, not our US scare tactic version. Its so sad that as a society we cant see threw this joke of a President… we actually reelected him! Bet the people in New Orleans regret it. But its ok, as long as gays dont get equal rights...

 

[VSL]

Just because you can't see the security it doesn't mean that it isn't there.
I remember reading on one thread about someone 'in the know' saying that if you knew about all the security at WDW you'd be paranoid (although I think the OP already is, but because they don't think that Big Brother is watching).

Come on.. do you think that Disney is going to risk anything happening at their parks?

 

[LakeAriel]

Couldn’t of said it better. Its a way for the “worst president in history”, to use his position to scare Americans into thinking the war we are fighting and fought in Iraq (you know the places him and his family benefit from, not where Bin Laden could be, or even where terrorists come from) is justified. Watch BBC news, you’ll get a real feel for how the world sees us, and you’ll get real news on terrorism, not our US scare tactic version. Its so sad that as a society we cant see threw this joke of a President… we actually reelected him! Bet the people in New Orleans regret it. But its ok, as long as gays dont get equal rights...

He wasn't "re-elected" but elected for the first time! Not by me either, so I can sleep at night.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I find some Disney security superficial -- especially bag checks.

I think Disney had to give the appearance that they were providing security.

I agree. Everytime we had our bags checked they didn't even look underneath stuff- even in our big tote bag that we had quite a few things in. I even offered by starting to dig through things and pull things out to show them underneath and they waved me away letting me know it wasn't necessary. They also didn't have me open all the zipper compartments in my tote bag or my little backpack like they HAVE done in the past.. but not this last trip at NONE of the parks.

(ps. noticed they do not check bags AT ALL- period- not at all- at the water parks... where most people are carrying larger bags for towels/etc. In other words- more bags, and larger bags are being taken into the water parks but there is no bag check there at all. But now that I think about it- it's not really much different than other places. At Six Flags here in Texas they do the same "minimal" bag check AFTER you've already gone through the ticket place but they do have a scan thing- can't think of the word for it but they are the same as you walk through at security at an airport. But the waterparks here either don't check bags at all or do the minimal glance in -when you're toting huge bags and/or big coolers with food and such. Anything could be brought in there and they'd never see it)

 

[unixadm]

What do political opinions have to do with security at WDW?????

The bag checks are a joke. I have NO problem with them doing security checks, but they shouldn't just be cursory checks for show. They need REAL security checks.

We went in with a double stroller. Most times, there were still bags and things underneath that they never even looked in.

Many guards just looked at the top of our diaper bag and saw clean diapers, never digging deeper to see if anything was below them.

If they want to do security checks, spend the money and get the machines like the airports. Have us go through metal detectors and run our bags through the x-ray machine.

Either do REAL checks, or don't do them at all. I could have walked into any of the parks with anything I wanted with ease.

 

[safetymom]

Disney has all sorts of security that you can't see. At least they aren't trying to appear important like the TSA does.

Bag checks aren't doing much at the airport or Disney. It's what you can't see that is important.

 

[icebaby]

which is a good thing! Do you realize that WDW and it's surrounding areas ( I don't know exactly the square mileage but it's vast) is a no-fly zone. Like many areas of the USA since 9/11 there are areas of the country where no plane is allowed to fly freely. And if they do F-15s, F-16s are scrambled to escort them down. Like the past post wrote so eloquently, just watching WDW officials in action with a missing child, all of a sudden the CM talking to the CM passing out balloons is now the head of the security force for the FantasyLand area. Unfortunately we live in a unsafe enviroment with terrorist attacks, child predators, etc however do not let your life be crippled with fear of what ifs, and realize that the USA and WDW has done everything they can to make your time there safe.

 

[GoofyDad869]

I personally don't think that the chances of an incident happening have increased, just our awareness (call it fear, self-preservation, political spin-speak, whatever...) of the potential incident has increased. Also, WDW is the size of the island of Manhattan (48 sq. miles is what I remember reading) - most of that land is "undeveloped" - I know of many large military bases with vast "undeveloped" area that have an amazing security response. I'm not saying that Disney security is necessarily on par with true military security, but it can't be too far behind. I have designed military installations with post-9/11 security design guidelines, and I can say that what YOU interact with ( uniformed & plain-clothes security, and security devices - both passive and active) MIGHT represent 10-20% of the security resources tasked to that specific area.

We joke that Disney is able to count the change in our pockets - I don't think that'd too far from the truth.

 

[luvdamouse]

This post really struck a nerve. I'm a security professional - I do risk assessments on the facilities and systems for a Fortune 100 company, and I'm constantly looking for and addressing vulnerabilities. When I'm at WDW, I have to "turn off" so that I don't make myself crazy - just like in airports... but that's another story.

There are so many vulnerabilities that don't appear to be addressed, as well as those that are impossible to address... I get about 10 freebies that I share with DH, and then he reminds me to wind down and try to be like everyone else.

Anyway, I exercise my faith and remind myself how much I love the 'World, and let myself go.

Take care, ya'll!
Jo

 

[DrTomorrow]

Whoa.

To the OP: A tinfoil hat - guaranteed to block out 'those voices' and microwaves from Russia. Relax, my friend - I'm certain that DisneyCo is much more worried about security - and in a better position to do something practical about it - than you are.

To the rest of you good folks: Hakuna Matata! Don't let irrational fear paralyze you. Plus, think of it this way: if a terrorist is gonna get you, wouldn't you rather be at WDW than in a mall, or your cube, or in the soap aisle at the grocery store?

To do my part to make the OP feel better, I'm formally volunteering to have any Disney Princess frisk me at the front gate, the monorail entrance, the train station and any random spot in the MK.

Be well!

 

[DeirdreTours]

And if they completely searched each bag would you feel more secure? Or would you worry about bombs strapped to bodies under clothes? Concealed guns? Poisons to be dispersed through the air?

I understand worry. But your weighing of risks doesn't seem rational. How many people in this country have been attacked by "terrorists"? I can only think of two incidents off hand-- Oklohoma City and 9/11. Even a cursory comparison of the real level of risk of death from terrorism vs. death from auto accidents, coronary disease, etc. will reveal many areas of far greater health risk.

 

[Nancyg56]

You may want to read my post here...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=852456

It may make you feel better.

Thanks for this post. I was never worried about Disney security, as I am sure that they company would do whatever was necessary to protect their massive investment. I don't act in a manner that invites problems, but I refuse to live in fear at every turn. We would never fly, take busses or trains, shop in malls or gather for local fireworks displays if we gave in to this fear. We would be afraid to eat in restaurants.

Picture the long wait if every bag was checked at every entrance to Disney transit.