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

[mattsdragon]

If your BIL is a cop in Michigan, chances are his jurisdiction ends well before getting to Reedy Creek. He has no authority to enforce laws in Florida beyond what a normal citizen is capable of in a citizen's arrest (ie, can't detain, can't discharge a firearm). His departments carry requirement is not intended to make him carry a gun 24/7 anywhere in the country.

Is his concealed weapon's permit issued by Florida, do they recognize one from your homestate?

My wife a cop, and in my role as a Boarding Officer for the Coast Guard, I am a federal law enforcement officer, so we do have to study carry laws.

 

[Belle1962]

Disney is exempt from the guns to work law. Disney holds a FEDERAL permit to handle explosives on its property, mainly fireworks, and under Florida's new gun law, companies with those kinds of permits do not have to allow guns on their property. SO even IF he was an employee he could NOT carry it anywhere on property.

He also has no jurisdictional privileges.

Since Disney is not fighting the exemption and actually jumped on it--you can infer that Disney does not want guns on it's property.

You can google this and find info on this-there was a big whohaw over the summer when a security guard was fired for having one in the trunk of his car on Disney proprety.

I have been to Disney with persons who are carrying but they hold Federal permits. IF you follow the "rules" on who you need to alert, how you are to handle/secure the firearm, etc. you will decide it is not worth it. I can spot a concealed weapon and if I even thought someone was carrying at Disney I would alert security ASAP. As would probably most guests--so would it be worth the hassle?

 

[bradk]

on the gun law:

Disney *claims* exemption. This has been disputed by others, but so it goes. If I'm not mistaken, Disney claims it has to do with the fact that they have fireworks on site and the law exempts locations that harbor explosives or something to that effect. Some lawmakers who enacted the bill claim that what Disney is doing was never intended to happen and an oversight, but..

Disney did in fact fire a security host for keeping a gun locked in his car. The company has a zero tolerance policy for cast members bringing guns anywhere on property, but they can do that (barring the law).

Official policy allows guests to have guns in their car on property, but they cannot be brought into the parks (there's even a 'leaked memo' that expresses this). LEOs would kindly be asked to check their guns at the gate temporarily.

Does that mean no guns enter the park? Let's be realistic, there are probably dozens of handguns inside the parks at any time.

 

[disnut8]

The biggest issue I see here is that the brother-in-law wants to carry his gun and wants proof from Disney World that says he can't. Forget the "why does he want to do it" - he obviously wants to.

My suggestion is for the brother-in-law, since he is in a position of law enforcement, to simply research this through his official channels. Why wouldn't HE be able to find out the answer to this question himself? I find it hard to believe that an official law enforcement agency couldn't or wouldn't provide the information to another official law enforcement agency.

If the brother-in-law insists on taking the gun into Disney World and is discovered, then he'll have to deal with that issue himself. Honestly, if I were a member of that party and knew the weapon was being taken in, I'd distance myself from the person at all times. You don't know if just the individual person will be asked to leave or if the entire party will be asked to leave.

Have the brother-in-law find out the official answer through official channels. If the answer is "no" and he still insists on carrying the weapon then I don't think he's much of a person to uphold the law.

 

[Big Vic]

Florida concealed weapon permit information.

Florida CWP Info (Reciprocity)

 

[NMAmy]

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.

I agree. My ex is a cop but when we were on vacation (particularly flying somewhere), the gun was locked up in the safe at home.

To the OP: Have him check with his department. He wouldn't have any jurisdiction at WDW so why would he need to carry?

 

[WilsonFlyer]

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.

The whole point of an officer carrying off-duty is that you never know who you might run across that you may have crossed paths with before and that person may not care about the rules at all. Yes. Even at WDW.

 

[bradk]

then doesn't that mean you should really be wearing a vest all the time?

 

[Lynn5700]

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

LOL.

 

[DebbieB]

This illustrates why the bag checks are worthless. All this guy needs to do is put the gun under his jacket and waltz right in through the no bag line. The bag checks started after 9/11, but any terrorist is going to know better than to put anything in bags.

 

[plutolovr]

Okay, I got this from an "official" Disney site. Here is Disney's official policy:

Description
Certain items are not permitted into the Theme Parks and Downtown Disney. This includes, but is not limited to:

*
Wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, and shoes with built-in wheels
*
Any trailer like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV, wheelchair, or stroller
o
Note: Guests are not permitted to pull items behind them. Any item that requires a Guest to pull it behind him, including a stroller, is not permitted into the Park.
*
Suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" length x 15" width x 18" height (which mirrors the large locker sizes)
o
Note: Coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at First Aid.
*
Two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances
*
Strollers larger than 36" x 52" (which mirrors the rental stroller sizes)
*
Weapons of any kind
*
Alcoholic beverages and any illegal substances
*
Folding chairs, except certain portable seats that can be used as mobility aids
*
Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
*
Pets are not allowed. Service animals are permitted.
*
At Disney's Animal Kingdom (for the safety of the wildlife), balloons, straws, and lids are not permitted

Can't much clearer than that!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

then doesn't that mean you should really be wearing a vest all the time?

You'd probably be surprised how many do wear one when in public and off-duty.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

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

Duly noted. Hadn't thought about that before. Hmmm...

 

[GvilleDisneyDad]

I live in Fl and have a CWP. This list is law of where you are not allowed to carry even with a permit.

http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/possession.html

As was said, concealed means concealed. No one should have any clue if you are carring or not.

Still, I don't carry at Disney. It's uncomfortable and generally a hassle to worry about. Also, when I'm not at MK, I might want to have a drink or two.

 

[bradk]

on the vests, i just had to ask because i do work for a government agency and some positions have vests mandated and it appears that there's objection to the vest that they have to establish disciplinary actions for those who refuse. not nearly as many are refusing to carry guns though.

as to the concealed weapons exceptions, note that most listed are public spaces. disney is a private space and can literally have any guest removed for any reason they see fit under the law of trespass. which means if they don't like your big toe, they can ask you to leave. there's no constitutional amendment yet that forces disney to take your $80. if a permit to carry a concealed weapon was enough, i defy anyone to announce to disney security that they are carrying, but it's ok because they have a permit.

 

[distherapy]

Here is a link that includes a response from Disney -

Response from Disney -

Quote:
Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World? Resort.

It may interest you to know we have a strict policy regarding firearms. Our policy is that no guns are permitted in our theme Parks or Resorts. If a resort guest brings one on property, it must be locked up in the safe deposit boxes at the front desk, not in a room safe. If guests visiting our theme parks bring in firearms, it must either be left in their vehicle, or checked in with security when entering the park. Only on-duty law enforcement officers whose agency has jurisdiction at the Walt Disney World? Resort may carry any weapon.

Link to thread - the quote is from the bottom of the page
http://forum.pafoa.org/news-123/12733-pennsylvania-woman-arrested-concealed-carry-disney-land.html

 

[WillCAD]

I can't find anything on the Disney web site that prohibits carrying weapons everywhere on property, but weapons are definitely prohibited in the parks themselves:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQThemeParkPage#q13

Florida statute 790.06 (12) prohibits carrying a weapon in a host of places, including any that serve alchoholic beverages on the premises, which would include almost all of the resort and Downtown Disney restaurants.
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/possession.html

The link Big Vic posted above is from Florida's Division of Licensing. Basically, what it says is that Florida recognizes CCW permits issued by other states, as long as those other states recognize Florida's permits in return (the Reciprocity policy). The page lists all of those states which recognize Florida's permits and which Florida therefore recognizes in return.
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/news/concealed_carry.html

Some folks have recommanded leaving the weapon locked in a car while in the parks, but I highly recommend against this. Break-ins in the theme park parking lots are rare, but they DO happen; break-ins at Downtown Disney are fairly common, and break-ins off-site are epidemic. Leaving a weapon locked in a car is a huge, and IMHO, extremely foolish, risk.

 

[trasor]

My DH is a cop. He carries his weapon off duty and I can assure you it is not because he gets a power trip from it. Everyday, we hear in the news about gunfire being opened up in malls, armed robberies in 7-11's, non-custodial parents taking kids from schools...the list goes on. My DH carries off duty because if he ever came across that situation he wants to be able to do more than duck and run. Protect and serve does not end with a punched time card. If my DH could carry at Disney or other amusement parks, he probably would. He has seen to much to believe that "the happiest place on earth" is immune from horror occurring within its boundaries. And if anyone were to be involved in situations like I mentioned above, they would be oh so glad my husband decided to have a power trip when he left the house that day.

I understand Disney's policy and have no problem with it, but I am guessing that the OP's BIL feels the same way my husband does.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

Here's the link to the FAQ page at Disney.com.

Q. Are there any personal items I should not bring with me into the Theme Parks?
A. Items that you may not bring into the Theme Parks include, but are not limited to:

* Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller
* Alcoholic beverages
* Weapons of any kind
* Folding chairs
* Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
* Pets (unless they are service animals)
* In Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (for the safety of the wildlife), balloons, straws and drink lids are not permitted.

Note: Guests are not permitted to pull items behind them. Any item that requires a Guest to pull it behind them, including a stroller, is not permitted into the Park.

That's about as clear as it can possibly be.

 

[swald91]

My DH is a cop. He carries his weapon off duty and I can assure you it is not because he gets a power trip from it. Everyday, we hear in the news about gunfire being opened up in malls, armed robberies in 7-11's, non-custodial parents taking kids from schools...the list goes on. My DH carries off duty because if he ever came across that situation he wants to be able to do more than duck and run. Protect and serve does not end with a punched time card. If my DH could carry at Disney or other amusement parks, he probably would. He has seen to much to believe that "the happiest place on earth" is immune from horror occurring within its boundaries. And if anyone were to be involved in situations like I mentioned above, they would be oh so glad my husband decided to have a power trip when he left the house that day.

I understand Disney's policy and have no problem with it, but I am guessing that the OP's BIL feels the same way my husband does.

Perfectly said. My husband is a state trooper & there's no power trip-just reality. So true about a time card! Let's hope they all stay safe!