Hotel Key Cards.......Do you hand them Back ?

[wee-haggis]

I read an article the other day from an attorney who was making suggestions to protect against identity theft. One of the items mentioned was hotel key cards. He said that all of your information (address,CC number etc,etc) is on this card and by giving it back to the hotel front desk at check out is not recommended. He takes his card and destroys it.
Just wondered what others did in this situation.

 

[spiceycat]

WDW does not require you to return the keys.

Others place do - they can reuse them and you will be charged if you take them. Just depends upon what the policy is of where you are staying. It should be written and given to you when you check in.

would you believe on one trip last year I actually got a key - yea!!! I real key - I haven't one of those in years at hotels/timeshares/condos....

as to what is on that card I think that depends upon the resort in question.

 

[paladin]

Personal information is not encoded onto room keys - this is an urban legend; it even appears on snopes.com.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I read this a long time ago. Since then I have talked to many in the hotel biz, and they said there is nothing on there but your room code.
To be safe, one guy I work with carries a magnet and swipes his key a few times after checking out.

MG

 

[spiceycat]

I think disney has more on their cards - I mean hey they can put tickets, meals, charges - so I think their system records you better than most....

I have always been surprise when I am staying offsite or at a non-DVC room - how quickly and easily DVC can find me.....big brother is DISNEY....(if you didn't understand that last - don't worry you are just too young)

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I think disney has more on their cards - I mean hey they can put tickets, meals, charges - so I think their system records you better than most....

Spicey, you may be correct, but that could also be done through a room code.
In other words, all the meal plans, park tickets, and all extras can be added to your room folio, and all your key needs to do is access the room folio in the computer system.
I'm not an expert, but it seems better not to code that extra info on the key itself.

MG

 

[Lewisc]

If you have non-expiry park passes with unused days on your room key you should keep them.

Since your name is imprinted on the card Disney isn't going to be re-using them so you can destroy it or keep it as a souvenir.

 

[becky7953]

We kept ours. They are in the scrapbook I made.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

As someone said it depends on the resort/hotel.

Most hotels systems are seperate and so there is no need to worry at all. At the hotel I work at all the room key "knows" is that this key will open X room for X days. At that point it becomes null and void (or we can void the key at any time) so if you decide to stay another day you have to stop by and get a new key.

The only time it *may* be an issue is where you can charge things with your room key.

 

[kilee]

A lot of hotels (across the country not just WDW) will charge you a $5-10 fee to ensure you return the key. If not, then we keep for our scrapbook too.

 

[spiceycat]

WDW does not charge you - they want to kept it....

the other timeshare in the area - some do and some don't....

WDW does because if someone else got it - they could charge on it until midnight (of the day you check out)....

you don't want that nightmare - so either take it with you for a sourvenior - or destroy it.