Teens face crackdown at Downtown Disney

[crazy4wdw]

Walt Disney World is stepping up efforts to roust unwanted teens and young adults from its Downtown Disney complex.

Henry Pierson Curtis and Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writers
June 22, 2007

The company's security guards and off-duty Orange County deputy sheriffs boosted their presence last weekend at the popular shopping and entertainment area, issuing as many trespass warnings in two days as they had the previous 51/2 months.

Fifty teens and young adults were banned from Disney property forever. If they return, they can be arrested.

The operation, which adds 11 off-duty deputy sheriffs to the normal four-member team at Downtown Disney for four weekends, started a week after two Connecticut tourists reported they were abducted from the parking lot and later robbed.

Disney and sheriff's officials said the crackdown stemmed from broader concerns, not one incident.

"A ganglike presence was unfortunately identified at Downtown Disney. And that is not going to be tolerated," Disney World spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said Thursday. "So additional deputies were proactively assigned to patrol the area and that's going to go on as long as is needed."

Sheriff's Capt. Ted Brown, who supervises patrols at Disney, said the heightened enforcement had been planned weeks ago in response to increasing numbers of problem teens Disney and deputies had noticed starting late last year.

"A lot of them were described as 'wannabe gangbangers.' " he said. "And some of them were flat-out harassing and bothering other guests."

Under the current push, Disney security officers survey the crowds and question guests they suspect of being a problem. Deputies are asked to issue warnings if the guests refuse to answer, argue and refuse to leave, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Targeting minorities?

Out of the 50 warnings issued last weekend, the Sheriff's Office was able to find only 40 of the reports. Warnings were issued to 20 young Hispanic males, 19 young black males and one young black female.

None came from Orange County, the location of Downtown Disney. Eleven were from Osceola County, 11 from Lake County, 11 from Polk County, five from Georgia and one each from Arizona, Texas and an unreported location.

One of the teens told never to come back asked why no whites were among those warned about trespassing.

"A whole bunch of white boys walked by yelling and stuff, and they didn't do nothing to them," said Michael Washington, 16, of Polk City.

Washington said that he, his brother and three cousins drove to Downtown Disney on Friday night to go to the movies. They met two young black men and a woman in the parking lot who said "they were arresting all black folks."

He said Disney security officers followed them after they visited a store. One of his cousins cursed the guards after being stopped, Washington said.

Asked whether he thought race played a role in why they were ejected, the teen said, "I don't know. I don't know, sir. They came straight at the black crowd."

Polak would not comment on the racial breakdown of those teens and young men who were rousted. She also would not comment on what guidelines Disney security follows in deciding who should get a trespass warning.

"Our priority, and that of law enforcement, is to maintain a safe experience," Polak said. A review of trespass warnings issued last year at Disney showed more diversity. Out of 296 total trespass warnings at Downtown Disney in 2006, 29 went to blacks and 42 went to Hispanics, according to sheriff's records.

The rest -- 225 -- went to whites, Asians and others.

Teens loitering in the Downtown Disney area first became a problem in early 2005 after Disney stopped charging an entry fee to the Pleasure Island nightclub complex, Brown said.

Once the turnstiles were removed, teens began congregating at two outdoor plazas between the nightclubs. Large screens that displayed rap, hip-hop and other music videos provided free entertainment.

"It quickly became an area for these kids to go, and for whatever reasons undesirable elements started congregating there, too," Brown said.

In January 2006, Disney removed the projection screens and outdoor music to "get rid of the street-party atmosphere," he said.

An additional concern involved even younger guests.

"And there was an even younger group of kids who were getting dropped off by their parents like it was the mall or someplace to hang out," Brown said. "You know, Disney does not want to be a baby-sitting service."

No one has been arrested in the June 10 abduction and robbery reported by Justin Stetzer and Jessica DellaCamera of North Branford, Conn. But even before the first beefed-up detail began, sheriff's detectives were raising doubts about parts of their story.

Inconsistencies included their claim to have been abducted at gunpoint in a lighted parking lot just six rows from an observation tower staffed by a Disney security guard, according to a report released this week.

"Both victims then became even more irate and began cussing and stating that they never would cooperate any more," a detective wrote about asking Stetzer and DellaCamera to take a lie-detector test.

The Sheriff's Office has stopped pursuing the case.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

Well that's quite an article. I've never noticed the gangstas before because I haven't been to PI in ages. Literally it's been 11 years. If it has become that bad I'm glad they're cracking down. Of course, I'd be even happier if they actually had a strategy for the whole DD, PI, WS area as opposed to the quick "throw up some nightclubs to compete with Church Street Station" mentality that forged PI in the first place.

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

Let me sing the happy song:

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY
HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY

Get them out of Downtown Disney, Pleasure Island and West Side... and I will be one happy camper...

 

[ChrisFL]

I bet its not easy to enforce unless they actually witness bad behavior. A lot of people will dress up like "gangstas" and walk a certain way, etc. but that doesnt mean they're there to cause trouble either.

I hope they are able to improve things though!

 

[Cricket2]

What, no more tazings?

 

[Lewisc]

Disney should consider brining back the admission charge. Also admit any guest who has a park pass; theme park, water park or DQ that was used the same day. Unless there is a computer issue basically allow any ticket hopping rights to the PI area.

 

[Jason71]

Disney should consider brining back the admission charge.

While I totally agree with bringing back the admission fee/tunstiles for several reasons, there is no indication in this article how many of the 50 warnings were actually issued in PI. The activities described by two of the groups--going to the movies and leaving a store--suggest that the deputies may have been concentrating on West Side more. Really, that seems typical. The multiplexes at Universal, Pointe Orlando (when it was open) and Festival Bay always seem to attract their fair share of "wannabe gangbangers" as well.

I have a feeling the fact that only blacks and Latinos were cited is going to raise a firestorm--stay tuned.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The whole idea of opening the island was to facilitate shoppers going from West Side to Marketplace and vice versa. By getting rid of the stages and moving the bridge to West Side it created a "line-of-sight" to hopefully get people to visit both sides. I'm doubtful that it's been very successful. In fact, the few stores that existed on PI were closed and the building was renovated to house new stores, but that project was completed months ago and nothing has opened. A Harley store replaced Changing Attitudes and that's basically the only store open on PI (plus the clubs). The only reason I've heard why new stores never opened is because of problems with "permits". But that's a bogus reason IMO because Lake Buena Vista is it's own city so there can't be permit problems. The Mouse can do whatever he wants in his own town. So my thinking is that they may close off the island again which would change the type of stores that would fit an adult-only (again) venue. We'll see.

BobK/Orlando

 

[ChrisFL]

The whole idea of opening the island was to facilitate shoppers going from West Side to Marketplace and vice versa. By getting rid of the stages and moving the bridge to West Side it created a "line-of-sight" to hopefully get people to visit both sides. I'm doubtful that it's been very successful. In fact, the few stores that existed on PI were closed and the building was renovated to house new stores, but that project was completed months ago and nothing has opened. A Harley store replaced Changing Attitudes and that's basically the only store open on PI (plus the clubs). The only reason I've heard why new stores never opened is because of problems with "permits". But that's a bogus reason IMO because Lake Buena Vista is it's own city so there can't be permit problems. The Mouse can do whatever he wants in his own town. So my thinking is that they may close off the island again which would change the type of stores that would fit an adult-only (again) venue. We'll see.

BobK/Orlando

well thats the unfortunate result of how everything was built...with PI now splitting 2 big shopping areas. I remember it being a pain going completely around PI when they had it closed off for a while.

But I dont think there's as many shoppers in the prime nighttime hours that PI is open, so a separate admission at that time wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Didn't I read on an earlier thread that DD was already "swarming" with police and security??
Anyway, we never go anywhere near the place except once in a great while for an early dinner. Once that's over--we leave the area.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Glorioski!

2) I have written SEVERAL posts about the teens since the admission change.
3) My emails to WDW "brass" never got a response.
4) Mrs Rusty said the only place in WDW she felt unsafe was at PI.
5) We said we WOULD NOT go back until it was changed.
6) Recent crimes, plus the build-up of teens has borne this out.

7) It is so nice to see WDW taking action.
8) Thanks! (finally)

 

[TheRustyScupper]

What, no more tazings?

1) Alas.
2) All entertainment must change eventually.

 

[mitros]

What, no more tazings?

Taze 'em all, and let the judge sort 'em out................

 

[WolfpackFan]

We just got back from WDW and I have to say I didn't really like what I saw at DTD at night at all. I really applaud Disney for stepping up security. I know if I had teens with me, I would not let them go to DTD at night by themselves. We saw one instance where deputies were surrounding a young man, who was only wearing shorts. He looked totally wasted. I didn't pay all the money we did and travel all that distance for me and my family to see that kind of mess. They either need to clean it up or shut the entire complex down IMO.

 

[annie1995]

I would think admission charge or free to resort guests would be a good thing. Just my opinion though. I'm glad they are cracking down on it. Loud roudy teenagers is so not Disney like.

 

[YoHo]

Didn't I read on an earlier thread that DD was already "swarming" with police and security??
Anyway, we never go anywhere near the place except once in a great while for an early dinner. Once that's over--we leave the area.

Man, I was building up my incredulity in order to turn this into an epic post.

Crawling with security my aunt fanny. I guess we can go back to that thread and discuss it now with facts.

 

[Jason71]

Crawling with security my aunt fanny. I guess we can go back to that thread and discuss it now with facts.

PI has been swarming with security for a while now--at least I consider a dozen or more cops plus security guards in a six-acre area "swarming". They just didn't go to the trouble of writing out formal trespass warnings, apparently, and, of course, WDW's PR department didn't feel the need to put out press releases when they did.

New update in the Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/comm...07jun27,0,4324652.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

Apparently four of the "gangbanger" element were FSU prospects--one is the son of a civil rights attorney, another is the son of a manager at the Poly.

This is also the first formal acknowledgment I've seen from WDW that PI is 21and up only after 11:00 p.m. It's been the de facto policy for months now, but I had never seen it in writing. Which will probably reignite the whole "do kids belong in the Adventurer's Club?" debate, as well.

 

[andromedaslove]

Disney accused of profiling black teens

I originally saw this article from one of my husbands football discussion boards. What do you guys think?!

Dana

 

[ChrisFL]

link not working

 

[crazy4wdw]

Disney accused of profiling black teens

4 FSU prospects ejected for loitering, refusing to leave, parks spokeswoman counters

Florida State University football prospects Vincent Williams, Avis Commack, Nigel Carr and Nickolas Moody were ejected from Walt Disney World last weekend.

Henry Pierson Curtis and Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writers
June 27, 2007

Walt Disney World ejected four of Florida State University's top football prospects from Downtown Disney last weekend under its anti-gang, no-loitering policy.

The four, including the son of a Disney manager and the son of a Philadelphia civil-rights lawyer, were banned for life from Disney World property late Friday.

A Disney spokeswoman said the youths were expelled because they had been loitering for an extended period and refused to leave when Disney security told them to.

"I keep thinking to myself, 'This is crazy,' " said Mark Nugent, stepfather of Vincent Williams, football star at Ridge Community High School in Polk County. "Once they realized they weren't gangbangers, why didn't they let them go? They took their pictures. They fingerprinted them. And treated them like common criminals."

Because of concerns about a rise in ganglike activity at Downtown Disney lately, loitering or "any other inappropriate behavior" by groups of youths is not going to be tolerated, spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said Tuesday.

"This group was seen loitering for an extended period of time," she said. "When asked, sometime after 11:30, they produced a movie ticket for a film that had already started sometime earlier. Security asked them to go to the movie or leave, and they failed to cooperate."

Philadelphia attorney Adrian J. Moody, father of one of the players, said he thinks his son was a victim of racial profiling.

"Why else would they follow them for an hour and a half to two hours?" said Moody, whose son, Nickolas Moody, listed on the police report as Nickolas Cannon, plays safety for Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. "And how can you trespass someone in Downtown Disney for walking around? I've been there before, and that's why it's there."

48 warnings issued in 2 weekends

Orange County deputy sheriffs have issued at least 48 trespass warnings at Downtown Disney during the past two weekends since the push against loitering began. Records of those cases provided to the Orlando Sentinel show that 45 of the 46 people banned from Disney for life during the past two weekends were blacks or Hispanics.

Three cases involved white teens. Of those, two were banned only from the Virgin Megastore and are free to return anytime to Disney.

Polak said the decision to expel those two guests was made by the store management, not by Disney, so the ban only applied to the store.

Records show the only white teen banned so far from Disney was accused of creating a disturbance outside the Planet Hollywood restaurant by loitering, arguing with Disney guards, swearing at them and refusing to leave the property.

The incident began after five future FSU Seminoles gathered last weekend at Williams' Davenport home for a get-together barbecue.

Each will be a high-school senior in the fall, and all have made oral commitments to sign with Florida State. The get-together was highly publicized on an FSU fans' Web site, Warchant.com, as a way for the recruits to form bonds they hoped would last through their college years.

"We worked out," Nigel Carr, an outside linebacker at Jacksonville First Coast High School, told Warchant.com. "We also went to Disney, Wet 'n Wild and CityWalk. It was just really fun."

In addition to Williams, Moody and Carr, Avis Commack also was issued a trespass warning, according to the Sheriff's Office and interviews. All are 17.

Ranked as one of the top 10 high-school wide receivers in the nation, Commack attends First Coast High School.

The fifth player, Moses McCray, 17, of Hillsborough High School in Tampa, said he left before Disney issued the trespass warnings and was not banned.

After dinner Friday, Williams' mother and stepfather drove the five teens to Downtown Disney so they could look around and enjoy the evening. Williams' mother is a supervisor at Walt Disney World's Polynesian Resort.

The parents' cell phone rang about midnight. It was Vincent, upset and asking them to come as soon as possible to take him and his friends home.

"They're harassing us. They're being nasty to us," Nugent remembered his stepson saying about being approached by more than a dozen Disney security guards and Orange County deputies.

According to sheriff's Cmdr. Larry Krantz, who supervised the off-duty deputies working at Downtown Disney last weekend, Disney security officers said they spoke to the football players several times during the evening.

At one point, the teens tried to enter the Pleasure Island complex of nightclubs after 11 p.m. when entry switches to those 21 and older. They declined to go to the movies as suggested and said they were at Downtown Disney to pick up girls, Krantz said he was told.

From his own observations, he said, the athletes were not aggressive or rude, but he understood that at least one made "kind of smart remarks" to Disney security.

At one point, they asked why no Puerto Rican or white teens were being asked to leave, Krantz said. Then, a white teen and a Hispanic teen were brought in, and all the teens started slapping "high-fives" and joking, he said.

McCray, a 6-foot-2-inch, 268-pound defensive tackle, said the group had been sitting on a bench after leaving Pleasure Island when a number of security guards and deputies approached them. That's when he left, he said.

Friends were 'just chilling,' teen says

Commack said he and his friends were "just chilling together" at Downtown Disney and that they thought they were followed "because we were a group of black kids they assumed were out to make trouble."

Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Mark Strobridge said Tuesday evening that the agency works closely with Walt Disney security to identify and remove anyone causing problems at the theme parks and Downtown Disney.

"The feedback we have received is that many of the guests have been happy with our presence," Strobridge said.

Nugent, Vincent Williams' stepfather, defended the players by saying they are all good kids as well as hardworking, outstanding athletes.

"Is it because they're all over 6 feet tall and black?" asked Nugent, who is white. "I want the trespass warnings dropped so the kids can visit Disney if they want. And an apology would be nice."

Mike Huguenin of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at 407-420-5257 or hcurtis@orlandosentinel.com.Scott Powers can be reached at 407-420-5441 or spowers@orlandosentinel.com.