How much of an issue is "false fire alarms" in resorts?

[GoingSince1990]

We’ve been staying regularly at Disney resorts since 1994 and that has never happened to us at Disney. Only time was once at the Hard Rock.

 

[nkereina]

We've had it happen to us three times in all of our travels. Ironically, it happened two nights in a row during a stay at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal. We didn't have to evacuate because a recording came over the speakers saying not to. I asked the front desk what it was all about and they said whenever that happens, its most likely either a) someone smoking in their room or b) someone hanging clothes from the sprinkler in the room. So not always someone pulling the actual alarm.

The third time was at a Great Wolf Lodge and we did have to evacuate. From what we heard, there was a small electrical fire somewhere in the building. It was minor.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Interesting, three mentions of the Hard Rock Hotel in a fairly small number of replies. I'm not sure why that hotel in particular would have such a problem with this.

 

[Micca]

We had this happen 3-4 years ago but there was an actual fire! I forget which resort, it was a DVC room. We could see smoke coming from the building across the way. Might have been a cooking related incident. They evacuated the entire resort and we hung by the pool for an hour or so. Fortunately it was mid-afternoon so only a mild inconvenience.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I don't mind them taking the time to investigate, but I do appreciate timely updates. There is no reason they cannot make announcements on the status so people can understand what is going on. I was once trapped in a subway car with a fire in the train tunnel all around us, choking on smoke, and at least then we could see the fire fighters were working on it, and announcements were made that we should stay put and not evacuate, and people understood what the heck was going on. That was better than being stuck outside with three kids shivering in the cold at 2am, with no information whatsoever, wondering if we were safe where we were and why we were out there.

the fire I am remembering happened during the day in about 40 degree day. had to have all 60 kids including infants out in 60 seconds so no coats. because staff couldn't smell or see smoke they went back in to get kids coats and their things. this was before firemen arrived. 15 minutes later all the walls were down and it was 10 minutes of that 15 before smoke was seen. they got no info from firemen. only thing they were told was they could take their cars but all had trucks behind and blocks in front. it was 6 hours before most cars could be moved. they had to walk or push 60 kids across a street and hope they would be allowed in one of those buildings. they were allowed in but all roads were closed so no parents could get there to get their kids. had to walk another 3 blocks to meet our van so we could move them to where parents could find them. of course what few carseats were in center were lost in fire so all were moved a mile to our center without them. one parents was arrested because he told officer at road block he was going and getting his son no matter what. he didn't care what officer said. well you know how that ended. yes we could see the afterwards but nothing was told to us until 6 months later when investigation was over. CMs are not going to say anything because if they are wrong it will come back on them

 

[yorkieteacher]

Somewhere around 150 Disney hotel stays, all levels ... never had a fire alarm go off.

Have had it happen several times at non-Disney hotels. HINT: Among what you take out ... take your car keys if you have one. Longer waits in less desirable weather can be much nicer in your car.

I will remember that good advice!

 

[yorkieteacher]

When my daughter mentioned how chaotic it had been for them the next day to the manager, he gave them an anytime any experience FP and Mini Van ride to their early breakfast reservations the next day. They consider that more than enough compensation.

 

[SharonZ]

I've been staying at Disney Hotels for over 40 years, and never had this happen. I wouldn't expect any explanation, and would be extremely happy that it was just a false alarm. Kids are sometimes cranky at Disney for no reason, hope they enjoy the rest of their trip!

 

[barb969]

We were at YC in December when the alarm went off about 1:30am for a few seconds. We were not evacuated. We have stayed on property about 25 times since the middle 70’s and this was the first time.

 

[HopperFan]

I will remember that good advice!

It only took once .... sitting for a couple hours in a parking lot ... in my pajamas. Looking at my car ... that was locked.

 

[maxiesmom]

When my daughter mentioned how chaotic it had been for them the next day to the manager, he gave them an anytime any experience FP and Mini Van ride to their early breakfast reservations the next day. They consider that more than enough compensation.

I should hope so.

 

[Babsy]

Only had this happen in a non Disney hotel once. We were outside almost two hours. Cold and in our pyjamas, flying out of Heathrow early the next morning. No updates or information given until we got the go ahead two hours later to return to our room. No one out there but guests to ask/wonder about what was going on. (Apparently someone had been smoking in their room and set the alarm off.....)

I always have shoes and jacket at bedside since that happened to me. I also wear pyjamas that look/function like regular clothes and make sure that I know the evacuation route for our room. I wear a MB to bed at night (or keep room keys in the jacket pocket) so that I will be able to get back into the room afterwards.

This has never happened to me at Disney (yet) but it can happen anywhere, anytime. Once you experience a fire alarm, you tend to try to be prepared for it in the future. It isn't any fun at. all.

Sorry that this happened to your family, OP.

 

[jenmsmith]

We were at YC in December when the alarm went off about 1:30am for a few seconds. We were not evacuated. We have stayed on property about 25 times since the middle 70’s and this was the first time.

Interesting. We were at Yacht Club in late November and had that exact thing happen.

 

[KPeterso]

Never had it happen to me in a hotel in many many visits. My condo community --- all the time (we had a week recently with fire alarms about 5 times in the span of 7 days ---- I was losing my mind).

My cousins though were at the Grand Californian the year the Christmas tree caught fire (2005, I think) and had to evacuate in the middle of the night. Apparently it was a very long night and they missed early entry the next day and got the cousin who is a lawyer to speak with the desk and got a ton of extra fastpasses for the family and I believe at least the charge for that night removed.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've been in a hotel where the fire alarm went off, more than likely someone burnt something in the toaster that time.

I caused my room’s alarm to go off once. No cooking involved lol.

It was at an offsite motel close to Disneyland. I was on a solo trip and had walked a million miles in the parks. Got back to my room and took a very hot shower with the bathroom door closed. When I opened the bathroom door the steam billowed out, and apparently the smoke detector read it as smoke.

It was midnight.

No one came up or called.

I’m short and the button was on a high ceiling. I actually called downstairs to try to get someone to help and they could not have cared less. I had the room door open to get the steam out. The alarm was loud.

Finally got enough air in the room to make it stop. No one ever came by or opened their doors to check or anything.

(Next day on the news I saw an actual fire had happened in Vegas that night (before my incident), so it was surprising that they didn’t care.)


So there’s that possibility!

 

[Mousemommy1]

We have stayed on site so many times I've lost count, but there was only 1 time that the fire alarm went off. We were staying at Beach Club, and apparently there actually was a small fire. The only thing that sucked was that it was like 2 am, and all of us patrons were standing outside for an hour in our jammies half asleep, LOL.

 

[Frogman88]

Middle of the night ?? Maybe some wise guy decided to smoke in the room or pull the alarm that makes no sense at all because if it were a monitored inspection they would have advised you at check in or they say of.

I feel like if there is any sort of incidents that happen people go for the jugular and press Disney for free stuff or they trash Disney in social media there seems to be a lot of spoiled people that don’t get s*** happens smh nothing in this world is perfect.

 

[nkereina]

Interesting, three mentions of the Hard Rock Hotel in a fairly small number of replies. I'm not sure why that hotel in particular would have such a problem with this.

Good point, it is peculiar. It actually happened twice during our 3 night stay there. Its possible their sensors are particularly sensitive which is causing this, but I know many perceive HRH as a "party" hotel, so maybe some smoking (weed or cigs) is happening too.

 

[fla4fun]

We stay on avg of 25-30 nights a year, all total, for the last 5 years, fewer before that and it's never happened
But I've never stayed much at Value. Wonder if you have more of a tendency for unsupervised groups of kids to pull them?

I have been staying almost exclusively value the past two years, more than forty nights a year, and never had an alarm go off. I haven’t had an alarm go off at any Disney Hotel. I did have one go off a Homewood Suites last fall, but I figured that was a guest cooking issue.

Unfortunately, people with a poor sense of humor can stay anywhere . . .

I do agree about taking the car keys. In fact, before I go to bed each night in a hotel I get any cash and valuables out of the safe and put them in my handbag, and have the handbag and car keys where I can grab them as I exit the room. The handbag is a crossbody, so it doesn’t impede an evacuation and if it is a real fire that spreads to my room, at least I have what I need to get home.

 

[SL6827]

Never had this happen with all my stays listed below. My husband has had it happen at hotels during business trips. He and his buddies didn't evacuate during them.