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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Nora you are on point. When a guest is issued a trespass warning or is banned from the park, their fingerprint is flagged. So if they have a pass or multi day ticket, they would be rejected.

So here is a collection of more information regarding park entrance policies:

(Keep in mind, I transcribed the signs to exact wording, grammar, and capitalization.)

England parking Lot Info Board said:
SORRY THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE TAKEN INTO THE PARK:
Weapons or Knives, laser pointers, radios or other electronic devices, pets, food or beverages.
- Persons not employed by Busch Gardens may not solicit or distribute literature on Busch Gardens property for any reason at any time.
- In Keeping with the family image of Busch Gardens, guests must wear appropriate clothing while in the Park. Shirts, shoes, and pants must be worn at all times. Clothing with Suggestive or offensive language or insulting statements is not allowed.
- Busch Gardens reserves the right to refuse admission or ask anyone to leave the park who is not in compliance with these rules.
- State law requires all riders to obey all warnings and directions, and behave in a manner that will not cause or contribute to injuring themselves or others. Riders shall report all injuries before leaving the park today.
- A live camera is being used in the park to stream video to our Web site. Your presence in the park today constitutes consent to be recorded and/or portrayed on the Internet, and that you expressly authorize and permit the use of your name, voice, and likeness and all reproductions thereof for any purpose whatsoever throughout the world, in perpetuity, in any and all media, and without limitation and without any compensation whatsoever. For more information please visit Guest Relations.
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Renovated France Parking Lot Entrance/Ticket Booths Info Sign said:
These Attractions Close at Dusk
Rhine River Cruise Wolf Valley

All attractions may temporarily close during storms

*Handicapped Rider Info*

SORRY THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE TAKEN INTO THE PARK:

Weapons or Knives, laser pointers, radios or other electronic devices, pets, food or beverages.

Persons not employed by Busch Gardens may not solicit or distribute literature on Busch Gardens property for any reason at any time.

In Keeping with the family image of Busch Gardens, guests must wear appropriate clothing while in the Park. Shirts, shoes, and pants must be worn at all times. Clothing with Suggestive or offensive language or insulting statements is not allowed.

Busch Gardens reserves the right to refuse admission or ask anyone to leave the park who is not in compliance with these rules.

State law requires all riders to obey all warnings and directions, and behave in a manner that will not cause or contribute to injuring themselves or others. Riders shall report all injuries before leaving the park today.

A live camera is being used in the park to stream video to our Web site. Your presence in the park today constitutes consent to be recorded and/or portrayed on the Internet, and that you expressly authorize and permit the use of your name, voice, and likeness and all reproductions thereof for any purpose whatsoever throughout the world, in perpetuity, in any and all media, and without limitation and without any compensation whatsoever. For more information please visit Guest Relations.

"Except when participating in an event intended for young guests such as our Adventure Camps, sleepovers, birthday parties, and educational programs, Sea World Parks & Entertainment suggests that visitors 13 and younger be accompanied by an adult."
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So going by those policies no one is allowed to bring their cell phones.

For those of you who are against bag check because it is a joke, would you be okay if it was "beefed" up? Have people empty pockets? Have the metal detecting wands? Emptying bags? Take shoes off? Make the checkpoint more intense without going full out x-ray scanners?

What about body searches?
 
RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Party Rocker said:
For those of you who are against bag check because it is a joke, would you be okay if it was "beefed" up? Have people empty pockets? Have the metal detecting wands? Emptying bags? Take shoes off? Make the checkpoint more intense without going full out x-ray scanners?

What about body searches?
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No, because I realize that anyone who wants to commit a crime like that inside a theme park is going to find a way to do so regardless. Also, to be quite honest, if someone wanted to terrorize the area, there are much more efficient and less risky ways to do so than trying to pull something at BGW.

Oh hai NSA, please don't put me on the no fly list.
 
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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Again, we're getting dangerously close to a political conversation here, but my opinion is:

You could make everyone in the park a lot safer if you inspected every guest's pockets and did an airport-style xray of their bodies, sure. You could also make them safer by appointing every single one of them a bodyguard. You could keep them safer still by just not letting anyone in the park.

I'd rather have no security guards, at all, than all of that over-protective stuff.

The real deal is that it costs money to go to Busch Gardens. If you intended to commit a premeditated act of violence, why would you do it somewhere you had to pay to get in? Why not go to a readily available *free* place? What I'm trying to say is, the situation of a theme park is sort of low-risk for that sort of thing anyway.

I think having a visible security presence is more than sufficient for the realistic threat level you face while at BG. Nobody can predict the future, but, as with everything you do in life, you play the odds.
 
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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Zachary said:
No, because I realize that anyone who wants to commit a crime like that inside a theme park is going to find a way to do so regardless.
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This is why you increase said security. When you look at it, people can only sneak things in via stroller, bag, clothing pockets, and shoes. Strollers and bags are already being checked, maybe not the extremely small ones, but the major ones. If pockets are asked to be emptied and shoes inspected, that leaves not much left to be able to bring anything in.
 
RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Party Rocker said:
This is why you increase said security. When you look at it, people can only sneak things in via stroller, bag, clothing pockets, and shoes. Strollers and bags are already being checked, maybe not the extremely small ones, but the major ones. If pockets are asked to be emptied and shoes inspected, that leaves not much left to be able to bring anything in.
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The park's property isn't even surrounded by a fence. Anyone can literally walk into the place. When there's a will there's a way.


In other news, Doc said everything I was thinking but was too lazy to write out at 1:30am.
 
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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Dr. Jay Money Ed.D said:
I think having a visible security presence is more than sufficient for the realistic threat level you face while at BG. Nobody can predict the future, but, as with everything you do in life, you play the odds.
Click to expand...

So we are back to security theater? Time to close this thread. lol
 
RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Dr. Jay Money Ed.D said:
The real deal is that it costs money to go to Busch Gardens. If you intended to commit a premeditated act of violence, why would you do it somewhere you had to pay to get in? Why not go to a readily available *free* place? What I'm trying to say is, the situation of a theme park is sort of low-risk for that sort of thing anyway.

I think having a visible security presence is more than sufficient for the realistic threat level you face while at BG. Nobody can predict the future, but, as with everything you do in life, you play the odds.
Click to expand...

I respect that, and understand that logic; but may I ask how much does a plane ticket cost? With that said, people get in free all the time too. Theme parks are actually still at a medium threat risk, these are iconic American brands that would devastate many Americans.

Disclaimer: I am only promoting discussion and opinions on the matter; my intentions are pure.

Zachary said:
The park's property isn't even surrounded by a fence. Anyone can literally walk into the place. When there's a will there's a way.
Click to expand...

Yes there is a property fence that stretches around the entire park. The only gaps is the river.
 
RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Party Rocker said:
Yes there is a property fence that stretches around the entire park. The only gaps is the river.
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Then it was built within the last two years because, as CarterGee can attest, anyone could waltz into the park two years ago without even passing a sign let alone a fence or security checkpoint.


Regardless of all of this, spending a day in the park is still exponentially safer than driving to and from said park. There's no reason to believe that will change anytime soon and, until a reason for concern arises, there's zero cause to go beyond the already overkill security that the park currently employees.
 
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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Zachary said:
Then it was built within the last two years because, as CarterGee can attest, anyone could waltz into the park two years ago without even passing a sign let alone a gate or security checkpoint.
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Technically the Boneyard is not "in" the park. It is just outside the fence, the gate into the Boneyard is a gate in and out of the park. Now the actual property isn't fully gated, but the park area you pay to get into is gated.

I am not saying go overkill security, but slightly increase and be more serious. It isn't a laughing matter.
 
RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Here's the deal: if you want to get in with a weapon, you can get in with a weapon.
 
RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Party Rocker said:
Disclaimer: I am only promoting discussion and opinions on the matter; my intentions are pure.
Click to expand...

PR, I think I may be one of the few here on the forum that you are not trying to "stoke the fire" with people but are honestly trying to prove your point.

No matter how hard you try, sometimes you cannot make someone think and feel the way you do. Just because you write with good intentions on your part does not mean people will join your view. For example: I seriously doubt Rush Limbaugh would suddenly join the Democratic party because Obama asked him to. :-/

If someone on the forums explains why they disagree and have valid points to their reasoning, I doubt anything can be done to change their views. It's OK though. Agree to disagree. :s

Just so you know- I agree 100% with Doc's last statement; but I also do not fault you for having a different opinion. The policy at BGW is what it is.

You asked to have feedback on what we think about bag checks and everyone answered honestly. The feedback isn't personal against you or anyone who works in the security department, but most people see it as "a false sense of security" and just one more thing to drudge through just to get into the park.

For me... after waiting to get through the parking gate, finding a spot, riding the tram, buying a ticket (if you are not season pass members or do not have an e-ticket), going through bag check, waiting for the turnstiles and then bombarded with picture takers as soon as you enter- my first thought is "Dear LORD just get me away from this chaos! ARGHH!!!"

So with this thread- ~~~moving on~~~~; I think the issue has been sufficiently covered.

I would like to say thanks for posting all the security policies as I know it took a great deal of time and effort on your part.
 
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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Oh Nora, my disclaimer was because I was pointing out security flaws, and that disclaimer was meant to not be put on the watch list :p

But no, I was asking questions to provoke discussion about a topic that we really haven't covered. Just trying to make sure we poke every topic out there. I see that only a few main posters got their opinion out there though.

But yes I guess discussion on this has come to a conclusion for the moment. I will modify the OP with all the security policies I have for easy finding in case anyone goes looking for it.
 
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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Just finished updating the OP; any additions, subtractions, corrections, additional comments, please post them here or PM and I will update the OP as needed.
 
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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

I am updating the OP with Halloween Costume Policy; No one over the age of 10 should be wearing a costume at the park, no one regardless of age should be wearing a mask. Most of the time though, security just looks and assumes the age of the child, if they are clearly 10 or younger they will not say much, if they look older they will say something.
 
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RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Dr. Jay Money Ed.D said:
So here's my question on this one: who is to say I'm wearing a Halloween costume? Maybe I dress like Spiderman all the time.
Click to expand...

That is to the discretion of the security team member to the extent of if you clearly look like you are wearing an outfit that si typically not worn outside of Halloween. Sorry but I would assume you would clearly look like a person in a costume and be turned away.

The real issues lies in the gothic style. Is it costume or goth?
 
RE: BGW Security Checkpoint

Well part of it is $$$; the other part is for the safety of guests :p Plus those face painters are contractors, they don't play by park rules. For example, you can buy a large sword and other dangerous weapons at the park but you can't bring your own.
 
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