Does Disneyland have difficulty emptying the park?

[asunutgirl]

I've been at an event at Club 33 after that park closes. We were escorted from the Club to the main gate by a CM. It was very surreal to be walking through the park without any people. All the lights were still on!

The teens sleeping overnight at DL sounds like an Urban Legend. Security has always been tight at DL.

 

[gr8leg8]

A few years back one of our kids scraped their knee in DL. My wife is an RN so she was looking at the knee, when a kindly elderly gentleman eating an ice cream casually strolled over to her and asked if she needed assistance. Only then did we see the ear piece where someone was directing him over to us. I thought, wow..everyone is being watched all of the time.

Doesn't this sound like the best job ever?!?

 

[Sully14]

Doesn't this sound like the best job ever?!?

Yes...he looked about 70 years old so we were shocked to see the ear piece ! And he was dressed as a 70 yr old visitor would be dressed....blended right in.

In Nov 2001, on our Thanksgiving trip out to DLR from NYC, we saw Anaheim PD walking around Main Street.....now they REALLY stood out like a sore thumb.

 

[CaseyK]

On nights when the park closing early - like 8PM, I imagine there are a lot more people leaving and it is not quite the same as on a night when the park closes at mignight?

On our last trip the park closed at 10:00 and we got on Splash right before that. By the time the ride was done, park was closed. There were a lot of people leaving but I thought it was still cool. It was nice to walk out with the CM's behind us. It was the start of Halloween time and they were filming the promos or something in front of Haunted Mansion and Main Street as we left (I think a CM told me thats what it was). It was neat because it was dark and all the film lights were up and kids were dressed in costumes and doing takes. Kinda neat to see the park emptying but lots still going on

 

[taaren]

During the 2 am tour- in bathrobes- the CM told us that one of the nightly security duties is to search for stowaways. Yes, there are cameras just about everywhere, and the security people know where the 'usual' places to try to hide are located. Every CM working when the park closes has a duty to keep an eye out, too. Disney does not treat stowaways as a friendly game of hide-and-seek nowadays.....one will get arrested for trespassing if found hiding. (at least that is what we were told)

So the answer is, kids are still trying to do it now ... and failing! Good to know.

The teens sleeping overnight at DL sounds like an Urban Legend. Security has always been tight at DL.

Not an urban legend. My friend did it a several times in the late 80's. Not going to name him on a random message board so you can check the story, but FWIW, apparently at least a few kids got away with it at the time.

 

[lovebug33]

Now I know my retirement job. I am going to work at Disneyland eating ice cream cones and looking out for kids with boo-boo knees! Awesome!

 

[DharmaLou]

Are you sure that was an earpiece not a hearing aid?

Not that I don't believe that there are eyes everywhere!

 

[dragonflycurls]

Are you sure that was an earpiece not a hearing aid?

Not that I don't believe that there are eyes everywhere!

I would believe it is an actual earpiece

I worked at a theme park and had a lot of undercover security that worked mostly for catching shoplifting but also to easily blend into crowds.

 

[Sully14]

I would believe it is an actual earpiece

I worked at a theme park and had a lot of undercover security that worked mostly for catching shoplifting but also to easily blend into crowds.

He was definitely a CM.

 

[brentm77]

The teens sleeping overnight at DL sounds like an Urban Legend. Security has always been tight at DL.

Unfortunately, it isn't an urban legend and security hasn't "always been tight."

Warning, sad story follows:

"In June 1973, an 18-year-old man drowned while attempting to swim across the "Rivers of America". He and his 10-year-old brother stayed on Tom Sawyer's Island past closing time by hiding in an area that is off-limits to guests. When they wanted to leave the island, they decided to swim across the river even though the younger brother did not know how to swim. The victim attempted to carry his younger brother on his back and drowned halfway across. His body was found the next morning. The younger brother was able to stay afloat by "dog paddling" until a ride operator rescued him."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Disneyland_Resort#cite_note-Koenig_1994_171-29

The Wikipedia article's source is "Koenig, David (1994). Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland. Irvine, CA: Bonaventure Press. pp. 172–173." Which is a great book by the way.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Unfortunately, it isn't an urban legend and security hasn't "always been tight."

Warning, sad story follows:

"In June 1973, an 18-year-old man drowned while attempting to swim across the "Rivers of America". He and his 10-year-old brother stayed on Tom Sawyer's Island past closing time by hiding in an area that is off-limits to guests. When they wanted to leave the island, they decided to swim across the river even though the younger brother did not know how to swim. The victim attempted to carry his younger brother on his back and drowned halfway across. His body was found the next morning. The younger brother was able to stay afloat by "dog paddling" until a ride operator rescued him."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Disneyland_Resort#cite_note-Koenig_1994_171-29

The Wikipedia article's source is "Koenig, David (1994). Mouse Tales: A Behind-the-Ears Look at Disneyland. Irvine, CA: Bonaventure Press. pp. 172–173." Which is a great book by the way.

Warning: story of a completely unnecessary death ahead

In June 1973 an 18 year old who was violating Disney's rules drowned while attempting to swim across a private water mass that is not meant to swim in and probably has so much bacteria in it that his skin was massively irritated the moment he entered the water. He and his 10 year old brother stayed on the island area of this private property after closing when they knew they were not supposed to be there any longer by purposefully taking cover in an area that they never should have been in to begin with because guests aren't supposed to be there. When they decided to leave this section of the private property that was closed already to the public - most likely because there was nothing to do since the Park was closed - the decided to swim across the gross waters of the river since there was no other way off the island, given that all other options cease operating once the Park closed, something the short-sighted boys probably failed to think about in their plan. They chose to swim even though they knew one of them did not know how to swim, a choice that one can clearly see upfront is not a wise choice since drowning is such a common occurrence when one who cannot swim enters a large body of water. Well, truth be told, they most likely did not "choose" to swim, but we're left with no other choice since the private property was closed and all operations had ceased for the day. The victim, rather violator and trespasser, attempted to carry his younger brother on his back and drowned halfway across. His body was found the next morning. The younger brother was able to stay afloat by "dog paddling" until a ride operator rescued him. Tragically, he will spend the rest of his life remembering the death of his brother, a result of the two youth choosing to ignore numerous policies and rules after a day at Disneyland.

- Dreams

 

[brentm77]

Warning: story of a completely unnecessary death ahead

In June 1973 an 18 year old who was violating Disney's rules drowned while attempting to swim across a private water mass that is not meant to swim in and probably has so much bacteria in it that his skin was massively irritated the moment he entered the water. He and his 10 year old brother stayed on the island area of this private property after closing when they knew they were not supposed to be there any longer by purposefully taking cover in an area that they never should have been in to begin with because guests aren't supposed to be there. When they decided to leave this section of the private property that was closed already to the public - most likely because there was nothing to do since the Park was closed - the decided to swim across the gross waters of the river since there was no other way off the island, given that all other options cease operating once the Park closed, something the short-sighted boys probably failed to think about in their plan. They chose to swim even though they knew one of them did not know how to swim, a choice that one can clearly see upfront is not a wise choice since drowning is such a common occurrence when one who cannot swim enters a large body of water. Well, truth be told, they most likely did not "choose" to swim, but we're left with no other choice since the private property was closed and all operations had ceased for the day. The victim, rather violator and trespasser, attempted to carry his younger brother on his back and drowned halfway across. His body was found the next morning. The younger brother was able to stay afloat by "dog paddling" until a ride operator rescued him. Tragically, he will spend the rest of his life remembering the death of his brother, a result of the two youth choosing to ignore numerous policies and rules after a day at Disneyland.

- Dreams

I am not sure what to make of your editing of the story. Is your point that the story isn't sad because, in your view, death is not sad so long as it results from someone breaking rules?

 

[Disney Dreams]

I am not sure what to make of your editing of the story. Is your point that the story isn't sad because, in your view, death is not sad so long as it results from someone breaking rules?

Nope, not at all. I think it's horribly sad. It was a completely unnecessary death that was the result of two people thinking rules didnt apply to them. Very tragic. And 100% avoidable.

- Dreams

 

[purplecrush]

That was kind of uncalled for. I just pray that his family NEVER has to read that...

 

[larina]

That was kind of uncalled for. I just pray that his family NEVER has to read that...

I believe they're already aware that he died when breaking rules. Nothing they read can change that for any of them.

 

[Disney Dreams]

That was kind of uncalled for. I just pray that his family NEVER has to read that...

I don't understand the point of the story being posted on this thread except to illustrate exactly why you should never try to spend the night inside a closed place. I was simply illustrating how this sad passing was 100% avoidable by simply following rules and not being where you KNOW you should not be.

- Dreams

 

[MadMim]

So heres a question!

How effective is the clearing out method during an event like Mickeys Halloween Party? If Im reading right, there will be two crowds in the park, those who paid for general admission, and those who paid for the Halloween party. Will CMs comb the park for those not wearing the band? And if so, isnt is very likely that a lot of people could be passed up (long sleeves, ride lines?) Will ride operators turn people away? And how long does that whole process take? It just doesnt seem very well organized to me, but I cant imagine any other way that they could do it. Does anyone know?

 

[mummabear]

Does DL do the kiss goodnight like MK at WDW?

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

So heres a question!

How effective is the clearing out method during an event like Mickeys Halloween Party? If Im reading right, there will be two crowds in the park, those who paid for general admission, and those who paid for the Halloween party. Will CMs comb the park for those not wearing the band? And if so, isnt is very likely that a lot of people could be passed up (long sleeves, ride lines?) Will ride operators turn people away? And how long does that whole process take? It just doesnt seem very well organized to me, but I cant imagine any other way that they could do it. Does anyone know?

The year that we went, it was VERY crowded for the first couple hours of the party, as the park was cleared of non-party guests. There wasn't an overall sweep, but people without a wristband were being turned away from rides and restaurants. Also, there were CMs positioned at chokepoints throughout the park (such as the passage through the castle into Fantasyland) who were asking to see wristbands and turning people without them back toward Main Street. It seemed really well organized, but it took some time to notice the effect.

 

[Disney Dreams]

So heres a question!

How effective is the clearing out method during an event like Mickeys Halloween Party? If Im reading right, there will be two crowds in the park, those who paid for general admission, and those who paid for the Halloween party. Will CMs comb the park for those not wearing the band? And if so, isnt is very likely that a lot of people could be passed up (long sleeves, ride lines?) Will ride operators turn people away? And how long does that whole process take? It just doesnt seem very well organized to me, but I cant imagine any other way that they could do it. Does anyone know?

If someone does not have a wristband and they attempt to ride anything after the park officially closes, they will be turned away. If they try to buy food anywhere and do not show a wristband, they will be turned away. We were leaving one night when there was a party. There appeared To be certain spots where they were checking for wristbands on anyone that was headed opposite direction of the exit of the park.

- Dreams