worried about security/safety at WDW

[aussiedaisy]

Hi,
I'm in australia and coming over to WDW in oct/nov. Following the London bombings and therefore another possible increase in terrorism around the world I'm worried about coming to WDW incase it is a target for the terrorists. I know this is sort of irrational and it can happen anywhere in the world, but I cant help being concerned. Can anyone tell me if they know what the security at WDW is like? I know they do a bag check but obviously that is not really going to stop anything much. Do they have security cameras monitoring suspicious behavior etc?? I think at such a big tourist destination everyone should have to go through the metal detectors and have their bags screened like at the airports. What do you think?

 

[hugsquared]

Look unter the thread "Bag search...does it help?" there is much discussion about security measures there. Have a great trip

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

They win if you let fear guide your path.

WDW is as safe and secure destination you are going to find anywhere.

Have fun, and forget about the real world! That's the point of WDW!

N.E.D.

 

[mrFDNY]

They win if you let fear guide your path.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Like hugsquared suggested, have a look at that Bag Check thread.
And all I can add is that we'll be there in October!!!

 

[mommykds]

You still have to take trains, you still have to go out to stores, you still have to go place & do things. Do not let what has happened recently prevent you from living & enjoying your life.

No one has a guarantee of living to 90+ years old ...enjoy.

 

[seashoreCM]

Anyone visiting the United States of America should be aware they are visiting a dangerous country. The citizen against citizan crime rate is high compared with most other countries.

(To the OP: I'm not sure how the U.S. compares with Australia crime wise considering that Australia was once a place where British criminals were exiled to.)

In the U.S. you are more likely to be mugged, robbed, or flim-flammed than bombed, and Disney is much safer against muggings than most other places in the country. Still you need to take safety precautions at Disney such as avoiding walking alone in the dark.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Goofy4]

A while back, another Australian asked about feeling safe in the airport and the trip to WDW... If it helps, I've always had a very good feeling about both. I would think that a significant percentage of the county taxes we all pay are being spent on security and emergency services -- and I know of nothing that would make be think otherwise.

As for the security cameras... There have been encouraging stories over the years on how quickly Disney CMs/security will react to lost children or a mother or child's cry for help. They have "magical" ways of locating children with the cameras. Also, last trip we noticed a comforting level of noticeable security (dressed in traditional police white shirt and tie) after returning from an EMH around 12:30 or 1 AM. I think they take security very seriously, and by design, you'll never notice most of it. Enjoy!

 

[jonestavern]

All lovely places are targets! We will be traveling to the British Isles next yr & while in London & will be using the Tube. We'll be wary, but this trip has been a dream for decades, so %$^* the terrorists!
You are more in danger of citizen against citizen crime, true!
that said Disney is very security aware, so enjoy. You're going to have a fabulous time & be eager to do it again!

Jean

 

[VSL]

I don't imagine that Australia's current crime stats have anything whatsoever to do with British criminals being exiled there about 150yrs+ ago. True, their ancestors may have been criminals, but I imagine the vast majority of criminals in Britain simply weren't caught and exiled.
I'm sure we've all got our criminal ancestors.

To the OP - I don't know if this helps, but some reckon that as Disney is primarily a children-based resort (at least that's the intention) that terrorists wouldn't attack there because they wouldn't get the sympathy that they want. I don't know how true this is, of course, as I don't know exactly what terrorists are trying to achieve (apart from killing innocent people).
And if someone is going to be a suicide bomber there is VERY little that can be done (apart from shooting to kill, which can end up in tragedy, as was seen in London last week).

 

[aubriee]

I took the KTTK tour last May. Someone in the group questioned our tour guide about WDW security, because they noticed what seemed like to them to be an increase in security people around, compared to former years. The guide laughed and said that the security guards we see are really very few and are there in case people need to ask for help. He said most of their security were plain clothed. He said the rides all had cameras everywhere, but there were no cameras on the streets, because they felt human eyes were better. He said some of the sloppiest tourists we see are really off duty police officers working security at WDW. I was traveling solo in May and never once felt unsafe at WDW.

 

[jonestavern]

To the OP - I don't know if this helps, but some reckon that as Disney is primarily a children-based resort (at least that's the intention) that terrorists wouldn't attack there because they wouldn't get the sympathy that they want. I.

Yep, Australia's history as a penal colony doesn't have an effect on the present day scene-
Terrorists are quite proud & happy to blow up school buses in Israel--there were many students using the trains in Spain that morning to get to school--so no comfort there-there has never been a war where civilian populations escaped unscathed--
That said can you imagine the measures Disney takes not to have this kind of violence perpetrated on their properties? It would mean serious financial trouble to them if such an act occurred. Being private property they can also take more precautions--
Go & enjoy!

Jean

 

[donnab2005]

We were there at WDW the morning of the London Bombings. We had watched it on the TV before we went to the Magic Kingdom. after our bags were searched and we entered the MK we noticed several police officers making the rounds of the park and also they had dogs with them. My husband even commented on the canine cops and all the visible security measures. So I would say that Disney takes security measures very seriously.

 

[tjmouse]

I heard that the Magic Kingdom (not sure about the other parks) has the same security gates that the Pentagon has. In case of a threat (like a bus heading toward the gates) the security gates can be raised so no one can get in. I would say that if they are willing to spend that kind of money on those gates then they are probably doing a lot that we never see to secure the parks. I feel very safe there!

 

[TSR6]

Have you noticed how close you can get your car to the Magic Kingdom?

Not within a quarter mile as the crow flies. On the backside of the Magic Kingdom, even cast members cannot drive into the Magic Kingdom. They have a sepperate parking lot about a half mile away, and are bussed into the Magic Kingdom, where huge metal gates that are hinged into the ground are lowered flat to let the buses drive over top.

On the guest side of Magic Kingdom, the closest anyone could theoreticly drive is into the Magic Kingdom bus loop. Otherwise, your about a mile away in the Transportation and Ticket Center bus stop, where you have to take a monorail or a boat to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I feel safest at WDW. And I mean it. I feel safer there than I do even here at home. I even feel fairly safe flying there. I definitely keep my guard up and keep an eye on things, but in this world, WDW is probably one of the safest places to be. It's ok to be alert of where you are, but please don't let what has happened recently keep you from a magical vacation. I went to Disney in Feb 2002, just 5 months after losing a distant family member to the terrorists. I noticed then (because life had forced me to notice) just how safe Disney was. And I continue to see that. There is no better place than Disney to forget what goes on outside those gates. If the terrorists want badly enough to strike it'll happen, but frankly I think they're looking for more susceptible targets. Targets that aren't so heavily guarded. Disney is heavily protected, and I'm positive there's plenty that we common guests cannot see. Please don't live in fear. It's fine to be cautious, but I think you'll be fine at WDW.

 

[kirstyfly]

Hello there my aussie friend

I too am going to WDW in November.

We were there back in November of 2003 and I was thinking the same thing security wise in regards to how laid back the bag searches seemed to be. (it was just like going into Movie world)

Don't let the fear worry you go and live and enjoy

we are ging to NYC for 6 nights after WDW (was there back in 2003) and someone said to me aren't you worried about attacks. My reply if it is you time to go it's your time to go.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

He said most of their security were plain clothed. He said the rides all had cameras everywhere, but there were no cameras on the streets, because they felt human eyes were better. He said some of the sloppiest tourists we see are really off duty police officers working security at WDW. I was traveling solo in May and never once felt unsafe at WDW.

Very interesting. The next time I see a "sloppy tourist" I'll probably have a little chuckle to myself and and feel like all is well!

 

[cjb71870]

I went to DW with my mother the weekend after 9/11! I felt safe then as I did last weekend!!! And, there are cameras all over the parks!!! Not just on the rides! Go and ENJOY!!!!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

(To the OP: I'm not sure how the U.S. compares with Australia crime wise considering that Australia was once a place where British criminals were exiled to.)

Quick history lesson: Australia only became used as a British penal colony because of the loss of Britain's previous destination of choice for criminals -- the American colonies.