Security- Park stories

[markstudy]

I'm new around here. Love the site.

Born and raised in Florida, I've been a huge fan of WDW since it opened in the 70's and really enjoy hearing about what goes on from the cast members.

I'd love to hear some stories about Disney's Park Security.

The story is always getting good :fishlies: when you guys say "we called Security and they took over...." :aliens:

More details please :brazilia:

[BRWombat]

Hey markstudy! I don't have any Disney security stories, thankfully. But I wanted to write and say

to from :wallaby: and !!! :D:

[Big Wallaby]

Hey, Wombat beat me to it. Ditto from the other marsupial.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Welcome to the SGT!!! I have noticed in a lot of the stories, that when security gets involved, it seems like the CM's let security handle it and go back to doing what they were doing!! Hmmmm?

[Zazu]

Welcome to the SGT!!! I have noticed in a lot of the stories, that when security gets involved, it seems like the CM's let security handle it and go back to doing what they were doing!! Hmmmm?

Well, that *is* one of the reasons they're there.

When working attractions, an irate guest can shut down the whole show, even if--or especially if--they're just standing there arguing. If I can't clear the station platform, I can't dispatch the train, and pretty soon the whole railroad has shut down. If I can get security to move them off the platform and listen to them rant, one or two thousand other guests can keep on having fun.

Of course, Security only works for the milder problems, the ones involving being in the wrong place or screaming. Once somebody becomes a danger to themselves or others, we generally bypass Security and dial 911 directly. On those occasions I've done so, OCSD usually shows up faster than Security, and they usually bring a posse of managers around to see what's going on.

I've gone from, "Sir, you cannot stand here," to "You have the right to remain silent..." in under three minutes!

[markstudy]

Thanks guys :) for the welcomes

I was hoping someone knew a security cast member or had a husband, boyfriend, wife.... that might fill them in on the stories after the fact.

I'm trying to ask these questions in the interest of fun stories instead of prying into Disney's secrets

I've heard stories about security dressed as tourist to roam the parks? Must be a cool job to try and look busy, yet walk around all day.

I guess they also do a good job getting security or 911(police) to you guys pretty fast, must be personnel staged close by

[Theme Park Where]

Yeah, all the parks have "plain clothes" security who wander around the parks to catch shoplifters and the like. When I worked at Sea World as a character, our changing room was right behind the investigations office, and the plainclothes guys would hang around and chat inbetween our character sets. The walls were thin, and we would frequently hear them in their office with some SG who had been caught doing something they shouldn't waiting for OPD to come take them away. Our favorite was during the cheerleader competitions. They used to compete at Sea World before they moved over to Disney, and the teams were very difficult to work with. They tended to wander the park with NO interest in animal exhibits or shows (that was before SW had roller coasters), playing their boom boxes very loudly, trash talking other teams, and they would push little kids out of the way to have their group photos taken with Shamu and friends. After a particularly tough competition season, we heard investigations absolutely drilling someone in their office. Turns out the winning team had several cheerleaders who had been caught shoplifting by the plainclothes guys. They were hauled off Downtown, and the cheerleading commission actually YANKED the trophy out of the winning coach's hand in the front of the park and handed it to the runner up! I was out on set at the time, and I wanted to cheer so badly you wouldn't believe it!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Well, that *is* one of the reasons they're there.

When working attractions, an irate guest can shut down the whole show, even if--or especially if--they're just standing there arguing. If I can't clear the station platform, I can't dispatch the train, and pretty soon the whole railroad has shut down. If I can get security to move them off the platform and listen to them rant, one or two thousand other guests can keep on having fun.

Of course, Security only works for the milder problems, the ones involving being in the wrong place or screaming. Once somebody becomes a danger to themselves or others, we generally bypass Security and dial 911 directly. On those occasions I've done so, OCSD usually shows up faster than Security, and they usually bring a posse of managers around to see what's going on.

I've gone from, "Sir, you cannot stand here," to "You have the right to remain silent..." in under three minutes!

Well, removing someone from a situation sometime takes care of it fast. I know that getting the SG offstage would be the priorty!

In the few times I have participate in similar situations, it is amazing how fast things change when you put them in an enviroment that they are unsure of themselves in!!

[Big Wallaby]

Good point, GP. Even if you've been in the parks a hundred times before, unless you've been a Cast Member at MK, or lived in a nuclear disaster shelter your whole life, you're going to be way out of your element the moment you hit the Utilidors. Many places, there is no visual way to know which way is out (and if you were running from someone, you wouldn't have time to stop and read the signs that tell you where you are and where you might come out. Very disorienting, to say the least. Great way to say, "Okay, now you're on our turf!"

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Good point, GP. Even if you've been in the parks a hundred times before, unless you've been a Cast Member at MK, or lived in a nuclear disaster shelter your whole life, you're going to be way out of your element the moment you hit the Utilidors. Many places, there is no visual way to know which way is out (and if you were running from someone, you wouldn't have time to stop and read the signs that tell you where you are and where you might come out. Very disorienting, to say the least. Great way to say, "Okay, now you're on our turf!"

I took the "Keys to The Kingdom Tour" this past summer and was very shocked and somewhat anxious when we got to the Utilidors. Being ex-EMS I kinda like to know where I am at all times and know several routes of egress (makes driving on vacation quite fun for the DW).

On a side note I was impressed that Security had a K9 unit. I saw a marked SUV pull up, I thought it was a patrol supervisor and out hopped a beatiful Belgian Malinois. You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Sean