Gun found at Disney World raises safety concerns

ORLANDO, Fla., May 30 (UPI) -- A gun found on a ride at Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Florida had raised questions about the park's rules on firearms, officials say.

The Cobra .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol was found Sunday on the Dinosaur ride at the amusement park, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported.

Angelo Lista, the owner of the gun, returned later in the day, saying it fell out of his pocket during the ride. He was escorted out of the theme park, but was allowed to return the next day without the gun.

"It was my mistake, but I wish I would've known more about" the park's gun policy, Lista said.

Disney spokeswoman Kathleen Prihoda said Wednesday that no "weapons of any kind" are permitted on Disney property.

Some people expressed concern over the incident, saying they felt less safe at the park.

"Like other people, when I go to Walt Disney World I feel like I'm entering a bubble of safety and I feel secure, but I guess this took me out of my bubble for a moment," said blogger Shelley Caran, who writes about her experiences at Disney World at onthegoinmco.com.

Meanwhile, Dr. Abraham Pizam, dean of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, said the Sunday incident may not indicate larger safety issues at Disney world, the Sentinel reported.

"Does it happen? Yes, it does. Does it happen frequently? Absolutely not," Pizam said. "Security is one of the issues that if it works, everyone takes it for granted. But it if doesn't work, everyone is a critic."