SSR security question\comment

[DebbieB]

Why would ANYONE park at DTD and walk to SSR for a bus when there are two bus stops at DTD? It would be easier to snag a bus to the parks or any other resort and do a transfer there.

There are no busses to the parks from Downtown Disney for that exact reason. They don't want to make it easy to park there and ride the bus to the park. In the early morning, there are no busses at Downtown Disney, so people walk to SSR to catch a park bus.

 

[disneynutz]

I rented a car on my last trip to SSR and got interrogated by what is laughingly called the security guard. I drove in after going off-site for a while--clearly had the parking permit displayed on the dash--was in the car by myself (a 50-year old something single woman) and he demanded to see my personal i.d.

I asked him why the parking permit wasn't enough and he said--"the parking permit tells me the car belongs here; your i.d. tells me YOU belong here." Which I didn't get--it wasn't like he checked it against a list or anything--he didn't write my name down anywhere. It was ridiculous. If you are going to ask for i.d. you should have a reason or purpose. The thought also occurred to me that if some nefarious person wanted to get on SSR property without showing i.d. all they would need to do is jump on a bus from one of the parks or DTD.

Geesh.

Sounds like the airports.

 

[cheezNE1]

last march when i visited SSR, they checked my to make sure my name was on the reservation list before I can drive thru the gate. Then my december trip, they just waved me thru and didn't even have to check or speak to me. Oh well, I guess now it's just a public community.

 

[starbox]

There are no busses to the parks from Downtown Disney for that exact reason. They don't want to make it easy to park there and ride the bus to the park. In the early morning, there are no busses at Downtown Disney, so people walk to SSR to catch a park bus.

Well - confession time...............

Pre-DVC, we used the DTD "hub" to get to parks and resorts all the time. I'd have never parked at DTD and then walked to SSR (that's not a short walk!).

Going to MK? I'd catch the first monorail resort bus and go that way.
Going to EPCOT? I'd catch the first EPCOT area resort and go that way.

I've gone to AK via. AKL

Sometimes, we'd just hop on the first resort bus that showed up - so I've gone to parks via. DTD via. POP and via. POR.

I never thought of it as sneaky at the time (pre-DISboards) - but I used to use take pool towels to my room too!!!!!!!!!!

 

[starbox]

last march when i visited SSR, they checked my to make sure my name was on the reservation list before I can drive thru the gate. Then my december trip, they just waved me thru and didn't even have to check or speak to me. Oh well, I guess now it's just a public community.

I suspect it's like guards saying "Welcome Home" - just depends on how much the guard on that day is following Disney protocol. Some guards lare happy - they like their job and greet guests warmly, check IDs, heck - we've even had them chat with our kids and give them honorary security guard sticker badges. Some are bashful and wave you through. Some are grumpy. I suspect late at night, some are sleepy.

 

[tjkraz]

My point wasn't that I mind the traffic--just that since there is so much traffic, what's with the "security"--which doesn't do any good anyway.

I think it's probably a good visual deterrent. We are all pretty well-informed Disney guests. The vast majority of guests probably see those guard houses and immediately consider whether they belong there or not.

Think of how the parking lots would look at resorts like the BW, BC, Contemp or Poly if they were simply open to the public. Each of the resorts needs security and I'd rather have them establishing a visual presence out front rather than sitting in a back room looking at a bank of monitors.

We usually have to present ID when first arriving and after that the parking pass and room key are acceptable. If some guards are asking for photo ID each time, perhaps they just take their jobs as little more...ahem...seriously than others. Hard to argue with such a minor inconvenience, though. Next time there's a report of a break-in at a DVC resort we'll be calling for MORE security.

 

[BobCosta]

soo???? Does parking @ DTD to aviod the parking fee ok? should there be a time limit? should there be Gaurds @ the resorts? should I have to wear my I.D all the time around my neck? wristbands? tatoos?

 

[BobCosta]

Next time there's a report of a break-in at a DVC resort we'll be calling for MORE security....Why Wait till than?

 

[5forDiz]

Next time there's a report of a break-in at a DVC resort we'll be calling for MORE security....Why Wait till than?

YOU don't have to wait; you are concerned & have questions why wait to make the call or write it in to Disney ?

 

[BobCosta]

YOU don't have to wait; you are concerned & have questions why wait to make the call or write it in to Disney ?

This was thread was a to get other Members thoughts on the security at the resorts... IMO it is a little lax. I am sure if I called members services they will tell me all the things the previous posters memtioned...But is that RIGHT?
Are WE paying for security? Are WE paying for our share of the transportation? Are WE paying for our resorts to be OUR home away from home?

 

[tjkraz]

Resort owners pay for theme park transportation and resort security. And even if you're willing to pay more for something like security, Disney is unlikely to make changes to the open nature of its resorts. To do so would negatively impact them across the board--it's an additional barrier to guests looking to dine at a resort where they are not registered, shop at the resort, rent boats at the resort or just look around while considering where to stay next.

I expect Disney to be responsible when it comes to security, but not to slap gates up all over resorts when members complain that non-guests are walking around "their" property.

Do non-SSR guests use the SSR buses? Sure they do. But when I'm staying at SSR and walk over to Downtown Disney and grab a bus to the BoardWalk, then I'm riding on BWV owners' dime. If I take the monorail from MK to the Contemporary, BLT owners are paying for that ride. There's going to be some level of shared responsibility for those costs which cannot be overcome.

Are people parking at DTD and walking to SSR so that they don't have to pay for parking? Yeah, there probably are people doing that. But there are also people parking in the BoardWalk, Beach Club, Dolphin or Swan lots and walking or taking boats to DHS or Epcot. There are people parking at the Poly or Contemporary and taking the monorail to Epcot. There are people parking at AKL and busing to the Animal Kingdom. Amazing what some will do to save a buck--but I don't know that it's worth paying more of MY bucks to add gates and additional security forces to try and stop them.

 

[BobCosta]

good points...