Downtown Disney reopens after closure; suspicious object turns out to be geocache
Authorities have reopened Downtown Disney in Anaheim after determining a suspicious cylindrical object found near the ESPN Zone restaurant was a harmless geocaching container.
Anaheim police closed part of the retail district Tuesday morning after Disney employees reported finding the suspicious object during a routine sweep. By about 12:30 p.m. the Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad determined it was a geocache site, said Anaheim Police Sgt. Bob Dunn.
Geocaching is a hobby that uses orienteering and GPS devices to hide and seek small waterproof containers known as "geocaches."
Disneyland Resort issued an update via Twitter noting that operations were continuing as normal.
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Downtown Disney section closed off as bomb squad investigates suspicious object
-- Tony Barboza
EDITOR'S PICKS:
That's totally funny. This is about the 10th time I've heard of a geocache being mistaken for a "suspicious object". Either we're way too sensitive, or the geocachers need to be a little more discreet. I suspect the former.
Posted by: Ned Flanders | February 22, 2011 at 01:45 PM
I think the geocachers know what they have to do if they want geocaching to get mainstream attention.
Posted by: Evan Carroll | February 22, 2011 at 02:27 PM
People are way too paranoid. It's a societal sickness.
Posted by: Hakatau | February 22, 2011 at 03:29 PM
LAME!
Posted by: kimi k | February 22, 2011 at 03:38 PM
Disney does not allow ANY unattended object to be tolerated. After 9/11 the threats to Disney World were enough for my niece to feign sickness until she felt safe to go back to work! She didn't work in any of the Parks, but at a hotel/restaurant stop on the Monorail system. I have been approached as to whether I owned or knew who owned a backpack that had been left on the ground near me. They were very discreet and evacuated everyone in the area until the party returned to get it. I have watched as a fellow left a backpack on a bench to go get a Churro...the Disney employees were watching within seconds!! then reporting via walkie talkies the situation. He returned and the situation was ended. Downtown Disney does not have the security clearance set up like they have for entering the Parks, so anything is suspicious. A geocache is a very dumb thing to plant at such a high profile area such as on Disney Property...especially without clearance...which obviously they didn't have. I for one applaud Disney for their diligence and the high amount of training that goes into being extremely observant with the vast crowds who want to enjoy themselves at "The Happiest Place On Earth". If you feel we're way too sensitive, paranoid, societally sick, LAME, I feel you have missed the mark. Please re read my comments and thank a worldwide phenomenon like the Disney Corporation for helping us have a wonderful experience no matter what country or ocean we visit with them. °0° PS I do not work for Disney...and yes, I am a Geocacher!
Posted by: Cynthia | February 22, 2011 at 06:08 PM
I don't think geocachers would do this for publicity, especially not for *negative* publicity. If anything, geocachers enjoy the quasi-secretive nature of a good hide and the challenge of finding it, logging it, and returning it without drawing attention from anyone around. Something like this is the antithesis of what geocaching is about. The guidelines for placing a cache specifically forbid tourist locations where something like this might happen.
But the previous commenter does have a good point. And how often does a truly suspicious object look obviously suspicious?
Posted by: v2k | February 22, 2011 at 07:30 PM
If you don't report the geocachers, The Terrorists win.
Posted by: NR | February 22, 2011 at 07:59 PM
Geocaches need adequate permission to be placed on a property. Disney never gives permission. The cache owner knew that, or should have known.
Posted by: mtyparagon | February 23, 2011 at 05:16 AM
If it's private property you must get approval from the owner. The hider of the cache and the volunteer approver of caches from the website should have known better. I'd rather not have this kind of negative attention on one of my favorite pass-times.
Posted by: I_LIKE_NINJAS | February 23, 2011 at 02:32 PM
The object was a small magnetic container, about the size of a fingernail that had been there for five years. But I agree that it should not have been placed on Disney property without permission.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow | February 24, 2011 at 09:04 AM
What was the GC of the cache? I was there geocaching and didn't see this particular cache as being 'active' so I'm guessing it was old and archived?
Posted by: Geokashers | February 27, 2011 at 09:59 PM