Resolution if you have had something stolen from your room?

[44disney]

On Sept. 26 we had our laptop computer stolen from our room at All Star Movies. We spoke to security for a while and they filed a report with the claims department. We also spoke to the hotel manager who assured us that the claims department would handle it, probably within 10 days.

So... it's now a month later. We have received one letter saying that they are aware of our claim. We have tried to call but they never seem to have our file available, and now are saying that they tried to talk with us while we were there but that they couldn't reach us (even though they had 2 cell #s for us and knew where our room was but never left any messages). ARGHH!!

Has anyone else had something similar happen? And what was the resolution?

I have to say that this is beginning to cloud my impression of Disney and I am a true Disney fan. We go every year, always staying on-site for about a week, and have even booked next year with the bounce back promotion. If this doesn't get resolved, I'm not sure if we'll be back for a while.

I'd at least like to know that they truly were investigating the claim rather than taking advantage of the fact that we are back in Tennessee and can't show up at their office.

I actually waited a month to post this info on the theft because I was optomistic of a quick resolution but now I'm just frustrated.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I hope you get your problem straightened out soon. You must be so frustrated!

Good luck to you. Keep calling them until they help you.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

The sad thing is this is one area where Disney will not admit or take blame for being at Fault. They give you plenty of warning to lock up your valuables. (this is every other Hotel/Motel as well).

Did you file a police report they are the only ones that can forch Disneys hand and seek records of who and when someone went into the room.

We had to do this in NewOrleans several years ago .

Then it's possible to show reasonable neglect and get a small claims filed.For ours it was recorded that the maid went in and out 3 times but another card was used 2 times all during the same period and it was her friend that was going in and removing the stuff.

I would push it up the chain of command if the claims person is not giving you a reasonable answer.

 

[safetymom]

Did you do anything to prevent the theft? I am sorry you lost your laptop but lots of folks here seem to think that crime doesn't happen at WDW.

 

[disnut8]

Disney, like all other hotels and motels and resorts, have the disclaimer that they are not responsible for any items left in the rooms. That if the room safe isn't big enough or you don't trust it, that you should leave things at the front desk in their safe.

However, I can't imagine that someone would want to store their laptop in the safe at the front desk and go down there every time they want to use it.

Sorry this happened. We're kind of lax ourselves with our laptop. It's pretty obvious that we have one. And it's too big for the in room safe.

I have found (from another big problem and not at Disney) that sending emails and trying to call isn't the most effective method. Faxing works very well. Then following up with an email saying that this is a copy of a fax you sent. Keep all the confirms that the faxes went through. When I couldn't even speak to a human being about my problem, I did this and my problem was resolved in four days.

 

[safetymom]

Most electronic stores sell a cable lock for laptops. It costs about $20. It is very easy to secure your laptop. Makes it much harder to take the laptop.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

One of the reasons hotels generally don't take responsibility for items left in rooms is because there is no proof that the item really was ever there to begin with. Think about it - what's to keep me from claiming that I had a laptop, valuable jewlrey, cash, whatever stolen from a hotel room? If hotels reimbursed guests for items they claim were stolen they would quickly become easy targets of unscrupulous people.

 

[Got Quattro?]

I cable lock my laptop to the TV stand. Lord knows you can't steal a TV from a hotel room.

Seriously, if you dont have a cable, simply putting your laptop in a drawer under some socks or undies will do the trick.

This is another reason why, we clean our room before we go out for the day. That way we know what is there and where it is. makes it easy to see if somethign has been taken.

In 26 stays at WDW....well over 150 nights.... we have not had a single item come up missing.

 

[Mrsjvb]

at this point your only recourse is to go through you homeowner/renter's insurance. Like was stated before, liability is not assumed in these cases.

 

[MAKmom]

I'm sorry your laptop was stolen. Did you hid it or was it in plain site? We are bringing Christmas presents this year & I was wonder if it is wise.

 

[Mayl]

you need to go thru your home/rental insurance.

The hotel is not liable for your lost and it is stated all over (even the back of the door). Called Inn Keepers Law and is required by law to be posted.

That said, some hotels will refund if they feel it is not worth the PR or such, but large chains will NEVER do it if they can as it establishes a track record

It was not the hotels fault your laptop got stolen. Not to be mean, but you had to know better then that.

File the claim with your insurance and move on.

 

[dburg30]

I'm sure that in almost all cases, things are safe, but if you dont want to be 'the one' then dont leave anything of value in your room. I'm sure the OP has stayed in other hotels in other places and never had an issue. But as other posters have said. WDW isnt shielded totally from scumballs. I really want to take my laptop, but this will be the first time ever that I dont have a car to store stuff in (yes I know the car isnt 100% safe either).

 

[bavaria]

I really want to take my laptop, but this will be the first time ever that I dont have a car to store stuff in (yes I know the car isnt 100% safe either).

oh, please please don't leave valuables in your car! Someone posted here last week that they left $5,000 in valuables and their wallet in the car; the car was broken into and guess what disappeared.

WDW parking passes also state very clearly to remove all valuables and that they are not responsible for theft.

As Safetymom pointed out, best option if you can't put something in the safe is to use a cable lock. Or at least put it in your suitcase and lock the suitcase. New hotels often have in room safes large enough for at least one laptop.

OP, hope that you get it resolved - most likely homeowners insurance is your best option.

 

[TMB1203]

I am one of those lax people that doesn't protect myself as much as I should. I think its pathetic that nothing is safe anymore!

I have to bring my laptop with me this trip. I am pursuing my MBA and don't want to take a term off, so I HAVE to do homework while I am there.

We are DVC so we don't get daily mousekeeping, which I guess could be a benefit. Mousekeeping SHOULD only come in once for our week stay. I guess I'll have to put my laptop in my suitcase and lock the suitcase.

OP sorry this happened to you. Keep us updated!

 

[CarolA]

Most electronic stores sell a cable lock for laptops. It costs about $20. It is very easy to secure your laptop. Makes it much harder to take the laptop.

OK FOLKS!

Safetymom and I have pointed the above out SEVERAL times. People have told us we were "alarmist" and that you can just leave your laptop out with no problem.

As the OP's post shows that is NOT true. I am sorry that the OP has to learn this costly lesson, but let's try to make it the LAST lesson. If your laptop, digital camera, cash etc is laying around and it "disappears" you are probably not getting much of anything from Disney or ANY hotel. As several posters pointed out the hotel has NO PROOF that you actually lost it. That $ 20 cable lock is NOT a bad investment (as I was told once)

Get the cable lock, and lock it up. I leave mine in hotel rooms all over the country locked up to some immoveable object. It has never "disappeared" There is a realionship here. (Especially if you could see some of the hotlels LOL!) Even in my DVC unit it's locked up. I don't consider "hiding" it in the suitcase to be that secure. (I have had stuff stolen from my suitcase at hotels, not DIsney but... Why someone wanted my dirty shirts is a whole different post!)

Also, PLEASE do not store your laptop in a car in Florida. Two issues. Thiefs target those rental cars, they know that's where the stuff is and it's hotter then Hades in there. Laptops don't like it over 100 degrees.......

 

[dburg30]

Ah so while the old saying 'if they want it bad enough, they will get it' holds true, if youhave the cable lock on your laptop, it will a) make it harder for them to take it, and b) show proof that there was once a laptop attached to the end of the cable where a broken piece of plastic is now?

 

[CarolA]

Ah so while the old saying 'if they want it bad enough, they will get it' holds true, if youhave the cable lock on your laptop, it will a) make it harder for them to take it, and b) show proof that there was once a laptop attached to the end of the cable where a broken piece of plastic is now?

I attach mine to an immoveable object. According to our IT guys we have had maybe one or two laptops stolen while attached with cable locks. (you REALLY have to destroy the case. Recently one of my coworkers lost her key and wound up having to remove the hard drive and bring it home as the rest of the laptop could not be saved after the "removal" So DO NOT lose the key LOL! That's why I like the combo locks!)

My last company had a policy that if you "lost" your laptop from either a hotel room or car you were liable. Exceptions were made if the laptop was locked up, but you had to have proof. (i.e., destroyed furniture, remains of laptop case) and no exceptions for laptops taken from SUVs. (That happens ALL the time, someone sees them there and bang the window is broken and the computer is gone. One reason I won't take an SUV as a rental anymore.)

However, your avg hotel thief wants the quick grab. (Contrary to myth most of them probably aren't the housekeepers. They don't want to lose thier jobs. There are "devices" out there that "unlock" those electonic key locks pretty easy!)

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Make sure your door latches all the way too! There may very well be "seasoned" thieves @ WDW who would appear to just be walking down the halls when they are actually using a hand, elbow, etc to put enough pressure on the doors to see if they open due to improper latching. Think about how quickly they could dodge in and out under the right circumstances!

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

That is too bad I do hope you get it straightened out.
I personally would never take anything like that to WDW or any hotel, unless I planned on carrying it with me everywhere I went. I just couldn't do it. Only because people can't be trusted...even people at WDW. I really do hope it works out for you. Thankfully we've never had anything like that happen at WDW. I too would contact homeowners ins. Good Luck

 

[CarolA]

Make sure your door latches all the way too! There may very well be "seasoned" thieves @ WDW who would appear to just be walking down the halls when they are actually using a hand, elbow, etc to put enough pressure on the doors to see if they open due to improper latching. Think about how quickly they could dodge in and out under the right circumstances!

And things happen.

I came back to my room at the Marriott in Chicago a few weeks ago to discover maintenace had left the door open by jusing the "privacy" latch proabably for several hours. I did NOT go in the room, but went to the front desk and got security to escort me into the room to make sure that nothing had been bother or no one was waiting.

This was a nice hotel, but people make errors -they are only human. (I did get a very nice apology from the manager and the poor maintenance guy)