An open letter to Disney about mandatory room checks.

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Based on the responses from the thread dedicated to actual experiences with room checks, it seems that the number of negative experiences have dropped over time. While that is not proof of anything based on a such a small self-reporting sample, anecdotally it seems that things might be improving over time with regards to training and consistency. It also seems like some resorts have higher number of negative experiences than others.

By time..I mean over time not months from initial implementation. I would like far more consistency and over time consistency than what is available at the moment. That's more what I meant. What Disney does in regards to room checks may sway me, among pricing, perks, etc from staying onsite (as I'm not loyal at all to onsite being that it's been 1 time onsite rest offsite-Disney has to earn us wanting to stay there). We are however, speaking of an undetermined about of time before we go back to WDW. If Hilton did what Disney has been doing----for pleasure/leisure travel, despite that being our preferred brand (we do usually stay at Hamptons though) I'd be having a hard time wanting to stay there-the only reason we stay is loyalty program and a few minor perks. Other hotel brands would be suited to us as well though.

But I do want to say the issue with only looking at the actual experiences threads (for a variety of things like the dog policy, etc) is you get extremely limited experiences. A fraction of the people who have commented on other threads have commented on the actual experiences thread and people who commented initially didn't all repost on the actual experiences thread. And if anyone is like me I don't actively seek out sticky threads unless I'm specifically looking for them like the FAQ for FP sticky-meaning it's possible people comment on other threads and don't on actual experiences threads. I still think they are valuable threads though for sure just come with limitations.

But thank you for providing that information.

As for it becoming less stressful worrying about it, it seems that a lot of the stress of worrying about it stems from people internalizing the negative reports and assuming that their experiences will be similar. In general, people seem to be more willing to accept the negative reports as reflective of the majority of people's experiences with this policy, and treat the positive reports as luck. We can't know for sure which experience is happening most often, but these boards often serve as a magnifying glass for the negative experiences that people encounter while at WDW.

TBH it's not the worry about it stressing me out. It's that I have to think about something like that to begin with and actively have to do much more than I used to if I were to currently be staying at Disney's resorts. And I do think that for the individuals who haven't been disturbed before and/or used the DND sign frequently personally it can come as a different viewpoint.

Like I said my main concern, because I don't have a current trip planned, is that some other hotel brand will take Disney's version and procedure and jump on it. That's actually the stress part for me personally.

I am aware of limited viewpoint the DIS gives (trust me I comment about that on other matters as some people think the whole world is represented strictly by the Boards) but that doesn't mean I discount what people say-I do usually review if this is something that I would personally see happening in the realm of possibility, if this is something that I would personally have a problem with or not, etc when it has come to certain things on the DIS.

 

[dansdad]

As I said, YRMV

Not in the post I quoted.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Doesn't matter, even if it happens once, that is one too many times.

Has it happened, even once? People seem to be coming up with a lot of hypothetical situations.

 

[AMB1]

I thought of this discussion recently when I checked into my Universal resort. There was a problem with the deadbolt, so I called maintenance. My room phone rang 20 minutes later, as the maintenance guy was outside my door but wasn't allowed to knock on it because i had the DND sign out. I am done with Disney on-site stays.

Then you may be interested to know that Disney treated a similar situation exactly the same way last week.

We stayed one night at ASM before moving to the YC. I called Bell Services to transfer our luggage. 10 minutes later they phoned back and said their guy was outside my door but could not knock because I had the Room Occupied sign hanging. I opened the door and, sure enough, the CM was sitting on his luggage cart outside my door waiting for a text from his supervisor.

I think Disney respected the sign and I have no complaint.

 

[darrengs]

i completely respect your opinion by all means.

i am a minor and would definitely dislike it if someone came into my room unnoticed. i really didnt read through a lot of this thread, but did the policy say anything about barging into rooms unnoticed?

The policy just states they can enjoy enter the room and must announce themselves. There are several reports of them just walking in.

 

[mom2rtk]

Then you may be interested to know that Disney treated a similar situation exactly the same way last week.

We stayed one night at ASM before moving to the YC. I called Bell Services to transfer our luggage. 10 minutes later they phoned back and said their guy was outside my door but could not knock because I had the Room Occupied sign hanging. I opened the door and, sure enough, the CM was sitting on his luggage cart outside my door waiting for a text from his supervisor.

I think Disney respected the sign and I have no complaint.

I think it's great that they respected the sign for you. But honestly, if that's the way intended to handle it from here forward, there would have been no reason to switch from the DND sign to "Room Occupied" signs.

 

[maxiesmom]

The policy just states they can enjoy enter the room and must announce themselves. There are several reports of them just walking in.

The sign itself states that too.

 

[Three60guy]

I must say that I am very happy that people have shared their fears as well as their own experiences here on this thread. It has become a place where people finally could feel safe to share both their positive and negative points. That provides a really good environment to learn from each other. Thank you.

In the last 2 and a half weeks or so this has been active, we have brought a heightened awareness to this subject. Hopefully, to future guests as well as to Disney itself. Gawd only knows I have learned lots. And I have heard from some pretty special people one on one too. That was so good to experience.

So, I am wondering how this thread should proceed. Should it continue as it has or should we just let it slip into the unseen at pages 2 and beyond? I typically only look at page 1 to see what is going on now. But I am learning that there are more interesting threads lurking past page 1. Have we attained our goals here? I think so. But I am sorry that it might not be seen for a lack of current interest to keep it near the top of engagement for others later, who stop by to learn what is new, to see what can be learned here in this thread. But maybe that is how it should work.

Let me know what you think, as always.

In any case, as the original poster of this thread, thank you for your civil engagement. Thanks for adding your voice.

 

[Allison]

I think people have felt safe sharing their opinions on other threads. This just happens to be a more recent one. There has been a lot of discussion on other threads. There is already a pinned post to share experiences. Like any thread this one will stay active or not, or get brought back to life occassionally.

 

[Planogirl]

Don't let the naysayers on either side make anyone feel uncomfortable. It's just opinions after all.

I also feel glad that I know more about this. Once I'm physically and financially able I'd like to return to the area. I'm not sure what that trip will include yet but all of this makes a difference.

 

[mom2rtk]

Don't let the naysayers on either side make anyone feel uncomfortable. It's just opinions after all.

I also feel glad that I know more about this. Once i'm physically and financially able I'd like to return to the area. I'm not sure what that trip will include yet but all of this makes a difference.

I hope that happens for you soon @Planogirl .

 

[mayshamp]

I'm seriously irritated by this. I always go to WDW as a "single mom" with 3 kids. (Husband stay home to work.) We always come back during the day so that I can take a shower, rest a bit and the kids can nap before we head out for the evening. After my shower, I like to walk around the room with short pjs.
This room check thing is going to be annoying because what if they knock when I'm in the shower? My kids are not allowed to answer the door for any reason, but kids sometimes do surprising things. And if they then call on the phone to ask about room checks, that will wake up my baby.
The biggest problem is not knowing. I might lie in bed continually expecting somebody to come knock. The security check is the cause of insecurity. It's not like if I had illegal stuff I'm going to take it out in full display to show them as they walk through for a quick inspection.
Some claim that the Las vegas shooting prompted Disney to do this. But that doesn't make sense because the Vegas shooter did have room checks himself - room service and/or housekeeping daily. He obviously hid his weapons when he did that, and room checks did not stop him from shooting people.
I've always felt totally safe and secure in a Disney hotel. Not anymore. Now I have to worry about putting out the room occupied sign, putting the chain on, and unplugging the phone while I'm in the room, and remember to do this every day. What a pain.
Why is Disney getting stupider every year????

 

[mayshamp]

So to those who keep saying that this is the same as it always has been, that is not true. Hotels honored the sign and left you in peace. If the DND sign was just some random thing and they knocked anyway, why would Disney even bother changing the sign then?

Nicely stated. I agree.

Agreed. The DND sign is absolute except for emergencies. Three years ago I stayed at Caribbean Beach and I had the DND sign up. One day I came back to the room and noticed a chair outside against the wall. I wondered why. Then I walked into the room and noticed a message on the phone. The message says the chair I ordered was delivered and left out since I had the sign up. I did not order any chair and I called them to tell them about the chair. I figured that I better tell them because somebody out there was still waiting for their chair. They said OK. Five minutes later I got a call back. Sounds like a manager. Am I sure that I didn't order a chair? Yes I'm sure. Was my chair broken? No, it's not, it's fine. Later they removed the chair.

With the DND sign up they don't even deliver packages or anything. With the RO sign, various people have reported that they weren't disturbed, but other people also report that they were disturbed, sometimes multiple times. So the problem is, you don't know when they are going to knock despite your sign out! Your privacy depends on the good sense of your housekeeper for the day!

 

[sjrec]

I'm seriously irritated by this. I always go to WDW as a "single mom" with 3 kids. (Husband stay home to work.) We always come back during the day so that I can take a shower, rest a bit and the kids can nap before we head out for the evening. After my shower, I like to walk around the room with short pjs.
This room check thing is going to be annoying because what if they knock when I'm in the shower? My kids are not allowed to answer the door for any reason, but kids sometimes do surprising things. And if they then call on the phone to ask about room checks, that will wake up my baby.
The biggest problem is not knowing. I might lie in bed continually expecting somebody to come knock. The security check is the cause of insecurity. It's not like if I had illegal stuff I'm going to take it out in full display to show them as they walk through for a quick inspection.
Some claim that the Las vegas shooting prompted Disney to do this. But that doesn't make sense because the Vegas shooter did have room checks himself - room service and/or housekeeping daily. He obviously hid his weapons when he did that, and room checks did not stop him from shooting people.
I've always felt totally safe and secure in a Disney hotel. Not anymore. Now I have to worry about putting out the room occupied sign, putting the chain on, and unplugging the phone while I'm in the room, and remember to do this every day. What a pain.
Why is Disney getting stupider every year????

We were there the last week April-we never saw anyone. We were in and out. When in the room we put the sign out and used the latch. Even if housekeeping was in the hall when we were in our room.
Please don’t get upset about something that will more than likely not happen.

 

[mom2rtk]

Please don’t get upset about something that will more than likely not happen.

That's really not a realistic expectation to set.

 

[Jennasis]

We've been here at SSR since Sunday. Haven't seen hide nor hair of security or housekeeping anywhere in our building. Have not been disturbed. When we came back to our room midday the trash had been emptied so I know someone was here.

 

[disneyseniors]

We were there the last week April-we never saw anyone. We were in and out. When in the room we put the sign out and used the latch. Even if housekeeping was in the hall when we were in our room.
Please don’t get upset about something that will more than likely not happen.

Glad you didn't have a problem, but many others have,, including me.
Short version, in March in afternoon with sign up, first housekeeping knocked and insisted on coming in. Then security came in 15 minutes with the sign up.
So, the sign, to me, is totally worthless. Disney needs to get their act together on this issue and train everyone the same. So, yes, it does and will happen until something changes.

 

[fab1976]

Glad you didn't have a problem, but many others have,, including me.
Short version, in March in afternoon with sign up, first housekeeping knocked and insisted on coming in. Then security came in 15 minutes with the sign up.
So, the sign, to me, is totally worthless. Disney needs to get their act together on this issue and train everyone the same. So, yes, it does and will happen until something changes.

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.

 

[Jennasis]

Btw our room has no occupied sign so its never been hung out...and we still haven't been disturbed.

 

[Lilsia]

Btw our room has no occupied sign so its never been hung out...and we still haven't been disturbed.

I wonder if they are going to just random rooms now. I can't imagine the man power it would take to go to every single room every day. And of course you have the housekeepers going in that counts as a check. So if you have housekeeping while you are out, that is your check.