Charged for Taking Stateroom Item But Didn't!

[cats mom]

Last week while we were there, we got that little folding card on our bed that said not to take any items out of the room. I thought that was a little weird.

I kept looking around the room to see if we had packed anything by mistake. We didn't. I guess maybe they just put them in all the staterooms now?

We had 2 staterooms last cruise; one got the card, one didn't. The card was left in the kids' stateroom and I was so freaked out by it I made DH hunt down their host to ask if he had noticed something missing. He told us not to worry, that the cards are left in all the rooms, but I know we didn't get one, so it's at least somewhat hit & miss.

 

[anna08]

Thanks to the disboards, when we got on our last cruise and we only had one wave phone in our room, I went immediately to GS to have them note on our room that one was gone so that we did not get unknowingly charged for it. If we had been a first time cruiser, we wouldn't have known to do that, and probably would have been charged. I think most people wouldn't even know there is a DCL laundry bag there, let alone know to check for one.

If there are items that they will charge for, they should post a list of what they are and what the cost is so you can check for it's presence when you board. Especially when you are talking items $200 and greater!

 

[DopeyzGoofy]

What does the DCL laundry bag look like? Is it just a plastic bag like any other hotels or is it something better that'd be worth $5?

 

[TDC Nala]

I believe they have a cloth bag.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I did notice a lot of people getting off the Triump last week wearing the bathrobes. I'll bet you could have taken anything you wanted off that ship and no one would have said a word!

Nancy

I wonder if the "survivors" kept the robes as a trophy or burned them in effigy.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

Thanks to the disboards, when we got on our last cruise and we only had one wave phone in our room, I went immediately to GS to have them note on our room that one was gone so that we did not get unknowingly charged for it. If we had been a first time cruiser, we wouldn't have known to do that, and probably would have been charged. I think most people wouldn't even know there is a DCL laundry bag there, let alone know to check for one.

If there are items that they will charge for, they should post a list of what they are and what the cost is so you can check for it's presence when you board. Especially when you are talking items $200 and greater!

I agree 100%. After reading others' stories in response to my post, it appears their system of inventory control is inconsistent at best and that is a real disservice to guests, especially first timers. I never use the wavephone on my cruises, and even though I've been on 7 DCL cruises I wouldnt know if you were supposed to get 1 phone or 1 per person, and I would have been livid if I were charged $200 for one that was never there. Good thing my charge was only $10 and easily reversed with a call to DCL but it is disconcerting that it appears this happens often.

 

[disneywonderfun]

Taking home a logo item on a trip has historically been one of those interesting subjects for management. Back in the day (before my memories of vacations), people used to collect ash trays from their trips. Obviously, you were not supposed to take one, but management always just chalked it up as part of the experience. We did stay recently at the Greenbrier and were given a logo umbrella to get to our car at checkout since it was raining. There was really no way to give it back since the drop off area was blocked off for some reason. I doubt there was any expectation to return it (the front desk had dozens of new wrapped umbrellas they were handing out). So, yes, I do have a Greenbrier umbrella in my car's trunk.

Anyway, they have done research on this and have found that people do tend to return to locations that they felt compelled for whatever reason to "pick up" some type of logo item on the way out. Think about it, DCL pays maybe 30 cents for that laundry bag. Every time some parent who grabbed the laundry bag takes a load of laundry to be washed at home, they are reminded of the fun they had on the trip. DCL would be wise to consider that next time they want to charge $10 for a "missing" laundry bag. Hmmmm, happy good thoughts from the laundry bag or irritation that I was charged $10 for it. What makes more sense for DCL?

DWF

P.S. Not saying that stealing is ever "OK". Just saying that something as silly as a laundry bag (or DCL ballpoint pen from your room) should not be an issue.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I heard that too -- butter knives from AP, the red pillows, even signs in public areas.

I think that's why they now sell the knives and pillows in the shop, so they can set a price for missing items.

Woody

I think I even saw somewhere a post about a missing floor tile in an elevator

 

[CrawfordMomof2]

Taking home a logo item on a trip has historically been one of those interesting subjects for management. Back in the day (before my memories of vacations), people used to collect ash trays from their trips. Obviously, you were not supposed to take one, but management always just chalked it up as part of the experience. We did stay recently at the Greenbrier and were given a logo umbrella to get to our car at checkout since it was raining. There was really no way to give it back since the drop off area was blocked off for some reason. I doubt there was any expectation to return it (the front desk had dozens of new wrapped umbrellas they were handing out). So, yes, I do have a Greenbrier umbrella in my car's trunk.

Anyway, they have done research on this and have found that people do tend to return to locations that they felt compelled for whatever reason to "pick up" some type of logo item on the way out. Think about it, DCL pays maybe 30 cents for that laundry bag. Every time some parent who grabbed the laundry bag takes a load of laundry to be washed at home, they are reminded of the fun they had on the trip. DCL would be wise to consider that next time they want to charge $10 for a "missing" laundry bag. Hmmmm, happy good thoughts from the laundry bag or irritation that I was charged $10 for it. What makes more sense for DCL?

DWF

P.S. Not saying that stealing is ever "OK". Just saying that something as silly as a laundry bag (or DCL ballpoint pen from your room) should not be an issue.

Thanks for the info! Very informative.

 

[iluvDisneyCruise]

My Uncle was charged for beer. He does not drink at all. He told guest services and they immediately reversed the charges no problem. The look on his face was hysterical when he found out what he was charged for.

 

[TexasMouseFan]

It is good to know they are putting the little cards in all staterooms on all the ships now. This past Christmas we sailed for the first time on the Fantasy. When I saw the card I wondered if they were counting the wash cloths (I had put one under my little Christmas tree). Then I decided it was just another way the Fantasy disappointed me. I guess I need to take the little insulting card off my list of disappointments.

 

[mamabear0222]

At any hotel or cruise ship..you can ask housekeeping to empty ur minibar. Therefore everyone knows you took nothing from there and no disputing it...

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[mickey2000]

OMG !!! Now I understand what happened to my bill ! Never saw a bag in our room this past December on the Fantasy. Charge bill was higher than my final
print out on the ship. I never complained ????

 

[Minnie321]

I wonder if you can buy the laundry bags new - my mom liked it - she even joked saying I wonder how much they would charge me if I took it. We might have been tempted to take it for $10. But I would honestly buy one - I send a laungry bag with my children to their dads house every weekend - that would be a cool one to have.

 

[Minnie321]

It is good to know they are putting the little cards in all staterooms on all the ships now. This past Christmas we sailed for the first time on the Fantasy. When I saw the card I wondered if they were counting the wash cloths (I had put one under my little Christmas tree). Then I decided it was just another way the Fantasy disappointed me. I guess I need to take the little insulting card off my list of disappointments.

No cards like this on the Magic last week - maybe there is not as much to take in the rooms.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

They are a really nice cloth bag with DCL logo. I had no idea they charged for them!! At the end of our first cruise, I asked our stateroom attendant if we were allowed to take it and he hesitated for a second and then said, yes. This was right after we had left him a large tip in excess of the recommended amount Um, I think, in retrospect, I may have bribed our stateroom attendant!!

I believe they have a cloth bag.

 

[wilkeliza]

Just wondering do the charge if you take the pens and pads of paper? If DCL charges I'll have to remember not to take then since I always take the WDW ones since I know they don't care.

What else should we be on the look out not to accidentally take. Pens are the only thing we take on purpose but sometimes towels and stuff get thrown in the dirty luggage bags by accident.

 

[kalc12345]

Just wondering do the charge if you take the pens and pads of paper? If DCL charges I'll have to remember not to take then since I always take the WDW ones since I know they don't care.

What else should we be on the look out not to accidentally take. Pens are the only thing we take on purpose but sometimes towels and stuff get thrown in the dirty luggage bags by accident.

We took the pen and post cards on our last cruise. We were not charged anything. Now I am a bit worried. We are cruising next week and I had planned on taking the pen again. Maybe I shouldn't?!?!?

 

[jarudinski]

At one point in time there used to be card with the laundry bag saying you could take it home and you would be charged the $10. So I always take it home. There used to be another card saying you could buy the propeller clock in the stateroom as well. Are those cards not there anymore. I am curious and no am going to look on our next cruise in April.

 

[moremouse]

At one point in time there used to be card with the laundry bag saying you could take it home and you would be charged the $10. So I always take it home. There used to be another card saying you could buy the propeller clock in the stateroom as well. Are those cards not there anymore. I am curious and no am going to look on our next cruise in April.

We got the card that said you could buy the propeller clock as well. We went to the gift store to buy it because we liked it so much. I think it was like $40 (in 2004). It stopped working about 6 months later. I was disappointed. Boy I loved that thing. I noticed last week that there really isn't anything in the staterooms to buy anymore (or that I'd want to buy) except for that red pillow. I saw them at the Disney Store for over $100. Too much for me. I don't think I even saw them on board the Fantasy for sale.