How high is verandah door lock to unfasten door

[guineapiggie]

I am sailing on the Disney Magic for their eastbound Panama Canal cruise in Dec.. I decided to upgrade to a navigators verandah room since I wanted an outdoor view. I’ve been watching videos on what the navigator verandah rooms are like and I realized that the door lock to open the verandah door is kinda high. I’m barely 4 ft tall. Will I have issues opening up the verandah door to sit outside? I am traveling solo.

 

[Lady_S]

I would guess the locks are close to 6 ft high. I don't know if this helps, but my 4' tall daughter would stand on the couch and be able to unlock the door.

 

[RedHead0186]

Aside from standing on a chair/the couch, I would also suggest asking your stateroom host to unlock it for you.

 

[Marc D]

The top lock is not automatic and is there to prevent young kids from opening the door. We’ve never had it locked when entering the room for the first time, and never used it. If it is in fact locked when you arrive, simply ask the stateroom host to open it when he/she comes to meet you, and mention that it should not be used when the room is cleaned.

 

[soniam]

Once it’s unlocked, you can leave it that way, since you don’t have any children with you. I know I can reach it without standing on anything, but I’m 5’3”.

 

[SleepyDeb]

I'm 5'1" and need to stand on tip toes a little to reach it. As others have said, ask your room steward to unlock it and leave it unlocked.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

Is there a way to lock it to prevent a child from unlocking and opening the door? My son is, how shall I put it....one of those kids that will try to do it the moment he learns it was designed so he couldn't do it. Plus, he's a bit creative and persistent in this area. When he was barely 3 months he was standing and spent HOURS trying to reach a closet door knob so he could turn it. He watches YouTube videos like a lot of kids but he's not looking for the usual stuff....oh no, this kid is watching Lockpicking Lawyer videos and videos taking things apart, even things he doesn't have and probably won't ever have.

I watched videos on the Verandah door with the latch at the top. This is not going to deter him in the slightest. I saw on Amazon some latches that use Allen keys to tighten a block to the rail so the door can't slide past it. Is there a railing that these locks would fit onto?
Amazon Lock

Perhaps a bar that can fit between the wall and the door frame? Like the 1990's "The Club" steering wheel lock. He won't know or have access to freon or other propellants to freeze the lock making it susceptible to breakage.

 

[Mommb]

There may be devices that would fit in the door, but I'd be reluctant to try to use them on the ship for fear of damaging the door. They would also make it difficult for you to use the veranda, unless you intend to use it only when your son is not around to see how you opened the door.

In addition to opening the door, someone needs to be strong enough to open it. It's possible that would be enough of a deterrent if your son is young or small.

If you are concerned that your son will be able and likely to open the door, head out to the veranda, drag a chair to the rail, and climb on it without anyone noticing, then you are probably best off booking an oceanview room without a veranda. There are plenty of places on the ship not in a stateroom where you can see outside.

Another option if your son won't be in the room without you is to book a Category 4 room that has a drop-down bed in front of the veranda door, ask the stateroom host to leave the bed down all day, and station someone in that bed at night who will wake up if someone comes near.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

That lock is high. You do need some dexterity to turn at that height. Then door lever has to be turned-rotated. Then the door pulled open-with force, If your little can do all of that without you noticing and you think they might-oceanview room would be my choice. You don't want to worry your whole vacation.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

I'd only want to secure the door the one night we will have dinner at Remy and the kids will be on their own. He is a very inquisitive 12 year old and likes to test himself against things not usually geared for his age group, like assembling models or puzzles for older ages than what his age was at the time. If he even remotely thinks that lock is meant to be a child-proof lock, he'll want to defeat it. I'm not concerned about him doing anything irresponsible on the balcony though, things happen. My wife is more paranoid about that unlikely and remote possibility whereas I am confident he would stop at defeating the lock. That said, better to err on the side of caution.

 

[lanejudy]

I think a 12-yr-old could easily unlock the verandah door. It isn't so much "child proof" as it is out of reach for smaller children and a heavy door. I wouldn't even give him the idea that the lock is "child proof" so he doesn't see it as a challenge; however you may want to set family rules about when the kids can go on the balcony if they may be alone in the room. Also be aware that at 12 he'll be in Edge and they have free movement around the ship with no check-in/check-out restrictions at the Edge space. You may need to have a strong discussion about family rules regarding what is or is not acceptable -- where he can go, communication to let you know, etc.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

We always have discussions about safety and respecting the rules we have in place to keep them ---safe.
I'd like to think he always has our words of wisdom in mind when we aren't there, but he is 12. Not 12 going on 25, just 12.
So I was looking for a Plan B to cover Plan A. I won't be tempting fate and drawing any attention to that side bolt. Given it isn't
a lock, he probably won't think of it as such and look for ways around it, just to prove to himself that he can.