Theft at WDW Resort -Lock up your stuff!

[bdcp]

It's pretty easy to watch the housecleaning crews as they move around. I've stayed in a variety of hotels and they all prop open the doors while they work, usually a few at a time. I don't think it's rocket science to figure out when someone is out. Housecleaning doesn't normally clean a room that someone is occupying at the time. What tends to get taken are things laying out in plain sight, like cash, jewelry, cameras, etc that they can just grab and pocket. That's why very few laptops get taken compared to other items. Just because a hotel isn't liable doesn't mean they won't fire someone who has repeated complaints against them. If someone cleaning rooms has repeated theft reports, it will get dealt with. WDW is no different than any other hotel/resort and no one should ever think it is. The majority of guests and employees are honest, but there's always a few who aren't.

If you have something of value, it's your responsibility to protect it. That takes us back to locking up valuables. It's just smart.

 

[goofyandmore]

I personally have never had anything stolen, but my sister years ago was staying at the GF, which is a great resort, and she had a ring that lookes like a diamond but was really a big cubic zoconia taken. No biggie for her since she has lots of those but the person who took it was probably disappointed it was a fake.

Thanks for the tip about medications. My mom who is turning 80 comes with us and she has high blood pressure medication and I never thought of locking that up. Wow, if someone misses taking their medication it can be a health problem. This was important that you shared this. thanks again, Carolyn

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

WOW!!! I guess DH and I are just too trusting!!! We stayed at the WL in May and left our laptop out on the table the whole time!!! Never once put it away!!! I guess we got lucky!!

 

[PneumaticTransit]

My husband had his checkbook stolen out of his truck at work (He used to work at the All-Stars). We didn't notice it was gone until we got an overdrawn notice from the bank. They spent a considerable amount of money at Pharmacy.com using an online check.

Apparently there are some hopped up prescription medication addicts working at All-Stars. Don't get me wrong, both my husband & I used to work there and my co-workers were very nice most of the time. However, just because you're at Disney doesn't mean you should let your guard down. There are thiefs & crazies everywhere.

Especially at a place that hires so many people from very poor countries. I can't tell you how many times my manager told me that 'person X' doesn't understand that it isn't okay to knock someone out of the doorway so they can get the tip left on the table before I "steal" it.

 

[jodyqvc]

Wow that is great!!!! I know what it's like to work hard and lose weight. I lost 40 pounds myself. Now I am just working on maintaining my weight. Have a great time on your trip. We have been to Disney many times. With and without the kids. One thing people don't realize is that when you go to Disney it's easy to maintain your weight with all of the walking you do.. You know what I mean including all of the winding lines to the attractions. Take care, Jody from Florida

 

[momshark]

Thanks for the great tip on locking up meds. How about the laptops?? I was thinking of taking mine on our next trip, but now I don't know. Where would it be safe?? It doesn't fit in a safe. I don't really want to sign it in and out of the front desk every morning and night.
What do you do with your laptop?

 

[FatCow]

Thanks for the great tip on locking up meds. How about the laptops?? I was thinking of taking mine on our next trip, but now I don't know. Where would it be safe?? It doesn't fit in a safe. I don't really want to sign it in and out of the front desk every morning and night.
What do you do with your laptop?

I brought my laptop and locked it using one of those laptop chain. I put the laptop sideways on the side of the TV and loop the chain around the curve of the TV. Therefore, should anybody want to steal the laptop, they have to steal the TV too.

Also I printed a big sticker (thank you, VinylGraphics) stating "THIS LAPTOP USES BIOMETRIC SECURITY AND CAN NOT BE ACCESSED WITHOUT AUTHORIZED THUMBPRINTS"

 

[swilshire]

I usually just leave my laptop sitting around, but in earlier days I would just shove it into a big suitcase and lock the suitcase. I've done this with other items I didn't want to disappear.

Sheila

 

[NotUrsula]

I chain my laptop to the furniture, too. I look for furniture that has bars or holes, such as above the crossrail of a desk chair, or through the arm; they would have to dismantle the chair to take it. Some desks have a hole in the top for wires, I use that if there is one.

Another good spot for a laptop is the top of the armoire entertainment center if there is one. There is usually molding that will hide it. Be careful with this if you're not constantly using the thing when in your room--it would be very easy to walk off and forget your had it with you.

 

[bdcp]

Laptops aren't stolen very often because they can't be stuck in a pocket and just "walk" out. We put ours in a locked suitcase in the closet. It would take more time and effort than most thieves would want to spend in one room to get into the suitcase (and not even know if anything was it in to begin with). As I said earlier, the most common items stolen in hotels are things that are just sitting out like jewelry, meds, cash, credit cards, cameras, and are easy to grab and pocket. Ask any cop, thefts like this are opportunity thefts. They're not looking to work too hard. Lock up what you can in the room safe and if you have something too large for the safe you can usually lock it up at the front desk. Most hotels have some kind of lock box or safe for guests to secure valuables in. All you have to do is ask. We never leave anything out in any hotel that can be easily stolen. Doesn't matter where it is. Disney is still part of the real world, believe it or not.

 

[safetymom]

Lots of business people get their laptops stolen all the time. If you buy a cable lock and thread it through a piece of furniture that will help.

Also if you travel and use your computer for work be sure all the information is backed up. In case of a theft you won't lose all your information.

 

[bdcp]

My point was that easy to pick up items are taken at much higher frequency than laptops. Thieves generally don't take the time it takes to pick a lock on a suitcase to find something that may or may not be there. If it's left out it should be locked by cable to something permanently fixed in the room and only then if it's password protected in some way. If it's out of sight, (and not just in a drawer), it's not as likely to be taken. Leaving a laptop out on a table is just asking for multiple problems. Our rule is, leave nothing of any value out in sight and that includes credit card receipts. I've seen too many posts by people that are just "shocked" that anyone would steal anything at the "Happiest Place on Earth". Well, face it, it's on earth, so anything can and will happen.

Oh, and by the way, don't think it's safe in your car either. We completely unpack the car every night we're on the road. I've never had anything taken from a hotel or my car. Car break-ins happen at hotels a lot more often than room thefts.

 

[safetymom]

I mentioned because lots of people think that their laptop won't be stolen. It can happen and does. If you use it for business it can be painful to lose your laptop when you lose all the files, contacts, etc. If you use it for games it isn't so bad.

Disney isn't immune to theft. You should always be careful no matter where you are staying.

 

[Cellthing]

I have one of the aircraft cable locks for the laptop, as well as a small padlock that I can secure the bag. I ended up chaining it to the bed rail, and putting it back in the bag and using the padlock. If they were able to get it out of the room it would probably be suspicious with a four or five foot cable hanging off the bag.
Be vigilant everywhere you go, if you let your guard down once, that is an opportunity for someone to take advantage.

 

[luvtinkerbell]

My best Disney tip after having our room burglarized at All Star Movies is to lock up as much as you can, especially medications. If they don't all fit in the room safe - take them to the front desk and have them locked up. While your room is being cleaned it is completely open to strangers passing by when the maids leave the hotel lock latch open in multiple rooms. Also, I will never again stay at a resort that doesn't have indoor corridors where the number of people passing by is somewhat more limited. Never again do I want to lose all my expensive life necessary medications because of a maid using the lock latch to leave multiple rooms open and even opening adjoining rooms not in your party and keeping the lock latch open while working in another room alltogether so that your room is open to anyone passing by(observed multiple times on multiple trips). It might not happen often enough for everyone to know about but it does happen more often than you think.

i would of thought the maid wouldnt be allowed to leave the door on the latch if they are its a bout time disney got it right and stopped this

 

[FatCow]

I've seen this happened to at least w groups of 3 rooms wide open each day.

When I'm walking towards my room, I can see there are several rooms, stuck open (using the door latch) with curtains fully open with no maid in sight.

It seems like each maid opens 3 rooms at once and do the room one by one.

However, my statement does not explain why on many ocassions the maid was not in either of those 3 rooms (not from what I can see).

 

[luvtoall]

I am not comfortable with stangers in my room. We always refuse housekeeping when we travel, even at disney. My mom and dad always did this, and that was the "60s!!

 

[bdcp]

Every hotel I've ever stayed in has done this. Housekeeping works several rooms at a time on a floor. It's not unique. Regardless, the hotel is not liable for valuables you leave out. And this applies in parking garages, in restaurants, etc. Just like you should carry your valuables on you on a plane or train instead of packing them in your suitcase. I always am suprised at what people claim has been stolen out of their suitcases at airports. Cameras, cell phones, dvd players, expensive jewelry, cash. Things you shouldn't pack in checked luggage, just like you shouldn't leave out anywhere. Your posessions are ultimately your responsibility. Isn't that why you lock your house, your car, have a safety deposit box and sometimes a security system? Also, as I said earlier, hotels will fire employees with multiple theft reports surrounding them, so always report to the hotel and police any thefts.

 

[Toadi]

Bexareaglecheryl ... thanks for the warning ... never thought about putting my meds in the safe! duh! always lock up "valuables" but never considered others would want my meds ... thanks so very much ... appreciate it!