weapon detection at WDW

[momtobrynncess]

Actually since you are the one who is making the statement, then you need to show the proof. Not saying I do or don't agree with the statement, but if you are going to make one, you need to back it up.

Personally, I think the bag check isn't really a bag check... at least, not primarily. It's to slow the flow of traffic to the turnstiles which allowed uniformed and undercover security teams to get a better look at people coming in. They are looking for tells such as nervousness, positioning of the body to block a view of something, ect. There is a lot of undercover security in the parks. You might be surprised as to what can be seen by these people.

Why make the comment then? You make it sound like you see for yourself every day people being let to take items on the no-no list in.

Why make a comment like that unless you can back it up with a first hand experience?

Well said!

 

[DonaldTDuck]

stop waisting my time with pointless inefective searches, while letting people in with banned items that every one can see a mile off.

Theres a list posted by Disney about whats allowed and whats not, I am saying the searches are pointless if they are letting banned items in which are in plain sight.

Here is the list in case anyone one was wondering. Not much to sneak in...

The following are not allowed to be brought into the Disney Theme Parks:

Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller

Alcoholic beverages

Weapons of any kind

Folding chairs

Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)

Pets (unless they are service animals)

In Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (for the safety of the wildlife), balloons, straws and drink lids are not permitted. Note: they now have biodegradable paper straws.

Now what on that list have you seen from a mile off? A few things with wheels may get in, but no alcohol, weapons, glass, chairs or pets are let in ever. You've got fewer than 100 posts and yet you post repeatedly on this thread that security is a joke. No one will take you seriously without a response. Nor should we.

 

[mel&me]

Surely since 9/ 11 there is airport style weapons scanning at each entry to the Theme parks. I would be amazed if there ws not. Given the gun culture in the USA suely guests cannot enter the theme parks armed.... can they ??????

Don't know where you are from, but yes many people in the USA like there guns, Myself being one of them, Not like I would have my 45 in my back as I went though the gate. Some people seem to think just because you own a gun, you run around shooting it just for fun. Anyone that would even slightly consider carrying a weapon into a Disney park is not a person that is thinking correctly and someone who should not own a weapon at all.

 

[needtogomore]

Why make the comment then? You make it sound like you see for yourself every day people being let to take items on the no-no list in.

Why make a comment like that unless you can back it up with a first hand experience?

just got back friday after 2 week trip, one day in MK a guy pulling a cooler on wheels the size of a suitcase caught it behind my leg, to get it free he yanked it cutting my leg, which i needed 6 stiches, if it had been a small child it would/could of been a lot worse, when I questioned Disney about this they told me security are not supposed to let them in, and no i didnt ask or get anything from Disney. that 1st hand experience enough for you.

 

[polkadotminnie]

My question is...why would someone ask this question to begin with?

I was thinking the exact same thing!

 

[needtogomore]

Now what on that list have you seen from a mile off? A few things with wheels may get in, but no alcohol, weapons, glass, chairs or pets are let in ever. You've got fewer than 100 posts and yet you post repeatedly on this thread that security is a joke. No one will take you seriously without a response. Nor should we.

not really bothered if you take me seriously , you are entitled to your opinion so am I. a few things may get in you say but if their banned they shoud'nt should they, or did they make them invisible to get through the checks.

 

[mel&me]

My question is...why would someone ask this question to begin with?

I missed this post first time I read thru thread, but that's a good point.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I carry a special cane that my dbil made for me. I love it because the handle fits my hand like it was formed just for me.

Most of the time they never look at my cane at all but one time they asked if they could check it. They held it upside down and checked to see if I had a knife blade in the bottom or something but completely ignored the handle which is made from a deer antler and is sort of sharp.

I was worried because I did not want to lose the cane as I love it so much but they handed it back without comment.

Yes, I am always very careful to hold the handle so that it will not hurt anyone else. It is small enough that it is completely covered by my hand and not be a danger to anyone.

The only people who need to fear me or my cane are those who might be hurting children within my sight.

Slightly Goofy

 

[Fanoffun]

It's not like you hear about any shootings at Disney World. I'm not saying there haven't been any - I don't know. But I haven't heard of any here in Texas. So in my opinion: a) I'm wrong; b)No one is bringing in guns or if they are - they do not have the intention to use them or c) Security is doing a might fine job.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

One of many differences between WDW and your local government building is that I'd be willing to wager that 50,000-75,000 people don't enter and exit your government building on a daily basis. Scanners and X-ray machines would cause a bottleneck like you wouldn't believe and would certainly take just as long, if not longer, than the bag check.

As others have pointed out, one of the main reasons for the bag checks is deterrence. The chance that you might get caught will deter 95% of the idiots, which is a good start.

A second reason, as others have said, is that the bottleneck is intentional in order to allow the undercover security to monitor the crowds for body language, body bulges, etc. There have been threads before on this board about undercover security identifying concealed weapons and pulling a guest out of line (it sounds like it was generally off-duty police without bad intentions). Undercover security is everywhere, inside and outside the park, and the cameras are also always watching.

For those who've said that a terrorist could bring in a weapon on their body, they are partially correct, but again that is what the undercover security is watching for. One tell-tale sign would be a tourist dressed too heavily for the weather, which could be a sign that a weapon is being concealed. Somebody dedicated to causing mayhem and injury will always find a way, but they are also likely to follow the path of least resistance, and sneaking a bomb or large gun into WDW isn't the easiest way.

WDW's security is not perfect (no security force dependent on human beings can ever be), but it's far from ineffective and does far more than give a false sense of security. The fact that millions upon millions of people go through every year with nary an incident should make that much clear.

You can sneak a bomb in very easy.. in your shoe. Just as that terrorist did with the airlines.. you can bring in chemicals in your pockets.. bio-terrorism. Where there is a will, there is a way. Look at the suicide pilots from 9/11. They took up flying lessons..here in the United States (in Florida to be exact).... so yeah, some will go to extremes if they want to carry something out. No matter what you have in place. The only thing that the bag checks may deter are those who want to bring in alcohol. It won't stop someone who has a mission to kill... the bag checks will not bother them. They have no Conscience. Those with no Conscience have no fear or feelings...
I am not saying that this is going to happen in Disney, but one cannot say never. The terrorists did have the layout plans to Disney at one point.. that was on the news...

Yes, Disney does have back up undercover security, but I wonder how many are trained in spotting those types of things as opposed to a shop lifter or one who is intoxicated. The undercover don't follow people into bathroom stalls.. just a thought there.. God I don't want them doing that next either... I am just trying to show that one can do it and be undetected. If the purpose of the bag check is for safety, then there is no reason to have it. As another OP pointed out, she has never heard about a shooting in the parks.. well there wasn't always bag checks so it isn't like it has stopped it...

 

[bradk]

it's not security that makes you safer, it's an ill-conceived notion of what real terrorism is and a lack of understanding of human nature.

if someone wanted to pack a bag full of explosives and blow a bunch of strangers up, they aren't likely to pay money to do it and then risk getting caught.

First, they'd have to build the explosive which is something a local visit to the 7-11 and Radio Shack isn't really going to help with. Then they have to go to a place to detonate it with. Want a crowded area? sure. And if I had to think of a spot at Walt Disney World to do it, the theme parks wouldn't make my top 5. #1 would probably be Downtown Disney. How are the bag check lines there anyway?

I know people carry guns into the theme park. Why you'd think otherwise doesn't make sense to me, but for what it's worth, I've seen LEOs discuss it on other forums and knowing full well that they're supposed to check their guns at the gate, they take them in concealed anyway because they're the type that only trust themselves for protection. And those are the ones that admit to it.

Does it make me feel any less safe? No. And I live in a city that's far higher on any real terrorist's site list than WDW. I live in a city where we actually just had a recent real attempt (albeit it botched) as well as successful attacks. But those attacks aren't what terrorism is about. Terrorism is the ability to conduct a stream of smaller attacks to make people afraid to leave their homes and go to the supermarket for fear that someone will decide to randomly blow it up that day.

The US's isolation makes it very difficult to pull off that type of terrorism. The closest to something like that also happened in my city where for about a week or so, someone was randomly shooting people in the subway. Or the DC sniper. But they're all acting alone so once their rampages end, it's back to complacency.

unfortunately so much of this is the rock that keeps the tiger away. if you don't see a tiger, it must prove that the rock works. but the reality is, the only tigers at WDW are going to be at the maharajah trek.

an interesting little tidbit: terrorism existed in the world before 9/11. in fact, that was the second attack on the same building. the only thing that changed is that people in congress decided an insect zoo and a beach at the end of the street needed protection money whereas the city where all this happened and has the international symbol for freedom at its doorstep needed nothing.

another fact: a probe into the previous administration's anti-terrorism efforts showed that over 90% of all cases against supposed terrorism were thrown out by the courts due to insufficient evidence. Of the 10% that went to trial, less than 1% ended up in conviction and most of those were for immigration violations.

if you seriously think WDW security is singlehandedly responsible for keeping terrorists at bay, please convince the US Government to hire them because they need the help.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It's not like you hear about any shootings at Disney World. I'm not saying there haven't been any - I don't know. But I haven't heard of any here in Texas. So in my opinion: a) I'm wrong; b)No one is bringing in guns or if they are - they do not have the intention to use them or c) Security is doing a might fine job.

Correct you are... and there weren't always security bag checks..and you still never heard about one.
yeah, there have been shootings, but I want to say it was in Down Town Disney's west side. There have been child molesters staying onsite with a child in the room. They did catch him.. after the fact...

 

[Planogirl]

Someone mentioned bottlenecks and I just wanted to mention that if you don't have a bag there usually isn't one. They have special gates for those without bags and people just stroll in.

That's not to say that someone isn't watching them walk in of course.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

it's not security that makes you safer, it's an ill-conceived notion of what real terrorism is and a lack of understanding of human nature.

if someone wanted to pack a bag full of explosives and blow a bunch of strangers up, they aren't likely to pay money to do it and then risk getting caught.

A one day pass to Disney is much cheaper than supplying flying lessons to obtain a pilot's license for several terrorist soldiers. That is what people are not looking at... they have spent money to attack. They rent car's, take lessons... I am not talking a Joe Blow, disgruntled CM or guest.. I am talking real terrorism soldiers. And usually suicide bombers die along with those they attack. So the chances of them in particular of getting "caught" are slim to none..

 

[mrbghd]

While there has never been a publicized shooting on Disney property that does not mean that it will never happen. Until the shootign in Columbine there had never been a shooting there. Until the attacks of 9-11-01, nothing on that scale had bee enacted on the mainland of the US. It can happen at anytime. BTW, this entire discussion could end up helping someone who wanted to commit one of the acts tha thave been talked about.
As for things not allowed in that are always in the park; my number 1 complaint is Heely's. Every year I see at least 20 or 30 kids in every park with them on and using them as skates. I'd like to see security enforce that policy.

 

[KellyNY]

For all of those people who think Disney World's bag checks are a joke, what would you like for them to do? Scanners and/or body searches?

Actually yes, I want to be body searched by Prince Charming...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Boy did I veer off topic.. sorry.. now back to topic. Guns are they allowed in Disney, NO, they are not. Do they get smuggled in by guests who feel they have a right to their firearms, YES...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Actually yes, I want to be body searched by Prince Charming...

Oh now we aren't butting in that line are we

 

[A Mickeyfan]

While there has never been a publicized shooting on Disney property that does not mean that it will never happen. Until the shootign in Columbine there had never been a shooting there. Until the attacks of 9-11-01, nothing on that scale had bee enacted on the mainland of the US. It can happen at anytime. BTW, this entire discussion could end up helping someone who wanted to commit one of the acts tha thave been talked about.
As for things not allowed in that are always in the park; my number 1 complaint is Heely's. Every year I see at least 20 or 30 kids in every park with them on and using them as skates. I'd like to see security enforce that policy.

I hate those things.. are they really banned from the parks? If they are, well then yeah, security needs to start enforcing that policy a little better

 

[momtobrynncess]

Yes, Disney does have back up undercover security, but I wonder how many are trained in spotting those types of things as opposed to a shop lifter or one who is intoxicated. The undercover don't follow people into bathroom stalls.. just a thought there.. God I don't want them doing that next either... I am just trying to show that one can do it and be undetected. If the purpose of the bag check is for safety, then there is no reason to have it. As another OP pointed out, she has never heard about a shooting in the parks.. well there wasn't always bag checks so it isn't like it has stopped it...

There is another threat regarding security, which you may find interesting. Well, some posts are interesting, and some not so much:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2465936&highlight=security

Hopefully this link worked.

I know for a fact that they have some highly trained security that we may never see, nor should we. They are everywhere that you cannot see. Some people think that because it is not visible to the naked eye, that it does not exist. With regard to security, I am sure that everything Disney does has a reason, it may not be readily apparent to us. Bag checks are a necessary evil, whether we agree that they work or that they don't. I've been to Disney more than 15 times, and I've never stood in the bag check line for more than 5 minutes. Whether they do a good job or not, it's not a big deal to me. I've spent almost 20 years in law enforcement, and trust me, they have people up the wazoo watching us at all times for our movements and behaviors. People get stopped by "security" all the time, they just don't want you to see it. And you usually don't...