Okay, so I lost my phone on Loch Ness Monster on Thursday (Aug 1). In my defense, it was in my (deep) pocket, like it has been for every roller coaster I’ve been on for 15 years, and I had no reason to think it wasn’t secure. Anyway…
Yesterday, I GOT IT BACK! Despite this good fortune, the 24 hours in between were fraught with anxiety and uncertainty, so I wanted to share a little bit about the experience to help people who might lose their own phones in the future.
Tip 1: Fill Out the Lost and Found Form
These can be found at the exits of some of the rides. Scan the QR code and fill it out. I almost didn’t because I thought it would be a waste of time, but it was integral to having the phone returned.
Tip 2: Find My iPhone Can Be Misleading
After locating my phone near the water under Loch Ness, I was sure I wouldn’t get it back. What’s worse, every so often Apple would say my phone had been found, and show that it “moved” to other areas of the ride, only to have it return to the original location. So two things: (1) I don’t think my phone was ever down by the water, because I doubt they would have found it if it were, and (2) apparently, a lost phone will be reported “found” if someone else with an iPhone gets near it, then moves. What I think was actually happening was that either other riders were passing by my phone as they rode and causing the location to show up all through the ride OR my phone was actually on the ride and moving for that reason. Point is: don’t worry too much about what Find My iPhone says.
Tip 3: Wait for 11ish the Next Day
After I watched the phone barely move all night and the next morning, I lost hope. BUT THEN, at 11:23, the phone moved a lot. All the way to Italy (in the park, not the Mediterranean Sea). Then it moved to the parking lot. And THEN it moved to an employee parking lot behind Invadr/Royal Palace. In my confusion about what was going on, I searched this forum and found another person asking about a lost phone, and they had also tracked their phone to this same parking lot and provided a screenshot of the Find My iPhone data. Guess what time was posted in the upper right hand corner? 11:00 AM. My guess is that the rides keep their lost and found items and then a maintenance person makes their pick up rounds at 11:00ish. Speaking of that screenshot…
Tip 4: Look for the Black Building
On both the other person’s screen shot AND my own Find screen, the phone ended up ultimately at a large, square building in that employee lot behind Invadr. It looks black from overhead/Google Earth. Since I ultimately got it back, I now assume this is where they take lost phones. So, if your phone is lost, and it makes it to this place, it hasn’t been stolen by someone else. Busch Gardens has it!
Tip 5: Leave a Call Back Number on the Lock Screen
I don’t know how it works for other phones, but you can have a lost iPhone display a call back number. I did, and they actually used MY OWN PHONE to call that number directly. So if this is an option for you, I think it may save you some time of them having to look up your lost item report and contact you through that.
At the end of all that, someone will call you and have you come to the Welcome Center just inside the front gate to get your phone. They’ll have to get security to come get your phone out (the workers can’t do it). Then you’re done!
Anyway, I hope this info helps someone else who loses their phone and comes here looking for an answer, like I did. Thanks to Zachary for talking me through the whole process and whatever role he played in recovery!
Yesterday, I GOT IT BACK! Despite this good fortune, the 24 hours in between were fraught with anxiety and uncertainty, so I wanted to share a little bit about the experience to help people who might lose their own phones in the future.
Tip 1: Fill Out the Lost and Found Form
These can be found at the exits of some of the rides. Scan the QR code and fill it out. I almost didn’t because I thought it would be a waste of time, but it was integral to having the phone returned.
Tip 2: Find My iPhone Can Be Misleading
After locating my phone near the water under Loch Ness, I was sure I wouldn’t get it back. What’s worse, every so often Apple would say my phone had been found, and show that it “moved” to other areas of the ride, only to have it return to the original location. So two things: (1) I don’t think my phone was ever down by the water, because I doubt they would have found it if it were, and (2) apparently, a lost phone will be reported “found” if someone else with an iPhone gets near it, then moves. What I think was actually happening was that either other riders were passing by my phone as they rode and causing the location to show up all through the ride OR my phone was actually on the ride and moving for that reason. Point is: don’t worry too much about what Find My iPhone says.
Tip 3: Wait for 11ish the Next Day
After I watched the phone barely move all night and the next morning, I lost hope. BUT THEN, at 11:23, the phone moved a lot. All the way to Italy (in the park, not the Mediterranean Sea). Then it moved to the parking lot. And THEN it moved to an employee parking lot behind Invadr/Royal Palace. In my confusion about what was going on, I searched this forum and found another person asking about a lost phone, and they had also tracked their phone to this same parking lot and provided a screenshot of the Find My iPhone data. Guess what time was posted in the upper right hand corner? 11:00 AM. My guess is that the rides keep their lost and found items and then a maintenance person makes their pick up rounds at 11:00ish. Speaking of that screenshot…
Tip 4: Look for the Black Building
On both the other person’s screen shot AND my own Find screen, the phone ended up ultimately at a large, square building in that employee lot behind Invadr. It looks black from overhead/Google Earth. Since I ultimately got it back, I now assume this is where they take lost phones. So, if your phone is lost, and it makes it to this place, it hasn’t been stolen by someone else. Busch Gardens has it!
Tip 5: Leave a Call Back Number on the Lock Screen
I don’t know how it works for other phones, but you can have a lost iPhone display a call back number. I did, and they actually used MY OWN PHONE to call that number directly. So if this is an option for you, I think it may save you some time of them having to look up your lost item report and contact you through that.
At the end of all that, someone will call you and have you come to the Welcome Center just inside the front gate to get your phone. They’ll have to get security to come get your phone out (the workers can’t do it). Then you’re done!
Anyway, I hope this info helps someone else who loses their phone and comes here looking for an answer, like I did. Thanks to Zachary for talking me through the whole process and whatever role he played in recovery!
