Daily Security Checks at Resorts?

[skeeter31]

Right, and that’s what the OP was saying. They said that TSA does put a sticker on things they go through, but hotel staff do NOT.

 

[Dug720]

I did say TSA puts a note in/sticker on your bag (I've had both).

I said that security at hotels (Disney or otherwise) does not leave a note.

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

Its been in place since the Las Vegas shooting so since about December 2017.
At first it was a bit intrusive but eventually they found a happy medium.
They have the right to come in. If you are indisposed they are also happy to come back.
If you are not in the room they will come in and do a quick walkthrough and take out the trash.

 

[_19disnA]

We stayed at the Contemporary in 2019 and never had any issues related to security checks. Housekeeping always made up our room while we were away during the day at one of the parks, whether that might have also included one of those 'security checks' we have no idea and didn't bother us. Hotels are private property and people from housekeeping or maintenance can access rooms even if you are not around. Experienced travelers know to use the deadbolt when in your room to avoid someone entering unexpectedly. Am all for security checks if it helps to make the hotel safer for everyone, regardless of whatever they might be looking for.

 

[rj9555]

Many hotels started this practice after what happened in Las Vegas on October 1.

I was actually under the impression that this was to look for signs of human trafficking, not because of the Las Vegas shooting.

 

[Dug720]

I was actually under the impression that this was to look for signs of human trafficking, not because of the Las Vegas shooting.

It's both.

 

[Disneylover99]

If you are not in the room they will come in and do a quick walkthrough and take out the trash.

Is that something that’s new? Security doesn’t come in and take your trash. Unless maybe DVC?

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

Is that something that’s new? Security doesn’t come in and take your trash. Unless maybe DVC?

The 2 times I was in the room when someone from housekeeping not a security guard.
Another time when I was not in the room the trash was taken and I had opted out of housekeeping so its obvious that it was the security check.
I've also heard MANY people say that even though they opted out of housekeeping their trash was taken.

 

[Cheburashka]

It happened to us regularly when we stayed at Vero Beach. A rather peremptory sounding guy firmly insisted on coming in to take out the trash each day while we were lounging in the room. We didn't care as we were just hanging out- he let himself in and took our trash, which was a good thing as otherwise we had no housekeeping. I asked him for replacement towels one day and he gave them, but I know he was doing a security check each time he very firmly insisted on coming in. It's Disney- they're economizing by having the security check person also do some very light housekeeping to keep the guests happy, rather than paying two separate people to do those jobs.

Imo if you're that freaked out by someone briefly being in your resort room, you should stay at home, because that is your private property, unlike a resort room.

 

[Disneylover99]

The 2 times I was in the room when someone from housekeeping not a security guard.
Another time when I was not in the room the trash was taken and I had opted out of housekeeping so its obvious that it was the security check.
I've also heard MANY people say that even though they opted out of housekeeping their trash was taken.

Interesting. In all my stays, security has never touched my trash. And I used to watch security go in and out of rooms at Pop and POFQ in the mornings when I sat outside drinking coffee in the mornings. They’d go in and out with their clipboards, but never come out with trash.

But I haven’t been to DW in almost a year and a half now, so that’s why I wondered if it was new. I guess it’s not something to count on.

 

[lanejudy]

Housekeeping takes the place of the daily room check, which is why most guests never realize it. At this time with very limited housekeeping, more folks are noticing room checks - which may be conducted by housekeeping, security or a manager. DVC properties regularly have trash removal on non-housekeeping days.

 

[Disneylover99]

Housekeeping takes the place of the daily room check, which is why most guests never realize it. At this time with very limited housekeeping, more folks are noticing room checks - which may be conducted by housekeeping, security or a manager. DVC properties regularly have trash removal on non-housekeeping days.

Yes. I do remember reading about DVC getting regular trash removal.
So does housekeeping do security checks if you opt out of housekeeping?

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

Yes. I do remember reading about DVC getting regular trash removal.
So does housekeeping do security checks if you opt out of housekeeping?

Well I had opted out of housekeeping when housekeeping came to my room for the security check so yes.

 

[Disneylover99]

Well I had opted out of housekeeping when housekeeping came to my room for the security check so yes.

Yes. Sorry. What I meant to ask, is if they are mainly using housekeeping to do security checks these days instead of regular security, because regular security does not take your garbage.

 

[Eighties]

I'd like to share my recent experience.
My family was recently the victim of Disney’s room check policy in which their staff barged in on us in the evening when we were sleeping in a state of semi undress. Out of nowhere, they began aggressively hammering on the door like they were trying to break it down shouting Security Inspection or something like that. We were groggy and disoriented, basically in a state of absolute confusion as I tried to get the cobwebs out of my head from just having been woken up. I had enough of my faculties to say “Hold on, I don’t have any pants on!” as I was trying to dress so I could open the door. Regardless of my response (an in less than a minute since they started pounding) the “security staff” opened the door as I was in the proverbial “Caught with my pants down” position with the whole resort open to the outside. There were two guys standing there, one masked, one not and then the door closed and I heard one say “Well that was awkward.” I was terrified not knowing what was going on. Were we being robbed, was there some mistaken identity thing going on like the time Disney did the same thing to people who joked about cooking meth (I promise we made no such joke), was the building on fire? No apparently it was a required daily room inspection and when I finally got my pants fastened and opened the door they arrogantly said they had to inspect the room. I said “Well you’ve seen it now get the hell out!” As the rest of my sleep fog cleared, I felt bad for yelling so I got my shoes on and went after the two to see what was really going on. They were just so self-righteous in their demeanor. The guy with the mask had a very thick accent and kept arrogantly saying “We have the right to do this, read your blue card.” He said a bunch of other stuff I couldn’t understand to where I had to apologize as I couldn’t make out what he was telling me. Of course I immediately took the matter to the front desk who acted like it was no big deal. One of the “Cast Members” told me they had to do it daily, it was the law. Having a fairly keen B.S. detector, I asked to know the specific statute. She stammered and stuttered and then sent a manager over who said no it is a Disney policy. I then requested to speak to the executive who instituted the policy as I feel it is important that they know how it negatively affected their guests. After I left the front desk it only got worse. We debated leaving early all together but thought we would stick it out and try to enjoy the rest of the vacation, but to no avail. I never got a good night’s sleep the rest of the time, expecting to have someone banging on the door at any moment. I never felt safe staying there the rest of the time and really don’t ever plan to return as long as such a draconian policy is in place. Even worse since that incident, my daughter has started manifesting PTSD like symptoms, having almost daily panic attacks even after we left the resort, she has even spent one evening in the E.R. complaining of heaviness in her chest and arms and her heart fluttering.
I know that legally Disney has the right to do these room checks, but is it morally correct? It would have been fine if they had made us aware of it and done it while we were out (or in conjunction with housekeeping) or at least waited for us to get dressed first when I told them to hang on. I also know that I’ll never get to speak to the executive who is responsible for the policy as, let’s be honest, when it comes to dealing with the public, they are cowards or believe we are beneath them.
All I can say is that if a policy to make people feel safe has the complete opposite effect it’s time to remove it. As Benjamin Franklin is quoted as stating: “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

 

[HopperFan]

I'd like to share my recent experience.
My family was recently the victim of Disney’s room check policy in which their staff barged in on us in the evening when we were sleeping in a state of semi undress. Out of nowhere, they began aggressively hammering on the door like they were trying to break it down shouting Security Inspection or something like that. We were groggy and disoriented, basically in a state of absolute confusion as I tried to get the cobwebs out of my head from just having been woken up. I had enough of my faculties to say “Hold on, I don’t have any pants on!” as I was trying to dress so I could open the door. Regardless of my response (an in less than a minute since they started pounding) the “security staff” opened the door as I was in the proverbial “Caught with my pants down” position with the whole resort open to the outside. There were two guys standing there, one masked, one not and then the door closed and I heard one say “Well that was awkward.” I was terrified not knowing what was going on. Were we being robbed, was there some mistaken identity thing going on like the time Disney did the same thing to people who joked about cooking meth (I promise we made no such joke), was the building on fire? No apparently it was a required daily room inspection and when I finally got my pants fastened and opened the door they arrogantly said they had to inspect the room. I said “Well you’ve seen it now get the hell out!” As the rest of my sleep fog cleared, I felt bad for yelling so I got my shoes on and went after the two to see what was really going on. They were just so self-righteous in their demeanor. The guy with the mask had a very thick accent and kept arrogantly saying “We have the right to do this, read your blue card.” He said a bunch of other stuff I couldn’t understand to where I had to apologize as I couldn’t make out what he was telling me. Of course I immediately took the matter to the front desk who acted like it was no big deal. One of the “Cast Members” told me they had to do it daily, it was the law. Having a fairly keen B.S. detector, I asked to know the specific statute. She stammered and stuttered and then sent a manager over who said no it is a Disney policy. I then requested to speak to the executive who instituted the policy as I feel it is important that they know how it negatively affected their guests. After I left the front desk it only got worse. We debated leaving early all together but thought we would stick it out and try to enjoy the rest of the vacation, but to no avail. I never got a good night’s sleep the rest of the time, expecting to have someone banging on the door at any moment. I never felt safe staying there the rest of the time and really don’t ever plan to return as long as such a draconian policy is in place. Even worse since that incident, my daughter has started manifesting PTSD like symptoms, having almost daily panic attacks even after we left the resort, she has even spent one evening in the E.R. complaining of heaviness in her chest and arms and her heart fluttering.
I know that legally Disney has the right to do these room checks, but is it morally correct? It would have been fine if they had made us aware of it and done it while we were out (or in conjunction with housekeeping) or at least waited for us to get dressed first when I told them to hang on. I also know that I’ll never get to speak to the executive who is responsible for the policy as, let’s be honest, when it comes to dealing with the public, they are cowards or believe we are beneath them.
All I can say is that if a policy to make people feel safe has the complete opposite effect it’s time to remove it. As Benjamin Franklin is quoted as stating: “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

And without repeating my experience, it is why we don't stay onsite anymore, as we are a red flags.

It has to do with trafficking, which Florida is a high rate state and every conversation includes Disney. It is the perfect location for them to do business. The security checks are done by "housekeeping" not security people, and they know what they are looking for. They aren't looking for weapons, as most the rooms they enter have no vantage points. They are looking for flags. If they do see something, then they may contact security. Sadly they could do all this without disrupting or scary guests OR entering their rooms, but they have chosen to not go that route.

As far as other hotels .......... haven't had it happen to us anywhere offsite that I can tell, I have actually been handed letters by Orlando hotels at check in that they will not enter our room during our stay except for housekeeping, if we request it.

If you are in your room, put on those security locks to they can not enter while you are there. I've actually witnessed men trying to break in to rooms at Disney so if I experienced what you did - I would have called 911 (and tell them you are) as calling the front desk or security doesn't go to the front desk.

 

[Eighties]

And without repeating my experience, it is why we don't stay onsite anymore, as we are a red flags.

It has to do with trafficking, which Florida is a high rate state and every conversation includes Disney. It is the perfect location for them to do business. The security checks are done by "housekeeping" not security people, and they know what they are looking for. They aren't looking for weapons, as most the rooms they enter have no vantage points. They are looking for flags. If they do see something, then they may contact security. Sadly they could do all this without disrupting or scary guests OR entering their rooms, but they have chosen to not go that route.

As far as other hotels .......... haven't had it happen to us anywhere offsite that I can tell, I have actually been handed letters by Orlando hotels at check in that they will not enter our room during our stay except for housekeeping, if we request it.

If you are in your room, put on those security locks to they can not enter while you are there. I've actually witnessed men trying to break in to rooms at Disney so if I experienced what you did - I would have called 911 (and tell them you are) as calling the front desk or security doesn't go to the front desk.

I haven't read your experience but it sounds like you endured something similar.

What is a Red Flag? I've tried to look it up on here but can't get a definitive answer. Do you think that happened to us?

 

[ellbell]

Housekeeping takes the place of the daily room check, which is why most guests never realize it. At this time with very limited housekeeping, more folks are noticing room checks - which may be conducted by housekeeping, security or a manager. DVC properties regularly have trash removal on non-housekeeping days.

Not true. I've had both a security check and housekeeping come within an hour of each other while I was trying to nap.

 

[Eighties]

Not true. I've had both a security check and housekeeping come within an hour of each other while I was trying to nap.

Same with us, housekeeping was already there when we got back form the park. That's why it was even more confusing when they started banging on the door. And I mean they were banging like they were trying to break it down or something.

 

[Joe Brig]

Disney, and other companies, are not hiring the right people for this type of work. If housekeeping can safely enter rooms then there is no need for the security check staff to look and act like prison guards. A friendlier and less threatening staff would have a better outcome.

I really don't think that a Disney resort with all the cameras, limited access, and many staffer members is a trafficking hotspot. So I'm not sure what the point is. Bring back daily housekeeping and all problems are solved.