Foreign customs - common courtesies

[jensen]

I read all the time about how people staying at Pop and the Values can hear showers running and toilets flushing in the night. I'm a heavy sleeper, so these things don't really bother me... but, it makes me wonder about a foreign custom that I recently experienced. When we were visiting my sister and her DH at their apartment in Switzerland, we were told that we couldn't flush the toilet after 10 PM. That country (and maybe others) has several of these "rules" that people follow as common courtesies to their neighbors.

My question is... I wonder why this custom didn't make its way to the US? Is it because people find it gross or what? It would certainly resolve the complaints people have at hotels.

 

[FirstNo]

I read all the time about how people staying at Pop and the Values can hear showers running and toilets flushing in the night. I'm a heavy sleeper, so these things don't really bother me... but, it makes me wonder about a foreign custom that I recently experienced. When we were visiting my sister and her DH at their apartment in Switzerland, we were told that we couldn't flush the toilet after 10 PM. That country (and maybe others) has several of these "rules" that people follow as common courtesies to their neighbors.

My question is... I wonder why this custom didn't make its way to the US? Is it because people find it gross or what? It would certainly resolve the complaints people have at hotels.

It might, however, you were staying in an apartment, not a hotel. I find it difficult to believe that any place tourists are staying would implement something like this (I have stayed in hotels in London, Edinburgh, Paris, Seoul and Tokyo). While you might find a rule like this at a B&B, I seriously doubt there is one at a hotel. You can't even get the foreigners to tip people in this (US) country, do you really think you're going to get them to not flush a toilet at 1130pm? It's not feasible.

The way to solve the problem is to not build on the cheap so you don't have to listen to someone flushing a toilet. You get what you pay for which is one of the many reasons I wouldn't stay at a value resort for free. For me, it's an issue. For many others, it's not a bother.

 

[mapmakerj]

FYI- It's not just a "Value" thing when it comes to loud toilets or any outside room noise at Disney. In fact, we met up with friends at ASMo resort when we were at AKL, and the neighbors toilets were in fact quieter at the ASMo resort. Just because the cost to stay in a resort is more expensive, doesn't mean the resort itself is built any better, it just means it has more ammenities available.

 

[disneymyway]

I'm sorry , but when I'm on vacation I want to be able to flush my toilet! And I've never been at a hotel in Europe with this rule!

 

[suzimar57]

i wouldn't dare tell DH he couldn't flush after 10!!!

 

[FirstNo]

FYI- It's not just a "Value" thing when it comes to loud toilets or any outside room noise at Disney. In fact, we met up with friends at ASMo resort when we were at AKL, and the neighbors toilets were in fact quieter at the ASMo resort. Just because the cost to stay in a resort is more expensive, doesn't mean the resort itself is built any better, it just means it has more ammenities available.

I haven't had the toilet problem in CR or BC. Perhaps it's the newer resorts? Either way, you get what you pay for. Call me kooky, but I would expect an upscale resort to have better soundproofing than a value no matter where in the world it is.

 

[SpaceGirl]

If the bathroom door is kepted closed it eliminates most of the noise from other guest using the facilities.

 

[REL1203]

There is some article on some site about the quiteness of each resort, and if memeory serves, POP was teh 2nd quietess of all resorts, and a deluxe was the loudest

 

[Mamalisa58]

I had more "outside" of the room noise at the BC than any other WDW resort. We were near the elevator and the ice machine. It was terrible! So in my experience it doesn't matter what you pay when it comes to noise.

 

[Judy from Boise]

gosh, we follow this "rule" at our house as just a courtesy ....who wants to disturb anyone's sleep with something can can wait till morning? Of course we do the same thing when we travel.

 

[jtlover]

I am from the Uk and we do this at home and usually on holiday We do it not to disturb others but it is not a rule in our Country

 

[jensen]

Two clarifications... I was referring to a custom in that country - it's not like there was a list of HOUSE RULES that we were required to follow - it was a common courtesy that they followed. This was in there home (apartment), no one told us this at any of the hotels/B&Bs we stayed at.

I'm not saying that we should make a rule or law that says you cannot flush after 10, I'm asking why it's not common courtesy?

 

[EnnEss]

Values and mods are almost all quieter than deluxes, UG did a decibel rating on them all. Its because the doors (exterior) open onto weather, in terms of open halls, deluxes open into interior hallways. So, the doors are better insulated at mods/deluxes. They didn't mention toilet flushing, just that more noise comes through doors than walls.

Op, switzerland is a really different country from America. They are a lot more willing to compromise for the greater good and forego some of their personal rights. America is founded on and centered upon individual rights and freedoms. It's difficult to pass laws here that are beneficial if they may infringe upon someone's rights, such as non smoking laws. That is also tied to corporate influence in America, its not the same in Switzerland at all. I'm sure many Americans, if they lived in Switzerland and understood the political structure, would rashly call it near communism. It's an entirely different style of living and ideology in every form. Its reflected by its citizens. Its just a different set of priorities completely. (I'm not favoring one or the other).

 

[mamazaz]

At our stay at OKW in 2006, we assumed the people upstairs enjoyed re-arranging the furniture from about 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. It was so ridiculous we just started laughing. We could hear them talking, laughing, etc. - not so much that you could understand what they were saying, but enough to wake us up. And we still to this day cannot figure out what they were doing with the furniture - at least that's what it sounded like. We assumed that they must be from another country and tyring to adjust to the time change. That's the only thing we could come up with at those crazy hours.

Staying at OKW is not inexpensive and I realize that they were built years ago, but I think each resort has it's "sound" issues. Whether it be internal noises like toilets flushing or exterior noises from the hallway or pool area, etc. And when we stayed last year, it was very quiet - no sound issues at all. It probably depends on which building, what floor, end room, by the elevator, ...........

I would love the common courtesy of no flushing, showering, yelling or moving furniture after 10 p.m.

 

[tiger4me2]

I haven't had the toilet problem in CR or BC. Perhaps it's the newer resorts? Either way, you get what you pay for. Call me kooky, but I would expect an upscale resort to have better soundproofing than a value no matter where in the world it is.

Now please don't take this wrong When we stayed at the GF we heard every thing coming from next door. We stayed on Club level main building. Heard the people next door, the elevator going down & up etc. Also when we stayed at the Yacht Club we could hear the people using the bathroom etc.
I am like you I expect the "upscale" resorts to be more soundproof but some times they are not. But it could be who you are next to in your room. People who know they are next to another guest in the room next to them or people who just don't care how much noise they make