Excessive Room Checks?

[LoveToDisney]

They never made up our room at Beach Club or Boulder Ridge. Not once. *Edited to add - they took our garbage daily this was done by security and not housekeeping BTW.

I thought you said you rented points. You do not get daily housekeeping if you are not a cash Disney guest.

 

[lowlight]

How bothered you are by it (or whether you notice it at all) depends on so many things like room location (near the start or end of housekeeping queue), whether you are a rope drop to closer, have kids that nap, take frequent room breaks, leave occupied signs on, etc., as well as what resort you’re at since I’ve noticed they each have different adherence to the rules. I’ve had a few very bad stays (looking at you Poly) and some that were barely noticeable. Still doesn’t need to happen, and it’s just gonna take one incident involving a minor for it to implode.

 

[PinkPixel]

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[PinkPixel]

Disney has always guaranteed connecting rooms for family, (although some will say in small print they still don't have to give them to you etc.) but we've never not received them when traveling with my husband and our children and it's been years and years of booking. It has to be done through a reservationist and they put the two rooms on to one reservation.

And yes fair enough that it probably is in small print somewhere that says you can't leave a minor alone in a room. But is that going to excuse them for allowing employees to enter without asking for an adult, if something were to go amiss. He was 12, so not a small child, but still young enough that I was uncomfortable with his decision to not ask if a parent or guardian was there before coming in. The doors between the rooms were actually open but he couldn't see that from the entry door or know I was sitting in there until he was all the way in the room and then he came through to mine and you could see he was a bit caught off guard with me being there. It was just a weird moment and think they should just be honest instead of making up stupid excuses like have to check the fire alarm and all he did was stare up at it...and would be nice if they asked for an adult before barging in.

No rule or law about leaving a minor in a room that I know of, but haven't looked into it. I've seen stories on here about connecting rooms not being honored, it is a request. Reassuring you've always had them. They can note the reservations as traveling together and linked that way, but each room still needs an 18+ listed and can't be duplicate adult from anytime I have inquired.

 

[PinkPixel]

Especially when you put it on when checking in and leave it up 24/7 until checking out.

Yes, doing that is bad form at Disney. I learned over multiple stays and last 5 years. We only use when we are physically in the room now.

 

[Mousetopia]

I understand a daily room check but we just got back from a stay at Beach Club and it was SUPER annoying. First knock after being in the room 15 minutes. "Housekeeping need any more toilet paper, soap, towels?" No thank you. Second knock... Timeshare salesman for Riviera. "Hi I want to give you a Free Gift". Here is a special gift just for you a Riviera keepsake and information on how you can make a magical stay year after year". No thank you. Security "Room Check, may I come in". It was literally about 4 times per day and just nuts. Like I said I know a few bad apples have spoiled it for everyone but there has got to be a better way. We did a split stay and while we were at Boulder Ridge DVC we were trying to stay out of the heat and just go out in the late afternoons. Security would come completely into the room and spoke to us/questioned our plans etc. I would go through finger printing, a lie detector test and a full background check vs having to be disturbed on my vacation like this. My Husband and I are now discussing staying off property to have a less intrustive experience at our resort.

Write Disney!

 

[maxiesmom]

Disney has always guaranteed connecting rooms for family, (although some will say in small print they still don't have to give them to you etc.) but we've never not received them when traveling with my husband and our children and it's been years and years of booking. It has to be done through a reservationist and they put the two rooms on to one reservation.

And yes fair enough that it probably is in small print somewhere that says you can't leave a minor alone in a room. But is that going to excuse them for allowing employees to enter without asking for an adult, if something were to go amiss. He was 12, so not a small child, but still young enough that I was uncomfortable with his decision to not ask if a parent or guardian was there before coming in. The doors between the rooms were actually open but he couldn't see that from the entry door or know I was sitting in there until he was all the way in the room and then he came through to mine and you could see he was a bit caught off guard with me being there. It was just a weird moment and think they should just be honest instead of making up stupid excuses like have to check the fire alarm and all he did was stare up at it...and would be nice if they asked for an adult before barging in.

I have been denied connecting rooms before. It was many many moons ago, but it has happened. And I've also been bumped from a paid for room type to a less desirable room. Stuff happens, and you may not get the room you think you are.

Also, to me if you are comfortable enough leaving a minor in a room alone they are old enough to deal with the room check. You agree to the room checks when you book with Disney. Throwing the latch on the door will keep anyone from just walking in too.

 

[twinklebug]

Last month we stayed at the AKL for 8 nights and were never bothered despite the DND sign perpetually on the door. They made several attempts for towels and trash but just left a message.

A year earlier BLT they did the checks daily, usually emptying the trash. No specific time but it was generally midafternoon.

I’m here right now, I’m traveling alone this trip and fully lock the door behind me when in the room. I have been taking advantage of the space to nap, and even use the bathroom with the door open. those luxuries are stopping today as while I was on the balcony with the door shut to the room, someone, I’m assuming the the security check person came by and unlocked my door AND the toggle lock and let him or herself in. Only sign someone had been there was the toggle lock was sticking out at 90 degrees from the wall.

I’m upset.

 

[traveler9]

I’m here right now, I’m traveling alone this trip and fully lock the door behind me when in the room. I have been taking advantage of the space to nap, and even use the bathroom with the door open. those luxuries are stopping today as while I was on the balcony with the door shut to the room, someone, I’m assuming the the security check person came by and unlocked my door AND the toggle lock and let him or herself in. Only sign someone had been there was the toggle lock was sticking out at 90 degrees from the wall.

I’m upset.

For your next trip Google "super grip lock deadbolt strap". It’s available on Amazon and wraps around the door handle and deadbolt, preventing the bolt from being unlocked, even by someone with an override key.

 

[twinklebug]

For your next trip Google "super grip lock deadbolt strap". It’s available on Amazon and wraps around the door handle and deadbolt, preventing the bolt from being unlocked, even by someone with an override key.

Good to know, for other hotels, I’ll look it up. For this and most of the older resorts don’t use deadbolts, It’s a traditional swing arm toggle.

 

[traveler9]

Good to know, but this and most of the older resorts don’t use deadbolts, It’s a traditional swing arm toggle.

All the rooms I’ve stayed in at WDW have had deadbolt thumb turns under the door handle. That’s what this strap prevents from being unlocked, not the small privacy lock.

 

[Pink Partridge]

I’m here right now, I’m traveling alone this trip and fully lock the door behind me when in the room. I have been taking advantage of the space to nap, and even use the bathroom with the door open. those luxuries are stopping today as while I was on the balcony with the door shut to the room, someone, I’m assuming the the security check person came by and unlocked my door AND the toggle lock and let him or herself in. Only sign someone had been there was the toggle lock was sticking out at 90 degrees from the wall.

I’m upset.

By toggle lock, do you mean the bar that is flipped? If so, how? That is terrifying if there is a way for security to open that and walk right in

 

[twinklebug]

By toggle lock, do you mean the bar that is flipped? If so, how? That is terrifying if there is a way for security to open that and walk right in

Yup, this type, it’s in AKL and VWL.
There’s a lever bar they use to jimmy it open. I will be writing to Disney after I get home.

 

[traveler9]

Yup, this type, it’s in AKL and VWL.
There’s a lever bar they use to jimmy it open. I will be writing to Disney after I get home.

For the strap, it attaches to the deadbolt, not the extra little privacy lock on the door. The deadbolt is usually below the door handle on the inside of WDW room doors.

 

[katallo]

I’m curious as to why Disney is doing this. We’ve traveled quite a bit this summer, Marriott, Wyndham, Hilton. We have never had a “room check”

 

[twinklebug]

For the strap, it attaches to the deadbolt, not the extra little privacy lock on the door. The deadbolt is usually below the door handle on the inside of WDW room doors.

Yes, clearly, however you’re not looking at these doors. There is no deadbolt.

 

[focusondisney]

Yes, clearly, however you’re not looking at these doors. There is no deadbolt.

You’re talking about 2 different locks. The deadbolt @traveler9 is talking about is just below the door knob. It is in every Disney resort room. This is just a generic photo.



The swing arm toggle you are talking about is higher up the door & I think most people consider it the secondary lock.




That lock is being replaced as the rooms are being updated. This is the new lock that has replaced the toggle arm. It is an L shaped metal plate that you push & it will stick across the door. Push back & it is just on the doorframe to open. I’m not explaining it well, but I have seen it in a few resorts already. Including the GF. It’s hard to see in this picture because it’s dark, but if you look closely, you can see the usual deadbolt is still on this door, below the knob.

 

[focusondisney]

This is our door at GF this week. You can see the toggle is removed & replaced with the new plate style. The deadbolt is underneath the room occupied sign.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Yup, this type, it’s in AKL and VWL.
There’s a lever bar they use to jimmy it open. I will be writing to Disney after I get home.

Disturbing. Imagine someone just walking in during any type of "couple's time"?

Or any other state of undress?

How is this even legal? To jimmy a door open?

 

[traveler9]

Disturbing. Imagine someone just walking in during any type of "couples time"?

Or any other state of undress?

How is this even legal? To jimmy a door open?

If you use the strap I mentioned earlier, any CM trying to use a special key for the deadbolt would break the key off in the lock before the strap gave way if you put it on correctly.