Odd Situation At MGM Today

[Robo]

We were told that a child was snatched a few years ago when we were at the MK. They locked down the park and everyone was searched when leaving. They made parents wake up all sleeping children. The child was found - head shaved and drugged and dressed in different clothes as the person tried to leave the park. Thank goodness for Disney security!

Sorry we have to dredge up THAT old tale again.

Go to the link below and click on "Children have been abducted from Disney parks by kidnappers."

http://snopes.com/disney/parks/parks.asp#kidnap

...and see if something doesn't sound "familiar".

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

When we lived there we felt the same way. Both my husband and I worked in Kissimmee but lived on the other side of Orlando. coming from NY you just stop at accidents and help if needed. It was so bad on I-4 that if we stopped we would never of made it to work or home. It's a bad mix between really old people, really young people, really busy people, really lost people, and people that have never driven on the right side of the road before.

I have only lived here 1 year and the amount of car accidents astounds me.

The other night we were coming home around 1am and the police had the turning lane to my apartment complex blocked off so we turned around got on the other side of the road to take a right into the complex and came to a complete stop. A jeep had hit a dump truck and they had the road blocked. we were there for 10 min or so when I saw a helicopter overhead. I thougt it was news copter but aparently it was a medical copter to take the driver away. we sat there for 45min not 30ft from our apartment complex. First time I ever saw something like that and I hope I never do again.

 

[Wendy1953]

Unfortunately in this day and age..people tend to forget that they are driving a deadly weapon...they just think about how fast they can get to where they are going...and that they own the road...or they think that 2 or 3 beers, wine, or mixed drink does not affect their ability to drive, think, move....if more people would think before "that natural reaction to get into a car and drive, as if it were a part of their body and mind and/or it can get you there much faster if you just step on the gas a little harder, and/or well the speed limit is 65 so I can go 75 -80 with no problem of being stopped...so on, and so forth..." the roads would be a safer place to be...unfortunately, this is the way it is, and until the authorities come down hard on everyone for all the infractions taken, it's the way it will be in the future ....and unfortunately...I think it will get worse.

 

[NotUrsula]

Another thing I can think of that would cause a vehicle search is if someone had managed to get into a cashier's office and taken a large amount of bundled cash or ticket stock. I know that there are central cash-handling points in each park, and you can just imagine how much cash passes through in a given day. It would be almost like robbing a casino. (I know ticket stock is not good until activated, but just think of how many tourists one could swindle with a case or two of it, not to mention what a really good hacker might be able to do with it.)

It would be interesting to hear from a CM if there was security checking the CM entrances as well.

 

[Viki]

This reminds me that when we were at MGM two weeks ago, we were coming back from a private viewing of Fantasmic at MGM, along the backlot path, when our guides stopped us for about 10 minutes and we saw up ahead a couple of police cruisers. Of course we never knew what was up, but after a time we were allowed to continue along the path and exit on the "main" street.

 

[jwfla422]

I must add that we left around 5:00 and took the Epcot Resort boat back to our hotel, but I did notice some plain clothes security standing around at the entrance talking to some local police enforcement. But, most strangely I did notice a helicopter hovering above MGM. I thought I heard one flying above MGM while we were watching the 4:30 Beauty & the Beast show, so something was definitely going on.

 

[triplefigs]

DD and I just got home from MGM. When we were leaving the parking lot, we had to wait in a huge line of cars. When we finally got to the exit, an Orange County Sheriff's car was parked across the exit. They were searching each car leaving the park. They made each car open their trunk and they looked inside each car. It really creeped me out. I've asked a neighbor who works at Disney about it. He is going to call to find out what was going on. Really strange!

How were the crowds today, Peggy? We're thinking of doing a trip next December 16-22. BTW, the name tags you got the kids were a huge hit! thank you so much!

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Wow... you'd think they'd be checking them coming onto property. I really hope it wasn't someone missing... how awful... and tragic, just before the holidays.

If there's an ongoing investigation, you might not see it on the news. Remember also Disney has been chastised for keeping accidents, etc., off the news until just recently.

Fingers crossed all is OK and no one was hurt, injured, or traumatized.

 

[Steamboat Marti]

If you hear of anything, please let us know. I'm curious as to what it would be that would cause them to search every car. After September 11, I don't trust anybody.

 

[profdsny]

We were told that a child was snatched a few years ago when we were at the MK. They locked down the park and everyone was searched when leaving. They made parents wake up all sleeping children. The child was found - head shaved and drugged and dressed in different clothes as the person tried to leave the park. Thank goodness for Disney security!

I'm very sorry, but that is total urban legend. That story has been around in the same version since I was in HS, 40 years ago. Used to be about a popular mall here. Even if it were, it would be impossible to do, short of having 5000 security people go around to each room to check on sleeping children. And you can bet your life savings That would have hit the news. I do know about six-eight years ago a major Disney statue of some sort was stolen, and they stopped and searched trunks till it was found. That was on the news.
I think I might have an issue with them searching my car. When they do every car, it's not 'random' and as such, not a constitutional issued, but.... saying that, they may have known what type of car they were looking for, and searched everyone one so as to avoid a challenge. Interesting to see what happens.

 

[ReAnSt]

During our Keys to the Kingdom tour, the CM said that there has never been a child kidnapping. All have been lost children.

I'm suprised they said lost children, because at Disney there are never lost children, only lost parents.

Becky

 

[Feralpeg]

I must add that we left around 5:00 and took the Epcot Resort boat back to our hotel, but I did notice some plain clothes security standing around at the entrance talking to some local police enforcement. But, most strangely I did notice a helicopter hovering above MGM. I thought I heard one flying above MGM while we were watching the 4:30 Beauty & the Beast show, so something was definitely going on.

That was just about the time we left and saw the car search. Something was definately going on, but nothing has been on the local news. I haven't heard back from my neighbor yet. He works at Disney and was going to try to find out what was happening.

 

[Feralpeg]

How were the crowds today, Peggy? We're thinking of doing a trip next December 16-22. BTW, the name tags you got the kids were a huge hit! thank you so much!

It was pretty crowded. There was a line clear across the plaza area by Muppets of people waiting to get in. That really surprised me. You hardly ever see a line there. We really didn't try to do anything other than see the Narnia exhibit. We waited about 15 minutes for that.

Glad the kids liked their name tags!

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Although I'm sure someone has already posted this, I believe the kidnapping 'incident' happened at DL. Although I am sure it is a myth....those types of things do happen..just not at Disney. (That we know of)

 

[peter11435]

Although I'm sure someone has already posted this, I believe the kidnapping incident happened at DL.

No it didn't. It is only an urban legend and never actually happened. That is why there are so many versions of it. Some say Disneyland, MK, Epcot and some even have the same story from a local mall. It never actually happened.

 

[chas]

This myth has made it all the way to the Uk. There was rumours that it had happened in our local mall a few years ago, I think most people have heard it.

 

[Geubux]

I think most of the rumors get started just as they did on the beginning of this thread with well meaning people like gydell and goodeats thinking out loud talking about children being kidnapped. Then someone starts with ,"We were told....".
However, it would be interesting to hear whether Disney was looking for something particular or if it were a general search or even a training exercise for on site personnel. I would rather they know what they are doing before they actually HAVE to perform a search.

 

[shellybaxter]

Peg,

I'm curious, did they ask to search your car, or did they demand? I am curious whether they have the authority to search without a warrant or at least permission from the car's owner. Not that I would say, "No you can't search my car". I'm just wondering how the search was handled and whether in "evidence" collected would be admissible in court. If a child is missing and they found them in some weirdos car, I want to know that weirdo can be prosecuted.

 

[buzz2400]

I bet it was someone trying to kidnap the public works street performers. They are so funny. I would love to take them home with me.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Peg,

I'm curious, did they ask to search your car, or did they demand? I am curious whether they have the authority to search without a warrant or at least permission from the car's owner. Not that I would say, "No you can't search my car". I'm just wondering how the search was handled and whether in "evidence" collected would be admissible in court. If a child is missing and they found them in some weirdos car, I want to know that weirdo can be prosecuted.

You do not have to consent to a search. However, I can guarantee that car would be pulled to the side and a K-9 unit would have been called, OR the Sheriff Deputy would have seen something in plain view that seemed "suscpicious".