theft

[Tab2Disney]

OK, I know this is a really bad subject at Disney World. But You kind of have to think about these things in a campground these days. Especially when your away from your belongings for a while.
So has anyone ever experienced any kind of theft at their campsite?
Minor or Major, and how long ago?

I know we can lock up the bikes, but I don't want to go overboard and lock down chairs too. My husband and son are used to leaving their shoes outside, should I worry that this is a bad idea? This is not a good time to have to shop for new shoes for the family!

Whatcha think?

 

[Tnbob]

The only thing I have ever heard of was from a man that was at the fort in December telling me a custom trailer that he had chained in the overflow lot was taken. I personally never had anything taken but there is always a chance.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I have heard about that trailer from the overflow lot also....I also heard that one site had some christmas decorations taken once...but considering the size of the campground, how many visitors there are, and the fact that everyone there is on vacation..AT DISNEY, theft is ALMOST non-existant. But you should always be smart...dont leave anything of real value(laptop flat screen tv)outside when you are at the parks....put the expensive stuff away in the camper or in your vehicle...out of site, out of mind. I would never even consider locking my camping chairs up...or worrying about the shoes....people are to busy enjoying the fort to be on the lookout for an extra pair of shoes. It might not be a bad idea to lock the bikes up when you leave for the parks...but Ive never heard of any problems of bike theft.

Do what you will feel comfortable with.....if NOT locking something up will make you worry about it in the back of your mind all day...then lock it up, but my opinion is that the Fort is probably the least of places to worry about theft at as far as campgrounds go.

 

[des1954]

One of my neighbors had a utility trailer stolen from the overflow lot.
Also - kids sometime raid coolers looking for beer.
Aside from that - I have never heard anyone having any trouble - and I've been camping at FtW since '74 (several times a year).

I would not invite trouble by leaving really valuable items in plain site (laptop, I-Pod, Game Boy), but regular camping stuff usually isn't bothered.

 

[clkelley]

I have never had a single thing touched camping at the Fort. I have tent camped without a car there where I could lock nothing up (had a locking footlocker inside the tent for the laptop) and now I have a T@B where most of my living is outside!! Obviously, the laptop, cameras, etc, get locked up when I'm away, but chairs, coolers, microwave, crockpot, minifridge, all set outside and nothing has ever been bothered.

 

[BradyBz12]

No problems here at all - and we leave chairs, grill, camp stove, etc. outside... even shoes.

We lock the TT when we leave - although the only really valuable item is the laptop... well and the dogs!

Never had a single problem with anything at all.

 

[2goofycampers]

They also have lock boxes at the front desk for small items to be safely stored during your stay.

I would lock up your bikes for sure, there have been bike thefts reported here before.


We got in the habit of bringing in our shoes when a cat at another CG decided to use them for a potty spot.

 

[Tricializ]

Never have I had anything stolen at FW. Or at Disney for that matter. Doesn't mean I'm not careful though as who knows who is looking for an opportunity? But I have to share these stories. Years ago, when I was overwhelmed with two little ones at Disney and the older (more helpful ones not there) I went to Blizzard beach with the kids and my mom. We put on sunscreen and headed to the lazy river. I got 1/2 way around and realized that I had taken off my wedding rings (let's just say a very good sized diamond in the center surrounded by diamonds) and left them right on my towel on a chair. I panicked, jumped off the lazy river and sprinted back to the chairs. There, gleaming in the sun, totally exposed were my rings. I couldn't believe it. I thought I was going to throw up. LOL

Also, on this trip, my brother had his little 2 year old leave her backpack by the magical express area in the airport. It had bunny blanket, some other little things and the girls' spending money (about 75.00) in it. Sure enough it got turned in.
I think the VAST majority of people are good and honest and probably even moreso in Disney. But lock up or don't bring what you can't live without. Now I travel without most of my jewelry and always lock the MH when I am gone. As for chairs, bits and bops etc. I don't care that much if I lose them. I figure if someone wants to steal those, then they must need them more than me.
Tricia

 

[mdoc]

We've never had anything taken at the Fort, and we're not good at locking things up. My D left her fanny pack in the storage area in the seatfront at Soarin', and while the fanny pack turned up at guest services, all the money and valuables inside were gone, so there's definitely theft at WDW.

 

[kc5grw]

Also - kids sometime raid coolers looking for beer.

Hmmm. I just had a whole flood of ideas as to how you might cure somebody of raiding other peoples coolers for beer. Well at least bottled beer.

 

[mjmoon]

We've never had anything taken at the Fort, and we're not good at locking things up. My D left her fanny pack in the storage area in the seatfront at Soarin', and while the fanny pack turned up at guest services, all the money and valuables inside were gone, so there's definitely theft at WDW.

It's unfortunate but anytime you have a bunch of people concentrated in one area there will be theft.. even at church functions where nobody but congregation members are in attendance have thefts. It's sad that there are so many dishonest people in the world.. and that Murphy seems to send them right to the spot where one may have inadvertently left out a valuable.. but that seems to be the case more often than not.

Karma will get them.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Hmmm. I just had a whole flood of ideas as to how you might cure somebody of raiding other peoples coolers for beer. Well at least bottled beer.

you are one twisted individual!!

 

[wdwbound]

Thefts in motorhomes do happen. My husband's cousin was there at the time they were renovating the cabins in the early 90's. His mistake was talking to someone on the bus about his plans for the day. They or someone who was a worker that came in evidently knew which motor home was his and they stole money and small electronic items. Never did find out who did the deed. His motor home was locked too. Didn't stop him from going back again, but it did stop his talking to others of his itinerary.

Nancy

 

[SewBzzzy]

Glad to hear this topic discussed. My husband and I wondered about theft at the Fort, too! We've never had anything taken at Disney, but in our 35+ years of camping, we've had one incident - kids taking a whole cooler of beer! The husband was more upset about the vintage green metal Coleman cooler they took than the beer!

I guess we should probably leave our little utility trailer that we'll be using to haul our golf cart at our site? Do you think it'd be safe with a lock on the hitch in the overflow lot?

 

[lisa8200]

Here's a concept to curb theft

 

[Shan-man]

Yeah! You leave the keys in it! I dare ya!

 

[dfchelbay]

Better safe that sorry I always say. We lock up the MH, lock all the storage bins, lock up the bikes. Grill is left out, as are chairs. I feel that I would be more mad at myself for leaving something out, unsecured as an easy target. I'd rather know that I at least attempted to secure my belongings safely. If someone is going to steal my stuff, I'm not going to make it easy for them.

 

[speedyoutlaw]

At a local amusement park everyone would leave their coolers on the picnic tables so thats what we would do also. Then one time when we went out for lunch our cooler was missing. We reported this to Guest Relations and they took a report as well as security. That was a little bit of inconvienience to leave the park and go to the nearest grocery store to buy some bread lunchmeat and chips but it didn't ruin our day. The very next day guest relations called us and they had found the cooler at the end of the day and they sent it back to us. Since then we leave our cooler in our truck and eat lunch out of the back of our vehicle.

 

[breick]

I had to report a theft once at Ft. Wilderness. Someone stole my motion-detector croaking frog from in front of my site in the 900 loop. All the kids walking by loved that thing! My guess is either the neighbors didn't like it (but it wasn't that loud) or the teenagers looping around did. I did purchase a replacement and now I chain it up. Also woke up to suntan lotion sprayed all over the front of the van once. I attributed that to teenagers also or maybe it was otters?

 

[29bhs]

Spring break 06,we were in loop 100,someone took a bike. By the time security came, and I was filing a report, the dw and kids found it at pioneer hall by the arcade. , we stole it back.... once again SPRING BREAK ...