Why do they waste our time with security checks

[Tesabat]

I think there are many large areas with concentrations of people, possibly under threat, that aren't checked at all.

I personally think Six Flags has used "security" to their own advantage. Now you can no longer bring in food or drink. Please...a bottle of water??

I travel into Penn Station a lot. I'm surrounded by people with breifcases, backpacks and carry-ons....all the way up to large...I mean LARGE duffel bags and suitcases. The trains have not done a good job of limiting carry on. I really never see anyone "check" their bags.

There is a "swat team" that kind of runs around and checks out the lower levels and the upper levels for "suspicious activity".

Right...

Again, that's a presence...a feel good measure. That's all. If someone wants to pack a duffel full of explosive and blow most of us standing there staring at the board to an early visit to heaven, well s/he could.

When people complain, I don't feel it's security they rail against...I feel it's a world in which no place will ever feel quite safe "enough" again.

 

[TreeOfLife]

It isn't something that the guards at WDW are going to be looking for unfortunately. They are not trained in detecting explosives or determining whether the water bottle you are bringing in contains some sort of biological agent.

That is much more rational than Disney's security reasoning behind this move.

Again, that's a presence...a feel good measure. That's all.

A "feel good" measure to who?
I don't have a clue about the kind of mind who would feel secure going through those searches that waste vacation time at the gates. If anyone feels secure having an untrained individual miss the weapon hidden in a tampon, lipstick, shoes, an umbrella or a jacket, he/she probably does not need to visit WDW to be in a fantasy world.

 

[emmagata]

So what would you people prefer?

More (thorough) security searches at the gates?

No security searches at the gates?


IMO, it doesn't matter which one they use because the first time they have a major security breech people will be screaming (and suing) that it wasn't enough or that there was a breakdown in security.

 

[gshoemate]

Sometimes they just glance in our bags and then there are times when they make us take everything out and open every compartment, it just depends on the security person. And the waiting in line a few extra minutes doesn't bother us.

 

[treesinger]

In truth, there is no security measure that will ever be comprehensively "good enough". I mean, how far should it reach?
A terrorist could drive their car right up to a crowd waiting for a tram in the parking lot. Should we have checkpoints at the entry plazas. But then again, there would be a lot of people gathered at the plaza then, and a car bomb could wreak havoc there maybe moreso than blowing up the tram-waiters. Maybe, then, all resorts at Disney should have security at THEIR entries to check all baggage, etc. But, then terrorists would get wise and stay off-site. So we should have comprehensive security at ALL Orlando-area resorts and hotels. But, then again, terrorists could stay farther away, say, Tampa, and avoid this security measure. Or they could sleep in their cars and avoid detection altogether.
But perhaps we're getting out of hand. Let's get back to the parks.
Perhaps we need checkpoints any time you exit the monorail, tram, bus, and ferry. Then be checked at the gates, too. Of course, if they are not thorough enough, does it really matter? Or perhaps terrorists would be intimidated by the amount of security checks and just give up.


Could the bag checks be more thorough? Sure. Security is only looking for large identifiable items. Security couldn't possibly be able to search every little crevice and body cavity necessary to insure perfect security, and even then, there is no pefect security.
Small weapons are all too easy to get into the parks. Heck, small arms don't even need to get into the parks. Small weapons fire can lay waste to a hundred tram waiters in a heartbeat. Imagine what a bomb could do to a crowded ferry.

Disney's main concern is protecting the parks specifically and the guests that are in them. The largest concentration of guests will be in the parks. And, though the Castle may not be an important symbol to some here, it is a symbol around the world that millions, probably billions, would recognize. Isn't it true that that WDW is one of the most visited, if not THE most visited, tourist site on earth? Don't you think a decimated castle would get attention around the world? Don't you think extreme muslims would just love to see capitalist vacationers of all backgrounds blown to bits at the Happiest Place on Earth? You bet they would!

So, to summarize. There is no way to really stop small weapons from entry to the park without security that is so extreme that the wait may actually not be worth the price of entry. Imagine a Saturday in July at 10 AM at the Magic Kingdom. It's an impossibility. So Disney focuses on stopping larger explosives and suspicious devices that would necessitate a backpack for concealment. That bag checks are sometimes so cursory as to be useless goes without debate. They need to shuffle the bags at least a little bit before allowing entry.
And some would say that the Castle and the parks in general are not prime targets. No, they are not. It doesn't mean that they are not still important. I think it safe to assume that it could easily be one of the top 20 targets in the US. And, for numbers purposes, there are so many people packed so tightly in the parks some days that it might be hard to resist for mass-murder minded terrorists. And that doesn't even count the dramatic effect of a bomb going off during a parade, the geodesic dome or Castle being torn assunder. Space Mountain billowing with smoke after a whole queuefull of riders are incinerated. What I'm trying to say is that Disney is definitely a target, and a ripe one.

You gripe that security isn't good enough. Well, it CAN'T be good enough. There is no perfect protection. I think metal detectors that ALL guests go through is an easy step in the right direction to prevent some small arms, but it won't prevent everything. I'll take a 5 minute wait to check for large obvious items over absolutely no security at all.

 

[Chicago526]

I agree with Jason. The only way for near-perfect security (as there is no such thing as "perfect", just ask the Israelies (sp?) would be airport or cruise line style bag x-rays, body searches if you set the detector off, check points for cars, etc. The lines would back up to the point that no one would want to go into the parks.

Metal detectors at least would be a help, though. So would doing a better check of bags. At my local Six Flags, they've had detectors and bag serches since before 9/11, not because of terrorism but all the Chicago gangs that like to go to SF for the day bringing their guns along.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

You can't please all of the people all of the time.

But I agree with the OP.

 

[treesinger]

So,you're saying you prefer no security checks at all, or better checks?

 

[Chicago526]

They need to have some security, if Disney leaves wide open they are just inviting trouble. If they are going to do it though, at least get metal detectors in. It won't increase the wait much and it works as a deterant as well as catching people as they try to get in.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

I think it might be better with the Metal detectors. They honestly don't do a thorough check.

 

[Tesabat]

Regarding clarification as to whether we need more security at the parks, less security...

I don't feel it matters. If someone wants to do harm bad enough, they'll figure out a way.

I'm comfortable with what they are doing currently. I'm not sure about the metal detectors. I think that would cause backups at a place like Disney...but maybe I'm wrong. If they had enough of them, it could work.

 

[Shooby doo]

By the sounds of it the security must have changed,we were there 2 weeks after 9/11 & every bag including bum (fanny) bags were thoroughly checked!Even so soon after the attack there were people complaining-one gentleman couldn't understand why he wasn't allowed to take his pocket knife in to the park!!
I would guess that the security as it stands at the moment is more a visible deterent than anything else,let's face it the parks are so big "they" could get in anywhere!

 

[TreeOfLife]

They need to have some security, if Disney leaves wide open they are just inviting trouble.

They never did before. Their measures seemed to have been enough. And besides, having the 9-11 terrorists as former Florida residents, BinLaden should be banging his head against the wall for blowing up the towers and hurting the economy rather than just crashing Cindy's castle. Maybe he chose not to, since the Imagineers already did that in '98 when it was painted as a hideous, bubble gum pink, little girl birthday cake.

Go ahead, those who feel relaxed because someone snooped into your bags... The real pros are laughing like what they are when ding-dongs raise a stink and waiting time at the gates over nothing.

 

[philaround]

I was there 5/25 thru 6/7 this year and must say I saw the whole gamit of security check levels. Most times security had me open every compartment of my fanny pack or back back. The most cavalier search I underwent was not at WDW but at that other place in Orlando. One guard was waving me thru before I had even opened my back pack.

 

[copper0426]

Something I believe most of us are not grasping; The security in place at most venues will not STOP the terrorist that is determined and is willing to Die for his cause. Thats right not even the vaunted airport security can prevent a terrrorist from causing major damage and death.THAT said the goal with any security is to present a harder target. Going from head in the clouds Invincible it can't happen here security to ANY security serves the pupose of HARDENING the Target. If you go anywhere and really look at the security you will come to the conclusion it could be better. Disney should be commended for Making our beloved destination a harder target without taking away that zipa dee doo daa feel.
Thats MHO.

 

[SorcerersAppr]

We went to WDW in Oct 96 for our Honeymoon and I liked the way they dressed up the castle. It was celebrating the 25 years of WDW.

I know, this is of topic, but I just had to add.

As for the security, I agree that it is better than having no security. And most of these people are trained to watch your reaction as well as watching the contents of a bag. If you are nervous, they will dig deeper. Even if you are trying to act cool.

And yes, if they are determined, they will will get in, but at least this makes it harder.

 

[TreeOfLife]

And most of these people are trained to watch your reaction as well as watching the contents of a bag. If you are nervous, they will dig deeper. Even if you are trying to act cool.

That is a funny one.. Recall the reason why Orin Hatch and Ted Kennedy fought to eliminate lie detector tests as "evidence" in court, following the incident between Ruby and the murder of Lee H Oswald?

Hunny, all you need is the belief that you're right, not what other think about your "noble causes" to look calm.

I say the searches are a waste of time, and they might as well stop them altogether. Disney does not have any irreplaceable, national assets.

People were fine before without them, they'll continue to be fine without them, especially when the majoirity know they are for show.

 

[copper0426]

Well Tree I must say you seem kind of flippent toward other posters there really is no reason that i see to insult someones intellect in those ways.
I do consider all of the thousands of people that go through those gates ervery day National treasures indeed. i know when I look into my 7 yo eyes i see a national treasure. The World trade center was not a NATIONAL treasure there are higher buildings. The WTC was highly visible (like WDW) and filled with what most americans consider a national treasure, Our Citizens (like WDW). We all got along without it before THAT'S WHY we got hit sooo hard sooo fast. Well my credo is NEVER again and ALWAYS remember. What seperates us from the Chimps is we learn from our mistakes.
Once again just MHO.

 

[treesinger]

I say the searches are a waste of time, and they might as well stop them altogether. Disney does not have any irreplaceable, national assets.

I don't mean this to sound harsh, but the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were not irreplaceable national assets. Are they more important than Disney as a target? Absolutely.

The most important national asset for the US is its people. The WTC, the Pentagon, the Capitol, the White House, the Geodesic dome and Cindy's castle are all images that evoke someform of drama and stand for a symbol of what was, what is, what may have been lost.

That said, terrorists are after two things in attacks. First, kill as many American's as possible. Second, make a big show of it. Anything that evokes additional emotional response is a plus. WTC? Had it been some nameless 10 story buildings in Hackensack, it still would have been a terrible tragedy, but the images would not nearly be as poignant as the WTC. The Pentagon? Same thing. Cindy's castle? If it was Wet and Wild or Rebel Yell at King's Dominion, it would be a tragedy nonetheless. But it wouldn't evoke nearly the emotional response that Cindy's castle being torn asunder would.

 

[Gabrielle]

I would really be interested in knowing if the guards have ever removed anything from someone's bag? I've never seen it.

There's a separate entry now for people without bags. That's the way to travel! Leave the wallet in the resort safe, head out empty-handed, and sail through the entrance.