Scary Start to BWV stay (happy ending)

[marklynpa]

Just back from a week at BWV. Arrived late Sun afternoon from the airport in our rental van with lots of luggage and groceries for the seven of us. As I was helping the valet sort through our stuff for the 2 carts I set my backpack with a pile of others (my family's carryon bags, I thought) in front of the valet booth. When the van was unloaded I turned around and the bags were gone including my backpack. Inside were 3 6-day park hopper plus tickets, my annual pass, our complete itinerary information/reservations, my prescriptions, car/house/work keys, $100 dining gift cards, $30 cash.... I was in shock and thought I had just ruined the entire trip for my family. The biggest thing was the loss of the PH+ tickets. Warner, the manager on duty, arrived and within an hour he had me convinced everything would be OK and we were going to have a great vacation even if my bag never turned up. He opened the Business Ctr so I could go online for my doctor's info for the scripts, provided info on a pharmacy that would deliver, was going to give us passes for Mon and would work on replacement tickets. After accusing my family of picking up their bags and leaving mine to be 'stolen' we realized those weren't my family's bags. My backpack was loaded into someone's vehicle and was going 'who knows where'. Warner questioned all the valets and narrowed it down to 2-3 departing guests. It was returned to the hotel at 1am we think after a trip to the airport and back, but the details were sketchy. We picked it up in the morning with all contents accounted for. I wasn't completely surprised because the more we thought about it Sun night, the more we were convinced a guest (especially a DVCer...) finding that bag with their luggage would get it back to BWV, just as we would if the situation was reversed.
I couldn't thank Warner enough for the way he took care of us and the situation. The rest of the week went pretty smoothly and we had a great time on our first visit 'home' to BWV, although my family wouldn't let me hold onto anything 'important' the rest of the week......

 

[Doug7856]

Sounds like the great Disney service that we all appreciate! I'm glad that everything worked out and the whoever had your bag was kind enought to get it back to the BWV!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I think I would have passed out right then and there!

So glad the staff and Werner worked so hard for you and your family. I think BWV has EXCELLENT service and your experience confirms that.

I have a PassPorter and I keep EVERYTHING in it. I am completely obsessed about it, and carry it everywhere I go. So I could imagine how you felt losing your bag.

 

[GoofyDisney]

I am pretty sure that my head would have exploded!

Sounds like you were very calm and collected. Can I call you in my next emergency? So glad it all worked out for yoU!!!

 

[lllovell]

What a fantastic ending to a terrible thing happening. I am sure it was completely accidental on everyone's part. (We had someone take our stroller once - we looked and looked and ended up taking theirs which had their inexpensive, but leather camera bag in the pocket. The CMs kept the bag to send to lost and found and encouraged us to take the other identical stroller since we are 100% sure ours was taken by mistake. So we all know it happens - - - especially in high traffic areas.)

I am also VERY glad to see that you received SO much assistance from Warner! Pass the news on to Disney about him if you already haven't! Sounds like he deserves a pat on the back.

 

[maminnie]

I am so happy for you that everything worked out. Thanks for sharing your story as I am going to have my husband read this thread. I am constantly counting our bags from the time we leave the house until we are in our villa at Disney and then back home again. He thinks I am absolutely crazy and obsessive sometimes!!!! With kids, carryons at the airport, checked luggage, etc. etc., it is so easy to have something accidently or purposely taken. If I had more than two kids, I'd be counting them too!!!

Glad you had a great trip to BWV.

maminnie

 

[jnrrt]

If I had more than two kids, I'd be counting them too!!!

maminnie

Hah! Ever since we had our baby (makes three) my husband laughs at me because I'm always stopping randomly looking a little panicked until I realize that yes, I did account for all of my children. My friend has seven - I am obviously not that organized - it would kill me!

 

[Sammie]

That happened to someone in our family group once. We all learned a valuable lesson, never set your personal bag down, keep it on your person at all times.

Thanks for sharing, it will probably prevent someone from doing the same thing.

 

[dis-happy]

OMG! If only that bag could talk and tell you the tale.....

Glad you had a happy ending! Hope your DH never, ever brings it up again.

 

[rocketriter]

You might consider sending MS a note about this. It sounds like their customer service policies worked pretty well for you, and I'm sure they'd appreciate a compliment. What's more, if any CM behind the scenes went out of his or her way to reconnect you with your bag, a complimentary note could actually impact a raise or a bonus.

 

[zurgswife]

Great news...you definately should write Vince Valdez (sp) the big cheese for the Boardwalk...

 

[DizneyNutz]

You poor thing! I am glad that everything worked out ok and that you enjoyed your trip in spite of everything and that your bag was returned!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Glad you had a happy ending!

 

[marklynpa]

I think I would have passed out right then and there!

It was very close during the first 15 minutes....

Sounds like you were very calm and collected.

I'd like to say I was c&c, but it was my sister that took that role. She 'escorted' me through the situation Sun night. It was a great help as I was in somewhat of a daze.

I am definitely sending a letter to express my appreciation of Warner and his help.

 

[disworldnum1]

I'm so happy it all worked out..I had a similar situation where my medication was lost between the van and the room.Well the front desk got me in touch with a pharmacist who took care of the whole situation and had my medicine delivered to the room within 2 hours.This is why my wife will not leave the bags alone until we get a room assigned.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That COULD have been a trip breaker if things hadn't worked out so well. Thank goodness for honest DVCers!

 

[MinnesotaChill]

Last year when we were staying at BWV, we had to move a few days due to a convention. When we transferred to the giant Marriott on the edge of WDW property, my dh left our equipment bag in the van. It had roughly $1000 worth of camera, video, laptop accessories, etc in it. Well, I went to my convention meetings and he didn't tell me about the discovery until very late at night when I returned to the room. He had been on the phone with Mears for three hours. They couldn't find it, even though they were able to narrow the number of vans in the area down to a few at the time we left BWV. I called Disney and explained the situation. After I told her, a terrific woman named Willow, that I knew Disney loved to make guest's day and that at 1am she probably didn't get that opportunity very often, she was in high gear. Within 10 minutes Mears had called us back to tell us they had put the questionable vans on suspension until they returned to the dispatch center so their vans could be searched. Two minutes later they called to say that one of the drivers had the gear. We were sure it was in a pawn shop somewhere with the videos of our kids and our address in the bag! Scary!

I wrote Disney and told them about Willow. She was amazing, especially since she said they were very limited in what they could do since we drove off WDW property and weren't even staying on property when we called her. I think the fact that we were DVC, were very nice, and the fact that Mears is the "official" Disney shuttle had something to do with it. I'm sure they would hate to have a bad rep with their biggest client.

Although I think many of us of had moments where we might have been a little disappointed with Disney service, I do have to say that in a pinch, if you are nice to them instead of screaming and demanding, they almost always come through.

 

[mark&sue]

I know how you feel. Last year on the way back from a trip to Disneyland Paris I lost DH, DD and my passport on the ferry on the way back to England.

I realised they were gone when we got to passport control and was so panicked and I thought we were going to have to spend the night in the cells. Amasingly enough they let us back into the country. They were found a week later and the ferry company posted them to me. I was just so pleased especially when you read so much about identity theft. However since then DH carries our passports.


Susan

 

[lllovell]

I am amazed hubby lets me carry ANYTHING at WDW. I have seriously "lost" our camera 3 times already. Once in Muppets 3-D, once at Downtown Disney and my preggo brain cannot even remember where the 3rd time was. All three times we got it back. I think it is possessed, this camera of mine

Anyway, he is the carrier or all goods except tickets which go around my neck and are only taken off when we return to the car.

At least I haven't lost a child.....yet....