WDW won't allow earbud

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bergg

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I was at WDW last week. I was wearing an earbud that is like the ones Security and many police dept use.

It's the kind that is clear, goes in one ear then wraps around the ear and into a coiled clear wire. It is clipped to my collar and goes under my shirt.

I was listening to a small FM radio to hear a Tiger baseball game.

An undercover security officer came up to me and showed me his ID. "What is that earbud being used for?" I said to listen to FM radio. He asked if I can talk on it or transmit. I said no.

He said that his some park employees where mentioning me and asking him if I was a new security member they should know about.

He asked if I could take it off and not use it in WDW. Not wanted to be escorted out of the park, I agreed.

Then I noticed that at least three other security folks where surrounding me in a 12 foot ring.

The office was very stern and I felt I had spit on Mickey.

Anyhow, word to the wise, security earbuds are a BIG NO NO.

Bob
 

questnz

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Bugger that !?, unfortunate, what we come to, I only assume there is actually no Law when and how to use ear buds. But I agree best not to upset the heavies. Next they take offense to clothes or sunglasses we wearing because they too similar to security people.
ps I am using similar ear pieces often in the shopping centers and sometimes at the airports. All depends what I have in the vehicle or on me at the time.
 
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CORN

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I now use my iphone ear buds for any portable listening. I was at an air show at Columbus AFB a few years back and was also wearing a receive only earpiece like you have and halfway thru the show I was stopped by security, not USAF Security Forces but probably FPS (their shirts said Federal Agent). He asked what I was listening to and I told them I travel to air shows and was monitoring the pilots and such. They were nice and we chatted a while and they said the reason they stopped me was because my earpiece was similar to theirs and they were "curious" they figured they didn't make those kinds of earpieces for civilians. Oh this was after I passed thru the initial "Search and Fondle" security at the gates. So after that I switched to using my iphone earbuds and have been to countless shows since then and haven't been bothered.
 

shadcall

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When listening in public I use a lightweight set of earphones, the kind that goes over both ears. I can still hear everything around me while at the same time I am able to hear my scanner. This way there is no mistaking what I am using for "security" ear buds.
 

questnz

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I suppose telling them that it is a Hearing Aid device will not cut the mustard, wrong shape !?
So now, people with genuine Hearing Aid miniature devices will get interrogated by various security Service people.
It is going too far. Everybody paranoid and on the edge now. Osama Bin Lada have lot to answer for.
 
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N4DES

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So now, people with genuine Hearing Aid miniature devices will get interrogated by various security Service people. It is going too far. Everybody paranoid and on the edge now. Osama Bin Lada have lot to answer for.

At that point I believe it would be an ADA violation and Disney could stand to loose some serious bucks if that try to do that. Best part is the individual doesn't even have to retain their own lawyer because the Fed's will provide it, unless they want to.
 

W2NJS

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This type of "only our guys can have these" attitude harks back to the days years ago when the same idiots thought that they were the only ones who could own and use Saber radios. It doesn't pay to argue with them but it also doesn't change the fact that they're all morons.
 

bergg

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Thanks for all the good input. I really find it funny that they think that only police can get these kind of earbuds.

I'll be switching to the nice ones that came with my Samsung Galaxy S3 phone.

Happy listening.
 

questnz

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Oh boy, next thing there will be signs in public places like that:
"Welcome to Moron's Park, this property is under constant surveillance, goon squad operating in the bushes,
no sunglasses, no long coats, no hearing devices of any kind, no radios, no eye contact, no food, drinks or any suspicious packages allowed, no gathering of more that 2 persons without the special permit, no running, stay in open view only at all times, no sitting in the shade. Kids, if you carry any toys please surrender for inspection at the gate to the burly 7ft gorilla looking man with listening device in his ear. Enter under your own risk ! other ways, have fun and again, welcome to the looney bin"
 
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dosboot

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I would've told him I was Mickey's undercover guard and flashed my Mickey Mouse Club ID and told the gentleman that he's on a need-to-know basis. And right now, he doesn't need to know.

That would get you a shake down by the goof police. I was in WDW June 2011 and saw a lot of undercover securty ( They call them foxes)
All of they look like reqular tourist,
But I guess I notice details because
You can always see the IFB in there ear. The Disney folks are serious about
Securty and have people all over The place. They even banned a guy for life a few months back after he made several
Back stage videos and posted on youtube, which were cool videos but
Guess if you sneek back stage dont post the videos .


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk Join me on twitter
@interplantary
 

Confuzzled

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At that point I believe it would be an ADA violation and Disney could stand to loose some serious bucks if that try to do that. Best part is the individual doesn't even have to retain their own lawyer because the Fed's will provide it, unless they want to.

The Mouse OWNS that entire county, lock, stock and barrel. No charges of any kind would be filed against them on any level. Any Civil suits are rapidly dispensed with behind closed doors.

Thy Mouse Shall NOT Be Trifled With!!!
 

N4DES

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The Mouse OWNS that entire county, lock, stock and barrel. No charges of any kind would be filed against them on any level. Any Civil suits are rapidly dispensed with behind closed doors.

Thy Mouse Shall NOT Be Trifled With!!!

ADA is Federal...and the Fed's do not play well when those requirements are ignored.
 

mikewazowski

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I have a feeling that anybody with a real impairment would not have any problems at Disney.

They go out of their way to accommodate people with disabilities from what I've seen.
 

rdale

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ADA is Federal...and the Fed's do not play well when those requirements are ignored.

There is no evidence that the ADA is being ignored. From what I know about their security side, I'd be shocked if you could find one instance of that happening...
 

gewecke

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No one has mentioned using a blue tooth to listen yet, unless I missed it? You can't get any more "low pro" than that, as long as your radio is under a shirt or jacket. I've walked amongst security and leo's in groups at public events with no one becoming aware they had a snoop!
Learning their tactics, tech and even their style of dress can clue you in how to blend well in the crowd. ;)

73,
n9zas
 

MTS2000des

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Back in 1993, I went to Six Flags over Georgia (in the same county where I live) one day with my Dad. I had a UHF HT-600, programmed ONLY with 440 HAM repeaters. This was the same model of radio they used at the time.

I remember being on the skylift, ended up talking on one of the Atlanta repeaters. When I got off, I had a nice "ring" of security guys surround me- asking me who I was, what the radio was for, etc. Said I was a ham, showed them the radio had nothing but ham repeaters in it. They were not happy. The director of security himself showed up and threatened to have me CT'ed if I did not either leave the park, or I could stay so long as I checked my radio with security while I was in the park. I told them I did not pay $35 for a ticket to be harassed, threatened and intimidated- I never saw any posted rules about radios or communication devices prohibited anywhere, nor was it on my ticket- so I how was I supposed to know?

The director said "the only radios we allow are Walkmans so people can listen to the game" and he reiterated it was against their "policy" though he became irritated when I merely asked where I could have found this "policy" before visiting so I could have refrained from brining the evil HT600 into their park. Of course he had no answer and just puffed on his cancer stick.

The one security supervisor agreed with me, and he had a sidebar with the director and they compromised and allowed me to put the radio in my Dad's car during our visit. So I did. But what an embarrassment. At the end of the day, it is their property and they can have whatever silly rules they wish- I get that. But they should treat others as guests. Because of this incident and the way it was handled, I stayed out of that park through the rest of the 1990s.

In August of 2001, several hams with a local club planned a Six Flags outing. I initially didn't want to go, but we decided to make it a "radio event" and see what would happened when a bunch of hams show up in numbers with radios. By this time, SFOG had installed metal detectors you have to pass through to get into the park. We loaded up a bookbag full of portables, everything from HT1000's, MTS2000's, and ham HT's like FT-50s. While security asked what the radios were for, we said "we are ham radio operators"...."Oh, okay...cool. So long as they don't interfere with us..."

We spent the whole day at the park, while several other guests mistook us for park employees because of the HT's, security never batted an eye, and they were everywhere. Before this visit, we did contact guest relations and they said they have no prohibition on personal communication devices such as two way radios, cellphones or AM/FM radios- the only limitation is no loud devices such as boom boxes or noisemakers.

Disney's rule is probably because the style of earpiece is what they use.

My advice is get a BluComm adapter for your portable (unless your radio has BT). These are great, and you look like just another guy on your Bluetooth headset.
 

gewecke

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Exactly, look like one of the sheep and you will blend right in! ;)

73,
n9zas
 
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