An open letter to Disney about mandatory room checks.

[MakiraMarlena]

I've been at WDW for about 11 nights this year so far. I haven't even once experienced a mandatory room check, and I don't go out at the butt crack of day either. Not a single knock, and the only time I will put the sign out is on the last day so housekeeping doesn't try to turn the room at 8 AM. They never have, in was four different resorts. So I would think I'm not interested in paying more to cover WDW's liability just in case something happens.

They are coming in to remove the trash but I don't have the slightest idea what would happen if I were in the room at the time. Likely they would just come in and remove the trash.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

I just returned from both Pop Century and All Star Music. I generally stay in the room in the mornings and hit the parks in the afternoon and evenings. Despite opting out of housekeeping, my door was knocked on every single morning (whether RO sign was on the door, or not) at both resorts and entered twice while I was still in bed or in the bathroom (I had the latch on the door.) One time a man came to my door who didn't speak English or at least not to a degree I could understand what he was saying. He tried to enter the room but I told him no way and he said he'd be back. I called front desk and was told they'd get to the bottom of it (spoiler alert, they never did.) This new policy is harassing and invasive and makes you feel like you are in a nanny state. It may hinder me ever staying at a Disney property again and I am a passholder. If you aren't the 'family' who are out of the room all day they are suspicious and treat you like a criminal who isn't supposed to be there. So much for a 'magical' stay.

And that's the problem with this and all security theater Disney has imposed, from closing the pools when the life guards leave, to the metal detectors and increased bag checks, to the room invasions. it makes no one safer, but takes away from you feeling like you're on vacation. It's all about the perception of increased safety, when in reality it's just covering Disney's legal butt.

 

[Sue M]

Thanks! I look back on it now and laugh, but I did feel terrible at the time for bugging the fire Dept so much. It does make me wonder though how people with landlines at home keep their little ones away from them. We only have cell phones so I think the temptation of playing with something new was just too much for him.

We always had a landline so the kids knew not to play with it. But one day when my kids were young, a few of us moms were invited for coffee at a friends while the kids played in the rec room. We were at the kitchen table when I saw a whole bunch of police coming up the driveway. Apparently one of them called 911, and all they heard was kids screaming to this day we laugh about that incident. The police were so good. They lined those kids up, and gave them a talking to! I’m sure the little boy who was the culprit never did that again, lol.

 

[tex1989]

I guess a lot of the problems mentioned here differ from our experience because of our typical touring style. First we never decline housekeeping, secondly we are usually out of the room most of the day at the parks or golfing.

Also someone mentioned part of the check is to avoid another Vegas style incident. Obviously a collection of firearms in that quantity would be easily identified by even the most inexperienced person. So if they are randomly checking rooms I would also assume that they would tend to focus on rooms where the occupants did not utilize Magical Express which we always do. Certainly not to say that one could arrange alternate deliveries of items but if you use their transport they know it and most times they are delivering your suitcases to the room so they have a shot to look at them as well. I guess what it says is I wonder if you rent a car or drive will you have a higher incidence of room checks.

Not unlike other situations in life where your chance of audit or chance of being randomly picked for search is enhanced according to certain guidelines established by the folks doing the searches.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

Also someone mentioned part of the check is to avoid another Vegas style incident. Obviously a collection of firearms in that quantity would be easily identified by even the most inexperienced person. So if they are randomly checking rooms I would also assume that they would tend to focus on rooms where the occupants did not utilize Magical Express which we always do. Certainly not to say that one could arrange alternate deliveries of items but if you use their transport they know it and most times they are delivering your suitcases to the room so they have a shot to look at them as well. I guess what it says is I wonder if you rent a car or drive will you have a higher incidence of room checks.

Not unlike other situations in life where your chance of audit or chance of being randomly picked for search is enhanced according to certain guidelines established by the folks doing the searches.

There is zero chance that this would increase a Vegas type shooter being caught. The mere fact that you can tell the person knocking at the door to come back later defeats all arguments towards actual safety. That and the fact that the hotels are far too open a system to make random checks even remotely effective.

It's no better than the rocks and rope added after the crocodile incident. It's not going to stop any attacks whatsoever.

 

[tex1989]

There is zero chance that this would increase a Vegas type shooter being caught. The mere fact that you can tell the person knocking at the door to come back later defeats all arguments towards actual safety. That and the fact that the hotels are far too open a system to make random checks even remotely effective.

It's no better than the rocks and rope added after the crocodile incident. It's not going to stop any attacks whatsoever.

Vegas shooter accumulated his collection of firearms over several days, so a check while he was out getting more firearms and ammunition could have been spotted. Does not take training to see that. If you drive instead of ME to the hotel less chance to pack your arsenal.

Sorry but I live on the Texas Gulf Coast and I know it's picky but the incident you refer to was an alligator not a croc. They are only in far south Florida.

 

[disneyseniors]

But your incident was in March, the one you quoted was in April. They could have made changes between your visit and theirs. The reports of security or housekeeping walking in with the sign up seem to be dying down a bit, if not at all. It could be Disney has listened.

I would be thrilled if that is the new norm. However, from reports on here, there seems to be a wide difference in experiences. I am hopeful that Disney will get it's act together about this situation and ALL employees will go by the same rules. I do hope it is calming down a bit, but my experience was not pleasant or necessary in the way they did it.

 

[cgattis]

I haven't even once experienced a mandatory room check

Maybe not while you were in your room.....

Personally I find it very disturbing if this is being done by housekeepers and not security staff. How vetted are those folks? I know they come in now to clean, but I'm not sure they should have authority to look around and be counted on for an accurate report on findings. Maybe they only report "potential concerns" to security and they take over from there.

Although clearly I'm in favor of being safe, I see lots of potential for issues here.

 

[DisneyNYGalTraveler]

Are you saying they unlocked the latch to enter?

they pushed the door open after knocking every time whether i answered or not, i had the latch on so they couldn't open the door fully.

 

[DisneyNYGalTraveler]

I’m wondering that as well. If so, that’s the first time I’ve heard of that happening.

Also, to @DisneyNYGalTraveler, just an FYI...you can’t call the front desk from your room. When you call the “front desk,” you are talking to an offsite call center.

trust me i got the front desk and housekeeping staff on the phone in my hotel after screaming bloody murder about my door being opened while undressed.

 

[DisneyNYGalTraveler]

The sign doesn't state they will skip your room. I think it actually states something to the opposite of that. The sign only alerts you are in the room. It doesn't mean they will skip your room check.

this is correct in fact i felt like i was harassed more with the 'room occupied' sign on the door.

 

[fab1976]

I would be thrilled if that is the new norm. However, from reports on here, there seems to be a wide difference in experiences. I am hopeful that Disney will get it's act together about this situation and ALL employees will go by the same rules. I do hope it is calming down a bit, but my experience was not pleasant or necessary in the way they did it.

I spoke too soon, it seems there are recent incidents as well. It will be figured out at some point, I hope!

 

[DisneyNYGalTraveler]

This would result in a visit from me to the resort manager. I am more than willing to comply with this policy, and have stated on more than one occasion that I will judge for myself if it is overly intrusive, however I know that If was intruded on like this I would make it stop.

yeah i did that and told them i better not receive one more knock on my door for the last day i was there, it worked but just for the day - i am in the midst of dealing with their customer service. started with a low level employee and working my way up to tell them that their policy made me feel more 'unsafe' than anything.

 

[DisneyNYGalTraveler]

I spoke too soon, it seems there are recent incidents as well. It will be figured out at some point, I hope!

you know, i am a seasoned world traveler and i found my recent stay at disney to be unnerving. my blood pressure rose when i had to go back to the room, especially in the morning (i am not out of the room early) like clockwork they banged on my door each morning, most times trying to enter while i was undressed and half asleep in bed. maybe i just hit the idiot disney employee jackpot. this policy is a poor PR initiative that has clearly not been thought through. in any case, i told them that my annual pass will likely not get renewed this year after this experience.

 

[maxiesmom]

this is correct in fact i felt like i was harassed more with the 'room occupied' sign on the door.

That unfortunately seems to be typical.

 

[maxiesmom]

trust me i got the front desk and housekeeping staff on the phone in my hotel after screaming bloody murder about my door being opened while undressed.

You can't call the front desk from your room phone. The person on the other end just acts like they are at the resort. Housekeeping is different.

 

[fab1976]

you know, i am a seasoned world traveler and i found my recent stay at disney to be unnerving. my blood pressure rose when i had to go back to the room, especially in the morning (i am not out of the room early) like clockwork they banged on my door each morning, most times trying to enter while i was undressed and half asleep in bed. maybe i just hit the idiot disney employee jackpot. this policy is a poor PR initiative that has clearly not been thought through. in any case, i told them that my annual pass will likely not get renewed this year after this experience.

I think you did get an idiot employee or something. We were there last month and had housekeeping. One morning we forgot to put out our sign and we were having a lazy sleep in. She knocked and I said we would be leaving in the afternoon. Then we changed our minds and said we would not be needing her. Security called to say they would need to do a room check because of not needing housekeeping. We were in the room for 2-3 hours after that and no one came by. Our future trips will be DVC, so we won’t be receiving daily housekeeping but will get daily trash removal. We will see how it goes but I don’t have expect issues. It’s unfortunate your privacy was so invaded, really not a good experience.

 

[KrazeeK120]

trust me i got the front desk and housekeeping staff on the phone in my hotel after screaming bloody murder about my door being opened while undressed.

Unfortunately, no, you didn’t talk to the actual front desk if you called from the phone in the room. Even if they told you they were the front desk...they’re not.

 

[snappy]

Disneynygaltraveler, I am sorry you had this experience but thanks for posting. Please post also on the “Guest experiences with daily room checks” thread near the top of the resorts board. Since it’s a sticky more people might have an opportunity to read it.

Clearly the theory that Disney has this figured out judging by recent reports may be wrong. It’s especially troubling since your stay was split between 2 Disney resorts.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

Vegas shooter accumulated his collection of firearms over several days, so a check while he was out getting more firearms and ammunition could have been spotted. Does not take training to see that. If you drive instead of ME to the hotel less chance to pack your arsenal.

Doesn't matter what he had. There are infinite ways to hide bad things from people without a thorough search of all bags and vehicles.
It's literally a one in a billion or more incident and can't be stopped by someone throwing out trash.