Odd Situation At MGM Today

[lookingforward]

Amber alerts are not issued for most missing children. The protocol in Florida (and it is up to the local law enforcement agencies) is to issue the alerts when there is credible evidence that the child has been abducted and is in danger. If the child is very young and missing that would warrant an amber alert much quicker than a teen who is missing (and possibly a runaway). Parental abductions are normally not issued amber alerts unless the parent who took the child is suicidal or mentally disturbed.

They are VERY selective in issuing these alerts because the public is notified by media and highway signs. If they issue these alerts too often the public would become disenfranchised and skeptical of the system and it would lose its power. It is difficult to tell a parent that the amber alert is not being issued but the protocols are very specific.

Another thought for the increased police presence and car searches could be a fugitive sighting. If they think there is a wanted criminal around the area they would put helicopters and searches in place to weed him out. Just a thought. If a child was missing from the parks they would have had checkpoints at the exits. Not sure if that happened.

 

[minnie61650]

...........
Another thought for the increased police presence and car searches could be a fugitive sighting. If they think there is a wanted criminal around the area they would put helicopters and searches in place to weed him out. Just a thought. If a child was missing from the parks they would have had checkpoints at the exits. Not sure if that happened.

I have been following this thread and the fugitive theory is very plausible, as are the other theories. We may never find out for sure what happened but I
think we can all rest easier knowing that Disney can and does take security seriously!

 

[Laurafoster]

As much as we might feel like its a nuisence at the time, i think most of us feel safer knowing Disney do all they can security wise.

 

[ujpest_doza]

Well, with the "Patriot Act', they can do just about anything in the name of protecting us from evil-doers, right?

If a child wandered off/got lost in the parking lot, I'd see them doing the above described car searches! Wouldn't have to be a kidnapping scenario, maybe just a 'got an extra kid in there?' one...

Obviously being English i have no idea what the patriot Act is but i am assuming it is similar to the Terrorism laws and Public order laws we have.

I cannot understand why anyone in this thread would be annoyed or object to a search by by a Police Officer. If a a Police Officer wants to search you for whatever reason (looking for Anthrax for instance?) then why can't they?
You let Disney security staff search your bags as you go into Disney don't you?, so why object if the police want to search you as you leave?

For example, in the UK if there is a large event taking place in a town or city all it needs is for a senior police officer to give the word that a "Section 60 Order is in place" to the officers on the ground. This then gives them the right to stop and search anyone and take their name and address, description etc and in many instances also film you with a digital camcorder as they do so. They then give you a copy of what they have written down which includes the officers name, number and the police station at which they are based.

They are there to Protect and Serve and if that involves random searches so be it.

 

[tiberius]

Well, with the "Patriot Act', they can do just about anything in the name of protecting us from evil-doers, right?

This type of search had nothing to do with the Patriot Act.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey, guys. Sorry, I went to DTD for dinner. I haven't heard a thing. I have several neighbors who work for Disney. The ones in higher up positions haven't been home. The other didn't have a clue. I'm not sure we will ever know. Nothing has been on the local news. My guess is that there was a lost child. They went into a lockdown thing just to be sure and then the child was found. This is just a guess on my part. Next time I'm at MGM, I'll try to talk to a security person. I'm not sure how much they will tell me, but I'll report what I find out. Sorry for the lack of information!

So Peggy, you mean you actually have a life?!! Here we are, sitting at our computers, waiting for the definative word and you are out eating!!! So....where did you eat? How was it??
We'll probably never know what the situation was. That's probably a good thing. If we had heard anything about it, it wouldn't be good news. In this case..no news is good news.

 

[LorieR]

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.

I haven't laughed so hard in a long, long time as I did when I saw them for the first time last month!!! People were actually turning around looking at me like I was nuts I was laughing so hard!!

Lorie

 

[InstImpres]

Hey, guys. Sorry, I went to DTD for dinner.

Alright, enough already......do you really have to keep rubbing it in that you live close and we don't I guess we'll just have to keeping living through you....a daily visit to WDW and reports may get us through but I don't know that I can truly feel the stroller hitting me in the back of the legs based on your descriptions

Thanks for always keeping us in the loop.

Happy holidays

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I cannot understand why anyone in this thread would be annoyed or object to a search by by a Police Officer. If a a Police Officer wants to search you for whatever reason (looking for Anthrax for instance?) then why can't they?
You let Disney security staff search your bags as you go into Disney don't you?, so why object if the police want to search you as you leave?

For example, in the UK if there is a large event taking place in a town or city all it needs is for a senior police officer to give the word that a "Section 60 Order is in place" to the officers on the ground. This then gives them the right to stop and search anyone and take their name and address, description etc and in many instances also film you with a digital camcorder as they do so. They then give you a copy of what they have written down which includes the officers name, number and the police station at which they are based.

They are there to Protect and Serve and if that involves random searches so be it.

No one on this thread said that they would be annoyed or object to a search. A poster asked what would happen if somone refused and it went from there. You don't have to let Disney Security search your bags, but one allows them so he or she can get in the park. You do have a choice though. Don't do the search, but you won't get in the park.

There is an amendment to our Constitution with regard to illegal search and seizures. It's one of the great things about living in our country. There has to be some element of suspicion or probable cause to trigger a search by law enforcement (I am being very elementary with this explanation). I don't think my DH who is a police officer agrees with me on this one though. Just kidding.

There has to be a balance between freedom and security. It bothers me that our freedoms are being slowly eroded in the name of national security. But that's a debate for another thread.

 

[ch261]

We saw it on the orlando local news (can't remember what channel) while staying at the Royal Pacific. a man had a heart attack while driving, he either died immediately or soon after. I believe his wife was injured.

I'm sorry to hear that. I was holding out hope for better news. I guess we watched the wrong channel that night. Thanks for telling me anway, you can see it was still on my mind.

 

[Becky2005]

I would have to guess that this activity is related to a lost child reported to a CM at MGM. I was in that situation once several years ago when my 8YO DD wandered away from us at HISTKAZ, now referred to as "Honey I Lost the Kid Zone" by our family. Once we contacted a CM, several CMs went into action following a set plan. They do this all the time and there are protocols that they follow. One CM was assigned to stay with us and she assured us that the park was prepared to do everything in their power to find the lost child.

Again, this is just my guess. Maybe someone will discover the real story.

I had to laugh with your "Honey I Lost the Kid Zone" - try losing your family at Downtown Disney - THAT was an experience but I did ask the security what happens if DH (& kids) wasn't at the hotel, do you send out an APB or what? They definately have a systematic search system in place.

I don't know if that was what this was about or something completely different, could be any number of things (lost kid, fugitive, practice drill, stolen item, etc...)

 

[Feralpeg]

So Peggy, you mean you actually have a life?!! Here we are, sitting at our computers, waiting for the definative word and you are out eating!!! So....where did you eat? How was it??
We'll probably never know what the situation was. That's probably a good thing. If we had heard anything about it, it wouldn't be good news. In this case..no news is good news.

I know it may not seem like it, but I do on special occasions leave the DIS behind and venture out.

DD and I went to Raglan Road for dinner. It was great as usual. I had this chocolate thing for desert that was to die for. It was early, so we walked around DTD. They had a lot going on last night. We watched a street magician, the Disney carolers and a small band playing Christmas carols. About 9pm, we went back to Raglan Road and sat at the bar to watch the band and the Irish dancer. DD talked to her between dances. It turns out she has an Irish dance studio near us. She has danced all over the world and was one of the lead dancers in Lord of the Dance. DD will be starting dance lessons with her after the first of the year! All in all it was a very productive evening.

 

[salmoneous]

Obviously being English ... I cannot understand why anyone in this thread would be annoyed or object to a search by by a Police Officer.

Perhaps its a personality quirk between the English and Americans. In fact, unreasonable intrusion into people's lives was one of the complaints that lead to our rebellion, and protection against such intrusion was written into our Constitution...

4th Amendment to the US Constitution: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Now there are people in the US willing to give up some of their 4th amendment liberty to gain a bit more security. Others disagree, and it's a debate we are having in the US right now (but, hopefully not on the Theme Park Strategy Board - didn't mean to open up debate, just answer a question about the US rules and law.)

 

[snyderla]

That's a good explanation! And, being the Disney lovers we are, we agree to a search of our bags each time we go to the parks. I don't know if we are any safer because of it, that's for another thread/board. But I am glad they go to extremes to find a child, if that was the case. I would certainly agree to a search and cooperate if that were the case! But this may be like the old "how many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop, 'the world may never know'".

Lori

 

[sha_lyn]

I'm sorry to hear that. I was holding out hope for better news. I guess we watched the wrong channel that night. Thanks for telling me anway, you can see it was still on my mind.

You are very welcome
I want to say it was the NBC station and during Thursday morning news, although it could have been Wed evening when we came back to the room before dinner.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

You shouldn't have to worry about crime at Disney World - that's for Disneyland Paris! That place is full of evil thieves!

 

[catherinesmom]

A child was kidnapped during the 3:30 pm parade at MGM. It was a little girl with dirty blond hair. She was abducted by a woman wearing a blue jacket and jeans who also had dirty blond hair.

How do I know this? I just happend to be wearing a blue jacket and jeans. Both my daughter and I have dirty blond hair. My mother was also with us. As we were leaving the park, we were asked by a police officer if anything unusual had happened to us during the parade. We said no, and continued on to the AK bus. The next thing we know, there was a security official at the door of our bus, to keep us on and everyone off. The police officer then boarded the bus and explained what had happened. He then proceeded to question us to determine whether or not my daughter was the kidnapped little girl. Of course she was, and after he was able to verify the fact, we were allowed to go on our way.

We checked with guest services the next day and were told that the missing child had been located and reunited with her family.

Please, please, please keep your children close. I cannot even imagine what that family went through.

Kristy

 

[lookingforward]

What a scary thing! It is reassuring to know that Disney mobilzed so quickly and worked with local law enforcement. I am so glad that the child was located.

 

[goofy4tink]

I know it may not seem like it, but I do on special occasions leave the DIS behind and venture out.

DD and I went to Raglan Road for dinner. It was great as usual. I had this chocolate thing for desert that was to die for. It was early, so we walked around DTD. They had a lot going on last night. We watched a street magician, the Disney carolers and a small band playing Christmas carols. About 9pm, we went back to Raglan Road and sat at the bar to watch the band and the Irish dancer. DD talked to her between dances. It turns out she has an Irish dance studio near us. She has danced all over the world and was one of the lead dancers in Lord of the Dance. DD will be starting dance lessons with her after the first of the year! All in all it was a very productive evening.

Now that sounds like a fun evening!!! We wanted to eat at Raglan Road last month but it was way too long a wait. I know my dd will want to eat there. I didn't realize they had an Irish stepper in there. Kate will go bonkers. She's taken class for 4 years now. Looks like we'll be eating there in Oct. And chocolate to die for...yep, sounds like my kind of place. Methinks it may be time for a move to more sunny, southern climes!!!

 

[snowbunny]

A child was kidnapped during the 3:30 pm parade at MGM.

I find it very odd that a google search turns up nothing at all on this....surely the first recorded kidnapping at a Disney themepark would be newsworthy? However much the company might wish to supress it, it's hard to believe that would even be possible. What happened to the alleged kidnapper? How do we know, aside from your account of what happened on the bus, that the child was not simply separated and lost?