Is Disney World Safe

[DABIGCHEEZ]

I sure hope so... I mean, they are pretty thorough with bag checks and all that, but as proven today, anything could happen...

Do you really think so?

I for one think it, if you have security checks... it should be consistent and thorough. Both of which are not done at WDW.

 

[Britt]

Yep it happens...can happen anywhere....do I feel safer? Yes some at WDW, but I don't relax my standards of what I do to deter things from happening...I keep my money at a minimum and not accessible to a snatcher....I keep two eyes on my children, and we don't enter or exit a bathroom or secluded area alone. I booked at trip to WDW right after 9/11....felt a bit squrimish but was so glad I did that. It helped overcome my fears.....not letting them dictate your life. When I read that Orlando had perhaps the largest percentage of convicted pedophiles it really didn't surprise me...just reminded me to keep up my guard when at home or on vacation in my favorite place. I figure 98% of park visitors have paid $$$ to be there for the right reasons....the other 2% I rationalize are not probable to be there and in action on the few days I am there.....
Goodness I most likely have more to be wary of driving my eldest to college and negotiating those parking lots..... Defensive driving 101.

Right??? I worry more about Pedos at WDW then I do a gunman!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

The reality...no place is entirely safe; however, you'll go mad if you start dwelling on how horror could unfold at every corner. You can only hope that the places in your travels have taken precautions to decrease the odds of an issue. We see bag checks at WDW, and I'm sure we can all think of times when they've been inconsistent, but places also have a variety of disaster measures in place that the general public just can't know. i.e. they've got more going on than just bag checks.

So, is it entirely safe...no, but no place is. And as heartbreaking as yesterday's tragic happenings were...just like after 9/11...you can do more to protect yourself, but you let them win if you proceed by living your life in constant fear.

 

[Wojciehowicz]

you're statistically more likely to be killed by one of those Florida Louisiana drivers on I-4 than you are by gunshots.

I know you don't mind, but I corrected your post.

 

[real mad hatter]

Right??? I worry more about Pedos at WDW then I do a gunman!

 

[Sl8500]

They do check strollers. On multiple occasions, I have had to remove items for under the stroller. In fact, one time the security person at the no bags line tried to make me go to the bag check line even though the only item under the stroller were coats for the kids.

 

[luv]

I kinda always assumed the bag search was more to make sure people weren't trying to sneak in a 6ft hoagie and a few six packs. As others have said there is more security than we realize, but I think they are primarily focused on more petty crimes like pick pockets and purse snatchers. It would be hard for anyone to prepare for or prevent what happened yesterday. I guess the only way to do it would be metal detectors and armed guards at the gates, but I doubt that will happen any time soon.

short of stripping everyone down and doing body cavity searches, you aren't going to stop anyone from doing anything.

Every prisons, where they DO do that, end up with contraband and drugs and stuff.

The best defense really is a good offense.

I hope Disney has some armed people, preferably former military, on staff. If I were in charge, they would.

 

[awoogala]

From what I have read, they even have an anti-terrorist group known as the goof troop. Bomb sniffing dogs. A very large security force. Cameras everywhere. Nothing is 100%, but they do seem to be on the ball with this. It's safer than, say, your average mall.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

When this conversation was in a thread a few months ago, a sheriff said that he always carries his gun under his jacket when he goes go to WDW and has never once had a cm see it. There are many people who carry concealed weapons into the park in their pockets/belt etc. As long as they are trained, like the sheriff, that's one thing, but these other people who may not be careful allowing the gun to go off or a child to see it and grab it scares me. But, as others have said, "We can't live our lives in fear. We have to be deligent and keep our eyes open."
I do wish they had walk through detectors. I know it would slow things down, but no more than at the large airports.
If I'm willing to wait in line for a ride an extended amount of time, then I most certainly am willing to wait for people to walk through a metal detector.

 

[awoogala]

Florida is a concealed weapon state. Tons of people are probably wearing guns in WDW, as they are everywhere else. Just check a concealed weapon list, everyone responds they try to pack in wdw. These people wear guns everywhere, at all times. Disney's "official" policy is that they are not allowed on property, and you will be asked to secure it in their lockbox, but without patdowns, that is never going to happen across the board. Apparently, they are not completely consistent in making it happen, but it's a rule, however loosely enforced.
This isn't a wdw difference, really, those people with concealed weapons permits are also carrying them next to you at the movies, at the bounce house, and the grocery.

 

[polynesiangirl]

Golly gee, I feel *so* much "safer" knowing that the general public at WDW with me is packing heat.

And with that, I better not post anymore in this thread. I'm going to give myself a time out. :-/

 

[dopeylover]

I would like to think that WDW is safe and secure although I'd feel better if security would check strollers a little more carefully and all the bags and whatnot stored under and on them. They open the gate to let them thru, but I never see them check them....

Rest assured they do at AK. I had a security officer push the back of daughters seat so hard to check the bottom she flew forward and hit her face. They check them, for sure.

 

[dopeylover]

What happened yesterday has effected me more than I imagined, It's just such a awful tragedy. Things like this have been on my mind so much lately. I am a Manager at a movie theater, and ever since that tragedy, I often think about how I would handle myself should something happen, and now I am forced to think of that taking my little one to school. I would imagine WDW is pretty on top of that sort of thing, but I think it's very sad to admit we're no longer truly safe anywhere.

 

[Beholder]

For myself, I'm not sure Disney is any more safe than a fooball stadium, local mall, or a bank. If a sociopath decides to make WDW a target, then his chance of success would, I imagine, be fairly large. Nothing is 100% secure against every assault, but I try not to let fear guide my life. I do try to always be vigilant, notice people and things that seem "odd" or out of place, especially where my family is concerned. My heart and prayers go out to all the families affected by this act.

 

[awoogala]

I don't want to get into a big political debate around gun control, but why on earth would you want to bring a gun to WDW? Besides the potential safety issues it would also be uncomfortable I would think. I understand that certain on duty officers or security would need to be armed, but random people entering the parks armed seems crazy to me. I never really thought about this before, but now that you mention it, you are probably right. I am surprised there havent been more issues. I have a few friends who are cops and they don't carry their guns everywhere they go even though they can. Of course we are usually pounding down a few adult beverages and everyone knows that guns and boos don't mix well.

I don't know. People who have these permits claim it is exactly what is needed to protect their families from situations where another nut has a gun. I don't know that everyone carrying guns is the answer. Seems like we are down the path towards old west showdowns at that rate. I am only pointing out, that people who are not gun types tend not to realize just how many people out there have concealed weapon permits and wear them everywhere.
I am scared if I think too much about it, since a permit does not necessarily state that you are cool in a crisis, it doesn't suddenly disappear if you decide to have a few too many drinks and can no longer make decent decisions. It doesn't make you a perfect shot, it doesn't say whether or not your wife left you this morning and you're about to crack.
My point was not to say "yay!everyone has a gun" but just to point out that many neighbors in the grocery store have them, and we don't necessarily remember that.

 

[Texas84]

The bag check is a front for profiling. They know who and what they are looking for but check everyone to look PC. And I have no problem with that.

I have a concealed carry permit. I don't feel the need to bring a firearm into the parks.

 

[ChrisFL]

Taking a property of 44 square miles, much of it with forest and preserve area and MAYBE some fences blocking off people...then, no, it isn't really safer than anywhere else if you look at it that way.

Are you safe inside the parks? More safe, yes, but if someone wanted to do some harm, they could. I won't even discuss any possible scenarios because doing that on a public forum is asking for trouble, and part of the reason why people do things...they get too many ideas, but that's another topic for another time.

 

[FettFan]

I don't want to get into a big political debate around gun control, but why on earth would you want to bring a gun to WDW? Besides the potential safety issues it would also be uncomfortable I would think. I understand that certain on duty officers or security would need to be armed, but random people entering the parks armed seems crazy to me. I never really thought about this before, but now that you mention it, you are probably right. I am surprised there havent been more issues. I have a few friends who are cops and they don't carry their guns everywhere they go even though they can. Of course we are usually pounding down a few adult beverages and everyone knows that guns and boos don't mix well.

Not at WDW. The security guards once made my dad rent a locker because he forgot his swiss army knife in his pants pocket. They actually walked with him over and made sure he got a locker.

 

[FettFan]

I know you don't mind, but I corrected your post.

I think we will just have to split the difference just blame Texas instead.

 

[TaoBoxer]

This is a super sensitive subject. So with all due respect, my reply is simply my view. I have a concealed carry permit & always carry. I would never in the face of a situation want to become a sitting duck. Better to be prepared than sorry.