Excessive Room Checks?

[traveler9]

We will be going back for New Years and I will be bringing my room camera with us, to check on them as they check on us

Interestingly enough they have put a captive portal on their WiFi in the last few years that blocks most cameras and other devices without web browsers from getting on (as easily, anyway.)

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Interestingly enough they have put a captive portal on their WiFi in the last few years that blocks most cameras and other devices without web browsers from getting on (as easily, anyway.)

Thanks, but I have my own MIFI and try to never use any hotels wifi because it is so unsecure.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I had a conversation with the manager at AKV Jambo as we were leaving yesterday morning. He did reiterate that you can "schedule" a time when you are out each day for the "check". Another thing to plan each day. Doesn't that really make you wonder what the point is if you know when they are coming? He was adamant that this is the way things are done in many parts of the country now.

We were out every day last week except for Tuesday and Thursday. No one checked on us on Tuesday, so I thought we were all set. We've been DVC for almost 30 years. I was watching the dogs at the airports yesterday when we flew home. It got me wondering if a they could walk a dog down the hallways to catch at least some errant behavior? There has to be a better way. It just ruined the "happy place" feeling on the last day. I am not over it, and likely will not get over it. Happy to be in the privacy of our own home!

 

[Karebear]

I had a conversation with the manager at AKV Jambo as we were leaving yesterday morning. He did reiterate that you can "schedule" a time when you are out each day for the "check". Another thing to plan each day. Doesn't that really make you wonder what the point is if you know when they are coming? He was adamant that this is the way things are done in many parts of the country now.

We were out every day last week except for Tuesday and Thursday. No one checked on us on Tuesday, so I thought we were all set. We've been DVC for almost 30 years. I was watching the dogs at the airports yesterday when we flew home. It got me wondering if a they could walk a dog down the hallways to catch at least some errant behavior? There has to be a better way. It just ruined the "happy place" feeling on the last day. I am not over it, and likely will not get over it. Happy to be in the privacy of our own home!

The thing that I don't get is Disney originally said they were doing these room checks due to the Vegas shooting (maybe I am wrong on that). I travel quite a bit for work to Vegas and usually stay on the strip at one of the big hotels, Bellagio, Wynn, etc. I have never experienced a room check there. I can put out the do not disturb sign and take a nap without fear of getting woken up. It just makes me sad that you can't expect this at Disney too.

 

[MICKIMINI]

The thing that I don't get is Disney originally said they were doing these room checks due to the Vegas shooting (maybe I am wrong on that). I travel quite a bit for work to Vegas and usually stay on the strip at one of the big hotels, Bellagio, Wynn, etc. I have never experienced a room check there. I can put out the do not disturb sign and take a nap without fear of getting woken up. It just makes me sad that you can't expect this at Disney too.

The Jambo House manager suggested all of Vegas does these checks, Houston and Orlando too. I find it invasive and just cancelled next year's trip. Maybe I will have a change of heart, but it is just not cool. I have to rest and the anxiety of getting a knock causes me not to fall asleep for a nap. As I said earlier, there has to be a better way to ensure security.

 

[Pink Partridge]

The Jambo House manager suggested all of Vegas does these checks

That is not true. He was giving out false information.

 

[Babsy]

The first line on the sign states that they still reserve the right to enter your room, even if the sign is out.

It is one thing to "reserve the right". It is another thing to be intrusive about it and to do it more than necessary.

Then why even have a sign?

I hear you

So they know when you are in the room. In our experience, their preference is to do the check while the room is occupied.

WHAT!!!?? You can't be serious?

It's all so ridiculous.

agreed!

Perhaps in the past there have been too many trashed rooms especially in the expensive resorts.

Trashed rooms? By employees checking? or by guests? why in the expensive resorts, especially?

 

[lowlight]

The Jambo House manager suggested all of Vegas does these checks, Houston and Orlando too. I find it invasive and just cancelled next year's trip. Maybe I will have a change of heart, but it is just not cool. I have to rest and the anxiety of getting a knock causes me not to fall asleep for a nap. As I said earlier, there has to be a better way to ensure security.

If you read back in this thread, or several threads like it, someone is going to tell you that you don't have to stay there if you don't like it, and by checking in to the room, you agreed to these invasions of your privacy. I agree with you. From personal experience, this is security theater, and is likely done for insurance premiums. It may make less aware people feel safer. It's actually a net negative from the security side, because you've now made it commonplace and expected that a CM will pop their heads in while you're alone in the room, while your child is alone in the room, while you're sleeping, while you're in the shower, to the point that ANYONE can knock on any door at any time and say they are doing a security check, and inevitably someone will think "oh this again, let's get this over with", and with their guard down, let a predator in and pay the price. This is probably the worst security minded thing I've ever seen a big company do. I said it a few years ago and I stand by it- this is going to lead to the biggest lawsuit Disney has ever faced when either a naked child taking a bath or shower is walked in on, or a predator uses this room check to their advantage and does something evil. That will be the last we ever hear of a room check.

 

[Pink Partridge]

I said it a few years ago and I stand by it- this is going to lead to the biggest lawsuit Disney has ever faced when either a naked child taking a bath or shower is walked in on, or a predator uses this room check to their advantage and does something evil.

100%. Perverts everywhere. One will eventually make their way to this free for all.

 

[MICKIMINI]

@lowlight, you are so right. Five minutes later, DH would have been sound asleep and I would have been in the shower. No one to answer the door! The bath doors (two of them) in 1BR Value Jambo are sliders. We don't even close them completely as it is just us in the villa. The bedroom where DH was sleeping is across from the bathroom and that door was open...

I was freaked out that this man would likely would have been in the bathroom with me and DH would have woken up to a stranger in our villa. I'm not sure what he would have done/said? This totally ruined our vacation. No one on the Disney side could care less. My anxiety level is still high and I am not feeling well. I have several medical conditions that are worse when my anxiety level increases and it can take weeks or months to calm down.

I cancelled next year's trip (I was doing the bounceback as we had used all 2025 points). We were on track for buying at least one contract in the next few months, but do we really want to spend all our hard earned money, just to have a stranger walk in on us? We got through six days without intrusion, only to have the "knock" on the seventh and I can tell you, we had mistakenly let our guard down.

We went from happy DVC members on (my) 36th trip to WDW to PO'd DVC members reconsidering both DVC and WDW. I am typing this as I look over the lake in the distance and mountains behind it from the dining room in our new home. It is quiet and no one will knock on the door. I have no fear of anyone intruding on us. I really have to wonder why I would pay 10K+ for a week to be intruded upon with no notice? It was a few minutes from potentially total humiliation. How can anyone think this is okay?

 

[maxiesmom]

It is one thing to "reserve the right". It is another thing to be intrusive about it and to do it more than necessary.

A knock is intrusive? Once a day is more than necessary? Even if you think both of those are true, you agree to the checks when you book a room at a Disney resort. Disney gets to decide what they think is necessary or not intrusive. I honestly would rather not have a room check either, but it is up to me to decide if it bothers me enough to not stay on site.

 

[Minniesgal]

My recent experience at BLT was the opposite. staying 8 nights so full clean on day 4. I popped the room occupied sign up while I had a shower ten mins tops. Housekeeping passed while it was up and didn't come back. Had to complain to get them to clean the room even then they didn;t leave any fresh supplies and had to ask again for those the following day

 

[maxiesmom]

@lowlight, you are so right. Five minutes later, DH would have been sound asleep and I would have been in the shower. No one to answer the door! The bath doors (two of them) in 1BR Value Jambo are sliders. We don't even close them completely as it is just us in the villa. The bedroom where DH was sleeping is across from the bathroom and that door was open...

I was freaked out that this man would likely would have been in the bathroom with me and DH would have woken up to a stranger in our villa. I'm not sure what he would have done/said? This totally ruined our vacation. No one on the Disney side could care less. My anxiety level is still high and I am not feeling well. I have several medical conditions that are worse when my anxiety level increases and it can take weeks or months to calm down.

I cancelled next year's trip (I was doing the bounceback as we had used all 2025 points). We were on track for buying at least one contract in the next few months, but do we really want to spend all our hard earned money, just to have a stranger walk in on us? We got through six days without intrusion, only to have the "knock" on the seventh and I can tell you, we had mistakenly let our guard down.

We went from happy DVC members on (my) 36th trip to WDW to PO'd DVC members reconsidering both DVC and WDW. I am typing this as I look over the lake in the distance and mountains behind it from the dining room in our new home. It is quiet and no one will knock on the door. I have no fear of anyone intruding on us. I really have to wonder why I would pay 10K+ for a week to be intruded upon with no notice? It was a few minutes from potentially total humiliation. How can anyone think this is okay?

Throw the door latch and no one can walk in on you.

 

[FSU Girl]

Universal hotels are not doing this. We just recently stayed, kept our do not disturb on the door the entire trip and one day we were in the room the entire day and had no one stop by. Also went to Vegas and spent the day in the room one of our days and had no one stop by. As far as my travels I’ve only encountered this at Disney

 

[Miffy]

If WDW is doing this to thwart human trafficking, then why on earth would they be amenable to scheduling a time with the occupant for a room check? And, on this same note, why would they even bother checking the rooms of guests who've been regular customers for years?

And, if they check the room while no one's there--which in my experience is what happens 90% of the time--how could they possibly tell what's going on in that room when it's occupied? Wouldn't perpetrators know not to leave any sign of what they're doing?

But, besides all that, has anyone here experienced room checks in any hotel/motel/resort except at WDW? Just curious.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Throw the door latch and no one can walk in on you.

Oh, it was on along with the "room occupied" tag. I make sure it is always that way. I believe they can still get in though.

 

[MICKIMINI]

A knock is intrusive? Once a day is more than necessary? Even if you think both of those are true, you agree to the checks when you book a room at a Disney resort. Disney gets to decide what they think is necessary or not intrusive. I honestly would rather not have a room check either, but it is up to me to decide if it bothers me enough to not stay on site.

It is not just a knock, let's face it. They want to step into and look around your villa.

Perhaps it has only happened to you while you are dressed, not in the bathroom, sleeping etc. If you, you are one of the lucky ones. Honestly, how would you feel otherwise?

 

[MICKIMINI]

If WDW is doing this to thwart human trafficking, then why on earth would they be amenable to scheduling a time with the occupant for a room check? And, on this same note, why would they even bother checking the rooms of guests who've been regular customers for years?

And, if they check the room while no one's there--which in my experience is what happens 90% of the time--how could they possibly tell what's going on in that room when it's occupied? Wouldn't perpetrators know not to leave any sign of what they're doing?

But, besides all that, has anyone here experienced room checks in any hotel/motel/resort except at WDW? Just curious.

THANK YOU!

 

[MICKIMINI]

Does DVC do room checks at VB and HHI? We've stayed at both, but not recently? Thanks!

 

[Pink Partridge]

Oh, it was on along with the "room occupied" tag. I make sure it is always that way. I believe they can still get in though.

I read this somewhere else. That cast members are getting in, even if the latch is on. Wow. Just wow. That really is intrusive.