security at the parks and DS

[spiceycat]

any other members are happy that WDW is finally getting serious about security.

of course they are presently only doing certain people. but hoping for more one day.

talking about the metal detectors.

some people will bring knives (and yes I have seem them) into the park - because they are in their pants and not bags

 

[disneynutz]

IMO this is all window dressing due to the fed issuing security advisories. If a bad person wants to be bad there are so many ways, walking through the front door is the last thing that they would do. The empty sheriff cars parked outside of the MK, daytime crescent lake patrol boats, are all designed to make guests feel safer. I guess that bad people don't visit crescent lake after dark.

 

[bwvBound]

Sigh. I brought a knife/multi-tool into California Adventure this past weekend. I forgot to leave it behind in the room ... and moved it from my purse to my pant pocket while in line for bag check.

 

[DebbieB]

I've been saying it for years, I don't understand why Disney does not have metal detectors. Anyone can bring anything in under their clothes or jackets.

 

[disneynutz]

I've been saying it for years, I don't understand why Disney does not have metal detectors. Anyone can bring anything in under their clothes or jackets.

They have been bringing things in since Disney opened, haven't read of people being attacked or shot but I have seen and read about car accidents on property. Should Disney close the parking lots and make everyone use DME?

 

[gdrj]

any other members are happy that WDW is finally getting serious about security.

of course they are presently only doing certain people. but hoping for more one day.

talking about the metal detectors.

some people will bring knives (and yes I have seem them) into the park - because they are in their pants and not bags

I don't know that they have not always serious about security. Many aspects of security may not be visible.

 

[gdrj]

IMO this is all window dressing due to the fed issuing security advisories. If a bad person wants to be bad there are so many ways, walking through the front door is the last thing that they would do. The empty sheriff cars parked outside of the MK, daytime crescent lake patrol boats, are all designed to make guests feel safer. I guess that bad people don't visit crescent lake after dark.

While yes bad people can do bad things, the visible aspects of the current security do serve as deterrents for some people. By having bag checks it does discourage some people from bringing in somethings. The metal detectors will serve as an additional deterrent. I've never thought of the patrol boats on crescent lake as more than something to keep boat renters away from areas or other boats, never viewed them as a security measure.

 

[zavandor]

Which king of metal detectors have they installed? For people, bags or both?
In Disneyland Paris they have had the metal detectors for bags for years, however they don't check people, so you can still bring whatever you want in your pockets. I always though it was more something to show people they do something, rather than trying to be very effective.
But I don't think we'd be happy to pass an airport security style check every time we go to a park.

 

[CraigInPA]

The vast majority of Disney's "security" is window dressing.

The patrol boats are there to ward off boat renters from coming to close to the boat channel at the MK. i.e., they want to avoid boating collisions between the renters and the ferry traffic. While it's technically possible that someone might attack a ferry boat by sea, it's more likely that someone intent on doing harm would board that ferry boat with their un-searched backpack they just took out of their un-searched car in the TTC parking lot.

As others have mentioned, the cursory check of bags doesn't extend to "on person" checks. If you can put it into your pocket, or conceal it elsewhere on your body, it will end up in the park. Until they have airport style screening, anyone with a nefarious intent could smuggle in practically anything.

Once you're in the park, security is light, un-armed, and there primarily to tell people that their behavior is unacceptable. Sure, they may catch some shoplifting, or break up a fight occasionally, but the Disney security force in the parks would be ineffective against any kind of determined nutcase who smuggled in an offensive weapon.

 

[tjkraz]

It saddens me that in the same breath, some people would say "Disney security is just window dressing" and then follow it up with "after all, nothing has ever happened at a Disney park."

Perhaps nothing has ever happened because of the security measures Disney employs.

If a terrorist or other disturbed individual wants to do harm to others, yes there are many locations outside of the Disney parks to do it. But parks like Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom have the iconic locations and high concentration of people which make them far more attractive targets than a local shopping mall or public park.

With regularity we hear stories of workplace violence, family disputes and personal relationships gone bad which end with someone seriously injured or killed. While Disney can only do so much to discourage / prevent these acts, at the very least they can make sure that they don't occur in a park filled with 50,000 bystanders.

These security measures aren't designed to keep out people with pins in their hips or metal belt buckles. They are designed to keep out guns, knives and other weapons. Those items have always been prohibited and have absolutely no place in the parks.

This isn't 1955 or 1971. Sadly times have changed. As long as the procedures are not overly intrusive, nor significantly delay the park entry process, I have no problem with it. Waiting for something to happen and acting afterward is not the right move.

 

[gdrj]

Which king of metal detectors have they installed? For people, bags or both?
In Disneyland Paris they have had the metal detectors for bags for years, however they don't check people, so you can still bring whatever you want in your pockets. I always though it was more something to show people they do something, rather than trying to be very effective.
But I don't think we'd be happy to pass an airport security style check every time we go to a park.

Here is a link to an article. I think I felt more secure with just a bag check. Obviously Disney will add and intensify screening machines, but not overly impressed on what I see. Looks like there are 2 machines. Pun intended but it looks very mickey mouse.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/news/17dec2015-photos---disney-adds-metal-detectors-at-park-entrances-along-with-ban-on-toy-guns-and-costumes-for-adults.htm

 

[mickeyman]

If people want to do bad things they can and will. Think of the crowds outside MK after wishes with people waiting for busses and monorails. Don't pass any security to get to those areas. I don't really feel random screening makes us any safer.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sure, they may catch some shoplifting, or break up a fight occasionally, but the Disney security force in the parks would be ineffective against any kind of determined nutcase who smuggled in an offensive weapon.

Having seen their security swarm, having seen how many "tourists" are actually security people, I have to disagree with a good part of what you're saying. And they can GET armed people, fast. We've seen that at Disneyland more than once.

 

[disneynutz]

While yes bad people can do bad things, the visible aspects of the current security do serve as deterrents for some people. By having bag checks it does discourage some people from bringing in somethings. The metal detectors will serve as an additional deterrent. I've never thought of the patrol boats on crescent lake as more than something to keep boat renters away from areas or other boats, never viewed them as a security measure.

We were at crescent lake for two and a half weeks, saw maybe 5 total fishing pontoon boats early AM, no other boats during the day other than friendship but the patrol boat was on the lake all day every day cruising along the boardwalk. Seemed like they had reasons other than watching boat renters.

 

[ludari]

I don't mind the addition of metal detectors to increase security at the parks. I do wish that Disney did offer something like the TSA Pre-Check to get through security faster (not to avoid the security check but just get through faster).

 

[disneynutz]

I don't mind the addition of metal detectors to increase security at the parks. I do wish that Disney did offer something like the TSA Pre-Check to get through security faster (not to avoid the security check but just get through faster).

I doubt if the visual display is doing anything to keep a serious attack from happening. Think about it, how many attacks at Disney have you read about? What about all of the vendors, shipments, employees, in the parks? What about all of the other areas at Disney?

TSA Pre people can be bad too. I used it a few days ago and if I want to do something bad on the plane I could have.

Most security measures do very little to reduce a serious attack, they are designed to make the public feel safer.

 

[DVCPAT]

The vast majority of Disney's "security" is window dressing.

The patrol boats are there to ward off boat renters from coming to close to the boat channel at the MK. i.e., they want to avoid boating collisions between the renters and the ferry traffic. While it's technically possible that someone might attack a ferry boat by sea, it's more likely that someone intent on doing harm would board that ferry boat with their un-searched backpack they just took out of their un-searched car in the TTC parking lot.

As others have mentioned, the cursory check of bags doesn't extend to "on person" checks. If you can put it into your pocket, or conceal it elsewhere on your body, it will end up in the park. Until they have airport style screening, anyone with a nefarious intent could smuggle in practically anything.

Once you're in the park, security is light, un-armed, and there primarily to tell people that their behavior is unacceptable. Sure, they may catch some shoplifting, or break up a fight occasionally, but the Disney security force in the parks would be ineffective against any kind of determined nutcase who smuggled in an offensive weapon.

You don't give Disney enough credit. The next time you visit MK, board the train above the main entrance and look down at the array of roof top mounted cameras . The cameras don't have security guards looking at pretty women ... Today's camera technology can do amazing things. Any company that earns billions of dollars can easily afford it.

 

[dgaston]

I was in Orlando 12/12 to 12/18 and visited both Universal and all WDW parks. I was surprised to find the bag checks at Universal more thorough than what I'm used to at Disney!

 

[spiceycat]

you know forgot about that lost little girl coming up and telling me her parents were missing - was going to take her to the nursing station it was closer than the city hall and she was crying. but out of thin air - security people surrounded us and make it plain that I was to leave her they would take care of her. only one looked like a security guard - the others were painters, cleaners, cm, and other folks who are always there - but sometimes you just don't see them.

feel bad about leaving the child since she trusted me - but got over whelmed.

 

[sgc]

It could be worse lots of sports stadiums and arenas do not allow any food or like the NFL small clear bag. If Disney went that route surely not be popular but dont see sporting attendence decreasing with these "security measures"