Always Use the Hotel Safe, Not the Room Safe

[carebee21]

I don't see anywhere in the article that it says the items were even placed in an inroom safe? Just that their room was burglarized and the items stolen...

But there's a lot in the story that just doesn't make sense to me. Bringing a designer purse with you while going to a theme park. It could get dirty on the rides, wet on the water rides, etc. but even at that, you go out to dinner and leave your purse behind in the room???

Secondly, I don't understand why you would bring your social security card or checks on vacation. It's not like theme parks or hotels take checks so I don't see the point.

 

[Praying Colonel]

If the hotel's liability is capped between $500-$1000, and their insurance has a $1000 deductible, aren't they eventually going to be made whole (or close to it)?

Not saying having their stuff stolen isn't horrible--it is. Just that between their insurance and the hotel, hopefully it's not going to be a total loss.

 

[MassMom94]

I only read the OP but I spent a lot of time reading the reviews on TripAdvisor for the resorts associated with Universal. There were MANY reports of theft and speculations as to why it was so easy to prey on guests at those resorts. One reviewer witnessed a housekeeper prop a few doors open and move between rooms cleaning, in an attempt to streamline her work . He indicated there was enough time for someone to wander in the resort and enter a room she had propped open and steal something. Then, there were all sorts of tracing of key cards showing that other members of housekeeping entered rooms they were not supposed to be in, etc. It wasn't one or two disgruntled people, there were many. I would never stay at any Universal resort, based on what I read.

It was not a Universal resort, as the people who were burglarized mentioned they were staying at a hotel with exterior access, and none of the Universal hotels have this.

I have had good luck with the Trip Advisor reviews when booking hotels at places other than Orlando (e.g., Pittsburgh, Asheville) but I agree that some people posting there seem to have it in for the Disney resorts. We have stayed three times at the Hard Rock at Universal and loved it each time. I checked the TA reviews and it has an average of 4 stars, so even most posters there like it.

 

[bedogged]

A few years ago we stayed Concierge Level in a very nice Downtown Disney hotel. We left for the park in the morning and came back in the early afternoon for a rest. The door to our room was wide open and our room was clean. There was a housekeeping cart in the hall, but nobody in sight. We went in and did not shut the door in order to see what would happen. Our door remained open and unattended for over an hour! We never ever saw anyone! I complained to the hotel manager. They were very sorry, but who knows if they ever really did anything about it? That was a theft or worse waiting to happen.

 

[Sammie]

I am sorry they got robbed, horrible experience.

But who leaves electronics, cash, a designer purse and sunglasses, theme-park tickets, a passport, checks and Social Security cards in their room?

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Not sure if this really makes a difference or not, but this is why we always stay DVC or use our offsite timeshare. I don't want daily maid service with people coming in and out of our room. We leave the minimum in our room, but DH has to have his work laptop with us and I would hate for it to be stolen.