Just back - you won't believe what happened to us!

[halfway there]

OK maybe you will since it is the most magical place on earth, right?

Anyway, I was really excited while preparing for this weekend's annual trip to the F&WF esp with the added bonus of the YOAMD promotion going on. I felt sure my ultimate dream might come true of winning a DVC membership! Hey, at least there was a chance! Unfortunately no dreams came our way or even near us for that matter. We did see a few people with the dream fastpasses in AK and a couple of the silver cloud ears in Epcot but nothing special going on around us at anytime. No problem, we were happy just to be at Disney and enjoying the F&WF, that's what we came for right?

Well, DH splurged for AP's this time and a new digital camera (as our anniversary is coming up) so we expected good things to come for this trip. First, many more trips to follow during the YOAMD, hence the AP's and also the ability to 'save' our pics on the computer and possibly learning how to post them for all you dear DISers whose pics I have enjoyed over the years. I am very new to this digital age and DH was just learning how to use our brand new camera when it was lost!! Imagine our disappointment not only at the monetary value but also the pics that we had taken, all lost forever! I couldn't believe this was happening! We thought we may have left it on a bench that we had been sitting on for quite awhile between Norway and China while feasting on some pot stickers from the China booth but unfortunately we didn't realize the camera was gone until we got to America!

We quickly dashed back to Norway (the last place we knew we had it as DH had taken a pic of the kids in front of the troll) but no one, no where had seen it or turned it in. We checked Norway and China thoroughly then headed to Guest Relations. Two days of frantically searching, calling, checking and going to Lost & Found Central (at the Kennel near the TTC, who knew?) but alas, nothing. Today we checked out and made one last attempt at all the previous places once again with a final stop at the L&F on our way out of town and do you know what????? THEY FOUND IT!!!!!

Apparently, a cast member from Norway (we think) turned it in because there is a picture of him (tall, redheaded man in costume with nametag) on our camera! We laughed so hard we cried! Tears actually sprung to my eyes when Joe from L&F came out and said "I think we may have it". I just kept saying NO, NO that can't be it (not that I could identify it myself as I'd only seen it a couple of times over the course of the half a day that we had it). DH checked the pics and sure enough there were my beloved children in front of the troll, just before the pic of the CM! We will have to figure out how to get the pics printed or on the computer in order to see who exactly we have to thank and then maybe I can learn to post the pics we now have (back) of the new Nemo ride!

So, no 'dreams' come true for us exactly but by the next day I had changed my wish for a DVC membership into a plea for the return of our camera so I guess in a way my new 'dream' was granted! We had really begun to lose hope, never thinking it would be possible for it to be returned but the magic is still alive and kicking at WDW!! This was truly our most Magical Moment at Disney. No certificate needed.

 

[CPM]

That is so awesome!!
Can you see his name tag on the photo?
I'll be there on Wed, maybe I can thank him for you or of you can show me the photo, I can get his name for you and you can write him or something.
I love hearing stuff like this

 

[halfway there]

Definitely thank everyone in Norway for us!! LOL

DH needs to figure out how to use this new camera and get the pics on the computer so we can enlarge it enough to read his name tag or maybe when we print them out we will be able to see it better, probably not before Wed tho' so just thank them ALL for us but esp any tall redheaded men you see! We spoke with a bunch of different women in Norway but never saw any men during our 'search'. DS thought his name may have been long. We could only zoom in on the little viewfinder thingy but it was blurry. Told ya I was digitally challenged! LOL

I would love to know where he found/we left it!

 

[CPM]

well, a tall redhead shouldn't be too hard to find. I'll do my best.
It's really not hard to get your pictures off your camera.
If it came with a data cord you just plug that cord into your camera and your PC. Then the PC will prompt you what to do.
You can also bring the camera memory card into a place that does photos, I use Cotsco. They can make you a CD and pictures from the chip.
I'll be there until the 24th, so if you come up with a picture PM me!!

 

[i<3Disney]

that's awesome to hear they found your camera!

I have a lanyard that I bought on the walt disney world college program that meant a lot to me. I carried my pass, id, and money in it sometimes so I wouldnt have to carry a bag and one day it fell off me

I call everywhere looking for it and they found it at the MK lost and found..and it had already shipped and was already on its way to my house (the address on my drivers license) woo!

 

[Vickie46]

wow.. how nice!

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

What a happy ending! I am so happy you didn't lose all those pictures!!!

 

[GalDisney]

That's great it was turned in.
I was walking on Main St. yesterday when I saw an autograph book laying on the ground. I picked it up and looked inside and there was a child's name and adress. I turned it in to a CM . I know if the child does not go to L and f to claim it, Disney will mail it to her home, but i hope she does claim it before she goes home.
Heck, at work last week i found a womans wallet containing over 200.00 dollars. I turned that in, too. This must be my lucky month of finding things lol

 

[julsmom]

What a nice story!

 

[phisigprincess]

That's great! I'm so glad they found it for you!

 

[disney1742]

great end.

 

[MelanieC]

I'm so glad you found it. What a happy ending.

 

[Jozymouse]

Glad you found it afterall! While we were waiting for the MK parade in Liberty Square, their was an employee using a lost digital camera and taking pictures with everyone. He took a picture of us wearing our princess' crowns. He was saying that if those people ever claimed their lost camera, it would make them smile to see a bunch of crazy, funny pictures!!!! Hopefully, these persons found their camera after all and had fun looking at those funny pix with people they dont know!!!

 

[bashful4u]

What a magical ending to your story!!!

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

I am so glad that your camera was found. I love reading posts like this. They make me smile!!

 

[halfway there]

Yes, we were quite relieved to get the camera back esp with all of our 'memories' on there. I didn't really like the idea of someone that we didn't know walking around with pics of our family!
It's funny but my daughter(15) was the first to mention that maybe whoever finds it will take a pic of themselves. I thought "really, do you think so?" And she said, "yeah that's what I'd do!" LOL

After it was missing for so long we began to think that someone was off using it somewhere so we kept scanning the crowds. I thought "wouldn't it be great if someone took a bunch of pics for us, like of the fireworks and stuff since we didn't get to" and also because DH was itching to try the new fireworks feature that he had read about in the manual! We missed out on a lot of pics this trip but it was more than made up for by just getting the camera back with a large memory card and case intact.

One thing DH said he learned from this is that from now on he will turn in whatever he sees anywhere. Previous to this his policy was always to leave it where it was in case the owner came back for it but he realizes now that perhaps not everyone would be as honest as we would and we really suspected that someone had taken it after so much time had passed. Right after we realized it was lost someone in the American Adventure had left a camera at their seat in the previous show as well so we didn't feel so alone. I guess it happens a lot. They said about 50% get returned.

Glad to hear about other honest people and their experiences of either losing or finding! Keep up the good work!!

 

[blessedby3]

What a great story. Im glad you got your camera back. Makes me think that since DD16 is getting her own digital camera before we go on our Dec. trip that the first picture she takes will be a picture of a piece of paper with my DH's name and our address and phone/cell numbers along with our resort, in case it gets lost. I am nervous about her carrying it anyway- 16yr olds tend to lose things easily.
Glad things turned out so nicely for you.

 

[suerob]

I am so happy for you! I lost my purse at the Orlando airport once on our way to Disney. We had just gotten off the plane and I believe I gave the purse to my daughter to hold so I could help one of my other children get a drink from the water fountain. After we had gotten our luggage from baggage claim, I realized the purse was missing. Of course we panicked, it had all of our cell phones, credit cards, and cash. Our limo driver was so helpful in getting us back into the terminal to look for the purse but it was nowhere to be found. We went to lost and found - nothing. Just as we were about to give up, a phone call came in to lost and found as we started to walk away. A cleaning lady had found it near the water fountain! We got the purse back and nothing was missing! So to those honest people who don't take what doesn't belong to them (which I believe is most people) and to those who turn stuff in - THANK YOU!!

Grand Floridian - Here we come!!

 

[halfway there]

OK so finally here's our hero!! Sorry about picture quality, size and whatever but we are really new to this whole digital stuff. It took us a long time and a lot of effort just to get this posted. Also, the CM who took this pic of himself with our camera may not have known how to use it either 'cause it was kinda blurry to begin with!

Now I need your help identifying him. We thought he might be from Norway but now we're not sure. We tried to zoom in on his name tag but the most we could get is the latter half which read "pette" with 3 more letters at the beginning. DH and DD thought it might have been Gepetto, not really a Norwegian name though, eh?

Any ideas?

 

[Renysmom]

Is this him??

http://www.renysplace.com/photoalbum/wdw/epcot/slides/John and friends.html

If it is I think I can read his name on my fullsize version of this picture, not sure as it is at home and I am at work but I will be happy to check for you.