Guest experiences with daily room checks

[mackabee77]

Last week we stayed for three nights at All Star Movies (in a renovated room - nice!). We did not opt out of housekeeping and I did not notice where opting out might have been an option as we checked in online and never approached the front desk.

Day one we were out all day and the room was serviced while we were out. Day two we were up early and back around 1 pm and found our room as we had left it. We hung the room occupied sign on the door and at 4:30 pm a housekeeper with a cart knocked but did not enter. I answered quickly and she asked if we would like our room serviced or maybe some towels. She was very polite and we swapped out some towels without her entering.

I never noticed any other CMs knocking/performing any checks but I wasn't really looking for it.

 

[disneyseniors]

My daughter, soninlaw, were at POFQ this past week. They never got any room checks that they knew of. However, they go to the parks early and stay all day or are at the pool, so maybe that's why they never noticed.
Maybe Disney is changing their policy on this.

 

[GoofyCoaster]

Last month, no one checked the room while we were in it. At BCV, they must have done it while we were out during the day because the trash was removed each day and oddly, fresh towels and toiletries appeared on day 3. Which is not standard at the villas. I don’t know if anyone actually checked our room at AKV. If they did, they didn’t take out the trash.

 

[cmwade77]

Day 3 is trash and towel day. Daily trash service is now the norm with the security checks.

 

[Madame]

Day 3 is trash and towel day. Daily trash service is now the norm with the security checks.

It’s day 4. We just had our towels swapped yesterday on day 4.

 

[cmwade77]

It’s day 4. We just had our towels swapped yesterday on day 4.

We had ours on day 3 at AKL, so I am not sure at this point.....I think housekeeping may not even know.

 

[galaxygirl76]

We stayed at Jambo House and Bay Lake in January/February. We only had one time that they knocked on the door, I was in the shower so my husband asked them to and they came back later. Never saw anyone but I think we left right on time every day to avoid the checks because we did see the carts near our door, we even managed to miss them when we went to grab a bite to eat at the Mara. We know they visited every day because the trash was gone every day we came back to the room.

 

[lcc2]

We got back to room from the parks around 9:30pm. We’re staying at CSR. Got to the door and noticed the curtains wide open. And every single light was on in the room. I was not happy and called guest services. I’m fine with the checks but why leave all the curtains wide open with all my personal belongings on display?

 

[djtx]

DVC member for 14 years, and I was surprised with this today. We just got back to Saratoga from the park on our first day, some got into the bed, sign on door placed, kids not decent, etc. We have a 2 bedroom, so I didn’t hear the knocking 15 mins after we got back. Someone entered the room and I questioned them. They said they had to do an inspection, and I told them not now. They said they have to do an inspection. Not now - kids aren’t dressed and people are sleeping. I called the front desk and they said this has been communicated in member meetings, welcome home card, etc. I was cordial, and they explained their policy and asked if there was a good time for us daily. They said they couldn’t guarantee that time, but would try.

Lesson learned - I’ll put the locks on while in the room, which I usually do. That will at least buy time for kids to get decent.

It’s their property (although I own an interest as a member - they should realize that), and I can understand it, even if I don’t agree with it. However, they should put this in red text when reservations are being made online, inform you at the check-in or in text if online check-in is used. They had three live interaction points with me to inform me and set expectations as opposed to walking in on my kids, waking up my wife etc. and insistent that they had to come in at that time.

They should also figure out how to use tech to address their concerns. They knew when every member of our party entered the park with our magic bands, which would tell them the room is clear - check it then. Figure out the logistics with the data they collect. As opposed to brute force and manually check rooms as part of an employee’s schedule. If they are concerned about water leaks, put in sensors. Figure it out with minimal to no interruptions to customers. I’m sure this is mitigating a legal/risk concern at the expense of potential customer inconvenience.

I spend a ton of money to come here to have fun and relax. If they can’t figure out how to address their concerns and not interrupt me, I’ll head somewhere else. I travel a lot and have never had an issue when I hang the sign on the door.

We’ve had 14 great years of Disney as DVC members, but just about every aspect of that greatness has been deteriorating over the past several visits. This is just another example - they could have at least removed the surprise factor by telling me that they would inspect the room daily at check-in or when I made reservations on the DVC site.

 

[Toolulu22]

On our last visit in February, on our very first morning I was awoken by a loud persistent knock on our door. When I realized that my husband was next me (and not locked out without his keycard), I was way too tired to get up and answer it. Knocking stopped.

We never heard or saw them again during our trip. We did have maid service.

 

[bumbershoot]

4 nights one bedroom BWV, 3 nights two bedroom Kidani over Princess.

I think trash was emptied once alone at BW, then trash and towels were done the day before checkout. Someone knocked to come in at some point another day. I believe I was in a towel. I asked them to come back. They left and didn’t come back. Yay for security!

Kidani a very apologetic man came in to get trash. I ended up bringing out the master bathroom trash, so he didn’t even enter that whole bedroom area. Yay for security! (Though it was pretty chaotic with 8 of us from 70+ to 5)

Then while my 11 year old cousin was alone they tried to come in for trash and towels. Since she was alone she said no as we had told her to do. They pressed about towels and she said no again. Since we were only at kidani for 3 nights I don’t know what that was all about.


I cannot figure out trash and towel schedule’s reality vs policy. Therefore I don’t know when to leave a tip. So I don’t. And I’m a person who comprehends that tipping is part of American culture, and I budget for it. But not when I don’t know if it’s going to be service vs security theater.

this has been communicated in member meetings, welcome home card, etc

Like we all go to meetings. And...welcome card? What is that?

I called the front desk

Ah now...14 years and you press the front desk button? You know that gets you to an offsite and maybe out of state call center. If you want the front desk, you go there.

And yes use the bar thing on the door when people are getting changed.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Pofq, placed Occupied on door as hubby would be sleeping in late. Early morning I left to Exercise, sign gone so unable to bolt door, and didn’t want to wake him/tell which would defeat the purpose of sleeping in
So happens, while I was out... someone banged on door and entered.
He said he was So Sleepy that he could not tell who it was but mumbled something and just passed back out, lol
I have no idea who it was, maybe mousekeeping, maybe room check but they left.
They re lucky he was Under those covers.. wouldn’t have fazed him but They mighta been taken aback lol

 

[djtx]

DVC member for 14 years, and I was surprised with this today. We just got back to Saratoga from the park on our first day, some got into the bed, sign on door placed, kids not decent, etc. We have a 2 bedroom, so I didn’t hear the knocking 15 mins after we got back. Someone entered the room and I questioned them. They said they had to do an inspection, and I told them not now. They said they have to do an inspection. Not now - kids aren’t dressed and people are sleeping. I called the front desk and they said this has been communicated in member meetings, welcome home card, etc. I was cordial, and they explained their policy and asked if there was a good time for us daily. They said they couldn’t guarantee that time, but would try.

Lesson learned - I’ll put the locks on while in the room, which I usually do. That will at least buy time for kids to get decent.

It’s their property (although I own an interest as a member - they should realize that), and I can understand it, even if I don’t agree with it. However, they should put this in red text when reservations are being made online, inform you at the check-in or in text if online check-in is used. They had three live interaction points with me to inform me and set expectations as opposed to walking in on my kids, waking up my wife etc. and insistent that they had to come in at that time.

They should also figure out how to use tech to address their concerns. They knew when every member of our party entered the park with our magic bands, which would tell them the room is clear - check it then. Figure out the logistics with the data they collect. As opposed to brute force and manually check rooms as part of an employee’s schedule. If they are concerned about water leaks, put in sensors. Figure it out with minimal to no interruptions to customers. I’m sure this is mitigating a legal/risk concern at the expense of potential customer inconvenience.

I spend a ton of money to come here to have fun and relax. If they can’t figure out how to address their concerns and not interrupt me, I’ll head somewhere else. I travel a lot and have never had an issue when I hang the sign on the door.

We’ve had 14 great years of Disney as DVC members, but just about every aspect of that greatness has been deteriorating over the past several visits. This is just another example - they could have at least removed the surprise factor by telling me that they would inspect the room daily at check-in or when I made reservations on the DVC site.

On my last day, at 10:00am (you have to be out by 11:00am), they knocked on my door and said, “inspection.” Since I couldn’t converse with her (Spanish only), my Hispanic wife talked to them. We were cleaning the room and packing...why would they need to inspect the room an hour before we left? Was there a security concern with a family leaving Disney? Someone in charge needs to visit like a customer so they can inject logic to their policies. Anyone want to buy DVC points?

 

[chelynnah]

We stayed at POFQ Feb 20 - Mar 2. We declined housekeeping so were expecting checks. On 3 occasions we were in the room when staff knocked (we had the sign out, and door bolted). The first time we were sleeping after DH had run the half marathon. I said we were sleeping and could she come back later. She apologised for disturbing us and said no need. The other two times we were in the room and it was a gentleman. We invited him in both times and he said no need, he was just checking if everything was ok with the room, were there any maintenance issues. When we confirmed all was ok he left. I don’t know if anyone came in while we were out. I assume they did as all 3 knocks we had were around the same time of day, around 1pm. I believe they had a pad in their hand, so likely a checklist. But at no time did anyone try to open the door when we were in (the first time knocked twice as we were sleeping), nor did they enter the room when we were there. I had no issue with the way this was handled.

It seems there’s definitely a lack of consistency in how this is being handled across the different resorts. I very much appreciated how it was handled at ours.

Oh, I also called housekeeping once for some new towels, trash bags and toilet paper. The CM heard my larngytis and thought I had a cold so also sent tissues which was sweet. The housekeeper who brought them double checked then if everything else was ok.

 

[lovethattink]

We declined housekeeping al All Star Movies. Came back to the room today to see a mousekeeper in the room changing out towels and emptying garbage. She wanted to vacuum, but we asked her not to. I don't think she knew we declined housekeeping. We got and spent the gift card. So I'm not sure why she didn't know?

 

[Mrtommorrow1987]

We stayed at BWV 1 bedroom from 3/1-3/9 on 3/5 the day after house keeping came we noticed that a $500 disney gift card was missing from our safe. We requested that no cast memebers enter our room while we were not there.

We reported the possible theft to the management team at BWV. We were accused of losing the gift cards and offered Breakfast and fast passes. We were told cast members do not have access to the hotel safes. A simple google search showed me theee different ways to crack a safemark safe. It was safe to say I was pretty dissapointed in being lied to by Disney CAst Members. We declined any other service and asked that no cast members enter our room the remainder of the trip. We were told this was not feasible with their policy to inspect rooms daily. Sams club did cancel the gift card and reissue another for future use thankfully. So we at least recovered the monetary loss for the trip and can now use for a future trip.

The policy of checking the room daily was very inconvenient. They ended up having to do room checks at 8 o clock at night while we were trying to bath our kids and get them to bed. After the third or fourth night of them coming I did not call because we were going to go to bed exhausted from the park. The house keeping manager called at 9 o clock at night and asked first if I found my gift card adding insult to injury. She also reported they were coming to inspect my room. We felt like we were treated like we were going to damage their property. It’s a terrible policy if you are looking for privacy.

 

[Lynne M]

I see it's time for a reminder that this is not a discussion thread. The only thing that should be posted on this thread are descriptions of your experiences with room checks during your stay at a Disney resort. Comments, questions, and any other posts that are not direct reports of your first-hand experiences will be removed without comment.

If you want to discuss the policy, ask questions about the policy, or discuss an experience you've had, please create a new thread or post in an existing one on the Resorts board.

Before posting in any FAQ thread on this board, please read the first post in the thread so that you understand that thread's ground rules for posting.

 

[Mrtommorrow1987]

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[JaclynR]

We stayed at Art of Animation at the end of February for 4 nights. One the 3rd evening of our trip we were relaxing and getting ready to go to the pool when there was a knock at the door and my son peeked through the peep hole but didn't open it. The lady let herself right into the room and asked us if everybody was ok. We were stunned because we keep the Do not Disturb sign up the whole trip and had refused the housekeeping service. I hadn't realized they were doing these kind of check in on guests, now we know.

 

[pepperandchips]

We had an odd housekeeping experience during our two night stay 3/30-4/1 at Beach Club. We got our room ready text before 9:00 am and went straight to the room when we arrived around 11:00 am. Our bands did not work on the room. A manager-looking CM stopped by us in the hallway and asked if she could help - she looked something up in her little tablet gizmo and said that the room had not been changed over to us from the previous guests. She let us in with her master key fob thing and told us to give it about 5 minutes and try our bands again. The room was clean, but all of the toiletries had not been replaced and we were counting on using them. Also we only had one regular coffee k cup in the room, so I called for additional toiletries and coffee, which came in short order. We went to the parks and when we came back someone had been in the room and left even MORE coffees! It was hilarious to come back to 13 k cups on the counter. We had regular housekeeping the following day and never had any knocks while the room occupied sign was up.