maybe I'm just a cynic...but....

[Cantw8]

I know Disney="magic", but, not all persons on board the ships, beaches and resorts are from these boards. Hasn't anyone else felt a little uneasy leaving your luggage overnight in the hallways of the resorts and ships (when Disney transfers have been purchased)? How 'bout leaving your stuff unattended on the beaches while snorkling, swimming or doing shore excursions? Anyone ever had an "incident" ?

[noahsmom]

after we put our luggage in the hall we found another item to put in our big suitcase. When we opened the door they were already gone - I don't think 5 minutes had passed. The luggage doesn't sit in the hall all night, they pick it up very quickly. Good thing because in some spots people's luggage almost blocked the hall.

As for Castaway Cay, I can't imagine that anyone would go through your things. It's pretty open on the beach and very easy to see our stuff from the water.

[BeanoC]

I agree that the luggage is pretty safe in the hallways, but we still waited until the last minute to put ours out. It was gone in a few minutes. I can't imagine anyone with the 'cajones' to be messing with someone's bags!

I felt a little nervous leaving my camera on my chair on CC, but I just put a towel over it and it was fine - nobody touched anything.

But that doesn't mean that nothing CAN happen... I think it's just smart to be cautious. There's one in every crowd, as they say.



'Beano':cool:

[pmgreene]

We did not leave anything unattended while at the beach in St. Martin. We took a small backpack and kept that with us. I've seen on this board many people speak of total waterproof bags they use for their cameras and such so they do not have to stay out iof the water.

[peagreenid]

During our cruise last September it was reported that 6 of the crew members were robbed while on St. Martin.
Everything that was important to us was carried on and off the ship. I have read reports on here previously that travelers had items stolen from their staterooms. Not sure by whom, but, it has been reported.
It doesn't hurt to be cautious.
Also when renting vehicles on the islands, Those little SUZUKI's are cute, But there is no locking compartments on them. We rented one on St. Martin and you couldn't secure it at all, as several of the little zip in windows were missing. Put a damper on our shopping as we carried everything with us everywhere we went.
smiles Patty

[driver]

while at castaway cay and the other islands we kept our room key, credit cards, money, etc. in a water proof card holder and we purchased a couple waterproof cameras so we could take everything with us (even in the water). unfortunately we live in a world where we can't always trust everyone so this is one way to be a little safer.

[disneyholic family]

i never leave anything of value unattended....

[Michelle]

Always use luggage locks on your bags (I use combination locks) and you'll be fine leaving them in the hallway the night before you disembark.

I don't take anything of great value on to Castaway Cay or onshore anywhere. :)

[randytenn]

I just remember thinking what a joke it was back in 2000, when at the airport, after the cruise, the ticket agent asked me, "Have your bags been out of your possession since you packed them?"

Of course they were out of my possession. They were outside my door, the crew members took them down to the port. Anything could have been smuggled into them.

I said "NO" :rolleyes:

[CarolAnnC]

Being on a cruise ship is like being in the mall. You will find a cross section of the population at any given time. That is why each stateroom has its own safe.

Also, I would not leave anything of value unattended on Castaway Cay either. As with any place, theft is certainly a possibility.

Better safe than sorry....

[kfahygc]

The only thing that I can add is that on Castaway Cay we had put some things on a hammock (towels and shirts) and went to lunch at Cookies. By the time we came back (less than half an hour) someone had removed our things and was laying in the hammock. I had never heard of that happening before on these boards. Thankfully nothing of value was there but it was something to think about.

Kathleen

[din]

Originally posted by kfahygc
The only thing that I can add is that on Castaway Cay we had put some things on a hammock (towels and shirts) and went to lunch at Cookies. By the time we came back (less than half an hour) someone had removed our things and was laying in the hammock
Kathleen

HOW RUDE!!!!! Were your things on the ground or something?

[inkkognito]

I never used to worry about putting our luggage out...now we just keep it with us because someone took it accidentally in the terminal and we didn't see it again for a while...they had to send it back to us. But that was just a mix-up (which we prevent now by festooning our luggage with duct tape stripes and brightly colored hair ties), so I wouldn't worry about leaving it in the hall.
As to leaving items unattended, I have left many things, but nothing with as much value as a digital camera. At Castaway Cay, I carry my room key in a neck case (to prevent losing it, as well as theft). We are usually at the adult beach, which is quiet enough to allow you to keep an eye on your chair.
We did have a "borrowing" incident once...when hubby and I returned from swimming at the family beach, he noticed that our sun lotion was missing. Just in case anyone nearby had taken it, I loudy proclaimed how rude some people are and that if they had wanted it that badly, I would have shared if they had simply asked. The next time we returned from the water, there is was on our chair!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[kfahygc]

Din:

The person threw the articles on the chair that was right next to the hammock.

When I saw the person in the hammock I made some loud comment about being rude but the person just kept on "pretending" to sleep. I sat is the chair for about an hour got up and got a Konk Cooler and by the time I came back he was gone. I promptly reclaimed the hammock.

You just never know!

Kathleen

[SlyHubby]

Originally posted by kfahygc
The person threw the articles on the chair that was right next to the hammock.

When I saw the person in the hammock I made some loud comment about being rude but the person just kept on "pretending" to sleep. I sat is the chair for about an hour got up and got a Konk Cooler and by the time I came back he was gone. I promptly reclaimed the hammock.


Considering that there are limited hammocks and chairs available, don't you think it was slightly rude to just leave your stuff on the hammock using it as a locker while you went away to get lunch? The considerate thing to do would have been to take your stuff with you to lunch, giving the hammock up so someone else might enjoy its use. Then afterwards, maybe the hammock or another would have been available, maybe not. You have heard the saying "use it or lose it" haven't you?

Shirts and towels? I'm sure that the person must have done such damage throwing them into the chair. And you're quite sure that they were thrown into the chair - right? Your towels or DCL's? The shock! Such harm!

Maybe you never heard of that happening on these boards because it is a petty issue and other folks might think that maybe they could possibly have made a mistake using a hammock/chair as their personal locker?

[northernmouse]

When we were on Castaway Cay in May on a 3-day Wonder cruise, my husband came back to our chairs to find another guest rummaging through our bag. Hubby made a comment, and the fellow (who was with a woman & child), went back to his spot near ours. We had a video camera with us, so that was a concern. Later, we went to the adult beach for a quick Konk Kooler. The DS stayed behind to swim. In the short time we were away (30 - 45 minutes), someone took our Wonder refillable mugs (which were full of Coke and under the chairs in the shade.) Needless to say, we were peeved, and pretty confident it was the same family as before -- who weren't there when we returned, either.

We filled out a standard form & Disney replaced them, so I'm afraid it may not be uncommon. What a thing to teach your kid.

[din]

Originally posted by SlyHubby


Considering that there are limited hammocks and chairs available, don't you think it was slightly rude to just leave your stuff on the hammock using it as a locker while you went away to get lunch? The considerate thing to do would have been to take your stuff with you to lunch, giving the hammock up so someone else might enjoy its use. Then afterwards, maybe the hammock or another would have been available, maybe not. You have heard the saying "use it or lose it" haven't you?


I can tell that this is going to get long with the differing opinions. With that said:

I disagree with what you said. We came early to the beach just so that we can find a hammock. Did we leave our stuff while we went for lunch, absolutely, do you expect to people to lug their stuff everywhere? Can you imagine what the dinning area would look like and let's not forget about getting the food with our bags and stuff hanging on us!!!

There are enough chairs from what I could see to accomadate all guest, hammocks, well their are prime "targets", so it is first come first serve.

Besides the point I was "concern", is moving someone stuff and to me is just plain rude!!!

[SlyHubby]

Originally posted by din
Besides the point I was "concern", is moving someone stuff and to me is just plain rude!!!

We are talking about a couple of shirts and towels. Not a personal bag, clearly nothing of value - otherwise, why would anyone leave it behind to begin with? How far were they moved - maybe 4 or 5 feet? I think rude is a harsh word for what happened. For all anyone knows, whoever left the shirt and towels on the hammock could have been gone all day. Should a hammock sit empty an entire day because someone chose to leave some shirts and towels laying on it? That is rude. Someone passing or sitting nearby watches the hammock sit unoccupied for 15 or 20 minutes - how long should they wait before coming to the conclusion that maybe the people are gone? Maybe, by the same token, when the person returned from lunch, they could have made the better gesture and given the hammock back up. Maybe the "rude" comment was confrontational and set the tone for what would happen next. Maybe "excuse me, my things were on the hammock and I was here first" would have been a better approach. Well, the person on the hammock was pretending to sleep, so obviously that wouldn't have worked.

Should anyone be surprised that this happened or that it could happen? I wouldn't think so. You have someone saying how they caught someone rummaging through their bags - taking the shirt and towels off the hammock and putting them in a chair next to it is such a crime?

[Cruise]

Originally posted by din


I disagree with what you said. We came early to the beach just so that we can find a hammock. Did we leave our stuff while we went for lunch, absolutely, do you expect to people to lug their stuff everywhere? Can you imagine what the dinning area would look like and let's not forget about getting the food with our bags and stuff hanging on us!!!


This is the same thing people do on board the ships for the chairs by the pools. Clearly, there are "prime spots" by the pools too. People put towels on the chairs and then disappear for hours at a time, even though this is clearly against policy on board. When this comes up in other threads, it is the "towel-leaver" not the "towel-mover" who is considered the rude one. Why would it be different on the island?

That being said, does anyone know if Disney has a policy on Castaway Cay similar to the one onboard the ship?

[Rootee]

When I read this post, I also wondered what the difference was between "saving" a lounge chair at Mickey's Pool and "saving" a hammock.

There is no way that I or a member of my family would actually utilize a hammock for the whole day at CC. However, one of us just might want to climb on and close our eyes for a few minutes - 15 minutes at most. A hammock is used to spread out and relax for just a little while. It is totally different than a beach chair. If someone has placed a couple of shirts on it to "claim" it for the whole day, than that doesn't seem fair.

I think it would be similar to placing your child's shirt on a playground swing and claiming it "saved" while your child plays on the other equipment.

I know that the hammocks are "claimed" - I just don't think that it's really fair, now that I think about it.

Ruth

[disneyholic family]

northernmouse, i'm horrified by your story....but i guess you can file me under 'naive'....
i think i'd drop dead if i saw someone rummaging through my bag....i'm stunned....and to steal two mugs?....geez....that would have ruined my vacation for sure....i'm not kidding...not because of the cost , but simply that someone would do that.....i'm so appalled by behavior like that...
unfortunately i saw much more of it this summer....we were in the states for 6 weeks this time around (we're americans living overseas)...for some reason , american society seems to be deteriorating to me....it struck me much harder this summer....
i think because i'm away most of the year i probably notice certain things more than people who are there all year...

anyway....thankfully the disney cruise was perfect....at least for us....glad that family wasn't around us...

[akterrye]

re: "stolen mugs"

Maybe they weren't stolen, but merely thrown away by the servers cleaning the beach. The last time I was on CC, I had 2 konk coolers sitting next to me and a server came up to my chair and picked them up and tossed them into his trash bag. I was stunned and then asked for them back. I thought this was a one time incident, but later that evening, while relaxing on deck, I had my ESPN mug sitting next to me filled with soda and yet another server came up and picked it up and when I questioned her, she said she was just going to throw it away. I was left with the feeling that I must be a slob if all these people were following me around and throwing my things (that I was clearly using) away. Maybe it was just a case of Disney personnel being a little too efficient...

[Fawn]

IMO, you are making the wrong comparison by saying that leaving your hammock for lunch is the same as leaving your towels for hours by the pool. If they had left the hammock for two hours to go snorkeling, then good manners may indicate they should move their things so others can use it.

A better comparison may be that you left your towels to go into Topsiders for lunch...half hour or so. That would be perfectly acceptable, I'd think.

SlyHubby...I don't think there is any call to be so rude on this board.

[BuzzRocks]

I see this similar to din. DW was very much looking forward to lying in a hammock on Castaway Cay, and luckily she found one not being used. But if she hadn't, then I would have certainly moved someone's things if they left them unattended. It's just like the situation with the deck chairs next to the pool on the ship. There are not enough so that you can lay claim to a hammock, go to lunch, and expect to still have it when you return. Remember, there are about 2,000 other people on the cruise too.

That being said, I do what Michelle said, never leave anything terrible valuable unattended. Either keep it with you, leave it in the safe, or leave it home.

[peagreenid]

Why is it.............

That the people that Lay claim to the chairs and the hammocks are only gone a few minutes.........and

The people that are looking for one to use.........find it unused and saved for hours????

WHY CAN'T WE ALL SHARE?

smiles Patty

[northernmouse]

Disneyholic Family -- we fall into the naive/Pollyanna category, too. The DH basically went up to the other guy and said "WHAT do you think you're doing", and he went back to his spot muttering something other than English (or French). Maybe we should have brought it to the attention of a CM, but ironically enough, we didn't want to mess up the day.

Needless to say, we kept our camera close for the rest of the day. And the mugs? I don't think they were accidentally thrown away. They were underneath a clearly used chair (towels, clothes, snorkel equipment), in the shade and full. It wasn't the value of the mugs that bothered us, either. It was the thought that someone would do something so petty. But, our family theme for the trip was "there is no whining at Disney", so we just had them replaced. Next time, we'll tuck them away.

I still think 99% of people are basically good, but you need to be aware of those who are not.

[disneyholic family]

i agree with you northernmouse......no CM would throw them away....they know that guests buy them to be refilled...

as for the hammock/lounge chair brouhaha......well....
i'm glad we never sit out in the sun.....
i totally hate those kind of wars...
the most we ever look for is one teenie weenie little chair or table to put our stuff on....or barring that, a towel on the beach to drop our stuff on while we swim (or in this case bicycle and get massages)....

we live 10 minutes from the beach but i haven't been in about 8 years (since the last time the kids were in a sand castle building mood)....
it's funny, even as a kid i never ever stayed in the sun unless i was swimming (which i used to do for hours on end)....
it's just so HOT outside to lie there and read a book....i'd much rather be inside a shady air-conditioned room.....

of course we just went to the zoo today in 95 degree heat, suicidal humidity.....so that's pretty nutty too....
(we won't even talk about the sanity of going to WDW in july heat/humidity...something we do every year).....

[inkkognito]

I'll toss in my two cents worth on the hammock issue...
I agree with the previous poster who said that it is not comparable to a lounge chair by the pool. Otherwise, why would the hammocks on the beach be any different than the beach chairs...can you imagine the anarchy of everyone moving everyone else's things and grabbing the more desirable beach chairs all day? Also, if I make the effort to wake up early, disembark, and get all the way to the adult beach in time to get a hammock, I deserve it! A lot easier than getting a pool chair!
That said, I also don't mind sharing if someone asks politely. I would demand that someone move if they dared to move my items. However, I have shared when asked politely, since I am certainly not going to be in the hammock all day. On our last cruise, we were moving some of our items to shelter from a quick rain, and a couple who were walking down the beach asked me if we were leaving because they really wanted to try out the hammocks. I said no, but told them to pull up chairs so we could share it for the day...worked out great, and they were a real pleasure to chat with.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[din]

Well said inkkognito!!!!

If permission is asked it is different, as opposed to moving things, be it a towel or a camera. It is the same as standing line to pay or get something... Please this is a comment and not meant to start a whole string of discussion......

BTW looking forward to your trip report on three straight cruise...Ours will not be for another year or so... :(

[disneyholic family]

i agree.....if you get out on CC early in the morning, then you have the right to that chair....after all, i assume that's why you raced out there to begin with....
if other people want a good spot, they can get out there early too...

it reminds me of the people who wait in a good spot for the parades or illuminations, and then some person comes along at the last minute and expects them to 'move over just a little' to make room for them....
well if they wanted a good spot they could have put in the waiting time too...
(by the way, i don't fall into either category.....i'm not willing to wait, and i don't like crowds....so i tend not to watch the parades except from some far off quiet vantage point)....

[BuzzRocks]

So some of you believe that it's OK to save a hammock all day by leaving your things there, but it's not OK to save a pool chair on ship by leaving your things there??? I don't see the logic because there are definitely more chairs right around the pools on ship than there are hammocks on CC. With about 2,000 passengers on board, a hammock cannot be an all day experience for the lucky few who race out and nab them first thing in the morning.

First come, first serve I agree with. But I also say, "You move your feet, you lose your seat," which is the same rule that I apply to the pool chairs on ship. Luckily, I cruised in the beginning of December, when the ship wasn't at capacity and plan to again next time (one of the reasons is to avoid a crowded ship, which only aggravates these kinds of situations). Otherwise, I wouldn't feel bad at all about moving someone's towel, etc. from a hammock that had gone unoccupied after several minutes for my DW. I, for one, don't care much for hammocks or lying in the sun for an extended period of time (a practice which is not only uncomfortable, but dangerous) and would prefer a chair in the shade.

If this becomes a problem, I can see you having to reserve a hammock for, say, 30 minutes (something I'd be in favor of). That way the selfish few wouldn't keep others from enjoying the hammocks too.

[peagreenid]

So when I go on my 7 a.m. morning walk on the Magic and throw my families towels on all those pool chairs........ Thats okay too?

I think not!

It amazes me that everyone thinks that in THEIR situation that manners, rules and common sense don't apply to them.

In one instance you all think that saving pool chairs is wrong, but, saving a hammock all day is right?

WE all know these things are a hot commodity.

[disneyholic family]

wow...this is really interesting to me...
since we don't ever sit in the sun, we didn't even notice the hammocks....
if they're such a hot commodity and seem to be such a source of contention, why doesn't DCL add some more?..
is there no place to add them?

as for me, i would have enjoyed a nice nature hike around the island....even though it was hotter than hades out...
our bike trip was the best part of the day on CC....

[BuzzRocks]

Personally, I agree with dineyholic family. I loved the bike ride so much (wish we could have gone farther) that after returning the bike, I walked the same route all the way to the end. The view of the beach there was amazing. I took my binoculars and my camera and really enjoyed that walk. It felt good to get out and do a little nature walk, especially after all that food for a whole week on the ship.



:)

[disneyholic family]

actually, that's what so neat about the cruise...
there are things you can do where you feel like the only person on the ship....or almost....
the bike trip is one of them....so few people did it, that we were always on the path alone......it was so very peaceful....
i'm sure walking it was like that too....

[IrishCowboy]

We've been on 3 cruises over the past 15 months and each Friday morning I get up early, eat breakfast and make my way over to the family beach. I've always been one of the first few individuals off of the ship and on the beach. I grab a hammock that has a few chairs and lounges with it and claim it.

The hammock almost always has someone in it. My wife and children occupy it most of the morning. When we go to lunch, we leave our things on the chairs and hammock. After lunch, I've been known to take a long nap :D

Castaway Cay is one of the highlights of our trip and we really want to get a hammock. I know that they are limited and that is why I make the effort to get there early and grab one.

It amazes me that some people get off the ship at 11:00 and walk down the beach complaining that they can't get a hammock or a good spot on the beach. I don't feel that we are 'reserving' it all day as we are in fact using it, other than the time that we have lunch.

Its not a perfect system, but at least everyone has a chance to get a hammock if they are willing to put in the effort.

[BuzzRocks]

What if you get there as soon as you can and they're already taken? What's next? Maybe everybody running as soon as they start letting people disembark? Then the slow afoot would miss out.

I don't have a problem with you keeping the hammock all day, as long as you're using it. But to expect everyone to pass up "your" hammock when you're at lunch and there are no others available is selfish. Plus, it's unrealistic.

BTW, the argument you are using is the exact same argument the people use to defend saving the chairs next to the pools on the ship. It just doesn't stand up, IMHO.

:)

[Michelle]

The poster's original question about leaving valuables and baggage outside has been answered; if you all want to get into the hammock saving debate feel free to start it as a topic on the debate board. :)