Stolen Disney Magic

[andymattmom]

Sorry to hear this! I have 2 "good" turn in stories.

My dad dropped his cellphone at my son's basketball game a few years ago. He is from Phoenix- I live in a small Indiana town. He was panicked and said he would never get it back, that the person would keep it and run up long ditance calls over his minutes, etc. I told him it would be fine. Later that day- on his home machine my sister found a message from the HIGH SCHOOL ref who found it. My dad called him and met up with him to get the phone. The kid got a gift card for being honest. Happy Ending! I told my dad he needed to have trust in some people and it would be fine. This was after this one:

I dropped my Discover card at the gas station near my kids school. Didn't know this. Later that day a lady called asking for someone by my name. She said she had found my card on the ground and didn't want to turn it in to the gas station no knowing what could happen or if they would call me. She gave me her address- not knowing me from a crazy person. My boys and I went by- she was wonderful- offered us snacks, told us to come visit, talked about school where her kids had gone, etc. She wouldn't take anything but it made me happy to show my kids how good some people can see.

I have left my ATM card in the machine several times and it has been returned also...I always change the account but there are still good people out there!

There are many good people out there but in times when people are in need of money it is sad to think this might become the norm! Hopefully it won't be. I have told my kids if they find anything to turn it in.

So sorry OP...that "taker" will get their day.

 

[Interpol]

??????? Are you serious???????

On a side note, we had a bracelet and camera stolen from our room, on site CBR. No one in there except housekeeping, so I can only guess who is wearing my Tiffany's silver charm bracelet, or who pawned it.

Just curious, but why aren't more people here recommending/using travelers checks? They work just like cash virtually anywhere on the Disney properties, can usually be gotten for free from your local bank or AAA, and the added benefit is that if they are lost or stolen you can get them replaced, usually within 24 hours.

Same thing goes with most credit cards (but not debit cards). Why carry a wad of non-replaceable cash when you don't need to?

 

[jponicsanii]

It doesn't work for everyone, but I use a wallet designed to fit in my front pocket. It's called the Slimmy by Koyono. I find its design helps me get things out, reducing the amount of time I have the wallet exposed.Also, its size makes it easy to secure.

 

[MAF]

You do know that your are at WDW don't you?

You do know that you can use debit cards or charge to your hotel room don't you?

 

[orangekid13]

You do know that you can use debit cards or charge to your hotel room don't you?

Credit cards are a lot better idea, you can't do chargebacks on debit cards.
Always make sure to sign your cards and that it doesn't wear off, if you lose your card and someone finds it (or steals it from you), signs it, and uses it, you're responsible for the charges. (assuming the card gets confiscated after being reported lost/stolen and they find out it's not your signature)

 

[aimeeg]

I am so sorry this happened! I would have been bummed too!

I carried my Drivers license, my key card, my Disney gift card and $40 everyday. I used my little Coach card wallet. Super slim and chic! LOL It even has a little key ring on it. You can hook it to you if you please.

 

[MickeyNicki]

That is terrible! People are becoming desperate for cash because times are so tough, you hear of lots of gas siphoning from cars, home break ins etc...

 

[Miss Stitch]

Just curious, but why aren't more people here recommending/using travelers checks? They work just like cash virtually anywhere on the Disney properties, can usually be gotten for free from your local bank or AAA, and the added benefit is that if they are lost or stolen you can get them replaced, usually within 24 hours.

Same thing goes with most credit cards (but not debit cards). Why carry a wad of non-replaceable cash when you don't need to?

We use travellers cheques. We come over from the uk and get most our spending money in TC's and just a couple of hundred in cash for when we arrive or just for little bits like ice creams etc. as the little places cant cash TC's. We make a note of their numbers which we keep safely in our room away from the TC's which we keep in the safe. We usually have $100 ones and usually take around 1 or 2 with us each day, dependant on what we are doing that day. Our children however, saved their cash for months before our trip and wanted $$ as a TC doesn't feel like money to them. They had around $150 each. They are a great idea and I wouldn't travel without them, I couldn't imagine risking carrying more that around $100 in cash at any time, or even leaving it in our room.

 

[jennytablina]

When I go to the world next month I wont be taking all my cash with me. I'll be taking just a little out per day most likely.

I know I wouldnt take $300 into a park with me. A day at disney shouldnt cost that much (but maybe if your on a day trip you havent a choice...). I mean, I'm taking about $700 and thats gotta last me 14 days (granted my DBF is also bringing cash)

That said I've heard of people breaking into villas now; which is making me a little nervous...

 

[Todd&Copper]

OP, so sorry someone pilfered the cash from your lost wallet. Last September, DH & I were at Raglan Rd's Happy Hour and made some friends. One guy left to go meet up with his wife and kids, and left his bag from Virgin with a couple of movies/CD's and a very expensive pair of sunglasses. Myself and another lady noticed, and took off after him to give him his bag back (he was nearly at the Lego store by the time we caught up. He was very appreciative (especially as he hadn't yet realized he'd left the bag). I could have just kept the bag, but you know, "do unto others . . . ."

I am pretty amazed at how much people let their guard down at WDW. Like the people who leave cameras and other valuables in their strollers when they go on rides!?!?! What are you thinking?

As far as Traveler's Checks, I do not even know where you'd go to get them! I have heard that some places do not like when people use them. Usually on vacation, I carry minimal cash (maybe $20 or so), my debit card (which I never use except as an ATM card) and 2 credit cards - the primary one and the back-up. I also keep the numbers written down somewhere secret just in case anythign happens.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Just curious, but why aren't more people here recommending/using travelers checks? They work just like cash virtually anywhere on the Disney properties, can usually be gotten for free from your local bank or AAA, and the added benefit is that if they are lost or stolen you can get them replaced, usually within 24 hours.

Same thing goes with most credit cards (but not debit cards). Why carry a wad of non-replaceable cash when you don't need to?

AAA doesn't charge a fee for Traveler's checks. We also would book our trips through AAA and bought them for "safety" reason all the time. Then a few years ago we took about $500 in Traveler's checks on a trip, 5 trips later we still had $400 which I put into my checking account. So why not Traveler's checks?

•Far too many clueless check out people didn’t know if they took them
•Takes longer to ring through the register
•No points on my purchases
•Bulkier than a credit card
•We ended up with a lot of change we rarely use
•Some CC companies will Fed-ex a new card in an emergency
•I have much more leverage with damage items when I charge them to my CC.

That has just been my experience.

 

[rgf207]

I bet the people that turn in the wallet are not the same people that steal the money. I bet people find it, take the money and then discard it and someone else picks it up and turns it in.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. People these days are so desperate for money that they will do anything. There are some classless people in this world

 

[pampam]

Just curious, but why aren't more people here recommending/using travelers checks? They work just like cash virtually anywhere on the Disney properties, can usually be gotten for free from your local bank or AAA, and the added benefit is that if they are lost or stolen you can get them replaced, usually within 24 hours.

Same thing goes with most credit cards (but not debit cards). Why carry a wad of non-replaceable cash when you don't need to?

I always take TC as well. I have about a hundred $$ or so cash, but the rest is TC. Several years ago, I lost my TC about an hour after or so after getting off the plane. After a very restless night I had them replaced in less than 24 hours. It was just like the commerials.

I cash what I think I will need for the day at the front desk, but please be assured the shops at WDW readily accept TC. I usually keep 50$ - 100$ in cash with me. If I have extra cash I lock it up in the safe deposit box in the hotel front desk. I don't trust the small wall safes in the room- only use it for my meds.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

We carry about $20 with us at any given time at WDW. Everything else is charged to the room.

 

[feline figaro]

Just shows you that no matter where you go that there are lowlife people praying on those who put their guard down for just a sec. I dont get how people like this can walk a round with their heads held high, no conscience at all??
I ve had money stolen from me before from a work colleague, this happened quite a few years a go. They also took my cc used it & then put it back in my wallet. I only noticed on the way home that my money was missing, I then cancelled my card through fear they had obtained by card details. Thats when i realised they had used this to, horrible thing is we all knew who did it but had no solid proof. I had to work with this person who pretended to be my friend & yet they had stolen from me. A wk later once my store said they were gonna get police involved she never returned to work, that was the last i/we ever saw of her.


Since then i dont trust any body, its a horrible feeling but i cant help it . Im so security conscience with my belongings its actually like a military operation the amount of times i have to make sure i ve got everything

Some people truely suck !!!!!

 

[madamy]

In 1993 we left our brand new camcorder which was $1200 on the monorail. we realized rather quickly it was forgotten and reported it lost at the front desk of the Poly. 30 minutes later we got a call from the front desk letting us know that our video camera was at the front desk of the CR. There are many honest people too.

On as side note we always carry travel checks. They can be a pain if you are visiting somewhere thats not a massive vacation destination because nobody knows if they accept them. But at WDW, Cruise ships, beach resorts it never a problem to cash a TC in restaurant's, store's etc. We use them like an ATM card. We get checks in $100 dollar increments, when we are almost out of cash we use one for an inexpensive purchase. We can get cash without carrying ATM cards or paying fees.
I find at places like WDW you need cash for tipping, but we charge most things to the room(Pay close attention at the end of your trip there are not double charges,esp. if you use it for tips). We use the left over travelers checks to pay our bill at check-out, usually you need a CC to have room charge privileges, but you can pay the bill however you like when you check-out. This way we carry only a resort ID, 1 credit card (DH and I each carry one from different CC company), a DL, a few TC's, and less than $100. We leave the bulk of TC's in the room safe. If one of us were to get ripped off or lose our wallet, we wouldn't be out much and would still have a CC to use. We leave the debt/ATM cards at home, the last thing we need is our checking accounts drained and our auto-bill pay items to bounce while on vacation.

 

[bgraham34]

I left my wallet on a flight from NJ to Orlando last year. Luckily someone found it and had it sent to my resort at the world. Nothing was missing. I had no cash so i was not worried about that. I dont really like to carry cash just because you never know what can happen.

 

[fwdtraveler]

We learned the hard way about theft at WDW. We had three IPODS stolen from our room at Pop Century last year. The kids didn't notice until we were getting packed to leave. They had left them out and not in a safe. We all learned a valuable lesson about locking up valuables. Fortunately we all had a lot of fun on vacation but it certainly put a damper on it!

 

[myprinceandprincess]

It is very disappointing to hear that the most magical place on earth has dishonest people like that. But I guess they are around no matter where you are. Sorry for your troubles.

 

[mskayjay]

This is horrible but not at all surprising unfortunately. I know it is just as hard for men to not carry a wallet as it is for us ladies (some of us anyways! I'm very guilty!) to not carry a purse! I carry my room key and maybe a total of $20 in my pocket to the parks and that is it. I don't want to deal with my purse, I don't want to worry about it, I keep too much stuff in it, I've heard about people having pockets picked, etc etc etc......

Again I am so sorry this happened to your son and on a side note, I noticed you mentioned he had a military ID in there as well. Please, thank him for being a member of our Armed Forces and being there for all of us!