Well, I have a not-very-pleasant conversation with a guy with the "Investigations division of the Security Department at Walt Disney World." Actually, it was a remarkably composed conversation--just not one I wish to repeat in the future. =)

All boxes listed as being in WDW have been retired. All boxes that they know about have been confiscated. (Apparently, they made a pretty impressive pile before he handed them off to their legal department to take a look at.)

He also mentioned that some of them were covered in camo tape, hanging from wires in trees. Okay, besides the fact that you aren't supposed to be planting boxes at Disney World, in what world is it a good idea to use camo tape and wires for a box in such a public, well-traveled area? Are you trying to cause a bomb scare? One of them he told me was planted near a propane tank--which I guess isn't actually particularly visible to the public at large, but it sure made them nervous when they caught someone rooting around the bushes near it.

I don't know who was planting these kinds of boxes (he didn't get into specific names of boxes), but please use a little common sense! If you plant in urban locations, never ever make your box look so threatening! Use clear containers, label the outside of the container, and keep it as small and nonthreatening as possible.

And please, stop planting boxes at Disney World. It's off limits!

-- Ryan

oooh....it's a shame about all of those boxes being confiscated though. I hope you don't have to repeat that conversation anytime soon.

There was a discussion on the Florida board fairly recently started by a boxer who works in the parks stating it "was not worth it".

Given the seriousness of the situation, I believe we should all pull the ones at Disneyland and CA Adventure as well. (Don't everyone glare at me.....I'm one of the transgressors, although mine is just a stamp with a magnet embedded).

I know for a fact that tchrlady is down there this week. I'm going to ask her to pull mine. Anyone who wants there pulled (so it can be returned) feel free to AQ-mail me and I'll do my best to reach her.

We're going to Dland sometime next week (probably next week if not next week then the week after. We haven't decided which days are dedicated to dland yet. hehe) as well so we can pull anything that needs to be pulled as well if you want.

And National Parks Too!

It must suck for Ryan to have to be the 'face' of Letterboxing, sometimes, especially when this stuff happens. Even though the gentleman from Disney was 'composed' about it, I have a funny feeling it was still pretty unpleasant.

Not that Disney would EVER do this; but it would be pretty cool if they put out their own sanctioned boxes in calmer, less traversed places in their parks. I remember a few years ago, that folks at Sagamore Hill, here on Long Island, put out three boxes, sanctioned by the National Park Service. They were nice stamps and fun boxes to find. Considering the artistic talent that resides at Disney, those stamps and boxes could be really amazing.

Jaxx

Yeah that would be pretty cool. There's a castle in Okinawa that we visited that does something like that. They're aren't any boxes and they're not hidden but there were probably 10 places around the castle that tourists could stamp onto a paper. This was before I even knew about letterboxing. I had to stamp on a random piece of paper in my purse but I still have those stamps. It was very cool.

Not that Disney would EVER do this; but it would be pretty cool if they put out their own sanctioned boxes in calmer, less traversed places in their parks. I remember a few years ago, that folks at Sagamore Hill, here on Long Island, put out three boxes, sanctioned by the National Park Service. They were nice stamps and fun boxes to find. Considering the artistic talent that resides at Disney, those stamps and boxes could be really amazing.

Actually, with their hidden Mickeys, and their Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom "quest" type game, I think they already tend to cater to this personality type. If they knew they could amuse people this way in their parks, and send people on errands through locations that sometimes included like, oh, their gift shops, they'd probably be interested in it. Now, who's going to tell them?

Im very upset about this and been upset most the afternoon. I've been boxing for 3 years, I probably won't become a "paid member" any more. One other thing set me off on boxing this week, not on AQ, by the way. ( I must of had the Texas circus to long, yet others had it just as long, and a rude comment was made.). Guess the a hat that said it didn't know my dad died and both my boys broke limbs in the time frame I had it!!). Back to the topic!! I guess my love for Disney, I at 32 was on the brink of death from loosing my husband and my dad, who just died on a recent family vacation, drug me and my boys to Disney in hopes of bringing me out of depression). It worked!! Now at 37 I go each year. I wanted to bring both my passions together. I guess I'm the evil one who plants at Disney!! I however, don't use wires or propane tanks mine are in simple film containers without logbooks. Looks like trash!! I was so excited to put one at each park a few weeks back. This time tiny 2" boxes with only stamp and magnetic. I put restriction on them and made them wom. They are in places Disney will never find. Yes, Ryan retired them, but they are still there!!!!!!! If someone is finding in such a public place, they should not be dumb. Sit down and blend in. Just follow the clues and put an arm behind your body to find and don't plant where you shouldn't be blending in. Really people?!? Don't find in places like this if it's to hard for you! Yes maybe Disney is private, wrong on mine and others to plant. Most of us who put plants there were just combining our loves, and not trying to hurt Disney! Sorry Ryan you had to deal with this:-( Just my 2 cents. Let the hate mail begin!!

Well I don't know if I'll ever get a chance to go to Disney World but I was looking forward to seeing if I could find any of the ones at Disneyland when we go this next week. So I am disappointed. I see both perspectives and obviously you put a lot of thought into trying to be as inconspicuous and as careful as possibly. I highly doubt that people will stop planting at Disneyland/world in any case....I bet no one at the park would have even gotten that uppity about it (still would have removed the boxes but maybe less angry) if they hadn't found the ones that look threatening.

Are we to presume that the rules are the same for Disneyland?

And is all this documented in the Help Wiki?

No, not National Parks too. The NPS changed its stance many years ago now, allows letterboxes and geocaches with approval of the local land manager.