OKW Trip Report... with robbers...

[Tony-NJ]

When did OKW studios get safes?

I'm so sorry this happened! But when we stayed at OKW in a studio a few years ago - it had a safe..??

You don't want to imagine this hapenning at WDW!!!!

 

[AFMom]

We weren't using our safe - the key was still in it - so don't know if they saw the key and knew it was empty! I hid things elsewhere, and they didn't find them!

 

[rocketriter]

Years ago we were staying on the first floor of a Holiday Inn in Pennsylvania when a thief broke in through the next room's patio door and started going through the drawers while the occupants were sleeping. We were awakened by a huge commotion as the family woke up and started screaming. The thief ran away with a purse and a wallet from their room.

All that the occupants of that room ever got was a chance to stay up all night being interviewed by the police. They left the next morning, furious when the motel management insisted on charging them for the night.

Things are better at DVC!

 

[DBBN]

I'm sorry this happened to you at our home resort. I have no knowledge of anything like this ever happening at OKW. I am very pleased to hear management, security and the sheriff's department responded to your satisfaction.

I am grateful that the crooks took the time to lock the deadbolt effectively ensuring you wouldn't walk in on them/him. Property crime when the occupants aren't anywhere near the villa is one thing...walking in on them is something else altogether and VERY scary.

Thanks for writing about your experience.

 

[TDC Nala]

OKW studios do have safes now.

And they'd be pretty easy to pry open with tools.

 

[Debbie H]

OKW do have safes, they are in the closet.

 

[RoutemanDan]

I stand corrected.They didn't have them in 2001 when I last stayed in an OKW studio.

 

[debbiedoo]

I am soooo sorry that this has happened to you. This is not the first incident that I have heard of from OKW from these boards. I will be there on thursday and after everthing that I have heard since jan OKW had the most complaints on the safe issue. A few people had things stolen from them and thought they they may have been people that worked there. I normally take disney dollars on ever trip but not his one. I am only taking one card to charge on my room and it will not be in my room!! I will give a report when I return!! Wish me luck!!

 

[crzy4dals]

Kristy -

I can not even imagine... I am glad to hear that management and security were so helpful in your situation.

How great of Pluto and Goofy to put stuff in your room for the boys!!!

Glad your overall trip was a great one.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

OMG... this is really horrible. I can't imagine how upset your boys were. I'm am SO glad they felt better by the next day. You and your husband must really have a positive attitude that you passed on to them.

 

[OneMoreTry]

thanks for sharing this. A lesson for all of us. Who would have thought -- Old Key West??

 

[wilderness01]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It sounds like you had a nice trip despite what happened. Thanks for letting us all know to be more careful.

 

[CarolAnnC]

This is a horrible thing to have happen on vacation!

Tell me, don't the safes at OKW use room keys for access? I don't recall them using a key, and I know the other DVC resorts use the room keys for access too.

 

[Desperado]

Glad you and your family are OK.

 

[jmatias]

Thank you for sharing the details of your terrible event....always good to remind ourselves to stay aware.

I'm really happy that Disney did such a nice job of trying to comfort your children with the character meals, etc.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Memo to me: Next time, put dirty underwear in the safe and valuables in the soiled laundry bag.

Seriously -- Sorry you had to experience anything at WDW that was less then magical.

 

[Beth]

CarolAnnC,

The safes use a traditional key to lock/unlock the door. My DH always takes the key and puts it on his keyring while we're there.

There's a notice posted that says you'll be charged (I think) $35 for a lost key.

I don't understand why the theives didn't take the laptop and the purse - especially if the CCards were in the laptop case.

I guess there's no rhyme or reason.

To the OP - glad your trip wasn't spoiled - thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[CarolA]

One thing to do at Disney is not to flash cash or other valuables.

It may be that the studio occupants had somehow let people know that there was something of value in thier studio which made them prime canidates. (And just to give you something to think about the thief could be someone staying at OKW. No one required a background check on us.) I find the fact that they left the laptop interesting. I would think that it would go since it is son easy to carry.

I probably won't do anything different on my next visit. I figure the safe would slow down the casual robber so I do use it. I have never been one to bring much cash. (I do wonder when I read about people carrying LOTS of cash. I read an article once where a woman taking her family was robbed of all her cash at the airport in Paris as she landed. They wound up having to fly back home without even going into the city since they had no cash and could not afford to stay!)

 

[dianeschlicht]

THanks for the report. Glad to hear they did the best they could for you in this horrible situation. We usually leave the laptop out too. I never use the safe though. They just don't look all that safe! I usually don't have much of value in the room except the laptop.

I have to agree that area would be an easy place for outsiders to take advantage of the location being not visible from the rest of the resort. I always worry a bit any time I am on a 1st floor at any resort.

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Glad you are all safe, hope they catch the thief or thieves and most glad your trip was good in spite of this experience....

Lisa