Stolen Disney Pin

[corpcomp]

After a really great first time at BCV, we returned home, emptied my 11 year old's luggage and found that someone stole his lanyard and all his pins that he had been collecting the last 5 years.

Many are not sold anymore including 4 cast member monorail pins we have been trying to acquire as a set, the lighting socerers hat and Alien Encounters, along with about 14 others.

We packed them, and took the luggage to the Magical Express desk in BCV. Either the magical express people or TSA took them, as they were the only ones handling the luggage after we packed it. I called ME and found out that ME is actually run by MEARS, not Disney - what a shock. Of course multiple calls resulted in ME telling me to call TSA and TSA telling me to call ME. ME gave me a claim number and said they would call if they ever showed up. Fat chance. BCV lost & found has nothing and Orlando Airport L&F did not have them.

My son is in the other room crying his eyes out. Goes to prove there are enought thieves out there in the system to mess it up for everyone else (of course TSA scans all luggage in Orlando so they probably spotted it there and took it) and why in the world would anyone steal a childs pin collection? How low class do you have to be? Has anyone else had problems with stolen items via ME?

We now have a 9 month wait before going back to Disney. It is going to be a long 9 months for my son.

 

[Chuck S]

We've had pins/badges taken from luggage at MCO (we did not use ME). As you say, there are thieves everywhere, and you never know when they will strike.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

So, so sorry. I have never collected the pins myself, but I know how precious any kind of personal collection is, and I know some people spend great effort and time looking for and trading pins. You are right, there is no chance of them coming home and there is nothing really you can do to make it any easier for your son. Only time.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Hugs to your son! That is awful!

I'd keep an eye on Ebay for some of those rare ones

Those thieves should realize what indelible marks they leave on children and sometimes when you cant remember anything else, that item will trigger a memory or an event in that persons life.

I would definitely write a letter to Disney and let them know. I cant stand when big corporations try to hide behind their contractors. Its called Magical Express not Mears Express and Disney should put in measures to prevent this from happening.

 

[tmt martins]

I don't think it was TSA ( but you never know ) as they are under camera while checking at MCO. They also leave letter in when they go into your bags.

What most likely happened is your bag was gone through by your airline baggage handlers .They do most of baggage stealing and they also have X-ray behind the sceens for scans .

NEVER pack anything you want to keep from accidental to on purpose lose it a matter of fact at Airports.

I'm very sorry for your DS's lost as my DD collects as well and your right you just can't replace them at a drop of a hat.

Put a claim in with the airline as they do cover these type of things sometimes.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Liferbabe has a good point about ebay. You should keep an eye on it for a while. If the thief took the collection for the money it may just show up there. Otherwise, you will likely come accross some good deals on pins to start replacing that which was taken. Good Luck.

 

[MrShiny]

You should definitely file a claim. If you bought your air tickets with a credit card, they may also offer some coverage.

 

[terri01p]

oh man, that makes me sick for you, I know how expensive those pins are and how long it takes to collect them. People just amaze me, my dd got hers stolen off of her wheelchair while she rode haunted m. I knew when we got on the ride what a big mistake I've made by leaving her lanyard hanging on her chair, but we were hot and tired and she was so heavy and we were not thinking straight. Nothing the CM could do, what was done was done. Really made us sick, we had alot of money tied up in it, just our dumb mistake.

 

[corpcomp]

Hugs to your son! That is awful!

I'd keep an eye on Ebay for some of those rare ones

Those thieves should realize what indelible marks they leave on children and sometimes when you cant remember anything else, that item will trigger a memory or an event in that persons life.

I would definitely write a letter to Disney and let them know. I cant stand when big corporations try to hide behind their contractors. Its called Magical Express not Mears Express and Disney should put in measures to prevent this from happening.

I definitely will keep an eye on ebay. There is a guy selling full lanyards. And yes I can't believe Mears runs Magical Express. I was confused when we dropped of the luggage that the ME person at BCV said he was with a private company. There is no question that they will start charging for the service. Disney obviously pays Mears a contract fee for running it and will want to start recouping costs (according to one Disney / Mears? person they are thinking about charging a fee of $5 per person next year). Now I understand why MEARS rolled over to allow the ME. They have been fighting Disney for years to protect their bus / taxi service.

 

[corpcomp]

oh man, that makes me sick for you, I know how expensive those pins are and how long it takes to collect them. People just amaze me, my dd got hers stolen off of her wheelchair while she rode haunted m. I knew when we got on the ride what a big mistake I've made by leaving her lanyard hanging on her chair, but we were hot and tired and she was so heavy and we were not thinking straight. Nothing the CM could do, what was done was done. Really made us sick, we had alot of money tied up in it, just our dumb mistake.

I know, you want to trust people but just a quick slipup changes everything. We will never put pins in there again. Figure the pins cost us about $120 which is a small pirce versus the tears my son shed today. He is usually very upbeat but this is the first time anything of his was stolen.

 

[Figment2]

Sorry about your son's pins but here's the good news. You will probably replace them for half of what you paid for them.

PM me the pinpic numbers and I can see if I have any of them in my trader books. (pinpics.com)

Cyn

 

[SLM]

What a rotten thing to happen! I'm so sorry-!

 

[MrShiny]

I know, you want to trust people but just a quick slipup changes everything. We will never put pins in there again. Figure the pins cost us about $120 which is a small pirce versus the tears my son shed today. He is usually very upbeat but this is the first time anything of his was stolen.

If you fil a claim, state replacement costs - not acquistion costs. Try to find the pins for sale on eBay to see what it would cost to replace them.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

So sorry this happened to your family. We've had more than one theft involving airport employees and very rarely check our bags anymore. We try to keep the luggage in our possession as long as possible, but even that's no guaranty that something won't end up missing...that's why we never leave anything of value in a suitcase.

 

[corpcomp]

So sorry this happened to your family. We've had more than one theft involving airport employees and very rarely check our bags anymore. We try to keep the luggage in our possession as long as possible, but even that's no guaranty that something won't end up missing...that's why we never leave anything of value in a suitcase.

My wife said that the pins were so heavy she just did not want to add to carry-on. She is beating herself up about it. I suggested a weekend trip to my son and I to go and buy new ones and thankfully he said that was too carzy an idea. Yes I can get off ebay if I find the right ones.

I don't know if the new TSA locks will do any good but I might buy them. Only TSA has the keys (and probably a few thousand others.)

 

[donmil723]

I feel so bad for your son. I hope you will be able to replace them over time. Even so it won't be quite the same as he'll always remember this and know that you can't trust everyone.

We recently had our Disney luggage straps stolen from our suitcases. It happened on our DCL cruise in May. We had set our luggage out the night before we got off the ship, as instructed by DCL, and they were gone when we picked them back up the next morning. Either someone from DCL or port authority had taken them. Even though they weren't very expensive, it was still aggravating that they were stolen. Although we contacted DCL, they couldn't find them.

I hope your son feels better soon. Such an awful way to learn one of life's lessons.

Pixie dust to all of you!

Donna

 

[dianeschlicht]

My wife said that the pins were so heavy she just did not want to add to carry-on. She is beating herself up about it. I suggested a weekend trip to my son and I to go and buy new ones and thankfully he said that was too carzy an idea. Yes I can get off ebay if I find the right ones.

I don't know if the new TSA locks will do any good but I might buy them. Only TSA has the keys (and probably a few thousand others.)

Yes, locks are only for honest folks. I doubt that would deter anyone who really is bent on stealing something. We too like to pack everything in a carry-on style bag, and with DVC, we really don't need to pack as much, so it becomes much easier.

 

[Fitswimmer]

That is truly a sad story. I feel really sorry for your son, because that's the first memory he's going to have about that trip for a while.

Your story brings up an interesting question: if Mears is contracted to run the ME, why were they part of the protest at OIA about the service? The Orlando Sentinal had articles about how the shuttle services were all protesting the ME service because of the money they were losing and Mears was mentioned.

 

[Olaf]

I'm so sorry for your son. Hard way to learn about the not-so-nice people in the world. I've always put my pins in my carryon. I don't trust baggage handlers.

 

[castleri]

We recently had our Disney luggage straps stolen from our suitcases. It happened on our DCL cruise in May. We had set our luggage out the night before we got off the ship, as instructed by DCL, and they were gone when we picked them back up the next morning. Either someone from DCL or port authority had taken them. Even though they weren't very expensive, it was still aggravating that they were stolen. Although we contacted DCL, they couldn't find them.

Donna

Don't forget while sitting out in the hallway anyone on that ship could have helped themselves to your luggage straps so as much as you don't want to think so it may have been a fellow passenger. I found it disquieting to leave my luggage in the hallway when we cruised and made certain they were all locked although I know that won't stop someone who is determined to help themselves to my belongings. I decided long ago that I will never pack anything in checked luggage that would cause heartache if it was lost. It is not always the $ value that counts. This usually means they go through my bag at Providence security as I have 3 lanyards I routinely take with me to WDW and all that metal plus batteries for my camera etc makes them nervous. If they were in the checked baggage they might put me over the weight limit.

To all who have "lost" things I hope you never have it happen again and hope the OP is able to find replacements for his son's lost pins.