Security at Disneyland?

[audrabolster]

This might sound like a weird question, but I always wondered why Disneyland doesn't have metal detectors, etc. I know they have cameras everywhere, and plain clothed security etc. But The last couple of times I've walked through "security" I really couldn't believe the lack of efford they put into checking my bag. It was a big tote with a lot of stuff in it, and they just peaked and passed me through- I didn't have to move anything around inside of it, etc. I mean, I could have had anything at the bottom of that bag!

Does anyone else ever think about something like this or am I just a freak?

 

[DoomBugger]

If they had detectors or really went through everything like you would expect at an airport it would simply take way too long and the lines to just get past security would take forever which would really upset patrons.

I think Disney has just been lucky by deciding to go with a "fake" check just to have a security check without really being too invasive on happy customers all while making them wait tons of time for the extra dilligent checking.

I personally would be careful what you wish for; I hope it stays how it is as we don't need to start talking about how they should have a FP system for the security check.

If everyone behaves we all win! If it ever came to that point where it is like LAX then I propose a "baggage free" line for those of us who refuse to wait an hour to have every person's "carry-ons" checked thoroughly.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I've often wondered this, too. Although when I was there this last week, they REALLY looked in my bags, and even made me open my camera bag which was inside my backpack. That's never happened before, and it was both days. Hmmm. I wondered if it were due to increased summer crowds, or larger groups such as school groups, whom they want to make sure don't bring in any disallowed items. And then therefore have to screen everyone more thoroughly.

I have seen "plainclothes" security inside the parks, though. Perhaps they rely more on that than bag screening? Because really, short of patting you down, you certainly could hide any contraband on your person quite easily.

How Disneyland stays as secure as it has been is a mystery to me.

 

[Gisele]

Shhhhh...........don't jinx it!

 

[ironpig70]

seeing how guns have made it onto planes i don't really care what security you have in place stuff will still get in. i think that disney is just trying to keep stuff like booze and glass out.

 

[bumbershoot]

How Disneyland stays as secure as it has been is a mystery to me.

When we were there in May, we saw something weird happen at the front gates as we were leaving on our second night. Usually people are just whisked away by security so they do their official stuff elsewhere, but this guy was either holding on to the gates (that very middle, wide, gate that they open totally for departing guests when DL is completely closed) so they did NOT whisk him away, or they were full-on frisking him right there in front of everyone (hubby and I differ on our thoughts, but the guy was spread-legged with hands on the gate bars with several security guys around him).

The next two days, the security checks were MUCH higher, and uniformed security were VERY noticeable. Beyond noticeable, especially since OUR senses were already heightened, wondering what had happened.

Either that next day or the following, I used the restrooms near the exit of Space Mountain. There was a knot of security guys outside the women's room. I walked in and saw a female uniformed security guard, methodically going into the stalls as people left them. After I left my stall I washed my hands very slowly (I'm a curious person) and watched her...finally noticed that she was checking out the "garbage" cans inside each stall (ew!).

As I slowly dried my hands (again, curious) I noticed a plainclothes security guard! Female, nondescript, simple crew style shirt, jeans...but she was talking closely with the uniformed guard and she had a coiled cord from her ear down her shirt.

As I walked out both guards went out too, and they had a huddle with the security males still waiting outside.


Obviously they caught the guy that night doing something very very wrong, and for whatever reason (connected or not) they were worried about *something* the next two days, and had the measures to put into place to check it out!

 

[DoomBugger]

Obviously they caught the guy that night doing something very very wrong, and for whatever reason (connected or not) they were worried about *something* the next two days, and had the measures to put into place to check it out!

If you had to guess what do you think he was doing?

 

[Gisele]

Because I have a detective kind of mind, I most likely would have asked that security lady, and then, depending upon timing, ask the other security person as well, what had happened during that night in question, and then depending upon the answer (s) I would then know what next to ask, if anything, for it would not be the first time that I am trying to figure something out or have something to say, and am told to essentially shut up or but out, oh well, if you do not ask, then you will probably not find out, now, that rude type of response toward me, was never from the police or security, but rather civilians, that apparently are indifferent toward annoying or otherwise incidents.

 

[audrabolster]

I once saw two security officers frisking 2 teenager girls right as we were loading the tram in downtown Disney. Turns out they're bookbags were STUFFED with stolen goods.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you had to guess what do you think he was doing?

He seemed young, he didn't have bags. He didn't seem to be wearing obvious (to me) gang colors.

I truly don't know, and it probably wouldn't have stuck in our heads, if the security the next two days hadn't been so dramatically increased (at bag check and in the parks) during the following two days.


Because the security lady was looking in the bins in the stalls in the ladies room, I figure they were looking for objects left in inconspicuous places, which does bring a bomb to mind, doesn't it? And those bins are small, so perhaps one wouldn't have needed a large backpack or even baggy pants (which the guy wasn't wearing...baggy, that is...he had on pants) to get something in the parks... If I *had to* guess that's what I would guess, a device like that.

Because I have a detective kind of mind, I most likely would have asked that security lady, and then, depending upon timing, ask the other security person as well, what had happened during that night in question, and then depending upon the answer (s) I would then know what next to ask, if anything, for it would not be the first time that I am trying to figure something out or have something to say, and am told to essentially shut up or but out, oh well, if you do not ask, then you will probably not find out, now, that rude type of response toward me, was never from the police or security, but rather civilians, that apparently are indifferent toward annoying or otherwise incidents.

I was trying to get eye contact with her, to see if a question would be welcomed, but she was working, and doing a NASTY job too (ew!), so I let her be.

 

[Gisele]

It is possible, that thefts were occurring during that time frame, and a good place just might be to hide the booty until a pickup is made, is in garbage bins in the bathrooms, I know that I do not look inside such any more than necessary,just a possibility, or something to that affect.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

When we were there two weeks ago, it really varied on the CM that we got working the security booth. Some barely looked at all. Others not only looked but had us raise our shirts to make sure it was just our cell phones on our waists! I have to wonder how much they are preventing with those bag checks the way they do it most of the time though.

I can imagine they've got plain clothed security everywhere that we never notice though!

 

[DoomBugger]

You can definitely sense when security is tense at DLR. I don't see if too often but (most days the standing security is barely noticable) once and awhile you will notice many more standing security all over the park as if they are looking for something or someone or are on a hightened alert status for some reason.

I think they do a decent job as they don't let things get out of control but don't make their presence so known it makes the guests feel uncomfortable.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I've noticed the plainclothes security off and on over the years. The only time I got a little freaked out was on Sept. 11, 2002. It was the year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and I saw uniformed Anaheim P.D. all over the place. THAT I had never seen before at DL, or since. They were definitely taking no chances.

What you described, Molly, is intense! I have never noticed such coordinated security forces, looking through trash and such. Crazy. Makes you feel good, though, that they do it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Makes you feel good, though, that they do it.

It did. I mean, I had a bit of an adrenaline rush thinking about how hard they seemed to be working (and why), but seeing that plainclothes woman was strangely exciting. I had just read a thread about how rarely you see them, and how they'll just appear from nowhere, dressed as the most average tourists, then fade away once the problem is done, and I know that if I hadn't noticed the ear wire AND the close way she was speaking with the guard (I want to say "intimate" but I don't want to give the wrong impression), as though they knew each other, not as if the guest just had a question, I probably wouldn't have figured out she was a CM too.


I too think their bag checks are a bit strange, but I have some sort of faith that "they" (Disney, not the specific teen, retired, or in between CM looking in zippered compartments of your camera bag) are watching all the time, looking for strange behavior, and have an extremely vested (and human) interest in NOT letting anything horrible happen there.

 

[bonofreak]

I have often thought that they do not do enough bag searching as you enter, too. And once in awhile when I am at Disneyland, it does cross my mind that some evil-minded person might get the idea to harm people at "the happiest place on earth." I am hoping they are watching, but that we just are not aware of their presence.

I usually try to thank the security people and police, (as a mother of a Police Officer) ::cop: I know that they do not always get the thanks and appreciation they deserve. Don't get me wrong, there are bad apples in every profession, but most Police Officers are truly trying to do their jobs and protect us all. My son says it's a sad thing that when a fire fighter drives by, little kids wave but when a police officer drives by, he gets flipped off. Again, not by all people, but I'm just saying, sometimes people don't appreciate them until they need one around. And I am not trying to knock fire fighters ...they ARE heroes! And by the way, I think everyone on this board are a group of very nice people.

 

[honeymom]

I think you were there Molly around same time as us. We had heard a bunch of sirens one day when we were in Tomorrowland and they sounded like they stopped nearby. Then, another time we saw a fire engine in the shuttle area when we were leaving, but no hullabaloo. We didn't see what you saw at the gates or notice an increase in security. However, that could have happened after we left.

My guess is that they always have security checking bathrooms since Sept. 11 as part of increased security that isn't blatant. You just happened to catch them in the act.