Disney and Law Enforcement: Can They Carry a Firearm on The Property

Almost 30 years ago, my (now late) wife and I visited Disneyland. I had heard that Disney Security would accommodate a request for a tour if the request was from a law enforcement officer. Both my wife and I qualified, and we were told to ask for security personnel at the Guest Relations desk just inside the main entrance to the park.

We were escorted “backstage,” as Disney likes to call it, by a uniformed security officer. As we entered the portal, the security officer said, “Through the looking glass…”

The security manager for that day gave us a brief tour of their facilities and described the operation, which I found to be fascinating. He asked that I not discuss specifics with other people, and I have continued to honor that request.

One topic I can share is Disney’s policy on firearms in the park. They do their best to make Disney property as firearms-free as they can. On-duty officers on official business are encouraged to allow Disney Security to locate and bring in anyone that law enforcement might be looking for. They have long-standing operational agreements with local law enforcement, and the cops know that Disney Security is very good at delivering people on request, without a disturbance, and usually without anyone else even noticing. They can’t stop police on official business from entering the park with their firearms, but they seldom have to be concerned about that.

If you go to Disney World, you will see the occasional uniformed deputy sheriff or Florida Highway Patrol trooper patrolling the property. Most of these are off duty with regard to their regular law enforcement employers and are being paid an hourly rate by Disney. They will be in uncontrolled access areas like Disney Springs (a mostly retail and restaurant area on Disney property) and on the roads connecting the parks and hotels. They seldom enter the parks.

Off duty police and concealed weapon permit carriers are a different story. If Disney finds a guest carrying a gun, they are asked to secure the gun with Disney Security for pickup on leaving the park, or to leave the park entirely. At Disney World, this would apply to the entire resort, including hotels and water parks. People who are adamant about keeping their firearm are escorted out and told not to return. If they do, they are subject to arrest for trespassing.

There was an aspect to our meeting with the security manager that he didn’t know about. While my wife and I were enjoying his hospitality in the security office, my wife (a university police officer) was wearing a waist bag containing a 9mm pistol and two reload magazines. I had a .38 Special revolver strapped to my ankle. He never spotted either weapon. We felt pretty secure inside the park, but the walk between our offsite hotel and Disneyland proper was a bit dicer. There are lots of bad folks in the area who prey on the tourists.

I’ve been to Disney World a couple of times since then. Both times, I stayed at Disney property I left my gun at home.