Now I'm afraid!

[cslittle999]

And the difference between Security and Police is.....?

An incredible difference. All security can do is boot you off the property or hold you for the police. What do you think they can do? Make people disappear?

Brother lives in Longwood, Florida. Alot happens at WDW that the general public never hears.

That's more of a media issue. Not everything is news worthy. For major media outlets it would probably have to be sensational in some way. Do you think you hear about every incident reported to the police?

 

[carolfoy]

I would be interested to know what Disney's policy is on lost kids. Our family plan is to pick an area of the park (ex. bench in front of Mission Space entrance) to meet up if we are separated. They are 9 & 10, have been to Disney twice and can navigate the parks. We have told them if they need help to go to a CM who is working (Fastpass, snack truck) and ask them for help if they need it. Would these people have security bring our kids somewhere, or would they notify security and have the kids remain there until we arrived? We always tell our kids to stay out in public; if an adult offers help, do not follow them anywhere. Just curious.

There are a number of lost kid areas, or lost parents as they're known in my family, should your little ones wander off and make them selves known to a cm the general scheme of things would be - if the child knows where you were standing they'd return there first then take the kids to the nearest lost child place where a cm would then contact all the other lost child spaces to se if you'd turn up!

 

[mafibisha]

If you don't know the specific areas you are talking about, why did you mention it? You said WDW doesn't pay taxes to Orlando or Kissimee -- true, but irrelevant. They aren't located there. .

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.

 

[grimley1968]

Brother lives in Longwood, Florida. Alot happens at WDW that the general public never hears.

So does this brother in Longwood have some kind of special inside knowledge of how WDW operates?

I'm sorry, but I'm not buying this. I have had a MIL who lives in Cocoa Beach, a BIL who lived in Orlando until 6 months ago, and another BIL who lives down in Port St. Lucie, and this never gave me any special inside knowledge of how WDW operates, nor even of their respective towns. It's just where they happened to live. Proximity to WDW doesn't mean diddly in this issue. Even many CM's at Disney may not know much about how Disney operates internally.

Also, you can't argue that there's not a large difference between "security" and "police", as a poster above pointed out nicely. It's not just semantics.

I, too, would like to see some actual proof of these kidnappings, or even alleged kidnappings before making blanket statements where Disney's secrecy with the media = urban myths being true.

No one on here, as of yet, has provided such proof.

 

[tinkerbell1967]

I have never heard this statment. I agree with the others, just watch your kids like you would at any other time. If they are old enough to walk around by themselves through the parks set a time to meet and check up with them, that is what we did with our daughter who was 14 the first time we left her and a freind wonder around by themselves. We set up a few different times to meet for them to check in and it worked well.

 

[traciedee]

I have spent a lot of time in Disney in California and never felt unsafe. Stuff happens at Disney just like it does everywhere else in the world and you just have to excercise the same cautions you would anywhere else. I always felt Disney did an incredible job at maintaining a family safe enviroment. I have been to a lot of different amusement parks all over the US and I can tell you some of them are just plain scarey at times. I would not be scared and I would not be worried.

 

[salmoneous]

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.

Um, this isn't true. Disney pays a ton of property taxes, sales taxes, resort taxes, income taxes, etc. And they receive a ton of services back - include police and transportation. Not sure where you are getting this.

 

[grimley1968]

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.

Where are your facts to back this up?

How do you know they pay no taxes? How come there's a resort tax fee on every single Disney resort ressie I make?

Are you actually claiming they receive no assistance from any govt. entity? Are you kidding? Well, you typed it, so I guess you believe it. As mentioned above, they do have to have county sheriff's deputies help out with criminal matters, and they do have to ship people to hospitals at times, all of which requires govt. assistance.

Also, if Disney is profitable enough to not overly rely on govt. assistance, and are able to provide for themselves for the most part, I view this as a good thing.

Can you provide some proof when Walt said "WDW must not have to answer to anyone"? Was it in that film about EPCOT he made? Maybe it's just another one of those dreams he had that never came to pass.

 

[mafibisha]

I, too, would like to see some actual proof of these kidnappings, or even alleged kidnappings before making blanket statements where Disney's secrecy with the media = urban myths being true.

I have not said a word about alleged kidnapping. I have no idea. That was not my point.

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.

That IS indeed, a fact. Take it for whats it worth. It will be worth different things to different people, as in EVERYTHING.

An anonymous internet forum isn't going to change anyone's mind, yours or mine. You'll have your opinions, I'll have mine. We will ALL draw our own conclusions from what we know to be true.

Peace.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I agree with those who say that you can't control the press. Does anyone believe that if something bad happened in WDW, that it wouldn't make the papers all around the world? Just from the events I know about, it seems that they got pretty heavy coverage, and continue to be reported in the news as new information becomes available.
As for policing, I can only speak to what I've seen. One day during Christmas/NY week, there was an Orange Cty sheriff posted outside the turnstiles of MGM...don't know why they were there, but it was most likely either an unusual event on property, or crowd control, as I didn't see them at every park on every day. Their presence on the roadways seemed pretty visible all week, though.

 

[Equidae]

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.

As others have pointed out, where are your facts coming from? Disney pays a heck of a lot of taxes -- just because you own land and operate a business on it does not exclude you from paying the government! Check out your receipts when you are there next time -- sales tax! I had a Fairy Tale Wedding there last year, and we were taxed on various services and that was regulated by the government. And do you know exactly why Disney is so self-contained? When they were building WDW, they tried to partner with neighboring Kissimmee with all the services and Kissimmee refused. My source on this is a Disney Castmember who works in the conventions department who had been there for over 20 years. She's seen all the 'inner workings' and knew quite a lot. What company reports to the press on bad stuff anyway? The media has a way of finding things out!

They also aren't above the law. They answer to the government authorities on such as issues as safety (they have to meet building codes just like the rest of us), security (they do not have a police force), environmental concerns (they have a whole department to make sure they aren't polluting) etc. Check out the Reedy Creak Improvement District's homepage for more info on their servies. http://www.rcid.org/AboutUS_main.cfm Oh, surprise --

As a special taxing district, The Reedy Creek Improvement District must operate in accordance with its charter and state laws governing such districts. Just as any city or county, the income is derived from taxes and fees imposed within its boundaries. In the case of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the major portion of taxes are paid to the District by Walt Disney World Co. and other property owners, who also pay property taxes to Orange and Osceola Counties.

Yes, knowledge is power.

 

[civileng68]

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.

 

[grimley1968]

I have not said a word about alleged kidnapping. I have no idea. That was not my point.

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.

That IS indeed, a fact. Take it for whats it worth. It will be worth different things to different people, as in EVERYTHING.

This is NOT a fact. If it is fact, prove it. There have been numerous posts now about Orange Co. sheriff deputies being on site, how Disney has to pay many, many taxes, etc. Your saying WDW is totally self-contained is no more valid than me saying I'm totally self-contained in my own house. In that sense, I'm just like Disney: I can choose not to pay taxes, I can choose not to report to the media every bad thing that happens in my house, and I could ignore crimes. Of course, before long, I WON'T be self-contained in my house when the cops come to haul me away for all the criminal activity. Same is true for WDW.

If you are NOT saying that WDW's relative secrecy in not reporting all things that happen at WDW (when they don't have to) = urban myths about kidnappings being true, then why are you posting your "facts" about Disney being self-contained? This thread is about alleged kidnappings and whether they are, or are not, true. When you make the claim that WDW is "totally self-contained", it has to be in support of something. To a logical reader, the implication is that WDW's secrecy with the media = alleged kidnappings being true.

Of course, I don't think WDW is at all secretive with the media, nor CAN they be. All it takes is a reporter in disguise with a digital cam to catch a story. I just don't buy that WDW would, or even could, keep a secret of kidnappings happening all over the place. Consider the ink WDW got over that boy who died after getting off Mission Space, even after it was determined he had a pre-existing heart defect.

 

[laceemouse]

Agree with Mickey'snewestfan. If one of my kids disappeared at WDW, do you think I would take bribe money to not go and report it to the media? Come on!! Yeah, lots of things like wallets being stolen do not get reported because they are pretty petty, but kidnapping??? We watch our kids well, but I still feel safer at WDW than at the mall, store, ect. because it would be a lot harder to get away with a kid and not be noticed.

 

[fitzperry]

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.

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?

 

[salmoneous]

When they were building WDW, they tried to partner with neighboring Kissimmee with all the services and Kissimmee refused.

Nice post, but I don't think this one part is accurate. Being *somewhat* self-contained has been part of the WDW plan from the start. If anyone is interested in the nitty-gritty details of WDW, politics, Reedy Creek, etc. I highly recommend the book Married to the Mouse by Richard Foglesong (note that it is a pretty geeky book for serious policy wonks; that it isn't always complementary to Disney; and that it is kinda pricy. Find it at a library if possible.)

Think about it - how would WDW with all it's development in Orange County back in those days have "partnered" with Kissimmee in Osceola County? Some of the main things RCID deals with are water/power supplies, zoning, building codes, transportation, etc. none of which a city in a neighboring county could help with.

 

[Equidae]

Nice post, but I don't think this one part is accurate. Being *somewhat* self-contained has been part of the WDW plan from the start. If anyone is interested in the nitty-gritty details of WDW, politics, Reedy Creek, etc. I highly recommend the book Married to the Mouse by Richard Foglesong (note that it is a pretty geeky book for serious policy wonks; that it isn't always complementary to Disney; and that it is kinda pricy. Find it at a library if possible.)

Think about it - how would WDW with all it's development in Orange County back in those days have "partnered" with Kissimmee in Osceola County? Some of the main things RCID deals with are water/power supplies, zoning, building codes, transportation, etc. none of which a city in a neighboring county could help with.

Maybe I just didn't articulate it well enough, and the info is from a CM (and they aren't always that reliable) but what she was saying is that WDW wanted to work with Kissimmee to do the roads, maintenance, that sort of thing and they refused. She mentioned something about Disney extending a road through Kissimmee to WDW, but that it didn't happen that way since Kissimmee refused. I wish I could go back and check but I've lost contact with her. I admit, it's a weak point in my argument and I would be interested in knowing for sure. I would be interested in the Married to the Mouse book, I'll have to pick it up.

 

[grimley1968]

So ....

Does anyone have any actual proof, facts, or anything else to back up the claim that WDW is the kidnap capital? If so, please come forward.

Otherwise, this thread is a collection of speculative guesses.

I mean, if we're going to talk about an entity being "secretive", someone start a thread about the city of Las Vegas, with its public ad campaign of "What happens here, stays here" (IMHO this is maybe one of the most tasteless and irresponsible ad campaigns I've ever seen).

But the whole debate about how Disney is or isn't reliant on public services isn't that relevant to whether WDW is the kidnap capital.

 

[Disney Gator]

Agree with Mickey'snewestfan. If one of my kids disappeared at WDW, do you think I would take bribe money to not go and report it to the media? Come on!! Yeah, lots of things like wallets being stolen do not get reported because they are pretty petty, but kidnapping??? We watch our kids well, but I still feel safer at WDW than at the mall, store, ect. because it would be a lot harder to get away with a kid and not be noticed.

Actually things like stolen wallets do get reported to the Sheriff's Office. We have incidents sometimes where people think something has been stolen from their room (I work at YC/BC), and we call OCSO for them. These things aren't in the news because they aren't news.

 

[Disney Gator]

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

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.