New Security Measures for MK Guests; UPDATES: Page 12 - Post 222; Live Reports - Pgs. 18-20

[HopperFan]

I disagree with this. Stadiums have decentralized checkpoints, which are handled just fine. With fewer people crammed into an area, I'd think that the "real" security (the non-theatre stuff that we don't see) should be able to more effectively scan for potential threats than if everyone is jammed together in a relatively small area. I live in Minnesota, just minutes from the Mall of America, and even though it has been specifically identified by terrorist groups as a potential target, there is no visible screening anywhere on the property and there are also decentralized entrances. I assume this is partially because with so many entrances (I'm not sure how many there are, but there have to be at least a dozen), each entrance handles fewer guests and so the guests who do come through any given door can be screened more effectively and thoroughly than if they forced everyone through one entrance. The MoA also gets over 40 million visitors a year, so way more people are coming into it than visit MK each year.

We can agree to disagree, but this can not be compared to stadiums which have security at a limited number of entrances, the minute you are scanned you then enter the doors/gates of the stadium. This is nothing like that, there are no gaps. (and yes I have entered many stadiums in a variety of cities, arenas etc)

I don't see how screening people in these other places helps anything - and I've been going to WDW for decades and never experienced this 'bottleneck' at MK that it's supposed to cure. We've gone before opening, arrived at opening, etc. All I'm thinking it will do is increase ticket prices as they will have to pay for so many more security screeners.

I'm thinking the people arriving by bus will see the people getting off the ferries and monorails walking by and getting to the tapstyles ahead of them. I bet it pisses people off.

Pretty much agree with you. AP holder, there a lot and the only time we have experienced true bottlenecks it was because DISNEY did not have all their stations open. If they restructured the planters at the plaza, created a true arch of bag check followed by immediate scanners .... this would be a non-issue. We would have people checked and IMMEDIATELY sent into the park instead of having gaps.

 

[YawningDodo]

I disagree with this. Stadiums have decentralized checkpoints, which are handled just fine. With fewer people crammed into an area, I'd think that the "real" security (the non-theatre stuff that we don't see) should be able to more effectively scan for potential threats than if everyone is jammed together in a relatively small area. I live in Minnesota, just minutes from the Mall of America, and even though it has been specifically identified by terrorist groups as a potential target, there is no visible screening anywhere on the property and there are also decentralized entrances. I assume this is partially because with so many entrances (I'm not sure how many there are, but there have to be at least a dozen), each entrance handles fewer guests and so the guests who do come through any given door can be screened more effectively and thoroughly than if they forced everyone through one entrance. The MoA also gets over 40 million visitors a year, so way more people are coming into it than visit MK each year.

No idea about MoA, but I agree with your point here. One of the things I remember seeing pointed out in older threads about MK security is that if someone really wanted to kill a bunch of people, a bottlenecked crowd waiting to go through security at the park entrance would be a prime target. You're always going to end up with crowds at various points on the way into the park, but decentralizing the security checkpoints should help shrink that crowd, make it less chaotic right at the park entrance, and frankly make it all more secure rather than less.

There are a lot of issues with the way we handle modern security concerns and assumptions we as a society make about what does and doesn't make us safe, but if we're going to do the whole security checkpoint thing at all, I'd rather see it spread out like this. That being said, I'm glad I don't have a visit planned for the period right after implementation, because any big change in crowd control techniques is going to come with a teething period.

 

[DebbieB]

I would swear that at some point in the past, maybe 20 years ago, I was going to Epcot and took the monorail from the Contemporary and when we got to the TTC, I just walked across the platform right on to the Epcot monorail.

Does anyone else remember doing that?

If they did this, those that were screened at the resorts wouldn't have to be screened again before getting on the Epcot monorail.

I believe you can walk across to go from the Express monorail to Epcot monorail. The Express monorail would use the right door and the Epcot monorail the left door so you don't cross the beams. I don't see how you could do it from the resort monorail because you would have to cross the beams.

 

[SoosieQ]

I would swear that at some point in the past, maybe 20 years ago, I was going to Epcot and took the monorail from the Contemporary and when we got to the TTC, I just walked across the platform right on to the Epcot monorail.

Does anyone else remember doing that?

If they did this, those that were screened at the resorts wouldn't have to be screened again before getting on the Epcot monorail.

Yes I think you are correct. I also remember walking out of the MK monorail and walking across to the Epcot monorail. The exit for the MK monorail and the entrance to the Epcot monorail were both on the inner sides. They have now changed it to the exit being the outer.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Though I'm not often a huge fan of screening, I applaud this change!

If criminals pose a security risk to the safety of the parks, then they also pose a risk on the monorail and buses.

But then...folks will still be able to enter the hotels without being screened.

I liken this new approach to Universal. Security screening at Universal doesn't take all that long. I think this will improve the flow of security at WDW.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

So if I'm staying at a monorail resort and have an ADR at another monorail resort, I have to go through security each way? Just to eat? Let's just have metal detectors on every hotel room door.

 

[DG25]

You have to understand that anyone that wishes to do harm will look at the groups that are subject to security screenings. The group that has the least screening is the one they will mimic in order to try and get past security. If they see that blind folks with guide dogs are just waved through, you can bet that they will make their "agents" look like blind people with guide dogs.

This is why they use children. Children just aren't screened as much as adults.

I'm not saying they don't have to screen me, they pick me out every time to be screen when it was random, thank god all you now have to do it. I'm saying keep your hands off me, keep your hands off my dog, and give me a minute like airlines do, I know there is a million people behind me, so what that does not mean you can push me over there and over there, and grab me, and touch my dog like they do. They need to slow down and do it right, or at least listen to me when I say stop. I'm blind you push me again and I will call the cops, of course it's Disney and they own the cops but still these are not real security people like at the airport, they went thru training to keep the masses moving, not to handle people with disabilities. And the are rough and do not know laws, it is illegal for them to touch the handle of a guide dog, yet they did it almost everyday at least once last year when I was there for 15 days, everyday I asked them not to grab me, everyday they did, every day I asked them to slow down and tell me first what they are doing, I'm blind I need to be told not just shoved or pushed, or grabbed, and everyday I told them not to touch my dog, and yet they always did. This year I will be calling for supervisors, I planned odor this and will be asking for a supervisor everyday if need be, because they need to learn how to handle everyone. Also, I have never heard of a shooting in Disney, so it seems extreme. Not that they use metal detectors, and using your logic they will just use chemical warfare easier to get past medal detectors.

 

[DisneyOma]

I'm not saying they don't have to screen me, they pick me out every time to be screen when it was random, thank god all you now have to do it. I'm saying keep your hands off me, keep your hands off my dog, and give me a minute like airlines do, I know there is a million people behind me, so what that does not mean you can push me over there and over there, and grab me, and touch my dog like they do. They need to slow down and do it right, or at least listen to me when I say stop. I'm blind you push me again and I will call the cops, of course it's Disney and they own the cops but still these are not real security people like at the airport, they went thru training to keep the masses moving, not to handle people with disabilities. And the are rough and do not know laws, it is illegal for them to touch the handle of a guide dog, yet they did it almost everyday at least once last year when I was there for 15 days, everyday I asked them not to grab me, everyday they did, every day I asked them to slow down and tell me first what they are doing, I'm blind I need to be told not just shoved or pushed, or grabbed, and everyday I told them not to touch my dog, and yet they always did. This year I will be calling for supervisors, I planned odor this and will be asking for a supervisor everyday if need be, because they need to learn how to handle everyone. Also, I have never heard of a shooting in Disney, so it seems extreme. Not that they use metal detectors, and using your logic they will just use chemical warfare easier to get past medal detectors.

Wow. I think attitude is everything, and by your post, it sounds like you have issues with security. It probably shows and makes the situation worse.

Could you please produce the legislation that shows that it is illegal for anyone to touch the handle on the harness? I've looked at federal and state legislation, and it only mentions criminal charges for anyone who injures or kills a guide dog. I can't find the part that says you can't touch the handle of a guide dog.

 

[JohnneeO]

I think we will see a checkpoint in front of both the monorail and the ferry. I think each check point will directly funnel in to the specific transportation.

My guess is a single checkpoint for all O/B options from the TTC. I can't see WDW taking the trouble to create two checkpoints there.

Regarding the monorail transfer, when we were there in November, we left the MK via monorail, with the idea to switch to the Epcot monorail at the TTC. We did not need to leave the platform to complete the transfer.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I'm not saying they don't have to screen me, they pick me out every time to be screen when it was random, thank god all you now have to do it. I'm saying keep your hands off me, keep your hands off my dog, and give me a minute like airlines do, I know there is a million people behind me, so what that does not mean you can push me over there and over there, and grab me, and touch my dog like they do. They need to slow down and do it right, or at least listen to me when I say stop. I'm blind you push me again and I will call the cops, of course it's Disney and they own the cops but still these are not real security people like at the airport, they went thru training to keep the masses moving, not to handle people with disabilities. And the are rough and do not know laws, it is illegal for them to touch the handle of a guide dog, yet they did it almost everyday at least once last year when I was there for 15 days, everyday I asked them not to grab me, everyday they did, every day I asked them to slow down and tell me first what they are doing, I'm blind I need to be told not just shoved or pushed, or grabbed, and everyday I told them not to touch my dog, and yet they always did. This year I will be calling for supervisors, I planned odor this and will be asking for a supervisor everyday if need be, because they need to learn how to handle everyone. Also, I have never heard of a shooting in Disney, so it seems extreme. Not that they use metal detectors, and using your logic they will just use chemical warfare easier to get past medal detectors.

Did this happen every single time you went to enter a park? Or was it a one time occurrence? I can't imagine that all Disney security personnel behave in such a manner, nor have I ever seen similar reports of this happening to anyone else.

 

[DG25]

Wow. I think attitude is everything, and by your post, it sounds like you have issues with security. It probably shows and makes the situation worse.

Could you please produce the legislation that shows that it is illegal for anyone to touch the handle on the harness? I've looked at federal and state legislation, and it only mentions criminal charges for anyone who injures or kills a guide dog. I can't find the part that says you can't touch the handle of a guide dog.

You would fine the laws under white cane law, where it is illegal to touch or take a white can or handle of a guide dog or take away from a blind person. Each state sets the fines and each state does have a white cane law that states it I should a mistermeaner to interfere with the working of a blind individual by touching the cane or the handle of the dog. This is also where you Will find the rights of blind persons in traffic. I have the right to walk across the street and you must stop even if you have a green light, or. You could be fined"

Yes I have issues, not just me just contacted by a fellow Disney this week having the same issues. It is every security guide I ran into last year. This year I am prepared with a camera to photo and video and send to Disney. I have been yanked out of line, grabbed and pushed over to a medal detector, my dog has been taken from me by security and they took her harness off. I have been left standing with no dog, no harness and no cane. I have been shoved to me me along after they take my dog and harness to wand her down. So yes'm I have huge issues with the security who does not follow laws and man handle me.

 

[DG25]

Did this happen every single time you went to enter a park? Or was it a one time occurrence? I can't imagine that all Disney security personnel behave in such a manner, nor have I ever seen similar reports of this happening to anyone else.

Yes and no they just me, this week I got an email from a dissertation who is having it happen to her everyday this week as she is there and wants to know what to do. When I go next time I will be Verdi o I got this treatment and showing it to Disney.

 

[DG25]

I looked under my state code laws, it states it is unlawful and punishable by law for any individual to mis represent blindness by using a white cane or guide dog. It is unlawful and punishable by law to interfere with the travel of a blind individual, examples giving honking a horn, taking a white cane or harness away. And it goes on. I looked up in four different states and all of them including Florida has similar laws, worded different, worded with different fines and first offense or second, mistermeanor or gross misdermeanor. But every state has a law about taking a white can or harness. Taken would be interfering with the travel of a blind person.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Dropping in to remind everyone to please remain on the topic of the Security changes that go into effect on Monday, April 3rd.

@DG25 ~ I know in other threads where you discussed the quality of accommodations provided by Disney, the DisABILITIES forum and Guest Communications were advised as being the appropriate locations in which to discuss your treatment within the parks.

No one knows exactly how Disney will put these new changes into effect but hopefully by your next trip you will be better accommodated.

Here is the information for you:

https://www.disboards.com/forums/disabilities.20/

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

 

[zebrastreyepz]

Excellent news!

 

[DaisyJ]

This week they have been selecting random guests to go through the metal detectors. We hopped every day, one day 4 separate hops to 3 parks, and I was selected about half the time. Still they have a ton of bag checkers and security, so there really was never a long wait for me in the security lines.

I really didn't see it as much of an inconvenience.

At opening, everyone goes through, which is why it takes so long. They had 14 bag check lines going through 2!! detectors.

 

[revdon64]

It just means they move the crowd from one place to another. Having a bottleneck at the ferry dock and monorail station at the ttc is absolutely no different than at the entrance of the park.

Yes, I understand and acknowledged that. It still doesn't address the overall effectiveness of the process. In fact as I think about it, with security more dispersed I can't imagine that the actual process of screening out problems will improve. Crowd control will improve, but I have to think that effectiveness will likely take a hit.

 

[memo10]

My guess is a single checkpoint for all O/B options from the TTC. I can't see WDW taking the trouble to create two checkpoints there.

Regarding the monorail transfer, when we were there in November, we left the MK via monorail, with the idea to switch to the Epcot monorail at the TTC. We did not need to leave the platform to complete the transfer.

The only reason I thought they might do two is because of the bathrooms and multiple ways to enter the TTC. I seems like the security would physically have to be too wide to cover all that space.

 

[CMNJ]

The only reason I thought they might do two is because of the bathrooms and multiple ways to enter the TTC. I seems like the security would physically have to be too wide to cover all that space.

We are at the Poly this week and you can see they are ramping up TTC to be ready for Monday-jersey barriers, hedge planters on wheels to create walls, etc-It looks to me like once you step off the tram you will be funneled into the security lines and will now have to pass through the openings between the ticket booths in order to reach the monorail lines and ferries-I also thought it looks like they will be sending the people from the walking path at the Poly to funnel into the security line by the tram stop and I assume that the opening on the side will become exit only with security watching to ensure people don't enter there just like at MK

 

[kandb]

Why doesn't Disney not just have x-ray machines like Universal? It would be easier than people going thru your bags. Cost????