Now I'm afraid!

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Originally Posted by mafibisha

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

If nobody ever hears about it, then how do the stories get out I wonder?

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

They do indeed collect and pay sales taxes to both counties they are in. There are many businesses that have property taxes waived including most likely, your local Walmart.

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

Actually they are not. They are subject to national and state law as well as county ordinance. They don't have embassy status, nor diplomatic immunity by any means.

So, what does that say?

It says you're full of it as is the source you got it from.

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

Florida regulations on ride safety are what they are. But that doesn't mean Disney gets special treatment here. And no private Business is required to hire outside security. Nor is any business obligated to report a thing to 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.

The do indeed answer to the law like any other business. The Orange County Sherriffs also investigates anything serious. So the books you read are wrong.

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

It sure is. And you'd do well to actually investigate for yourself before you believe what you read or hear.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

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

We went down there and had a wonderful time and virtually nothing went wrong except that Marrakesh wasn't any good that night.
None of that reached the press. IT'S A CONSPIRACY!!!!!

 

[minijeanie]

I feel safer at wdw than any other amusement park in the world. I think the security at wdw is fantastic.

we had a friend who lost her 5 yr old son in MK. he actually walked out of the park with another family thinking it was his own family. When he go to the monorail he burst into tears.

A security person immediately snatched him and was reunited with his own family quickly.

My kids are older now & I actually let them go into the park themselves while DH & I stay in room. Normally we stay in BW so they can go to Epcot or MGM and we meet up with them later. That is how safe I feel.

I would like to give a tip that a good friend of mine gave me who is in the Insurance Industry and underwrites for many many amusement parks.

Change the laces in your kids shoes. Make one orange the other green or two different colors of your liking.

In the unlikely event of an abduction, the abductor will change clothes, dye hair, drug, etc but will normally not remove shoes. THere is an actual case where the child had on two different color shoelaces and it was how he was identified while leaving an amusemetn park with his abductor..

Good tip I think

 

[Feralpeg]

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.

Actually, things do get out. We hear about them all the time on these boards. Someone has a terrible time with their hotel. Someones grandmother fell down and nobody helped her. Someone got a room that wasn't up to expectation. If Disney really wanted to hush things up, you'd think they'd do everything they could to keep this type of thing quiet.

I'm sure there are domestic disputes, medical emergencies, deaths from natural causes, traffic accidents (I see those all the time) and more on a regular basis. The fact is that no one cares about these things. I don't want to know. We have enough going on in the Orlando area to keep the local news busy. Unless it is something that could affect other guests, I'm glad they keep it to themselves. Every time there has been a major accident on a ride, or at a water park, we hear about it right away. Minor accident are going to happen. We don't need to hear about those.

I don't hear about every accident or purse snatching that happens at the area malls. I don't want to. Why should Disney be under the microscope any more than any other business?

Just so you will understand that things do get reported on the local news, there was a case not long ago where a guy was passing bad checks at DTD. It was on the local news.

 

[Donnica]

You do have to watch your kids at WDW like you would anywhere. No place is ever safe enough, including your own home. To worry about every place you are every day would make everyone crazy. Keep an open eye and ear and have fun!! My friend has worked at WDW and said lots of things happen there that we never hear of because Disney is of course very good at everything they do. If we heard about every bad thing at evey place we ever went, would you not leave your house?

HAVE FUN!!!!!!

 

[lizanne]

I'm sure if a child were kidnapped not even Disney could keep that quiet, and I have to believe they wouldn't even try.

But in reference to the topic in some of the other posts on this thread, I thought I'd add my 2 cents. The Orange County Sheriff's presence has not always been there, and I know for a fact that things used to be different as far as reporting criminal incidents to the local authorities.

Back in the late '80's we stayed in a Treehouse. Our van was parked in the driveway at our Treehouse and during the night it was broken into, we heard nothing. All of my husbands very expensive camera equipment was stolen. Yes, it was foolish to leave it in the van at night but he felt totally safe at WDW, so safe that he actually left his credit cards in there and they were gone too along with everything else.

We called Disney to report and they sent someone from Security, but they wanted to handle it in house. Said there was no reason to involve the local police. Well we wanted to report it to our insurance company as a window was broken and valuables were stolen. My husband insisted the police be called and eventually a police report was filed.

After we arrived home from our trip my husband called the Police Dept to see if there was any progress. He was told that, at that time, very few incidents were reported on WDW property. Disney didn't want anything negative on record so that it wouldn't hurt their reputation.

I do believe that things have changed since then. I couldn't believe how many Sherriff's cars we saw during our last trip.

 

[peter11435]

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.

You are very very wrong. If someone is raped, killed, kidnapped etc. on WDW property they would certainly be obligated to report it. Disney does in fact pay a ton of taxes. Yes they do get several great tax breaks and benefits but they do pay taxes. As others have said there is a huge difference between police ans security. Disney pays Orange county millions of dollars a year to provide police services for the property.

Contrary to what you think there is no where near as many things at Disney that go unreported as you think. Disney does try to hide minor things such as car theft. But anything major that happens in the property dfoes become public, there is no way to hide it. Check your facts because so far you have almost none correct.

 

[jultomzach]

It is quite an accusation to state that Disney willingly and knowingly "covered up" attempted kidnappings(especially with no exact information). I know Disney is sometimes seen as financially greedy but this is just nasty. And you imply that there are several people involved in this cover-up (including the parents themselves). OUCH! There actually was a thread last Fall about an attempted kidnapping where the police were stopping cars as they left the parking lots and looking in trunks. Some of the DIS'rs had been stopped and one woman was stopped on a bus and questioned (she said she fit the profile of the woman that was accused of kidnapping). Certainly doesn't support your conspiracy theory. As a social worker in Child Welfare/protective services, I am concerned about protecting my own child from kidnapping wherever he goes. BUT, I access each situation. Let's see... Disney cons..lots of people, crowds, lots of children, easy place for children to get distracted and wander away pros...lots of security, CAMERAS everywhere, isolated with not a quick get-away, lots of parents, a plan for kidnappings, a company that has a lot to lose if kidnapping becomes a problem and (call me Pollyanna) a company that has a level of ethics about families and children. Yes, your children could be taken from anywhere but your job is to keep them safe both physically and emotionally. Don't let your phobias become theirs.

 

[qtwns]

Yes, your children could be taken from anywhere but your job is to keep them safe both physically and emotionally. Don't let your phobias become theirs.

Well said!

 

[lorrainesy]

Just subscribing to read later......what a scary topic

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

If someone's child was kidnapped at Disney World, the only way the public would not know about it was if Disney actually paid the victims off to keep silent about it. That's not going to happen, and if it did, I'd be very skeptical about whether or not the kidnapping was real. No loving parents would accept a payoff to keep quiet about a child being kidnapped. Now, I'm not saying that bad things haven't happened at Disney, but I think it's absurd to think that a kidnapping at Disney would go unreported. The parents of the child would be telling the entire world the story of what happened.

 

[Stitchfans]

Oh, it's true alright! The kids are taken by the ghost hitchhiker and you find his claw hand left dangling from your stroller.


Kidding! Check out the Snopes report!
http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/parks.asp#kidnap

thanks man are you funny!

 

[Disbug]

I, too, wondered about those stories and if they were an "urban myth". I had an incident a few months back where I had to involve the FBI and they confirmed that WDW is "mecca" to pedophiles and "would be" child abductors. I don't know why the actual details don't reach the papers unless the family is from another country? I certainly would be screaming from the rafters if it was my child. I also doubt if it is a frequent occurence.

Your children are indeed SAFE as long as you keep an eye on them. These people merely are waiting for an opportunity. Most parents don't give them that chance. I have never worried about this or cancelled a trip to WDW. But I don't let them go to the restroom by themselves, either.

 

[cobbler]

Not paying taxes?? That is a good one.

If that is true, I deserve a refund on my dues for the property tax portion I pay to DVC every year

 

[In a hurry]

I, too, wondered about those stories and if they were an "urban myth". I had an incident a few months back where I had to involve the FBI and they confirmed that WDW is "mecca" to pedophiles and "would be" child abductors. I don't know why the actual details don't reach the papers unless the family is from another country? I certainly would be screaming from the rafters if it was my child. I also doubt if it is a frequent occurence.

Your children are indeed SAFE as long as you keep an eye on them. These people merely are waiting for an opportunity. Most parents don't give them that chance. I have never worried about this or cancelled a trip to WDW. But I don't let them go to the restroom by themselves, either.

Interesting, because I have heard the exact opposite at a family child safety conference a few months back. This also from an expert on abductions. Disney is overcrowded, well-lit, and well-staffed.

BTW, can anyone actually imagine dying a child's hair at Disney and not having any mess or noise, or attention whatsoever? There is no way that an abduction could be covered up. There is no way a parent would not be dealing without outside authorities. Get a grip, people.

 

[jann1033]

haven't read the posts but i recall reading ( maybe on snopes???) that there hasn't ever been a kidnapping and someplace about how every park but epcot has only 1 exit so can easily be secured....now i 'll go back and read and see how wrong i am

i always watched my kids like a hawk any time we were out and i think any parent fears this but i really think while horrible if it happens, it doesn't happen that much but like a plane crash, you hear about it when it does so it seems more common than it really is, not that your heart doesn't go out to parents who suffer it. and i feel safer at wdw than at say the mall where i think a nut is more likely to go than someplace more secure .

i don't know if this is actually on disney property but a few weeks ago someone posted about (what i believe )turned out to be a false account about a rape in the area where international cms live . a number posted the newspaper accounts of the incidence, including what the police said....so.... don't think they can cover up illegal incidents...maybe an argument between a cm and guest wouldn't be covered but you are talking about a crime which i think is different

 

[jann1033]

So ....




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).

.

ot but i totally agree with this...and they claim to be all into bringing the kiddies along, what a"family" destination it is ????

 

[lorrainesy]

It goes without saying that Disney tries (and I am sure in many cases succeeds in) covering negative stuff up. Please there are multi billion dollars invested in their reputation, they would be a dumb not to try and protect it….but kidnapping? I don’t think so.

And even if they try, they don’t control the media (well not all of it yet anyway). If a child was kidnapped there would be an Amber Alert.

When I was at Disney in February 2004. One of the cast members that was playing Pluto in the afternoon parade crossed between two of the floats (which was a big no-no) as it was going around a curve. The two floats crushed Pluto, his body fell to the ground and the rest of the parade ran over his body …apparently it can’t stop or they didn’t know what was happening (heard two different stories from two different news stations. Disney did a great job covering it up, I was at the parade and did not see a darn thing. That night when we got back to our villa (we were staying off property.) it was all over the news. Do you think Disney wanted to cover that up hmm….Pluto dieing in front of millions of children….yeah I think that is something they didn’t want out. Well the family of “Pluto” wanted it out they were all over the news blaming Disney . And probably getting their case ready to sue. Disney could not stop that family just as they would not be able to stop the family of a child who was kidnapped.

Disney’s bread and butter is children. They do not want an image of WDW as an unsafe place for children. I’m sure they take every possible measure to protect them. That being said parents need to take responsibility too. Lets face it …no place is 100% safe (although I personally believe that Disney is a lot safer then many public places you bring your children) no mater were you are you always have to watch you children closely and have plan set up incase you are separated.


Disney not paying taxes? That is not possible. I am sure they are given tax brakes but we still pay sales tax on everything we buy there and I’m not sure of the correct name of it (and I am too lazy right now to go look at my reservation confirmation) there is a resort tax that is like 13% (which I feel is awful high) Disney does not get to keep this money it has to go to the government. And what about their employees? You can bet they pay/receive income tax just like the rest of us. Disney may be greedy but so is Uncle Sam and you can be sure he is getting his fair share.

As for police jurisdiction I had a friend get a ticket while on Disney property…or coming into Disney…something like that I was not there so I’m not 100% sure of the details, but I am sure that she did not pay the fine to Mickey Mouse.

Ok I’m typing WAY too much and I am sure most of you are just glazing over this so I’ll stop now. Just one final thought. I don’t have children but I love my nephew VERY much and I’m sure I could not love him more if he were my own. When my sister entrusts him to my I watch him like a hawk. If some scumbag child molester ever tried to take him...well by the time I was done with him…well police jurisdiction would not be a problem there would me nothing left of the kidnapper for Disney security, local police or the sheriff department.

 

[lorrainesy]

Ok I know I promised to stop typeing but I just remembered something that I read earlier.

This is kind of unrelated to the topic …but hey can’t help it, I tend to get off topic. I was visiting my grandfather today and when I could not stand another minute of the Laurence Whelk Show ( I am sure I am spelling that wrong it’s an old vaudeville show) I started flipping through a book of his called Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader (it is a book of interesting little known facts)…..well anyways they had a page about DisneyLAND. According to this book there have been 53 deaths a DisneyLAND since it’s opening.

1964 ~ A male arguing with his girlfriend stood up on the Matterhorn while it was moving and was thrown from the cart. This death was labeled a suicide.

Another death on the Matterhorn was a 48 year old women. She fell out of the car and was ran over by the car behind her. The ride was closed the rest of the day for “technical difficulties”.

Two people died on Tomorrow lands people mover

Two drowned in the river at Tom Sawyers island

One man was killed by the monorail while trying to sneak into the park

One CM was crushed by a moving wall during the American sings attraction

The first homicide of the park was in 1981 a man stabbed another man for touching his girlfriend. Disney was fined $600,000 because a nurse did not call EMT’s but had him driven to the hospital in a company van.

In 1964 43 people were killed in helicopter rides traveling between Disneyland an LA airport. (this did not happen inside Disney)

1987 a teenager was killed in a gun fight in the parking lot.