Orlando, Florida’s WESH, aired a report on sex offenders in theme parks this evening which featured commentary from FAC’s President, Gail Colletta.
You can watch the report here: https://www.wesh.com/article/sex-offenders-at-florida-theme-parks/27269367
Has there been any update on this? has anyone been since? I am out of state and am wondering if I will be allowed in if it is not a season pass
Hello my husband and I plan on going to universal we are Florida residents. He is a tier one Has anyone had any issue with going to universal . Please help thank you
Universal is a green light. Enjoy!
What about Legoland?
Tier 1? That a thing?
No Florida doesn’t have tiers per se either offender or predator.
Didnt think so. I was no tier then a 1 in my homestate (non public) then i came here. You cn figure out the rest. Curious appletree, how did the tier one thing come to play in florida
I was gifted a Family Fun Card for Sea World. I’m not eligible for early termination until January but it’s good through all of next year. If I am able to get early termination, will this still be unusable for me?
Any info on Seaworld? According to article Gerald had an annual pass so I assume Seaworld/Aquatica annual pass is a go?
Anyone have any updated info on this? Planning on traveling in November with a low risk offender who was recently taken from a tier 2 to tier 1 and removed from the online registry in nj.
You have no obligation to notify a theme park that you are visiting with a registered sex offender. If it’s not coded on his driver’s license, and your state does not even disclose his status online, how would the theme park even discover such information?
I know and that was our original thought process. He’s not coded on his DL. We went in 2005 without issue before kids when he was actually a tier 2, we’re just afraid things may have changed since. We’re planning on staying a few days at one of their resorts/visiting the parks with our 3 kids. His name will be on the tickets/meal reservations only, the main stuff is in my name. We’re just afraid of a random background check.
Update?
We called the county police dept to inquire. They first told us disney wouldn’t let him in, but the other parks probably wouldn’t be a problem. They also told us that he would need to register, would be put on their internet site, but taken down once we left. Turns out this was untrue. After some more research, FL leaves out of state offenders on their list indefinitely. After so much effort, anxiety, and money put in to getting off jerseys site, we feel it isn’t worth it to get put on FL’s for ever.
here’s the thing: if you, or a loved one, wish to visit Disney, simply pay in cash and dont show ID. Its expensive that way of course but if you are only visiting the area, who cares?
I agree pay The daily fee and don’t bring a ID. Cost a little more to go but at least you can go and enjoy the park.
All tickets are now prepurchased online and picked up with id at gate as i understand now due to Covid
ALL Disney theme parks prohibit RSO’s in their parks. Right now I am researching to see if that’s the same with non-Disney attractions as well.
How would they know if you went to the park without your ID?? You should only need ID if you are paying for a season pass or Florida resident ticket..
Nice so they do background checks on everyone that’s one thing but reacting is another. What about fentanyl, meth users leaving their toxic needles and pills on rides and in the bathroom. List goes on. Well we all know how to take the family to Disney 1 good time on them the second trip just go by yourself and get your money back.
I myself had season passes before the decal for several years while kids were young.
DOES ANYONE KNOW if they specifically use the statue number on your ID todo this or anywhere else that uses this? I’m wondering if Disney first spot the license decal then does an independent investigation or really checks everyone??
If you bought a single ticket, would you even have to show ID?
As somewhat of a defense on the big rat could you imagine the $$$ they would have to pay out should a child be molested by a know registered person on Disney Property?
The irony of your statement is two (former) Disney employees have been arrested this past year for that very thing,(one who was working at one of the theme parks and one on one of their cruise ships). They’re so busy screening, and banning people on the registry,and yet they managed to hire these two guys.
We are Florida residents heading over to Universal Studios for 2 days with someone in our party who is RSO. Will this person be denied entry at either the parks(s) or the on-site hotel we are all staying at? Hotel was booked by a non-RSO in our party.
How did it go?? Any issues at hotel or the park?
Zero issues whatsoever. We called in advance, explained the situation, and were told there would be no issues staying on property nor visiting the parks. Granted, the hotel room was in my wife’s name but we still had to show ids to get tickets. No questions, no hassle, no problems; exactly how it should be for anyone who has PAID THEIR DEBT TO SOCIETY & doesn’t have a court order to “keep away from children.”
Did you happen to go to Disney as well? It sounds like your situation is similar to ours.
We did not attempt Disney.
Would bush gardens allow a RSO from 1994 go into their park??? Do they request for id? The statu # is on the DL
Did the id the rso showed have the identifier? Front desk is trained to look for that
Was just there last week with my family (we are from out of state) and had no issues. Bought our tickets at our local base MWR office for a nice discount. Had to put names/ticket numbers in online for food reservations and fast pass rides but that didn’t seem to raise any flags. Hopefully nothing will change in a few years if we go again!
Bush Gardens is under Disney too. I was wondering the same. As it would just suck not to be able to go to any amusement park for someone who would even hurt kids anyways despite their registry.
This needs a legal challenge insofar as out of state or country sex offenders have no issues.
I have had season passes for myself and my kids. I have never had any problems or been refused park admission. I have been on the Fl. Registry since 2000
Did you get season passes this year? Any issues? My stomach turns thinking about getting the kids amped up to go and then getting denied at the gate.
DO NOT GET SEASON PASSES FOR SOMEONE ON THE REGISTRY
We’re not planning on season passes. I was responding to the poster. We’re planning on a 5 day hopper with our kids. Any info on that?
Anecdotally, people who have purchased tickets daily have not had issues.
Now this was 4 years ago so things may have changed. But here’s my story: I bought a season pass to Disney a few years ago. There was NOTHING on their website to warn me away and there is NOTHING in the law (that I am aware of) that says I can’t be on site. The first visit went wonderfully. On the second, I was stopped at the gate and escorted by security to a back off. There they explained they did a background check (on FL residents who buy passes) and as such my pass was cancelled. They also informed me that I am barred from any Disney property and if I come back, they have the option to have me charged with trespassing. They were very polite and professional about it and I took no offense. They did give me a full refund of my pass but did have a county sheriff (discreetly) escort me off the property.
The key to this is their background checks for annual pass holder’s. If you want to go to Disney or another theme park, just buy a daily pass and keep a low profile. If the ask for ID, tell em you lost it and provide a fake name if asked by a park security guard. No crime there. Just don’t lie to cops about your identity in Florida as that can be construed as “obstruction by disguise” in violation of FSS 843.03.
So dumb question I guess but don’t you have to carry your I’d at all times?
Just want to say I thought you were my husband, because our story is LITERALLY a carbon copy of yours. My husband was actually trespassed, not sure if you were or not.
Such a joke, and just another way to keep the pearl clutchers all riled up. This assisnine rule at Disney has been in effect since 2013, they’re just now really enforcing it(supposedly because they’re staff have been better trained in identifying the statutes printed on ones driver’s license,that’s the line we were fed when we went through our Disney fiasco in 2016) One question I do have, according to this article, because Disney is a private company, they can ban anyone they want(for the most part), if that’s the case, why don’t they just put it out there on their website? Why not just clearly state “no sex offenders allowed, you will be banned and tresspassed” instead of the generic”we reserve the right to deny entry” nonsense? Is that because Disney, or any private company for that matter, could be sued for being specific on who’s allowed in and who isn’t? I’m curious
I think a “magical” place like Disney doesn’t want their customers to see terms like “sex offender”, for any reason, when they book their tickets while exploring the website. They also don’t want customers to even have a sense that it’s possible for any sex offender to be in their parks. If they don’t bring the idea of sex offenders to their customers’ naive minds, then nothing else will. I wonder if the deputy would threaten to arrest someone who shouted “I am a registered sex offender” as they are escorted from the park. Disney would have a fit if they found out. It might even make the news.
I think it should be like this though because I think people should have a chance to get in if they can. They went too jail to pay their sentence and instead they pay it for the rest of their lives. Not all sex offenders are child molesters or terrible criminals, but unfortnutely they get the worst wrap, even worse then most murder criminals. Really most sex offenders, not all,, are harmless. They don’t steal, or rob, or any other criminal issues so it is really sad how badly this rings.
Well, if you keep calling them “sex offenders” then they really are special offenders forever. I don’t want any kind of “offender” around my family, especially a “gun offender” or “violent offender”.
There are people who are listed on the Sex Offense Registries who haven’t been on probation or parole for decades. They aren’t offenders of any kind. They are People Forced to Register by illegitimate, immoral, criminal regimes, at the point of their guns and other lethal weapons. I’d call such a person a “Person Forced to Register”.
Hello all, I’d like to lend some knowledge about the politics surrounding theme parks and registered citizens for those who may not know. I’m a Florida native of more than 50 years, which means I predate Disney in Central Florida.
First, Florida is nowadays a very transient state with an estimated 8 million people visiting Central Florida every year. As a Florida native, born and raised in Central Florida even before Disney arrived in 1971, I can assure you that those numbers are certainly growing every year. Florida no longer has it’s strong foothold on the cattle and citrus industries it once had. Today, it’s almost all about tourism and tourism dollars to fund local and state governments.
Second, the theme parks spend billions of dollars to promote themselves and their ilk, including the politicians they support. This naturally influences sheriff’s, judges, law makers, etc.
Third, it is axiomatic that the theme parks would yank a pass holder’s credentials and call the cops to issue trespass warnings to someone on the registry. They have to keep up their propaganda that Central Florida is the happiest place on Earth. Btw, they do keep their records for years, so if that happens to you don’t go back or you will surely be arrested for “trespass after warning.”
Fourth, it is also axiomatic that local judges typically order sex offenders to not enter any place where children frequently congregate including theme parks. The reason for such an order should be glaringly obvious since such orders are virtually paid for by the them parks.
So, there you have it … real news the media will never report because Disney and Universal Studios own them.
Keep fight all.
I live in Central Florida and 4 years ago my wife and I purchased season passes for Disney. We went the first day to activate the tickets about a month later we went back and as we were going through entrance it showed my ticket was voided. (but my wife’s was ok) I was told to go to customer service to find out what the issue was. When we got to the window they took my license and my pass and we were told that someone would be with us. About ten minutes later a man shows up with a clipboard and tells us to follow him . We went into the park and went into a building where city hall is and led us to a back room. He then explained that Disney does background checks on all of the pass holders and that because I was on the registry I am not allowed to go to the park. I explained that my crime was 31 years ago and he said it was beyond his control all they know is that I am on the registry. Within 10 minutes 2 sheriff’s deputies arrived and called in to see if I had any warrants. Then I was served with a trespass order and told that I am not allowed on ANY Disney property in the world. Including Disney stores and even at the camping world stadium. They took my picture and fingerprinted me and a security officer escorted me to my vehicle. They asked my wife if she still wanted her pass to be active as she was ok to got the parks just not me. She said that she did not want hers either and they voided hers and within a week we were reimbursed all of our money that we spent on the passes. Prior to us purchasing the passes we spent tens of thousands of dollars at the Disney parks and we even pay for family members to stay at the Disney Polynesian resort when they come to Florida. Now we spend all of our money at other theme parks and we just do not get any season passes. I am okay with this as my life does not surround around if I can go to Disney or not. I try not to let things like this bother me as it is just how things are for now and as much as we complain society will still view us as dangerous as long as there is a registry that puts us in the forefront of everyone. I believe that the registry does not make anyone safer and the sad thing is that in my county (POLK) you have to pay the sheriff’s department to be on the registry or else you will be arrested for failure to comply and be sent to prison. The craziest thing that day at Disney was that one of the Sheriff’s deputies recognized me and asked for an autograph and a photo. I gave it to him as I don’t hold this against the deputies that are only upholding the laws no matter how stupid they are.
Am I understanding that this only applies to season passholders? How does that keep anyone safe when millions visit these parks every year? Who knows who is getting in. Just don’t buy a pass I guess and you will not be hassled or denied entry.
Sounds like your money may be better used hiring a lawyer to make a real change, or at least donating to these lawsuits.
Food for thought.
Does anyone know if wild adventures in Georgia has the same policy?? Or even Bush Gardens?? Me and my wife use to frequent theme parks before I was out in the registry and we would love to go again but just assumed I wasn’t allowed.
Six flags or wild adventures you can have season passes
Six Flags was the first amusemant park to place a formal ban on Registered Persons. Have they quietly changed that because the mosr recent thing I’ve seen was an arrest in 2014 for an RC being in a Six Flags park.
I can’t understand why anone would want to patronize any businesses that actively discriminate against RCs.
At any rate, I haven’t seen a formal anti-RC policy at Disney, other than having the right to refuse service to any non-protected class of people. I have not the same amount of issues in California, so if you really want to spends money on a trip to see the Mouse, maybe go to Anaheim and tell FloriDUH to shove it.
I don’t know about other folks, but I do whatever I can to avoid buying anything known to come from Florida. No Florida Oranges or Juice, no Florida Crystals sugar. I cheer when every Florida team loses in sports, which is a lot as of late. Even when I did the Christmas at the Camp event back in 2016, everything I donated was bought in Ohio. It may be petty but I loathe the state of FloriDUH so much that I am willing to take extra steps to not spend any of my money on an item that sends even one red cent to the state.
Thinking about going to universal studios June of 2020. I live in Texas and am a registered SO for something that happened in 1999. Will I be allowed in if I purchase tickets online?
Did you find anything out on this? Curious as we would like to go in October but my husband is on the registry. We live in Illinois
Have you ever gone to universal studios? Any issues? My husband is on the registry (Illinois) and we want to plan a vacation but don’t want to get all the way down there and then find out he can’t go in.
I’ve never heard of someone being trespassed from all Disney properties worldwide… for instance, if someone gets trespassed from Walt Disney World they can still go to Disneyland. If you’re sure that your trespass is company-wide, I’d be interested in seeing a picture of the order. (you can upload a picture of the order to an image host like Imgur and post the link in a reply to this comment.)
Additionally, the Camping World Stadium isn’t owned or operated by Disney.
I’m just glad the ex post facto sustainer is going up. I donated some! I challenge everyone who reads this to donate to it. Put your money where your mouth is. Let’s fund this damn thing already.
I am dumbfounded when I read things like this. Is this one incident out of millions of people who attend such parks over the years or is there a rash of incidents that we don’t know about? I think it’s the usual hysteria that has overtaken rational thinking in this country. Children are more likely to be harmed on the rides or on the drive to the park I would bet. And kids who have a parent who is denied entry to parks will suffer too. The article asks if sex offenders could be sitting next to your kids on a ride or standing in line. For that matter, a terrorist could be sitting next to them as well or someone high on meth or other drugs or a murderer who hasn’t been caught yet. “Law enforcement said that good advice for parents may be to act as the first line of defense by keeping their kids close to keep them safe.” Well duh, isn’t that what parents should always do?
The fact that nightly news reporters are starting to consult with FAC on these issues is a good sign. They consulted FAC, plus a defense attorney, but not a prosecutor or sheriff. That was a good use of their limited reporting resources. And, as usual, Gail did an amazing job.
I also appreciate that the theme parks did not use this story as an opportunity to hang registrants out to dry, instead being more cagey about their policies here, which is probably appropriate.
Way to set us back, Gerald. What are you trying to do – get us all put in the electric chair? Listen, if you haven’t learned your lesson the first time, that this life isn’t bad enough for you that you’re willing to risk what’s next by committing the same crime again, there just ain’t a whole lot we can do for you. If we’re going to be taken seriously and expect intelligent people to understand our cause, we have to also be willing to call a spade a spade when appropriate. If this guy can’t stop exposing himself to children in public, then the public has every right to do what it has to do. Gail, you handled it beautifully – as always. Thanks again for the work you do on our behalf.
Do the people working for Disney have any idea how many undocumented sex offenders are roaming around the park. Maybe riding next to a child?. Maybe none?. Maybe one?. There is no way to tell for sure!!. But there are definitely a lot of potential’s that haven’t been caught yet!. I wouldn’t want to worry the public!!. It’s just the ” FACT ” that is scary!!.
Friends,
I can’t stress enough that, as our numbers grow, we not prostrate ourselves before the Disney gods with our devotion or resources. We may have no political or social voice, but those of us who are blessed with the disposable income to visit these parks should vote with our wallets – not by being caught and kicked out and having our money refunded, but by publicly declaring our refusal to support these places of unwarranted prejudice and discrimination in the first place.
We should educate them with facts and back it with a determination to only support those establishments who will not forever treat us based on our worst mistakes of the past. If there are not any ignorant-free resorts in FL, then make the effort to travel to where you and your family can be treated as human beings. You and your family’s enjoyment and peace of mind will be worth the extra effort. I vacation with my family in places where my past never has to cross my mind at all, and that’s the best kind of vacation I could ever ask for!
I agree. The best way to promote change and the eradicating of the purely discriminatory policies which apply to ALL in one blanket, is to do so with our wallets. This is our true voice as a consuming public.
Guarding public safety is appropriate, but everyone can’t be placed in the same category, as each case is different. Each level of ‘alleged’ offense is different.
What about prior history? Type of offense? Length and purpose of visit? Reason for visit, outside the obvious for all?
The beauty and the unfairness of the ‘private’ entity is that they make their own rules. Perhaps, as in law, there are tiers to determine decisions to admit or refuse entrance in their ‘business’ holdings should characterize decisions.
When everyone is placed in the same category, there is inherent injustice present.Until some brave and determined soul files a lawsuit and litigates sound argument, discrimination remains legal.
This is like refusing admission to all gay or black people. EVERYONE does not fall into one category. Where’s the human factor that informs us that we are as alike as we are different?
How about this: When visiting theme parks or other restricted places, being accompanied by family or friend who may ‘vouch’ for the ‘offender’ thus allowing entrance? There must be compromises. Otherwise, where are we demonstrating the goal of preparing convicted for engaging in society as a positively functioning individual? Is it fair to convict ALL for life and never give opportunity for a second chance to engage in society with all rights and privileges?
Couldn’t agree more. My loved one made the mistake of doing cagey things with cagey people when he was 19/20 and got in with the wrong people..with some girls that shouldn’t have been hanging there either doing the things they were doing. He did his 4 years in prison, got clean, and has led the straight and narrow since. Steady job, home, we have 3 kids. Because of this, he was finally able to get removed from the state registry after 20 years and also have his tier reduced. We have friends that are aware of his situation that would trust him more with their kids than some of the adults they know without any priors. It’s nauseating that he’s still being punish for his stupidity when he was a teenager/young adult.
Amanda. What state do you live in?
New Jersey
Wouldn’t you be more worried about the possibility of a child being molested by an adult rso at a theme park rather than the rso not being treated justily by not being allowed into a theme park focused on attracting kids. If you want to bring justice for them do it in a court room not after they have been charged. Plus, doesn’t it worry you that they are on here trying to get information from one another on how to bypass a security procedure to keep rsos away from kids.
When has an RSO ever molested a child in a theme park? I think you’re worried about the wrong things.
Has anyone tried disney on their new system?
Because it’s been shown time and time again, that those on the registry are not a viable threat. Do.the research. Disney goes above and beyond to screen their job applicants, and yet they have had at least 3 employees arrested for sexual assault, or possession of child porn or other things I the past few years, and guess what list they aren’t (or ever were on). RSO’s are blackballed from being able to attend theme parks, but any other violent offenders are welcomed with open arms. Its pathetic that someone parolled for murder, or someone with multiple felonies, arsonists, gang members, drug dealers etc aren’t even considered for any screening at the ticket window, but oh no, we cant let the guy with a conviction over 20 years ago from having an underage girlfriend in high school in because he’s on the registry.
Nope, because I don’t buy into your big government “registered sex offender” stupidity. I know that big government cannot be trusted for 1 second to tell me anything about who might be dangerous and who might not.
I’m a responsible parent and I educated my children about how to not be a victim from anyone, whether or not the person is listed on a big government list or not. I educated them and supervised them when I needed to. I never needed the lies of big government about “protecting” my children. I know that even if big government and the boot lickers like Disney who support them were able to keep every single person who is listed on their Registries out of parks or wherever, that it would not change the risk level in any significant way at all. It wouldn’t affect anything. How’s that for pathetically ineffective?
Also, no informed, moral American thinks the big government Registries are acceptable in any way. People on this web site are fighting against the immoral harassing terrorists who think Registries are acceptable. They aren’t doing anything except trying to live normal lives.
We live in Polk County FL. I would love to know where we can vacation as a family without worry. My son is a RSO from juvenile charges when he was in 9th grade. He is 21 now and not the least bit of a threat to anyone.
I agree , reading this is scary as shit! Sex offenders on a public platform figuring out on how to get into a theme park! Wtf , just knowing that they are trying so hard to figure out how to get in is crazy!
I’m going to guess this is sarcasm? Trolling? Or willful ignorance?
I don’t know that anyone would bother going to the theme parks with intentions of committing a crime of that nature with the high levels of security that are everpresent. Then again, and this goes with any crime, if someone truly wants to commit a crime, not a single sanction or law will be stopping them.
Food for thought.
Just want to know if incan take my kids for one day.
Yeah because EVERY S.O. is wanting to go to Disney just to molest children. It has nothing to do with them wanting to take a vacation with their family like a normal person. Are you aware that it’s over a hundred thousand times more likely that your child will be molested by a family member in your own house than by a guest a Disney world?