Security increased at Disneyland and other major theme parks

A parade goes down Main Street at the Magic Kingdom.

(Image credit: Handout/Getty Images)

last updated 18 December 2015

In the wake of the San Bernardino shooting earlier this month, visitors to Disneyland, Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Orlando will see heightened security measures.

USA Today reports that more local law enforcement officers will be on hand at Disneyland and Disney World and security will pick visitors at random to go through metal detectors. Dogs able to detect explosives will be on patrol in key areas. Disney has also stopped selling toy guns on Disneyland and Disney World properties, saying they could distract or confuse security personnel and employees, and guests ages 14 and older will not be allowed to wear costumes into the theme parks.

SeaWorld Orlando is instituting bag checks and installing metal detectors, a spokesperson said, and Universal Orlando is "testing metal detection because we want our guests to feel safe when they come to our theme parks," spokesman Tom Schroeder said. "We are always looking at best practices for security and safety in today's world. For us, this is a natural progression, in that we've long used metal detection for some of our special events."

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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