YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS

vfxpro · Post by **vfxpro** » Aug Sat 27, 2005 1:58 pm

Hey all..

Was at the parks today, like normal. I was hanging out with my friends and shooting video of the parks for fun. We were shooting video in front of EPCOT this morning and were detained by security. All of the sudden the Orange County Police department showed up and detained us for over two and a half hours accusing us of plotting Terrorist Acts against Disney. What a )(&*^(^ joke. They just don't want people taping their parks. We were searched illegally and the officers not only tore my bag apart but broke my lens and two batteries have 'mysteriously dissappeared'. I have never been so p*** in my life. This is how they treat guests now. I have been shooting video of Disney for over 20 years and never had a problem. I have already contacted a lawyer who said that Disney screwed up big time. Looks like they are in for a huge legal battle. The local news channel here is VERY interested in our story.

Gotta love the new guest service policy of Disney. They told us that anyone who has a camera is being watched.

Club33Hopeful · Post by **Club33Hopeful** » Aug Sat 27, 2005 2:19 pm

Hmmm... Tell us more. Were you walking around or were you hanging out in one area? This seems like it will be bad for Disney. Can you think of anything you were doing to make them suspicious?

vfxpro · Post by **vfxpro** » Aug Sat 27, 2005 3:17 pm

We were just hanging out shooting shots of SpaceShip Earth and the Monorail. They claim that we were suspicious. I'll give them that... To a point... But we ran into an overzealous security guard who pushed for a full search and seizure. Apparently they broke the law. Even on private property they HAVE to give you two options.

1) Search your bags with permission

2) Be tresspassed off property for declining a search..

We were given no such options..

Plus they humiliated us in front of thousands of guests entering the park, and that is not proper procedure.

Club33Hopeful · Post by **Club33Hopeful** » Aug Sat 27, 2005 3:24 pm

Ouch. Keep us informed of how it goes.

Club33Hopeful · Post by **Club33Hopeful** » Aug Sat 27, 2005 3:25 pm

Forgot to ask, any ramifications because you are an employee?

vfxpro · Post by **vfxpro** » Aug Sat 27, 2005 3:28 pm

Club33Hopeful wrote:Ouch. Keep us informed of how it goes.

Will do. The reason I became an artist is because of EPCOT CENTER. Ironically I've been harassed at the very same park.

vfxpro · Post by **vfxpro** » Aug Sat 27, 2005 3:32 pm

Club33Hopeful wrote:Forgot to ask, any ramifications because you are an employee?

Not sure yet. They did hint to the fact that if I sue due to them breaking the law, I may suffer jobwise..

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Aug Sat 27, 2005 6:31 pm

Railfans had [and still have] much the same problem with cops who think they are really important and they control everything. Some of them are on such a power trip. Metra in Chicago suffered big when the Tribune front-paged illegal searchs and harassment. It is still a problem even though railfans are shooting trains from public property.

I can't believe [well, more like cringe to think] that this would happen in the parks. Sounds like you were just being a 'tourist' from what you said, a bit nutty looking if you were filming the same area a lot but still...

Post by **js3901** » Aug Sun 28, 2005 2:12 am

I think that if they fire you or make you suffer for a lawsuit, you could have another lawsuit for wrongful termination/retaliation.

Anything about you or your friends that would have caused you to be detained/harrassed like that? Anything that could be considered racial or any other type of profiling? I think that at minimum, you can get the new lens/batteries out of anything you put against the company/police dept.

Club33Hopeful · Post by **Club33Hopeful** » Aug Sun 28, 2005 2:44 am

js3901 wrote:I think that if they fire you or make you suffer for a lawsuit, you could have another lawsuit for wrongful termination/retaliation.

Most fortune 500 companies have employee dispute resolution programs for employees who have complaints against the company. These typically involve mediation or arbitration. It is commonplace for a company to fire an employee who brings litigation against the company. If Disney has such a program, if you fail to use it I can guarantee that you will be fired. In that case, it would be hard to argue wrongful termination when you chose not to use the dispute program.

I asked in the other forum if you are represented by a union. If so, having the union file a grievance would be your best step number one.

vfxpro · Post by **vfxpro** » Aug Sun 28, 2005 7:11 am

Actually the Unon reps are furious and told Disney legal to rectify immediately, Disney legal has opted not to offer mediation. At this point the union has offered a lawyer and I have my personal lawyer along with a lawyer that a local news station has offered. And no, I'm an average looking white guy, there was no racial profiling going on. A disney rep accidentally blurted out that this is how they handle people video taping the parks when they don't want them to. He left the meeting quite quickly. More fuel for the fire..

QuickGold · Post by **QuickGold** » Aug Mon 29, 2005 9:53 am

Sorry to hear about that ordeal. I'm amazed how that could happen to you. Keep us updated!

vfxpro · Post by **vfxpro** » Aug Mon 29, 2005 11:20 am

Yeah I'm p*** beyond belief. I have so many friends and connections with WDW, WDI, Executives, etc. That I cannpt believe what happened actually happened. The cops would not allow me to identify myself as a cast member or make any calls. Instead they searched me in front of the entrance. Security will not return any of my calls, they are obviously trying to ignore me in hopes that I will go away..

vfxpro · Post by **vfxpro** » Aug Mon 29, 2005 11:24 am

I contacted Orange County sheriffs department and they denied anyting occuring at EPCOT at that time. Turns out the cops are off duty and employed by Disney. This would explain why neither of the 'officers' were wearing identification, nor would they provide any upon asking for it. I was told that I could be arrested for persuing anything against the cops. They can't arrest me for anything. It's amazing how much cops lie to get their way. I can honestly say I've never met a cop that I like.

Post by **spaulo** » Aug Mon 29, 2005 12:03 pm

Crazy. There are more and more of these stories happening, with videogs and photogs being harrassed and/or illegally-detained.

Now, on private property, Disney had a right to ask you to not film/photo... and if you refused, they have a right to escort you off their property. That's where their rights end, and I doubt Disney wants to get a rep of being inhospitable to tourists with cameras.

Crazy. Keep us posted.