Disney, DSLR, and theft.

[DBL101]

If you really want to keep your camera gear safe in Orlando, hire Disney's top security official - Disney Don. Nobody gets by him. Well, maybe if they show him some ID, but what crook is going to do that?

LOL

 

[cosmos]

If you really want to keep your camera gear safe in Orlando, hire Disney's top security official - Disney Don. Nobody gets by him. Well, maybe if they show him some ID, but what crook is going to do that?

 

[zackiedawg]

Be it naive, ignorant, overly optimistic, zen, or whatever...but I honestly don't find myself worrying about theft at Disney...I will leave valuables reasonably put away, just as I would at home...but take no special security actions like hiding things or using safes. As long as casual glancers won't see things sitting out while walking past an open door or window, I'm feeling secure with valuables in my room. Of course, I don't have tons of valuables when I go to Disney in the first place - netbook, camera which is usually with me, and clothes & food...that's about it. But i have left my DSLR and lenses in my rooms at Disney dozens of times, simply putting the bag on a chair in the bedroom or on the closet floor.

If something were to ever happen...then I might change my routine...but i don't get any real sense or urgency or need to change my routine at this point.

 

[Daniel-99]

To piggy back off some of the previous tips...Few travelers have had items stolen from hotel rooms, however, theft from rooms does occur, so it still not a bad idea to give it a little consideration. Here are a few ideas for you to consider if you want additional security for your gear.

When you room safe is full, obviously you can ask to use one of the extra safe's at the front desk, but as you mentioned, it is inconvenient to run back and forth.

An additional idea is that you may want to bring your own portable safe with you. As strange as it sounds, I think you will find the following ideas interesting, while providing a unique solution to store your excess camera gear, laptop, or other valuables.

Portable Camera Safes

These come in a variety of sizes and shapes that can fit a little gear or a lot. They come in sizes ranging from a day bag to a gym bag. What makes them unique is that inside the material of the bag is a wire mesh that prevents the thief from cutting open your bag.

The more secure feature on these bags is that they feature a built in steel cable so you can lock the whole bag to a secure fixture in your hotel room, car, office, or any other location where you may need to leave your gear behind. While anything can be stolen if given the right tools, time, and determination, these bags will stop the majority of casual and opportunistic thefts, which are the bulk of thefts that travelers face.

Check out the videos on the various camera security products that are listed on the link below to give you an idea how they can protect your gear.

Camera Security Gear

Camera Security Straps

While much of the info on the above page is found on the other pages of the site, it provides an interesting looks at camera security straps that can be used to keep camera's safe from camera thieves overseas who have been known to cut regular camera strap from the rear when walking through busy crowds.

The below page also include some unique camera security info that might help too.

Camera Security Tips

Pickpocket Videos

This is a page devoted to pickpocket videos. While it may pertain mainly to wallets and women's purses, you will see by watching the videos how the same thefts can happen to camera gear when you set it down in crowded places just for a few mins..Most of these videos are for folks who travel over in Europe where bag thefts and pickpockets are a very real problem in major cities such as Barcelona, Rome, and related cities.

Hope the info increases your travel IQ so you can better protect your gear.

 

[tlhbdm]

I never even thought of this until I read your thread, on our last trip when we left the room our DSLR left room, we didn't go to a water park. This time(in two weeks) we are going to a water park and I didn't even think about leaving my DSLR in the room, guess I am going to rethink where I put it now. I am going to take my waterproof point and shoot with my to the water park and will probably carry it everywhere else. I have a question for anyone who can answer.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Daniel... Thanks for the information!

 

[bdoyledimou]

i have left laptops, cell phones, portable gaming devices, and cameras sitting on the table in the room at Disney without a problem.

I see a lot of comparisons to Mexico and other States, but remember that they are not Disney, and they don't have the controls or reputation of Disney of doing vacations right.

While i don't doubt there have been some theft/loss at the World, i don't think it would be that big of a problem.

 

[photo_chick]

On the maids knowing the laundry trick... I'm sure they do. But it's not the maids I generally worry about with most things. Like someone already brought up, it's the opportunists who wander the place looking for open doors with things to walk quickly out with. Adn those people are not normally going to take the time to dig around.

 

[dburg30]

Anyone that is going to take something isnt going to worry about dirty underwear. I mean, if they are that dirty you arent going to put your camera underneath them. From reading posts in other parts of this board, you'll find others that 'hid' stuff, and it just wont matter in the case of a real thief. They know the tricks. I've been known to leave my camera stuff in the room, in it's case, but NOT close to the door so if someone happens to see inside the room if HK is there cleaning it's just on the table or just inside where it can be grabbed as easily. But again, if someone really wants something, there are few places it will be safe.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

On the maids knowing the laundry trick... I'm sure they do. But it's not the maids I generally worry about with most things. Like someone already brought up, it's the opportunists who wander the place looking for open doors with things to walk quickly out with. Adn those people are not normally going to take the time to dig around.

I think your right.

As far as theft at Disney, ive left my stroller with all our stuff in it and souvies hanging off the rails (nothing seriously valuable though) countless times and no one has ever touched it short of moving it away to a designated parking area.

I dont really worry much about it, but just wanted to see what others do. I'm going to lock my DSLR in the luggage on the days I dont take it to the parks. My guess is most thieves will figure you already took anything valuable out of your luggage.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Now im nervious to take the camera with me to Mackinaw city and Iola.

 

[GrillMouster]

To think that WDW exists in some magical bubble where crime doesn't exist is naive. It's that sense of security that many people have on WDW property that causes them to put down their guard, and theives take advantage of that. I'm not saying that you need to be a paranoid, but common sense and prudence should be exercised.

Just because you've had nothing happen in the past doesn't mean that it couldn't or wouldn't happen in the future. I live in a "good" neighborhood and I've never had my house robbed, but I still lock all the doors at night and when I leave.

I have seen and noticed other resort guests roaming property with expensive electronic equipment. I see them enter their hotel room near my own and exit empty-handed, so I know that there's valubale stuff in that room. I've walked past those same rooms while they were being cleaned by housekeeping and I've seen laptops sitting on the table and bed. It would be so easy for me to poke in and out, acting as though I was a guest in that room, and leaving with a laptop. The housekeeper would not know whether I was truly staying in that room, and she really could not do anything to stop me. I just rush in with a big smile, say, "my wife forgot this", while grabbing the laptop. If the housekeeper makes eye contact, on the way out I'd tell her, "by the way, could you leave us a couple of extra towels?", convincing her that this might really be my room. This scenario plays out several times a day, every day, in hotels around the world.

 

[racreel]

Rather than rely on housekeeping, I bring my wife.

My wife would tell you that she is on vacation too!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I wholeheartedly concur with GrillMouster's assessment. As sad as it is, the evil in this world is not held at bay by Disney magic. Read Mouse Tales and More Mouse Tales (both very funny books about DL) and you'll read about lots of criminal issues that Disney has to deal with. I'm sure it is worse in DL than WDW (because of the easier access to the properties), but it is still an issue anywhere you go.

Take it from someone that had his camera gear stolen from inside a cabinet in the interior room of a multi-room suite in the nicest hotel in a relatively safe midwestern city, don't think of your hotel room as a secure environment. Lot's of people have access to your room. It is relatively easy for someone to gain access to your room just by claiming to be you. Better safe than sorry.