Metal detectors now in place

Alicemouse: having been in law enforcement for a couple of years,(30 years to be exact)I tend to agree with you. However I would like to point out a couple of thing, first this gun episode at the MK occurred a very short time ago and even Disney as "powerful" as they re could not have ordered and gotten into place these metal detectors in such a short time, so I really believe their introduction right after the incident is a co-incidence. Secondly, this idiot (for lack of a better name) was carrying this snub nose revolver on his person and NOT in any bags etc. so it would not have been detected in any bag check. The ONLY reason he was caught was through the diligence and very sharp observation of the Disney Security Guard who observed an anomaly (bulge) in his attire and notified a Sheriffs Dept. Deputy who was nearby. This Disney Security Guard in my estimation deserves not only a very large thank you but also a raise in pay and a promotion for his vigilance. In my estimation these metal detectors unfortunately are becoming in this day and age a necessary evil where large crowds of people congregate.

It doesn't really do much. Anyone could drive to the Contemporary, get on a monorail and shoot it up, blow it up, etc. and effectively do just as much damage as in MK.

Also, no more adult costumes, even at the Halloween party. That's a bummer for the adults who like the magic. I don't think that terrorists or nut jobs generally thinking of finding a costume before shooting people up. I'm also imagining the wait to get in with the metal detectors. Watches, belt buckles, jewelry, etc. Oh man. I do have to say that their bag checks are pretty weak. Some guards are more thorough than others.

It's unfortunate that the world has come to this but I'm not all that surprised that metal detectors have been installed. Yes it still leaves resorts, transportation, etc vulnerable, but it'd be hard to protect them all. I think it's good that Disney is upping safety measures where they can.

It's scary the way the world is going and I hope it gets better before it gets worse.

While we were there Thanksgiving, I did notice more of a "security" presence around the parks/resorts/Disney Springs area. This was of course just days after the attacks on Paris. With a "worldwide travel alert" I can understand. But I felt safe and I didn't feel intruded upon. We never saw exceptionally long lines to get in. (we don't carry bags so we just walked thru) I never saw anyone hassled or anyone that looked upset or uncomfortable with the situation.

Now, the story about the guy with the gun. I agree with alicemouse, the story didn't seem quite right to me. But that is just my opinion. I do think that metal detectors are going a bit far. And I have to also think that they couldn't have pulled all of that off so quickly after the gun incident. If someone or some group does want to target Disney, a metal detector doesn't stop them.

With that said, I will admit... we were in line for Rockin Roller Coaster and we had just watched the Aerosmith spiel and we were all herding thru the door for loading. I turned around to a young man who was wearing his back pack on his chest. For a split second my mind went crazy thinking why is he holding it that way? What is in there? What is he going to do? Then I calmed down and thought "he had to go thru bag check, there is nothing in there that is going to hurt all these people in line." It's a shame that is the world we live in now...

As a Law Enforcement Officer- I am sad to agree that these are the times we live in... and while a terrorist or deranged person who wants to damage people or property will inevitably succeed on some level... I have felt for some time that Disney's parks are a sitting target for an attack - either by an organized group or by one individual. While metal detectors may not stop everyone, they will weed out a few and in the course, perhaps save a life or two. Another consideration is that if something happened at Disney-one of the first civil questions would be "what did Disney offer or do to prevent this?". Disney can now say they increased their screening process and offered one more step in a level of protection. Sure, they will still get sued but its all about limiting their final financial liability. As VetteLover said- the guard who observed the bulge (gun) in the man's pants certainly should be well praised and rewarded for doing what he did. On a side note, The article I read said the suspect was an attorney. He also said he had a concealed weapons permit which was found to have expired ten years ago. Strange.

Walt Disney World isn't the only park using metal detectors.

http://www.insidethemagic.net/2015/12/walt-disney-world-seaworld-universal-orlando-install-metal-detectors-at-theme-park-entrances/

That's really interesting, I hadn't heard that before.

We had our first experience with the metal detectors at Hollywood Studios last night. There were only a few detectors and not everyone went through. They seem to pick random people. Erik was sent through while I went through bag check. This was also at 7:00PM so maybe they relax it a bit later in the day.

I know that nowhere is actually safe. Life if dangerous, and there is never a guarantee that something "bad" won't happen. I try to trust in Disney security, even though I find it annoying. Over many trips I've seen quite a few incidents where their fast response has both protected the public from crime and saved lives.

The thing that I didn't like about the new security checkpoints is that all the images that I saw had them staffed with subcontractors in pop-up tents, not Disney security. That, I don't trust so much, and it doesn't really do anything to increase my feeling of security because I don't know anything about that company's values or training program.

I was just in HS this evening and last night, for the final lighting of the Osborne lights, and i thought the exact same thing.

I have been chosen at random twice so far while at Disneyland to go through the additional screening. Once after going through bag check by the main entrances to the parks. Today before getting on the monorail at Downtown Disney to go back to Disneyland after having lunch with my cousins before they left.

It must be my lucky day. I ran back to my hotel to drop my purchases off and put on a sweatshirt. I got picked again coming back to the park!

I got picked again this morning.

Yes, what are you doing??

Lol. Apparently making eye contact and saying hello will get you picked.

Ken got picked first time in.

I only got picked twice on this trip. I set off the detector going through at Epcot this morning. Not sure why. I didn't have anything in my pockets. The security guy said I may have bumped it.

I wonder if the pins in my ankle would set it off.

My hubby has metal in his wrist and carries a card from his surgeon with him "just in case". He did set the airport detector off. All he had to do was show them his card and they let him on thru.

We only got picked one time to go through and it was our first day when we arrived at the parks around 2pm. Jon took the bags and stroller through bag check and I carried Penny through the "No Bags" line. Both Jon and I separately got picked, but there was also virtually no one entering the park so they probably needed to send people through to meet their quota. We never got selected a single time besides that.

Thanks Belinda!

I've always felt that Disney could do more to increase the safety of its guest, & in today's world/reality, they cannot just hide their head in the sand and hope for the best.

I applaud Disney's proactive measures and I hope they generously compensated that alert security guard!

So, do they follow up with a wand check to verify its the wrist setting off the alarm? If not, there's a security flaw right there. If they just wave someone through because they have a card, that person could have anything in their pockets rendering the check useless.

I think security checks are mostly for show anyway. If someone really wants to get something into a park or onto a plane, they will.

I've actually been reading up quite a bit about this since it's now an issue for me. From various sources around the internet, if Airport TSA accepts your card or not is pretty much by good grace. The policy is that cards and notes from your doctor don't matter anyone and everyone claiming to have surgical metal gets the scan, the wand and then frisked. Nothing for me to do but be polite while I'm groped in public and treated like a criminal because I broke my leg.

My dad's knee replacement metal set off the scanners... He had his doctor card but they still did a body pat down.