In light of the recent terror attack in Orlando, I think Disney's security system is not good enough

[fairytalelover]

Even before the recent terror attack in Orlando when we learned that this monster was casing out Disney World for a possible attack, my family and I discussed how we felt that the security at Disney is a joke. Half the time we go through security the person just feels out our bag with a couple of squeezes from the bottom then peeks into the top of the bag and that's it.

I think that out of the hundreds of times we have been to Disney parks, we were searched in a good thorough manner about 5 times. Other times, I've turned to my husband and told him that we could have had guns and bombs in our bags and they wouldn't have known. We were disgusted with the lack of real security and searches.

Many times the security person saw our son's big black diabetes kit and he/she asked what was in there. I replied that it was our diabetes kit and they just said, "oh, ok, thank you" What the heck?? Why are they taking my word for it??? I could have had a weapon in there and you just take my word for it?

I addition to that, we have walked through security a multitude of times with layers of clothes and jackets on when it's cold and nobody bothered to check us. Again, we could have had weapons under our layers. I realize that if they start doing more thorough checks, the lines will get slower and longer but that's fine with me. I would rather be delayed a bit than killed.

Disney has known since 9/11 that it has been a target. Intelligence has found multiple times that terrorists had Disney on their possible target list. Is Disney going to wait until there is a tragedy before they tighten security up and take this seriously just like the recent death of the little baby with the alligator??

 

[Pooh2]

Disney notified the FBI In April that the terrorist and his wife were casing Disney.
Disney seems to have done a better job at security than the FBI in the case of the night club terrorist...

 

[fairytalelover]

I forgot to add that recently we went on a Disney Cruise and I had packed a travel steamer so I could iron my clothes. Well when we got to our stateroom, our luggage was there with a note inside saying that security had found and confiscated my steamer due to fire danger of using one and it will be returned to me at the end of the cruise. Well first I was annoyed because I wanted to use my steamer but later it made me feel good that they searched my stuff with a fine tooth comb to find it. I felt safer that if a terrorist tried to bring weapons on board, they would find them. The parks need to up their security to the point of the DCL one. Every person must go through the metal detector when going on the ship all ALL of our stuff is put through the xray. That is how it should be.

 

[fairytalelover]

Disney notified the FBI In April that the terrorist and his wife were casing Disney.
Disney seems to have done a better job at security than the FBI in the case of the night club terrorist...

yes I heard that but that doesnt deal with the fact that my family and I have barely ever been searched well enough and we could have smuggled anything we wanted into the parks.

 

[wilkeliza]

The fact the guy chose not to do it at Disney because of their security shows it did exactly what it is suppose to.

I went through their security the day of the attack and felt very safe especially since explosive dogs and uniform Orlando PD have been added to the mix.

 

[Shanti]

Even before the recent terror attack in Orlando when we learned that this monster was casing out Disney World for a possible attack, my family and I discussed how we felt that the security at Disney is a joke. Half the time we go through security the person just feels out our bag with a couple of squeezes from the bottom then peeks into the top of the bag and that's it.

I think that out of the hundreds of times we have been to Disney parks, we were searched in a good thorough manner about 5 times. Other times, I've turned to my husband and told him that we could have had guns and bombs in our bags and they wouldn't have known. We were disgusted with the lack of real security and searches.

Many times the security person saw our son's big black diabetes kit and he/she asked what was in there. I replied that it was our diabetes kit and they just said, "oh, ok, thank you" What the heck?? Why are they taking my word for it??? I could have had a weapon in there and you just take my word for it?

I addition to that, we have walked through security a multitude of times with layers of clothes and jackets on when it's cold and nobody bothered to check us. Again, we could have had weapons under our layers. I realize that if they start doing more thorough checks, the lines will get slower and longer but that's fine with me. I would rather be delayed a bit than killed.

Disney has known since 9/11 that it has been a target. Intelligence has found multiple times that terrorists had Disney on their possible target list. Is Disney going to wait until there is a tragedy before they tighten security up and take this seriously just like the recent death of the little baby with the alligator??

It's a balancing act for them, how instrusive security should be, vs. how the experience should not & cannot be like going through an airport. I've read that Disney combines the bag checks with other methods, including bomb-sniffing dogs and extensive surveillance. Imo they probably utilize profiling, as well.

I hope they find a way to standardize & speed up the metal detector checks. That should help as well. It's a work in progress, certainly. We live in a dangerous world and safety can never be guaranteed.

 

[fairytalelover]

The fact the guy chose not to do it at Disney because of their security shows it did exactly what it is suppose to.

I went through their security the day of the attack and felt very safe especially since explosive dogs and uniform Orlando PD have been added to the mix.

again, my experience with Disney security leads me to believe that it's super easy to get weapons through.....why dont they check us like DCL does?

 

[bbjunkie]

First of all, the security measures you are "seeing" and describe in your OP are just security theatre. They make people feel safer by show, without really having an impact. Those measures to little to nothing in the way of real security. The security that matters is security that is happening that you cannot see. It is the somewhat slowing down of crowds as they come through those choke holds and highly trained security folks watch from afar. Trust that there is A LOT more security that is subtle and unseen.

Secondly, the truly dangerous times are right at rope drop while that security is happening. It's in the times where there are large masses of people gathered in one spot with very little in the way of quick escape before any screenings take place. It's the hundreds and hundreds waiting right inside the gate for the welcome show. Or, maybe a completely full ferry boat on its way across the SSL.

If you chose to, you can love your life in fear of what may happen. Or you can chose to take the risk and continue to go to WDW and enjoy yourself. But if there is going to be an attack there, it isn't going to happen because so,e "guard" at the gate didn't look through a diaper bag thoroughly enough.

 

[fairytalelover]

It's a balancing act for them, how instrusive security should be, vs. how the experience should not & cannot be like going through an airport. I've read that Disney combines the bag checks with other methods, including bomb-sniffing dogs and extensive surveillance. Imo they probably utilize profiling, as well.

I hope they find a way to standardize & speed up the metal detector checks. That should help as well. It's a work in progress, certainly. We live in a dangerous world and safety can never be guaranteed.

they should be as intrusive as they need to be. Our lives are at stake. Be intrusive for crying out loud.

 

[Shanti]

they should be as intrusive as they need to be. Our lives are at stake. Be intrusive for crying out loud.

I don't want to stand in an endless airport-style security line or get a pat down just to get into a theme park. Most guests feel the same way. Even if we did so, as I said, it's a dangerous world and safety can never be guaranteed, despite extensive security checks. They're doing a lot, also a lot that we can't see, and are continually trying to improve their process. That's about all that one can reasonably ask.

 

[Missyrose]

yes I heard that but that doesnt deal with the fact that my family and I have barely ever been searched well enough and we could have smuggled anything we wanted into the parks.

You are clearly only taking into account the security you can see. Disney's security runs far deeper than the bag searching at the park gates.

 

[wilkeliza]

again, my experience with Disney security leads me to believe that it's super easy to get weapons through.....why dont they check us like DCL does?

Because DCL deals with up to 4,000 people every few days when it comes to security. Disney world deals with 40,000-50,0000 on a normal day. A "light" daye at EPCOT is 30K. Do you want hours long security lines? It woukd be worse than the TSA. At that poiny what stops someone from attacking before the security point?

When was your last trip? I'm on mobile so can't see any signatures. This past weekend even before Sunday I can tell you I was searched more that I ever have been. I was pulled aside twice for extra screening and every single person wearing cargo pants/shorts eas asked to empty their pockets. The day we had our bags they searched every single back and if there was anything hard at the bottom they took everything out.

 

[Shanti]

again, my experience with Disney security leads me to believe that it's super easy to get weapons through.....why dont they check us like DCL does?

Much, much, much higher volume of guests entering the parks than the cruise ships. That's why.

 

[anneboleyn]

Many times the security person saw our son's big black diabetes kit and he/she asked what was in there. I replied that it was our diabetes kit and they just said, "oh, ok, thank you" What the heck?? Why are they taking my word for it??? I could have had a weapon in there and you just take my word for it?

I am always surprised by this as well! Whenever I go through security, I am always trying to hand over the doctor's note explaining why we have the diabetes kit, but they have no desire to see it lol. They asked what was in the bag and I said "diabetes supplies and an extra pair of undies" and that was enough for them lol

I hope they are more thorough for the next trip. I think they should be going through all of the bags a little (or a lot) more.

 

[HopperFan]

Well, sounds like you don't feel very safe going to Disney.

I get that you are very upset and concerned and feel unsafe. I understand that.

As I always say ... vacations are priceless and should always be everything you want it to be.

I know I would not go anywhere I do not feel safe.

So if you don't feel safe I would go elsewhere for awhile until all the security is amped up.

 

[DLgal]

yes I heard that but that doesnt deal with the fact that my family and I have barely ever been searched well enough and we could have smuggled anything we wanted into the parks.

Why don't you go ahead and try to smuggle something into a park and see how that turns out.

 

[revdon64]

It's called security theater. It's supposed to make you feel safer, not actually make you safer. The bad guys are always looking for a new and different way to hurt people because that's what they do. They know the security procedures and aren't going to be snared that easily. Either you're gonna live your life or you can cower in fear at home. But let's not make what is an effective procedure at least for now more of a pain just because you're scared.

 

[fairytalelover]

Well, sounds like you don't feel very safe going to Disney.

I get that you are very upset and concerned and feel unsafe. I understand that.

As I always say ... vacations are priceless and should always be everything you want it to be.

I know I would not go anywhere I do not feel safe.

So if you don't feel safe I would go elsewhere for awhile until all the security is amped up.

This is not a recent observation. We have noticed this for years and years. We still go but we are not happy with the lack of real security and we feel that unfortunately it's only a matter of time before there is an attack at a Disney park. We hope to God we are wrong but odds are against us. Disney needs to step up before it's too late.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

You should address your comments and concerns to Disney Parks themselves. They're really the only entity that can do anything about your concerns. I don't agree with your concerns, but we can't do anything for you in eliminating them.

 

[fairytalelover]

It's called security theater. It's supposed to make you feel safer, not actually make you safer. The bad guys are always looking for a new and different way to hurt people because that's what they do. They know the security procedures and aren't going to be snared that easily. Either you're gonna live your life or you can cower in fear at home. But let's not make what is an effective procedure at least for now more of a pain just because you're scared.

I agree. We dont think it's actually safe. It's just an act. If somebody really wants to get through with weapons I honestly dont think it would be that hard