Daily Security Checks at Resorts?

[Mrs.AMC]

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.

You'd be very, very wrong that trafficking can't happen at a busy place. Very wrong. That's when it's the easiest to hide.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

x

 

[Mrs.AMC]

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.”

Why didn't you have the security latch flipped?
The policy has been in place several years. It ain't going any where. 99% have no issues with it happening. They aren't changing it for you 1%

 

[Mrs.AMC]

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

It's true but sometimes they lack in communication. If housekeeping has come in and done their daily stuff then there isn't supposed to be a security check. But if housekeeping neglects to check off that they entered your room due to human error then you will get both. Both aren't intended as policy but do happen sometimes.

And why folks think "security check" and that security personnel do them I'm not sure. It's just the name given to the policy that someone has to put their eyes on the room each day.

 

[ellbell]

It's true but sometimes they lack in communication. If housekeeping has come in and done their daily stuff then there isn't supposed to be a security check. But if housekeeping neglects to check off that they entered your room due to human error then you will get both. Both aren't intended as policy but do happen sometimes.

And why folks think "security check" and that security personnel do them I'm not sure. It's just the name given to the policy that someone has to put their eyes on the room each day.

When housekeeping isn't suppose to come either I still don't believe that it replaces security checks. When both happen on a regular basis it's more than just lack of communication.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

When housekeeping isn't suppose to come either I still don't believe that it replaces security checks. When both happen on a regular basis it's more than just lack of communication.

Nah, it's bad communications. That's why you got the housekeeping even when you opted out

 

[HopperFan]

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?

I believe your case was extreme and there might have been something in your room that triggered them to do a person observation. Those "housekeeping" employees are trained to look through a room and bathroom for "something" and doubtful it's weapons since they aren't to open your belongings. You might have had something completely innocuous but it triggered them. It's so over the top and what you experienced is unacceptable.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/j...3-4-housekeeping-horror.3668703/post-58937306
I have no doubt when we got off the bus and walked through the main building our magicbands triggered the inspection. BUT because POP was having renovations we took a walk to see before returning to our room so the "inspector" arrived to an empty room ... and me walking up to him.

If I were you I'd write a letter and let them know the behavior of these men, how it impacted your trip and now your child. None of this will change if folks just let it go and don't tell them what is happening on the ground.

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.

Housekeeping is step one, these men were likely sent back and you are right, there is no need for them to act this way.

Everyone assumes Disney has cameras everywhere ... do you know the manpower it would take to watch them or scan them? Even many rides have no cameras but floor sensors to determine if a guest gets out. And ironically having a camera provides proof that they might not want to provide. Cameras make Disney liable for lots of stuff. No camera, no proof.

There are plenty of articles out there discussing the problem in Florida and how Disney is in every conversation. Disney isn't immune to the outside world and nothing goes wrong. Criminals work the resort from AP regulars stealing in parks, pickpockets, room break ins and worse. I don't want to talk or think about it either but WDW is an international location that folks with the money visit.

When this all started 4 years ago there was housekeeping for all. The housekeepers were the first line of inspection. It became a discussion because DVC who didn't get housekeeping daily first noticed these "inspections" of their light switches, microwave doors, blinds, lightbulbs. Eventually it was impacting all resorts and guests. It didn't matter if you had housekeeping or not and this was explained to me in person by a resort manager. It is a way of business for Disney now ...

It's true but sometimes they lack in communication. If housekeeping has come in and done their daily stuff then there isn't supposed to be a security check. But if housekeeping neglects to check off that they entered your room due to human error then you will get both. Both aren't intended as policy but do happen sometimes.

And why folks think "security check" and that security personnel do them I'm not sure. It's just the name given to the policy that someone has to put their eyes on the room each day.

It may have changed but it was my understanding that the "security" folks are actually the housekeeping department with a different job. In the case of two visits, it could be your scenario or it is likely the housekeepers who cleaned then triggered a look from "security" and that is why often we hear they show up while the guests are in the room, likely to see the guests as well.

Housekeepers are pretty meticulous about signing off on each room cleaned because that impacts their job if they don't mark it as cleaned. I've even asked them to not clean in person and they've asked me to initial I refused to let them in.

 

[Eighties]

Why didn't you have the security latch flipped?
The policy has been in place several years. It ain't going any where. 99% have no issues with it happening. They are changing it for you 1%

Because we weren't planning on taking a nap, it just turned out that we were totally exhausted after having driven all night two day's before, opening and closing one park the prior day and opening another the day of the incident. The original plan was to maybe go swimming or have dinner in the canteen but we just go in and crashed.

I don't know that the policy would be rescinded or not but if enough of these poor experiences are reported to them perhaps they would rethink it. The problem is those with the power to do something about it are too cowardly to meet with the general public, they just pass it off to the hotel staff who can't do anything about it. They need to know the results of their poor decisions.

And what happened to us was not funny!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Joe Brig]

You'd be very, very wrong that trafficking can't happen at a busy place. Very wrong. That's when it's the easiest to hide.

Not that it's busy, but there is a guard shack that checks IDs when you drive in. I think criminals would opt for another offsite hotel. With the 100s of thousands of people that have stayed at a Disney report, how many trafficking arrests?

The only ones that I found where Disney employees. Disney should use some common sense and not intrude on customers vacations.

 

[ktink]

We are here now. We stayed at BWI 1/21-1/24. We had daily inspections. We were napping the first day but had the latch fastened. We asked that they came back at a specific time and they did. They told us they were mainly checking to make sure curling irons, etc were unplugged. We are at GF for the last part of our stay and have not had any security inspections.

 

[Eighties]

I believe your case was extreme and there might have been something in your room that triggered them to do a person observation. Those "housekeeping" employees are trained to look through a room and bathroom for "something" and doubtful it's weapons since they aren't to open your belongings. You might have had something completely innocuous but it triggered them. It's so over the top and what you experienced is unacceptable.

For the life of me I can't imagine what. A CPAP machine is the only weird thing I can think of and I can't be the only person to have had one of those there.

 

[HopperFan]

For the life of me I can't imagine what. A CPAP machine is the only weird thing I can think of and I can't be the only person to have had one of those there.

You never know. There is just no reason for how they acted unless they were reacting.

Back when I had a bad experience I did some reading and it was things that might be specifically used by folks they are looking for, or things that didn't quite jive with rest of stuff or those who were registered in room. Sometimes it is computers, extra cells or more electronics than vacationers usually bring (I used to work at Disney and brought extra monitors), video equipment. Sometimes it is minimal luggage. Lots on list in bathroom items.

Like for us there were children "toys" when only adults were registered. That is a red flag - my problem is they have had info on us in their system for decades, we have annual passes, my son is registered for Disability Pass - all this in their computer. All it took was one notation that we are "okay".

I mean they aren't in there looking for your weapons because most would hide them in bags or their car, they don't need to do wellness checks unless your door doesn't open for 24 hours which they can tell in computer, they can check the maintenance issues between guests ...

It it something they do now, after 4 years it's likely not changing as it is apparently a long term problem they have. Guests can work around it, deal with it or not stay. Guests do need to always use security locks if in room, possibly bring a hanging alarm for door knob, make sure you lock up all valuables and keep all personal items out of view. For most guests everything will go just fine and smooth, they will have a great trip. There will be those that had bad experiences like you and I. Hopefully we are a tiny minority.

 

[Bjkandma]

Security checks are done on a daily basis at Disney. If you read the Disney official website in the "know before you go section, it is listed. Also, you can find information about the room checks (in value rooms) on the top shelf of the coffee area. You cannot refuse A security check, but you can request that it be done while you are out and about. Not sure why you chose not to put the security latch to lock your door. Any time we are all in the room it is on.

They have entered the room when a disabled person and young child were in the rom, waiting on the rest of the party. I actually felt safe knowing they asked if we were okay, or if anything was needed.

Please note that even the door sign doesn't say " do not disturb", but rather "room occupied".

 

[PinkPixel]

We have a neighbor who just returned and said she was not aware of a daily "Security Check" that happened at her resort (YC) after she told them at check in they didn't want mousekeeping AND kept the Do Not Disturb sign out the whole time. They were there for 5 nights and she said they didn't want extra folks in the room after they checked in and "Self cleaned with disinfection wipes" but the first day coming back to the room the trash was emptied. She thought DH did it (since upon arrival the night before they ate in the room and she thought maybe it smelled and he took it someplace to dump it) but DH made a comment to her later that same evening about HER emptying it when him and the kids were at the pool. After realizing NEITHER of them did it they called the front deck to be told that there is a daily "Security Check" that takes place (even if you don't want mousekeeping). They offered for that check to take place when they were in the room and wanted to set up a certain time to do it daily but she explained they weren't going to run back to the hotel mid-day, every day, just for a security check that they didn't want. She said she felt very uncomfortable thinking nobody was entering their room after cleaning it themselves the first night to know that someone was still in there and no clue what they did or didn't touch. I'm interesting in finding out more on these "Security Checks" so feel free to enlighten me!

I was surprised the first time years ago. It’s their property and their policy though and there’s many, very valid legitimate reasons why. Things happen and at a property this large they have to be responsible for what’s going on in their resorts. I accept that when I stay at Disney.

 

[gottalovepluto]

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

Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. I’ve literally had housekeeping call me to tell me they needed to do the security check and then I was there when the housekeeper showed up to do it. So housekeeping cleared me just fine for my security check in Nov, but you had actual security show up for it whenever you stayed. Why? only Disney knows and they definitely won’t tell

 

[gottalovepluto]

We are here now. We stayed at BWI 1/21-1/24. We had daily inspections. We were napping the first day but had the latch fastened. We asked that they came back at a specific time and they did. They told us they were mainly checking to make sure curling irons, etc were unplugged. We are at GF for the last part of our stay and have not had any security inspections.

*and have not NOTICED any security inspections*

 

[gottalovepluto]

Nah, it's bad communications. That's why you got the housekeeping even when you opted out

Is the Disney secret to actually receiving housekeeping opting out?

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Is the Disney secret to actually receiving housekeeping opting out?

You may be on to something, LOL

 

[Eighties]

Security checks are done on a daily basis at Disney. If you read the Disney official website in the "know before you go section, it is listed. Also, you can find information about the room checks (in value rooms) on the top shelf of the coffee area. You cannot refuse A security check, but you can request that it be done while you are out and about. Not sure why you chose not to put the security latch to lock your door. Any time we are all in the room it is on.

They have entered the room when a disabled person and young child were in the rom, waiting on the rest of the party. I actually felt safe knowing they asked if we were okay, or if anything was needed.

Please note that even the door sign doesn't say " do not disturb", but rather "room occupied".

Of course we know all of this now, but let's be completely honest, not everyone has the time to read all of the fine print. Who really reads every part of the novel sized terms of service before checking the box and signing up? We didn't read the door sign because we never use them. I'm not even sure where it was. We see them as being for folks who don't want housekeeping (which we prefer to have every day), or people who plan for a nap, etc.

As to the latch part, like I detailed in another response, at night we do but we hadn't planned on taking a nap, we literally crashed out of sheer exhaustion.

But here is the major difference. I specifically told them to wait until we could get dressed. It would have taken a minute or two at the most. They entered your room and asked if you were okay or of you needed anything. You didn't specify but I suspect they didn't hammer on the door like they were trying to break it down and, again you didn't specify but I also suspect they waited allowing you to open it. Them barging in when I specifically asked them to wait is what made us feel COMPLETLY UNSAFE for the rest of our stay.

Here is what I perhaps have not been clear about, it isn't THAT they perform the inspections, it's HOW they went about it and then were such jerks about it after the fact. Then lying about it trying to say it is a law (which it isn't). We prefer to have daily housekeeping while we're out (we lock up valuables we have nothing to hide). I knew full well at the time they have the legal right to do it, it's a common practice that went on at the last apartment complex I lived at (there on a quarterly basis). If they had simply not been so militant about beating on the door and allowed us to get dressed, they could have been in and out the whole event would likely have lasted less than 5 minutes. Then we would have been awake and probably decided to go swimming, shopping, etc. Instead they left us paranoid and vulnerable.

Because of what happened to us and others here, I contend that this policy has been abused by Disney. If after four years they are still dropping the ball this often in it's execution, then it should be reconsidered. A simple search here and on other boards reveals countless examples of where it has failed. I'm posting my experience here as a warning to some and to engage with others who have left there feeling violated as we do.

I'm glad your experience was positive. Take Care!

 

[OKW Lover]

I have no doubt when we got off the bus and walked through the main building our magicbands triggered the inspection.

I think you have too high an opinion as to the use of magic bands.