Hindsight is 20/20. What a nightmare. (Tiny update)

[makinorlando]

I called guest services and told them what happened and she said that if we bring the receipt to them it should be taken care of, but it just doesn't sound right.

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Wow, I am so sorry you have had to go through all of this. It is such a shame that we can no longer really trust anyone we don't know well. Thankfully you were not physically harmed!

As others have said, with the receipt and the fact that you have 2 of the tickets, you will be able to replace the tickets.

Hopefully you will get your miracle and the other tickets will be returned!

 

[ADisneygirl]

It is a blessing that you both were not harmed! It is not in my nature to be trusting like that. I won't even open the door if I don't know the person on the other side. I'll ask what they want through the door. I am sure your WDW tickets can be replaced. I am sorry that your trust in your fellow man is not so easily replaced.

 

[MAKmom]

I'm glad your OK and you were kind to a stranger which is how we should be able to live. It is a scary world.

Where did you buy the tickets. If you have the paperwork from The Disney Store they can replace them at WDW. I wonder if the thief will try to sell them? Should you call & mention this to Guest Relations? When is your trip? If they use them before you do,it could be a problem.

 

[swanmom]

I'm so glad that you and your family are safe! While it's a pain in ......., things can be replaced. People cant'. I do want to give a specific caution, though. You may want to keep in mind that he now knows that you were planning on traveling (to Disney) and may be watching to see if your house looks like you are home. I don't know how soon you had planned to leave but please take care to be sure that your home looks 'lived in' while you are gone. Maybe a home alarm system would be a good investment. Don't mean to scare you but it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[chris1gill]

I just want to say how sorry I am I think you need those hugs right about now

 

[TSR6]

I don't know about Disney but I am sure it is similar to Universal's system. Universal can scan any ticket in the transaction and pull up a list of all the tickets on that order. Then it is just a simple click to reprint the lost tickets. The stolen tickets will also be voided out at that time so they can't be used.

Funny story, Disney and Universal use the same system for ticketing - just different variations of it.

Last time I was at universal though, they were on the older DOS version of the ticketing system, where Disney uses the new Windows version everywhere with the exception of Cirque Du Soliel, which is still on DOS due to the seat selecting. The windows version of that has been being worked on for a while.

 

[MrsToad]

I lost our annual passes in 2003 and Disney replaced them both, so please do not let this worry you after all you've been through. After I lost ours, I began making copies of the backs of all new tickets immediately after purchase, and those copies get stored separate from the tickets...it gives me some peace of mind.

Good luck to you, and have a GREAT trip!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

YIKES!!

I'm glad you and your DH are safe!

A few years ago a girl knocked on our door in the middle of the night. I had fallen asleep on the couch so I got up and looked out the peephole. She was looking down, and the top of her head looked similar to my sister so I opened the door. (Not a smart thing to do at 2 AM!) She wanted to use my phone. She lived in our apartment building but I had never met her before. She said she dropped her phone in the dishwasher and it was broken, and she needed to call her DH because their baby was sick. Hmm. I had her wait outside and I brought her the cordless phone. She wasn't able to get ahold of anyone. I asked her what was wrong with her baby, and what she described sounded suspiciously like RSV. I offered to come look at the baby but she declined. I'm not a nurse, but I am a nanny so I have seen enough babies to know when one needs to go to the ER. I told her to call her pediatrician, but she didn't have one. She left, but she came back later (around 7 AM) to use the phone again.

The big mistake here was she decided that she would come find me whenever she needed anything. She didn't have a car, so she asked me to go get some milk for her. After that she asked me to take her to the pawn shop, but she didn't have a babysitter so she decided maybe I could take her stuff to the pawn shop for her. Um, NO THANKS! After I said "no" to several of her requests she stopped asking. They moved out shortly after that.

Better not to get involved, I think! You never know about people.

 

[GoofieRuthie]

Thanks again everyone! I'm starting to feel a little better about the entire situation now. Our trip back to Disney isn't until Christmas of 2007. We were there for spring break this year and decided to upgrade our 6 day expiry tickets to 10 day non expiry tickets since we only used 5 of our days.I had bought the original tickets through ticketmania and have copies of the originals. I work at a bank and have a safety deposit box and had meant to put them in there, but kept forgetting to. I plan to write guest relations and explain the situation and that we won't be back in Florida until April of 2007.(SHHH.We're going to do that OTHER park for spring break since we'll be doing Christmas at Disney. ) That way they won't ask why we waited nearly a year to try to resolve this and to give me peace of mind. I don't want to wait until we are actually there to know if we'll have tickets or not.

As for the phone records that someone asked about. The worst part of it is that I had just cancelled caller ID and all of the extras as of Wednesday. Since we all have cell phones except DD 5 and 11, I wanted to have just a basic phone for their friends and emergencies. So, we couldn't *69 his last call. Three people have even called back asking for him and of course, no caller ID to see who they were. The cop did tell me that they COULD subpeona the phone records if they need to. I haven't heard anything else yet. I don't even know if they are looking for him or the girl that forged my checks.

Thanks for all of the hugs and well wishes. I will keep you posted on the tickets and the outcome of the theft.

 

[jgmklmhem]

I hope all turns out well and this turd never shows up again. It really makes you feel for the world we live in when you can't even help someone out without being punished.

Another story somewhat along these types happened at our church of all places. My mom had volunteered for the bake sale area of our church craft fair. Many other women did the same. Sometimes volunteers even come from the community. Well all the women put their purses under the counter to "protect" them. One of the community volunteers stole about 3 wallets right from under all their noses. She was finally caught trying to use someone elses credit card but my mom never saw her wallet again. I mean come on if you are stealing from church ladies you are pretty darn low.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I had a friend whose ticket ended up in the lagoon. She was able to use the receipt to get a new ticket issued.

Hope that helps.

 

[LisaS]

As for the phone records that someone asked about. The worst part of it is that I had just cancelled caller ID and all of the extras as of Wednesday. Since we all have cell phones except DD 5 and 11, I wanted to have just a basic phone for their friends and emergencies. So, we couldn't *69 his last call. Three people have even called back asking for him and of course, no caller ID to see who they were. The cop did tell me that they COULD subpeona the phone records if they need to.

Since it is your phone line I would think you could just call the phone company and ask them to tell you what phone numbers were called from your phone during that time period. Then use one of the "reverse lookup" sites on the web to see if you can get a name and address for those numbers.

If the phone company won't help you out, then see what calls are on your next phone bill. If the numbers were toll calls, they should appear on your phone bill, at least that's how it works with my phone company. Every so often there is a toll call on my bill that I don't immediately recognize. I can either go to my phone company's website and look the number up there, or use one of the reverse lookup sites to see whose number it it. More often than not, I am successful in finding a name to go with the number.

So sorry this happened to you. I hope everything turns out OK with your Disney tickets.

 

[ChristmasElf]

By calling or writing to Disney and explaining what happened and the credit card you used, plus nthe number off the back of 1 of the tickets, they will be able to fix everything for you. Don't worry.

I also agree with the poster that mentioned making your house look lived in.

Leave a television on. -This is perfectly safe and will not cause a fire. I have had a Television in the bedroom that has been on for 3 years before. If anything, the picture looks sharper!

Leave the bathroom light in the Master Bathroom on while you are gone. A theif will wonder if someone may be sick and up in the middle of the night.

Leave a pot with a lid on it on the stove. Put a stir spoon next to it on the counter. (The stove is OFF!!! but from a window it will look you will be right back)

Leave a radio or TV on in the kitchen

Park one of your cars in the driveway so that it is at an angle and you will be having to move it soon. (saw this tip on Oprah, a former cop was on and said that crooks always look at how cars are parked and if it is at an angle you are probably home)

Leave a coat or jacket in full view of a windo on a couch or chair so it will cause someone to wonder if you are home.

Placing a hat on the back of a chair or couch in the living room and turning on a light, will look like someone is sitting that chair during the evening hours.
(A dummy would be even better-but unless you are Michael Jackson, you probably dont have one of these!)

Leave a pair of boots or shoes on the porch

Ask a neighbor to put one of their garbage cans in front of your house while you are gone (on garbage day only of course!)

Since you will be gone at Christmas time, put your tree lights on a timer. Nothing like a dark tree to let someone figure out you are on vacation.

 

[Nancy]

I'm so glad that you and your family are safe! While it's a pain in ......., things can be replaced. People cant'. I do want to give a specific caution, though. You may want to keep in mind that he now knows that you were planning on traveling (to Disney) and may be watching to see if your house looks like you are home. I don't know how soon you had planned to leave but please take care to be sure that your home looks 'lived in' while you are gone. Maybe a home alarm system would be a good investment. Don't mean to scare you but it's better to be safe than sorry.

'
That was my thinking too! I am a very non-trusting person. I will not open the door for someone I don't know (unless he has a UPS uniform on!)

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I got an email back from Disney. I'm pretty hopeful that they can help me. Boy what a relief if they can. Thanks to everyone that replied.



Dear Ruth,

We appreciate your recent ticket inquiry.

Although Walt Disney World is not responsible for lost, stolen or
damaged ticket media, we may be able to research your tickets from your
receipts. Please send the 2 tickets you have (please make a copy of
these tickets for your records), copies of your receipts/ticket
information, and a letter stating your request to reissue your tickets
(or a copy of your original e-mail) to us.

You may write to:

Walt Disney World Ticketing
Attn: Communications Center
P.O. Box 10,140
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Please keep your original receipts safe for your own records. Upon
receipt of your letter, we will review the documentation and respond to
your inquiry. You can also fax the requested information to us at
407-566-4685. Please note that research on lost/stolen ticket media
typically takes between 2-3 weeks.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us again via
email or at (407) 566-4985 (Option #2) Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:45
p.m. EST or Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. EST.

Thank you and we hope to see you again soon!

Rosely Piraino
Communications Center
Walt Disney World Ticketing
(407) 566-4985 Option #2

 

[grlpwrd]

I'm so glad that you and your family are safe! While it's a pain in ......., things can be replaced. People cant'. I do want to give a specific caution, though. You may want to keep in mind that he now knows that you were planning on traveling (to Disney) and may be watching to see if your house looks like you are home. I don't know how soon you had planned to leave but please take care to be sure that your home looks 'lived in' while you are gone. Maybe a home alarm system would be a good investment. Don't mean to scare you but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Yes, that is so true - they may try to make another hit.

I would think it would be even better to have a housesitter.

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

My dad always let people in to use the phone, he trusted everyone, he got a little spooked though when this one guy didnt want to leave, my dad showed him his gun collection, that did it,he probably thought my dad was nuts
then a few weeks later somewhere in michigan a family had been murdered by someone who needed to use the phone.
that put an end to letting strangers in, the rule was to take their number and call for them.

 

[phisigprincess]

I just wanted to send some hugs and tell you that I'm happy you're all safe. It's a shame that he took that trusting nature from you in addition to your purse.

 

[Robinrs]

Funny you should mention this... I had a funny experience just Monday morning.

Born and raised in NYC... I trust NO ONE. My son, born and raised in the South, trusts EVERYONE. I think both are extremes but we have to err to the side of safety, always.

That said, my son came in from taking out the garbage and told me there was a man outside who wanted to use the phone. I catapulted to the door and closed and locked it. He said, "Mom, I told him it was okay"... I told him NOT TO SPEAK TO STRANGERS!

The man knocks on the door. In true NY manner I demand what does he want. He tells us that he needs to call his girlfriend who lives next door and she was not answering the door. ???? I only knew of a married couple who lived next door???

I gave him our cordless phone quickly and slammed the door. He knocked after using it and I called thru the door to leave it there I'll get it later...

I had to go to work but THREATENED my son if he EVER spoke to a stranger or opened the door OR said he could use the phone. Michael is 13 and the size of a linebacker but still has the heart of a little boy. He promised me he'd stay clear.

Well to make a loooong story short the same man came back later and the woman, a guest at the married couple's home railed him, called the cops and all of his belongings were thrown out on the lawn in front of the house. It turned into a soap opera in our quiet little community! It's was hysterical!

Well, I digress...

I am soo glad you two are safe. Experiences like that one put us on high alert and reminds us to be aware for the next time.

Robinrs

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sorry to hear of that frightening experience, Ruth. And good to hear it seems to be turning out fairly well. To bad there are those trash people in the world we have to deal with. Good wishes.