The Good and the Bad

[d1sneymom]

Just a little sprinkle of magic mixed in with a little of disappointment.

We were in the Candy Palace on Main Street and a couple of CMs asked DS(6) to play Candyland (Disney version of course!) with them. It was such a fun little time for him. He loves Candyland and the Disney version is even cute. At the end of the game one of the CMs asked what his favorite ride was. It's GRR so she gave us FPs for our entire party (13 in total)!!! It was awesome and he absolutely loved it. What was great is the FP doesn't expire for a while month! And we are going back in a couple of days!

Now the disappointment. This was the first time we saw WOC (and we go to DLR a few times a year) and although it was beautiful I was shocked that a teenage boy (no older than 13 or 14 tops) was trying to steal stuff out of my diaper bag! The stoller was besides me but was in front of DH. I didn't realize DH moved a bit to get a closer look with DS2 and so I turn and see the boy standing next to the stoller. That's fine. A couple minutes later I see him resting his arm on the stroller handle but when he sees me he moves his hand away. Ok, weird but still fine. Another minute or so I see him slyly trying to reach in my diaper bag (which was attached to the handles). Granted, it is dark, I could have been seeing things. But he removed his hands completely away from my stroller. I am literally standing next to the thing. And so I move the stoller out of his way. I kept thinking I didn't see what I just saw. A few minutes after that he and his family left. Now I could have confronted him but I want to give the benefit of the doubt. In the same breath, why would the family leave in the middle of WOC? The show was no where near being done and they up and left (the arrived just as WOC started). His father was a very large man and I am a fairly tiny woman (although my nickname in HS was MightyMouse ). Nothing was stolen (heck help yourself to a diaper or a wipe if you need one) but honestly, nothing has ever happened like that to me at DL and we go quite often. What I was more protective of was my DS1 who was sleeping in the stroller. It wasn't far from me (literally it was touching me) and for someone to be so bold. It was sad.

Anyhow, just a heads up. Keep an eye out to your belongings. Especially in a crowded and dark place such as WOC.

 

[Disney Dreams]

The Disneyland Resort is no different than anywhere else on Earth when it comes to human behavior. There is ample opportunity and, as everywhere in life, people who have less than they need/desire with temptation surrounding them.

Sounds like your son had a great moment with some cast members, and what a wonderful treat for the entire family with the "super fastpasses." Nice magic moment and dose of pixie dust!

- Dreams

 

[TotalDreamer]

Certain people do prey on those on vacation: it's a time when you're typically more relaxed and not on your guard as much.

Sad and bizarre though what you described. Maybe in the darkness he thought it was your purse.

I will say that someone broke into my friends car which was parked in DTD and stole their pin book (which was worth quite a bit as they'd been collecting pins as a couple for years).

Just remember people are people and bad things do happen in Disney (yes I know it can be damper) so yes it's still important to be aware of your surroundings.

On the other hand what a fun experience the CMs created for your son!

 

[Mr Snappy]

It's funny....err, I mean kind of sad.

The only time as an adult that I just about had a fist-fight was at Disneyland!

This was about 3 years ago and we were watching the fireworks on Main Street. Once the show was over, we turned and headed toward the main entrance...with about 20,000 other people.

About half-way down Main Street, I start to feel a stroller being rammed into my heels. Then it starts to happen to my wife. At first we though this was just a simple accident caused by the crowd and ignored it. At about the 10th time (no exageration) they about knocked my wife to the ground. I turned around and asked the lady behind us if she could please stop ramming her stroller into us.

She snapped back at me that they "were in a hurry" and we needed to "move our ****ing ***** out of the way". HUH? There are only 10,000 people trying to accomplish the same thing! When I said that we could only go as fast as the people in front of us and to stop trying to knock us down, Moron Husband/boyfriend/baby daddy of the woman then gets confrontational and starts to square off with me.

At this point, people are giving us space and I am thinking I am going to get into a fight on Main Street of the Happiest Place on Earth....great. My wife and kids are looking on in terror as this 300lb gorilla is attempting to impress the crowd with his manliness. I'm not a small man by any imagination, but see, my IQ is above 26 and realize this is a no-win discussion with an idiot. I tell the Mensa-member that we can move out of his way and he can go about his business. He gives a ******** comment about not doing this in the first place and moves ahead of us.

We let him clear us and notice the stroller ramming continues about 50 feet ahead of us to the next victim.

I don't want to scare anyone off with this story, this type of "guest" is rare and in literally over 75 trips to Disneyland, this is the only time this sort of thing has happened.

 

[d1sneymom]

Certain people do prey on those on vacation: it's a time when you're typically more relaxed and not on your guard as much.

Sad and bizarre though what you described. Maybe in the darkness he thought it was your purse.

I will say that someone broke into my friends car which was parked in DTD and stole their pin book (which was worth quite a bit as they'd been collecting pins as a couple for years).

Just remember people are people and bad things do happen in Disney (yes I know it can be damper) so yes it's still important to be aware of your surroundings.

On the other hand what a fun experience the CMs created for your son!

Oh my! I think my heart would drop to my feet if someone stole my pin book. Seriously! My pins reflect individual trips and memories. I would be so sad.

And yes, my story was just to say be diligent of your surroundings and the people as well. I'm a "look for the good in people" kind of person (which is why i was really, really trying to convince myself that in the dark I could have been seeing things).

 

[atheneze]

One of my friend's baby's Bug-a-boo stroller was stolen while they were in line for a ride. Now, if it was the cheap, umbrella type stroller they wouldn't have minded (still a sad thing though). It turned up in craigslist a few days later. How was my friend sure that it was hers? The thing had a serial number. So they pretended to be interested in buying the stroller. When they went down to San Diego to "look" at the stroller, they found out that the seller's garage was full, as in, filled with strollers. They reported the seller to police.

It definitely dampen their spirits while they were on vacation. But I was glad that they took action.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

wow that is all just sad. I know that there are jerks every where and ppl who try to steal things. It just sucks that you got find them in dl.

the dipper bag indent I would have stopped his family on the way out, sorry no way would I have let them leave with out at least telling on the kid.

But if he is a bad kid like that i dobut his parents would have done anything any ways. its sad that some parents just dont know how to teach there kids now of days. Mine is respectful says please thank you excuse me and defiantly wouldn't be stealing anything from any one. least of all in DL.

 

[chrissiecutie]

OP- clearly this boy has NO idea whats in a diaper bag!

Would you believe that I've heard of folks hanging dirty diapers from the strollers to avoid theft. Oh my....if someone wants it that bad, I can't imagine a dirty diaper will stop them.

I totally agree that DLR is not exempt from all types of human behavior. The good, the bad and the ugly still have to vacation, right?

I will say though that in the 25+ years that I've been going, I have noticed a increase in the "bad" but honestly, it's still not THAT bad, kwim? Think about all those people in a small, crowded and sometimes very hot space. For the most part, people are kind, courteous and in a pretty good mood. We are at The Happiest Place on Earth after all.

However, cranky can still happen. For my part, I do my best to tame my cranky, very large, Disney hating DH. I make sure he gets plenty of rest, stays well hydrated, eats regularly, takes hotel pool breaks and if all else fails, I drug him! I would hate for anyone to come into contact with him in all his "cranky glory" so I make it my personal mission to tame the cranky.

But seriously, we all run into "those" types of people anywhere, DLR is no exception. However, even the cranky ones can be tamed....just ask DH!

 

[quantumottle]

This reminds me of a news story from WDW back in 2009 when a group of people were arrested after it was discovered they were part of a stroller theft ring at the WDW parks. I assume they were taking strollers for their belongings, I remember being surprised that so many women left their purses in strollers.

What I do recall most, and this was the most amazing past, is that this group of people were AP holders. They admitted to doing this on a regular basis.

Sadly, you have to keep an eye out for the bad guys, at all times.

 

[d1sneymom]

Strollers being taken and stroller theft ring? That is crazy ridiculous. I never leave my purse in the stroller. I carry a small Kipling cross body bag that fits my camera, cellphone, small wallet, and chapstick. It never leaves my body unless we are on GRR and then DH keeps it with him.

The diaper bag has diapers, wipes, first aid kit, extra clothes and a blanket. That's it. I would probably more sad if they took the bag itself as that cost more than the items in the bag.

@chrissiecutie that's why I was kind of like "help yourself to a wipe". Digging around in there he would have found baby clothes and nothing more.

I've been bringing my BOB stroller. Now I'm contemplating just bringing my stroller system stroller (graco).

 

[DisneytheKid]

I'm sorry to hear about the attempted theft. I've worked retail loss prevention for a while now and let me tell you, you made the right choice not confronting them. Without proof (i.e video, the kid having something of yours in his pocket etc) you'd be setting yourself up for a big argument with his parents.

On the other hand, I'm glad to hear your son had such a great experience

 

[chrissiecutie]

Strollers being taken and stroller theft ring? That is crazy ridiculous. I never leave my purse in the stroller. I carry a small Kipling cross body bag that fits my camera, cellphone, small wallet, and chapstick. It never leaves my body unless we are on GRR and then DH keeps it with him.

The diaper bag has diapers, wipes, first aid kit, extra clothes and a blanket. That's it. I would probably more sad if they took the bag itself as that cost more than the items in the bag.

@chrissiecutie that's why I was kind of like "help yourself to a wipe". Digging around in there he would have found baby clothes and nothing more.

I've been bringing my BOB stroller. Now I'm contemplating just bringing my stroller system stroller (graco).

I do the same thing! I've got a great Baggallini Messenger bag that holds all my "valuables" and this never leaves my body except when I put it in the pouches/baskets while on the rides.

I have never heard of a stroller theft "ring" at DLR. Maybe it's just a WDW exclusive thing....but who knows really?? I have heard of folks having a case of mistaken identity and taking the wrong stroller by mistake...

Personally, I have never had any problems with my stroller while at DLR. At most, CM's have moved it to a different location while I've been on the ride. This is usually due to crowds, too many strollers in one area, traffic flow, etc. So I just ask the CM and I'm pointed to where my stroller has been moved to.

On DS' 1st visit we took our Maclaren and the last couple years it's been a huge, pricey jogging stroller- NO problems! I do put a nice Disney themed laminated sign on my stroller though. It says "This Carriage Belongs to the Mead Family" and has our phone# on the sign. I've also written our name & phone# in sharpie ON the stroller itself. And of course if we buy any souvenirs, I try to keep them covered up to discourage "sticky fingers" but really...I haven't ever had a problem. Disneymom- I wouldn't worry at all about taking a more expensive stroller. Take what works best for your family but maybe put your name & # on the stroller, just in case someone accidentally thinks its theirs.

 

[SomeDude78]

Unfortunately this isn't surprising at all Crooks aren't guys hiding in bushes or waiting to pounce from dark alleys, they're right next to you everyday at the supermarket, driving next to you on the road, staying in the same hotels as us, and yep, even inside Disney It's great to hear that nothing happened and that the CMs created such a great experience despite the negative of course

I honestly don't think I would've been able to contain myself and probably would've confronted them though. I'd agree that it's not likely going to do much except cause an argument with the parents, but so be it, bring on the argument and we'll play! That type of garbage deserves to be called out because one can guarantee the kid will do it to someone else Who knows anymore, maybe the parents were even in on it (PURE cynical thinking-out-loud obviously!).

To be perfectly honest I'm mostly surprised that this kind of thing doesn't happen more often at Disney. I see so many valuables get left around at Disney simply because people trust the environment and let their guard down that it always seems like it would be heaven for thieves. Thank goodness most guests respect others' property, which always amazes cynical folks like myself

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I am not even taking my big pin bag with me this oct im just gona take the pins to trade but the rest are staying home because i dont want them to get lost or stolen

 

[lorieintucson]

i've brought my big BOB duallie the last three trips with the boys and just sold it and downsized to a single BOB--for the sole reason to bring with us on vacation to Sea World and Disneyland! My plan is to 1) keep it, 2) keep it in excellent, re-sellable condition. Since the stroller is going to be parked more in each land as we navigate on foot, I may go with my original plan to put a cable bike lock on it like i was going to do when i first brought my duallie, but since we were in and out so much it became too much of a hassle.

we never leave anything valuable in the stroller-- now just snacks and jackets. Though I have left my camera bag sans camera--that must look good to a thief. I have a habit of 'thinking like a bad guy' in new situations so to plan for the 'what ifs' and really, Disneyland is a prime spot to pick pocket and steal. Not to mention all the awful that broke lose in my head the 4 minutes I actually 'lost' my 4 year old in the DTD World of Disney Store. worst feeling imaginable...

makes me wonder though about how their security teams work. I bet they keep it pretty top secret like a casino would. Has there been anything written about how how they do surveillance? Besides the talking vulture in Club 33, that is

 

[larina]

We keep anything under the stroller loose or in clear plastic bags to make it clear there is NOTHING good in there. Bad people are everywhere.