Wedding ring missing from Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Villa

[Sir_Cliff]

Disney did conduct an investigation when 2 cast were looked into in rooms that they cleaned that guests reported items missing. Law enforcement then got involved set up future sting operation to catch the 2 cast which they did.

But that just goes to show that they have some system in place for detecting if a pattern is emerging. That makes a lot more sense than conducting any kind of extensive investigation or questioning based on single reports which, again, are likely coming in multiple times a day at every hotel on property.

 

[VicariousCorpse]

Disney did conduct an investigation when 2 cast were looked into in rooms that they cleaned that guests reported items missing. Law enforcement then got involved set up future sting operation to catch the 2 cast which they did.

Right, because they had multiple investigations that placed them at previous thefts. They didn't ask them about the thefts, they just had them clean a room with money in it with cameras.

 

[Lilofan]

Right, because they had multiple investigations that placed them at previous thefts. They didn't ask them about the thefts, they just had them clean a room with money in it with cameras.

How do you know cast were not asked on previous incidents after it happened? Where is the proof?

 

[VicariousCorpse]

How do you know cast were not asked on previous incidents after it happened? Where is the proof?

They called it an undercover sting operation. They don't call it that when you have detectives openly asking questions.

 

[lewisc]

JMO there is a big difference between CMs stealing ftom guests, occassionally from the safe, and stuff left behind by a former guest. A guest who checked out is a former guest.

 

[JIMINYCR]

JMO there is a big difference between CMs stealing ftom guests, occassionally from the safe, and stuff left behind by a former guest. A guest who checked out is a former guest.

Well Disney doesnt have a policy that says any item left behind in a room by a guest that has checked out can be automatically claimed as the property of a mousekeeper. The rings still are the property of the OP and they ( if discovered by a mousekeeper) should have been taken as lost and found property. Seeing as the former occupant of the room clearly left the rings behind and no other guest had checked in yet, the items were obviously owned by the OP.

 

[Tom P.]

I think Disney generally does a very good job of attempting to locate, and return, lost items. Of course human nature is what it is and there's always the possibility that someone steals something. But most of the time, things just get lost and Disney does their best to find them.

Some years back, my son lost his beloved stuffed puppy, which he takes with him everywhere to this day, apparently on a ride at the Magic Kingdom. We assumed it was gone for good. He was devastated. We reported it, but didn't think much would happen. We later were notified that the Disney staff had found it. It had apparently dropped down in an area of the ride track or whatnot and got covered in grease. Not only did Disney find it, but they professionally cleaned it and shipped it back to us.

Disney is not always the bad guy.

 

[erstwo]

Very sorry to hear of your ring loss.

Unfortunately you have done all that you can do, except continue to hope the rings will be found. I’d like to say Disney will do everything they can to help but I can’t. Over the years my family has unintentionally left behind several items (a journal in a drawer, a pillow with a distinctive case, a bag) which we reported within a couple hours of vacating the room. None were ever recovered and we never received a “sorry” from anyone.

Is this under the old lost and found system or the new one? I had several things returned to me under the 'old' (2006-2018ish??) system, but since the new reporting system, I've had no luck.

In non-Disney hotels, I do find that tipping can sometimes make a difference in whether my lost items are found. Sometimes I don't have enough cash to leave a generous tip on check out day. If I forget something on one of those check out days - I usually just let it go (if it's not sentimental or valuable) because I figure housekeeping tossed it. No incentive to be kind to me and track my stuff. Not saying it's right. Just saying it's my experience.
I was lucky enough to have cash to leave a good tip over the weekend when I checked out of my hotel in NYC on Sunday. Yesterday morning I remembered I had left a dress hanging in the closet. I called them up and - yep - they had my dress. It's shipping back to me today.

I hope they find the OPs rings!

 

[helenasue]

Is this under the old lost and found system or the new one? I had several things returned to me under the 'old' (2006-2018ish??) system, but since the new reporting system, I've had no luck.

In non-Disney hotels, I do find that tipping can sometimes make a difference in whether my lost items are found. Sometimes I don't have enough cash to leave a generous tip on check out day. If I forget something on one of those check out days - I usually just let it go (if it's not sentimental or valuable) because I figure housekeeping tossed it. No incentive to be kind to me and track my stuff. Not saying it's right. Just saying it's my experience.
I was lucky enough to have cash to leave a good tip over the weekend when I checked out of my hotel in NYC on Sunday. Yesterday morning I remembered I had left a dress hanging in the closet. I called them up and - yep - they had my dress. It's shipping back to me today.

I hope they find the OPs rings!

Unfortunately, in my case it doesn't seem to have helped. We stayed one night and tipped $20 (and I pre-cleaned the room myself).

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

My wife left her pillow when we checked out --never got it back

We left an inexpensive pillow behind a few years ago (though not on WDW property), and the hotel called us within minutes of our departure to let us know. I was very impressed, especially because it was just an inexpensive pillow and a roadside motel. From arrival to departure the service was excellent and far better than many pricier hotels I've visited, but the phone call especially impressed us! I mean I sorta think pay more/get more service, but that isn't always the case. The staff went above and beyond!

As for WDW, we have sometimes left something in the room and not heard boo, but one time the hotel staff was quickly able to locate a purse-type bag that was left behind by an extended family member. We called the hotel's lost and found. They said if we had not called, they would have mailed the bag.

My crazy story is one time a member of my extended family dropped a light-up toy as we were boarding the monorail. It fell under the monorail. I presumed it was lost for good/broken, but talked to a CM at the next station on a lark. Sure enough, a few days later it was waiting for us at the Lost and Found by MK! It worked just fine! Amazing!

So, it is still possible the ring will turn up. I hope it does!

 

[Ghostdog]

That would be devastating, I hope your rings are turned in and you get them back.

 

[GigglesMcSnort]

JMO there is a big difference between CMs stealing ftom guests, occassionally from the safe, and stuff left behind by a former guest. A guest who checked out is a former guest.

Are you honestly suggesting that it's ok for housekeeping to steal guests' belongings that they accidentally left behind when they checked out?

It's not finder's keeper's, those things still very obviously belong to the guest (former or otherwise).

 

[The Mom]

I once "lost" a piece of jewelry that I assumed I had left behind in my room, and the hotel had been unable to find it. When a friend told me to check the lining of my suitcase I thought he was crazy, because I didn't remember putting it in the suitcase at all.

That's where I found it!!! I must have put it loose into my suitcase at some point.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Are you honestly suggesting that it's ok for housekeeping to steal guests' belongings that they accidentally left behind when they checked out?

It's not finder's keeper's, those things still very obviously belong to the guest (former or otherwise).

To be fair there is a huge difference between diamond earrings taken off your dresser or in a safe being stolen by staff while you are staying at the hotel, and diamond earrings that a guest thinks they left on the bathroom sink being thrown out, accidentally falling into the drain during cleaning..or even, yes pocketed, after the guest checked out, at least from a legal standpoint and how any police detective would investigate it.

 

[Skibum1970]

To be fair there is a huge difference between diamond earrings taken off your dresser or in a safe being stolen by staff while you are staying at the hotel, and diamond earrings that a guest thinks they left on the bathroom sink being thrown out, accidentally falling into the drain during cleaning..or even, yes pocketed, after the guest checked out, at least from a legal standpoint and how any police detective would investigate it.

Agreed. I would not consider that stealing, per se. Yes, the best result would be the staff contacting the assigned team to contact the guest who just checked out. However, what if the person who just checked out was not the actual owner of the ring because it was the prior guest? It gets messy very quickly. I feel very bad for the OP losing a ring and don't want that being misconstrued. I just don't think that the housecleaning staff can be held responsible for something that happened after a guest checked out.

 

[The Mom]

To be fair there is a huge difference between diamond earrings taken off your dresser or in a safe being stolen by staff while you are staying at the hotel, and diamond earrings that a guest thinks they left on the bathroom sink being thrown out, accidentally falling into the drain during cleaning..or even, yes pocketed, after the guest checked out, at least from a legal standpoint and how any police detective would investigate it.

Perhaps it wouldn't be a crime to pocket it, but IMO it would still be immoral - especially if there is a good chance that the owner could be identified and located.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Perhaps it wouldn't be a crime to pocket it, but IMO it would still be immoral - especially if there is a good chance that the owner could be identified and located.

Totally agree

 

[Bullseye1967]

To be fair there is a huge difference between diamond earrings taken off your dresser or in a safe being stolen by staff while you are staying at the hotel, and diamond earrings that a guest thinks they left on the bathroom sink being thrown out, accidentally falling into the drain during cleaning..or even, yes pocketed, after the guest checked out, at least from a legal standpoint and how any police detective would investigate it.

Agreed. I would not consider that stealing, per se. Yes, the best result would be the staff contacting the assigned team to contact the guest who just checked out. However, what if the person who just checked out was not the actual owner of the ring because it was the prior guest? It gets messy very quickly. I feel very bad for the OP losing a ring and don't want that being misconstrued. I just don't think that the housecleaning staff can be held responsible for something that happened after a guest checked out.

Perhaps it wouldn't be a crime to pocket it, but IMO it would still be immoral - especially if there is a good chance that the owner could be identified and located.

As someone that was a LEO with Osceola CSO. Under Florida law, if you find something of value, you are required to report it to the authorities. If you do not it is considered theft. The law can be subjective. Is half a bottle of shampoo or a six pack or beer left in a hotel room of value? Obviously not, but a laptop, cell phone or wedding rings definitely is. There is a lot of grey areas.

Florida Statute requires people to report finding lost or abandoned property to law enforcement, and to return it if asked. This applies to all items, including valuable items like jewelry or electronics and less valuable items like bicycles. If the finder doesn't report the item or return it, it's considered theft. The finder becomes the owner of the property after 90 days if the owner is not found.

705.102 Reporting lost or abandoned property.—
(1) Whenever any person finds any lost or abandoned property, such person shall report the description and location of the property to a law enforcement officer.
(2) The law enforcement officer taking the report shall ascertain whether the person reporting the property wishes to make a claim to it if the rightful owner cannot be identified or located. If the person does wish to make such claim, he or she shall deposit with the law enforcement agency a reasonable sum sufficient to cover the agency’s cost for transportation, storage, and publication of notice. This sum shall be reimbursed to the finder by the rightful owner should he or she identify and reclaim the property.
(3) It is unlawful for any person who finds any lost or abandoned property to appropriate the same to his or her own use or to refuse to deliver the same when required.
(4) Any person who unlawfully appropriates such lost or abandoned property to his or her own use or refuses to deliver such property when required commits theft as defined in s. 812.014, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

As someone that was a LEO with Osceola CSO. Under Florida law, if you find something of value, you are required to report it to the authorities. If you do not it is considered theft. The law can be subjective. Is half a bottle of shampoo or a six pack or beer left in a hotel room of value? Obviously not, but a laptop, cell phone or wedding rings definitely is. There is a lot of grey areas.

Florida Statute requires people to report finding lost or abandoned property to law enforcement, and to return it if asked. This applies to all items, including valuable items like jewelry or electronics and less valuable items like bicycles. If the finder doesn't report the item or return it, it's considered theft. The finder becomes the owner of the property after 90 days if the owner is not found.

705.102 Reporting lost or abandoned property.—
(1) Whenever any person finds any lost or abandoned property, such person shall report the description and location of the property to a law enforcement officer.
(2) The law enforcement officer taking the report shall ascertain whether the person reporting the property wishes to make a claim to it if the rightful owner cannot be identified or located. If the person does wish to make such claim, he or she shall deposit with the law enforcement agency a reasonable sum sufficient to cover the agency’s cost for transportation, storage, and publication of notice. This sum shall be reimbursed to the finder by the rightful owner should he or she identify and reclaim the property.
(3) It is unlawful for any person who finds any lost or abandoned property to appropriate the same to his or her own use or to refuse to deliver the same when required.
(4) Any person who unlawfully appropriates such lost or abandoned property to his or her own use or refuses to deliver such property when required commits theft as defined in s. 812.014, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

How many folks got arrested for not reporting jewelry they found? I am not saying it isn't a law, but, how enforceable is this?

 

[GigglesMcSnort]

How many folks got arrested for not reporting jewelry they found? I am not saying it isn't a law, but, how enforceable is this?

There's a big difference between finding something on the street and finding something in a hotel room as an employee of that establishment. In both cases, the right thing to do is to take whatever steps are reasonable to help try to reunite the item with its owner, but what's reasonable is very different in each case (and depending on the value of the item).

It's pretty astonishing that there are people here arguing there's nothing wrong with housekeeping stealing guest's belongings that they accidentally forgot in their room after checking out. Can we assume people saying this would be perfectly happy forgetting a credit card or passport or treasured possession in your room and never seeing it again because, hey you checked out, so you're not going to expect anybody to report it, are you.