Teens Face Crackdown at Downtown Disney

[Gurgi]

Read this in our local paper this morning; there's video as well:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-trespass2207jun22,0,306111.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout

 

[Virgo10]

Playing the race card... how original. I think last year's numbers pretty much tell the story.

I haven't been to DTD in years and was shocked to read that they no longer charge admission. Doing that would pretty much solve the problem.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Wow, a 15 year old had a loaded gun walking around DTD They really need to do something about that. I never had any feelings of being unsafe at Disney and I don't want to have to start.

 

[Tess]

While we have always felt "safe" or reasonably so, I will say that last summer we noticed a much larger teen/young adult contingent just sauntering around the West End/PI area, not so much in the Marketplace section. It raised our awareness enough that we commented we would not want our 18/16 y/o kids walking from DQ by themselves to any other area.

The entry area between Planet Hollywood and the West End (fountain area) was rather dark and uninviting as well. We usually grab a taxi from this location and I would say that it did not feel as "safe" as in years prior. There seemed to be a good deal of vehicular traffic just cruising the main driveway along the perimeter of the complex.

I'm glad that security is being tightened and a better eye is being kept on the teen/young adult crowd. It was our observation last summer that Disney would soon have an issue if it did not take note of the increasing problem with out of control teen/young adult behavior in the West End area. It would appear they have finally taken note.

 

[Gurgi]

I haven't been to DTD in years and was shocked to read that they no longer charge admission. Doing that would pretty much solve the problem.

If they charged for DTD, I would never, ever go. I'm not going to pay to walk around and shop!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

If they charged for DTD, I would never, ever go. I'm not going to pay to walk around and shop!

I don't think she meant DTD as a whole, but rather Pleasure Island. They used to charge admission to enter Pleasure Island in the evenings.

 

[MELSMICE]

I don't think she meant DTD as a whole, but rather Pleasure Island. They used to charge admission to enter Pleasure Island in the evenings.

I think they still do. You can walk around PI during the day, but I thought in the evenings there was an admission.

 

[Tess]

I think they still do. You can walk around PI during the day, but I thought in the evenings there was an admission.

The admission media must be presented to the first "club" visited and then you are given your wristband. Otherwise, you can wander through the streets as much as you like.

 

[LiteBrite]

I think they still do. You can walk around PI during the day, but I thought in the evenings there was an admission.

No, the admission charge to enter PI has been gone for at least a couple of years, IIRC. You have to pay to get into the clubs, but anyone can walk around outside for free.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm afraid that if they charge for Pleasure Island, the kids will just stay in the West End or even the Marketplace. I like the idea of more security.

 

[perdidobay]

I haven't been to DTD in years and was shocked to read that they no longer charge admission. Doing that would pretty much solve the problem.

I totally agree.

 

[Lanshark]

I don't care if they're black, white or purple people eaters, if someone is carrying a loaded gun there's a problem that need to be addressed. If need be they need to put the turnstyles back in and attach PI to a park hopper pass. That will eliminate much of the loitering.

 

[shortbun]

Sounds like they were profiling to me. I would hate thinking that some of my son's friends would be harassed just because of the color of their skin. I would normally feel comfortable allowing my 17yo neice and her friend go to DTD alone but with police profiling, I am now not sure. We are planning a trip in late July as she will be dancing with a group there. Guess we'll have to send them with an adult at all times. Really puts a damper on our trip. They are old enough to have some independence and mature enough but I do not trust police on a rampage.

 

[KristinBelle]

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Here are the numbers from last year.
(taken from the article)

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.

I think guys in the video might have brought some the attention from security on themselves. They were stopped and asked where they were heading they answered the Movies. Than when they noticed the Police/Security were following them they decided to turn around and walk another direction to see if they were followed. Than they went to the music store and than were stopped again when the Police/security said "I thought you were going to the movies?"


I am not saying the Police/Security is right but they have to act on what doesn’t look right to them for the safety of other guests at DTD.

 

[Deb in IA]

I totally agree with this, and Lanshark's comment.


I don't care if they are white, black, green or purple - anyone with a loaded .38 doesn't belong at Downtown Disney.



I'm sure they will head over to Universal's CityWalk next . . .

 

[Abby's Dad]

Sounds like they were profiling to me. I would hate thinking that some of my son's friends would be harassed just because of the color of their skin. I would normally feel comfortable allowing my 17yo neice and her friend go to DTD alone but with police profiling, I am now not sure. We are planning a trip in late July as she will be dancing with a group there. Guess we'll have to send them with an adult at all times. Really puts a damper on our trip. They are old enough to have some independence and mature enough but I do not trust police on a rampage.

I doubt very seriously that this was racial profiling - and the past year's numbers indicate that wouldn't be the case, but it does look like the officers are fairly astute in who they are watching - finding an illegal weapon (15 yo cannot legally buy a .38, nor can they obtain a CCW permit, and a .38 is pretty serious "toy" for a 15 yo - not something that one would find on a 15 yo that was just out hoping to meet Mickey Mouse) and illegal drugs out of this small number of citations would seem to indicate that these officers have a pretty good idea who the undesirables are, and that race is not the issue here. Keep on keepin' on until the bad folks understand that they are not welcome at Disney.

 

[pigletz]

Here are the numbers from last year.
(taken from the article)

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.

I think guys in the video might have brought some the attention from security on themselves. They were stopped and asked where they were heading they answered the Movies. Than when they noticed the Police/Security were following them they decided to turn around and walk another direction to see if they were followed. Than they went to the music store and than were stopped again when the Police/security said "I thought you were going to the movies?"


I am not saying the Police/Security is right but they have to act on what doesn’t look right to them for the safety of other guests at DTD.

I'm sorry but this post seriously bothers me. How did they bring attention on themselves? Because they said they were going to the movies but then went to the music store? I know I would be more than a little annoyed if I went to DTD and was stopped by security and asked where I was going and then even after I answered they continued to follow me. I'm a white female and the chances of this happening are slim. If I came here and complained that security was following me and confronting me about where I was going, you'd all think it was weird. It scares me that in 2007 we see no problem in this happening to young black men.

I agree that something needs to be done to keep guests safe. I'm all for extra security but I draw the line at stopping people just because they're young and/or black.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

I'm sorry but this post seriously bothers me. How did they bring attention on themselves? Because they said they were going to the movies but then went to the music store? I know I would be more than a little annoyed if I went to DTD and was stopped by security and asked where I was going and then even after I answered they continued to follow me. I'm a white female and the chances of this happening are slim. If I came here and complained that security was following me and confronting me about where I was going, you'd all think it was weird. It scares me that in 2007 we see no problem in this happening to young black men.

I agree that something needs to be done to keep guests safe. I'm all for extra security but I draw the line at stopping people just because they're young and/or black.

Agree. Also, what's weird about going to a movie in DTD but stoping and shopping and looking around at the other stores and attractions first? We do it all the time.

 

[DawnCt1]

Here are the numbers from last year.
(taken from the article)

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.

I think guys in the video might have brought some the attention from security on themselves. They were stopped and asked where they were heading they answered the Movies. Than when they noticed the Police/Security were following them they decided to turn around and walk another direction to see if they were followed. Than they went to the music store and than were stopped again when the Police/security said "I thought you were going to the movies?"


I am not saying the Police/Security is right but they have to act on what doesn’t look right to them for the safety of other guests at DTD.

The young man interviewed mentioned a couple of times that they were trying to quiet a friend down and so it sounded as if when the group was questioned, someone or two, in the group responded in a hostile manner, which resulted in them being detained. That makes sense. Now the other question is, should they have been questioned in the first place? Was there something suspicious about the way he was changing his shirt? Did it appear differently to the officer who observed it? If they were stopped because they parked and were walking in, that is wrong. No one has to go to the movies because they said so. Maybe they changed their minds.