Now I'm afraid!

[mill4023]

No taxes to anyone? That's amazing since clearly on every purchase there is sales tax. Not to mention the hotel tax for the resorts. Your claim that they don't receive assistance from any local government will come as news to the OCSO deputies that patrol the roads and respond to law enforcement calls on property.

Not to mention the millions or billions of dollars in corporate income tax the Disney company as a whole pays to the federal government.

Obviously, mafibisha is either very misinformed or is just making things up out of thin air to try to start an argument.

What I DID say was the FACT that WDW is totally SELF CONTAINED and are NOT OBLIGATED to report ANYTHING to ANYONE regardless what *issue* there may be.

Simply ridiculous.
WDW is in the state of Florida and in the United States and is subject to all the state and federal laws that everyone else is subject to. Of course they are obligated to report crimes to the police.

 

[kittythepoohbear]

Mafibisha, can you please post some references to your facts? I love a good conspiracy theory and believe that Disney does have some autonomy regarding certain matters, but I have never heard that it was not accountable to anyone, didn't pay taxes to the gov't, didn't have to report any criminal incidents to the local police, etc. I would be interesting in reading, watching, or listening to the source of your information so I can make up my mind for myself.

Salmoneous, thanks for recommending Married to the Mouse. I have actually seen it at the library but never got around to reading it. It sounds like a Disney geek's reading heaven!

As for the rumors of kidnapping and other bad things, I highly doubt that such a thing would be hushed up by Disney or anyone else, especially the way the media has been lately.

 

[civileng68]

Do you honestly think that if there were a chance that a child had been abducted and taken off WDW property that law enforcement authorities wouldn't be notified?

Correct, and as Cleo said earlier, the media would STILL be all over it.

While Disney can avoid reporting certain things to the media, the parents would report it. TRUST ME!

Also, if you are the type of parent that would take money to shut you up while your child is out there missing somewhere, then you are no parent at all and likely wouldnt care enough to have taken them to Disney in the first place.

 

[stemikger]

This is an urban legend that has been around for a long time.

Having said that no matter where you are it is always good to keep your eye out. A child abduction can about anywhere. Just use good sense but don't be overly paranoid. Enjoy your trips and try not to let this real world stuff invade the happiest place in the world.

One of the best things I love about Disney is that I really forget the real world while I'm there and act like a kid again.

 

[Passions71203]

What I dont get is how these sikkos want children. Absolutely disgusting and people like that should be fed to viscious animals at zoos for entertainment.

I agree with you 100% !

 

[darner]

it's all true, they've been abducted and forced to sing in it's a small world

 

[Equidae]

it's all true, they've been abducted and forced to sing in it's a small world

 

[JRawkSteady]

I've worked at WDW and there have been only a few isolated incidents that were taken care of immediately! It is not something that happens all the time...but of course, there's a million crazy people in the and every once in a blue moon one of them rides into our park. I would worry as much about this in WDW as I would in my own neighborhood. I hate seeing little ones crying because they have lost parents, so keep an eye out...but you don't have to be a hawk.

 

[JERSEYDISFAN]

Not necessarily.......

Much of what really happens in WDW does NOT reach the outside press.[/B]

It does make you wonder....

REALLLYYY???? Explain to me again about how WDW prevents frantic, worried parents from going to the press or outside law enforcement agencies?

 

[HunnyPots]

My point is that they don't pay taxes to ANYONE and don't receive assistance from any city, county or government.

WDW is totally self contained and totally ***SELF-REGULATED*** in ALL WAYS.

So, what does that say?

They are not obligated to bring in the outside safety / security forces, OR report to such, or the mainstream press.

They don't have to ANSWER to ANYONE.That was one of Walt's requirements when he created the magic. Check out any book on the Disney dynasty and see for yourself.

As in everything on the DIS, or in life, we are all free to draw our own conclusions! But knowledge is power.

Sounds like you're confusing Walt Disney World with the Vatican.
Hey, would that make Mickey Mouse the Pope?

 

[grimley1968]

Sounds like you're confusing Walt Disney World with the Vatican.
Hey, would that make Mickey Mouse the Pope?

Well, now, The Davinci Code did specifically mention Disney movies in talking about popular fiction's symbolic references to Mary Magdaleine.

I think you're on to something!

 

[ozarkmom]

Not necessarily.......

Disney has its own police department, fire department ect.

WDW does NOT pay taxes to Orlando or Kissimmeee (Walt was brilliant in his initial negotiations!)

Much of what really happens in WDW does NOT reach the outside press.

It does make you wonder....

I guarantee that if kids were disppearing from WDW someone would be screaming about it.

 

[Feralpeg]

Not necessarily.......

Disney has its own police department, fire department ect.

WDW does NOT pay taxes to Orlando or Kissimmeee (Walt was brilliant in his initial negotiations!)

Much of what really happens in WDW does NOT reach the outside press.

It does make you wonder....

While Disney has it's own security, the Orange County Sheriff's department is everywhere in WDW. Any time I've seen any kind of accident or even emergency, the Orange County sheriff is there. We hear things all the time on the local stations about things at WDW. Any time there is an accident other than just a medical emergency or minor incident, we hear about it. I don't believe there is a plot to cover up things that happen at WDW. It would be very difficult to do that when so many people are witnesses.

 

[Passions71203]

it's all true, they've been abducted and forced to sing in it's a small world

Don't tell anyone LMAO

 

[ChefBilly]

Children are kidnapped at Disney World! And then they're brought to the crypt where Walt is cryogenically frozen - it's near where they put the top part of the castle when they disassemble it during hurricanes.
This is fact because I read about it in an email that assured me I'd receive $5,000 in cash if I forwarded it to all my friends. I plan on using that $5,000 to help my new Nigerian friend wire millions of dollars to me.
Unless I get kidnapped at Disney World.

 

[highlander]

I could swear that I saw one of the Dutch characters make eye contact with me at It's A Small World and mouth the words "help me". After spending years stuck in that ride, wouldn't you want out? Afterall, there's only so much that one person or puppet can take.

 

[rockin_rep]

Wow, interesting! This reminds me of some of my college marketing and statistics classes.

Beyond their creative genius, i remember disney being noted as the masters of marketing and resourcefulness and yes, i definitely do recall rumblings of things being covered up! At the time i didn't really care, but now i wish i could remember.

I doubt it's kidnappings, what parent wouldn't scream to the media!

But when you think about 'statistics', how could millions upon bazillions of people and children go every year and yet we only hear about one or two negative type incidents every so often? I'm no statistics wiz but that seems odd and now makes me wonder.

I'm going to check out the books mentioned and see if i can recall anything else from class. Now when i visit i'm totally intriqued at the way things work like clockwork so this might be an interesting read! (yes, i'm a disney geek too! )

 

[rockin_rep]

Ok guys, doing a google search and on second thought, maybe i don't wanna know, OMG, whoever wrote about the vatican and disney, did you read this review:

Married To The Mouse: Walt Disney World And Orlando by Richard E. Foglesong (July, 2001) This intriguing book traces the evolution of the relationship between the Disney Co. and the surrounding community since it began in the 1960s--how Orlando leaders seduced the Disney Co. with big road projects, how the Disney Co. shielded its property from government regulation, and how the company has used the governmental powers it acquired. In short, Disney World has become a "Vatican with Mouse ears," the author declares.


Richard E. Foglesong, AM'73, PhD'81, Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando (Yale University Press). Foglesong traces the evolving relationship between the Disney Company and the surrounding Florida community since the 1960s. Showing how Disney has been shielded from government regulation and has acquired governmental powers, the author analyzes broader questions such as whether privatization and deregulation offer a viable strategy for economic development.

Joined together in an extraordinarily close relationship, Walt Disney World and Orlando, Florida, have become the world’s most popular tourist destination. This intriguing book traces the history of the ups and downs of this “marriage” and tells the inside story of Disney’s use and abuse of unparalleled governmental powers. The tale raises important questions about cities and the economic development choices they confront.from "Yale University Press"

One of [the book’s] greatest strengths is its rich detail about how a notoriously secretive company goes to great lengths to preserve its image as the home of the Magic Kingdom.”—Alecia Swasy, New York Times

Here is a book that will change the way that you look at the Mouse. Not only does ol’ Mickey have fuzzy ears and a cute, squeaky voice, but sharp teeth and claws too.”—Catherine Collins, co-author of Celebration, U.S.A.: Living in Disney’s Brave New World

I think i'm gonna buy this book or from the library soon, i'm intrigued. Didn't find Ready Creek book, but will keep looking.

 

[Tinkerbellz]

Children are kidnapped at Disney World! And then they're brought to the crypt where Walt is cryogenically frozen - it's near where they put the top part of the castle when they disassemble it during hurricanes.
This is fact because I read about it in an email that assured me I'd receive $5,000 in cash if I forwarded it to all my friends. I plan on using that $5,000 to help my new Nigerian friend wire millions of dollars to me.
Unless I get kidnapped at Disney World.

Oh my goodness...I love it!

 

[jwann]

I have a friend who finally, after years of saving their change and putting money away, took the family to Disney. They have 3 girls ages 10, 5, and 1. They are from our small town and have never really been anywhere outside of Kentucky. The spent a week in Orlando including 3 days at WDW. My friend said she couldn't even enjoy herself because she was so worried someone was going to take her children. "There were so many people there," she said. They ended up carrying their 5 year old and pushing their 1 year old in a stroller all through the parks. Personally, I think that is pathetic. You look forward to a family vacation and spend your heard earned money only to let your paranoia get the best of you.