Excessive Room Checks?

[Minnie1222]

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.

Don't stay there if you don't like it! It shouldn't be that difficult to reach such a decision if a hotel is giving you this much stress.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Don't stay there if you don't like it! It shouldn't be that difficult to reach such a decision if a hotel is giving you this much stress.

This dismissive attitude to people who have been walked in on is so strange to me.

It is very wrong to walk in on people while in bed sleeping (or otherwise)/naked in shower/going to bathroom/etc.

You shouldn't have to read the fine print to find out that this odd behavior will be happening during your stay at WDW. They should say when you are checking in "We will walk into your room, whether you are going to the bathroom, engaging in "adult time", your teenager is showering, you are changing, etc. We don't care. We will enter no matter what. We will also void the latch you have flipped and walk right in". They should make that very clear to every person checking in.

 

[Minnie1222]

They should say when you are checking in "We will walk into your room, whether you are going to the bathroom, engaging in "adult time", your teenager is showering, you are changing, etc. We don't care. We will enter no matter what. We will also void the latch you have flipped and walk right in". They should make that very clear to every person checking in.

That's what "We reserve the right to enter a guest room" means.

 

[bdrex28]

That's what "We reserve the right to enter a guest room" means.

How many people actually read the fine print? So, it's definitely a bit dismissive to act like it's wrong for people to feel like their being intruded on. I can see it both ways.

I will say, we spent the past six days at Boardwalk and only once did we have a room check while we were there. It was yesterday ( Saturday) we had spent the morning in Hollywood and had come back to just relax, do a load of laundry and get stuff ready for our leaving at 5am this morning. It probably happened about 130pm, but the gentleman did knock. I opened the door and he asked me to close the door so he could open with his master key so his boss wouldn't get upset. Odd but whatever, he had a job to do and I'd rather them practice good security than not.

Now.. Just a few minutes earlier I'd been down in the laundry room and my wife was in the shower, had he come in then I'd perhaps feel differently. I would think they would still announce themselves, and he did knock so that's probably the protocol

 

[MICKIMINI]

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

Yes, big time. I knew on Friday that DH and I would have to have a big talk about future WDW visits which involved our DVC contracts. It is where we meet our son and DIL. It is our "second" home and a place I have treasured since it was a sign on a stick in the ground at Downtown Disney. I know he's pretty ticked off too. This time, last Thursday at AKV it just seemed ridiculous. Oh, did I mention I was a VIP artist at WDW back in 1993? They trusted me to be backstage, drive up to the CM gates at EPCOT, eat with CM's, stay in a reserved villa etc. Apparently, they don't trust me anymore!

I am ready to list a contract but haven't had "the talk" with DH yet. We have to run errand in a few minutes so I will bring it up.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Don't stay there if you don't like it! It shouldn't be that difficult to reach such a decision if a hotel is giving you this much stress.

We are DVC owners. We've owned this real estate for nearly 30 years. It is not a hotel. It is our "second home".

 

[bdrex28]

@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?

Most hotels do this now for extended stays and when do not disturb signs are on the door for extended periods because of the Las Vegas shooting. The shooter was in his room unchecked for days setting up a shooting position with multiple long range rifles.

I do understand as DVC members it feels intrusive upon our "home" but I think if they knock and announce themselves it's worth the hassle imo.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-shooting-hotels-revise-room-security-measures/

 

[Minnie1222]

How many people actually read the fine print? So, it's definitely a bit dismissive to act like it's wrong for people to feel like their being intruded on.

I'm not being dismissive about people's fears and feelings. All I'm suggesting is to stay elsewhere if they're worried about the potential intrusions.

 

[lowlight]

Don't stay there if you don't like it! It shouldn't be that difficult to reach such a decision if a hotel is giving you this much stress.

This is so on the nose that it made me laugh. I am going to write a cast compliment for all the work you're doing for TWDC.

 

[Dave006]

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

This is not generally* true if you set the privacy lock from inside the room. Granted other members of your party also can't get in with the privacy lock set.

*Yes Security has a tool to open the door in emergencies when a guest may be unresponsive and they don't use if during the Room Check process.

Dave

 

[maxiesmom]

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?

I always put the room latch on when I am in my room. Even if I am just watching tv or reading during the day. They don't barge into your room without first knocking. Put the latch on and they can't get in.

 

[Genie+]

I get why people are upset about the lack of privacy. Personally that isn’t the part that bothers me.

The aspect I don’t like is no way to reliably avoid midday disturbance. Can’t count on not getting disturbed. In this context though, we are talking about WDW where the ability to rest midday can make or break your day and even your trip. That’s where this policy seems at odds between management and guests. I am staying onsite because it makes it easier to take that break but I can’t rely on it. If there was something I could do on my part that takes care of what they need to do while I still get a reliable break for my family, that would be good. Does scheduling actually work?

 

[Kristine Holderman]

O

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.

only had one check a day at any Dosney resort we have stayed in. I have never had a Disney timeshare person stop by, I have always had yo seek them out

 

[traveler9]

This is not generally* true if you set the privacy lock from inside the room. Granted other members of your party also can't get in with the privacy lock set.

*Yes Security has a tool to open the door in emergencies when a guest may be unresponsive and they don't use if during the Room Check process.

Dave

They wouldn’t be getting in my room. If they tried hard enough they would snap their override key in half while trying to turn it since I use a strap that prevents the deadbolt from being unlocked.

 

[Genie+]

O

only had one check a day at any Dosney resort we have stayed in. I have never had a Disney timeshare person stop by, I have always had yo seek them out

Yeah I’ve never heard or experienced anything close to this account: “It was literally about 4 times per day and just nuts.”

Literally seems to be used as hyperbole here. The story went from 3 separate reasons for knocks (housekeeping, DVC, security) to ‘about 4 times daily’. I hope people are not making decisions based on that info

 

[MouseLover]

Scheduling this service did not work for us at GF this summer. It was very annoying to be disturbed every afternoon while trying to rest. After three days we scheduled — but it still happened. I wonder how many people are walked in on in a state of undress each day…

 

[Pink Partridge]

That's what "We reserve the right to enter a guest room" means.

No. It should be made very clear that they will walk in on you in vulnerable situations without your permission.

 

[lanejudy]

Disney originally said they were doing these room checks due to the Vegas shooting (maybe I am wrong on that)

No, Disney has never made any official statement as to the reason.

I read this somewhere else. That cast members are getting in, even if the latch is on.

They CAN override the latch but I have not read a single account of them doing so for a routine check.

 

[Sheryl2059]

They wouldn’t be getting in my room. If they tried hard enough they would snap their override key in half while trying to turn it since I use a strap that prevents the deadbolt from being unlocked.

If that were to happen it would give them an even greater incentive to do a security check. That would be quite suspicious if your job is security.

 

[OKW Lover]

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

Yes they do. We were at VB last weekend for a 2-night stay and they did come in on the second day.