News New security measures

[draybook]

This country takes itself way way way too seriously. I can see that we are still puritanical lunatics. I say, keep it simple, no clothing allowed, complete nudist, no shoes either. No cameras. No strollers. No hats. No glasses. No food or water. No fun.

Wake up people. The more you willingly give up, the more they take.

Exactly! That's why we will be speaking with our wallets if this holds true.

 

[FigmentsFangirl]

I dont see the problem with no costumes. I mean, I've seen people IN COSTUME in the parks, but never in full costume going through the bag check area. They're always in normal clothing and then et volia, find a bathroom and change clothing into costume and make up. So the notice of nobody over 14 in costume is actually an old rule. More info will be forthcoming the closer the halloween parties get.

I will say this though, certain people will need the lockers scattered through the park. Or at least someone else to carry their normal clothing in a backpack. Some cosplayers do good cosplays {an example of this is Anna Faith and Yaya Han} at Disney because sometimes, a Disney park is the only place to get proper castle in the background shots.

So like I said before, just theme these things, make the detectors LOOK as if they've always been there, dont just plunk them down, they look so out of place even if only for testing purposes

 

[surfsupdon]

That's an interesting question. If I were to wear a sari, for example, it would be considered a costume (and also somewhat insulting) - unless I were in India. The same for an old-fashioned square dance outfit - unless I was at a square dance. I would think that something that is worn everyday by others would not be a costume.

But they will have to clearly identify their reason for banning costumes, and might even have to define what is considered one. Are they concerned with seeing faces? Then a full burqa would be banned - even though it is every day attire for some. Are they concerned about concealment? Then any loose capes, long dresses, etc would be an issue.

One way or another they are going to anger someone.

With so many different styles of dress, I wonder what is deemed a costume. "Normal" dress is different for all. An emo "Hot Topic" style look is a costume on me, as is my "preppy surfer" look to the emo kid. But one would never know if you did not know the person.

I ask because if I were going to a MNSSHP, I would still want to wear my old style "square dance" costume. Heck, I even went one year as "Mr. Nowhere in Particular," an homage to Toad, I was dressed in a 5 piece tux, as the winner of a male pageant. Yes it was a costume, but not in the traditional sense.

I'd assume runDisney events are immune, because they start and finish outside of the Theme Parks. Just take your costume off before entering to party, ala Wine&Dine.

 

[EOD K9]

My two cents on a few things:
Re: Random searches - If Disney sets a random number every day. Meaning, if today every seventh person goes through the magnetometer, and tomorrow, its twelve, it is not profiling.

Re: Costumes - I think things that would make you look like something/someone else, and covers your face, would be how they interpret it. i.e full storm trooper outfit with mask.

Re: Magnetometers - There are sensitivity level settings. You can set them for low sensitivity so a few keys would do nothing, but something bigger and more mass like a gun would set the thing off.
Have a good one!

 

[The Mom]

. Give me an example of someone's every day attire that you would wear that would be a costume.

I wore a white uniform, white hose, white shoes, and a funny looking hat every workday for years. Yet people dressed up as a nurse at Halloween - and asked to borrow my cap and a uniform, stethoscope, etc.. The same with scrubs and a white lab coat - people dress up as doctor - wearing what many wear every day. If I were to dress in a matronly pink uniform wearing a hairnet and carrying a ladle, I might be dressing up as a lunch lady.

How about Tom Hanks and Antonio Banderas in "Philadelphia? They dressed as sailors, which was normal attire for those in the Navy at the time. I've seen people dress in flight suits - both as a costume, and stopping in at the grocery on the way home from work. There are still nuns wearing habits in my neighborhood - but I've also seen people dress up as a nun for Halloween parties.

Anything that is not your normal attire, but is daily (or on most days) attire for someone else is a costume for you. I have also seen people seriously dressing wearing pocket protectors, etc - that's how they dressed.

I also agree (and even mentioned ) that wearing daily wear from another culture as a costume would be insulting - if you are not a child, or performing in a play, etc.

 

[draybook]

I dont see the problem with no costumes. I mean, I've seen people IN COSTUME in the parks, but never in full costume going through the bag check area. They're always in normal clothing and then et volia, find a bathroom and change clothing into costume and make up. So the notice of nobody over 14 in costume is actually an old rule. More info will be forthcoming the closer the halloween parties get.

I will say this though, certain people will need the lockers scattered through the park. Or at least someone else to carry their normal clothing in a backpack. Some cosplayers do good cosplays {an example of this is Anna Faith and Yaya Han} at Disney because sometimes, a Disney park is the only place to get proper castle in the background shots.

So like I said before, just theme these things, make the detectors LOOK as if they've always been there, dont just plunk them down, they look so out of place even if only for testing purposes

Then you haven't been to MNSSHP during the last 7 years, because it's a sea of costumes coming from the bag check/turnstiles when I take our backpack/bags back to the locker after we change into our costumes at 4pm.

 

[FoozieBear]

I'm so very thrilled about the changes. Its a welcome and much needed addition to the park. The only downside might mean longer wait to get into the park, but if it's a guarantee of a safer visit, I'd trade my extra five minutes of waiting any day.

I wonder if it's really true that toy guns will no longer be sold? I can't imagine how much Disney is losing off Star Wars blasters and Pirate pistols by this move. Very bold move by them, and I'm surprised.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I'm so very thrilled about the changes. Its a welcome and much needed addition to the park. The only downside might mean longer wait to get into the park, but if it's a guarantee of a safer visit, I'd trade my extra five minutes of waiting any day.

There is no guarantee of a safer visit. These measures have repeatedly been shown as pointless and ineffective.

 

[s8film40]

There is no guarantee of a safer visit. These measures have repeatedly been shown as pointless and ineffective.

Yes. Here's a thought. If the security checks make things so much safer in the park then why do they need to ban toy guns inside the park. Seems like if you truly create a "safe zone" then that should be the best place to enjoy things like that without having to worry. I think on one hand this is being forced on the parks to make things safer but essentially admitting that it's not safe at the same time.

 

[AEfx]

As others have said, I really don't think this is about lawsuits. If something were to happen in Disney's parks, it would make post-9/11 look minor as how it affected the industry. Even if there isn't a credible threat, Disney is wise to protect the parks and likewise the entire Disney brand. I'd like to think they have the safety of their guests in mind as well, but either way they can't sit back and watch something happen, there's too much at stake.

The thing I think some folks are missing is that these measures don't actually make WDW any safer from the larger acts folks are talking about. If a true attack ever got so far as baggage check, it's already succeeded. That's why anything at the gates is really security theater when it comes to larger security issues.

Think about it...

I'm so very thrilled about the changes. Its a welcome and much needed addition to the park.

The only downside might mean longer wait to get into the park, but if it's a guarantee of a safer visit, I'd trade my extra five minutes of waiting any day.

Yes, because visits to WDW needs to be safer - I mean, the statistics of how many people go to WDW and never come out are quite staggering.

Does anyone have any graphs handy showing what 0 looks like compared to 0?

 

[AEfx]

I wore a white uniform, white hose, white shoes, and a funny looking hat every workday for years. Yet people dressed up as a nurse at Halloween - and asked to borrow my cap and a uniform, stethoscope, etc.. The same with scrubs and a white lab coat - people dress up as doctor - wearing what many wear every day. If I were to dress in a matronly pink uniform wearing a hairnet and carrying a ladle, I might be dressing up as a lunch lady.

That's why I am going to be very interested to see when Disney has to actually put into policy (and presumably writing) exactly what they are defining as a "costume". As you point out, what is or is not a costume is in the "eye of the beholder". It may seem silly, but for example, a Jedi robe isn't that discernible from some religious garb. That sort of thing. Even the definition of a basic mask.

I know some folks will scoff at that, saying "well obviously it wouldn't apply" and in some cases, yes, it would be obvious - but is Disney going to keep a library of religious texts from around the world, and a database of all known sects/offshots/etc. and all their individual requirements and beliefs? It may seem silly but you know Disney is struggling internally with this, trying to figure out how to do this without getting some groups on any "side" riled up.

 

[FigmentsFangirl]

Then you haven't been to MNSSHP during the last 7 years, because it's a sea of costumes coming from the bag check/turnstiles when I take our backpack/bags back to the locker after we change into our costumes at 4pm.

Nope never been to the halloween parties, yet I've always wanted to go

 

[PhotoDave219]

I wore a white uniform, white hose, white shoes, and a funny looking hat every workday for years. Yet people dressed up as a nurse at Halloween - and asked to borrow my cap and a uniform, stethoscope, etc.. The same with scrubs and a white lab coat - people dress up as doctor - wearing what many wear every day. If I were to dress in a matronly pink uniform wearing a hairnet and carrying a ladle, I might be dressing up as a lunch lady.

How about Tom Hanks and Antonio Banderas in "Philadelphia? They dressed as sailors, which was normal attire for those in the Navy at the time. I've seen people dress in flight suits - both as a costume, and stopping in at the grocery on the way home from work. There are still nuns wearing habits in my neighborhood - but I've also seen people dress up as a nun for Halloween parties.

Anything that is not your normal attire, but is daily (or on most days) attire for someone else is a costume for you. I have also seen people seriously dressing wearing pocket protectors, etc - that's how they dressed.

I also agree (and even mentioned ) that wearing daily wear from another culture as a costume would be insulting - if you are not a child, or performing in a play, etc.

Totally seeing you in another light now.

 

[AEfx]

Totally seeing you in another light now.

 

[twilight mitsuk]

What's against federal regulations?

banning religious attire

 

[twilight mitsuk]

This country takes itself way way way too seriously. I can see that we are still puritanical lunatics. I say, keep it simple, no clothing allowed, complete nudist, no shoes either. No cameras. No strollers. No hats. No glasses. No food or water. No fun.

Wake up people. The more you willingly give up, the more they take.

just make pajamas mandatory beyond the gates

 

[s8film40]

banning religious attire

But we were discussing that they did in fact ban religious attire.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Just got back from wdw. I'm don't have time to go back and read 53 pages, so hopefully this won't be too redundant. We were one of the first to have to go through the metal detector. It went off when I went through. They asked if I had my phone. I said yes, and pulled it out of my pocket. They then just said to go on. They didn't bother to ask if I had anything else in my other pocket, which I did, or make me go back through. I had a battery charger in my other pocket. I believe that's what made it buzz. I could have had anything in the other pocket.
That was the only time we were pulled aside and made to go through the detector. It really didn't slow things down at all for anyone who didn't have to go through. They were usually only pulling one to three people aside at a time. The one at DHS is right in front of the bag check stands, but the one in AK was way off to the side out of the way.
We only used the tram once, but they did say, in the little announcement, that no one over 14 can wear a costume. However, once we got into the park, there was a guest in footed pajamas made to look like a reindeer. I really couldn't figure out what she had on at first. It was really strange.

 

[Scuttle]

Yes. Here's a thought. If the security checks make things so much safer in the park then why do they need to ban toy guns inside the park. Seems like if you truly create a "safe zone" then that should be the best place to enjoy things like that without having to worry. I think on one hand this is being forced on the parks to make things safer but essentially admitting that it's not safe at the same time.

Once you step outside your house there really isn't a safe zone anymore. Anything can happen anywhere. The metal Detectors will not stop a determined person from doing harm. Just look up the multiple times undercover DHS and TSA has snuck stuff through the "security".

 

[backinaction]

I went down to disney a few days after the paris attacks and I was stopped several times while entering the park because i was wearing cargo shorts. They asked if they could see the inside of my cargo shorts. I was a bit taken aback because that had never happened to me before while walking into a park. If they put full body scanners in the parks I would be so ed. It already takes super long with the back check, and the bag check really does nothing.