Unattended Items

[Syndrome]

I am a well versed in Security, being that I spent 6 years of it.... It is true, bag checks for about 95% of time are for making everyone else feel better....

Yep, I always think that same thing as I stand at WDW getting my bag checked while I feel the bulge of the Mace on the key chain in my pocket.

Universal is even more ineffective. On Halloween Horror Nights, you have to go through metal detectors. Thing is, if you come early and have HHN tickets you can just stay in the park. And they don't use the detectors if you come in early. If you want to pack heat, just do Stay and Scream.

[Hawkeye]

Ahhh, unattended bags. Made that security call several times. My most memorable was when I was in the wheelhouse position of the Riverboat and I was walking down from the wheelhouse on the Texas deck down to the Promenade deck to open the gates. And guess what I saw ... yep, a backpack just sitting there. I open the gate, go through it, and close it again. I indicate to the greeter CM that we're not opening the turnstiles just yet. There happens to be a manager on the landing at the time, and I flag him over. "James, we've got an unattended on the Texas deck." "Are you serious." "James, you know I wouldn't kid you about that." The look on his face was classic attractions management. Basically a case of "Well fuck, now I have to 101 an attraction and the numbers will go down, but I have to do it." So I call it in, and then give my best "Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be loading for the such and such trip." Yeah such fun. I hated that spiel.


Now I work in resorts doing Lobby Concierge. I see suitcases *everywhere*. Its been a total mind fuck changing how I look at things. What used to be a 5 minute look around to see if the owner is there could be 20+ mins as a guest stands in line waiting to check in (I'm at Coronado, we get *insanely* busy some times. I made a comment about it to my leaders once, and most of them just don't get it because they never worked in the parks. One of my park ops managers warned me that resort life was way different. She was right, but its still so much better. Guests are actually people, not just numbers, and that's what makes it awesome.

[GuestJockey]

We had an unattended cause a HUGE headache for us a few weeks ago. It was right inside DCA in front of the private entrance to the Grand Californian - you know, where all the SGs park their strollers with all their personal belongings still inside them and walk away. So security closes off the area and brings out "Pluto" to check the bag, and all these Guests are coming back trying to get to their strollers but they can't until Security's finished with their check. Simple enough, right? Nope. Instead of telling all the stroller Guests they just have to wait a few minutes then they can get to their strollers, SOMEONE* tells them that 'Once we're done with the search, we'll take ALL of the items inside the area to Lost & Found. You can go get your stroller there." Not only is that NOT what security does, but now I'VE got a line of angry parents at Lost & Found wondering why their stroller isn't there yet and complaining that their kids are cold (sweatshirts are in the stroller) and they need their camera for the Electrical Parade (camera is in the stroller) and they want to go home (car keys are in the stroller). Of course, this is a night when we're super short staffed due to 3 call ins, so I leave the lead keys with the tour lead and take off for the Grand gate to grab as many strollers as I can push and bring them back to L&F. (Some of the looks on Guest's faces as they saw me in costume pushing 2 personal strollers and pulling a 3rd behind me through the park were priceless. I'm sure people think CMs steal strollers now because of me.)

*Security maintains that they weren't the ones who told the Guests L&F, and pointed the finger at the Main Entrance CMs at the Grand gate, who promptly pointed their fingers back at Security. Neither offered to help me cart 6 double strollers back to L&F.

[felinefan]

I belong to a writer's forum, and in a discussion of seeing a movie in a theater vs. renting the video, one of our members who lives in Denmark said that in Denmark, when you go to the theater, it's assigned seating. And if somebody sits in a seat they weren't assigned to, it's a real God-help-you-because-nobody-else-will situation. Can you imagine if something like that happened in the parks, as regards to strollers, unattended items, etc.? How about a sign that says, "Unattended items left for more than 5 minutes will be detonated by our security squad. No exceptions." Then put some actual blown-up strollers, etc. on display in a case, with a sign saying "We're not kidding, either." :twisted:

[drcorey]

I belong to a writer's forum, and in a discussion of seeing a movie in a theater vs. renting the video, one of our members who lives in Denmark said that in Denmark, when you go to the theater, it's assigned seating. And if somebody sits in a seat they weren't assigned to, it's a real God-help-you-because-nobody-else-will situation. Can you imagine if something like that happened in the parks, as regards to strollers, unattended items, etc.? How about a sign that says, "Unattended items left for more than 5 minutes will be detonated by our security squad. No exceptions." Then put some actual blown-up strollers, etc. on display in a case, with a sign saying "We're not kidding, either." :twisted:

wow, I hope no one ever leaves a box of kittens in the parks.

[DisneyMom]

wow, I hope no one ever leaves a box of kittens in the parks.

And then there's the SGs who leave their kids unattended in the stroller

[Double T]

And then there's the SGs who leave their kids unattended in the stroller

In the stroller parking area by Autopia and FNSV.

Where there is absolutely NO SHADE.

Yeah, there was security waiting for them when they got off of Autopia. :twisted:

T

[Hawkeye]

In the stroller parking area by Autopia and FNSV.

Where there is absolutely NO SHADE.

Yeah, there was security waiting for them when they got off of Autopia. :twisted:

T

Year, year and a half ago or so, PotC at WDW, same thing. CM went to move a stroller in the stroller parking area, and there was a baby in it. SGs had more than security waiting for them. Orange County was there. They basically took over the AdLib management office for several hours.

[Doctor McKey]

We had a person who decided it was good idea to abadnon their on Disney ECV in the load side of the Magic Kingdom Resort station. When I noticed it.. i started to the timer... 15 mins later I notified the manager and supervisors, called security. about 10 mins later the Security had all hands on deck ( the K9 unit, Security Manager, etc... ) their as we closed the Resort line for a unattended Item check. By policy when the item comes out to be be harmless, we impound the offending object at MO4 ( Guest Relations ) untill the person comes to claim it... when that happenes, security has a nice chat with them about their choices and where and what they leave laying around.

So to get on with the story, about 30 mins after the ECV was impounded, the "owner" of the rented scooter returns and starts to complain about his ECV being missing... We sent one of our veteran pilots over to explain where he could go and get it back. I do believe that the SG was struck by the infomouse Stupid Stick ( the close cousin of the Ugly Stick ).


The Doctor

[Smile.Like.You.Mean.It]

(Some of the looks on Guest's faces as they saw me in costume pushing 2 personal strollers and pulling a 3rd behind me through the park were priceless. I'm sure people think CMs steal strollers now because of me.)

I've been there before. Guests like to park their strollers/wheelchairs along the sides of our entrance and lucky optimized CMs get to move them across the way. Along with the 'looks' you mentioned, we get to fight the oncoming traffic, which is made up of SGs that aren't inclined to stop for a CM pushing strollers. :bikehit: I won't hesitate to run you over!!! Ugh, I wish. Anyway, after the ride Guests come up to Greeter asking about their missing strollers. In turn we silently point across the way where the Stroller Parking signs are clearly shown.