Here's A Reason To Carry At Disney!

[strat81]

Forget Disney... drive the extra hour and go to Kennedy Space Center. They (unfortunately) have metal detectors since the tour takes on federal property and within spitting distance of folks assembling parts for the shuttle and Int'l Space Station.

However, while I was at Kennedy last week, I did not see one person I would label as unsavory. Busch Gardens had plenty, but Kennedy was nice. I'd rather look at rockets and educate myself than have my brain fried by a 6 ft mouse and annoying kids.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I am always a little amazed when people complain about "annoying kids" at Disney World. Walt Disney said he built the park because people needed a place to go to take their kids. Thus children are always going to be, and always should be, the focus of WDW.

If you don't want to be around children, don't go.

The last time I was there I overheard an older couple talking about all the annoying children. I asked them what they expected, and they just look dumbfounded.

 

[skyder]

I'm a bit surprised that this hasn't degenerated into a discussion of...
Mouseguns.

Sorry, I'll be quiet now.

 

[Technosavant]

They just don't do anything badly.

+1

Go to an amusement park like one of the Six Flags parks, then go to Disney World. Sure, the Disney rides aren't as intense (with only about 2 or 3 exceptions), but there is just no competition. Everything in Disney is expensive (if staying in one of their hotels, BUY THE MEAL PLAN), but even the cheapest food there tastes great. Everything is done exceedingly well, and if you don't have a good time while you're there, it's your own fault.

I do not remember if the Caribbean Beach hotel has in-room safes (was there in late Sept); just call the resort where you will be staying and ask. Leaving it in the car is not a problem, the resorts have decent security (not just anybody can waltz onto the resort properties).

I look forward to the next time I visit Disney World, I think the wife and I will try to make it to Epcot's Food and Wine festival next year.

Although I generally feel naked when without my CCW piece (it's like leaving home without my keys or wallet), I never once felt a desire to have it while at Disney. We stayed in their hotel, using Disney transport, and even when walking around Downtown Disney (I think we were there no later than 9pm though), I felt the environment was controlled enough to where I had no worries. If you stay late in the DD area (or go outside the Disney properties), your experience can (and probably will) vary, but on-property, just relax and enjoy things.

 

[ZMP_CTR]

There isn't a way to know when and where you may need to defend yourself. I always find it amusing when companies/stores/businesses post no carry signs. The signs don't have any affect on criminals. They still carry. They only affect law-biding citizens.

 

[whitetiger7654]

"Last time I went there was a few years ago for Halloween Horror Nights. They did use metal detecting wands on each and every person who entered. Maybe because it was a night time event and because a lot of teenagers were going there was the reason. In any event, after that I determined to not go back again."

That is Universal not Disney. That is also only for Horror Nights. Universal also does not have metal detectors normally. They have the same security as Disney. But for Horror nights with people out being stupid they take extra precaution and have metal detectors. I see nothing wrong with that. They have alcohol out then and everyone is drinking heavily. I'm actually glad they have the metal detectors at the door.

 

[balletto]

Slightly on/off topic:
I spent the last week in Orlando for a conference, staying at a hotel on the Disney property. After visiting Epcot for an afternoon, and downtown disney for dinner Monday night, I've come to the conclusion that there may be no higher stress place to vacation.

Disney has park design, optimized for efficient extraction of $$$ out of visitors pockets, so well thought out, that my credit cards started vibrating within a 3 mile radius of the property boundaries

 

[MrPeter]

However, if you do carry, consider retention issues if you're on a ride. (Or becoming trigger happy if you ride It's A Small World. That ride is like the international version of Hogan's Alley).

Oh man I have been on that ride. What I wouldn't do to have a belt-fed mounted on that boat!
If you think I'm insane or deranged, then you haven't been on that ride.

 

[atomchaser]

I'd stay away from the parks in the summer. They are hotter than Hades with all the blacktop and throngs of people. I live about an hour away and have been to Downtown Disney a few times. No different really than any high end outdoor Mall. It's like any other parking lot -- situational awareness and avoiding trouble are the key.

It's probably pretty attractive to criminals -- lot's of drunk tourists with money.

 

[mpmarty]

Been to Disneyland and Disneyworld. Anyone who hasn't been to one or the other (one in Florida and one in California) needs to go, just like anyone who hasn't had a root canal needs the experience. Worst experiences I've ever suffered through, never again!!

 

[scurtis_34471]

I used to hate Small World too. Then I took my 2 year-old daughter on it and watched her eyes light up. She was singing the song for the next two weeks. Now we go on it every time we visit the Magic Kingdom. There are so many rides that she can't go on or doesn't enjoy that we kind of owe it to her to make sure she gets to ride her favorite at least once.

Going to Disney with other adults is an entirely different experience than going there with kids. Both are enjoyable, but for completely different reasons. My wife and I love the annual Food and Wine Festival at Epcot and go every year. Wanding around, tasting wine and sampling food while poking in shops is definitely not a kid thing. That's what's so great about Disney. If you know where to look, there is something for everyone.

For those of you more into thrill rides, Disney has been making headway in that department for quite awhile. The Rock N' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror at Disney/MGM Studios are both fantastic, as are Expedition Everest and Dinasaur at Animal Kingdom. Mission Space at Epcot is cool, if vomit inducing. Test Track and Soarin' are also a lot of fun. Magic Kingdom is obviously more tame and the rides are more dated, but Space Mountain is still a lot of fun and Splash Mountain remains the best flume ride I've ever been on. Speaking of water rides, Cali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom is great too.

I should also put in a plug for the safari and other animal exhibits at Animal Kingdom. They are excellent and include the best tiger exhibit I've seen anywhere, including the San Diego Zoo and Busch Gardens.

 

[welldoya]

I wouldn't have to be held up at gunpoint.......I felt robbed everytime I went to Disney. Thank God my kids are grown and I won't have to visit the magic kingdom again. Anyplace that wants $4 for a Coke is not my kind of place.
From Forbes magazine about Disney CEO Michael Eisner :

During the last five years, Eisner, 59, made $737 million. That's about 19 times the $38 million made by the average CEO on Forbes.com's First Annual CEO Value Survey. And while Eisner's personal income grew during that time, Disney's five-year net income shrank an average of 3.1% yearly. The average company included in the survey grew its net income by 19% over the five-year period.


CEO compensation is absolutely out of control folks. It's legalized robbery.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Anyplace that wants $4 for a Coke is not my kind of place.

Cokes are not $4 at WDW at any of the many places I have ever bought Cokes at. They are more like $2.50.

Where at Disney did you buy this $4 Coke?

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Point taken. Too bad all states don't reciprocate. An average joe like me isn't going to obtain a non-resident permit unless it's for a state I visit often. I've been to Florida twice in eighteen years and I'm not planning a return trip.

Yeah, but the Florida permit is accepted by something like 28 or 30 states. It's well worth having even if you never, ever go to Florida.

 

[kentucky bucky]

Thanks for all the replies. I am preparing myself for "It's a small world" and will wear a tight head band to keep my brains from oozing out of my ears. The hardest part of the trip will be going to Florida without bass fishing in one of those great fishing lakes. I will have to be careful, but I'm packing at least outside of the main parks.

 

[Willard]

Kentucky, you should check out the fishing on property, maybe the ladies will cut you some slack for a day or half day. There are soome decent bass in the lake

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/moreMagic/otherRecDetail?id=OtherRecFishingDetailPage

We go every year with our kids and love it. I never riode on "It's a Small World" until I had little ones, they certainly enjoy iy- when my youngest was 2 he rode it over and over-the family took turns taking him lol...now he likes Space Mountain. they grow up quick.

 

[MDW GUNS]

We (kids are now 3 & 5) went last year and it was great.
We stayed in the Delphine and the rooms were nice (wall safe in every room).
Pricing is a little steep, a bottle of water is $4.50! But hey, it's was only for 4 nights.
Anyway, in the hotel I left my P2000sk in the safe and carried it in the parks IWB.
Security checks the bags and stroller, but no other checks.

 

[MrChristian]

There is a "Buzz Lightyear" ride at the park that has a front-mounted laser cannon. You get to spin the car around and rack up points as you blast away at reactive targets. My wife and kids all love it as we compete for the best score.

 

[USMC_2674]

I love Disneyland. Worked there in 1995. Great place to work. Great place to play.

Liability is the reason they don't allow carry in the parks. Even then, if you are found to be carrying, they just ask you to return to your car and come back without it.

 

[TnRebel]

I lived in Orlando before The RAT came and the only Maj. employment was the OJ factory's and Harris, when Disney sneaked in the middle of the night and bought up all the land through Phony corp. We could sleep at night with the windows open and not lock our doors when we went to work, The crime rate was almost non existence, so Don't tell me the The RAT is the best thing to happen to Orlando , that's why I moved to Melbourne,. there is an average of 12 robberies a DAY and at least 1 shooting a DAY now.

 

[FortyCalGlock]

TnRebel is right. We moved from Melbourne to Orlando in 83. NTC Orlando was there before the rat, too. The tourism brings us a lot of tax money, but it also brought us a population explosion (on the nuclear level), huge traffic issues, poor paying jobs, crime, etc. The mouse is great to work for if you don't mind $7-8 hr. Good luck paying rent on your $8-900/month 1BR apartment though. We won't even talk about the corrupt NTC/Baldwin Park deal. I miss old "cowtown". Guess I'm getting old(31), as lately I'm saying that I miss this or that more and more.
Back OT, I was at Epcot for Y2K. A completely drunken celebration that will be a great memory for a long time. Pre 9/11 you could sneak in bottles of say Crown Royal in backpacks which saved mucho$$$ compared to their drinks. Now you have to be sneaky.

 

[MDW GUNS]

One thing I find interesting is, that you "should not bring" alcohol either to the parks (see the Q/A section of the Disney website).
At the same time at least in Epcot you can buy it in the restaurants.
Also this wording is interesting: If you should not do something, does that mean that it is illegal to do it or just a suggestion?

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Its supposed to be a place for families, and I wish they would just quit selling liquor entirely... and stop people from bringing in their own.

If they don't outright ban alcohol, then I would prefer Disney control it and sell it rather than letting people bring in their own. At the inflated prices they charge, less alcohol would be consumed.

 

[whitetiger7654]

Lone_Gunman Why? It's not like people are walking around Disney trashed. The only place that would happen is at the clubs where kids aren't allowed.

FortyCalGlock Just put some in a flask and put it in your pocket.

 

[scurtis_34471]

The only time I've seen people walking around Disney drunk during regular park hours was during the annual Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. They set up little pavillions from all over the world where you can taste regional food, wine and beer. After tasting their way around the entire lagoon, a lot of people are quite happy. The first year I went, I didn't pace myself. I didn't think anything of the little 4oz glasses of wine I was drinking until it all hit me at once somewhere around Japan. Now I pace myself. I still get plowed, but at least I make it all the way around now.