Orlando in the news again...

[LuvOrlando]

http://www.local6.com/news/9639831/detail.html

Ok, I posted the last time I saw Orlando in the news and am posting again to get a feel from the locals if this is something I should be concerned with. Last time many folks who live in Orlando said the crime was in a pretty much isolated area but I won't pretend the crime situation reported here isn't a worry to me.

Does anyone know if WDW has stepped up its security in response to stories like this one?

 

[spiceycat]

Orlando is not WDW.

WDW is in Lake buena Vista not Orlando.

It is close to Kissimmee.

 

[ducklite]

This is absolutely NO WHERE NEAR WDW. It's over half an hour's drive away. It's like saying "Oh, someone got shot in Philly, so everyone in Buck's County had better hide inside and they need to bring in the National Guard."

Disney has no reason to increase security for something that happened five towns away.

Anne

 

[G8RFAN]

Violence against tourists only happen on cruise ships and in Miami. Don't worry.




Ok, that was a little tongue and cheek, but it really has little bearing on WDW security. Sure there are petty crimes on property from time to time, but security is better on property than most anywhere I have seen without National Guardsmen with M-16's at vigil. You should always be aware of your surroundings; however, I would feel as safe there as anywhere.

 

[palmtreegirl]

This is absolutely NO WHERE NEAR WDW. It's over half an hour's drive away. It's like saying "Oh, someone got shot in Philly, so everyone in Buck's County had better hide inside and they need to bring in the National Guard."

Disney has no reason to increase security for something that happened five towns away.

Anne

 

[kilee]

I don't know of an major metropolitan area that does not have murders. I wouldn't be looking for things like this or worrying about them.

 

[ducklite]

I don't know of an major metropolitan area that does not have murders. I wouldn't be looking for things like this or worrying about them.

Heck when I lived in decidedly suburban NJ we had a guy hack his wife to death with a meat cleaver in their apartment about a mile away and a few weeks later a woman got shot in a botched inside job jewelry store robbery a mile away in the other direction. Guess what? I still used that jewelry store, in fact the new manager did an incredible job repairing the badly damaged setting on my engagement ring.

Anne

 

[LuvOrlando]

As an ex NY'er I'm a little on the cynical side as far as crime is concerned. I've never seen crime at WDW but then again, I've never seen people cleaning or painting Main Street yet I know it happens.

I don't plan on strolling through one of these neighborhoods anytime soon BUT what about these scary locals roaming through the parks or hanging out in Downtown Disney? If they are only 1/2 hour away it sounds like they would have no problem making their way to somewhere I might be.

I hope WDW is taking this seriously.

 

[ducklite]

As an ex NY'er I'm a little on the cynical side as far as crime is concerned. I've never seen crime at WDW but then again, I've never seen people cleaning or painting Main Street yet I know it happens.

I don't plan on strolling through one of these neighborhoods anytime soon BUT what about these scary locals roaming through the parks or hanging out in Downtown Disney? If they are only 1/2 hour away it sounds like they would have no problem making their way to somewhere I might be.

I hope WDW is taking this seriously.

Oh please! There are "scary locals" in your town as well--does that mean you don't go to the grocery store? Our "scary locals" are no more or less dangerous than yours.

For the most part the "scary locals" can't afford, no do they care to go to the theme parks or DTD.

If you are that worried about it, stay home. Frankly the parks have been so crowded that no one is going to miss you. Disney takes security very seriously, but they aren't going to place armed guards up and down Main Street because some neurotic tourist is afraid of the bogeyman.

Anne

 

[Princess89]

If you are afraid of what has happened in the Orlando area than don't bother walking out your door. This happens everywhere. No matter where you go, there are things that happen murders etc. Did you hear about the pedophile that took some kids to Disney? That happened years ago, and was all over the news. Low life scary locals aren't the only ones that commit crimes. Some upscale lawyer paid to have his wife shot on one of the major interstates near my house. Not to mention that in one of the more wealthy towns nearby some guy killed everyone in his house, including the house staff. Point is it happens everywhere and by all kinds of people, and the only thing you can do is either stay locked in your house, or just deal with it, and be aware that things are not always 'perfect'.

 

[palmtreegirl]

If you are that worried about it, stay home. Frankly the parks have been so crowded that no one is going to miss you. Disney takes security very seriously, but they aren't going to place armed guards up and down Main Street because some neurotic tourist is afraid of the bogeyman.

Anne

Bravo!

 

[makinorlando]

Oh please! There are "scary locals" in your town as well--does that mean you don't go to the grocery store? Our "scary locals" are no more or less dangerous than yours.

For the most part the "scary locals" can't afford, no do they care to go to the theme parks or DTD.

If you are that worried about it, stay home. Frankly the parks have been so crowded that no one is going to miss you. Disney takes security very seriously, but they aren't going to place armed guards up and down Main Street because some neurotic tourist is afraid of the bogeyman.

Anne

Most of this year's slayings were committed with handguns. Most victims were young black men who were involved with drugs or got killed by someone who was, Ring said.



The crimes have been scattered across the city, but mostly in neighborhoods west of downtown and away from tourist attractions.



Police Chief Mike McCoy stressed that no tourists had been killed, and said most law-abiding citizens are not at risk.

"If you're not selling drugs, if you don't house people selling drugs, if you don't have the proceeds of drugs in your home, then your chances of being involved in a homicide are pretty slim," he said.

 

[cinamin27]

"If you're not selling drugs, if you don't house people selling drugs, if you don't have the proceeds of drugs in your home, then your chances of being involved in a homicide are pretty slim," he said.

yeah? tell that to the families of the 2 young girls that have been killed in 2 separate incidences in Jacksonville this year in their own homes by stray bullets that came from the street. I know Jacksonville is not Orlando but that statement above is a crock of crap.

edited to clarify that my quoted statement above is not one made by "malinorlando" but the quote from the news story that the police chief said that makinorlando posted.

 

[jpeppers]

I have never felt safer anywhere than I do in Disneyworld, Universal or Seaworld. I think all the parks (and surrounding areas) provide excellent security and since I have worked in a prison for 17 years I think I'm a pretty good judge of how safe an area is. I love Orlando!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Oh please! There are "scary locals" in your town as well--does that mean you don't go to the grocery store? Our "scary locals" are no more or less dangerous than yours.

For the most part the "scary locals" can't afford, no do they care to go to the theme parks or DTD.

If you are that worried about it, stay home. Frankly the parks have been so crowded that no one is going to miss you. Disney takes security very seriously, but they aren't going to place armed guards up and down Main Street because some neurotic tourist is afraid of the bogeyman.

Anne

Aren't you a peach.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Bravo!

What exactly are you clapping for?

If me & all the other so called 'neurotic tourists' really do stay home what do you think would happen to WDW? To your 'neurotic tourist' based economy? Clueless much?

 

[LuvOrlando]

If you are afraid of what has happened in the Orlando area than don't bother walking out your door. This happens everywhere. No matter where you go, there are things that happen murders etc. Did you hear about the pedophile that took some kids to Disney? That happened years ago, and was all over the news. Low life scary locals aren't the only ones that commit crimes. Some upscale lawyer paid to have his wife shot on one of the major interstates near my house. Not to mention that in one of the more wealthy towns nearby some guy killed everyone in his house, including the house staff. Point is it happens everywhere and by all kinds of people, and the only thing you can do is either stay locked in your house, or just deal with it, and be aware that things are not always 'perfect'.

This may be true but I don't have to spend $5,000 to see crime in my own town. Can't you see why I might want to avoid it?

 

[ducklite]

Aren't you a peach.

Glad you think so!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

yeah? tell that to the families of the 2 young girls that have been killed in 2 separate incidences in Jacksonville this year in their own homes by stray bullets that came from the street. I know Jacksonville is not Orlando but that statement above is a crock of crap.

edited to clarify that my quoted statement above is not one made by "malinorlando" but the quote from the news story that the police chief said that makinorlando posted.

And those stray bullets were fired by people involved in drugs, right?

So prerhaps the news story should have included being an innocent bystander in an area with known drug trafficking.

Anne

 

[Tigger7570]

Ducklite - My family and I have been going to Disney for years and I agree with the other posters that the security is terrific. I don't think some of the posters had to be that harsh about your concerns. However, as always, use common sense wherever you go. Sometimes people get lulled in to a sense of false security. DW is the safest place I know of, but it's not perfect and things can happen anywhere. One time when we were in the MK there were a group of teenagers and I have no idea what they did, but out of no where they were surrounded by security. Some of that security was dressed like tourists and some was uniformed. They were ushered through a gate that was off to the side and I didn't even realize existed. I have also seen someone try to give the parking attendants a hard time about parking at the begining of the row when they wanted to fill in down further, and again, security vans were there very quickly and the car was escorted out of the park. Also, when Disney's West Side first opened we went on a weekend night and saw a lot of young groups and there was also a lot of security including the local sheriff's. They were very visible and it was obvious that Disney was making it clear that they would not tolerate any trouble. When my sons were in their early twenties they went to PI with friends and they also told that the security was incredible and nothing was tolerated. Also, as one poster mentinoned he is a guard at a prison and if anyone would know about security, it would be him. So rest assured, you are safe and the security is of the highest level, but again always use common sense. Hope this helps.