Home from Disney Cruise/BCV

[donmil723]

Just wanted to say we were back from another great trip! We LOVED the May 20th Wonder Cruise! Castaway Cay is AWESOME! We enjoyed our WDW stay, too, but did have an unfortunate experience that put a damper on things. My DD's friend had $180 stolen from her room the afternoon we arrived. We reported it that night. The next night we talked to another couple in the hot tub and found out they were missing $40 and their room was right next to our DD's studio. A few minutes later we found out two young men had also had $40 each stolen from their room. All of these were on the 2nd floor. By then our DD and her friend, both 19 year old college students, were terrified to stay in their studio. DH and I were in another studio. Disney did move us to connecting rooms in the Yacht Club at midnight that night but it wasn't the same as being in our home resort. They did catch the person that was doing the stealing and our DD's friend got her money back. Disney was very kind to us through this upsetting experience and did everything they could to make amends. I'm just glad they caught the person so he/she isn't in a position to steal from anyone at the BCV again.

Met some wonderful people, both DIS members and some who are not yet Dis members but who I told to be sure and check out these boards. One lady I talked to was very disappointed in the MH activities and even asked for their money back which DVC did refund to them. She said several others had also asked for a refund. Another couple was disappointed in the first night but thought the second night was better. I hope the majority had a great time.

We only went into the theme parks on Monday but we did go to all four theme parks and do a couple things at each. Not really our choice but DD's friend hadn't been to WDW for almost 10 years so she wanted to see as much as possible and we didn't want to go into the theme parks more than one day. Our favorite thing to do is relax at Stormalong Bay. We were surprised that SAB wasn't very crowded. We got our favorite spot every day--the lounge chairs under the trees by the stairs to the pool shop.

I'd be happy to answer any questions!

Donna

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Was the thief a Disney CM? What a relief that he/she was caught. One of the things that has always amazed me is that as many times as our family has been to both WDW/DL we've never been victims of any crimes whatsoever. I know not everyone can say that, but I'm glad we can!

Sounds like an enjoyable visit overall in spite of some of the circumstances. Thanks for taking the time to share.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Wow. Any word on how they caught the thief so quickly? I'm glad to hear they took it so seriosuly.

HBC

 

[MJTinNH]

Too bad about the theift. Glad they caught the person. Otherwise it sounds like you had a great time. Thank you for posting!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Donna

Isn't Castaway Cay fabulous...we can't wait to get back there in Feb on the Wonder again. What deck were you on? Did you hit any rough seas

....

In Feb our cruise was very calm except for the last night after midnight. Glad you had a good time on the Wonder.

Originally posted by donmil723
I'm just glad they caught the person so he/she isn't in a position to steal from anyone at the BCV again.

How did they

the thief at the BCV's?

 

[rbuzzotta]

Glad you and your family had a wonderful time (except the theif part!). Glad they caught who did it!!! I would have been nervous staying there too........

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Donna,

Sorry I missed you. I believe DS and his friends met you in the jacuzzi at BCV. We were on the 5th flr and didn't have any thefts that we were aware of. I'll post a report later.

Annmarie

 

[DVCLady]

delete

 

[donmil723]

I think part of the reason they caught the CM, who worked in Housekeeping, was because we were able to tell them the times the purse was left unattended--for one hour in our studio #170 and for one hour in the girls studio #205. After the other thefts were reported, they were able to look at the logs to see who entered the rooms and at what time. Like DVC Lady said, those electronic keys are helpful in situations like this. Also, while DH and I were unpacking, one housekeeping CM brought us ice cube trays which I had asked for and another came to "count the refillable mugs." Both times they only knocked once and then used their key to enter. They never announced themselves as housekeeping. I don't know if that had anything to do with the theft or not but the Housekeeping Managers were not happy about that.

Annmarie--Sorry we missed you too but we did enjoy visiting with your son and his friends at the hot tub Monday night and later we saw them at B&C. That was one thing I hated about being at the Yacht Club--we didn't get to visit with other DVC members as much.

Nick--We were on Deck 6 Aft in rooms 6134 and 6133. No rough seas at all--biggest waves were only 8 foot. Only noticed a little rocking the first night in Barrel of Laughs but the ship was really moving on that night. Castaway Cay alone is worth the trip (and the price!). We rebooked for a 7 day Western next May so we could take advantage of the discount but plan to change our dates to May 2006 as soon as they become available.

I hesitated about posting about the theft but thought it should be a good reminder to always use the safes in our rooms. My DH and I had locked our valuables in the safe but didn't know our DD's friend had that much cash with her. It also reinforced my belief that even though bad things can happen anywhere, including WDW, Disney will do all they can to take care of their guests. We are all looking forward to our next trip in December!

Donna

 

[happydisfamilyof4]

Donna,

Can I ask what day you checked into the BCV? We checked in on Saturday the 22nd and had checked out on Monday the 24th. We had a "strange" thing happen while there and knew that someone had been in our room one day while we were out. But did not notice anything missing right off.

However, it turned out that we did have an item missing, but did not realize that it was missing until the ride home. I knew where exactly the item had been placed, but when we called lost and found on the afternoon of the 24th it had surprisingly enough not turned up.

If that was in fact when you were there maybe I can call back and check out the possibility that the same CM was in or around our room at that time.


Thanks

 

[trishy]

they caught the CM

How creepy! Thanks for sharing your story. Glad they caught the thief. Also glad to hear you were treated well by management. Sounds like you were very satisfied with the way you were treated. Thanks for the heads-up - we'll definitely use the safe - suppose it's there for a reason, huh?

 

[happyrebster]

Hey Donna -- We sailed the May 20th Wonder as well! And could not have been happier! DH had never been on a cruise and he is not a big Disney fan, but the boat won his heart and he can't wait to sail her again. The beautiful art deco details and the wonderful array of adult activities (Palo, couple's massage, rainforest room, waverunners on Castaway, champagne each night on deck, etc) were what did it for him. It was by far our most romantic anniversary ever. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it as well!

We stayed at SSR during Homecoming, but didn't buy the Homecoming ticket (too much extra expense on top of our regular tickets). We loved SSR! Truly charming and relaxing. We especially adored the Turf Club.

 

[donmil723]

happydisfamilyof4--We checked in Sunday, May 23. The money was stolen that afternoon between 3 and 4:15. The family in the room next door had their money stolen sometime between Saturday afternoon and Monday afternoon so your time frame is about right. We were surprised that the girls' cd players or cameras weren't taken also.

happyrebster--We just loved the cruise! DH was so worried that he wouldn't like it as he is claustrophobic especially in elevators but he loved it so much we rebooked for a 7 day next May but plan to change it to May, 2006 when those dates become available. He keeps telling everybody how great it was and how cruising is the best way to visit other places! Sounds like you had a great time, too! Glad you liked SSR too! We drove over there one day. Thought it was nice, very similar to OKW.

Donna

 

[WDWguru]

Originally posted by donmil723
We were on Deck 6 Aft in rooms 6134 and 6133.

We're booked in 6132 and 6133 for our October cruise. I'm just curious what you thought of these staterooms and their location.

p.s. DH lived in California, MO, for a few years as a kid in the early 1980s!

 

[donmil723]

Kim-We loved the location! It was just around the corner from the aft elevators/stairs and just 2-3 flights down to the dining rooms, theaters, shops and bars/lounges or 3 flights up to the pool deck. It might have been nicer to have been on the starboard side when we docked in Nassau and Castaway Cay so you could see the islands from the verandah but since we weren't in the rooms very much, it really didn't matter.

What a coincidence that your DH lived in Calif, MO! Send me an email or pm with his name. DH and I have lived here all our lives. Maybe we knew his family!

By the way, you'll LOVE the cruise!!!

Donna

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by donmil723
happydisfamilyof4--We checked in Sunday, May 23. The money was stolen that afternoon between 3 and 4:15. The family in the room next door had their money stolen sometime between Saturday afternoon and Monday afternoon so your time frame is about right. We were surprised that the girls' cd players or cameras weren't taken also.

happyrebster--We just loved the cruise! DH was so worried that he wouldn't like it as he is claustrophobic especially in elevators but he loved it so much we rebooked for a 7 day next May but plan to change it to May, 2006 when those dates become available. He keeps telling everybody how great it was and how cruising is the best way to visit other places! Sounds like you had a great time, too! Glad you liked SSR too! We drove over there one day. Thought it was nice, very similar to OKW.

Donna

CD players and cameras are very easy to idenify, money is not.