Disney to test metal detectors

[Jodi1980]

Disney to test metal detectors
By Greg Groeller
Sentinel Staff Writer

April 15, 2004, 9:03 PM EDT

Walt Disney World will test metal detectors at the entrance to its theme parks as it considers whether to begin random screening at all its parks, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.

The testing will take place during the coming week, after the park is closed for the night. A spokesman for Walt Disney World said the company does not comment publicly on park security measures.

If Disney elects to install metal detectors after the tests, the devices would be placed at the entrance of every Orlando park. It was not known if detectors would be tested or installed at Disney parks in the United States or worldwide.

Guests selected randomly would be directed through the detectors as they entered. It is not known whether guests would be searched or frisked if they set off the detectors.

The metal detectors would be in addition to existing screening that includes ticket-takers, bag checks, posted security staff members and other measures.

The new measure is not a reaction to any new or specific threat, the Sentinel was told. It was not known if the tests were in reaction to any recent security breaches.

The overnight tests of the metal detectors will assess where they would be positioned, how big they would be, what they would look like, and whether they would work. The effectiveness of metal detectors, which are magnetic devices, may be affected by electromagnetic fields such as those generated by the Monorail that runs among the parks at Walt Disney World.

Universal Orlando has used handheld metal detectors in the past during its Halloween Horror Nights.

Disney is trying to balance a desire for new forms of security screening with its image of safety and escapism, experts said.

"People come to the Disney theme parks to escape the world where terrorists live,'' said Jim Hill, who maintains a Web site that tracks company developments. "Disney has for years manufactured this aura of safety. This is not going to help them maintain that image. It's unfortunate."

John Pike, a security and aerospace analyst with globalsecurity.org in Arlington, Va., said it will be difficult for Disney to effectively balance security measures that often go along with metal detectors - such as requiring people to take off their shoes - with the desire not to inconvenience its guests.

"Their dilemma is that either they are going to make spending a day at the park as annoying as flying an airplane or it [the security measures] is going to be ineffective,'' Pike said.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Very interesting.

 

[JoNo]

I can see it now... As if the lines aren't bad enough. When I went to Halloween Horror Nights in 2002, it was the first time they used metal detectors there at Universal. I had to go through EIGHT times b/c I had a flippin' gum wrapper wadded up in a crevice of my pocket & couldn't find it. The lines to go through were horrid! It reminded me of a mosh pit @ a concert more than an amusement park!

 

[Dan Murphy]

God to see they are keeping guest safety at the forefront.

 

[Amy]

While it's sad to see it come to this, it's perfectly understandable. If Disney has enough metal detectors and enough security, the lines shouldn't be too bad. Our local amusement park has had metal detectors for years - as soon as you go thru the ticket-taker, you step thru the metal detector. If it beeps, there are security guards there to go thru your bags. Only adds a minute or two. Granted, Disney has a LOT more guests than Kennywood, but as long as the security checkpoint is adequately staffed, it should be ok. Disney is concerned about the safety of its guests, and these days you can't be too careful. Unfortunately.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I, for one, don't have a problem with this. Yes, it will take a bit longer to get through but once you are in you can feel much safer. The screening now of going through bags etc is a joke. Half the time they never look thoroughly. They have missed several pockets in my fanny pack. I believe that Disney is a huge target and I would welcome any way to keep me safe.

 

[Blondie]

It wouldn't bother me either.

Paramount's King's Dominion installed metal detectors years ago after a gang related stabbing happened inside the park.

It's just another measure towards safety IMHO.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by JoNo
I can see it now... As if the lines aren't bad enough. When I went to Halloween Horror Nights in 2002, it was the first time they used metal detectors there at Universal. I had to go through EIGHT times b/c I had a flippin' gum wrapper wadded up in a crevice of my pocket & couldn't find it. The lines to go through were horrid! It reminded me of a mosh pit @ a concert more than an amusement park!

Would you prefer to get your family through 5 minutes faster and then have your child caught in the crossfire of a gunshot?

I think it's a great idea. I wish the subways around here would implement something like this. We had another teen killed a week or so ago because he was stabbed in a subway station.

Waiting in line for an extra 10 minutes won't kill you. Someone sneaking in with a knife, a gun or a bomb just might.

 

[Pin Wizard]

It's about time! Random testing? Every person walking in should be tested!

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Originally posted by Pin Wizard
It's about time! Random testing? Every person walking in should be tested!

You took the words right out of my mouth. I can imagine some people getting upset if they get selected and others do not.

 

[ErikdaRed]

This is just false security, to make everyone feel better. When was the last time someone went postal with a gun in WDW? How about a knife? What about any weapon?

I've never heard of a single one. And I would seriously doubt the threat of one has suddenly increased to warrant the bag checking, let alone metal detectors.

And if I wanted to get a gun into any of the WDW parks, its just as easy to have someone throw it over the fence to someone in the park. Or pay someone to plant it. Or drive through the gate with a van full of terrorists.

 

[catsrule]

I have no problems with them doing that.

 

[HeyMickey]

Frankly, I'm amazed it's taken them this long to start doing it.

 

[LadyAurora]

I guess it depends on what exactly they are trying to prevent. The occasional whacko with a gun or knife might get caught. Metal detectors aren't going to stop a terrorist.

And how sensitive are the detectors going to be? Can't be set too high...lots of people have jewelry, phones, pagers, etc.

 

[Alex]

Im kinda with erickdared here.. has anyone actually ever shot up disney? It doesn't really seem like a terrorist target in the sense of just bringing in a gun or a knife. I would think the more likely scenario, if you were going to try to do some damage would be bio-terrorism or a bomb, neither of which will be detected by a metal detector.
I think it is just disney trying to play CYA and cover themselves in case something does happen, I don't think there will be much of an increase in "real" security.
For those who say test everyone, it's darn near impossible. To test to a level of an airport, for example would require an incredible expansion in the amount of people involved. The other day the MK alone had 75,000 people in it. the lines would be HOURS long to handle that.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Actually there have been people shot & stabbed at Disney. Not for a long time but it has happened. In 1981, two men got into a fight and one ended up stabbed and killed. I believe the victims last name was Yorba but I can't recall much else about that.

I also can recall hearing about someone pulling a gun (gang related incident) in the park but I can't remember where I heard it. If I remember or find a web site, I'll post a link.

 

[kirstyfly]

I don't think it should be random people it should be each person go through.

If we had to go through metal detectors to get into the muesums in washington then a place with lots of people and so American as disney should have metal dectors.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I think it stinks, it's just *cosmetic* security to satisfy paranoid people. The best security is the kind you don't see and Disney has plenty of that already.

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by ErikdaRed
This is just false security, to make everyone feel better. When was the last time someone went postal with a gun in WDW? How about a knife? What about any weapon?

I've never heard of a single one. And I would seriously doubt the threat of one has suddenly increased to warrant the bag checking, let alone metal detectors.

And if I wanted to get a gun into any of the WDW parks, its just as easy to have someone throw it over the fence to someone in the park. Or pay someone to plant it. Or drive through the gate with a van full of terrorists.

when was the last time someone hijacked a commercial airliner and crashed it into a building killing thousands..hmmmmmmmm 9-10-2001, you could have said this just as confidently.....


stabbing death at Disneyland

 

[Alex]

The point is Mickey88 would this be an effective way to stop it? It would not unless everyone was tested to the level of modern airport security (in other words NOT the pre 9/11 level)
I honestly don't see how that is close to possible unless people are willing to tolerate hours of lines and huge backups just to get into the park. Think of the lines that exist now to get in the park sometimes and picture all of those people having to do the whole metal detector, xray belt thing..
An airport checkpoint handles NO where near the volume of the crowd that enters the magic kingdom on a busy day!
For example MCO (orlando airport) handles about 75,000 passengers a day with all of their checkpoints BUT that is spread over a 24 hour period.. not the intense rush that the Parks would get in the morning. We all know how bad the line can be there!
Personally I would rather take the chance on one freakshot getting through with a gun or a knife then basically having to wait a couple of hours to enter the parks.
Secondly a park is not an airplane. While terrorists could, I suppose take hostages in the park and create an incident that way, a far more effective method would be some form of bioterrorism, which would not be picked up by any present screening method.
It's pretty easy to say "OH YEA anything for security" when you are sitting here having a theoretical discussion, quite another when you are in a 3 hour wait to get through security to get in to the "happiest place on earth"