Disney Security .... It's not really that bad

[miamimi]

I do know quite a bit about both TSA and Disney's security practices. Not enough to know all of Disney's, other than there is a lot behind the scenes the public doesn't see or know about, but with TSA what you see is what you get. All you need to do is look at the the hiring criteria for each organization to see who has better standards.

I hold nothing against TSA. They're doing a job, just like Disney security is doing their job. I fly often, and I set off the detector every time I fly, I patiently await my pat down, because that's their job, and I happily chat with them while they do their job. Thinking that Disney does a better job at screening than TSA doesn't mean I hold any grudge against them.

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood when you stated that TSA was a joke.

 

[Jennasis]

I do know quite a bit about both TSA and Disney's security practices. Not enough to know all of Disney's, other than there is a lot behind the scenes the public doesn't see or know about, but with TSA what you see is what you get. All you need to do is look at the the hiring criteria for each organization to see who has better standards.

I hold nothing against TSA. They're doing a job, just like Disney security is doing their job. I fly often, and I set off the detector every time I fly, I patiently await my pat down, because that's their job, and I happily chat with them while they do their job. Thinking that Disney does a better job at screening than TSA doesn't mean I hold any grudge against them.

Like I said...none of us know Disney's true (meaning full) security presence.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

The Security isn't the problem it's the people going through the security that are causing the issues.

I appreciate ANYONE doing anything to help my security in the park.

 

[maxiesmom]

Really?? Never saw anyone forced into a tram, and I dare to say I fly through MCO more than anyone here.

MG

You missed it. An international flight landed, and they were not letting anyone who had cleared security wait for those who hadn't. They put up the rope, and security walked those of us on the opposite side to the trams and told us to get on. They were not kidding either.

 

[LENNON500]

The best security is the security we can't see......keep up the amazing work WDW, and thank you for all you do.
Coming from a 9/11 and 2/26/93 WTC survivor.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

You missed it. An international flight landed, and they were not letting anyone who had cleared security wait for those who hadn't. They put up the rope, and security walked those of us on the opposite side to the trams and told us to get on. They were not kidding either.

Indeed. I suppose an unusual customs situation could cause issues.

MG

 

[Angel Ariel]

People should stop crying, God forbid the moment someone sets off a bomb or a shooter goes wild they'll be blaming Disney and wanting to sue for "lack of security"

I'll go through all the security checks you want if it means my family and myself are safe.

You don't think people will have the same reaction if it happens at a Disney hotel, or Disney Springs, or in the areas outside the park *before* you go through security?

Brussels already showed us that people truly intent on doing harm won't bother even trying to get through security in the first place. Just outside of security, where people are gathering and waiting to go through security is just as much a target.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The best security is the security we can't see......keep up the amazing work WDW, and thank you for all you do.
Coming from a 9/11 and 2/26/93 WTC survivor.

This I agree with, and think has been true for a very long time.

 

[keishashadow]

I have seen a bunch of threads on here with people complaining about that bag check and secondary screening at WDW. I've read people being upset their wallet was opened, people upset to walk through a metal detector, etc

I was selected twice for secondary and it added 8 seconds to my park entry.

It doesn't appear random, they pick whoever is coming through bag check at the exact time the metal detector is open. There was never a line of people waiting for the metal detector.

As far as bag check, look at every pocket, zipper, pouch,etc. I have my family and take the safety serious. Obviously Disney does as well. I'd rather they search everyone well and find something opposed to a half assed search and something getting through the line.

It's not that bad

Some guards are more thorough than others

I am glad they have it the way they do

Don't think anybody would argue with the need for security, especially at places that could be considered to be soft targets. Most would agree there is likely far more security measures in place that we don't see, a very good thing!

Are you posting re current trip to WDW? If so, this time of year is typically a low crowd level time isn't it?

As with all things @ WDW, YMMV based upon over all crowds, timing of arrival, even the person(s) in front of you who aren't prepared or compliant with the checkpoint, etc.

 

[cobright]

Um, well, the fact that people are getting knives into the park. Or that people can walk in with pockets stuffed full of whatever they want, yet not be stopped.

If they are really trying to keep unwanted items out of the park, they aren't doing a very good job.

Searching for weapons is a pretext for the search itself. No one planning to shoot up the park is going to submit to a bag check. The fact that they actually do confiscate a number of weapons each day is more accident than design. Bag check is not there to search bags, searching bags is a method of searching people. If they're looking for anything at all, it's my flask of white rum. But they never find that.

I suppose it's possible that Disney security is really top notch. But I'm curious how you are so sure about that. I hope they are, and I tell myself they are so I feel better, but ultimately, I really have no idea.

I think the bottlenecks created by the security checks outside the gates of the parks are very dangerous and actually make me sort of nervous. I doubt someone wanting to create an incident at Disney cares if they do it on Main Street or right outside the gates.

The bottle necks are by design. So they can observe the group and against the baseline of 99.99% of the waiting guests, spot the outliers more easily. Consider even a busy day, the crush at the gates quickly becomes a tiny fraction of the admitted guests already inside. It's also right where you are guaranteed to see the most security and police. A shooting outsidea the gates allows the entry to be closed off more easily and possibly eliminate a manhunt through the parks.

My post graduate study is international relations, negotiation, and risk assessment. I graduated from Norwich the second oldest private military Academy in the nation and it was a real love fest on anti terror studies. A subject I specialized in was behavioral disparity observations in risk assessment; particularly the science of Dr. Paul Ekman and his group (the show lie to me is based loosely on the PEG group.)

These days I stay home mostly and work in my shop and raise my kids. I have anxiety and panic disorders, nightmares and night terrors. But a couple times a year I walk through a crowded mainstreet USA without a care in the world.

Disney security rivals most casinos I've seen.

 

[miamimi]

The bottle necks are by design.

Well, I feel much better...Not! How does this "bottleneck" prevent someone at the back from pulling a semi-automatic weapon from their stroller and using it to take out hundreds of guests who are trapped in the bottleneck? Is this what would be characterized as an acceptable risk?

 

[rajak73]

How does this "bottleneck" prevent someone at the back from pulling a semi-automatic weapon from their stroller and using it to take out hundreds of guests who are trapped in the bottleneck?

Security and police are going to have be awfully slow for someone to "take out HUNDREDS of guests" even with a "high Capacity" 50 round clip. ETA: And if I'm going to worry about someone pulling out a gun from the stroller, I might as well stay home in my bunker.

 

[DrunkJam]

I agree with other posters about the family issues. I don't seperate myself from my family but when I was sent through the detector they required me to leave my autistic (run away risk) child on the side in her stroller as a wheelchair for about 2 mins (long enough for her to run if she had gotten spooked by anything). It was not safe and they didn't care. They really need a better system for children and those with disabilities and right now I have not seen that. Thankfully she did not run then but i may not be that lucky next time.

This is scary. This constitutes a very serious risk to that child, not simply in terms of family enjoyment, but in terms of actual endangerment.

I am very happy for disney to search my bags, and to metal detect me, and my family. They really, however MUST NOT endanger a child, or anyone else to do so. The flight risk and subsequent possible danger for an autistic child (of which I have one, who is in receipt of particular state aid especially to deal with this, and other risks, as it is so significant as to render his life and needs different from that which is considered normal) is significant in this situation. Could they not wand scan? Apply some other alternative screening?

Splitting adults from children in any case is dangerous, in this case doubly so.

Oh, and, I travel from abroad, I don't always use my mobile in WDW or USA generally, it isn't always usable, you shouldn't need a mobile phone to find your family after the security line.

 

[Easto]

I was never split from my kids.

They asked if I had someone else to watch my kids.

My wife was in line for secondary.

They brought over a metal detector wand and checked me that way. Never once did they suggest I leave my kids unattended.

I had ZERO issues with the way screening was done. They could have selected me every time I entered the park and I wouldn't have had a problem with it.

I don't know what type of security they have that I can't see. I am sure it's pretty out of this world, casino like security. You'd be crazy to think a bag check + random secondary is all they are doing to ensure your safety.

 

[DrunkJam]

I was never split from my kids.

They asked if I had someone else to watch my kids.

My wife was in line for secondary.

They brought over a metal detector wand and checked me that way. Never once did they suggest I leave my kids unattended.

I had ZERO issues with the way screening was done. They could have selected me every time I entered the park and I wouldn't have had a problem with it.

I don't know what type of security they have that I can't see. I am sure it's pretty out of this world, casino like security. You'd be crazy to think a bag check + random secondary is all they are doing to ensure your safety.

This is reassuring, thank you

 

[Love_the_Mouse]

Anyone know how security is at the hotels? That's my main worry.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Anyone know how security is at the hotels? That's my main worry.

I'm sure there is unseen security, but there is no bag check or metal detectors at the hotels.

 

[maxiesmom]

Well, I feel much better...Not! How does this "bottleneck" prevent someone at the back from pulling a semi-automatic weapon from their stroller and using it to take out hundreds of guests who are trapped in the bottleneck? Is this what would be characterized as an acceptable risk?

You can't think that way and stay sane. Or able to leave your house. What is to stop someone from doing the same thing at the grocery store? The doctor's office? The gas station? You have to be aware of your surroundings but you can't be nutty about it or you will end up in your basement 24/7.

 

[miamimi]

You can't think that way and stay sane. Or able to leave your house. What is to stop someone from doing the same thing at the grocery store? The doctor's office? The gas station? You have to be aware of your surroundings but you can't be nutty about it or you will end up in your basement 24/7.

I've never seen people backed up wall to wall at my grocery store or Doctor's office have you? I agree this could happen anywhere, but I do think the bottleneck at security is an ideal terrorist situation. Once a gunman opens fire, the crowd would most likely start stampeding, so there would be even more victims. Look at what happened at Disney Springs last Christmas.

So I ask you, if the bottleneck is an essential part of the security screening, couldn't it be created after everyone goes through the X-ray machines and bag check?

 

[IrishNYC]

Well, I feel much better...Not! How does this "bottleneck" prevent someone at the back from pulling a semi-automatic weapon from their stroller and using it to take out hundreds of guests who are trapped in the bottleneck? Is this what would be characterized as an acceptable risk?

It doesn't prevent a shooting. It minimizes risk and maximizes containment.

• A bottleneck slows traffic, and allows behind the scenes security to scan the crowd for known risks, suspect behavior, and employ other security measures most people aren't aware of.
• Security is most concentrated at these bottleneck points, maximizing the potential to capture an assailant. Once inside the park physical security is there, but not as close by as at the gates.
• Potential capture of an assailant is greater at the gates because there is nowhere to go. Once inside the park it's easier to hide and/or evade security.

If someone had a "semi-automatic weapon" in their stroller, Disney security will be aware of it long before it has a chance to be pulled out. They've already proven their superb security by having been aware that Omar Mateen had staked out Downtown Disney - a place where no one goes through a security check point.