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

[Bullseye]

I was there last month and thought the bag searches were more thorough than previous trips, especially at MK. My first 5 entries I was randomly picked for the metal detector, about 50% after that. They need to get everyone through the metal detectors.

This was my observation also. We just got back from a twelve day trip and I got picked about 50% of the time. As the trip went on I observed that if I purposely stalled or paused for a second before passing through the no-bag entrance...I could time it to not get picked. In other words, say they have two officers re-directing folks. If they both just grabbed someone in front of me and then I proceeded through directly thereafter...I would be undeterred. I really think everyone should go through the metal detectors.
I have to admit I'm happy they are now doing something though.

 

[Hikergirl]

I don't have any issue with the way WDW conducts their security. I can't expect them to pat down every guest, or disclose everything they do in order to make me "feel" safe. They are doing what they feel will keep us safe, but you know what, someone hell bent on causing harm will find away around that no matter what is done.
If WDW decided to start giving pat downs to every guest, or making everyone dump their bags and go through everything piece by piece, or checking all pockets all it would do is create a huge amount of people in line like sitting ducks. A terrorist with a bomb or a bunch of guns could kill all those people in minutes without even entering the park.
I'm just not sure what it is you expect them to do?

 

[Klayfish]

I haven't had time to read through this entire thread, but oh my goodness, relax. I'm here at WDW now...well, OK, haven't hit the parks yet, got here 9pm last night and am working today, but will be in the parks in exactly 3 hours. Am I worried? Heck no. Disney is and always has been a potential target. Do you really think Disney doesn't know that? Do you really think that you see all the security they have? I guarantee there is a ton more than you will ever see. Any place where hundreds of thousands of innocent people gather is a potential target. Could the front gate security be better? Sure. But unless we want to live in a lockdown state where we'll need a FP+ to get through security, it's a known "risk" if you want to call it that. If it scares you too much, then don't go. Not trying to be harsh, but I just don't get the hysteria...about the attacks or the recent tragedy here.

 

[JimmyV]

With regards to firearms, the security lines at Disney are not as soft as people think.
If someone were to open fire in one they would find themselves in a exposed position with at least a dozen armed security officers from the front and the rear within seconds. That is not to say it isn't possible and there wouldn't be casualties, but compared to any other public gathering (mall, theater, etc), the guaranteed immediacy and size of the armed response is a hefty deterrent.

It's good to know that the response team would be so swift. That definitely helps. But unfortunately, in the real world, the security force surrounding the assailant would probably be under-armed in comparison to the assault weapon being used by the attacker, and the security team would be hesitant to start shooting into a crowd, especially if they were in a circular pattern. No doubt that they would eventually be able to take the attacker down, but not before there was carnage. As for being a "deterrent", remember that one is deterred only if they plan on getting away with the crime. If they are on a suicide mission, they know that they are going to die, so the presence of a security team doesn't serve that purpose. I am sure that the Orlando attacker who cased Pulse before attacking it was well aware that there was an armed security officer in the club. But he went in anyway, and the security officer with a handgun was no match for the attacker with his assault weapon. Recent history shows that all of these crazed attackers eventually get apprehended or killed. But all of them do serious harm before that happens.

 

[maltdizzy]

The odds of dying by heart disease is 1:517. The odds of dying in a mass shooting is 1:20,000,000, a terrorist attack odds are even higher. But why aren't we debating the sales of french fires and hamburgers? The public has an heighten awareness and irrational fear of a mass shooters. Disney's securit and everyone who deals with this on a professional basis try and keep things in context. You can't defend everyone, why would an attack in a park be worse than an attack at a resort, or the parking lot, or a club or shopping center? It isn't. So you get distributed coverage doing spot checks that allows for better response times instead on concentrated coverage at a few spots. And...yes...there operational budget to think of as well.

The meme that said "We don't have the answers you looking for" is the most accurate post in this thread.

 

[BoatDriver]

For the people who are hinting a larger behind the scene security, why can't it be elaborated? I think it would give us all a little more peace of mind.

Is that an honest question? Dear Lord...

 

[DLgal]

The odds of dying by heart disease is 1:517. The odds of dying in a mass shooting is 1:20,000,000, a terrorist attack odds are even higher. But why aren't we debating the sales of french fires and hamburgers? The public has an heighten awareness and irrational fear of a mass shooters. Disney's securit and everyone who deals with this on a professional basis try and keep things in context. You can't defend everyone, why would an attack in a park be worse than an attack at a resort, or the parking lot, or a club or shopping center? It isn't. So you get distributed coverage doing spot checks that allows for better response times instead on concentrated coverage at a few spots. And...yes...there operational budget to think of as well.

The meme that said "We don't have the answers you looking for" is the most accurate post in this thread.

Or, you know, the odds of dying in a car or bus crash on your way to the parks. 1:18,000

People tend to focus their fears on irrational things.

The way I see it, Disney parks are my favorite places. If I take my last breath in one, I will be okay with that. There are worse ways to live out your last day on Earth.

 

[Dis703]

From my own experience, the bag checks have been more thorough the past several trips. They went all the way through my bags and every zipper compartment, took out my makeup bag and checked that too. They looked under the stroller and even had me open the little compartment in the middle of my parent console that hangs on the handlebar of my stroller. Even the clear Disney bag that was full of ponchos, and you could see through the bag and tell what was in there, they moved them around and felt through the bag without judging it with just their eyes.

 

[piccolopat]

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

Do you expect metal detectors and security screening to get into your local mall or movie theater? What about at the hotel that you are staying in or the restaurants that you will go to? Just like at the airports, a lot of the security checks are for show. They are highly ineffective for finding real threats. We need more security that knows how to watch people and identify threats by behavior. The unfortunate reality is that people that are set at causing death and destruction will find a way. We can wither live our lives in constant fear or enjoy life but use reasonable precautions. I work in Manhattan and travel through Grand Central Terminal everyday. I was there on 9/11 (lost two former coworkers and one of my husband's classmates). I know that it is impossible to protect everyone all of the time.

 

[poppinspenguins]

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

I accidently took in pepper spray 2 times.

They stopped me in the 3rd time.

My job is in a less than stellar area and I always have my keychain mace. Don't think much of it and throw keys in backpack. Security saw it it epcot and I said sorry forgot about that and husband just took it back to car.

 

[DLgal]

I accidently took in pepper spray 2 times.

They stopped me in the 3rd time.

My job is in a less than stellar area and I always have my keychain mace. Don't think much of it and throw keys in backpack. Security saw it it epcot and I said sorry forgot about that and husband just took it back to car.

You can't kill people with pepper spray...

I meant try and bring in a weapon capable of causing mass casualties. It's not easy. Look what happened to that guy who tried to bring in a handgun. He didn't get very far...and a handgun is hardly as assault rifle.

 

[BalooFan]

We all play the odds in making decisions every day. Although I am probably safest in my home, there is still risk. There is the potential of finding oneself in dangerous or threatening situations on the roads, in a grocery, at your child's school concert, at a baseball game - anywhere. We each need to determine our threshold for the threats that exist in our world and make our decisions accordingly. If I felt Disney's security was inadequate, I would certainly not patronize WDW. I'm not naive, an attack could happen anywhere, but I personally feel as safe at WDW as I do in my day-to-day life. I understand that others may not. There are places I will not go because I feel they pose a threat to my well-being.

I was at WDW last month and felt that the security check was more thorough than it has been in the past. I entered the parks 13 or 14 times. I carry a small crossbody bag and they checked in each zippered compartment every time I went through the bag checks and I was chosen for additional screening five times.

 

[ajfd]

As for being a "deterrent", remember that one is deterred only if they plan on getting away with the crime. If they are on a suicide mission, they know that they are going to die, so the presence of a security team doesn't serve that purpose.

Incorrect. A deterrent does NOT require that a perpetrator not commit a crime or expect to get away with it. It is something that whose existence leads to the perpetrator making a different choice than they would have otherwise. In this case, the public preparations that Disney has in place deter those intent on "terror" to softer targets; ones where they are significantly more likely to inflict greater mayhem prior to being brought down.

As a less calamitous example: Remember "The Club"? The steering wheel immobilizer for your car? It is trivial to defeat and only slows down a car thief by a few seconds. It is a great deterrent though not because it stops your car from being stolen but because there are so many other cars out there without it in place. In effect, it doesn't stop the crime, it just moves it to someone else.

 

[jenf22]

For the people who are hinting a larger behind the scene security, why can't it be elaborated? I think it would give us all a little more peace of mind.

Loose lips STILL sink ships. The less everyone knows, the better.

I recently heard that TSA was so slow in certain airports because they had a viable threat and were increasing checks. You remember the backlash for that? Can you imagine that at Disney? It's not just bringing guns into places - TSA is looking for bomb components. Can you imagine having to look for every component that could make up a bomb on different people that may come through security at different times of the day? Seems like a near impossible task. Now I understand why my camera bag was searched the time I brought my remote shutter release.

All we can do is not live in fear and help lawmakers pass laws that make sense.

 

[Jaybrad]

Staying home is always an option.

 

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

My husband and I were at Disney last November. There was a backpack that was sitting alone on a brick ledge in fronteirland. It was in a very visible area, and people were whispering and commenting about why it was there. My husband took a picture of it and within seconds there were 2 security men that seemingly came out of nowhere questioning him about why he took the picture. My point being that it became obvious to us that there was more security behind the scenes than we realized.

 

[xuxa777]

I imagine that the Disney parks are one of if not the best in the world in security, surpassing airports and any major sporting event, Super Bowl etc. Keeping the parks safe is mission critical to the business. Casinos might be just as safe due to the money that flows through them. Like others have said what you see is just the tiniest tip of the iceberg if even that. Remember once the Pulse shooter was identified they probably notified the FBI in a few hours that the shooter was in Downtown Disney that night and had been there earlier that month and knew what they were doing there. They certainly know what is going on at all times.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

If you think lines at airport security are bad, could you imagine if they tried to do something like that at the parks? How early would you have to show up just for rope drop? lol

Fast pass + Disney's answer to long lines..get a Fast Pass for security & the turnstiles lol

 

[BigAlsGal]

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??

Really I'm not trying to be a racist jerk but I'm going to assume you are a white American. I'm going to believe they take that into consideration when deciding how thoroughly they search your bag or your family. Now if you look otherwise you probably get the full monty. It really is just an unfortunate time to look of middle eastern descent. You're being profiled like crazy!

 

[krisleee]

Got randomly selected for a metal detector at DHS yesterday. It beeped when I went through. I think it was my sunglasses but they waved me on. Didn't make me take them off and go through again. Bag check has been pretty thorough this week.