Disney World appears to have a strict no gun policy. No law-abiding citizen, including an off-duty police officer, is allowed to carry a firearm, concealed or otherwise, to protect their family from violent predators while at Disney World.
I searched Disney’s web site looking for clarification on this policy, but was unable to locate anything. On non-Disney websites, I have seen reports that off-duty police officers were asked to either lock up their weapon, or to leave the property. I did have one of their security guards confirm that even cops aren’t allowed to carry off-duty at Disney World.
I requested information from Disney World about police officers carrying firearms, but so far my request has been ignored.
Disney World is a huge, juicy target for terrorists and nut-jobs alike. When thousands of people are gathered in one spot, one crazed individual can kill, wound, and maim a lot of innocents by detonating a bomb, or by firing a gun randomly. Islamic terrorists have stated the intention to kill as many of our children as they can. Killing children at Disney World would shake Americans to the core. So, if Disney World is telling me I can’t discreetly carry the means to defend my family, they better have that place on lock down.
During a recent trip to Disney World, I made several observations about their security measures. First, I observed a lot of security guards near the entrances to the different parks. The guards were not armed, and did not appear to be any higher a caliber than what we have come to expect out of contract security companies: many were old, out of shape, or both. I observed very few guards beyond the gate areas.
Second, I observed very few undercover, or plain clothed, security or police officers. No doubt I would not see all of them, but I still spotted very few.
Lastly, at the gates to the parks, the guards check your bags. Depending on who was doing the checking, my bag was either not searched or only a cursory check was done. Every day I walked in, I could have toted several pounds of C-4 in the bag that was “checked.” At no point was I ever checked, nor was any stroller or wheelchair that came through the lines with me. Anyone could carry multiple handguns on themselves, and bombs or long guns in their baggage or strollers.
I can only assume that Disney World uses state-of-the-art electronic surveillance equipment, and they have deputies and/or armed security hidden behind the doors labeled “Cast Members Only.” However, based on my observations, anyone can carry firearms and bombs into the Magic Kingdom.
I suggest that anytime you are off-duty, you need to be armed. I also suggest that Disney World is no exception. I carried every day I was there, and at no point did they ever detect it.
Stay Safe!
note: If you have had any experiences with carrying off-duty at Disney World, please e-mail me. Also, if you represent Disney World and would like to clarify your policy, please e-mail me.
22 responses so far ↓
1 D/S // Dec 1, 2007 at 3:59 am
Six-Flags has a similar policy.
2 Don Lirette // Dec 1, 2007 at 8:42 am
I thought HR 218 took care of all of this foolishness! Law enforcement officers can carry their guns anywhere in the US , as long as they have their commission card and their badges on them. Dizzy world could be getting in to law suit hot water but we will have to wait and see. Peace, Don
3 admin // Dec 1, 2007 at 10:46 am
Don,
Disney can refuse service to anyone since they are a private business. Their position seems to be, though I don’t agree with it, that you can disarm and enjoy their park, or they can decline to do business with you.
I personally believe that any law abiding citizen who has a state issued carry permit should be allowed to exercise their rights to self protection. I also believe that it is doubly true for off-duty cops.
Thanks for the comments!
Richard
4 admin // Dec 1, 2007 at 10:48 am
D/S,
I suspect that the policy may be more widespread than I initially realized. It is too bad common sense has been replaced by the twisted logic of “If we don’t think about it, it can’t happen here.”
Richard
5 Sean // Dec 2, 2007 at 5:14 pm
As a memebr of CPD that travels often to Florida I am troubled by this practice. Granted I am referring to the incident where an ODPO was shopping in Utah but imagine that or worse at Disney. I might give you civilians regardless of their concealed carry permit and training, but “Sworn” law enforcement absolutely not… This may be something that needs to referred to the National FOP, PBPA, Teamsters and any other bargaining unit for the police.
Stay safe guys and keep your family safe
6 Deputy Polarbear // Dec 3, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Quite a few places out here in So Cal have the same policy.
Sea World
Knotts Berry Farm
Dodger Stadium
Staples Center
Disneyland
Our union (ALADS) has sent letters to the owners/managers of a few of these places.
When they have actually received a reply, it has more or less been a polite ‘piss off’.
There is not much we can do about it. They are on private property, and can dictate what/who they allow on their property.
7 NJ Cop // Dec 6, 2007 at 1:20 am
A fellow officer who frequents Disney as much as myself tells a good story from one of his visits years back, before 9-11 even.
He was in the Country Bear Jamboree waiting for the show when one drunken and disorderly male started causing a scene. Within moments three large men in plain clothes, not in the usual Disney security attire or in the usual shape as described above, came inside out of no where and politely escorted the male outside without a scene never to be seen from again that trip.
Where they Disney Special Forces lurking about? I would hope so, because as stated, a definite target rich environment.
Stay safe!
8 Laurel // Dec 10, 2007 at 5:21 am
@Richard: Thanks for recognizing and appreciating that law-abiding citizens, regardless of LEO status, should have their right to carry and right to self-defense recognized. While I believe Disney does have a right as a private company to ban firearms no matter who carries them, I think it’s the duty of those of us who care about the protection of ourselves and those around us to boycott companies with such deadly policies.
@Sean: It disgusts me to see you refer to “civilians” with such contempt, and to dismiss our permits and training and right to self-defense… while maintaining you have a right when off-duty to defend NOT the public, but YOUR family. Sean, putting on your uniform in the morning does not make you as special as you may think, and it certainly does not mean the lives of your family members are more valuable than the lives of mine. It really concerns me to hear those supposedly committed to protecting and serving ready to throw my rights on the chopping block as long as they can continue to receive special treatment.
9 Paul // Dec 11, 2007 at 8:31 am
I am a NY State Resident (not a cop), with both a NYS Full CCW and also a Florida NON-Resident W-CCW permit. Disney, as others have suggested, is a prime target for a tragic event. If you walk inside, with your family and think otherwise and get brainwashed to think that you are not possibly subject to a violent random act of some nut, you better wake up. You can not predict where, a violent act can occur. To be able to personally defend yourself, at all times can’t be outweighed just because your in “Dream World” for a day.
10 Foolish // Dec 19, 2007 at 2:17 pm
I would like to see how they will apply this to my many Federal Agent friends that are now considered to never be “off-duty” since 9/11.
If you have ever read a federal credential, it is pretty broad in stating that the person possessing the identification can carry weapons and effect arrests at anytime, anywhere on U.S. territory.
Wonder how that will work?
11 Deputy Polarbear // Dec 20, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Foolish,
I’m not sure how it would hold up in court, but the places I mentioned above dont exclude Fed officers. NO ONE who is visiting the location gets in with a strap.
When I was working overtime at Universal Studios Hollywood during Halloween a few years ago, we had a FBI agent try to come into the park with her off duty weapon. She was told by security that she could not come in with it, and she made a scene. She was told by security (not us) to either leave, or face arrest for trespass (I SO did not want to be standing there right at that moment, the security supervisor was dead serious about hooking her up)
My Sgt and I smoothed things over by having her secure the weapon at our substation, and then walking her into the park.
The way that it has been explained to us out here in SoCal is that the locations are private property, and can exclude weapons if they so choose to do so.
12 Animalcop // Feb 17, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Thing you all have to remember is, that while you are looking to carry your gun for the right reasons,even an off duty cop could carry it for the wrong reasons. We all know the guys who get drunk off duty with their gun on them and do stupid things. I also worked security at a mall for a while, we had unarmed guards and armed police. In the 60 years the mall was open the only shooting was an off duty cop who shot his wife and himself. IM sure Disney has a fear for their reputation and dosnt want to chance that kinda of situation (unlikly, but it happens enough). Second thing is that I can have a badge and police ID tomorrow that says just about anything I want. I know officers who have walked on to military bases (POST 9-11) with just a flash of a badge and no second look. IM sure the Disney Guards are in no place to figure out whos badges are real and whos arnt. So a blanket policy is the best way for Disney to handle it. I worked at a park that had its own armed police dept, but didnt search people at the gate. tehy kinda went the other way with it. Seems some place in the middle would be best.
13 Non-carrying off-duty cop // Feb 21, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I am a full time sworn police officer and I never carry my gun off duty. It is a major hindrance to me and to difficult to constantly maintain security of, especially during recreational activities like running, swimming or play football. I plan on removing my family immediately from any dangerous situation and letting the local police handle the matter then to get involved in any way. Undercover and off duty cops die all the time because they think they are on-duty when they are not.
Some advise to the 24/7 gun carrying off-duty cops - Better to make a good witness then a fatal statistic.
PG
14 admin // Feb 22, 2008 at 12:11 am
PG -
I realize that nothing anyone can say will help you understand that you are depriving yourself of a tool that you might use to save your life or someone else.
So, I wish you the best of luck and hope that you never run into any violent criminals when off-duty. If you could just walk away from them as you suggest, then I wonder how the students at Virginia Tech were killed.
I am thankful that there are enough armed citizens and off-duty police officers out there to end tragedies like the one at Trolley Square and in Pearl, Mississippi.
If you have the time, maybe you can let me know about the off-duty cops who “die all the time” because they are carrying a firearm. The vast majority of police officers are killed in traffic accidents. Of those that are killed in felonious assaults, the vast majority are killed on duty. But then, maybe I have missed some studies on the topic. I honestly hope you will share the stats and studies you have with us.
Richard
15 Officer Mohamad // Mar 13, 2008 at 1:48 am
Well, I have been through the same experience in Six Flags in n.Texas.. I was in full unifom and they wont let me go in there with my gun on me.. they told me i could take off my duty belt and secure it in a locker then go in.. even off duty cops can NOT get their weapons inside.. u lock it up like when u go to the jail..sucks..
16 Collegecop_Wa // Mar 13, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I for one do not understand the rampant paranoia the owners of these establishments have against off duty LEOs carrying. It seems to me if we have been vetted by our state/Federal government as being trustworthy enough to carry a weapon and enforce the laws they would be thrilled to have us in case something did go down. Same goes for a legally licensed permit holder, if you have it carry it IMHO.
Correct me if I am wrong but just about any venue that attracts large crowds is a potential target for terrorists or some EDP with a gun and an axe to grind. What exactly do the folks at Disney or Six Flags or any of these places think is going to happen when the guy listening to the voices in the streetlights/Allah shows up at their front gate, guns down the unarmed security folks standing there and then proceeds to merrily shoot his way through the park until the on duty officers arrive? Does the reality of 30 - 50 or more dead or dying “customers” who got shot due to an unrealistic corporate policy really stand up to the “it can’t happen here” mentality? Are they truly that stupid?
I will be honest; I used to think that way at times too. But a couple of reality checks like 9/11, Columbine, the mall shooting and VA Tech has made a convert of me. Now I carry everywhere I go, including church and other “no guns allowed” properties. Unless I am subject to being patted down or sent through a metal detector I don’t offer up the info that I am off duty and carrying. The few times I have been stopped I have had a quiet word with someone from management asking them what the plan for dealing with an active shooter in the establishment was and if they really, truly had a desire to ask me to leave. If they insisted, I found someplace else to spend my time and money, it is not worth the risk to me, my family or the rest of the public for a trained LEO to be standing there watching people die because of a unrealistic policy.
17 Kris // Mar 20, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Can the officer take a weapon to Disney if he is looking for a suspect to arrest?
Do private citizens have the right to deny LEO’s access to their property because the officer is armed?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m on officer’s side on this…
18 W B // Mar 23, 2008 at 1:25 am
“Non-carrying off-duty cop // Feb 21, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I am a full time sworn police officer and I never carry my gun off duty. It is a major hindrance to me and to difficult to constantly maintain security of, especially during recreational activities like running, swimming or play football. I plan on removing my family immediately from any dangerous situation and letting the local police handle the matter then to get involved in any way. Undercover and off duty cops die all the time because they think they are on-duty when they are not.
Some advise to the 24/7 gun carrying off-duty cops - Better to make a good witness then a fatal statistic.
PG
All I can say to you is baaaa
19 Mario // Mar 24, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Read the law and follow it. If it doesn’t say anything about businesses having the right to post “gun free zones” then you are NOT in legal hot water. Then its just between you and the business… and yes, they can refuse you service (as silly as that sounds) for carrying a gun — or an umbrella for that matter… but that doesn’t mean diddly in legal terms.
My philosophy….. I carry anywhere I damn well please — within the law, of course —
In other words, screw the little signs and stupid rules some businesses like to put up. Go in, have fun, and be safe.
20 Warrior // May 2, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I just got back from a week at Disney World and was pretty appalled at their poor security. I’ve been a cop for 12 years (minus 1 year military in Iraq), and carry off duty everywhere usually…I didn’t to FL because of the additional hassle flying down. I did notice the extremely poor searches at the gate. I wore a Camelback every day, and it was never checked at all. It could easily have been a suicide vest.
In Virginia we have King’s Dominion. After a bunch of gang bangers got into it a few years ago, they put in metal detectors and hand scanners, and security is much tighter. But they will not allow LEO to carry there either, even Virginia sworn officers! I had to lock it up in their office.
Surprisingly, the Smithsonian Museums in DC DO allow off-duty LEO to carry. You just have to check in with a security officer (and it allows you and your family to bypass the screening line for quicker entry).
For anyone who thinks carrying every day makes me a “cowboy”, in 12 years I have made 2 off-duty arrests (robbery and felony assault). I just couldn’t live with myself if I were unable to protect my family or a citizen because of a little inconvenience. I’m not a sheep. Be safe.
21 Florida Officer // May 11, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I just got home from Disney (three days two nights) and I was upset by the lack of security at the gates and hotels. I felt safe to a degree. I carried at the hotel and Downtown disney and the Board Walk but left it locked up in the Disney hotel room same. I carried my automatic S&W swat knife. My wife who is also a police officer left it up to me to carry inside the Kingdom or not. We were never searched ar our bags. I saw a lot of cameras but not security. Orlando is a bad area for crime. I guess we were just blessed to not have a problem while there. Disney and any other place that doesn’t allow police / sheriff officers carry is foolish in my opinion. I can see if they deny a weapons permit. The state of Georgia gives permits on regular pieces of paper with no way to check to see if they are valid. Just because someone has a permit doesn’t mean that is not revoked or suspended or expired. I have arrested many people with what looks to be a good permit only to have a computer check show it to be bad just like a driver license.
Stay safe
22 Florida Officer // May 13, 2008 at 10:31 pm
http://www.policeone.com/police-technology/robots/articles/1285796-Pipe-bomb-like-device-goes-off-at-Fla-Disney-parking-lot/
Pipe-bomb-like device goes off at Fla. Disney parking lot
READ THAT…DISNEY DOES HAVE PROBLEMS
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