Disney Springs was potential target of Orlando gunman

Federal law enforcement says that Disney Springs at Walt Disney World was a potential target of the Orlando Pulse nightclub gunman, Omar Mateen.  Mateen visited Walt Disney World in April with his wife, Noor Zahi Salman, who told investigators that he had been “scouting Downtown Disney (now known as Disney Springs) and Pulse for attacks.”

Disney Springs does not have security checkpoints at its entrances like the theme parks do, which all feature bag check and metal detectors.

Mateen had been investigated by the FBI in 2013 and 2014 for ties to known terrorists, and pledged his allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi when calling 911 before he entered the club to begin his attack.

49 people were killed and more than 50 wounded in the attack that occurred early Sunday, June 12.

News source: People

Photo credit: Disney Parks Blog

Leah Zanolla

Leah grew up in a little farming town in Illinois, right on the Mississippi River. Her Chicago-born husband, David, left the city for her, and they're now raising their three children (Jacob, Jonah and Lydia) just 12 miles from her hometown. As the Senior Editor of the DIS (wdwinfo.com), Leah spends a lot of time writing about, reading about, and discussing Disney. So, it should come as no surprise that one of her family's favorite ways to spend time is going to Walt Disney World and traveling on Disney Cruise Line. She also enjoys shopping, watching movies with her husband and doing crafts with and for her kids.

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