Disney World Lines About to Get Longer

ORLANDO, FL – Theme park visitors who hate long lines may need to exercise a little patience. Disney World and other Florida parks are adding metal detectors to their screening processes.

The move is being prompted by a desire to beef up security in light of the Dec. 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif., that left 14 people dead and 22 injured.

“We continually review our comprehensive approach to security and are implementing additional security measures, as appropriate,” Disney officials said in a statement.

The Orlando-based park is in the process of adding metal detectors now. Other theme parks, including SeaWorld and Universal Studios, are doing the same, several media outlets have reported.

Whether Tampa’s Busch Gardens is following suit remains unclear.

“Like other major attractions and law enforcement agencies in the area, we do not comment on the details of our security measures in order to maintain their effectiveness,” Busch Gardens’ spokeswoman Karen Varga-Sinka said.

Disney’s move to increase security may have also been prompted by an incident much closer to home. Last week, a man was arrested after he was found trying to bring a gun into the Magic Kingdom, Click Orlando reported.

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Once metal detectors are put into place, guests at the Magic Kingdom will be randomly selected for screening, park officials said. The process will work in a similar fashion to screening procedures already in use at professional sporting events.

And, while metal detectors may slow down entry lines just a bit, Disney says the enhanced screening process isn’t the only security measure being added for visitors’ safety. The park has also increased the uniformed local law enforcement presence on its property and now has specially trained dogs patrolling what it calls “key areas.”

Kids who visit the parks or the Disney World Resort property in general will also find that toy guns are no longer allowed and they are no longer being sold. Children under the age of 14 are also banned from wearing costumes into the theme parks.

Disney hasn’t said how soon the metal detectors will go into place, but some of the new security measures are already in force. It remains unclear how soon metal detectors will appear at Universal and SeaWorld’s gates.

Disney has stated that it will employ a metal detector at the Disney Springs movie theater for the Thursday night premiere of “Star Wars.”

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World