? Just how secure are the in-room safes?

[Cindabella's Mom]

I'm in a quandry. We're not charging anything on this trip. I don't want to take our cash with us each day, but not sure if I trust the in-room safes. Any opinions??

 

[TZMOM]

I left all my cash, credit cards, etc. last year & all was fine.

 

[ducklite]

Why not make a large payment on your credit card and then act as if it were a debit card where you can only spend what you have to spend. Or you could get travelers cheques--if you're a AAA member they're free. Very safe and convenient. You could also use your Visa check card and pay your bill at the front desk every day, and charge to your room.

As far as your original question, yes I think the safes are quite safe--I've left jewelry, checkbook, credit cards, all sorts of things in my safe and never had a problem.

I'm more worried about you losing you cash or getting robbed before you even get to WDW!

Anne

 

[antmaril]

I have used the in-room safes many times - cash, credit cards, etc. I feel comfortable using them.

m.

 

[Cindabella's Mom]

I am planning on getting traveler's cheques from our credit union, not all "cash".

Do you know if you can use the traveler's cheques/money as payment for charging on your room key or do you have use a credit card to secure charging privileges? Like, could I pay a certain amount at check-in and then have charging privileges? does that make sense??

 

[BlueFairy]

It's Disney. If it's money, they'll take it. I have made payements toward the room both at checkin and checkout with traveler's checks. I have also given them traveler's checks to cover charges to the room. There will be no problem.
Also, the safe is very safe, just remember to take the key with you and don't lose it. However, the safe is small. No room for a laptop or a camera bag. Think of it as a small purse-size.

 

[ducklite]

Tonya- Yes, you certainly can!

And I'm glad to see you are taking travelers cheques--I've heard of a few vacations ruined by people taking only cash and then losing it all...

Anne

 

[dBugged]

I've left cash and credit cards in the safe for the past few years and have never had a problem. I usually only use cash for water and soda in the park and use the room key to pay for meals. I wouldn't worry -- unless you accidently leave the key for the safe in the room...

 

[kimmar067]

I've left LOTS of stuff in the safe (at all the locations below!) and have NEVER had a problem!!

 

[phyllis1966]

kimmar -

This is off-topic, but I just had to say that your photo of Hugh Jackman is STUNNING...I must confess I have a tiny little crush on him, and DH knows it!

 

[pmurphy713]

We have used the in rooms safes at several resorts and have never had a problem. They are small, so probably only money and jewelry will fit.

Have a great trip!

 

[marty]

Couldn't resist telling this story! Several years ago we had a "Family Thanksgiving" 14 of us at WDW. As DVC members, we stayed Saturday night in several 2-bdrm suites at Summerfield Suites. Sunday we moved over to our units at OKW. As soon as we checked in, everyone (except I) headed over to the MK. I went to the store to stock up on groceries. When I pulled in to the parking space in front of our unit, my husband yelled down to me not to get out of the car. He came rushing over, jumped in the car and said," Hurry up and drive to the Summerfield Suites!" Seems he had left all of his cash (over $2500) in the safe there. He was on the Teacup ride with our DGD when he realized it. He panicked and as much as one can rush in the MK, rushed back to OKW. Anyway, when we got to Summerfield, they pulled out these 2 drawers and there was ALL of his money. We gave the girl at the desk $50 to give to housekeeping. Unfortunately, he didn't learn his lesson. The next time down, we stayed the first night at the Hyatt Orlando. He just HAD to use the safe again. This time he did something when he entered the combination and couldn't get the safe open. It would give you 3 tries and then shut down for 30 mins. After sitting in the room for over an hour while he kept trying to figure out what was wrong with the safe (of course, it had to be the safe. It couldn't be his fault), we had to call security and they had some kind of tool they used to open it. He has not used a safe since!

 

[ducklite]

LOL Marty!!!

I think you need a trade-in for safe-friendly model!

I liked the safes we had on DCL, you needed anything with a magnetic stripe to open it...the same room key/credit card that you cosed it with had to be used to open it. We used neither of the above, but another item with a magnetic stripe and hid it in plain site in our room so either of us could access it anytime we needed to.

Anne

 

[floridafam]

Marty,

That is too funny.

Last time we stayed at Vero Beach we checked out and were driving home. I started to put lotion on my hands and thought something just didn't seem right. I left my diamond in the safe.

We had to turn around and go back to get it. I stopped at the front desk and told them. They said your room key should still work. It did. My ring was in the safe-the key to the safe was in the lock where I had put it.

I was so happy. Kind of surprised my room key still worked, but happy.

 

[ducklite]

I often end up putting my rings in teh safe on vacation--my fingers tend to sweel in the heat...here's a tip--use a small jewelry bag and keep ALL your jewelry together in it. Get one in a bright color so it's impossible to miss when cleaning out the safe.

Also DH and I have a good system. I do all the packeing, he does the "idiot check". He's responsible for double checking every drawer, behind every door, under the beds, and in the safe to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Anne

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I have always used the inroom safes and have never had a problem.. we leave cash, credit cards, etc and jewelry in them...... I do leave my DH in charge of the key, which works for us.. I am terrible about misplacing things.. LOL I do the "idiot check" is that what the previous poster called it... but then he does it too after me... so far it works we have never left anything..

 

[dizkidz2]

They are also just big enough for a cell phone. When we travel we have our cell phones with us, but when we get to the world we usually put them in the safe. If anyone needs to get us they can leave a message at our rooms. I take a vacation to get away from the everyday distractions not to bring them with me.