Disneyland Security A Joke

[blackjackdelta]

Got up for EE this AM, popped my service weapon in to its normal spot and off to the park we go.( this was done by 30 years of habit.) I spent over 5 hours in the park until I realized I was carrying something I should not have, I returned it back to the room.
The security people are nice and most look like they would have trouble handling a problem.
For those who complain about the security lines, don't. You do not have a clue. I am safer in Iraq.

Have a great day.

 

[Disneyfamfan]

Since this was an honest mistake, did you report this to security or the powers that be? They should know what happened, so that they can adjust security. I will be there in a few months and this really upsets me, because I want to feel safe there and at this moment I don't.

 

[WickedWench]

Searches like these are only there to make people 'feel' safe, not because they are in any way effective in keeping items out of the park. Just because the searches are not effective doesn't mean that you should be frightened to go to the park. You're MUCH more likely to die in an accident in traffic on the way to the park than you are to be a victim of an attack in a park. You're never going to be 100% safe anywhere you go. Why let fear of an extremely unlikely event cause you to not enjoy your vacation? One good thing about Disney security: I work in a Federal Building, and I got searched better at WDW than I do when I go to work. Although that might say more about my work security than it does about Disney's.

 

[two-foxes]

Perhaps security can be a joke, but we had the opposite thing happen to us at WDW last year. DH is a cop and will sometimes carry his off duty weapon in the typical "cop fanny pack" which has the velcro, etc inside which is obvoiusly designed to hold a firearm (but it looks like a regular fanny pack from the outside). He took the fanny pack to WDW to hold the typical sunscreen etc, (sans the firearm of course)....

Well, as we passed through security at the gates, and security was doing their typical "look but don't touch" of everyones stuff, DH opened his fanny pack for the search and the security guard reached his hand in the pack and was grabbing the velcro and said sternly "where are you hiding your piece???" "Home in Colorado" is all DH said, and the guy apologized, but it was just a bit surprising.

I am sure people bring guns, knives, whatever into theme parks. I don't feel any safer or any more in danger in WDW, DLR than anywhere else. (But from knowing several people who have been in Iraq, I know I am safer at DLR than Iraq ) Theme park security can only do so much.....if your normal spot is on your hip, they won't do a pat down of you to see if you have anything. It is your responsibility to make them aware, if needed. BTW, if you are in your jurisdiction, ect and a commissioned officer, are you allowed to carry your weapon in DLR? Also, I just gotta ask...even after 30 years of habit, wearing your firearm is, and IMHO only, a conscious action you take, meaning, you should know you have it on. How could you not realize you were wearing it?

 

[dulluth]

It's not that I didn't feel safe or anything, but we were all joking on the way in about the security checks too. My DH and DBIL correctly pointed out that they were far more likely to fit somthing unsafe into their cargo type shorts than my DS and I were into our fanny pack and tiny travel purse. Yet we were checked and they walked straight on through! It never hurts to at least put up the appearance of caution, as it may deter someone from carrying something illegal into the park, but they could be a little less obvious about the pretty lame system they've developed.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I can handle bad security at Disneyland. Its the TSA agents that scare the life out of me! The one at DIA a couple of weeks ago was way too busy examining the contents of the Kleenex she had just used to look very closely at the monitor she was SUPPOSED to be looking at. An AK-47 could have been in the bag that was going through and she wouldn't have known it.

 

[hjssk8]

That's bad when TSAs don't pay attention at the airport. Maybe I'll keep my eye on them when I travel from DIA in October to Disneyland.

 

[JenJen]

Well considering security does not check bags I am not surprised this happened. The people that check bags are main entrance cast members. It really depends who you get how well they will search your stuff. One time they did not let me bring in a small bottle of perfume because it was glass. Other times they never even looked in my bag to the extent that it would matter. The only place that has great security theme park wise is Magic Mountain. They have metal detectors. But this was being done before 9/11 because of the gang activity in the area.
JenJen

 

[Vanvmom]

Got up for EE this AM, popped my service weapon in to its normal spot and off to the park we go.( this was done by 30 years of habit.) I spent over 5 hours in the park until I realized I was carrying something I should not have, I returned it back to the room.
The security people are nice and most look like they would have trouble handling a problem.
For those who complain about the security lines, don't. You do not have a clue. I am safer in Iraq.

Have a great day.

Strange that in 2005 you can manage to bring a weapon into the park, yet when we went in Nov. 2001, security told my DH that he would have to stow his leatherman on his key chain in a locker. SO... no clippers or nail files, but handguns are acceptable. I remember going to DL as a kid in the 70s, and my dad (who was in law enforcement) had to always carry his gun. So, on trips to DL (when carrying his weapon would have been obvious to all), he had my mom carry his gun in her massive purse. Guess that wouldn't go over well now, huh?

 

[Skunker]

I know this sounds ridiculous, but this is part of the reason I am 90% sure we'll drive to DL from Colorado in October rather than fly. The airport "security" makes me more nervous than DL's security!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I did report it to a security lead and both went down and watched for about 10 minutes and the same type of siruation happened 3 times, he took it from there. There were 2 checkers working both sides of the tables and big lines.
If it makes people comfortable to see the checking going on so be it. Disney does many things for show.
I was just a little surprized to see it so lax and still call it security. I work on a private security team in another country and it is difficult not to say something.
I agree with the TSA comment, but there are only 200-300 people on a plane! How many people have ever seen a sky cop on a plane?
I do not think people should fear going to where ever they want to...you can not live your life in fear. I made the statement to to point out that it is not security in any sense of the word, I think it is a motion to put peoples fears to rest so they can enjoy their time in the parks. I am sure the Anaheim police would hotfoot it over if there was something going on.
Time for the family to go home and me back to work.

Have a great day.

 

[crasher11]

I edited my original post because it was a little on the harsh side, for that I apologize. I do see a problem with DL security also. There wasn't a very uniform search by anyone. Each security person we encountered had a different style of checking baggage, some glanced others looked but few went out there way to search anything. I guess the safer in Iraq comment which whether in jest or not, struck a cord with me. I would bet that anyone of those Men and Women over there, would trade you in a heart beat to be at DL.

 

[ParkFreak]

Thanks for sharing your story BJD, very enlightening. I'm sure you didn't do it on purpose or to "break the law" and reporting it to security was a selfless thing to do, they should be aware of what happened, whether or not they decide to act upon it. I also don't think you seriously think you'd be safer in Iraq.

 

[iceskatejen]

Since I go to DL so often, I go through the bag checks all the time, and it really depends on the CM how thoroughly your bag is searched. I've had some just glance into my open purse and others make my move stuff around, take out various contents and open them up, and so forth so that they can see to the bottom of my purse. Sometimes they make me open the little side pocket where I keep my cell phone but most of the time they don't. The only times you see "real" security at the bag checks it when the threat alert is at code orange (you'll see the security officers outside the park wearing orange vests). At those times, they usually just stand there next to the bag checks.

 

[disneysteve]

The truth is that "security" most places is a joke and purely what I call "feel good" security. It doesn't actually stop anything. Just looks like they are doing something. Entering the Disney parks, I have to open my fanny pack but I don't have to go through a metal detector or even empty my pockets. Obviously, If I wanted to bring something in, I just wouldn't put it in my fanny pack.

As for airport security, that is somewhat better but still not all that effective. On our recent trip, DW totally forgot that she had a Swiss army knife in her carry-on bag. She discovered it while unpacking in Anaheim. It got right past airport security. Coming home on Saturday, I realized at the airport (after our bags were checked) that I had a good size scissors in my carry-on. I didn't say anything and just figured if they take it, they take it. They never said a word. Also, in line for security in Las Vegas, they have a tape playing that says if you have metal on your shoes or soles thicker than 1", you need to remove your shoes. We kept our shoes on since we were all wearing regular sneakers. When we get to the front of the line, the guy says we all need to take off our shoes. After DD took hers off, he asked how old she is. When we said 9 he said, "Oh, she could have kept her's on." So remember, if you want to smuggle something on, put it in your kid's shoes. What a stupid rule.

 

[CaliforniaSunshine]

That is very very scary!! Hopefully they will address the problem. Human error and downright laziness could cause a lot of problems!!!

On another note, a friend of mine had an incident where a fellow park goer had attempted to assult a child in her group (very odd situation). Scarily, and at the same time comforting, the security knew every single move they made in the park from that point on and even knew when they were leaving the park and were escorted to their hotel by security. They have one of the best internal security systems on the planet (from what I hear and we don't see).

 

[Goofster57]

It may not be “perfect” but short of strip-searching everyone I think they are doing the best they can. I would venture to guess that if they weren’t doing anything and something happened the title of this thread would be “Disneyland Security is Joke for not trying to do something”

 

[disneysteve]

It may not be “perfect” but short of strip-searching everyone I think they are doing the best they can.

I've been to other amusement parks that have metal detectors at the front gate. All guests entering the parks must pass through them as they enter. I think that is much more effective than glancing into my fanny pack. I'm not necessarily suggesting that Disney needs to do that, but I don't really think its accurate to say they are doing the best they can.

 

[BelleM77]

I've been to other amusement parks that have metal detectors at the front gate. All guests entering the parks must pass through them as they enter. I think that is much more effective than glancing into my fanny pack. I'm not necessarily suggesting that Disney needs to do that, but I don't really think its accurate to say they are doing the best they can.

They did use metal detectors of a while after 9/11. I don't know why they stopped doing it though.