How safe are the safes?

[ladycollector]

Anyone ever had any problems with them? We want to take cash for a lot of things, (mainly food and extras) and I just want to make sure. This is probably a silly thing to ask, but can't hurt right? Thanks

 

[MrsNick]

I wouldn't keep cash in the room safe, but would keep cash in the hotel safe.

 

[ladycollector]

I wouldn't keep cash in the room safe, but would keep cash in the hotel safe.

I didn't know about that; is there a link or something where I can read up about it? Thanks so much!

 

[Kitcat]

in WL and CSR it was fine. Just don't lose the Key!! It's a $35.00 charge.Have a great trip.

 

[Sammie]

I didn't know about that; is there a link or something where I can read up about it? Thanks so much!

First I would never take large amounts of cash on vacation, but if you must do not leave it in the room safe. Problems are very rare but they can happen.

Simply go to the front desk and ask them to put it in the main safe. Make sure even then you know exactly how much you are leaving, get a receipt and put it in something safe, like a money bag etc.

I would really recommend traveller's checks over cash.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

You are better off using your room key for charging rather than take a lot of cash with you. You can get a print out from your front desk anytime you want detailing your charges and you will get one at check out.

 

[laurabelle]

I was just at POFQ and had something weird happen...
I don't carry alot in the parks with me and I wanted to put my wallet and our MNSSHP tix in the safe. Before I did this, I needed to do some ironing and as I picked up the iron from the holder, there was an extra safe key hidden under the iron! I ended up putting it inside the safe with my stuff, and nothing was taken, but I thought that was really sneaky!

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Some people have reported having things taken from the room safe. We have never had a problem with it but we normally don't put alot of important things in them. With some of the bigger things, we will just lock them in the trunk of our car.

 

[JerseyJ]

I agree that Travelers checks are the way to go or getting a prepaid Visa Card that works like a Debit Card. Have seen too many people devastated by lost cash on vacations.

 

[boomhauer]

I won't say do take a lot of cash or don't, but in 10 onsite stays, I've always used cash, always used the safes in the rooms, and never lost a penny.

 

[Kay7979]

All the places I have stayed (non-Disney) have programable safes. You enter your own numerical combination. That way no one who doesn't know your combination can get into the safe. KEYS! How primitive. I am surprised that Disney is using such relics!

 

[beccasmom]

We used to use the safe behind the desk at the CR all the time. We don't use any of the safes now; we just use our credit cards and don't carry much cash or we use the ATM as needed.

An anecdote - One of my friends traveled to Orlando about 3 years ago with her church youth group. They were there for two weeks to volunteer at a children's charity center. There were about 15 kids. My friend was holding on to all of their money for safety’s sake and used the safe behind the desk at the hotel they were staying at (NOT DISNEY). When she went back at one point to retrieve some money, there was none in the safe. Kathy was told that the hotel is not responsible for anything left in their safe. The fact that it was behind their front desk doesn’t seem to matter. Total loss – over $7,000.00. I understand she is still working with the authorities about this, so hopefully the story will have a happy ending. I must admit I do not know Florida hotel policies about such matters. A safe in one’s room vs a safe behind the front desk would appear to be very different though. I was shocked when I heard my friend’s story.

I know that at the CR, you were issued a key to your safe drawer. You were told that if it were lost, it would cost something like $35.00 to have the drawer opened because there was no duplicate. We never had any problems – this was back in the 80’s. I do not know what their procedure is now.

 

[LiteBrite]

If you want to operate at WDW on a cash basis, instead of using your credit card, you can put cash down to charge against when you check in, just like you would a credit card. I've done this several times (I've also done the same thing with traveler's checks).

This has a few advantages: it's a lot more convenient charging things to your room key than hauling a lot of cash around, you get an itemized list of what you spent your money on, and no worries about the cash getting lost or stolen.

If you don't spend all the money you put down, they'll give you the rest back in cash when you check out (even if it was traveler's checks you put down).