Here’s why you should never leave anything of value left unattended at Disney World

It may seem obvious, but more people do it than you think.

Driving around Disney

While on vacation, you may want to let Disney handle getting you around on property and not consider driving. Of course, if you fly down to Orlando adding a rental is more costly. But, it can shave a lot of time off your travels! Here are some pros and cons.

Pros of Driving:

• Pack however much you need.
• Arrival and departure times are flexible.
• Gas and food to Florida can be cheaper than flights.
• See other destinations during your vacation.

Cons of Driving:

• It’s exhausting! Enough said. The longer the drive, the more tired you will be.
• You will need to tune-up on your personal vehicle.
• Delays can still put a damper on your plans. Construction, accidents, flat tires, and so many more variables can delay your arrival to Disney. You can check ahead of time to see if your route will be undergoing construction at all and plan accordingly.
• If staying offsite and parking at the parks, you will have to pay.

And, of course, there is another obvious disadvantage of driving…theft.

Theft

No one wants to think about their personal belongings being stolen at The Most Magical Place on Earth, but it does happen. A man was arrested this summer for stealing the keys from a Guest’s stroller at Epcot and then took items from the vehicle.

According to the court report, he was caught on surveillance video taking keys from an unattended stroller in the France pavilion of Epcot on July 21. In other videos, security saw the man locate the vehicle in the parking lot and move it a secluded spot.

From there, he rummaged through the vehicle looking for anything of value. When he was finished, he turned the vehicle off and left the parking lot in his own vehicle.

Hungry for more, he went to Hollywood Studios in an attempt to do the same. That is where authorities confronted and arrested him. It’s possible he may be linked to other instances of theft at Animal Kingdom and Epcot.

How to make sure this doesn’t happen to you

I know it is easy to think people are honest at Disney World and that real life problems don’t follow you there. However, that could not be further from the truth. My (Monica) own husband was a victim of theft from Disney World.

The biggest and best tip is to keep all items of value on you at all times. Ask yourself: if this was stolen would I miss it? If the answer is yes, make sure you take it with you on rides, in restaurants, to the restrooms, etc. Use a belt bag, small purse, or a backpack.

Ask yourself: if this was stolen would I miss it?

Has anything ever been stolen from you at Disney? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends.