So, I’m supposed to be so safe on Walt Disney World property that they prohibit concealed weapons by background-checked, law-abiding, permit-holding citizens?

While I was at Magic Kingdom today, an armed kidnapping/hostage-taking, bus-hijacking thug was roaming around Downtown Disney among the crowd and neither Disney Security nor the Orange County Sheriff’s Department could do anything about it.  Luckily, once there he apparently committed no further violent crimes to ruin someone’s day.

Though licensed, I wouldn’t carry a gun in a Disney park even if it were allowed simply because there is virtually never a safe field of fire.  That’s my judgement.  Downtown Disney is, however, a quite different environment.  This is the second incident in recent memory involving major crime and Downtown Disney.

Orlando Sentinel:

Bus driver taken hostage at gunpoint; forced to drive to Downtown Disney

From Staff Reports
October 25, 2008

A man took a tour bus driver hostage briefly and forced her to drive to the Downtown Disney entertainment and shopping complex, authorities said Saturday.

The man, who was not identified but was described as being black, in his 20s, weighing 150 to 160 pounds, wearing black jeans, a black sweatshirt, black ball cap and having a moustache, then blended into the crowd.

He apparently hid in the restroom of a Mears bus and emerged with a gun and made his demands.

A search of Downtown Disney did not turn him up, but Orange County deputy sheriffs were continuing with their investigation.