Masked men rob couple at DTD

[mitros]

Orange County deputies are searching for 2 robbers who they said ruined a couples Halloween date when they jumped out of nowhere and ran off with their cash
Deputies said the couple was ambushed by 2 masked men at about 2 A.M. in a back parking lot at DTD. The men carried guns and demanded money, according to deputies.
After the couple handed over everything they had, the men took off. Deputies later found the masks,but are still searching for the robbers.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Yeah, that Downtown Disney sure has that Disney Magic I'm so looking for, armed robberies, gangs, pipe bombs, kidnappings...Oh boy

 

[ToddS]

Time to start charging admission; I think someone else on this board may have suggested something similar on an earlier thread. A nominal fee like $5 per person or so, and free admission to anyone with valid park admission for that day or a multi-day pass. It might not solve all the problems, but it could help. I'd gate the parking lot, too.

 

[EUROPACL]

I wonder if this is the same robbery?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-cfbriefs02x_107nov02,0,4588947.story?track=rss

Clown robbed us at Disney, couple tell cops
November 2, 2007

Orange County - A couple walking along the waterfront in Downtown Disney early Thursday found nothing funny about the clown they encountered. He robbed them.

Kelan Browne, 18, and Chelsie Ector, 19, told Orange County deputies they were walking in a secluded part of the popular tourist spot about 1:20 a.m. when the gun-toting clown, accompanied by a man whose face was hidden behind a dark hoodie, took their cash.

The clown demanded: "Give me all you got," according to a Sheriff's Office report. Browne took his wallet out of his pocket, removed his identification card and handed it to the clown.

The two robbers then ran toward the Virgin Megastore, looking back at their victims before disappearing into the dark. Deputies later found Browne's empty wallet near the front of the music store and located a backpack containing the mask near Cirque du Soleil.

 

[raidermatt]

Yes, it's the same one.

 

[JMR859]

I wrote a letter to WDW about 10 months ago in regard to my lack of safety in DTD. I'm 6'3, 247lbs. and have been in Law Enforcement for 14 years. I felt completely unsafe the night my wife and I visited. I could not believe how out of control the place was. And WDW security was no where to be found! It's sad that WDW is compromising everyone's safety, just to make more money by not charging admission.

 

[Nascar48]

Time to start charging admission; I think someone else on this board may have suggested something similar on an earlier thread. A nominal fee like $5 per person or so, and free admission to anyone with valid park admission for that day or a multi-day pass. It might not solve all the problems, but it could help. I'd gate the parking lot, too.

Metal decators and bag checks at entrances could probably help too.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Now what happened to all the overwhelming security I had been reading about when other DD "incidents" were being discussed on the Board??

As for us, we only go to DD during the day--and that mainly to shop at the Disney store. If we eat any meals there, we get there early and leave the area just as soon as we're done eating. That of course dosen't help those many folks who enjoy "nightlife" and are up and about at 1:30 in the morning. For them, I'm not sure what the answer is--

 

[drakethib]

This is a shame.

With the price we pay for our trips, Security should not be something that is lacking.

 

[dicanio10]

I wrote a letter to WDW about 10 months ago in regard to my lack of safety in DTD. I'm 6'3, 247lbs. and have been in Law Enforcement for 14 years. I felt completely unsafe the night my wife and I visited. I could not believe how out of control the place was. And WDW security was no where to be found! It's sad that WDW is compromising everyone's safety, just to make more money by not charging admission.

Did you go to a different DTD to us then? You've got to be kidding! Out of control? Completely unsafe? Come on! How many incidents have been reported? Not as many as in some small towns in the UK, I'll bet. We were there in September and walked around until the early hours and never felt threatened once. People were just enjoying themselves.

Get a grip! Get things into some perspective! It ISN'T '70's Bronx like some people are describing it.

 

[paulh]

Did you go to a different DTD to us then? You've got to be kidding! Out of control? Completely unsafe? Come on! How many incidents have been reported? Not as many as in some small towns in the UK, I'll bet. We were there in September and walked around until the early hours and never felt threatened once. People were just enjoying themselves.

Get a grip! Get things into some perspective! It ISN'T '70's Bronx like some people are describing it.

what a lot of yanks dont realise is that in uk its common to see drunks and fighting in our high streets at night.Downtown disney is very tame compaired to where you and I live,so any crime is big crime and reported as such
Paulh

 

[drakester]

I'm just wondering how it is Disney's fault that there are horrible people in the world?

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I'm just wondering how it is Disney's fault that there are horrible people in the world?

So Disney is basically responsible for nothing?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Disney seems they can't win.
If they have security question people and throw them out, then they are over reacting,
When something bad happens, then there are claims of under reacting and no security.
We have been to DTD numerous times. And I won't say robbery cannot and does not happen. However I feel much safer at DTD than any other local mall or shopping center. But it can happen anywhere.
Actually we see a lot of security and Orange Co police when we are there.
The worse part for us at DTD is finding a parking spot. How anyone could make a fast getaway at DTD is beyond me. They must have a getaway driver somewhere.

 

[drakethib]

Disney seems they can't win.
If they have security question people and throw them out, then they are over reacting,
When something bad happens, then there are claims of under reacting and no security.
We have been to DTD numerous times. And I won't say robbery cannot and does not happen. However I feel much safer at DTD than any other local mall or shopping center. But it can happen anywhere.
Actually we see a lot of security and Orange Co police when we are there.
The worse part for us at DTD is finding a parking spot. How anyone could make a fast getaway at DTD is beyond me. They must have a getaway driver somewhere.

I just think since DTD is such an open market, there should be an abundance of securty. I know I don't go as often as some people, but we do make many trips and I would like to see a little more security and police force.

Someone made the comment of gating DTD and I am all for it. There should also be admission charged if you are not staying onsite or a DTD hotel. Just my 2 cents YMMV

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Well, we go to City Walk a lot now and while I'm sure it has its own problems, I haven't seen any and I will say that we felt a lot more unsafe at DTD on our last trip there. Honestly, I've been very surprised by this but Disney isn't stepping up to the plate. They want it all (all demographics intermingling) without providing the 'famed' Disney security in this location.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I wonder sometimes if Diseny isn't sorry they built this whole area up (beyond the original marketplace and Empress Lilly) and attached their name to it.

 

[EUROPACL]

I wonder sometimes if Diseny isn't sorry they built this whole area up (beyond the original marketplace and Empress Lilly) and attached their name to it.

I doubt it, it lets them close the parks earlier and puts another mickey hand in your wallet if you want to do something past 9:00 pm.

 

[rodkenrich]

.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Time to start charging admission; I think someone else on this board may have suggested something similar on an earlier thread. A nominal fee like $5 per person or so, and free admission to anyone with valid park admission for that day or a multi-day pass. It might not solve all the problems, but it could help. I'd gate the parking lot, too.

I wonder if we need to initiate a petition for Disney to start charging admission and beefing up security in the same maner that Disney hired Orange County Sheriff deputies to monitor speeders on the roadways throughout the resort.

IMO, charging a nominal fee to a non-park-ticketed guest will not ward off criminals nor contribute to a budget to have noticable increased security. Shoot, even if a robber is willing to pay $50 for a park ticket, they may think (and it's likely reality) they're going to get hundreds of dollars by pick-pocketing or conducting an armed robbery for cash and credit cards, so what is $50 for a ticket anyways (in their mind, of course!).

As much as it's undesirable to think about, it's a fact that crime will happen at your local mall or big city festival where security is present or anywhere else like DTD. Of course we have no idea, nor would Disney want to publish it, just how much crime is prevented or caught on their properties.

One final thought directly associated to the OP's report...

At Halloween time, I would think it's even easier to go more "unnoticed" when you can run around wearing a mask to blend in with others who are dressed in costume to enjoy the festivities of the holiday.

Just my opinion.