Disney workers robbed leaving work at the cast member parking lot at MK

Tigger1988

Well-Known Member
But they are sitting, not walking, not driving the train. They are not placing themselves in any danger by reading those papers. I remember the days before cell phones, I never saw anyone driving and reading a newspaper. I certainly don't remember seeing people attached to their newspaper 24 hours a day :)

Crime can occur regardless no doubt, I am just not a fan of doing things to help the criminal is all. I am very observant as I walk in areas where I get that "feeling" I need to be on guard.
I literally saw someone driving with a newspaper on the wheel on Thursday night. People also used to drive with maps open too.

If someone is going to be an idiot they'll be one with or without a phone.
 

BigTxEars

Well-Known Member
I literally saw someone driving with a newspaper on the wheel on Thursday night. People also used to drive with maps open too.

If someone is going to be an idiot they'll be one with or without a phone.


Good point on the maps, I have seen that. But never a newspaper.

And makeup, who puts makeup on as they drive? That is just crazy....
 

cw1982

Well-Known Member
If someone is going to be an idiot they'll be one with or without a phone.

This. Exactly. It's just that having a phone, or any other distraction, that is averting one's attention from the surroundings when walking alone, particularly at night, is generally a bad idea. In this day and age, that distraction does tend to be a phone, but it could be other things.

My friends make fun of me because I will not look at my phone while in a parking lot. I also walk with my car keys in my hand, with the key between two fingers and my hand shaped like a fist. It's habit at this point because this is what DH's friends have taught me to do. Does any of this guarantee I'll never be a victim of a robbery or mugging? of course not. Does it make me look less vulnerable? That's what law enforcement tells me. And at 5'2" and 130 pounds, I definitely don't need another reason to look vulnerable.

Again, in no way was any of this the victims' fault... just a general comment on the ways things have changed over time, much in the same way that most of us feel like we have to lock our doors at night, when I am told that was not always the case. A burglar could still get in to most homes, even with locked doors... but the locks make it less convenient. Same idea.
 

BigTxEars

Well-Known Member
This. Exactly. It's just that having a phone, or any other distraction, that is averting one's attention from the surroundings when walking alone, particularly at night, is generally a bad idea. In this day and age, that distraction does tend to be a phone, but it could be other things.

My friends make fun of me because I will not look at my phone while in a parking lot. I also walk with my car keys in my hand, with the key between two fingers and my hand shaped like a fist. It's habit at this point because this is what DH's friends have taught me to do. Does any of this guarantee I'll never be a victim of a robbery or mugging? of course not. Does it make me look less vulnerable? That's what law enforcement tells me. And at 5'2" and 130 pounds, I definitely don't need another reason to look vulnerable.

Again, in no way was any of this the victims' fault... just a general comment on the ways things have changed over time, much in the same way that most of us feel like we have to lock our doors at night, when I am told that was not always the case. A burglar could still get in to most homes, even with locked doors... but the locks make it less convenient. Same idea.

Could not agree more. :)
 

Prince-1

Well-Known Member
Hi ######, I won't stoop to calling you a name. Let me explain how it works. Humor is relative. What may be funny to you, may not be funny to others based on personal experience. It's obvious you, nor your family have ever been the victim of a crime at gunpoint or you wouldn't be making such outlandish statements. It is not something I would wish on anyone. Just because no one was shot, doesn't mean there will not be short or long lasting emotional damage to the victim. So, god forbid it happens, and you, your wife, daughter, son, other family member is robbed with a gun pointed at their head, but no one is shot, I can assure you that people making "ha-ha" about it on a public forum will not make you or them feel any better about it.

It was just my opinion that making light of the situation was out of line based on personal experience. Sorry if that upset so many of you. I'm done with this thread.

So no more ha-ha?? :(
 

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
No doubt, but I still like to know who is walking up to me. I still turn around and look when someone walks up behind me. I just would not be as vigilant if I was buried in my phone, a hand help video game or book etc.

As far as the scumbag shooting if you run, that (run, resist or comply) is something to be judge in each situration I think. Many folks here (and in Florida) carry concealed handguns for that very reason. One of the fundamental concepts of carrying a concealed handgun for protection is that one always needs to be observent of their surroundings. In fact see below, I think a phone in the face puts you at white, I rather be at yellow at least.

The Color Code System of Awareness
So what is the color code system of awareness? Simply, it is 5 states of readiness. They are:

  • White - unaware, not paying attention
  • Yellow - attentive, but relaxed
  • Orange - focus is directed, there is an immediate potential threat
  • Red - there is a definitive threat
  • Black - you are actively fighting
http://www.self-defense-mind-body-spirit.com/awareness.html

That is spot on.

(btw that was my whole point, there as been a lot of judging, prejudging..etc.. with the very little information they did show in the link, too many variables to think)

(also, unsure if you were typing on a hurry. Because I noticed a lot of words like "situration" or "observent".)


I literally saw someone driving with a newspaper on the wheel on Thursday night. People also used to drive with maps open too.

If someone is going to be an idiot they'll be one with or without a phone.
Fully Agree with you.
The interesting thing is the current SWITCH.
Back then most of the "distraction" were adult things.
Now kids every days have phones for everything, and get distracted by them.
Its like a shift of demographics.

From only adults.. to mostly young adult and kids... buried in their gadgets.

Good point on the maps, I have seen that. But never a newspaper.

And makeup, who puts makeup on as they drive? That is just crazy....
At the light that is fine, I was referring to on the interstate at 60 mph :eek:
I think the same problem as always been constant in the last century (the attention grabber that makes people lose their concentration when conmtuting-driving)
Technology just improved, but the human factor is still there.

For driving it was always the phone or paper map, now its the digital-map-thing (tom tom..gps..etc..) and text messages.

Also, The worst I've seen? people TRYING TO GET THEIR CLOTHES as they DRIVE. (Ie, wearing casual and they are trying their best to put formal stuff as they drive) or eating food that requires BOTH hands... INSANE!

It is crazy and these people NEVER try to understand the danger they're causing.. both for them and their surroundings.
 

Sweet Thing

Well-Known Member
I've been to WDW many, many, many times since the early 1980's. I've seen Orlando go through huge changes. These muggings are unfortunately part of those changes.

I may be using a term that isn't known in your part of the country, but when I use the phrase "metro area" I'm referring to the greater Orlando area, not just the land within city limits. According to Google maps, this intersection where the muggings took place at the corner of Center Drive and Mears Road is about two miles from the Orlando city limits border.

The town of Windermere proper is north of Lake Butler five miles north of this employee parking lot, and this parking lot appears well beyond Windermere city limits on any map I've found; but if this apartment complex uses Windermere police and public services (not unusual in these types of communities) then we can call it Windermere. Windermere is a very, very small town though, with only 2,600 residents. I can't imagine their police department is big enough, nor cares enough to check on apartments five miles south of town on the edge of Disney property.

Metro Orlando has a very big crime
problem, no matter which intersection you are at or which unincorporated patch of county land you may live on. And WDW is part of the metro Orlando area, whether Disney admits it or not.
I live five minutes from that cast parking lot and there is absolutely not crime in that area. I also frequently go to downtown Orlando and feel completely safe walking around at night. There are several areas I won't venture into and this is not one of them.
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
I live five minutes from that cast parking lot and there is absolutely not crime in that area.

Not to be flippant, but the two CM's who were mugged there last Thursday night would probably disagree.

I pulled up the crime map for that small neighborhood to the north of the Magic Kingdom employee parking lot. It's certainly much safer than much of greater Orlando (which has one of the highest per capita crime rates in the nation), but it definitely has some crime. In the last month there has been one robbery, two burglaries, four thefts, four physical assaults, and three "other".

Here's what the neighborhood looks like on the crime map. The blue oval robbery at the bottom of the map is the CM mugging/robbery that took place first on the night of the 27th. The second CM robbery at 1:00AM on the 28th hasn't been updated on this map yet.
http://www.mylocalcrime.com/#28.456783, -81.57513
 

psherman42

Well-Known Member
It would seem a bit silly for someone living in those apartments to drive to the west clock lot. I could stand in the parking lot and practically spit to the apartments. They are incredibly close. It's the roughly the equivalent distance of T-Rex to the world of Disney maybe even a bit closer.
I work at MK and I have a friend that lives in those apartments and I can say that if I lived there now, I would still drive to work rather than walk even before this. It doesn't matter how far of a walk it is, there's still an opportunity for something to happen.
 

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
I literally saw someone driving with a newspaper on the wheel on Thursday night. People also used to drive with maps open too.

If someone is going to be an idiot they'll be one with or without a phone.

It is not uncommon to see truck drivers on major European routes driving while reading a book. But then they are only foreign after all.
 

mikmouse

New Member
I don't believe Disney provides enough security for not only the CMs but also for GUESTS! There are no security cameras in the parking lots and our vehicle was severely damaged in the WLV parking lot! Of course, driver did not leave a note so we're out of pocket for the deductible, plus our brand new car has diminished value. Security cameras would have helped, and they could potentially save a life!
 
I'm not blaming the victims, I'm blaming the company they work for.

If in fact the first mugging took place on Disney property inside an employee parking lot, then that's Disney's fault. The news report didn't make it seem that way, but if that's what happened then Disney is to blame. Are there no fences surrounding this lot? Is it just open access from the sidewalk and anyone can enter the lot without passing a security checkpoint?

But if the muggings took place off Disney property, even if it's just 10 feet beyond the parking lot but on a public street, then I don't think Disney can be held accountable for the crimes.

However, what I am saying, is that Disney should be doing more to prepare their employees who are living in a city with one of the highest crime rates in the country, per capita. Greater Orlando; Orlando, Kissimmee, Sanford, etc. all have very high crime rates, and that's where the Disney CM's live. Perhaps Disney could train the CM's on not walking alone late at night, not carrying valuables with them late at night, etc., etc.? There are services and support a company could provide to keep their employees safer once they leave company property. It seems Disney has an opportunity to offer that to the CM's.

It would also seem that it's time for Disney to buy some chain link fence to surround the employee parking lots with, too. But again, the news reports are kinda sketchy on exactly where the crimes took place.
I don't understand how carrying a cellphone is carrying valuables. In today's age, I would say walking home from work at 1am without a cellphone would be considered much more dangerous. And if they get off of work at 1am they may not have someone to walk home with. The whole, they shouldn't have had a cellphone and they wouldn't have gotten robbed thing is what disturbs me, for one, the robber may not have seen the cellphones until he robbed them, so again not their fault for having one as they could have been robbed regardless. I do think it is a responsibility of a big family oriented business to look out for their employees including enough security and safety precautions, because those will also help secure more safety for your paying customers.
 

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
I don't understand how carrying a cellphone is carrying valuables. In today's age, I would say walking home from work at 1am without a cellphone would be considered much more dangerous. And if they get off of work at 1am they may not have someone to walk home with. The whole, they shouldn't have had a cellphone and they wouldn't have gotten robbed thing is what disturbs me, for one, the robber may not have seen the cellphones until he robbed them, so again not their fault for having one as they could have been robbed regardless. I do think it is a responsibility of a big family oriented business to look out for their employees including enough security and safety precautions, because those will also help secure more safety for your paying customers.

top of the line phones can go up to 800 USD when "unlocked".
but agree with you.. considering the risk of phones having apps to track via GPS.
 

BigTxEars

Well-Known Member
Thats very good to hear. Do you have a link for the story?

Ha hope they get to enjoy some time in a nice cell, maybe a cold Hungryman frozen dinner, and somebody to rough them up. Might knock some sense in their heads. Either that or they get out, do it again and again until they hurt or kill somebody or hopefully that happens to them before they can.

As a parent that must suck having to turn your kid in but it might just turn him around and save him longterm.
 

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