Dreamlift goes smoothly in part thanks to security detail
Every single day, more than 200 pairs of sunglasses are turned in to the Lost & Found department at Disney World.
Dave Burns, Jr., a Lawrence Twp. police detective charged with moving about 100 children and an equal amount of adults for the annual Sunshine Foundation Mercer County Chapter “Dreamlift” trip to Disney World, has never lost a pair of sunglasses or traveler in more than two decades.
“No, we’ve never lost or left a person behind. We’ve had some minor hiccups but we have a great group of people on our team, people who pay attention to detail,” Burns said.
The cast includes Ewing Twp. police Officer Michael Pellegrino, Joe Truch, Robert Santello, a Lawrence Twp. firefighter, NJ State Police Capt. John Marley, Dave Burns, Sr.,a retired Lawrence Twp. police officer and Ziggy Zegarski.
The security detail act as coordinators, making certain that all guests board a plane, get onto buses, ride a ferry to the Magic Kingdom and then collect passes for their day at Disney.
Travelers spend almost seven hours in Disney World Burns and security partners execute a return home strategy.
This all takes place inside a Disney World complex that fills 40 square miles, an area equal to the size of San Francisco.
“We’re just a good group of guys who enjoy working together. I could not ask for a better team,” Burns said.
“Working with the Sunshine Foundation delivers a lot of satisfaction. One of the better parts of the day involves the plane ride home. It’s great to see the kids exhausted and asleep. That’s how we know they had a great time.”