NPR: Disney's attendance is up because of their security checks

[teller80]

I thought attendance was down, but according to Robert Siegel's interview with John Choate, former executive director of security for Wynn on NPR yesterday:

SIEGEL: Mr. Choate, let me ask you about something you said at a meeting of Las Vegas hotel executives earlier this year. You praised security at Las Vegas hotels, but you also cited the example of Disney Resorts installing metal detectors as proof, in your words, that security can boost profits, not just costs. You said every single day from when they installed them, Disney's attendance has gone up because people were actually not going because of the fear that they had.

SOURCE

 

[Magpie]

I thought attendance was down, but according to Robert Siegel's interview with John Choate, former executive director of security for Wynn on NPR yesterday:

SIEGEL: Mr. Choate, let me ask you about something you said at a meeting of Las Vegas hotel executives earlier this year. You praised security at Las Vegas hotels, but you also cited the example of Disney Resorts installing metal detectors as proof, in your words, that security can boost profits, not just costs. You said every single day from when they installed them, Disney's attendance has gone up because people were actually not going because of the fear that they had.

SOURCE

Given how long it takes to plan a Disney vacation, it seems unlikely that there'd be a significant uptick in attendance, starting from the day they installed the metal detectors.

The only possibilities to explain something like that would be - 1. Locals were avoiding the park due to security fears. 2. Lots of people were sneaking in without paying. Both scenarios seem rather unlikely. I think he's just blowing smoke.

This NYT article says that attendance was down last year, while profits were up: "Attendance, of course, does not equal profit. The Walt Disney Company’s theme park unit had operating income of $3.3 billion in fiscal 2016, a 9 percent increase from the year before, in part because of a new ticketing strategy that raised prices for peak periods by 20 percent." and "But Disney’s North American parks had more modest declines. Attendance at the Magic Kingdom totaled roughly 20.4 million, down 0.5 percent; Disneyland’s estimated total was 17.9 million, down 2 percent." (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/business/media/disney-theme-parks-universal-attendance.html)

Overall, given how much busier the parks have gotten since we first started visiting, back in the 90's, I don't think Disney has much to worry about. It's not like any of us really want to see the parks reaching capacity and closing their gates routinely, like it's always Christmas Day. That'd be awful!

 

[earfulofmagic]

Two things.

Since they're discussing security at Vegas hotels, and he says the bit about metal detectors at Disney Resorts -- where are there? Are they hidden? I don't remember detectors at Resorts. Park entrances, yes, and similar since they're all on WDW property, but not quite the same.

Next, I think the "every single day" bit may be hyperbole. It sounds more anecdotal from someone's (Choate's?) experience than data. Choate doesn't touch on that in his answer.

I would be interested in reading more about this if it is true that attendance is up, to see if they control for factors like discounting, strength of economy, etc.; unusual to single out one cause for an effect like that.

Not disagreeing that security can increase profits, just saying that I would predict it to be more of a contributor than sole driver (which is what it reads as in the source above, but perhaps it's just the conversational nature that makes it sound like that).

 

[HarperLeigh]

I thought attendance was down, but according to Robert Siegel's interview with John Choate, former executive director of security for Wynn on NPR yesterday:

SIEGEL: Mr. Choate, let me ask you about something you said at a meeting of Las Vegas hotel executives earlier this year. You praised security at Las Vegas hotels, but you also cited the example of Disney Resorts installing metal detectors as proof, in your words, that security can boost profits, not just costs. You said every single day from when they installed them, Disney's attendance has gone up because people were actually not going because of the fear that they had.

SOURCE

Attendance is down overall, but profits are up, since they keep raising prices. I think he's full of crap.

 

[sam_gordon]

Sorry, I think he's full of crap trying to A) claim that attendance is up at Disney because of the metal detectors (WAY too many other factors if the numbers are rising) and B) say the attack couldn't have happened at the hotels he consulted.

From the same link:

CHOATE: It depends on the hotel. The issue is - is that the person is not going to walk in in tactical gear through the front entrance.

SIEGEL: If I check into the hotel the first time through the front door at the front desk and I put bags in my room, thereafter, might I arrive from the garage and bypass all that and just go straight up from my car to - by elevator up to my floor?

CHOATE: Yes, yes.

SIEGEL: So the future gunman may have entered the hotel without anything that would arouse any suspicion or violate any rule but thereafter might have been able to move things up to his room covertly.

CHOATE: That is correct.

SIEGEL: Mr. Choate, thank you very much for talking with us.

CHOATE: Thank you, Sir. I appreciate your time.

OK, I believe someone walking through the lobby in tactical gear would get a second/third look. But then he admits after checking in, a gunman could get things to the room and no one notice.

 

[HarperLeigh]

Sorry, I think he's full of crap trying to A) claim that attendance is up at Disney because of the metal detectors (WAY too many other factors if the numbers are rising) and B) say the attack couldn't have happened at the hotels he consulted.

From the same link:

OK, I believe someone walking through the lobby in tactical gear would get a second/third look. But then he admits after checking in, a gunman could get things to the room and no one notice.

The hotels don't have any kind of security, so what is he even talking about?

 

[L&Lfan]

Another reason why I have no use for NPR.

 

[sam_gordon]

The hotels don't have any kind of security, so what is he even talking about?

He's a consultant. I'm thinking he wants to give potential clients the thought "oh, if we hired him, this couldn't happen to us".

 

[cabanafrau]

I want to know why he's a "former executive director of security for Wynn".

 

[bcla]

I want to know why he's a "former executive director of security for Wynn".

He was essentially a consultant for a bit over a year. He still operated his own company. I mentioned this in the Vegas shooting thread:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-shooting-security-challenges-mandalay-bay/

CBS News reached out to Mandalay Bay, but they did not comment. Choate tells us some hotels do have x-ray scanners that guests might never see.​

Apparently Wynn's is now running checks of guests including metal detector wands.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-at-the-wynn-in-glimpse-of-las-vegas-s-future

At entrances to the Wynn resort in Las Vegas on Monday afternoon, guards scanned visitors with metal-detector wands and inspected their bags, creating a 10-minute wait to get inside. The new security protocol, put in place after Sunday’s mass shooting nearby, is likely to become the norm on the Strip and possibly beyond.​

 

[cabanafrau]

He was essentially a consultant for a bit over a year. He still operated his own company. I mentioned this in the Vegas shooting thread:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-shooting-security-challenges-mandalay-bay/

CBS News reached out to Mandalay Bay, but they did not comment. Choate tells us some hotels do have x-ray scanners that guests might never see.​

Apparently Wynn's is now running checks of guests including metal detector wands.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-at-the-wynn-in-glimpse-of-las-vegas-s-future

At entrances to the Wynn resort in Las Vegas on Monday afternoon, guards scanned visitors with metal-detector wands and inspected their bags, creating a 10-minute wait to get inside. The new security protocol, put in place after Sunday’s mass shooting nearby, is likely to become the norm on the Strip and possibly beyond.​

I saw the photos from yesterday at Wynn. It appeared to be similar to bag check at WDW park entrances, not a scan of guest luggage. It appeared they were set up at the pedestrian entrances on the strip, not at the lobby entrance of the hotel where guests would be entering with their luggage at check in.

 

[sam_gordon]

The new security protocol, put in place after Sunday’s mass shooting nearby, is likely to become the norm on the Strip and possibly beyond.

Sorry, I don't buy it. Not surprised it's in place immediately following the shooting, but don't see it staying long term.

 

[danielocha30]

like the opening of Pandora have nothing to do with it
I have never feel treated at Disney, maybe is only my brain tricking me, I agree with the poster that stated Disney Vacation take long to plan.
Let's also add all the discounts this year offers to AP it makes a difference

 

[ShadeDK]

He's a consultant. I'm thinking he wants to give potential clients the thought "oh, if we hired him, this couldn't happen to us".

Exactly. Looking at Mr. Choate's LinkedIn profile, he's a security consultant and runs a business specializing in security services. OF COURSE he's going to claim that increases in security are going to boost profitability for companies because that puts dollars into Mr. Choate's bank account. I have yet to meet a security specialist in any field (airport screening, cybersecurity, government building security, corporate IP security, etc.) that said "You know, I think you're good. Maybe even dial back the security a little bit...."

 

[adelaster]

For what it's worth, I started going to Disney parks when I started to feel unsafe most other places. In our "current world" (best way to put it without delving into forbidden territory/sparking debate) I purposely made the decision to explore my desire to check out the parks. The security is truly a draw for me. Granted, framing this in the way the interview sounds like it did might be a long shot. Bad things can happen anywhere, but it is true that they take security more seriously than a lot of places. I kind of wish everywhere had effective bag check & full body scans. (The reason I phrase it that way is TSA has been tested and shown coming up short, and that's one of the most obnoxious security processes so you'd think it'd be flawless.) There's no easy solution- we're heading into uncharted waters when it comes to this blend of tech/chemicals/weaponry/security/etc. I think it will get better-we're in a transition period. We as a society are trying to strike a balance between safe and invasive, and that's hard. Personally, I feel so much safer when I am relatively assured that there are no weapons (or at least objects created to be weaponry) on the people around me. I know that's different for everyone, which makes this all more challenging for those with decisions to make. At any rate, I have appreciated the security forces at Disney. As they don't release their data, it's kind of lame to cite it in an interview. Transparency is necessary when making data-related claims and assertions.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Makes absolutely no sense

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, there is sort of more security at the monorail resorts. You have to go through bag check and a metal detector before you get on the monorail. Then, you go right to the tapstiles at MK. I assume it's the same at the other monorail resorts. If you walk from the CR, there is a bag check/metal detector along the sidewalk. But, that's it as far as resort security goes. And it isn't there for resort security...it's there to make entrance into MK move faster. There is no more bag check by the tapstiles....it all moved down, and away from the main entrance. The buses have their security check areas, the boats as well.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, there is sort of more security at the monorail resorts. You have to go through bag check and a metal detector before you get on the monorail. Then, you go right to the tapstiles at MK. I assume it's the same at the other monorail resorts. If you walk from the CR, there is a bag check/metal detector along the sidewalk. But, that's it as far as resort security goes. And it isn't there for resort security...it's there to make entrance into MK move faster. There is no more bag check by the tapstiles....it all moved down, and away from the main entrance. The buses have their security check areas, the boats as well.

So there's security upon leaving the resort (if getting on the monorail). But definitely not upon entrance.

 

[sam_gordon]

The reason I phrase it that way is TSA has been tested and shown coming up short, and that's one of the most obnoxious security processes so you'd think it'd be flawless.

But has Disney's security process been tested the same way TSA has?
Also, how many people does TSA screen on a day vs. Disney?

 

[sunshinehighway]

It sounds like he's just talking up his business. I usually do a bit of resort visiting on my Disney trips and don't remember ever going through a metal detector anywhere other than park entrances.