Unfortunately, we are on the verge of the next step in increasing security measures at Walt Disney World. I’m referring of course to the scheduled nighttime testing of magnetometers at the Magic Kingdom, otherwise better known as metal detectors. As reported recently by various Orlando media entities, WDW management is trying out the metal detectors first at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom to determine the feasibility of such a set up at the rest of the WDW parks, and possibly at all of the other Disney parks worldwide.

Couldn’t we just raise the drawbridge and call it a day? Oh yeah, the Magic Kingdom never got a working drawbridge like Disneyland did. I wish WED Enterprises had installed one; not that it would have done much (since I believe Disneyland’s was only used once on opening day). What’s that? “What’s WED Enterprises,” you ask? Well it seems to me someone hasn’t been reading their Main Street Chronicles lately. It’s okay...if you promise to click over and read the latest article afterward, I won’t tell Corey on you.

This is really a sad development, folks. All I have to do is give you the mental image of going through security at your local commercial airport. You think bag searches slow down park entrance times now? Huh! Imagine what it would be like with metal detectors going off for the slightest amount of metal on every guest waiting to enter the parks. That’s after each guest empties his or her pockets, and submitted all bags through an x-ray scanner or the current security search, mind you.

To be fair, the reports did say that the magnetometers would not be used on every person entering the parks, but rather, a random sampling of guests. While that sounds better, to me that approach is troublesome, because you introduce the possibility of not picking the “right” people to scan, as well as the possibility of discriminatory racial and ethnic profiling. As bad as it sounds, I think “scan everyone” or “scan no one” are the best options here. A partial approach will lead to more problems down the line.

I really do feel bad for Disney management though, since I really believe they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. While there was no specific threat which prompted this latest action, those in charge obviously feel that their security actions to date need some strengthening. To be sure, the Disney parks were mentioned as possible targets in the investigations that followed the September 11th attacks.

However, the more that is done in the name of security, the more that is taken away from the “magic” of Disney and that safe “other world” aura which envelopes the parks.

I just can’t help but think that the installation of magnetometers is too much. Currently, the “checkpoint” security measures have been limited to bag checks. I felt this was an appropriate measure given the circumstances: not too little security, not too much time wasted.

Even with the bag checks, if you opened up all of the compartments of your bags prior to arrival at the checkpoint, you could breeze through rather quickly. In fact, it often took us longer to unzip and afterward zip up our bags than it did for WDW Security to actually search through them. The most waiting time we had in those lines were due to those guests who arrived at the checkpoint with their bags fully zipped up, and in most cases, still on their backs or shoulders. In that case, everyone had to wait for those guests to take the bag(s) off of their shoulders/back, and (in most instances) unzip one compartment at a time, thinking that after each the security personnel would be satisfied by what they had seen so far. Of course to do their job properly, they need to look at every compartment.

If this plan goes through, I’m afraid that we’ll soon be thrown into a world that is a bit too close to reality for parks which pride themselves on providing an escape from such a reality. My problem isn’t with the idea of increased security; in fact, I’d be more than happy to support increased security measures in the parks. Instead, I can’t help but wonder if the management is tackling the right security concern here with the proposed installation of magnetometers. Is there some other area of concern that should be addressed first before this issue (which prompted the idea of using metal detectors)?

But this really begs the question, what level of security is really needed for the Disney parks? Is there a theoretical threat which is valid to warrant an approach such as metal detectors being installed at all of the entrances? Are there any other less invasive methods which can be employed to increase security efforts, or is this whole issue just blown out of proportion?

I’m going to tackle that issue next week, focusing on the Magic Kingdom as a possible target. Why the Magic Kingdom? History, symbolism, and location, folks. The Magic Kingdom fits the mold of the first theme park ever built, Disneyland, very well, which may serve as a symbolic target location for those who aren’t too keen on America and what she stands for. At the same time, you have the Magic Kingdom in the number one tourist destination in the world, namely Orlando. That adds up to the most likely target in Walt Disney World, if we were to do this sort of strategic analysis.

Ironically, I used to study issues like security policy and terrorism in college, and now I’m focusing on Tourism... of course I never thought I’d be using both at the same time. At the very least, I can hopefully dispel some anxious thoughts we all might be having in regards to security at the parks due to this latest announcement. Until then, relax, and of course...

Thanks for stopping on by, and I’ll see you next week!