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Disney, Universal, SeaWorld parks adding enhanced security

Universal Orlando and SeaWorld have installed the security devices at the entrances to their resorts, and the major California theme parks are expected to have them in place soon. The Orange County Register’s OC Disney Twitter account states that “Guests will walk through bag screening first, and some “randomly” selected visitor may have to walk through a metal detector”.

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At Disney’s Florida parks, more uniformed law enforcement officers will be patrolling the parks, and less visible security measures are being enhanced, the company said.

Finally, adults and teenagers are no longer permitted to wear masks or full costumes into the parks.

There’s a new checkpoint for inspection when entering the Universal Orlando Resort by way of the parking structures.

Disney Land and Universal Studios in Hollywood are also installing the metal detectors, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

If you’re visiting the parks, you’ll see the security stations just past the stairs, elevators and moving walkways as you leave the parking garage levels. A man allegedly tried to bring a gun inside the Magic Kingdom last week.

The measures come ahead of the premiere of the latest “Star Wars” movie.

All three companies emphasized that the measures are precautionary and not in response to any specific threat or concern. A spokesperson there said the testing is a natural progression for the parks as it studies “best practices for security in today’s world”. The theme parks are now taking the same level of precautions that many sports stadiums and airports have had. “We’ve long used metal detection for special events, such as Halloween Horror Nights”.

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Six Flags theme parks put up metal detectors, a lot of them after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, at the main gates.

Disney World to install metal detectors at Orlando theme parks