Should Disney Springs Have Security Checkpoints? Recent Incidents Say Yes

in Disney, Walt Disney World

Disney Springs

Credit: Disney

Walt Disney World is the Most Magical Place on Earth. But could it be the most secure place on Earth, as well? Some certainly think it should be. After a recent incident involving an armed man arrested near a Disney Springs parking garage, frequent Walt Disney World visitors began to question why Disney Springs doesn’t have more security measures. Should Disney Springs have security checkpoints like those at the Disney World theme parks? Let’s dig a little deeper and figure this out.

Armed man arrested at Disney Springs.

A man armed with a 9 mm handgun and two magazines with 14 rounds of ammunition was caught outside the Orange parking garage at Disney Springs. Thanks to a law enforcement dog and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the man was apprehended. He was charged with carrying a concealed firearm (which he does not have a permit to do, even though he applied for one over three months ago), trespassed from all Disney properties, and booked into the Orange County Jail. He was released two days later after posting a $1,000 bond.

Thankfully, local law enforcement was patrolling the area and able to catch this armed man. But after the news came out, many were left wondering: should Disney be implementing security checkpoints at Disney Springs since it is Walt Disney World Resort property, and Guests are required to go through security when entering all of the Disney Parks?

Disney Springs
Credit: Disney

Walt Disney World theme Park security

Walt Disney World keeps the theme parks highly secure. Guests must go through a bag check and metal detector security checkpoint before entering any of the theme parks as a precaution to keep Guests safe and keep prohibited items from entering the Disney Parks.

We have linked a list of the items prohibited from Walt Disney World Resort property. It’s important to note that these items are not just banned from the theme parks — they are not permitted from all Disney property, including Disney Springs. And included in that list are “firearms, ammunition, knives, and weapons of any kind.”

Given the fact that most items that are banned from the Disney theme parks are also prohibited from Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World Resort hotels, it would make sense for Disney to start implementing more security at Disney Springs. And after all, on the west coast at Disneyland Resort in California, Guests are required to go through security before entering Downtown Disney — although Downtown Disney is much closer to the theme parks than Disney Springs is.

Disneyland Resort Guests go through security to enter Downtown Disney.

Here is how Disneyland Resort security works to provide background information. Disneyland Resort encompasses Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney, and three on-property hotels. There are multiple ways to enter Disneyland Resort through Downtown Disney. Still, before late 2016, Guests were only required to go through security (bag check and metal detectors) to enter the esplanade, where the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure front gates are.

But in 2016, Disneyland Resort began requiring Guests to go through security to enter Downtown Disney. And at the time of this article’s publication, there were several security checkpoints throughout Disneyland Resort. All require Guests to get their bags checked and go through a metal detector before entering Downtown Disney, the Disneyland Resort Esplanade, or the parking structures.

Downtown Disney
Credit: Disney

Related : Disney Springs Store Slams Disney With Lawsuit as Theme Park Attempts to Terminate Lease

Guest Has Altercation at Disney Springs, Reportedly Gets Security Involved

Could Disney Springs start implementing security checkpoints?

Given how security works on the west coast at Disneyland Resort, it doesn’t seem like it would be too far-fetched for Disney Springs to have a security checkpoint.

But as many point out, Disney Springs seems like a gray area. It’s technically a shopping mall, and Florida state laws allow people to carry concealed weapons as long as they permit. However, even though Disney Springs is a mall, it’s still considered Disney property. So if anyone is caught carrying any prohibited items at Disney Springs, they will be asked to return the items to their vehicles or, in some cases, arrested (such as if they refuse to cooperate or if they are in possession of illegal things).

In the incident we shared above, the man with a gun at Disney Springs was thankfully caught because local Florida law enforcement was patrolling the property. But it’s unclear what, if anything, would have occurred had this armed man not been arrested. Still, there’s no denying that having security checkpoints at Disney Springs requiring Guests to go through bag checks and metal detectors before entering the area would prevent situations like this, especially since security at the Disney Parks prevents those with firearms and other prohibited items from entering. 

There are no signs that Disney has plans to implement more security at Disney Springs, but we don’t doubt that it could happen in the future.

What do you think? Should there be more security at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World? Or is it safe enough as is? Let us know in the comments.

in Disney, Walt Disney World

View Comments (17)