Aggressive Housekeeping Checks (and Singing) at Copper Creek

[Lsdolphin]

I am fully aware of the reason for the daily ”security” checks but I just don’t understand what they are actually checking....obviously if a guest had anything dangerous it wouldn’t be sitting out in plain sight and supposedly security doesn’t open drawers or luggage...so what is the point of walking into room flipping the lights on and off in the bathroom and leaving?! During one of my visits I was asked to step out of room while housekeeper entered my room for security check.

 

[zavandor]

Yes he was wearing one and I knew him from previous days but that didn't lessen the fear factor.
Let's say it was total coincidence and the 2 minutes he went in to collect trash crossed my arrival. There should have been something to alert me there was someone inside.
I have traveled to Disney many times and never once felt like I felt in that interaction.
Thankfully we transferred to Boardwalk shortly thereafter.
Again, could have been handled better and I dont blame him bc it could be lack of protocols or training on Disney's part.

You make a very good point. I'm not annoyed by the daily trash collection. Ok, maybe a bit if I'm napping and they wake me up, however I understand they must do it for whatever reason (probably insurance). However I would freak out if I open the door and find someone inside. Even if it's just for 5 seconds before realizing who they are, it wouldn't be pleasant. If they don't have a cart outside the door, they should have a "Housekeeping in progress" sign to hung on the door handle. It would take one second to put it on and take it off.

 

[Sandisw]

I am fully aware of the reason for the daily ”security” checks but I just don’t understand what they are actually checking....obviously if a guest had anything dangerous it wouldn’t be sitting out in plain sight and supposedly security doesn’t open drawers or luggage...so what is the point of walking into room flipping the lights on and off in the bathroom and leaving?! During one of my visits I was asked to step out of room while housekeeper entered my room for security check.

It allows them to say they did a visual inspection of the room and be able to confirm they didn't see anything of concern out in plain sight. Of course, it won't catch those things that someone is trying to hide, but I think its more for insurance reasons now than anything else...

 

[Lsdolphin]

It allows them to say they did a visual inspection of the room and be able to confirm they didn't see anything of concern out in plain sight. Of course, it won't catch those things that someone is trying to hide, but I think its more for insurance reasons now than anything else...

You’re probably right but it certainly is a pain when they come banging on the door!

 

[lowlight]

I don't mind most security theater (security that makes you feel good, but doesn't actually make you any safer), but this tops my list of annoying security theater. It's right up there with Costco treating every customer that leaves their store like a criminal, instead of actually trying to catch the real criminals who rob them blind.

 

[dcfromva]

It allows them to say they did a visual inspection of the room and be able to confirm they didn't see anything of concern out in plain sight. Of course, it won't catch those things that someone is trying to hide, but I think its more for insurance reasons now than anything else...

They must have different insurance for VGC. As I mentioned upthread--they have not done the checks there for whatever reason since COVID.

And, I actually do like having the trash emptied daily. What I don't like is having the room available all day but then this task is done whenever it is convenient for the staff (like when I am in my pajamas getting ready to go to bed, for example). I don't know if it is a training issue or what. I always used to be amazed at how they always seemed to know when we were not in the room and we would come back and everything was all done like magic.
Now, not so much.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't mind most security theater (security that makes you feel good, but doesn't actually make you any safer), but this tops my list of annoying security theater.

I'd say there's some real value in NOT having WDW resorts identified as high profile locations where evil-doers can have 3-4 days of uninterrupted privacy for staging purposes. There's a big difference between hiding things and hoping they aren't discovered vs knowing with 99% certainty that no staff member will enter the room for 3 full days after check-in.

The irony is that the longer Disney goes without anything happening, the easier it is to claim that their security measures are pointless.

I wish there were a better way to prompt housekeeping as to when we're leaving the room. Maybe something in the mobile app. But that seems equal parts cumbersome + helpful. Late morning would probably be the ideal time to visit occupied rooms. Low risk of waking people and most are probably gone to the theme parks. But it's also when they want to be focusing on the vacated rooms so that new arrivals have a clean villa waiting.

 

[What-r-ya Goofy?]

I am fully aware of the reason for the daily ”security” checks but I just don’t understand what they are actually checking....obviously if a guest had anything dangerous it wouldn’t be sitting out in plain sight and supposedly security doesn’t open drawers or luggage...so what is the point of walking into room flipping the lights on and off in the bathroom and leaving?! During one of my visits I was asked to step out of room while housekeeper entered my room for security check.

It was my understanding that they are also checking for possible human trafficking situations. It's sad to think that sort of thing could go on at DW, but I suspect that they have their reasons to be concerned.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I am fully aware of the reason for the daily ”security” checks but I just don’t understand what they are actually checking....obviously if a guest had anything dangerous it wouldn’t be sitting out in plain sight and supposedly security doesn’t open drawers or luggage...so what is the point of walking into room flipping the lights on and off in the bathroom and leaving?! During one of my visits I was asked to step out of room while housekeeper entered my room for security check.

Exactly what I was thinking too.

 

[zavandor]

I'd say there's some real value in NOT having WDW resorts identified as high profile locations where evil-doers can have 3-4 days of uninterrupted privacy for staging purposes. There's a big difference between hiding things and hoping they aren't discovered vs knowing with 99% certainty that no staff member will enter the room for 3 full days after check-in.

The irony is that the longer Disney goes without anything happening, the easier it is to claim that their security measures are pointless.

I wish there were a better way to prompt housekeeping as to when we're leaving the room. Maybe something in the mobile app. But that seems equal parts cumbersome + helpful. Late morning would probably be the ideal time to visit occupied rooms. Low risk of waking people and most are probably gone to the theme parks. But it's also when they want to be focusing on the vacated rooms so that new arrivals have a clean villa waiting.

They might be able to know if someone is inside with magicbands, but it probably an application like this would be seen (with quite some merit, actually) as too invasive of one's privacy.

 

[Sandisw]

They must have different insurance for VGC. As I mentioned upthread--they have not done the checks there for whatever reason since COVID.

And, I actually do like having the trash emptied daily. What I don't like is having the room available all day but then this task is done whenever it is convenient for the staff (like when I am in my pajamas getting ready to go to bed, for example). I don't know if it is a training issue or what. I always used to be amazed at how they always seemed to know when we were not in the room and we would come back and everything was all done like magic.
Now, not so much.

Except how do you know they have not done the checks? Not emptying the trash doesn't mean no one went in and entered. It is not always housekeeping who does them...it can be others. We have been fortunate that we have not experienced the knocks on the doors and they were done when we were out of the rooms...but once, I did have a manager type person come in quick, look, and leave...no emptying of the trash was done....

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Unpopular theory:

It also allows them to see which units are being occupied by the people who leave th eunit in such condition that it takes 4+ hours to clean it up at checkout, and help plan for that.

 

[dcfromva]

Except how do you know they have not done the checks? Not emptying the trash doesn't mean no one went in and entered. It is not always housekeeping who does them...it can be others. We have been fortunate that we have not experienced the knocks on the doors and they were done when we were out of the rooms...but once, I did have a manager type person come in quick, look, and leave...no emptying of the trash was done....

It is possible--but, if so why can't they employ the same techniques at WDW so we don't even know they were there?

I think the discussion point the OP was making is not whether or not they are necessary or even why they are necessary. The point is the "sometimes", the checks interfere with the quiet enjoyment of the room. Personally, I believe they could do better.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I understand why they do it, however we too stop back in the afternoon for a rest and then the knocks start. I usually nap on the sofa so I can answer the door. It basically ruins our day. Again, I understand why...but I hate it.

 

[Gary2T]

We always put the occupied sign on the door, and lock the upper latch and the deadbolt when we are in the room. We also always remove the occupied sign when we leave the room.

Spent 3 nights at PVB this month. We had room check/trash ninjas. Never saw or heard them, but the trash disappeared daily.

Then moved to BWV 1bd for 6 nights. Actually got a room ready text around 12:50pm! First time we ever had a BWV room ready before 4pm. Usually we get late rooms there it seems. 3 of the 5 full days the trash and room check were magically done. One day we got a call noting that our room had the occupied sign on the door, and asking when would be a good time to stop and do the service. The other day full day we got another call about the occupied sign asking when would be a good time to do trash and towels. I told them that trash had already been taken that day, and we were left new towels the day before. We were not disturbed on check out day, but we did leave around 8:30am.

We also spent 3 nights at BWV in June and never had a knock on the door, and trash was always taken at some point. Didn't leave the room until 10:55am on check out day and never got the door knock.

 

[Sandisw]

It is possible--but, if so why can't they employ the same techniques at WDW so we don't even know they were there?

I think the discussion point the OP was making is not whether or not they are necessary or even why they are necessary. The point is the "sometimes", the checks interfere with the quiet enjoyment of the room. Personally, I believe they could do better.

I haven’t encountered what the OP did so can’t comment on that since most time we didn’t even know they had come.

But I do think that having a sign to hand on the door when the come in so no one gets startled will be a good thing.

 

[disneyseniors]

I am fully aware of the reason for the daily ”security” checks but I just don’t understand what they are actually checking....obviously if a guest had anything dangerous it wouldn’t be sitting out in plain sight and supposedly security doesn’t open drawers or luggage...so what is the point of walking into room flipping the lights on and off in the bathroom and leaving?! During one of my visits I was asked to step out of room while housekeeper entered my room for security check.

They are also checking for illegal sex trafficking, but use the LV incident for explanation. It's also disturbing to think that kind of thing goes on at disney, but apparently it does. I think they look for evidence of kids in the room, things like that. Of course, being disney, there are going to be lots of kids in the rooms,.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Except how do you know they have not done the checks? Not emptying the trash doesn't mean no one went in and entered. It is not always housekeeping who does them...it can be others. We have been fortunate that we have not experienced the knocks on the doors and they were done when we were out of the rooms...but once, I did have a manager type person come in quick, look, and leave...no emptying of the trash was done....

Exactly. And I wrongly assumed my room was checked during the 8-10 hours I was out every day.

I said NO THANKS when they knocked first few nights to ask to take trash...I took out my trash every day.
3 days before check-out I recd a VERY NASTY call that a Mngr would knock IMMEDIATELY since I had "refused" security checks.
It was the really wonderful Housekeeping Mngr who explained his very polite staff was trained to ask for trash instead of calling it a security check. I apologized for my misunderstanding & he said he'd follow up with Front Desk to address that really upsetting accusatory phone call.
But I also said THEY should leave a note when they completed room check. And as a solo traveler I should NOT be forced to answer an unsolicited knock at nite.

During the week I visited friends at the Poly. There were MANY post-it notes on doors like "WE ARE NAPPING/SLEEPING! DO NOT KNOCK!

There has to be a better way!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Exactly. And I wrongly assumed my room was checked during the 8-10 hours I was out every day.

I said NO THANKS when they knocked first few nights to ask to take trash...I took out my trash every day.
3 days before check-out I recd a VERY NASTY call that a Mngr would knock IMMEDIATELY since I had "refused" security checks.
It was the really wonderful Housekeeping Mngr who explained his very polite staff was trained to ask for trash instead of calling it a security check. I apologized for my misunderstanding & he said he'd follow up with Front Desk to address that really upsetting accusatory phone call.
But I also said THEY should leave a note when they completed room check. And as a solo traveler I should NOT be forced to answer an unsolicited knock at nite.

During the week I visited friends at the Poly. There were MANY post-it notes on doors like "WE ARE NAPPING/SLEEPING! DO NOT KNOCK!

There has to be a better way!

Yeah there used to be a better way it was called a “DO NOT DISTURB“ sign!

 

[tjkraz]

Yeah there used to be a better way it was called a “DO NOT DISTURB“ sign!

Sadly times have changed. Right or wrong, Disney has decided it's in everyone's best interest if they disturb each room 1x per day.

The best advice I would give is to make sure the Room Occupied sign is removed whenever you're out of the room or when you wouldn't mind being interrupted. Take it off when you wake up in the morning and only replace before nap time.

That won't be a 100% fix, but it removes the possibility that housekeepers will deliberately bypass the room when it isn't actually occupied, thinking they'll be able to return later at a less intrusive time.