No Debate, please just official policy: Are guns allowed anywhere at WDW???

[pashari]

I'm not here to debate gun laws and/or policy. I just need to know the rules and policies at WDW, both the parks and the resorts.

My BIL is a police officer (not in Florida) and also has a CWP. We were recently discussing whether or not he could carry his weapon at WDW. He said that he could because of some new law in Florida.

From my research, the law he is referring to is a Guns-to-Work law that allows employees to bring their guns to work and leave them locked in their vehicles but does not allow them to actually walk around the office packing, IYKWIM. WDW is saying that it is exempt because of a loophole regarding employers that store explosives (i.e. fireworks). I understand that a CM was fired back in July trying to test that law/exemption but I can't find how that was resolved. Regardless, this does not apply to my BIL as he is not an employee of WDW.

So, the question remains does WDW allow those who have all the proper permits (i.e. CWP) to carry weapons (either on their person or in their vehicle) at the resorts or at the parks?

What if he is a police officer, are there exceptions for them?

What if, as a police officer, he is required by his employer to carry his weapon at all times? How do they deal with this situation?

I remember my bag being searched as we entered the park when we went in 2007, but I can't remember if their were metal detectors, etc. If WDW has a strict "no weapons" policy how do they police that?

Thanks so much for the info.

hugs -

lisa

 

[cocowum]

I'm not here to debate gun laws and/or policy. I just need to know the rules and policies at WDW, both the parks and the resorts.

My BIL is a police officer (not in Florida) and also has a CWP. We were recently discussing whether or not he could carry his weapon at WDW. He said that he could because of some new law in Florida.

From my research, the law he is referring to is a Guns-to-Work law that allows employees to bring their guns to work and leave them locked in their vehicles but does not allow them to actually walk around the office packing, IYKWIM. WDW is saying that it is exempt because of a loophole regarding employers that store explosives (i.e. fireworks). I understand that a CM was fired back in July trying to test that law/exemption but I can't find how that was resolved. Regardless, this does not apply to my BIL as he is not an employee of WDW.

So, the question remains does WDW allow those who have all the proper permits (i.e. CWP) to carry weapons (either on their person or in their vehicle) at the resorts or at the parks?

What if he is a police officer, are there exceptions for them?

What if, as a police officer, he is required by his employer to carry his weapon at all times? How do they deal with this situation?

I remember my bag being searched as we entered the park when we went in 2007, but I can't remember if their were metal detectors, etc. If WDW has a strict "no weapons" policy how do they police that?

Thanks so much for the info.

hugs -

lisa

No, he cannot bring his weapon on to WDW property.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

So, the question remains does WDW allow those who have all the proper permits (i.e. CWP) to carry weapons (either on their person or in their vehicle) at the resorts or at the parks?

No.

What if he is a police officer, are there exceptions for them?

If he's on vacation: No.

What if, as a police officer, he is required by his employer to carry his weapon at all times? How do they deal with this situation?

Keep in mind that it's private property. He can't force Disney to allow him to take his weapon into the park. I believe in a case like that, Disney Security will allow him to check the gun in with them, and he can pick it back up when he leaves.

(True Story Time: A buddy of mine was working at BTMR about 10 years ago or so when a guest found a gun that had been left in the train. Yes, it was loaded. Yes, security was called. No, they weren't happy. No, neither was the gun owner when he sheepishly returned to the attraction to ask if anyone had found his weapon.)

AFAIK, the only exceptions Disney makes for this are on-duty Police Officers and members of the Secret Service.

 

[Tink_Kel]

I've looked into this myself, because my DF is a duputy, and allowed to carry his weapon with his badge at all times. From what I understand, because WDW is private property, they can dictate as to whether or not any non-disney law enforcement officers can carry weapons on WDW....which is "No".

I've read that even an off-duty FBI agent (who technically is on-duty 24/7) was not allowed to carry his weapon, and was required to lock it up, or be escorted off WDW property.

That being said, when we go to WDW, my DF plans to carry, but not into the parks. He will keep it safely tucked into our resort safe, unless we are traveling off-site.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Is it just the parks that it's not allowed or is it all property?

 

[pashari]

Okay, so the concensus is that he is not allowed to take his weapon into the resorts and/or park. Can anyone direct me to some type of official policy on the WDW website. Not that I don't believe you, because I do, but my BIL is going to require more than just our word for it.

Also, no one has answered the question of how they (WDW) police that policy. If my BIL decides to disregard WDW policy and carry his weapon on him into a park how will WDW know???

hugs -

lisa

 

[Sea-Donkey]

My brother is a cop so I'm used to him carrying a gun most of the time, but I don't see the purpose of carrying a gun into an amusement park...I seriously doubt your BIL will need protection from Captain Hook...or Captain Jack. WDW is not Detroit. Just tell him to use common sense and keep it in the vehicle like everybody else. The point of going to WDW is for vacation, not to power trip on getting to carry a firearm.

 

[dipin]

bags are checked prior to entrance to the park. I am quite sure if someone tried to sneak in a gun into disney property and were caught they would be asked to leave, and possibly be banned.

The one thing to keep in mind, though, is that most of the main roads within disney are public. So he can drive around within disney with it for sure, and I dont think leaving the gun in a parked car within a disney parking lot would be an issue. Parks and hotel rooms, however, are another matter entirely.

 

[pashari]

My brother is a cop so I'm used to him carrying a gun most of the time, but I don't see the purpose of carrying a gun into an amusement park...I seriously doubt your BIL will need protection from Captain Hook...or Captain Jack. WDW is not Detroit. Just tell him to use common sense and keep it in the vehicle like everybody else. The point of going to WDW is for vacation, not to power trip on getting to carry a firearm.

Will I may agree with you my BIL does not. I can't begin to explain how unsettling it is to know that two of my BILs feel the need to carry a weapon at all times just because they can. Especially when they are cuddling my child.

But, again, I do not want to debate the whole gun thing. I just need to know what official policy is and how it is enforced.

hugs -

lisa

 

[pashari]

bags are checked prior to entrance to the park. I am quite sure if someone tried to sneak in a gun into disney property and were caught they would be asked to leave, and possibly be banned.

The one thing to keep in mind, though, is that most of the main roads within disney are public. So he can drive around within disney with it for sure, and I dont think leaving the gun in a parked car within a disney parking lot would be an issue. Parks and hotel rooms, however, are another matter entirely.

And that's the question because they both carry their guns on them at all times. Even while driving which, from what I understand, is not allowed.

hugs -

lisa

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

Okay, so the concensus is that he is not allowed to take his weapon into the resorts and/or park. Can anyone direct me to some type of official policy on the WDW website. Not that I don't believe you, because I do, but my BIL is going to require more than just our word for it.

You're not likely to find it on the WDW Website, but you're welcome to get the Official Policy in writing from Disney:

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

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Also, no one has answered the question of how they (WDW) police that policy. If my BIL decides to disregard WDW policy and carry his weapon on him into a park how will WDW know???

WDW Security (both uniformed and plainclothed) are trained to look for the telltale bulges of concealed weapons. There's also the issue of another Guest (or CM) spotting his weapon on him and raising an alarm (if I see a Guest carrying a weapon you can bet that I'm not going to question the Guest. I'm calling 9-1-1, WDW Security, and my area management, in that order).

And I'm also curious: what exactly does he think he's going to need a gun for inside one of the theme parks?

 

[Tink_Kel]

Okay, so the concensus is that he is not allowed to take his weapon into the resorts and/or park. Can anyone direct me to some type of official policy on the WDW website. Not that I don't believe you, because I do, but my BIL is going to require more than just our word for it.

Also, no one has answered the question of how they (WDW) police that policy. If my BIL decides to disregard WDW policy and carry his weapon on him into a park how will WDW know???

hugs -

lisa

I couldn't find any official policy myself, and to answer your question about "policing" the policy, if the weapon is truely concealed on his person, then no one should be able to tell he he carrying. They search bags, not bodies, and there are no metal detectors.

I agree with OP that it would be wiser not to carry into the parks, as there is always the chance of either 1) Losing the weapon (which hopefully would never happen...but never say never) 2) Someone notices, and causes a panic/commotion, or 3)Is discovered and escorted off Disney property, and not allowed back on.

What I don't agree with OP is the assumption that it is a "power trip", as working in law enforcement myself, and anyone who watches the news, knows that senseless crimes happen at even at the happiest of places...like Christmas parties, and even churches. Unfortunately, criminals and unstable people are probably more likely to carry weapons onto Disney property than off-duty law enforcement officers.

 

[wilde_oscar]

hm, a 9mm might get you a slighty higher score on toy story mania?

 

[Tink_Kel]

Will I may agree with you my BIL does not. I can't begin to explain how unsettling it is to know that two of my BILs feel the need to carry a weapon at all times just because they can. Especially when they are cuddling my child.

But, again, I do not want to debate the whole gun thing. I just need to know what official policy is and how it is enforced.

hugs -

lisa

Hi Lisa, just as a sidenote, my DF carries his weapon at all times too. Even though I'm not really uncomfortable with it (I own two handguns myself), I ask him not to leave it in the open because I have two teen boys in the house. He respectfully locks his weapons up when not in use. If this really concerns you, you might consider getting a gun safe and ask them to lock them up when visiting your family.

 

[Belle5]

hm, a 9mm might get you a slighty higher score on toy story mania?

 

[Tink_Kel]

hm, a 9mm might get you a slighty higher score on toy story mania?

 

[jpeppers]

Why does he feel he needs to carry his gun in to Disney? I have worked in a maximum security prison for 20 years and understand not being comfortable at all times in public but if it reaches a point where I feel if I need to be armed in Disneyworld, I give up (now the area around Disneyland is a completely different story ). I'm sure he would have no problem concealing his weapon and bringing it into the park.......but why?????

 

[Disneyadore]

Why does he feel he needs to carry his gun in to Disney? I have worked in a maximum security prison for 20 years and understand not being comfortable at all times in public but if it reaches a point where I feel if I need to be armed in Disneyworld, I give up (now the area around Disneyland is a completely different story ). I'm sure he would have no problem concealing his weapon and bringing it into the park.......but why?????

Maybe he wants to shoot people that skip lines ore people that show up last minute and squeeze them self to the front row?

 

[Princess Amy]

My husband is a police detective. He will absolutely not leave the house without his gun when we are home....EVER!

His one condition is when we fly, especially to Disney. It stays home locked away. He doesn't want to go through the hassle of dealing with it at the airport. Although, if we were ever to drive down to Disney, he would definitely bring it with him. But once again, he would never think about bringing it to the park with him. Not to be judgemental, but that just seems a bit silly to me.

 

[livie1205]

No, he cannot bring his weapon on to WDW property.

yes he can....my dh brings his gun every time we go to wdw.He does not bring it to the parks,he has it locked in a gun case but we drive to orlando and when we travel he always brings his gun.He is a cop also and resort mang has never had a issue with it.He is 100% allowed to take his gun most places with him(he wouldnt even want to carry it in the parks though),he carries his badge in his wallet at all times....