Do you feel safe in the "Disney Bubble?"

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Two of my girlfriends and I stayed at CSR in March and we were in the Ranchos which were a long walk from the main building. We felt a little bit scared at night because it was not very lit in some areas, and we didn't hear anyone else in the rooms around us. We felt like it was deserted!! (We weren't always feeling like this but it did make me a little nervous!)

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Sorry to go OT, but did you report the dog to management?

Susan

You took the words right out of my mouth!!!
I can not believe that someone brought a dog to WDW and a resort no less. Even if it was a service dog (which I have never even seen on of them bark, unless they are for someone with Epilepsy and they bark as a warning), I don't think they are even allowed on the premises, but I could be wrong here, I think by law they have to allow a service animal. But if it was barking, I would have notified someone.

 

[DMRick]

I have posted in the past, that almost 3 years ago, we had some things stolen from our room (Pop Century). Disney did reimburse us, after looking at the key history and seeing it was one of their own. Each time we left the rooms after that, one of us always said..hmm, I wonder if anyone is watching to see if we are leaving. Not only did I stop feeling safe, I stopped going to Disney as much. We went to 6 or more trips a year to maybe once, and then, only because we were in the area. At the time, with the police report, the security forms, etc, I didn't think of it as being too bad...they did know who did it, but as time went on, I realized we had had rose colored glasses on. We felt perfecty safe knowing someone was going to enter our rooms to repair something, and didn't check with the desk, when we saw the same person come back later, when the item was supposed to have been fixed, as we were leaving for the pool.

 

[angwill]

DMRick, For the first time in all the hotel stays anywhere, and I stay in lots of hotels, I had the first thing stolen from my room at Pop last September. The sadest thing was that the concierge desk (IMHO Pop has the worst) looked at me like I was nuts when I very nicely told them what was missing and that I had waited till my last day there to make sure as I packed and looked behind everything that it was indeed missing. The response I got was what park did you go to that day because we can check lost and found at that park. Why when I didn't bring it to the park was my response. I even looked right at it when I left the room that day and thought I should put that away but nah this is Disney nothing will happen to it. My mistake that I won't make again. I left my name and number for her to give to management with a request for a call from them. Never got that call. Sad but true we have to use common sense even when at the Happiest Place on Earth. The rest of my trip was wonderful as usual so I just look at it as a lesson learned.

 

[DMRick]

I left my name and number for her to give to management with a request for a call from them. Never got that call. Sad but true we have to use common sense even when at the Happiest Place on Earth. The rest of my trip was wonderful as usual so I just look at it as a lesson learned.

We filled out a report. What made it interesting wasn't that we also called the police. It was after I got home, and they called me and said, I see you have been here 32 times, and never filed a report of anything missing. Because you have been a good customer of Disney, we will reimburse you. So..they'll believe me because I've been there a lot..but not believe my daughter who's actual room it was? It irritated me too, that one of hte stolen items was used at Walmart in Orlando (part of a gift card), but Walmart would only tell the person trying to use the rest that it was no longer valid..but not mention it had been stolen, or let the police see their tapes. Just not enough money, I guess.

 

[kaysmommie]

I have to agree, it is very dark walking around Poly in the early morning. Whenever I walked to Captain Cook's in the dark I felt less than safe. I guess it is both older & wiser or just that the world kind of sucks nowadays. I finally decided to wake DH for the morning run for tea and coffee instead. One mroning DD and I took the walk and took pics though it was creepy.

Your just not completely safe anywhere anymore. I almost booked a trip for just DD and I at a value resort for her Bday but we decided the rest of the family would go too. If we we did go alone we would book WL, CR or AKL.

 

[Hedy]

I've always felt safe at WDW (even when traveling alone). I stayed at a outdoor corridor resort both times, and felt safe. However, I think it's too easy for people to get lured into a false sense of security at WDW. I've been amazed on both of my solo trips that I was asked my CM's if I was alone. But I use common sense, and take precautions.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Just an idea
You could book a room with a preferred location at a value or CBR for about $12-$15 extra a night. The buildings with the preferred locations would be closer to the food court area and would usually have more foot traffic.

That is one reason I book a preferred location at All Star Music. The preferred buildings at All Star Music are the closest buildings to the main pool,food court and bus stop.
Since I am disabled I like knowing there will be people nearby to help me if I need help.

Just my 2 cents.

Actually, yes, this has become part of my new thinking! At values and moderates, I decided I can't book a standard anymore - I just really want a better located room, and I no longer satisfied with being in the "boonies" every time! But then I think, for the price of a preferred moderate, I might as well just upgrade to WL or AKL or the Swan and be in a deluxe! So that's been my more recent pattern - I may travel less often to WDW, and save my $$$ to stay in better resorts.

 

[WillCAD]

I've always been amazed and truly dismayed at people who lose all sense of reality at WDW.

Disney is not a magical fairy land where all bad things cease to happen and bad people are barred by pixie dust curtains from entering. Disney is 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 22 hotels, 4 golf courses, and a shopping center, and although I think they are the best in the world, with an excellent emergency response system and good security, they are certainly not some mystical la-la land where people somehow become "safe" as soon as they enter.

Disney is an entertainment complex. At entertainment complexes, people have to be allowed a wide freedom of movement, hence the somewhat lax security at the resorts like Poly.

Although some folks may feel uncomfortable at the thought of the longhouse doors (and other resort buildings at all the resorts) not requiring key cards, others might go ballistic if they did - "I'm paying $400 a night and I have to PROOVE that I'm staying here just to get into the BUILDING?! What kind of a hole is this place?!"

Although I personally find it somewhat irresponsible of Disney to turn those tiki torches off late at night and plunge the Poly grounds into dangerous darkness, others may have complained in the past - "I'm paying $400 a night to stay here and I can't get a wink of sleep because those darn gas torches stayed on all night long and the light kept flickering under the drapes into my room!"

And although some folks may want desperately to believe that WDW is a fairy tale Utopia where no bad things happen and no bad people can get in, I am not foolish enough to believe that the laws of physics, the laws of nature, or the laws of common sense alter their operation at the WDW property line. Bad people get in and do bad things; bad things happen; bad luck happens; and CMs are still falible (and sometimes even bad) human beings who don't measure up to the angelic standards that some want to hold them to - as are other Guests.

Because of this, I still avoid dark areas, maintain situational awareness, lock up my valuables in the hotel (including my laptop), and keep a close eye on any children in my party everywhere I go. My level of paranoia (everyone has some) is no lower at WDW than anywhere else in the world, because I'm smart enough to realize that WDW is still part of this world.

The proper term is "suspension of disbelief," folks, not "suspension of common sense."

 

[NeverlandPixie]

My March/April trip will be my first solo adventure. I specifically picked WDW over other destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean because (1) I know it well, (2) it's not typically a "solo" destination, and (3) I feel safer at WDW than any other destination. However, while I feel it is "safer," I know that nowhere is completely safe.

But I do have to thank all of you for this thread. I am staying at the Poly (first time), and didn't realize the pathways are so dark. I chose the Poly because not only is it my dream resort for my special trip, but because of the convenience of transportation and, I guess, in my mind, that also added to the feeling of security.

I really don't want to change resorts, but I may now be packing a flashlight and whistle!

 

[ploto]

We just returned from the poly and was in the tokelau longhouse. This was our second stay at poly and in tokelau, both visits I have felt very safe. Of course I am always aware of my surroundings, but in general I feel very safe at poly.

 

[greenmyvalley]

I stayed at the Poly in Tokelau with my family in 2004, and felt completely safe the entire time. My sister and I (then 14-year-old twins) spent the majority of our vacation traveling around without our parents, who much preferred to take it easy at the resort. They were delighted to have the opportunity to rest for a week while we got up early, stayed out all day, and got back late. It also was during the summer, so it was a very busy time of year. As long as you're aware of your surroundings, there's no reason you can't feel safe.

 

[OKW Lover]

Even while you are on vacation at Disney you still need to follow standard safety precautions. Low risk does not mean no risk.

 

[OceanAnnie]

We just got back from our trip to WDW last night. We stayed at the GF. Loved it. We did go to the Poly a few times for different counter service and using the boats a few times.

It's a funny coincidence, I mentioned to my DH how the Poly grounds felt isolated. We talked about not seeing a soul while we strolled. That can be good and bad I guess. It was nice during the day. It was relaxing walking the grounds and not seeing anyone. Ofcourse I was with my family. If it were night and I was alone, I'd feel differently I'm sure.

No matter where I am, I'm very aware of the people around me and my surroundings. I guess I've seen too many crime shows and watch too many news segments. I hold my loved ones close. As a pp stated, I watch out for little ones around me too. It's a crazy world.

 

[dydo2424]

at POP than I did at POR. We were there last August stayed in the same building that this woman was attacked near!! I remember having the thought that I was surprised that they let their landscaping get soo large because of something like this, but it was always so lit up at night and there was always people around. I don't ever remember being out when there wasn't anyone else around and ever being uncomfortable there. On the other hand we stayed at POR last December and I remember being very uncomfortable on a couple of the nights that my DS who was 6 at the time and I would come back from the parks after EMH. We were the last stop that the bus made and it was quite a walk through trees, bushes and parking lots that I had to make while carrying this sleeping kid (usually the only one making that walk also at 1:30 am). Somehow I managed to find the last bit of energy I had to powerwalk it to the room. I definitely have gotten a really false sense of security while at Disney and this story got my attention.

 

[savannahjean85]

I felt safe with our trip at POR in Nov but I was with DF. I was alittle shocked at the amount of children whose parents let them roam around the resort. I would not have felt to safe if I was walking by myself as an adult.

 

[Rustysmom]

I feel safe at Disney, but as verticalchaos said, us New Yorkers are used to being aware of our surroundings. I never really let my guard down at Disney and we never take our eyes off the kids.

 

[ilovecountry]

I have to admit, when I was there I completely let go of my "security" I was there for the first time w/ friends over the summer & we just got out of college and were staying at POP. Normally we're all pretty good at being safe but I completely let my guard down. There was a bunch of school trips around that same time & I ended up hanging out w/ a lot of people there especially a few cute guys around my age which is the biggest no no ever!! I don't really drink so that wasn't a problem but the funny thing is, I was always urging everyone to be safe & know your surroundings and to realize that Vacation doesn't equal safe but can mean the total opposite- yet I acted like I was in my own bubble there. I guess as a girl, I relied on my gut instinct but that doesn't always mean safety, I guess next time I have to force myself to be smart & not get carried away w/ the idea that Disney means innocent.

 

[Piglet4Ever]

When DH and I go to WDW we usually stay at SOG and we love to walk to the Poly and use the monorail. Sometimes coming back from the parks at night, I feel a little creeped out walking back to SOG, the path is really dark at night, but once we make it over the SOG property I feel better. Won't stop us from doing the walk though.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I'm cracking up at all my fellow NYers saying that watching your kids (and your back) is typical New York procedure. I can't tell you how many times I've seen 10 year old kids riding on the subway by themselves and thought "Yikes!".

As far as feeling safe at Disney...yes, I typically feel far safer there than I do at just about any other vacation spot. I think the number of violent attacks there are so infrequent, they carry alot more weight with the media and in our collective consciences than violent attacks in our own cities and states.