Should Resorts Ramp up Security?

[Myalyas]

It's been 2 years since I've been to Disney World and stayed onsite. I remember the security checks at the parks but not so much at the resorts. With all the terrorism going on in the world, I have always been afraid that WDW might be a possible target. The parks do seem to have pretty good security checks and from I've read here on the forums they've ramped it up some. But, think about some of the biggest resorts there, the number of rooms, multiply that by 4 guests and all the luggage being brought in? That's a lot of people! Not to mention the number of resort employees! It's just really scary to me with the craziness that's going on!
What do you think?

 

[Dean Marino]

All personal opinion - I'm not right, you aren't wrong....

Yes, the resorts have an opportunity to participate in a WDW WIDE AREA Security Screening process. "Wide Area", to ME, means the elimination, as far as practical, of creating opportunities for terrorists to strike large crowds.

The current "Gate only" process is NOT wide Area. It simply creates large groups of targets, waiting to get through Security. While Airport Lawyers love this approach? It is next to useless in terms of real safety - a "problem shift" vs a "problem solution".

Let's examine a little history, from DL Paris. A really NASTY terrorist was stopped at the HOTEL - they employed incoming baggage XRAY.

Now, I have no idea if WDW is or is NOT doing this now, at WDW Resorts. Don't WANT to know, because if I know? So do terrorists . I can only HOPE they are doing this.

But there is one fundamental thing WDW is doing WRONG. They have failed to capitalize on "in park" residence. To CAPITALIZE on this? SCREEN at in Park Resorts - ISOLATE in Park Park Arrival... PASS In Park residents through the equivalent of "TSA Pre Check".

Now? Brag about it. Again, all personal opinion.... THIS ALONE would create a significant advantage for ON-SITE WDW Hotels. Again - our personal opinion? As we stay on site, MY family would have NO ISSUES with WDW Security pre-checks on our backgrounds, a good 180 days ahead of attendance. Once done? If done properly, Security Checks are OVER. WDW HAS Magic Bands.... they HAVE the technology. USE IT.

 

[bumbershoot]

The world has always been crazy. People have always done horrible things to each other. Nothing is new.

And America is only now finally opening its eyes to what the world has dealt with for a long, long time. Due to the fluke in our land mass and neighbors we hadn't encountered it. But that sentence was always going to end in "yet".

I don't want any of what was described above, personally.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm with bumbershoot on this, what America is now experiencing has been happening world wide for years. We thought we were immune, we were not. I don't want or need to have a security clearance to check into a hotel.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you are an onsite guest, Disney already has a lot of info on you. Disney even has info on offsite guests who simply purchase tickets. They routinely trespass registered sex offenders. How do you think they know they are at the resort? And they knew the Orlando shooter was in DS? Disney has more security in place than meets the eye.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I'm with bumbershoot on this, what America is now experiencing has been happening world wide for years. We thought we were immune, we were not. I don't want or need to have a security clearance to check into a hotel.

Correct. We are starting to get a taste of what others have been dealing with for years. And the key word here is starting. We are no longer immune.

 

[Myalyas]

If you are an onsite guest, Disney already has a lot of info on you. Disney even has info on offsite guests who simply purchase tickets. They routinely trespass registered sex offenders. How do you think they know they are at the resort? And they knew the Orlando shooter was in DS? Disney has more security in place than meets the eye.

You're right! And that's good to know!

 

[Nancyg56]

It is my opinion that while Disney may be one of the safer travel destinations, it is on me to be aware of my surroundings. I am not at all sure what measures are in place to keep guest safe while on property, but I bet that there are more in place than we will ever know. But nothing is foolproof, and as we have sadly found out, there are those who have allowed themselves to believe that WDW is a haven safe from any threats, both natural and man made. I think that people need take ownership, avoid the kind of behaviors that invite risk, and remember that some things just happen.

 

[njmousefest]

It's Florida. The person standing next to you may be carrying concealed. And personally I'd rather have the good person next to me armed than rely on security measures that make people feel "safe".

 

[The Sasquatch]

i cant imagine that Disney does not have a undercover/armed security team. There is no way they are this comfortable with the amount of people visiting every day. I am not just talking about terrorism but anything that would require a police type response. When dealing with that many people its the nature of the business and they cant leave that up to some college cast member.

 

[Myalyas]

Today's attack at the Turkish airport...

 

[disneykelly]

Disney has far more unseen security cameras active at all times than you would ever imagine. They are very quick to see a problem and professional at handing things without raising too many concerns amongst guests.

I assume that Disney relies on the TSA doing their job when it comes to dangerous items coming in peoples luggage. I don't think it is possible to use DME without an incoming flight (correct me if I am wrong) making it tough(er) for someone to sneak a weapon into Disney property.
Of course there are loads of people coming in using POV, so there is always that.

Me personally, I would rather not have metal detectors and those scanner machines form the airport in the entrance of the Disney hotels. It would really break the magic Disney bubble.
Instead, I would not mind one bit if the DME folks and the luggage delivery people did swipes that can detect explosives and ammunition.

Beyond that, just go and do Disney as you always would. Sure, be vigilant. Walk with open eyes and if you see suspicious things, bring it calmly to a CM and rest assured that any issues or dangers will be handled properly, professionally and with great skill.

 

[Myalyas]

Today's terrorist attack reminded me of one thing Dean Marino, above, said - about the gates and long lines.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Not everyone at a Disney theme park or Disney resort is an on-property guest. Many drive their own vehicle and tote their own stuff. Checking luggage handled by DME isn't a problem since it was already checked by the airline. What about all the luggage driven in a cab or personal vehicle? What about the person who stops along the way to pick up stuff before heading to the resort or theme park? It's not a closed system by any means. Any break in the system is a possible entry point for a bad guy. And even the parks aren't 100% sealed.

It comes down to living your life as you want, being aware of your surroundings and taking the consequences. You see strange activity and fail to report it? You see strange activity and report it but nothing happens when you do? What can you do other than live your life the way you want to live it.

 

[Lesverts]

Let's examine a little history, from DL Paris. A really NASTY terrorist was stopped at the HOTEL - they employed incoming baggage XRAY.

The guy wasn't a 'nasty terrorist' he was someone visiting Disney with concealed weapons. Something that is not really allowed in France. He had been a victim of a hate crime and started carrying a weapon for his safety. The guy got a 6 month house arrest sentence.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rying-guide-Koran-sentenced-house-arrest.html

 

[samsteele]

I'm also with @bumbershoot. Driving into value resorts incl POP and AS Mus, the gate has always been thorough and required photo ID to pass & I'm always given a good look over. Should an extremist crash a gate, security checkpoints are far enough from most resort entrances to give security a small heads up & I have no doubt that security has rehearsed multiple scenarios and developed a professional response. No doubt WDW & Magical Express rely upon the airlines' pre-screening & xray for baggage and I haven't heard the need (yet) to go beyond it. To be honest, the true security threat lies in a domestic dispute gone very bad that expands to include passerbys and CMs. Hopefully, that would be isolated and contained as best as possible in the circumstances.

 

[Myalyas]

I doubt if a suicide bomber minds showing his photo ID. There are a lot of people of fly into Orlando without using DME. There are a lot of people who don't fly to get there.
My original post was about the resorts but my concerns have changed back to the parks because of what took place in Turkey. That airport was supposedly one of the best for security measures.
We are living in scary times.

 

[Sagginit]

I work and travel in mid-town Manhattan every day so this type of thing is just a reality of life as I constantly see extra security. In fact I had to pass through the security zone when Pope Francis was here to get home from work as my office is next to St.Patrick's. I know and need to trust the NYPD and other agencies are doing everything they can to keep us safe. The security zone they set up for the Pope was like something out of a movie, several blocks closed with only pedestrians allowed to exit and an army of police/security. Those type of measures are more unnerving than when you can't see what is going on to keep you secure. If it is going to be a contained crowd they have to take huge precautions by locking mailboxes, removing trashcans, and closing down areas. For NYE you cannot enter Times Square without going through security and they spend days scanning the area. If they make everyone go through a series of security check in various WDW locations it would corral everyone BEFORE they can eliminate possible threats which as others state is probably what you don't want or you would need an army of security to be in that area.

Also you need to keep in mind this depends entirely on who the attacker wants to target. If you ever study terrorism targets are carefully selected. WDW itself is huge with sprawling grounds and tons of security (seen and unseen). It has a wide variety of people there, it is not one group or type of people. You can't predict what is going to happen next but I do think that for the type of property they are trying to secure they are doing a good job. I am sure after recent events they are going to look into closing loopholes but for me it certainly wouldn't prevent me from going there again. You are more likely to get hurt or die in a car accident, but you still get in a car don't you?

 

[Myalyas]

"Also you need to keep in mind this depends entirely on who the attacker wants to target. If you ever study terrorism targets are carefully selected."

On US soil, I would say the targets are Americans

 

[ArwenMarie]

I do think the resorts are too wide open. I wouldn't mind more security. A lot of the resorts are attractions in and of themselves, more than just regular hotels.