Lost Items on rides????

[Goofy-n-Alabama]

I was just wondering how many people have lost an item (hat, wallet, shoe) on a ride at Disney and were you able to retrieve it??? My brother lost a Special Edition Donald hat on Splash Mountain one time and it was never heard from again. Also, after a while what is actually done with all the nick-nacks they collect at the lost and found that are never claimed??

[Gator]

I'll be suprised if anyone has had anything returned. I lost my RedSox hat on Splash Mountain. I checked back at the park 2 days later and nothing. I called back a week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks later...and still nothing. Pretty sure all that stuff is deposited in a little place called Reddy Creek Refuse and Disposal.

[plutosnana]

Never lost anything but I know that once I saw some lady who was French with her daughter, she was so mad that she didn't find her camera after soarin. The CM asked what row are you in? The girl said I DON'T KNOW. The CM just took it as a joke. When you ride BTM they look in the baskets before you leave if I remember right.

[joonyer]

I lost a hat on Splash mountain also. My own fault. Should have sat on it. Checked back for several days while we were still at WDW but it never turned up. It probably stayed underwater on the bottom somewhere until the attraction was drained for refurb.

[PiratesLifeForMe3]

At Test Track, we usually always found lost sunglasses, cell phones, wallets, even hats. If hats were lost outside sometimes it took a day to get it turned in, but most stuff was found at close or during open. The only stuff that never got turned in was articles that landed under the tires.

I'm not sure how much of a secret it is, if it is one at all, but all lost and found that is not claimed goes to a cast member exclusive store after 60 or 90 days and is available to purchase for very little cost. If you ever lose something valuable make sure he keep calling every day until it is returned to you. You wouldn't believe how many cast members are wearing 100 dollar sunglasses that were bought for 5 dollars at the store.

[Sunshine1010]

1. My husband left our entire backpack with EVERYTHING in it on a bus. We got it back 2 hours later.

2. My little boy forgot Pal Mickey on the Monorail. Got it back.

3. My little boy lost Pal Mickey AGAIN on a ride. Got it back hours later.

4. I lost my wallet w/$600 cash in it. Got it back one hour later.

[DizneyRox]

I'm not sure how much of a secret it is, if it is one at all, but all lost and found that is not claimed goes to a cast member exclusive store after 60 or 90 days and is available to purchase for very little cost.

I believe it's called "Property Contol"... Disney will sell anything it can. You'll find everything from guest clothing, cameras, sunglasses, old souvies, broken returns, damaged inventory, etc.

All fairly cheap... I think I paid about $20 for someones camera once. Tag said, like new, only dropped once. j/k

[hubbyofadisneyholic]

In August my m-i-l left her cell phone charger in the room when we switched resorts. She didn't realize it for a couple days. When we contacted "Lost & Found" they said to c'mon over and pick out one that fits the phone since they had dozens of them.

A few years ago my daughter left her backback on Buzz Lightyear. It had all her cash and room key in it and she was crushed. After checking with the ride CMs and City Hall, my wife went back to the ride about 2 hrs later and they had it.
Not a penny had been taken, everything was in it exactly the way she had it. In general I don't have very high expectations for people, but I guess in this instance the proverbial Disney Magic came into play.

[magicofdisney]

I've checked lost and found many times and have had about 50% of my stuff returned. Thankfully we've never lost anything of great value. Most items were less than $20.

[PiratesLifeForMe3]

I believe it's called "Property Contol"... Disney will sell anything it can. You'll find everything from guest clothing, cameras, sunglasses, old souvies, broken returns, damaged inventory, etc.

All fairly cheap... I think I paid about $20 for someones camera once. Tag said, like new, only dropped once. j/k

I never had the heart to go in and buy something that a guest lost or left behind (even though I browsed), but the broken/damaged store merchandise made great presents.

[ANG]

DH lost his hat on Slash Mountain.

And my toddler DS threw his shoe off the monorail.

[NJDad]

Daughter left stuff on Dinosaur. Realized it right away. They sent us to the photo area to find out what vehicle we were in, they waited until it cycled through the ride again and got the stuff out of the vehicle.

[Jillirose]

I left my wallet in the bathroom after checking out of WL. We went for breakfast at Chef Mickey's and right after my first cup of coffee, I realized that it was gone. I was panicked - we had to travel that day and my i.d. was in my wallet!

Our mousekeeper had found it and turned it in It did take awhile for us to reach lost and found - kept getting answering machine. And, it did take some time to get the blood pressure back down.

[mdhiggin]

DS left a backpack at WCC, and we got it back in a few hours. We weren't sure if it was at the restaurant or the boat from WL to MK, but they were very helpful at Guest Services.

[WDWdriver]

I believe it's called "Property Contol"... Disney will sell anything it can. You'll find everything from guest clothing, cameras, sunglasses, old souvies, broken returns, damaged inventory, etc.
j/k

Just a clarification if I may. We don't want to give the impression that found items are whisked away to be sold at Property Control. Found items are held at the ride location until the end of the day, and then transferred to a central lost and found area. High value items (cash, purses, wallets, cameras, etc) are turned over to a manager for safekeeping. All lost property is kept for a reasonable time, and in many cases owners are located even after they have returned home. Property Control is the final stop for items that still have some value, but have not been claimed by the owners.

[WDWdriver]

I lost a hat on Splash mountain also. My own fault. Should have sat on it. Checked back for several days while we were still at WDW but it never turned up. It probably stayed underwater on the bottom somewhere until the attraction was drained for refurb.

If you lose a hat on a water ride (Splash Mountain or Kali River Rapids) you are not likely to get it back. The powerful pumps that keep the water moving on these rides will chew up anything that gets into them.

[DizneyRox]

Just a clarification if I may.

And if I may ask, where does the money from Property Control go? Charity? Profit? That's always been a burning question...

[WDWdriver]

And if I may ask, where does the money from Property Control go? Charity? Profit? That's always been a burning question...

Good question. I don't know. Some certainly goes to staffing and operating Property Control itself. Beyond that, the money probably goes into the WDW general operating fund. I do know that unclaimed cash found at Animal Kingdom goes to Disney's Animal Conservation Fund charity which supports wildlife protection programs around the world.

BTW, as long as we are on the subject of Property Control, it is far more than a place to sell lost and found items. It is also an outlet for damaged, discontinued and overstocked merchandise from the various park stores. It's a good place for CMs to buy Disney merchandise at a substantial discount. It's a busy place in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

[Mufasa]

Proceeds from any items sold at Property Control are distributed to charities through Disney's community outreach and giving programs (DisneyHAND).

The State of Florida and California each have recommended guidelines on how long an item should be held to allow for it to be claimed- generally, 30 days for most things, but any items that are considered high value like jewelry, watches, etc are to be held for a minimum of 90 days from when they are logged into lost and found.

If items go unclaimed, then they get separated into different groups- items like strollers, wheelchairs or crutches, eyeglasses, or things like new stuffed animals are usually separated out and then given to charities with the remaining items sent off to property control.

[DizneyRox]

Proceeds from any items sold at Property Control are distributed to charities through Disney's community outreach and giving programs (DisneyHAND).

That's the answer I was hoping to hear... Thanks!