Robbed at Magic Kingdom

[SyracuseWolvrine]

After being robbed, and not being allowed to use the gift-shop phone,

Perhaps the phone in the gift shop can't make calls to an outside number, so being able to use one would have been mostly worthless anyways.

 

[seashoreCM]

Hopefully you remembered to use 1-800-555-1212 at the pay phone first to call Information to obtain toll free numbers to call credit card companies, banks, etc.

I always figured people pay so much money already to have a fabulous WDW vacation, WHY O WHY do they then need to steal once they get to the Parks. sad2:

Riff raff whose purpose of being in the park is to rob people as opposed to enjoy the attractions. Invest in a two or three day basic Magic Your Way pass and come away with thousands of dollars.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[peemagg]

Some churches, by trying to be nice and help reform troubled teens, they bring them to Disney once a year for a trip. The churches are doing this out of the good of their heart, but sometimes you can't change the leopards spots. They also don't have full supervision when they come, from what I understand. The kids tend to get turned loose on their own and just check in from time to time.

 

[kandb]

Our family was there in Oct for MNSSHP and our digital camera was stolen out of our stroller. We were on our 1st ride (it's a small world) and when we were on the ride I said to my husband "I probably shouldn't have left the camera in the stroller". Sure enough, we came out and the camera was gone. We were really upset as the camera had other pictures on it of my children's first day of school and other invaluable pictures. You live and learn but I do think Disney should increase their security. Linda

 

[The Sweetness]

Perhaps the phone in the gift shop can't make calls to an outside number, so being able to use one would have been mostly worthless anyways.

If that were the case, the CMs could have at least handed over one of their own (its so common now to carry a cell phone, esp if your work phone can't dial out). Just to try to do SOMETHING to help in this extremely stressfull situation. I certainly would have

 

[Allison]

Some churches, by trying to be nice and help reform troubled teens, they bring them to Disney once a year for a trip. The churches are doing this out of the good of their heart, but sometimes you can't change the leopards spots. They also don't have full supervision when they come, from what I understand. The kids tend to get turned loose on their own and just check in from time to time.

I think you are jumping to conclusions here.

Sadly, anyone could have done this.

 

[ploto]

These things are small enough to carry in your pockets. Security only checks bags.

Why does WDW not have metal detecctors?

 

[CPer'sMom]

Our family was there in Oct for MNSSHP and our digital camera was stolen out of our stroller. We were on our 1st ride (it's a small world) and when we were on the ride I said to my husband "I probably shouldn't have left the camera in the stroller". Sure enough, we came out and the camera was gone. We were really upset as the camera had other pictures on it of my children's first day of school and other invaluable pictures. You live and learn but I do think Disney should increase their security. Linda

Honestly, I don't think Disney having more security would help in an incident such as you stated. You see a person reach into & remove a camera from a stroller ~ that certainly is a common enough situation in the parks (of course, usually it's the person who actually owns the camera). How is security to distinguish between the rightful owner and someone else?

You wouldn't leave a camera in your stroller at the mall and then walk away for 10 minutes would you? Same thing at Disney ~ keep anything of value with you at all times. I know that's hard to remember sometimes at Disney and it's easy to be *too* trusting. I'm sorry that you had to be reminded of that in such a way and I'm sad for you that your camera was taken.

Disney was not much help at all.

A supervisor called security for you so you could file a report. Within a very short time another CM found your backpack and returned it to you. Sounds as if Disney did indeed offer you help.
Yes, they did refuse your request to use the phone in the store but they did direct you to a phone very close by & obviously kept track of you since that's where you were approached by the 2 CMs. They weren't ignoring the situation.
Other than to let you use the phone in the store, what else would you have expected Disney to do for you ?

 

[scrump]

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

 

[Joanna71985]

If that were the case, the CMs could have at least handed over one of their own (its so common now to carry a cell phone, esp if your work phone can't dial out). Just to try to do SOMETHING to help in this extremely stressfull situation. I certainly would have

The phones inside merchandise locations can not connect to other phones. And CMs are not allowed to have cell phones with them on stage. You can get into big trouble.

 

[Lindy Loo]

I just wanted to post to say, how sorry I was to hear what happened to you. A big to you all. I suppose it could have been alot worse, but this doesnt help much to your feelings, at time.

Our friends daughters had a witches hat worth a few $s taken off the back of a buggy ( it was tied on ) during MNSSHP! It was from the Uk, so the design was quite different. It matched her cress so our friends looked all night, and each day at lost property, but no luck.

I beleive in what goes around comes around, so whoever robbed you, I hope they get some of their own medicine one day. !

 

[blessedby3]

So sorry this happened to your family. What is wrong with people ? This is a big wake up call for everyone. We will be very careful with our stuff when we head to Disney today.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Actually, I am surprised more stealing is not around. I am always amazed by what guests leave in strollers, at benches/seats, tables, on the ground while they ride rides, stand in line, have photo shoots with characters, etc. And more often than not they are no where in view or access to their items. But considering many don't keep their kids in sight, I guess not having puchases or a camera in sight is no surprise.
I would never think about going to a mall and leaving expensive and/or personal items in a hall and expect them to remain untouched if I was away from them.
An example was earlier this year we were in Fountainview Bakery (Epcot) having breakfast. A mother father and kids left everything they had (full backpack, bags, etc) at a table while they were with characters in another part of the building. And they were gone quite awhile. No one touched their items while we were there. But certainly there was plenty of opportunity for anyone. The father asked the CMs behind the counter to watch their stuff. They have customers, with many coming and going. I doubt their attention is focused on watching one guest's items that was enough stuff for a pack mule, and for several minutes. This guest had so much, I don't know how they kept track of it.
Now the thieves who are brazen are those who take items right underneath guest's nose while theor head is turned and focused elsewhere. And even that happens.
Disney is like a city. And everyone (Cast and Guests) should use common sense and pay attention to their surroundings.

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

I am very glad to hear you retrieved most everything. But at any place, it is always good to have items of value on your person. Theives have been known to steal items right beside people at grocery stores.
QUOTE]


I had my purse stolen right off my arm in a grocery store when my son was an infant. They waited until I was distracted by the baby crying and cut the strap and walked away. I didn't notice for a moment or two. The good news was it was caught by the security cameras and they got nothing. But it happens EVERYWHERE! I'm glad yougot your stuff back.

 

[northie]

Recently at AK a friend said his new hat was stolen while he was snapping a photo -- and his hat was right beside him.

It makes me sad to hear of things like this in my favorite place, but I know from personal experience it happens. I laid my coat (which was a plain ole navy blue heavyweight hooded sweatshirt, not a Disney one or anything) down the first week in Dec at Epcot while I rented an ECV and someone walked off with it. Never turned into lost and found so it was obviously stolen. Not sure why anyone would want it but it was blasted cold later in the day, and I had to buy a sweatshirt I hadn't planned on, which wasn't nearly as warm as the heavy duty one I had brought with me.

Even if the item isn't particularly valuable you feel violated that someone would take your stuff, and whoever took the OP's child's backpack, double shame on them! It's bad enough stealing from adults, but from children! How sad!

sara

 

[lenshanem]

I'm very sorry!

I would think the parks would be like a paradise to thieves. There is stuff left around everywhere you look! And the water parks are even worse! Even I have left valuables at my chair.

When we are at the parks I take two bags - one tote for the stroller with items it wouldn't be the end of the world if they got stolen - water bottles, sweaters, ponchos, etc. Then I keep a backpack that goes across my chest with our valuables - camera, CCs, meds, etc.

This upcoming trip we're gonna try to go w/o the stroller a few days and I'm very sad to lose that basket on the bottom!

 

[drew81]

When I worked as a Disney Store CM, the two weeks before Christmas was very challenging regarding loss prevention.

Being a former Store CM as well, I atest to that.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Even the local police have told me that house burglaries rise the nearer to Christmas we get.
Tis the Season

 

[cleo]

I'm sorry this happened to you, too. I do think Disney took the appropriate action, though. I'm guessing they get lots of reports of 'stolen' items that later turn out to have been left somewhere by the family in question, so it may not have seemed like an urgent crisis for them. It sounds like they took the proper steps to do what they could do, knowing that if it HAD been stolen it was already gone.

It's horribly shocking and upsetting to have something stolen and you're right about not thinking you're in some insulated bubble when you enter a park. The amount of money a thief could make would pay for several thousand park passes a year, I would imagine, so putting out a bit of cash for an Annual Pass would be a drop in the bucket for such fertile hunting grounds. I don't believe any amount of Disney security will be able to put a stop to random theft.

 

[micksterlee]

I am really surprised there isnt much more theft at WDW and actually there may be and we just dont hear about it.If you think about how much cash , travelers checks, and credit cards people are carry around in the parks it is no wonder theives are plentiful.