Just back from WDW - Camera got stolen !!!!!

[TinkandAriel]

ooh, I thought this happened to us while at MGM...we rented a stroller there, and left it outside a show while we went in. When we came out, it was gone! I panicked bc our camera and everything else was in that stroller. Turns out, a CM had simply moved it to a designated stroller area. I'm so sorry your camera was stolen.

Becca

 

[CarolA]

Thank you for posting.

I sometimes walk by the strollers and wonder WHAT people are thinking? I have seen some VERY nice items just there for the picking. My boyfriend was TOTALLY amazed on our recent visit (his first in 20 years) that folks just left the stuff... He said "there is NOTHING to stop me from just walking off with the stuff or the entire stroller to loot it" I pointed out that there was something to stop him, I would BEAT HIM TO DEATH.... but as he said "others aren't with you" LOL!

It's the same with leaving valuables on your table or bed at your resort. TinkerBell is not spreading pixie dust to protect things so put them out of sight.

 

[WDWFRV]

First of all, what kind of people would go to Disney and steal a camera (don't they have their own camera with them) you would think!!!! or is it just people that go there to cause trouble for happy families. Well, I do not trust nobody either, unfortunately, people like that are everywhere. I am so sorry that your camera was stolen, but you have to tell yourself that you have wonderful memories in your heart (I am sending you some pixie dust to make you feel better)

 

[we3disneygo]

On our last day of vacation this year we were all on the carousel and dd12 asked her dad to hold her camera (we each had a digtal) we were sitting in the bench seats, we get off and somehow didn't have the camera bag. we take pictures by the sword, tinks shop, get out to the parking lot and she say's who's got my camera???? we run to lost and found Bob was very rude to us, directs us back to the park, dh runs back to carousel where the worker states the other workers just went on break? I take dd to guest relations as the camera bag has her park hopper, 3 camera chips, a new inhaler, pressed pennies. we get her a paper ticket, find dh, no camera , go to city hall, nothing was turned in, we check again that evening, and call when we get home they ask if we filled out a report? not one person asked us to fill out a report. we lost some pictures..........so that's our story--

 

[WillCAD]

I'm saddened to hear all of these stories.

It's an outrage that there are people who come into the Disney parks (or anywhere else, for that manner) and steal from families trying to have a good time with their kids.

But it's also sad to see that folks likt the OP are so lulled by the feeling of Disney that they forget they're on planet Earth, which is full of Humans, and not all Humans are good.

Instead of 12 paragraphs of gushing how sorry I am (which I am, don't get me wrong), let me instead offer a few paragraphs of advice to prevent similar losses. An ounce of prevention is worth ten tons of cure:

1) NEVER leave anything valuable unnattended in public, whether on a stroller, a table in a restaurant, an unlocked car, or the wall next to the Carrosell.

2) Never keep your most important small stuff in a detachable bag like a camera bag. Park passes, money, room keys, and especially your ID, should always be in a pocket, a neck lanyard, or a waist pack, never in a bag that you could sit down and forget about.

3) Backup copies are your friends! Make copies of your park passes so they can be replaced easily if they are lost.

4) DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD, then DOWNLOAD some more! OP lost not only her WDW pics, but some pics that were on the camera from prior to her WDW vacation - this is a prime example of the "too many eggs in one basket" syndrome that many digicam users have. So many people think only of getting a new, bigger memory card, but they forget that memory cards are supposed to be temporary storage only. There are two precautions to prevent this catastrophe - A) Don't buy one huge memory card. Instead, buy a bunch of smaller cards and split your pics up so that losing one card or losing the camera will only lose PART of your pics. And don't carry the full ones around the parks with you in a camera bag - what if you lose the bag? Leave the full cards in your room safe. B) DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD! If you only have a few memory cards, take them to the camera shops and get the pics downloaded to CD, then keep the CDs in your room safe.

5) Pare it down. Look through what you carry around the parks on a daily basis and get rid of anything that you don't actually use. The more you carry, the more likely you are to accidentally drop something without realizing it, accidentally leave something behind without realizing it, or have something pinched from your stroller or your person without realizing it. Sure, those with littles need to carry a lot more than those without, and those pushing strollers are sorely tempted to pack up the kitchen sink in the stroller because it seems an easy way to lug stuff around, but as you pack up those tents, sleeping bags, and camp stoves in the morning, think about how comfortable you will be leaving all of that stuff unattended in a public place full of people for long periods of time during the day - and unpack the camp stove.

Once again, my sympathies to all of you who have lost stuff. I hope you learn from your mistakes and never let it happen again.

Those of you who have not lost stuff - learn from the mistakes of others and never let it happen to you even once.

 

[mossy1]

Sorry to hear about your camera and pics being stolen. I was always surprised to see just how much stuff people do leave in and on the strollers everywhere in the parks. As far as one of the previos posters saying they had things taken from a locked locker--I have never heard of that but will keep that in mind for future trips. That proves an old saying that locks only keep honest people honest. And if someone wants something of yours badly enough they will get it. Perhaps they where too caught up in the Pirate theme.---Argh

 

[DeterminedOne]

Thank you for posting.

I sometimes walk by the strollers and wonder WHAT people are thinking? I have seen some VERY nice items just there for the picking. My boyfriend was TOTALLY amazed on our recent visit (his first in 20 years) that folks just left the stuff... He said "there is NOTHING to stop me from just walking off with the stuff or the entire stroller to loot it" I pointed out that there was something to stop him, I would BEAT HIM TO DEATH.... but as he said "others aren't with you" LOL!

It's the same with leaving valuables on your table or bed at your resort. TinkerBell is not spreading pixie dust to protect things so put them out of sight.

This is pretty much what I was going to say. I can't believe the valuables people leave behind! But then I thought maybe I just don't get it because I don't have to push a stroller.

Thanks to the OP for sharing this info. Others need to be reminded that thieves go to Disney, too.

 

[junkmail]

Sorry to hear. I hope the thief die a slow and painful death.

 

[SLDL]

We were in the Magic Kingdom on 9/22 & my husband left our camera on the TTA ride. We had not even gotten to the bottom of the ride before I asked him to hand it to me & he realized it was gone. We both had sleeping children in our arms & he had taken a pic of me, meant to slip it in his pocket & it fell out. I went back up & told the CM, but it was too late. Someone had taken it in such a short time. I just KNEW it would be turned in by some kindhearted family who also spent boatloads of money for a memorable vacation. It never was. It really put a damper on my vacation, not to mention the embarrasment I caused my family & friends traveling with us when I had a meltdown in Magic Kingdom. We had pictures of my daughters 1st haircut at the Barber Shop, the Halloween party, her first visit with Donald, so many sweet photos of my children, all gone. It really is disgusting. I vented to the lost & found guys a couple weeks later when I called, yet again, to see if it was turned in. They agreed that the same class of folks that I see in my everyday life also go to Disney & it really isn't an ideal world, although I guess it was designed to be. I had never thought about someone posting pictures of my children on the internet after finding my camera. That's really upsetting. I hope & pray that whoever kept my camera feels guilt everytime he/she takes a breath. I cannot imagine anyone ever EVER wanting to keep something so precious to someone else. It's just a camera but those memories are really priceless.

 

[we3disneygo]

sldl---don't feel bad my meltdown happened on the monorail......WillCad gave good advice--download those pic's at least we had about 700-800 pictures burned to disc, but it would have been nice to have an honest person "find" our camera and return, it had a new inhaler in it!

 

[Yzerbear19]

Taking a laptop computer with you is also a good idea because then at the end of each day you can download your pictures and burn them onto a CD yourself. I used to leave my pictures on my memory card, but then ended up downloading the same pictures over and over again. I think I had three copies of our 2005 Disney photos on our computer. Now I delete the pictures once they're downloaded and make sure I download frequently.

I've always thought that Disney is more inviting to thieves and dishonest people because so many people are lulled by the magic of Disney. I always treat going to Disney like when I go to any big city, keeping all my valuables close to me and not bringing too much. Last time we went a thief could have gladly stolen my purse, all they would have gotten is a water bottle, sun screen, some dead AA batteries, a fake wallet with only a few bucks in it and a granola bar or two. Everything important like my ID, ticket, debit card, credit card, and camera was in my pocket. Unfortunately in the world we live in there are a lot of dishonest people. Hopefully whoever stole the camera feels bad about it.

 

[WillCAD]

Hopefully whoever stole the camera feels bad about it.

If they had enough of a consience to feel bad about it they wouldn't have stolen it to begin with. Some people just don't care at all about anything but themselves.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Oh, how sad!

I left my camera on a table at DAK last year, and made it all the way to the front of the park before I realized what I did. I was heartbroken when I got back and it was no longer there, but I asked a CM if one had been turned in, and it had! I'll never get over how lucky I was- I just wish that everyone at WDW was that nice!

 

[Trini]

another sad story...

Ok, this is nothing in comparison to losing a camera with precious pictures on it. But someone took my son's personalized Mickey ears off our table at Chef Mickeys while we were up getting food! We were gone maybe 3 minutes & poof. The people at the table next to us saw a man come by and grab it but they didnt think much about it because they just thought he was part of our group. So, like everyone has said, there are dishonest people everywhere and just because you are in DISNEY, you are not safe.

 

[Wendy1953]

We went to WDW on 10/10 and 10/17 for MNSSHP. Our first day at the MK was Tues the 10th. My dh and I and our 3 year old twins arrived to enjoy the party (first time with them). Our first ride was the carousel (my daughters favorite). Then after we got off we went straight to IASW (Mommy's favorite). While we were on that ride, I said to my husband, " I probably should not leave our camera on our stroller like I did." Well, needless to say, we got off the ride, went to our stroller and our digitial camera was gone. I feel so bad because it had pictures on it from my childrens first day at preschool. We went to city hall at the end of the night to see if anyone turned it in, with no luck. We were really upset, and I know it was my fault, but being in Disney, it just feels so innocent, I didn't even think about anyone taking it. It kind of put a damper on the rest of the night but we went back the following week for MNSSHP (10/17) and had a great time. A CM told me that she thought that was the slowest party since it started. We had ALOT of fun. Just be careful with your belongings whereever you go, don't learn the hard way like us. We're hoping to go back in December, 2007. Thanks for all the info I learned before going, Linda

I'd give another call into Lost and found...sometimes people don't turn things in right away....and sometimes it shows up somewhere else on property....so give Disney a call and see if someone turned it in! DD works for Disney, and she says its amazing there are so many unclaimed items that get turned into L&F. Close your eyes, make a wish, and call again......lots of times wishes and dreamscome true......sending pixie dust your way! Hope they find it!

 

[Jrabbit910]

after reading all of these stories I feel so bad for anyone that has ever gotten something stolen from them. It just shows you that you cant trust anyone.... its so sad.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I'm sorry Shame on who ever stole it There's no magic in that

 

[Sammy]

Oh, I'm so sorry! There's nothing worse than losing your photos and vacation memories. I would also suggest checking with Lost and Found again....we've lost things at WDW over the years, and pretty much have gotten most of it back through L&F. I try to always turn in stuff I find as well.

A side-story for you:
I have a neighbor who came back from Disney bragging about the new Disney watch her DH "found" on a park bench in MK and a small camera her DD found in MGM. I was shocked and when I stammered, "You mean you didn't turn them in to a CM..?" She just shrugged and said (classic), "Oh well, finders keepers!" I was too stunned to speak! Nice thing to teach your kids!

 

[maelstrom]

I have a neighbor who came back from Disney bragging about the new Disney watch her DH "found" on a park bench in MK and a small camera her DD found in MGM. I was shocked and when I stammered, "You mean you didn't turn them in to a CM..?" She just shrugged and said (classic), "Oh well, finders keepers!" I was too stunned to speak! Nice thing to teach your kids!

How awful! I would definately turn in anything I found to a CM.

Ok, this is nothing in comparison to losing a camera with precious pictures on it. But someone took my son's personalized Mickey ears off our table at Chef Mickeys while we were up getting food! We were gone maybe 3 minutes & poof. The people at the table next to us saw a man come by and grab it but they didnt think much about it because they just thought he was part of our group. So, like everyone has said, there are dishonest people everywhere and just because you are in DISNEY, you are not safe.

I always notice everyone around me at restaurants because I'm nosy like that. I probably would have said something to the guy and if I got the brush off, take a picture of the culprit and tell a CM.

 

[Boardwalker]

I am sorry that you had that happen to you. But I know the feeling.
About 16 years ago we stayed at the Poly, and someone broke into our room and stole cash from my purse that I had stuffed in a drawer. They left our video camera, and my credit cards, but took our cash. We were lucky not to lose anything as precious as pictures. I see that now, but then I felt so stupid and violated.
This was before most of the resorts had safes and we were just going swimming and I didn't want to go to the front desk and get a box just for an hour.
Now I can look back on it and say that more important than the cash, I lost my niavety that day.
Now, I have forgiven myself and whoever took the cash, and I can enjoy myself there and not even remember. But I must say it took me a while.
I hope it is easier for you. It is so easy to forget you are in the real world, but you are.
And I also remember learning a lesson about law enforcement. I called the front desk to report the theft. Now, I would also be sure to file a report with the local police department. That never happened, as I just assumed that it was all connected, but it wasn't. It seems to me that accurate crime reporting can only help future guests.