BEWARE! Theft at Saratoga Springs Resort

[tomandrobin]

Exactly, we get complacent at WDW and we think that nothing bad can happen to us. Sometimes we let our guard down and because we're on vacation we relax. It's important to remind ourselves that WDW is no different than any other public place.

I was going to bring the laptop in December-but if it won't fit in the safe it can stay home. It sounds like the PSP and the Nintendo DS will fit in the safe, so we can bring those. Cameras and phones usually go with us, but if we don't take the phones we can lock those up too.

Better safe than sorry!!!

Just buy a cable and lock for you laptop or put those items in a locked piece of luggage. Its real easy to put a camera or laptop in a bag and walk out, but not a 36" upright.

 

[disneynutz]

Just buy a cable and lock for you laptop or put those items in a locked piece of luggage. Its real easy to put a camera or laptop in a bag and walk out, but not a 36" upright.

A cable lock can easily be cut with a $15 pair of 8" wire cutters and should only be used as a deterrent to keep away opportunity thieves. A seasoned thief will be in and out of your room in less than 3 minutes and that includes the time needed to cut the cable. A better option is to expect that your computer will be stolen and to prepare accordingly.

 

[HGD24]

We always take luggage locks with us (pack them in our suitcases) and whenever we leave the room, we lock our laptop, chargers, camera, etc in the suitcases or if small enough, in the room safe and then put the safe key in the suitcase as well. I'm so sorry that this happened to the OP, but you really can't trust anyone at any hotel.

 

[Disney-For-Life]

I am so sorry this happened to you! My goodness - that would ruin anyone's vacation. I won't be leaving anything around when I stay there in October - your story really hit home with my husband and I. You mentioned that Disney gave you $500 for the theft. Did they automatically add this to your room account? I wonder if by accepting it, you disqualify for any further legal action (something they would not point out I'm sure)....like an "out of court settlement"....

 

[paulh]

with the interlocking doors,if you lock them from your side the people in outher room are unable to waltz into your room,even if thers is unlocked.

On the isuue of security lock it up, if safe not big enougth put in safe deposit boxes at front desk.like i have said earler if it ant seen less likly to go.

Thieves target tourist spots all over the world,in disney people are lulled into a false sence of being safe.

one thing that always amazes me is CC on room key and people leave key on a sunbed/table while gone for a swim,we never put CC on room too riskey
Paulh

 

[epfootballcutie04]

When i was there last week, we had the trash and towel service scheduled.

We had just got back from the parks around 1 or 2 and it had not been done yet. So i go in the master bedroom to go on my laptop and about 20 minutes later i hear a knock... i was expecting my mom to come back to the room from doing some errands and so i got up and started walking to the door.

i get 1/2 way there (about 5 seconds... if that...and the door just opens... with one knock.

standing there was a housekeeping lady with this stunned look that someone was in there. I told her now wasnt a good time because my sister and dad were sleeping and i was busy doing something else and she just walked in repeating 'towel and trash, towel and trash, towel and trash'.

so i said 'fine do what you have to do'.

I know most housekeeping there doesn't know much english and the housekeeper just looked at me like i was the worlds biggest moron because she didnt understand what i was saying.

I thought she was really rude. But if that was the worse thing (and it was) that happened to me on my vacation, then i wasnt going to let it get me down.

But if i was in the shower.... i woulda been MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADD!!!


TO the OP- I'm sorry this happened to you and i hope you get your items back/reinbursed for the items that were stolen.

My mom always says "lock it up"... and i have this 'whatever, mom im in disney, nothings going to happen".....

yeah ok. You don't need to tell me 'i told you so'. My mom's on these boards... came across this post already and made sure to show me.

 

[kimberh]

Well, I thank the OP for posting this thread. When we travel with our whole family, my DSIL brings all of his electronics. We have never locked them up! The kids watch DVD's on them. There weren't DVD's in the room on the last trip. We have a trip in Dec. I will be sure to tell him all this. Why steal the phone charger? Every cell phone I have ever had, needs a different charger. I have never put my phone charger up, I sure hope I don't have to start being this nit picky now, at any hotel room. I always lock my purse in my luggage, we use combination locks. I use to hide everything, had cash stolen once, a thief will find what they want to steal. I have quit taking extra jewerly and multiple credit cards on trips, any trip, not just Disney. Too many thiefs out there. Less is better.

 

[pcparamedics01]

Why steal the phone charger? Every cell phone I have ever had, needs a different charger. I have never put my phone charger up,

I thought the same thing why steal a phone charger too!!!

 

[pcparamedics01]

Does anyone know the size of the safe at Saratoga Springs?
We've never stayed before & want to make sure our laptop will fit.

Thanks

It is small and not big enough for a laptop.

 

[Safari Queen]

My brother depends on his laptop for his business, so he had the front desk lock it up when we left for the day. We got a receipt and there was no problem. I never carry anything too big to fit in the room safe, at WDW or n busiess trips

 

[mickeysgal]

The last few vacations we just left the Do Not Disturb sign up the entire time. We'd rather not be bothered since we do tend to leave things laying around. I know, its no guarantee that a thief still won't enter.

We were at the BCV, sitting in the room once right after we got our room assignment and housekeeping walked right in...no knock, nothing. She probably thought the room wasn't occupied yet, but still, she didn't stop doing what she was there to do, didn't appologize for walking in on us, nothing.

 

[Jets fan]

My family and I were staying at OKW and had just returned by taxi from shopping. My nephew and dad left their bags with the porter and were given a ticket to collect them as they wanted to get some food. When they collected the bags they were just about to walk away when my nephew noticed his Hugo Boss bag was not there. The guy tried saying that he had never checked in the bag so my dad just said fine, I'll call the police and got his mobile out. Within a minute the guy had returned with a Hugo Boss bag.

In this day and age you need to keep your eyes open all the time.

 

[Lenc324]

This all really makes me sick. I hope that person is no longer working for Disney.

 

[HGLightlyj]

The last few vacations we just left the Do Not Disturb sign up the entire time. We'd rather not be bothered since we do tend to leave things laying around. I know, its no guarantee that a thief still won't enter.

We were at the BCV, sitting in the room once right after we got our room assignment and housekeeping walked right in...no knock, nothing. She probably thought the room wasn't occupied yet, but still, she didn't stop doing what she was there to do, didn't appologize for walking in on us, nothing.

When I am in the room, I always put the security lock on. That way, housekeeping cannot walk in unannounced.

 

[HGD24]

I'm amazed at the large number of people who have said that they leave belongings out all of the time when at hotels and this post has given them a wake up call. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I've never felt comfortable leaving my belongings out when staying at a hotel...aside from housekeeping and other hotel personnel having the ability to entering the room at any time, you could leave the door ajar when leaving and anyone could walk right in and have a field day, especially with all of the electronics that we all travel with now. Like other posters have said, thieves target tourist areas and do look for things like unlocked cars and hotel room doors that have not been closed properly.

 

[Sammie]

This all really makes me sick. I hope that person is no longer working for Disney.

Where was it officially established this person worked for Disney.

 

[Dis13]

I'm amazed at the large number of people who have said that they leave belongings out all of the time when at hotels and this post has given them a wake up call. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I've never felt comfortable leaving my belongings out when staying at a hotel...aside from housekeeping and other hotel personnel having the ability to entering the room at any time, you could leave the door ajar when leaving and anyone could walk right in and have a field day, especially with all of the electronics that we all travel with now. Like other posters have said, thieves target tourist areas and do look for things like unlocked cars and hotel room doors that have not been closed properly.

And how often does housekeeping leave the doors propped open and leave the room? I know I have seen this. Anyone could slip in and out unnoticed. We always lock up our valuables (or leave them home).

 

[bavaria]

I'm with Sammie on this one - we have no proof as to what did truly happen.

Living in hotels for most of the year, I see GUESTS leave their doors ajar while they leave to get ice, or visit friends/family down the hall.

Those of you who do so, or who don't use the deadbolt EVERY time you are in the room, or lock away your valuables, are asking for trouble.

 

[Debbie H]

Just buy a cable and lock for you laptop or put those items in a locked piece of luggage. Its real easy to put a camera or laptop in a bag and walk out, but not a 36" upright.

In a resort full of guests, who would even notice or even care if someone is walking out of a room with luggage? Putting all your valuables in a piece of luggage I think is just as risky as leaving them out.

As I said earlier, I am amazed at how many people just walk into your room during your stay, after a quick, short knock. Checking air vents, smoke detectors, stove, etc..... We walked into our room one time and found 2 males and a female from housekeeping, sitting and eating and watching tv. That was quite a few years ago. Another time we had a GV and walked in around 3 and a member of housekeeping came out of one of the upstairs bedrooms, muttered something and left. We went up to that room and it was clear she had been napping on the bed. This is the reason we usually don't have housekeeping come in however, we have no way of knowing who comes in and out when we are not in the room.

No matter who did it, DVC should know if the room had been entered with a key and by whom at specific times.

 

[sharond150]

I agree that the OP is making a huge leap in assuming it was a Disney employee who was the thief. It's not out of the question but it's an assumption.
What comes to my mind is the fact that the items were not locked up...or at least kept out of immediate sight. Simply locking valuables in luggage and locking the luggage keeps them from being seen by anyone who enters the room.