Walt Disney World in Florida is rated the #1 family vacation destination in the United States. However, it is also the country's 3rd largest location for human trafficking.

The chance to experience it's immersive family-friendly atmosphere, iconic characters, thrill rides and the chance to create long lasting memories may be a few reasons why it's so popular.

But is it really that secure?

Human trafficking has always been a part of society. Often times when people hear about it they are left in shock, especially when they hear about cases being dropped. However they tend to forget about it soon after. So when will things change? When will we actually start taking it seriously and work to reduce the situation?

Law enforcement has been fighting human trafficking for nearly 20 years, not only in Disney World, but all over the globe. Due to technological advancements over the past century it has increased dramatically.

Not only is human trafficking becoming a bigger deal, it's also getting harder to catch. 

Who does it affect?

According to CBS news “50% of human trafficking cases involve children and 44% involve women.” Not only does it affect these victims but it impacts the families that are involved in these people's lives as well. 

Consequences of being trafficked last a lifetime. 

It involves suffering from unwanted pregnancies, STI’s, malnutrition, substance abuse, ongoing struggles with anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies, self harm, unemployment and incarceration, as well as sexual, physical and emotional assaults.

If this doesn't explain the impact human trafficking has on a human I don't know what will.

Why Disney World?

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd “wherever you find children you’ll find sexual predators. Most employees work at Disney because they want a good, stable job for a great company, but there will always be a few that are there because they can see children. They can live in a child's world.” he said.

In another article about a man named Paul Viel, who was recently arrested for sending nudes to a 13 year old boy, states that “he moved to Florida to become a Disney cast member because that's where the children are.” 

Too many things are going on for people to realize what's going on around them at a place like Disney. Which is another reason we need to reduce the situation and make it a safer place for families to bring their children.

Why isn't it getting better? 

 

As stated by City Journal which is an article on Disney's Child Predator Problem. “Disney has come under fire for failing to report abuse.” In 2014, a crew member on Disney Dream Cruise ship was caught on security cameras molesting an 11 year old girl. Authorities failed to report the crime until after the ship had left the port which allowed the man to evade arrest where he allegedly told her to “keep her mouth shut” about the crime.

Another key aspect is the fact that employees of hotels and restaurants aren't trained to see signs and aren't paying enough attention. According to an article “traffickers hide in plain sight, people are preoccupied and not looking for suspicious activity.”

There will not be a reduction of human trafficking if work places are not training their employees to watch out for suspicious behavior. Especially if places like Disney continue to fail to properly report and investigate crimes.

A Sixth month investigation in 2014 showed at least 35 Disney employees had been arrested since 2006 for sex crimes involving children, attempting to lure minors for sex, and possession of child pornography. 

In 2018, actor Stoney Westmoreland who was in the show “Andi Mack,” was sentenced 2 years in prison for sex crimes with a minor. He was caught sending pornographic photos and attempting to lure a 13 year old boy to a hotel with him.

 

2019, Disney's vice president, Michael Laney, was arrested for repeated sexual abuse involving a 7 year old girl. He was 73 at the time and had been working with Disney for decades.

Authorities have arrested 108 people, including sexual predators, seeking prostitutes in a human trafficking operation in Florida on March 17, 2022. “Four of them were Disney employees and a retired judge,” police say. 

October 17, 2024, more than 150 people, including a Disney employee and 25 illegal immigrants, were arrested in an undercover human trafficking sweep in Polk County that had rescued 4 potential human trafficking victims. 

All of these cases have something to do with technology which is how they are now luring children and others into danger. According to CBS News “59% of cases are from Facebook, 13% are from Instagram, 9% are from Wechat and 7% are from Snapchat.” This explains exactly why human trafficking has increased drastically over the years because in the early 2000’s because numerous social media apps were NOT A THING. 

So I am declaring a call in action, to open your eyes and see the impact human trafficking has not only on victims but the community as well. It could happen to anyone at any time which is why we need your help to stop this type of evil.  

You can be a part of the fight to reduce human trafficking not only in Disney World but also around the globe. There are numerous ways you can get involved.

Education:

Learn the history, the more you know the better you will understand what is going on around you. Every drop of information about the whereabouts of cases, who was involved, who it impacted, will help create an understanding of the situation, build empathy and strive to fight for families. 

 

Publicise the Problem:

Talk to friends, family members and people that are close to you about the importance of this. Post it on social media, make it known that this is getting worse as we speak. Share resources in your local community about the human trafficking hotlines and how they can help. Organizing Workshops and awareness campaigns to help educate others is another great way to make it known that it's a problem that needs to be addressed.

 

Take a Stand:

Sign this petition. By signing this petition, you recognize the importance of reducing this situation not only to protect you and your family but also others around you. You're representing how human trafficking is getting worse over time and the impact it will have on future generations.  

By signing this petition, you are fighting to make this world a better place and are supporting help resources for organizations working to combat human trafficking and assist victims.