Theft at WDW Resort -Lock up your stuff!

[bdcp]

I read the other posts. What she was being told basically was, lock up everything and that some people thought it was strange that it was only medication that was taken.

Some questioned the fact that it was Narcotics that were taken. I'm not quite sure why she's going off again. All you have to do is , like at all hotels, lock up everything of value. No hotel is liable for anything that's stolen, no matter how it's taken.

To remove one post and start over because you didnt' like the answers isn't going to get you just what you want to hear. I notice you left out exactly what was being said. One or two people questioned the fact it was the type of medication with a high street value. Other's questioned leaving it out.

 

[MrsPete]

If this is a major concern, you can always refuse housekeeping service. You can call in the evenings for them to bring you a "trade out" of fresh towels (while you're in the room to pick them up).

Is there any type of personal safe that one can purchase to take on vacation?

 

[bexareaglecheryl]

I read the other posts. I'm not quite sure why she's going off again.

Hello again bdcp. Actually, I submitted the first post here the exact same day I submitted my post on the resorts board. All I wanted to do here and I believe I have done, without all the critical and demeaning posts that flew around over there, was simply to remind everyone that medications can be taken just as easily as other items of value which are left out and unlocked. And as I have seen here in this thread, there are a lot of folks, like me, who just didn't realize that medications should be locked up.

I asked for the other thread to be taken down, and I wish I didn't have to say it again, because I was being PM'ed and emailed accusing me and my family of all sorts of things. I just didn't feel safe. I have come to learn that we all must protect ourselves not only against harm from outside, but from harm within the groups we are a part of, such as the DIS.

This thread is simply a reminder. I don't want to start a discussion on my merits as a human being, as I have come to learn some posters love to indulge in.

 

[aubriee]

I read the other posts. What she was being told basically was, lock up everything and that some people thought it was strange that it was only medication that was taken.

Some questioned the fact that it was Narcotics that were taken. I'm not quite sure why she's going off again. All you have to do is , like at all hotels, lock up everything of value. No hotel is liable for anything that's stolen, no matter how it's taken.

To remove one post and start over because you didnt' like the answers isn't going to get you just what you want to hear. I notice you left out exactly what was being said. One or two people questioned the fact it was the type of medication with a high street value. Other's questioned leaving it out.

I also read her other post and even though I didn't respond had to wonder myself. I'm a nurse and worked in home health for years. As soon as we got a patient who was on any kind of strong meds (pain killers, stimulants, sedative/hypnotics, etc) we always told them how important it was to keep them locked up. Unfortunately when their meds came up short it was usually neighbors or family members who were later found to have stolen them. If you have to have a prescription to get it, my advice would be to keep it locked up. My home health agency got to where we supplied small lock boxes, but meds would still come up missing from some of our terminally ill patients. You would be surprised at the number of family members who would become irate when they found their family members meds locked up and only one family member was allowed a key (besides the nurse). If people would steal meds from a terminally ill family member, why would they not steal them from a perfect stranger?

 

[amwhitaker]

This is a good reminder. I have always locked up my meds while on vacation, if there is a safe to do so, if not I hide them as well as I can. If I don't have my meds, I will end up in the local E.R. Unfortunately in the times we live in there isn't much room for trusting alot of people of whom you have had no prior contact with. It always better to be safe than sorry.

Sorry for your backlash of irritated people! Remember people, we are all here to give each other support and to talk about the happiest place on earth!!

 

[FatCow]

Not only you, my entire bag of meds disappeared (meds for my athritis and my anti-depressant plus the meds for my psoriasis) at ASMu during my trip between 12/2 thru 12/13

 

[Tabetha]

I think it is a valid, and helpful tip.

 

[bexareaglecheryl]

Not only you, my entire bag of meds disappeared (meds for my athritis and my anti-depressant plus the meds for my psoriasis) at ASMu during my trip between 12/2 thru 12/13

FatCow, I am so sorry that you had your medications taken also.

After reading your post and everyone else I've come across who have had there medications stolen, I now realize that the thief who stole my meds probably did not even know what exactly was in there - they simply grabbed the bag and ran. It's sad really that this problem will continue to persist because procedures are not followed by personnel.

 

[FatCow]

The 'funny' thing is they can't get anything out of my medication. The antidepressant is so mild it won't do anything to most people. The athritis medication was my last batch of Vioxx, and the psoriasis medication is an experimental cocktail.

What bugs me most is that when I reported this matter to GR, the first thing that came out of their mouth was that it is not their responsibility and they can't give me a refund.

No amount of refund can help me cope with my depression, or buy the now-discontinued Vioxx, nor can I obtain the experimental cocktail of my psoriasis medication.

Oh well, at least I didn't get any major anxiety attack during the trip (although there were moments that I was abot to break into panic).

 

[eeyore0062]

I am not a paranoid person, but we ALWAYS use the safe in the room to lock up meds, film, cameras, traveler's checks and anything from our wallets we don't want to carry with us.

Better Safe Than Sorry!

Sorry that happened to you. Did you report it to the resort security? They may not have been able to retrieve your things, but at least they could keep a look out so it didn't happen to anyone else.

Don't worry, I can't imagine anyone would flame your for your post.

 

[pampam]

When we check into any hotel, my husband is always reminding me to hide our meds. I don't like to, because out of sight- out of mind. Anyway, I always thought the in room safe wasn't very secure. Any thoughts on that?

 

[FatCow]

Sorry that happened to you. Did you report it to the resort security? They may not have been able to retrieve your things, but at least they could keep a look out so it didn't happen to anyone else.

I reported it to the front desk and the first thing they told me (before I said anything further)

1. They can't and will not compensate me (which made me furious because never in my mind I'm asking for compensation)
2. The Housekeeping Manager will personally talk to me first "tomorrow morning", which even after 6 "tomorrows" klater nobody every showed up. In fact, even until the end of the trip, nobody ever showed up to 'talk' to me.

 

[jewellmmc]

I'm really lucky because I only have to lock up my money. Everything else is locked in our suitcase which is really hard to stel on a count of we have it tied down! I know I'm a safety freak but it pays off.

 

[dj2]

Never had anything stolen, but one day several years ago when we returned to our room at ASMu, we found the door unlocked, with the deadbolt turned to the "locked" position while the door was ajar so that the door wouldn't latch shut.

No housekeeper was anywhere in sight--the room just left open for anyone to enter! housekeeping just forgot to lock it when they finished and left the area. We were, naturally, furious.

Called resort from the room to complain. Was on hold for a long time. Did not get anything more than a vague apology.

i think wdw should have a better procedure for housekeeping to safeguard guest property.

i understand that this is what the law says, but i don't understand why. if the hotel leaves a door unlocked and something gets stolen, how come the hotel has no liability? they left the door open....

dj

 

[FatCow]

I think it's more of a Disney thing. I usually stay at Embassy Suites and never I've had this problem whatsoever.

Oh well, during my stay, I had no body wash for the first 3 days (although I called in for 3 days in a row), was promised that the housekeeping manager will talk to me in person on a certain date and time, he/she never showed up and we didn't get soap until the 5th night. Waited for 1 hour and 20 minutes for my pasta at ASMu because they literally forgot to make them for me, the list goes on.

 

[NotUrsula]

Anytime I need some "missing" hotel-supplied item (soap, pillows, etc.), I go ask for it in person. If they tell me they will send it up, I just tell them that it's no trouble and I'll wait for it right there. The item always comes very fast, because I'm not leaving my position at the desk until I get it.

If you are REALLY concerned about housekeeping leaving your door open or pilfering, go to housekeeping and sign a "no service" order, then leave your DND sign up at all times. You'll have to fetch your own clean linens and change the beds yourself, but some people feel that the added security makes that worthwhile.

 

[floridagirrl2]

Thanks for the tip! I tend to think Disney hotels are safe, too--we leave our laptop in the hotel room (feel it is safer there than in the car), and I have never locked up my medications, but I will start bringing my medications with me to the parks in my fanny pack.

I'm an RN, and I know people steal meds (and laptops! ), but I tend to think hotel room thefts happen fairly rarely. That is probably a naive attitude. Having my medications missing could definitely spoil my vacation (we generally go down on weekends, so it would be very difficult to get replacement meds without going to an expensive walk-in clinic).

Refusing housekeeping service does not always work to keep people out of your room--DH and I are pretty neat and clean, and we generally decline housekeeping service if we are only going to be in a hotel a couple of nights. When we we at the Dolphin a couple of weeks ago, housekeeping came in and cleaned our room even though we had a "do not disturb" sign on the doorknob (this has always worked for us in the past).

 

[snookhams]

i understand that this is what the law says, but i don't understand why. if the hotel leaves a door unlocked and something gets stolen, how come the hotel has no liability? they left the door open....

dj[/QUOTE]


DJ2 I would have thought this as well, after all you leave your room locked and therefor safe if it is unlocked at anytime and left unattended then surely it is the hoteliers responsibility it was there staff that left it unlocked!!

 

[bdcp]

Part of the reason hotels are not liable, is it's your word against theirs that you even had what you were claiming was stolen. This is standard hotel liability and if you ever notice, parking garages have the same policies. I've never stayed anywhere that this isn't stated in writing, which is the law. Believe it or not, people, even those vacationing at Disney have lied. It's naive to think that no one staying at Disney would ever steal anything.

And, if they accept liability, they open themselves up to massive and constant lawsuits that they could never win. When they do lose or settle, the wording in the agreement usually states liability for the one instance only. Hotel rates would also go up dramatically if they had to accept liability for everything ever taken from a room or a car parked there. It's economics.

Also, as far as safe's go, those dont' just walk away like your cash, jewelry, camera, meds can since they are easy to grab and run with. Safe's are usually bolted into the floor and would take a lot of work to remove.

 

[drumflower]

I feel it is odd that some other hotel guest knows WHEN they clean WHICH : rooms and WHEN the cleaning person is in the room and KNOW there are the right drugs in the room. It seems to me that it could be the housekeeping tipping other people off when they see certain things. Just because they work for Disney, it doesn't mean they are trustworthy. It could be the housekeeping wanting the drugs or wanting to sell them. Plus they KNOW that Disney isn't responsible for things missing in your room. What a plus for them! Please keep everything locked up that is of value!