Orlando Gunman Scouted WDW ...

[HarrisburgMouse]

Further to WDW1974's point, my wife, our baby (1 yo) and I are heading down Wednesday for a week. I was at a work meeting and got a text from my wife questioning whether we should still go. After talking it through tonight, we're coming (just like I did after 9/11 - when I lived in Pentagon City and watched the plane go into the Pentagon)... but the 9/11 trip, like so many other trips to WDW was an escape. This one is different. It's hard to "leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy" now.

 

[rob0519]

From a knowledgeable individual at TDO:

"Just to collaborate the People Magazine story, there is a record of his purchase and the use of a ticket for himself and a female Guest Noor Salman (who has been identified as his current potential wife, not the ex-wife) in April. It's likely his son was there, but no purchase was made since he was possible under 3. No other reservations were made (FastPass, resort, dining, recreation, etc.) His motive or intent I cannot vouch for, but they definitely do have investigators combing through all photos/videos captured."

My words now: it is not known whether this is the threat that started the metal detectors, but, if so, our leaders and law enforcement failed in such a horrific fashion that you have to wonder if they are capable of stopping any threats.

Detectors will be compulsory for ALL visitors just as soon as Disney (and likely UNI and SW) can make it workable. And your days of bringing food and beverage into the parks are done, so plan on that.

The days of bringing in everything but the kitchen sink in those double-wide strollers are likely done as well.

And, no, I don't think any of this could possibly prevent a true evildoer from committing mass murder at a theme park, but you gotta admire the thought process that people are ignorant enough to think this means business.

What is the source indicating he purchased two tickets, but made no reservations or acquired any Fastpasses? Where is this record? Who has it? How did the existence of this leak to the public? How was it discovered and leaked in less than 48 hours?

Maybe he ate Quick Service and paid with cash. Maybe he stood in the regular lines and took his kid on Peter Pan. Maybe he already decided to shoot up the club and he was going to die so he took this family out for one last time? None of us know any of these answers with any certainty. Until something official comes out from either the FBI, Orlando Police or Disney , his intent to shoot up the MK is just speculative. Disney Springs would seem like the more likely target.

The more it's talked about, the more it will sound like a dare to some other hater who wants his 15 minutes of fame for attacking Disney World. The more it's talked about the more like it is to happen.

 

[Figments Friend]

This is really unfortunate for WDW.....the recent press coverage.
Makes me wonder if there will be noticable decreases in attendance this Summer.

This Summer was looking a bit off beforehand, but after all the highly publicized happenings in Orlando I would imagine some people might be reconsidering.
The recent press coverage now circulating regarding Property being 'a potential target' will definately not help matters at all.
I do have to wonder how this is going to effect business and what the impact of those losses may be.
More cuts..?
More visable 'security'..?

I'm interested in seeing if there is a dip in attendance in the coming weeks and what the Company may do to try to counteract it with.
Also interested in seeing where this may lead to as far as changes in security or operations.

One thing is certain...it is a uneasy time in Orlando these days.


-

 

[ParentsOf4]

Disney's own abcnews.go.com is also reporting the story:

Orlando Shooter May Have Scouted Disney Properties, Official Says
By BRIAN ROSS & JAMES GORDON MEEK
Jun 13, 2016, 6:18 PM ET

The wife of Orlando shooter Omar Mateen is now cooperating with FBI investigators and has provided key details about his activity before the deadly nightclub shooting, including how he may have scouted a number of alternate locations for his attack, such as Disney properties in the area, a senior counter-terrorism official told ABC News.

Disney, the parent company of ABC News, declined to comment on the purported prior threat, but said it has been increasing security measures “for some time.”

“Unfortunately we’ve all been living in a world of uncertainty, and we have been increasing our security measures across our properties for some time, adding such visible safeguards as magnetometers, additional canine units, and law enforcement officers on site, as well as less visible systems that employ state-of-the-art security technologies,” a spokesperson for Disney said in a statement.​

 

[gmajew]

My words now: it is not known whether this is the threat that started the metal detectors, but, if so, our leaders and law enforcement failed in such a horrific fashion that you have to wonder if they are capable of stopping any threats.

This is a little harsh. My brother in law is FBI And I respect the day lights out of him and his peers. They stop threats daily we will never know or hear about.

So let's not Bash those that are trying to protect us. It is by far not an easy assignment.

 

[rob0519]

Disney's own abcnews.go.com is also reporting the story:

Orlando Shooter May Have Scouted Disney Properties, Official Says
By BRIAN ROSS & JAMES GORDON MEEK
Jun 13, 2016, 6:18 PM ET

The wife of Orlando shooter Omar Mateen is now cooperating with FBI investigators and has provided key details about his activity before the deadly nightclub shooting, including how he may have scouted a number of alternate locations for his attack, such as Disney properties in the area, a senior counter-terrorism official told ABC News.

Disney, the parent company of ABC News, declined to comment on the purported prior threat, but said it has been increasing security measures “for some time.”

“Unfortunately we’ve all been living in a world of uncertainty, and we have been increasing our security measures across our properties for some time, adding such visible safeguards as magnetometers, additional canine units, and law enforcement officers on site, as well as less visible systems that employ state-of-the-art security technologies,” a spokesperson for Disney said in a statement.​

"how he may have scouted a number of alternate locations for his attack, such as Disney properties". Again, more speculation, this time by Disney's own news outlet.

 

[alphac2005]

I was just out for a late lunch and the TVs had FOX News on and while I couldn't hear sound, I saw headlines about Disney and footage of the MK and the castle ... BTW, watching local news now and it is awful. No compassion at all ... very matter of fact. And pushing people who were involved for interviews ...

I streamed coverage from ORL having been quite familiar with the affiliates having lived there and my take-away was the same with many of the Orlando reporters, cold and rather disappointing. How many times do you have to pry and pick at a woman that is coming to the realization that her son is very likely among the deceased while you just keep droning on with inane questions? That was long standing WESH reporter Michelle Meredith in that lousy sequence. A reporter's job is to be unbiased in a story, but the coldness and prodding of the wounds that are so fresh are disgusting. It seems to speak to our society as a greater whole, numb and devoid of humanity. I'm so glad that I left that business, ugh, it's a cesspool. As it's noted, local news is best broken down into live - apartment - fire - weather.

Not to be political, rather a realist, it's pretty simple, machinery that was created for the battlefield has no place in a civilized society. A simple handgun, knife, you name it, doesn't inflict this kind of carnage. Our country is controlled by special interests ripping us apart at the seams and it's incredibly heartbreaking.

 

[gmajew]

Everyone needs to remember this could of happened in any city and club across America. It was not and is. It just an Orlando thing. People can be scouting every major tourist site in all of our cities. The fact is they have. It hit these spots and hit much smaller targets because they usually get caught on the big ones.

wdw is as safe as going to any major sporting event or the Willis tower. Or even walking the dc monuments.

America on a whole is still the safe. Not as safe as we once were but safe. Think 20 mass shooting in last 8 years. How many the 20 prior?

 

[alphac2005]

This is a little harsh. My brother in law is FBI And I respect the day lights out of him and his peers. They stop threats daily we will never know or hear about.

So let's not Bash those that are trying to protect us. It is by far not an easy assignment.

So right. While these events that happen are horrific, it's incredible the sheer volume that is prevented. If the general public knew of those numbers, we'd probably all lock our doors and never come out. A friend of my mothers is in the Secret Service and does do Presidential (former Presidents and First Ladies) along with his main duties, which is money laundering, the true focus of the Secret Service, and some of the stories are fascinating. What they do on a daily basis is rather impressive.

 

[gmajew]

So right. While these events that happen are horrific, it's incredible the sheer volume that is prevented. If the general public knew of those numbers, we'd probably all lock our doors and never come out. A friend of my mothers is in the Secret Service and does do Presidential (former Presidents and First Ladies) along with his main duties, which is money laundering, the true focus of the Secret Service, and some of the stories are fascinating. What they do on a daily basis is rather impressive.

yeah some of the stories you hear are amazing, and you hear never get to hear the juicy ones as they cannot discuss work ever.

 

[DHoy]

I don't think we need to imagine what the chaos would be if there was this sort of attack at downtown Disney. We only need to go back 6 months to when there was reported shooting at bongos (which turned out false) and the absolute chaos that ensued. ... I'm looking for that thread but can't find it.

http://m.nydailynews.com/news/crime/false-shot-fired-alarm-panic-disney-springs-article-1.2477390 Here's an article I could find

 

[cr3346]

They just said on CNN that the FBI has cell phone data that shows he was at a Disney location just hours before the shooting...

No source to link, other than watching CNN

 

[WDW1974]

In what capacity do you mean their business would be destroyed?

It's pretty obvious isn't it? I don't think there is any other way to explain it. Terror attack anywhere on property will signal the end of WDW as we know it. That's not some fear mongering conjecture, that's a cold hard fact

Asked and answered.

 

[WDW1974]

I just don't know if I agree with that. If airlines can come back from crashes I think it's possible for a theme park to do so. Because I'm of the opinion it's not if it's when and Id like to think that any business could survive senslessness inflicted upon them, even if they may have some liability in their failure to prevent it. But as discussed here, it's probably impossible to actually secure these locations completely.

A blood bath at a Disney or UNI (or any other) park would very likely spell their demise. Even if they were to reopen, after a suitable period of mourning (whatever that would be), it would just be a slower march to oblivion. I can't even imagine it nor do I wish to. But I understand it.

 

[WDW1974]

Sorry but that is just Trumpian level speculation. They speed at which this information was discovered and published makes your attempt to ignite a conspiracy ridiculous.

Please don't compare me to that hate-filled crackpot. I'm not trying to ignite anything, beyond intelligent discourse (which I realize is tough for some around here). Disney stands to have its O-Town ATM run dry if people stop coming. It stands to reason they'd want to be as proactive as possible in mitigating damage in the media. I'd do the same thing. So, please, put your conspiracy detector away. I keep mine next to my collection of LE Tin Foil Mouse Ears!

 

[WDW1974]

So you are saying that the local authorities were aware of the shooter was targeting WDW and then allowed him to buy assault weapons a few weeks later. C'mon. This is information learned after the fact. Given the fresh news about him fact finding gay clubs via hook up apps indicates he was looking for a gay themed target. He could have been scouting for Gay Days at WDW...but to say that Disney knew he was a suspect months before the shooting is irresponsible.

What next...Iger knew and didn't let Florida respond?

Again, enough of the hyperbole or I'll ignore the posts. What I am saying is that the FBI dropped the ball big time on this guy. And others as well. He never should have been hired to work security at a court house. And after THREE 'chats' with the Bureau, they should have conducted constant surveillance of him and he never should have been allowed to buy semi-automatic weapons legally.

Neither I nor my source suggested that Disney knew a thing about this man before he committed his atrocity.

 

[WDW1974]

What is the source indicating he purchased two tickets, but made no reservations or acquired any Fastpasses? Where is this record? Who has it? How did the existence of this leak to the public? How was it discovered and leaked in less than 48 hours?

You really expect me to name a source? This is someone in a position to know who is working with the authorities. It didn't leak to the public. It was given to me. The Feds have been spending a lot of time with Disney officials since this attack, as one could imagine. It didn't take very long (especially with Disney's vast data collection) for them to figure out he visited in April.

Maybe he ate Quick Service and paid with cash. Maybe he stood in the regular lines and took his kid on Peter Pan. Maybe he already decided to shoot up the club and he was going to die so he took this family out for one last time? None of us know any of these answers with any certainty. Until something official comes out from either the FBI, Orlando Police or Disney , his intent to shoot up the MK is just speculative. Disney Springs would seem like the more likely target.

If you actually read what was written, then you might realize that not one individual has said on this thread (unless they did in the last 3-4 hours and the post was removed) that the shooter had any intent to attack the MK (even though many network newscasts have shown footage of the MK -- as well as some IOA and DCA for good measure). And I am not speculating on him doing anything beyond what he did and what has been reported.

The more it's talked about, the more it will sound like a dare to some other hater who wants his 15 minutes of fame for attacking Disney World. The more it's talked about the more like it is to happen.

Nope. That's just the world we live in. The fact is the MK has been a target for crazies for decades. We've been very lucky that either nothing was attempted or it was stopped and we never heard about it (most likely the latter).

 

[WDW1974]

This is a little harsh. My brother in law is FBI And I respect the day lights out of him and his peers. They stop threats daily we will never know or hear about.

So let's not Bash those that are trying to protect us. It is by far not an easy assignment.

I am glad your bro-in-law is one of the good guys. That's noble and I respect that.

But the bureau (mixed with insane gun laws ... this isn't the Wild West ... it was safer back there!) dropped the ball with this guy and they have with numerous mass casualty shooters in the recent past. I realize they have to do the impossible and be right all the time. But some of these situations (like this one) are just inexcusable in my book. And now 49 people are dead. And others are fighting for their lives, may be maimed forever and will certainly never be the same even when their physical injuries are healed.

 

[WDW1974]

I streamed coverage from ORL having been quite familiar with the affiliates having lived there and my take-away was the same with many of the Orlando reporters, cold and rather disappointing. How many times do you have to pry and pick at a woman that is coming to the realization that her son is very likely among the deceased while you just keep droning on with inane questions? That was long standing WESH reporter Michelle Meredith in that lousy sequence. A reporter's job is to be unbiased in a story, but the coldness and prodding of the wounds that are so fresh are disgusting. It seems to speak to our society as a greater whole, numb and devoid of humanity. I'm so glad that I left that business, ugh, it's a cesspool. As it's noted, local news is best broken down into live - apartment - fire - weather.

Not to be political, rather a realist, it's pretty simple, machinery that was created for the battlefield has no place in a civilized society. A simple handgun, knife, you name it, doesn't inflict this kind of carnage. Our country is controlled by special interests ripping us apart at the seams and it's incredibly heartbreaking.

Agreed 100% on all counts.

God help us if this shooting doesn't do what the Columbines and Sandy Hooks and Auroras haven't. Weapons of mass killing were never guaranteed by our forefathers and, even if they had been, times and realities change. Maybe I didn't understand my history, but I don't believe Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson would have advocated Americans having the 'right' to commit mass slaughters on a regular basis.

 

[fosse76]

As a few people have mentioned, it is not a crime to fail to report a crime or knowledge of a crime. There are some exceptions, but they are very specific (such as an obligation to one's employer, or suspected child abuse; doctors and lawyers are required to report knowledge of a crime about to be committed).

If a wife knows her husband is about to commit a crime, she is not obligated to report it, just as I would not be obligated to report a crime I witnessed if I came across a crime scene while walking down the street.

It gets a little more complicated though, since a spouse cannot be obligated to testify against his/her spouse. This is known as spousal privilege. So even if she had been obligated to report knowledge of a crime, as his wife she would be protected from prosecution because of this privilege. However, just note the privilege is voluntary on the side of the testifying spouse. So unlike attorney-client privilege or Doctor-patient privilege, there is no legal obligation to remain quiet. Unless, of course, she too was involved.