How do you keep your money/valuables safe while at Disney?

[frostedpink]

After having my credit card number stolen recently (after booking reservations for Disney both online and via phone..hmmm?) I am trying to brainstorm ideas on how to keep my stuff safe while there. Specifically I'm thinking:

- Hotel safes.....are they really "safe" from the housekeeping staff?
- Should I use Disney Dollars rather than a credit card?
- What sort of purse/bag do you use to carry around your room keys, credit cards, etc while at the parks? DH won't allow me to buy a fanny pack, so I have to come up with something else.
- Should I buy one of those RFID protective wallets/sleeves for my credit card?

 

[Robo]

After having my credit card number stolen recently (after booking reservations for Disney both online and via phone..hmmm?) I am trying to brainstorm ideas on how to keep my stuff safe while there. Specifically I'm thinking:

1- Hotel safes.....are they really "safe" from the housekeeping staff?
2- Should I use Disney Dollars rather than a credit card?
3 - What sort of purse/bag do you use to carry around your room keys, credit cards, etc while at the parks? DH won't allow me to buy a fanny pack, so I have to come up with something else.
4 - Should I buy one of those RFID protective wallets/sleeves for my credit card?

1- About as "safe" as anyone can expect. Nothing (including a bank vault) is 100%.
2- They are no more or less "safe" than using cash.
3- Wallet in pocket.
4- If that's something you'd like to do.

 

[rwdavis2]

Won't allow you to buy a fanny pack? For what reason?

Anyway, we carry all of our credit cards with us at all times. In our pockets. There's no difference between Disney Dollars and cash. If you lose it, it's gone.

I use the room safe for camera storage and presciptions meds. We had a bag of meds (sitting in the bathroom) stolen at the Contemporary some time ago and they could not have cared less. So now we take better care with them.

When you check in have the desk tie your credit card to the room key. That way if the card gets demagnitized the room key could be a backup.

You could also lock things in a suit case although the suit case could get stolen. Just don't leave anything in plain view. I'm sure most thefts are ones of opportunity. Some guest or maid goes by an open room being cleaned, sees something, and grabs it.

 

[CatNipRules]

After having my credit card number stolen recently (after booking reservations for Disney both online and via phone..hmmm?) I am trying to brainstorm ideas on how to keep my stuff safe while there. Specifically I'm thinking:

- Hotel safes.....are they really "safe" from the housekeeping staff?
- Should I use Disney Dollars rather than a credit card?
- What sort of purse/bag do you use to carry around your room keys, credit cards, etc while at the parks? DH won't allow me to buy a fanny pack, so I have to come up with something else.
- Should I buy one of those RFID protective wallets/sleeves for my credit card?

I have never used a room safe. Simply because I'm not sure how "safe" they really are.

I've bought Disney gift cards. I know that they are 100% safe, but I feel better using them.

I use a fanny pack.

I did buy 3 of the RFID sleeves. Simply because I'm paranoid and want to be safe.

 

[frostedpink]

DH thinks fanny packs are geeky. But honestly...after the upsetting event of having my credit card used fraudulently, I really don't care if I look like a geek. I would rather be safe.

I never thought about Disney dollars = same as cash. Duh. Ok, I guess that answers that question then.

 

[frostedpink]

Catnip - Where do you buy the RFID sleeves? Like Target/Walmart?

 

[Gorechick]

You can always have stuff stored in a deposit box at the front desk.

 

[CatNipRules]

Catnip - Where do you buy the RFID sleeves? Like Target/Walmart?

I got them online. I ordered it from Zappos.com, but they do have them on Walmart's website. I live in a small town so they aren't available at my local Walmart. You can check out their website and see if they are available. If not, they do have quick shipping available.

There's nothing wrong with being safe rather than sorry.

Oh and for looking Geeky, I'm all for the geek look. LOL!! You can always cover it up with a t-shirt or you could find one at the gift shops. That way, it's a souveineir and not just a fanny pack. LOL!!

 

[cluvsdisney]

1. We use the room safe for extra cash, our wallets, etc. (touch wood) There hasn't been a problem with that yet. We keep Rx in a drawer and we generally keep valuables out of view if we are on the ground floor but otherwise we don't worry about it so much. We are DVC so it's rare someone would be in the room in the first place.

2. I am very anti Disney $$ since it can only be used in Disney, same for disney gift cards. If you want something with some protection I would suggest travelers checks or visa/mc/amex gift cards.

3. I use a wristlet to hold my tickets, ID, room keys, camera or phone, etc when I go to the parks - it's large enough to hold what I need but I can be hands free if I need to and can be easily secured on rides if necessary.

4. That might be a good idea just to protect your cards from being demagnitized or compromised.

 

[KeroKero]

We've never had a problem with storing things in our room safe. We also don't bring a ton of things with us that need to be kept locked up. When we're in the parks for the day ipods, tablets, passports etc are kept in the safe.

For the parks, I use a small-medium sized cross body bag to keep a small wallet with necessities in it, camera and small emergency kit (meds, band aids etc).

I've never had an issue with theft, but yes it does happen. Just be careful and aware of your surroundings.

 

[dixiegirl]

DH and I always use the room safe and have never had a problem. If you lose the key to the room safe they have to come and replace the lock as there is not a "spare" key. Had this happen one year at POR. (DH lost the key).

Credit card is safer to me than cash or debit card. We always attach our CC to our room key. I have had my CC numbers stolen several times now - and that's why I check my balances pretty much daily to make sure there is nothing odd out there so it can be nipped in the bud quickly.

I did buy RFID sleeves and a strip for my wallet - can't remember off hand the name of the company but it was thru an online search. Got 2 card sleeves and a strip in a package deal. Was very reasonable in price and figured it can only help.

 

[LilyWDW]

After having my credit card number stolen recently (after booking reservations for Disney both online and via phone..hmmm?) I am trying to brainstorm ideas on how to keep my stuff safe while there. Specifically I'm thinking:

- Hotel safes.....are they really "safe" from the housekeeping staff?
- Should I use Disney Dollars rather than a credit card?
- What sort of purse/bag do you use to carry around your room keys, credit cards, etc while at the parks? DH won't allow me to buy a fanny pack, so I have to come up with something else.
- Should I buy one of those RFID protective wallets/sleeves for my credit card?

Well, to start, there is really no way of knowing when or where your card number was stolen unless there is a large number of instances that can be tracked to the same place and time. It could have been compromised months ago and just now has been used.

There is no need to worry too much as long as you take some basic precautions. I use the hotel safe. I would never use Disney Dollars rather then a CC or cash because those Disney Dollars can only be used at Disney. I carry a cross body bag in the parks with everything in it. There is no reason to use RFID protective items for CCs unless you happen to have one of the few that has upgraded to that.

 

[BRG226]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question- what is an RFID sleeve?

 

[CatNipRules]

There is no reason to use RFID protective items for CCs unless you happen to have one of the few that has upgraded to that.

What about for Disney gift cards? Don't they have an RFID chip in them??? Just wondering and curious more than anything.....

 

[cmpeter]

I have used something like this for trips to DL and other amusement parks. I plan on using it for WDW too.

http://www.rei.com/product/773355/osprey-veer-vertical-shoulder-bag

I agree that fanny packs can be dorky, but I wouldn't let my husband tell me I couldn't get one. Mine has one and will bring it to WDW for our trip...he's not sure if he will use it or his backpack...guess we'll find out after we try lugging a backpack full of junk the parks the first day.

We use the hotel safe for our electronics. We don't carry a bunch of cash as we tend to use our Amex for almost everything on vacation.

 

[frostedpink]

Well, to start, there is really no way of knowing when or where your card number was stolen unless there is a large number of instances that can be tracked to the same place and time. It could have been compromised months ago and just now has been used.

That's true, i can't say for sure it was stolen from my Disney transactions. However...wouldn't thieves try to use the cc number as soon as possible, b/c they know the number is active? I was assuming was from one of my most recent transactions.

 

[3littlecuties]

My DH had his debit card and credit card numbers both stolen back in November (we tracked it to an online purchase). Then I had my credit card number stolen a few months ago (no idea how that happened). Then just a few weeks ago, my DH had his identity stolen. I thought the stolen credit cards numbers were a pain but that was nothing compared to having his identity stolen. That said, we have had many discussions about security lately.

We have used hotel safes many times with no issues.

I use a purse with a long strap that can be worn across my chest. That way I don't have to worry about it falling off or getting lost as I would have to lift it over my head to get it off. It is small and I only carry essentials in it so it isn't a problem to take on rides or anything.

We have been discussing the RFID protection.

 

[beansmom]

lily is right. You have no idea where a cc # is stolen...i have had card #s 'stolen' before when they were always right in my pocket. I kind of think the crooks generate random cc# until the hit a good one. Someone from CA used my debit card to try to make purchases and i almost NEVER use that card even to get cash. So they didn't 'steal' it, they made it up. Same with our american express...we were in NJ and it was 'stolen' someplace in Indiana. I never lost possession of my card in Dallas while i was there but SOMEONE got the number there and bought $1000 worth of pet supplies in Dallas. I don't even have a pet.

we travel with laptops, cameras, etc, all the time and have never had a problem at Disney (or any other hotel for that matter). I'm sure it does happen...just never has happened to us. *knock on wood*.

the problem is credit card fraud is a quick, EASYway for thieves to make money and you are never safe.

 

[rwdavis2]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question- what is an RFID sleeve?

Many credit cards now have a small chip in them that is activated when it if stimulated by a very week radio signal. The chip then sends cc info to the device stimulating it. This means you can wave the card in front of reader instead of swiping it.

The sleeve prevents someone with a hidden RFID stimulator from reading your card. For example, they walk up behind you with the reader and read the RFID through your pants/wallet without your knowledge.

 

[frostedpink]

My DH had his debit card and credit card numbers both stolen back in November (we tracked it to an online purchase). Then I had my credit card number stolen a few months ago (no idea how that happened). Then just a few weeks ago, my DH had his identity stolen. I thought the stolen credit cards numbers were a pain but that was nothing compared to having his identity stolen. That said, we have had many discussions about security lately.

Oh my gosh, that is so scary. How did they steal his identity? What kinds of accounts did they open? How did you find out?

Stories like that scare me big time!