Have you ever had a shock?

[Darian]

Hi phamton,

No offense taken. I've also read the article on snopes.com. I do realize that kidnapping stories have been exagerated by some and for some sick reason, fabricated by others. I'm uncomfortable disputing the accuracy of the well written articles published on snopes or urban legends....

But, I'm having trouble reconciling these web reports with what my friend who works in security at Disneyland has told me. He has no reason to lie to me. Though I can understand why the disney corporation would claim zero kidnappings and supress any info to the contrary. That "never any kidnappings at DL" claim does appear on snopes, but not on any "official" Disney letter or article that I've seen. Perhaps someone else has. If so, PLEASE post it!!!

On a very slightly different subject, even if snopes or urban legends claim there are no pedophiles in southern california, or that they will "magically" not molest children at Disneyland, I'm reluctant to believe that. Bad things can happen to kids anywhere... to think that somehow disneyland is exempt from these tragedies is silly. I don't understand how snopes or urban legends can make this kind of claim.

Or more likely, I'm just confused. I sure could use some insight...

Thanks in advance!

Darian

 

[phamton]

The point I was trying to make is just to look at this realistically. How many times have you been in the restrooms at Disneyland? They have people coming in and out constantly. Even if you are alone, it takes time to cut and dye hair. No kidnapper would take that time. If it wasn't dyed over the sink with plenty of towels, the dye would be dripping all over the abducter and his kidnapped victim. So hiding in the stalls would not work. Dye takes some time to set up not to mention the kid's hair would be sopping wet.

Could they use the aerosol spray-on temporary color? Yes, possibly but anyone who has ever tried to work on a child's hair when they don't want to hold still (as I assume a kidnapped child would be) would have spray everywhere. And why would they cut it when sticking a wig on would be much easier? It doesn't make sense. Why take the time to cut and color the hair? Most would grab the child and run or trick the child into following him out of the park.

I can only assume that your friend heard it from someone else and believed it. Even people in authority positions often repeat urban legends. You told the story as if you personally had a friend whose child was kidnapped at Disneyland and had the hair cut and dyed. Now you tell it as having heard the story from a security guard. If you can embellish the story somewhat, then rest assured that your security guard could also tell it as personal knowledge when actually he probably heard it from someone else. This is how urban legends spread. I am not trying to be harsh but I certainly didn't want some one stumbling into this thread and being unneccesarily frightened.

Kidnappings are a real. Most are done by non-custodial parents but even stranger abductions do occur but can even happen while your child is sleeping in their own bed. Disneyland and Disneyworld are very safe places to bring your family.

Do a search for Disney abductions. If you find one verifiable kidnapping where a child's hair was dyed and cut at any Disney park, I'll pay for your trip to WDW and, heck, I'd even join you there. Just because it could happen doesn't mean it has happened.

BTW, I saw your first trip to Disneyland was in 1958. I may have seen you there. (Yep, I'm that old.)

Bev

(edited because I realize I never answered your question)

You asked:

That "never any kidnappings at DL" claim does appear on snopes, but not on any "official" Disney letter or article that I've seen. Perhaps someone else has. If so, PLEASE post it!!!

Proving a negative is very difficult to do. How could I prove to you that I never rode an elephant? I could tell you that I haven't but you only have my word on it. I can't produce a picture of me not riding an elephant.

The same with Disney: Snopes can say they never had a child abduction at Disneyland because Disney officials told him and others can claim Disney is just covering it up. He could ask the Anaheim police department and they can say they have no record of a kidnapping there and others can say it was an FBI investigation not the Anaheim police so thus no record. You could call the media and they could say they have nothing, again Disney must be paying them off or the media is protecting the tourist industry.

Now if I had riden an elephant I could show you a picture. It is much easier that way. In short, there is no evidence to show that any abduction has occurred at Disneyland. Is it possible it might happen in the future? You bet. But Disney is hardly the kidnapping capital.

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by Imelda in TX
Most shocking thing last June at Downtown Disney.

My Dh is walking towards me and our 2 little girls. As he approaches us, he smiles at us. Well, a girl (early to mid-20s) walking in front of me apparently thought he was smiling at her, so she makes a U-turn, walks up behind him, and gives him a good squeeze on the tushie. Never says a word, just does it and walks away.

The look of utter disbelief on his face was priceless! He still talks about how he was hit on at WDW!

Hahaha. That reminds me of this time DH and I were playing mini golf at Fantasia gardens. It was around 7pm so there were only 2 people on the course ahead of us- a young girl and guy in their early 20's. Well while I was taking my turn putting at one of the holes, the girl pulls up her shirt and flashes DH!

 

[Darian]

Hi phamton,

Thanks for your input... and your patience! That helps me understand a bit better. I know in advance how utterly lame this is gonna sound, which is why I didn't put it in my last post: We had a friend who's daughter was abducted at DL. She told us how the security guys said to "look for the face of your kid not the clothing." I'm no longer in contact with her so I can no longer verify her story. But I am in contact with my friend at disney security. I didn't say this in my previous post because it sounds all too convenient. (I can even hear the "church lady's" say "how conveeeeenient." And frankly, I'd have to agree.

I've been talking to my DW about it, and not to try to ruin my own credibility, but I can't even recall their names. (the person we knew who had the daughter abducted.) I can PM you the name of our security friend. I don't want to post it here because I wouldn't want him to lose his job. Now I'm beginning to question the first person nature of my contact with the woman who had the kid abducted. How embarassing! I'm turning senile on the DIS board!!!!!! Oh Bev! Did you ever get to ride the Flying Saucers in the old Tomorrowland?

Going to get a brainscan,

Darian

 

[hucifer]

phamton, that was eloquently stated. You must write for a living.
I am also a huge sucker for urban legends, and particularly, SNOPES.COM.

 

[melindaandrob]

I took a class last year called 'myths and legends' I did my final paper on urban legends, focusing on the internet and how legends reach farther and faster. I could not find one legend or folk story that could be proven true. I'm not talking beyond a shadow of a doubt but when you put fear aside and look at them logically. Impossible. The guy who woke to find his kidney stolen, the person who sat on a needle in the movie theatre and discovered a note that congratulated them they now had aids. My personal favourite is the scuba diver found in the tree, he was sucked up by the plane as it filled with water to put out forest fires. Love that one

 

[Mortlives]

Let's start a new, better urban legend. A friend of a friend told me that the real reason why you never hear of pedophiliacs at Disney is because Disney never fails to catch them, and then they're never heard from again... Apparently some of the utiilidors have "special" rooms.

Kungaloosh!
Mort.

 

[Scoobmuzic]

Originally posted by mitros
I was just wondering, what is an amateur drinker ? Do you mean as opposed to a professional drinker? And if so ,would a professional drinker drink a ton of alchohol and not puke? Just curious.

Sorry mitros, I guess it's a term I have heard thrown loosely around.

I have a few friends in the bartending/service industry and they use that term(especialy around New Years Eve, they call it amature night) to describe a someone who doesn't know when to say when! Usualy a young person.
I like to think most of us that are, ummmm lets say older & wiser know from some past experience not to drink until you are puking on your shoes.

 

[cindyfan]

there was a little girl about 6 yrs old merrily skipping along, with her parents about 3 steps behind her. Well I guess they thought they were being funny and the Dad takes the Mom by the arm and pulls her off to the side with a shhh motion. The little girl stopped, looked around and couldn't find her parents. The look of pure terror on her poor little face was heartbreaking!

I have to admit I did that once with my DD....not as a joke, but for a lesson learned!!
After about 4 times of telling her not to go so far ahead of us because she may get lost......There she went...not paying attention. I stopped and waited. I never let her out of my sight, but she turned around and did not see me. By this time she was about 20 yds ahead of me. After I saw the fear in her eyes, I walked up to her. We had a very long and serious talk!!!
Maybe some people think that is cruel, but, life is cruel sometimes!!
And.....She never walked ahead of me again!!

 

[sha_lyn]

cindyfan ... I've had to do that too. I was afraid to post it however. While reading the post about the child I wondered just how many times the parents said "don't go head of us" hold my hand " etc. Sometimes being a little "mean" to our children is a better life lesson that the alternative.

 

[Scoobmuzic]

Originally posted by cindyfan
I have to admit I did that once with my DD....not as a joke, but for a lesson learned!!

I do know that parents do this to teach a lesson, even though I don't have any kids, I can understand the need to impress on your child how dangerous it can be to wander off.

My problem with this particular situation was the fact that these parents seemed to think doing this to their child was FUNNY! They both seemed to get a good laugh out of it.

 

[NLK]

This is a great question some of the answers have made me laugh and some have made me cry. I have two stories to add.

The first one happened in the bathroom next to Ariel's Grotto. As I walked into the bathroom and looked under the stalls to find an empty one I saw a BM on the floor in front of the toilet. I couldn't understand it. They made it to the stall, why couldn't they make it on the toilet. I went outside and to a CM who said they would have it cleaned up.
The second was a few weeks ago at the WL. I was standing at the check desk when I turned to look at the lobby. I spotted a tall, large, man with a Harley Davidson Tee shirt, a leather vest, a loooong beard, and a loooong pony-tail. He looked like he was part of a motorcycle gang. He had a little 3 year old girl by the hand and the two of them were SKIPPING though the lobby. It was such a cute sight that I couldn't help smilling. It was so sweet and unexpected. I just wan't to share a happy story. I hope it bought a smile to your face too.

 

[tonyk]

Originally posted by Samirella
This is true. In Japan public urination is not frowned upon. These tourists may not know that it is taboo here.

Sorry, but I just have a side comment to make. Is it just me, or does it seem that we Americans are supposed to be totally understanding of different culture's practices on our soil, but heaven forbid you visit someplace like France, Japan etc. and don't know every little thing about their customs, language, hand signals etc.

 

[mitros]

Exactly! Boy, did you hit the nail on the head! it seems that we have to cater to every person from another country. what did bubba Clinton say, " I feel your pain, be politically correct"

 

[Jay Since 72]

"The only thing neccessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing".

I'm not positive, but wasn't that Winston Churchill? This is not to imply that all of the stories told here are 'evil' (although Holy Cow, some of them come close...), but people can do something about it, if only on a tiny scale, and if only to assuage our troubled souls. Point out the bathroom or trash can. Ask if people need to be shown where the line starts.. "are you confused?". Be polite, be courteous, but use your voice.
Like-minded humans nearby will flock to your cause.

 

[hipporina]

I just remembered two shocking things we saw on our trip, while I was writing my trip report. One was definately seeing Michael Jackson at Epcot. That was just sooo weird!

The other happened on Splash Mountain. Right after the big drop, 3 teenaged girls in the log in front of us jumped out, ran up a hill, and climbed a fence to leave the ride while it was still going! When we left, there were several CM's looking for them. I told them our photo # so that they could at least see the picture of them. I don't know if they caught them or not, but I hope so. I just don't understand why anybody would do anything that dangerous and dumb!

I too will admit that I let my DS think he was lost for a minute. We were in Image Works at the Imagination pavillion and our almost 3 yo kept running off from us. After repeatedly telling him to stay close and constantly chasing after him, I hung back when he took off. He ran around and then stopped to look for us. He looked around for a minute and then spotted me back behind him. We had a good talk about not running off, and that was the last problem we had with it on the trip!

Kristy

 

[Grog]

They made it to the stall, why couldn't they make it on the toilet.

Because people like that are freakin' animals, that's why! They are in the same category as people who urinate all over the seat and don't flush their BMs. Actually I am being a bit harsh. I shouldn't insult animals like that. The people who treat public restrooms like thier own private barnyard are lower down on the food chain than any animal I can think of.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

New Years Day, 2002, on the bus ride back to the Epcot resorts from Pleasure Island's New Year's Eve bash, two chicks got in a fist fight. The poor driver stopped the bus and ordered them off. They proceeded to fight on the sidewalk while the bus load of drunkards cheered them on.

Great way to ring in the New Year.

 

[delikado]

Originally posted by tonyk
Sorry, but I just have a side comment to make. Is it just me, or does it seem that we Americans are supposed to be totally understanding of different culture's practices on our soil, but heaven forbid you visit someplace like France, Japan etc. and don't know every little thing about their customs, language, hand signals etc.

It should really be a two-way street. I'm a foreigner myself, and I can honestly say that I know enough not to pee on the bathroom floor. (Trust me, I come from a country where it's perfectly alright to go potty in the middle of the road.) I've encountered many people in my travels (not just Americans, or Japanese, or French, but people in general) who simply refuse to learn anything about the country they're visiting. On the flipside of that coin, there are also many people who think that anyone who isn't like them is ignorant or uncivilized. We live in a big world and therefore we should all be understanding. I don't think it's about how much you know, but how much you're willing to learn.

 

[UKAnnie]

"The only thing neccessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing".

I always thought above quote was attributed to Helen Keller.


Ann.