Hotel Security

[avspilot69]

Can anyone tell about hotel security. Do they check people who come in and out of the hotel? I am traveling with 2 small children and I guess I am being too paranoid.

 

[MonoManBlue]

Im not sure what your trying to ask.....but there is no security persay at the hotels. They don't check bags, and they don't check the people.

 

[eliza61]

Can anyone tell about hotel security. Do they check people who come in and out of the hotel? I am traveling with 2 small children and I guess I am being too paranoid.

My standard answer is pretty much the same, Disney is like any other vacation place and/or hotel. Use the same safety precautions at Disney as you would in NYC. Unfortunately the crooks know that people let their guard down while on vacation especially at WDW. We tend to think the pixie dust affects every one. Keep your door locked when you are in the room, NEVER leave valuables out and be aware of your surroundings especially at night.
People are not checked going in and out of the hotel, that would be pretty much impossible with the amount of visitors. Also the deluxes hotels have restuarants that are very popular and non guest visit them (Boma, Whispering canyon cafe, Chef Mickey to name a few). You do past a checkpoint where security will stop you if you drive but if your on a wdw bus you are not checked.
The moderates and values have outside hallways.

 

[GalDisney]

There is a guarded front entrance gate and the security guard checks drivers licenses of everyone who drives in. altho what good that does i do not know. I travel solo to the disney resorts all the time and do not feel unsafe. Just use commom sense and you will be fine.

 

[Cool-Beans]

No, you get to come and go as you please. It would be kind of silly to stop people who weren't staying there anyway. The bad guys would then just rent a room or steal a key.

I will say that I once had a tree frog jump out of a tree and land on me at POR. I knew nothing about tree frogs. All I knew is that all of a sudden there was a slimy sucky thing on my leg. I screamed and swatted at it and then I felt a slimy sucky thing on my other leg. He had jumped, but I didn't realize it - I thought it was a second slimy sucky thing - maybe aliens, I had no idea. At this point I started flailing my legs about and screaming and swatting at myself.

Back and forth on my legs the slimy sucky thing went, causing me to believe there were now several alien slimy sucky things on me. I was going nuts screaming and swatting and just about losing my mind.

Boom! A golf cart pulled up just as it landed on my lower leg and then got off. I was looking around wildly to see if more slimy sucky things were going to attack me and saw that the golf cart guy was just staring at me, totally nonplussed. I stared back. Shaking at this point, but no longer flailing and screaming or looking around like an insane woman.

"Tree frog?" he asked, in an almost bored voice. "I don't know!" I exclaimed. "Slimy sucky things! ...all over me!"

His lips pursed ever so slightly, as if to prevent himself from rudely laughing. "Tree frog," he replied.

They show up pretty fast.

 

[disneynutz]

There can be bad people anywhere. That being said, Disney has one of the best records in the business. When you think of the millions and millions of visitors yearly, the percentage of problems are minuscule.

 

[typhoonlagooner]

Security guards can be found at the resorts front gate checking cars/parking but keep in mind how "easy" it is for someone to park at DTD and catch a bus to the resort. Like others have said, always use precautions no matter where you go; including Disney.

I traveled with my single mother for the first 18 years of my life and we never found ourselves in an unsafe or uncomfortable situation. If you are concerned let the front desk know. Ask for a room in a well lit, public area close to the front desk/main building, etc.

 

[Lynne M]

Not sure what you mean by "do they check people"....the resorts are public places, like any hotel/motel/resort in the real world. Folks come to eat at the resort restaurants, walk around, rent boats at the resort marinas, etc.

There is a guard shack and gate at the entrances to all the resorts; if you're driving to the resort and don't have a resort ID the guard will ask the purpose of your visit, but that's about it.

That said, I've never felt unsafe at any Disney resort, and I often travel alone.

 

[avspilot69]

Thanks for the replies. My concern stems from an uncomfortable incident in San Diego during a weekend stay at a Holiday Inn last summer.

 

[EnnEss]

I guess your uncomfortable because of the incident. As everyone said they check the driver's id when he drives in, for me just the hotel card so I could park there I assumed, never license. But, as opposed to other hotels you can't walk to them really, they aren't in a city. A dangerous person could drive in I'm sure, but just as easily he/she could stay there and even easier he/she could go to the parks.

I'd think the risk somewhat reduced due to the inability to walk in, but that's about it.

 

[DisnyMama]

I am a single mom and my very first trip in 2001 with my DS when he was 10 I did not know anything. I booked my tripped the first and only time with a TA who knew nothing about WDW and when we checked in to AS Sports we were issued a room way out in the boonies facing a wooded area. Leave it to say I wasn't feeling to comfy and I very nicely called the front desk and explained how I was feeling and as a single mom alone with her son I wasn't real comfortable with my room location. They were so nice and they gave me a preferred room facing the pool in the Surfs Up building at no extra $$. When I got back home I learned about the preferred rooms and the extra cost $$$. I was blown away.

I have since learned that when I stay at a value I request and pay for a preferred room and when we stay at POR I request and have been fortunate to get placed in a room close to the main building where there is a lot of traffic.

However, just for safety sake.....I never, ever take dumb chances. DS and I always stay together at night and don't take short cuts through dark places just because it's a faster way. Plus, we tend to not stay out too late for safety sake also. Another biggy is if you ever feel the least bit uncomfortable you can always ask a CM in your resort to escort you to your room. You might have to wait a few minutes but they will do this for you if you ask.

WDW is probably the best place to travel as a single parent. If you use the WDW transportation you will be in very, very good and safe hands.

Go and have a wonderful and safe trip!

 

[Wendi2000]

No, pretty much anyone can come and go through the hotels. As others have said, I guess they check the drivers ID if you are driving into the parking lot, but most people would just arrive on the resort transportation and walk into the lobby. It would be a nightmare to have to be granted access to every building - I don't know how many people would go resort hopping or have dinner or even want to be bothered with staying at a hotel that required an ID/bag check just to get in every time they come back from the parks.

 

[fla4fun]

One thing to consider, if you are concerned, is that the deluxe resorts (which have interior hallways) require a key card to enter at night. The only door left open to the public is the main lobby door, and there is someone working 24 hours a day in the lobby.

I've made dozens of trips to Disney solo, and never felt unsafe. The only place I stay away from late at night is DTD, as much because of all the potential drunk drivers as anything else (I prefer to drive to DTD instead of taking the bus). Just take the usual precautions, lock the door when you're in the room, don't take any unnecessary valuables, stay in well lit areas at night, and you should be fine.