So Frustrated! Lost & Found rant!

[Ali]

Just to speak up for Disney I once lost a camera "SOMEHWHERE" at AK. I have no idea where, I just took a picture, laid down the camera, and forgot about it until we went to MGM to see the Osbourne lights and I wanted to take pictures. I called AK, they said to go to lost and found and see if it turned up, and I actually found it there the same night. So, lost things do get to the lost and found sometimes.

I went to lost and found, described my OLD camera, OLD camera case, and where I lost it - they found my NEW camera (I had just purcahsed it before the trip so I forgot what kind it was) of a different name, in a different color camera case, and checked the pictures on it to see if I could describe the people in the pictures since I couldn't even give them the right name of the camera.

So, things do work well, and I believe the OP did everything she was told to do by Disney so the only explanation is theft.
Sorry to say that.

 

[CanadianGuy]

But, Disney charges for lockers. That implies some duty to look after things that are left in them overnight.

I'm quite confident there is signage around the lockers that says they are NOT responsible for items left in the lockers and that they are cleaned out nightly.

While I think it is entirely possible the OP may get her stuff back .. I wouldn't bank on it is all.

Certainly, if she charged the items to her room, there could be a receipt in the bag that would have enough information on it to track the items back to her room and reservation and thus her name, address and phone number. Unless she has the receipt on her person that is.

Allowing time for that receipt to be found, traced and the stuff packaged and then shipped, it is certainly feasible these items may show up on her doorstep in 3 or 4 weeks. But given only 11 days have passed since the items were left behind, I'd give it some more time... and keep calling as has been suggested. We all think about ours being the only missing stuff. There could literally be hundreds of packages from that week that are being gone thru by the L&F people looking for something (like a CC# or room charge #) to trace it back to the owner. It simply couldn't happen overnight... if Disney even goes this far. I'm not sure if they do or not.

To suggest the only other explanation is theft is not quite correct. Remember.. THOUSANDS of L&F items are turned in every DAY. Stop and think about the volume of that stuff and how much of that is exactly what's missing here ... brand new merchandise in bags accidentally left behind, lost or left in lockers. Imagine what that pile looks like EVERY DAY?

Disney can do their best to find any individual guest's items in the giant pile, but realistically, given the volume of stuff we're talking about, you have to appreciate the odds are very much against you from the outset.

I can understand and definitely feel the OP's frustration. If hers was the only L&F items turned in that day, this story would probably have a happier ending. Truth is, it's probably just buried somewhere. Using the theory that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one... that's the one my gut tells me is probably correct.

Knox

 

[bavaria]

Disney can do their best to find any individual guest's items in the giant pile of stuff, but realistically, given the volume of stuff, you have to know the odds are very much against you from the outset.

I recently *ahem* left an item behind at Epcot (didn't lose it, 'left it behind'... )

Called Lost and Found and the next day I drove to the TTC to see if they had the item. I was extremely impressed with the very young CMs working there. They were faced with a long line of people, many of whom were upset and venting to the CMs. In each case they dealt with the guests calmly and courteously. I would estimate that 80% of the people in front of me left with their 'lost' item.

The family in front of me was Brazilian and only spoke Portuguese. They explained with hand gestures that they were looking for their son's backpack, and with my very limited knowledge of the language I understood that they held him responsible for leaving the item on a ride vehicle, that the backpack contained some electronics, and that they had little hope of finding the item.

The CMs managed to play charades with the guest, and after many minutes came back with the backpack. The guests were almost crying with gratitude; the son's electronics were even still in the backpack.

As Knox says, the Lost and Found machine is a giant machine, involving guests as well as CMs. Just as we 'lose' things, it appears that Lost and Found can also 'lose' things, most likely due to sheer volume.

I did get my item back which I 'left behind', and hopefully the OP will as well.

 

[rookie2]

Subscribing I need to read the outcome. I hope your items are returned

 

[sugahappy]

OP, I think you are right to feel the way you do, and as a former CM, I am a bit surprised by the way the CMs have responded to your problem.

Regardless of if a guest was at fault or not, I was trained to always provide a magical experience for the guest. If a guest buys ice cream and drops it right after she buys it, we give them another one. If a little child has an *accident* we usually give them a free set of clothing.

I'm sure that your purchases cost more than just an ice cream cone or an infant jumper...but after offering proof that you obviously weren't up to something fishy I would have guessed they'd offer to replace the goods for you, as Disney is so famous for going out of their way for guests. Then again, I never worked in merchandising or guest relations so I'm not sure if that actually ever happens in practice.

Maybe when CMs find new merchandise in lockers they send them back to the store they came from to either be found or be resold?

Whether items turn up in lost and found obviously just depends on who finds it. CMs should always be turning things into L&F...at least if they are honest! I would think that maybe your locked locker would have been reopened that night even if you didn't turn the key in because Disney is very safety conscious and a locked locker after the park is closed could be suspicious.

That being said, I went in August as a guest and left a pair of my shoes in my hotel room that never turned up in L&F. I guess mousekeeping wanted them or something!! I don't know what could have happened to them!

I'd suggest calling (believe me, they do not do well with email!!) Guest Relations and telling them about your problem. Maybe they'll work a little *magic* for you!

 

[LittleFlounder]

Little Flounder - if you still have the number, please call Amy back. Yes, she is a parking manager at TTC, but the parking people do the Lost and Found at TTC. I know Amy - I worked at TTC for 1.5 years - she is super nice.

I called Amy this afternoon and spoke to her, told her the issue. She was very nice. She said she'd go have a look at Lost & Found and call me back later. She just called back a few mins ago and said she didn't find my items. She said she's not sure if they're going to show up or not, because they should have shown up by now. She tried to look up the "lost items" report I filled up on Nov 17, but couldn't find it! They lost my report! hmmm. She typed up another one for me. She has let the locker manager at the MK know about this issue and he will get in touch with me she told me. I'm not too impressed. I still don't know what's happening.

 

[The Bad Witch]

What an ordeal!! What did you have in that locker? Mickey gold? I hope things work out for you.

 

[darlak]

OP, I wish you luck. That would have been frustrating for any of us. I also once left something in a locker at MK that I just completely forgot about. I was told that all lockers are cleaned out nightly, regardless of whether they were locked or unlocked. Luckily, my items were in lost and found by the time I called the next morning, and it was after 2am when I left the park the night before.

 

[Chipmunk89]

I have to ask............WHY would anyone try to dump on the OP??!! Can we not come here for advice and support in these kind of situations? I think that is one of the great things about the DIS!!!

I agree with you completely. The tone in some of these responses is quite upsetting.

 

[LisaNJ25]

op.. hopefully you get your stuff back...

I lost my phone at Akershus.. I didnt even know it. A few hours later hubby got a call on his cell phone from my wonderful TA. They tracker her down though our reservations.

 

[cabanafrau]

LittleFlounder, first of all, naughty, naughty, shame on you. I certainly hope you have learned your lesson & promise to be more responsible next time.


There, now that that's out of the way, sorry the whole thing has put such a downer on the end of your trip & keeping my fingers crossed your things do somehow turn up for you. I know you're feeling frustrated, but maybe it would help to look at it another way. In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing. It's just stuff. No one is injured or ill. You got to go to Disney. Hopefully you're already planning your next trip & by the time you get there, your heart will start beating in the wonderful, I'm at Disney, Zip-a-de-do-da-day! way it only does when you're in the happiest place on earth.

 

[gayles]

Thank- you "Cabanafrau" You have said it "perfect" Amen Already....

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

I'm quite confident there is signage around the lockers that says they are NOT responsible for items left in the lockers and that they are cleaned out nightly.

As far as I know, posting a sign in Florida does not let you avoid responsibility for your own actions. My point is that if Disney is going to remove stuff from lockers, it should take reasonable care to keep track of it. If the current system doesn't work, then it needs to be fixed. If it was important enough that someone paid to put it in a locker, then it's likely that they will come looking for it.

My original point was that there was no loss until Disney acted. Disney is in the best position, at that moment, to prevent the loss.

 

[joeytiffany118]

I understand why people are interested in this topic. On one hand we have all been there. We left a charger in our hotel room and it was never found or returned. On the other hand when did it become WDW's place to store or maintain your property. I hope the OP gets everythingback of the original, but Disney is not at all responsible for replacing these items. I am not flaming the OP because we all forget things, but like many others have said sorry, but chalk it up.

Pretty much your rental time with the locker ended when the park closed. The fact Disney L&F is even there that is a service to guest not a requirement. If the OP gets everything back that is great, but chasing leads and names is not worth it. Medication, custom items, these are items worth chasing. Even a camera with pictures that cannot be replaced maybe, but not something I can buy again.

The last thing is for anyone reading this affraid of what will happen to them at WDW. The best advise is wait and buy your items as you are leaving then no way to forget them in a locker.

 

[TLSnell1981]

A person's perspective is their own reality. That is why we all handle similiar situations differently. These items are obviously important to the OP for one reason or another. It doesn't matter if it's for sentimental reasons or financial ones. The OP stated they were upset and frustrated. They needed understanding and help in their situation.....

 

[joeytiffany118]

TLS - maybe perspective is what the OP needs...

Flounder - Can you tell us what was in there...

 

[rookie2]

I'm a newbie, and am shocked at how mean spirited some of the replies are. I learned back in the early days of e-mail; don’t write what you would not say to someone’s face.

 

[Charleyann]

I'm a newbie, and am shocked at how mean spirited some of the replies are. I learned back in the early days of e-mail; don’t write what you would not say to someone’s face.

You are right!....also people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!everyone forgets and if the shoe was on the other foot.....

Charleyann

 

[doodle]

I'm a newbie, and am shocked at how mean spirited some of the replies are. I learned back in the early days of e-mail; don’t write what you would not say to someone’s face.

So well put!! Welcome to the DIS!!!

 

[Chipmunk89]

Little Flounder,

Any news yet? Hope you hear something soon.