I'm back, and what I noticed in the parks vs what I read here

[pampam]

In today's world of polyester and wash and dry, many people don't iron their clothes. Yet Irons and ironing boards are standard. Why not clocks?

 

[maxiesmom]

In today's world of polyester and wash and dry, many people don't iron their clothes. Yet Irons and ironing boards are standard. Why not clocks?

My guess is more people wanted the outlet than the clock. And they didn't want housekeeping wasting time resetting the clocks.

 

[loves to dive]

Tell me y'all dont have a phone or watch at WDW...... Clock?

I can't see my watch without my glasses, if I have to fumble around on the bed side table and find them, normally that is going to wake me up. I'm one of those people who can not go back to sleep if I wake up.

You say not having a clock is a negative...do you not pick up your cell phone in the middle of the night for the time..??

Again with the fumbling for the phone pushing every button on the side to find the one that lights it up, sliding to unlock it and, yep, I'm awake. Not to mention if my son is in the room with me, he is now awake because I'm making so much noise. If a clock is there, I roll over open one eye and roll back over, never totally waking up. I do it at least 2 times a night every night.


I don't use the clock for the alarm, after so many years of getting up at 5 am to go to work, I still wake up at 5 am every morning, vacation, weekend doesn't matter.

 

[dominiondad]

We were at AKL Jambo House last week, no clock. I found it annoying. If I wake up, open my eyes, and see it's 3:00, I can fall back asleep. If I have to turn on the TV, I wake up the whole family. If I have to fumble for my cell phone, I'm probably up for the day. Its vacation, I'm trying to avoid my cell phone as much as possible. Most clocks these days set automatically so it shouldn't be a big draw on housekeeping.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I just keep my iPhone by my bed and look at it when I need the time. I do that at home too. I think too many people were unplugging them, then housekeeping had to find the cord, plug them back in, and reset them. I agree too about it going off because you didn't realize it was set by the previous person. That has to be the most annoying thing ever. So I can see why they got rid of them but I get why some people miss them. They sell really inexpensive but cute travel alarm clocks on Amazon that would be easy to throw in the suitcase.

 

[RLGNC]

You say not having a clock is a negative...do you not pick up your cell phone in the middle of the night for the time..??

I would never think to ask for a clock. We do not have smart phones so we need one. Thanks for the info, we leave in 3 weeks. : ) first thing to ask for on my list

I too need a clock in the room. I don't bring my phone to Florida (roaming charges), and have no desire to wake everyone in the room up at 3:00 a.m. by turning on the tv to see how long I've tossed and turned. It's too bad that they don't keep them in a drawer like an extra pillow, or on a shelf like an iron, for those who need them. I really feel that they should be standard equipment in a hotel room.

I agree. I don't use a cell phone much on vacation and will not turn the tv on to check the time. I much prefer a clock.

I'm in the camp of "no phone - prefer a clock." I do have a cell phone, but I turn it off at night. The assumption that everyone does (or should) stay connected via their phone 24/7 drives me a little crazy. I will likely be asking for one if there's not one in our room.

 

[JulieNMM]

Thanks so much for starting this great thread! We thought it was so helpful and liked it so much that we featured it on today's DIS Daily Fix!

OMG! Thank you! I'm famous now LOL!!!

 

[leebee]

I don't own a cell phone or a watch, so I really like having that bedside clock in the hotel. As others have said, I'm not going to turn on the TV in the middle of the night to see what time it is. Also, bringing your own travel alarm is only an option if you are checking a suitcase. If it's in a carry-on, it'll get pulled by security. It's happened to me once and DH three times (he's a slow learner... or forgetful). The time it happened to me, the security agent said there's something in the travel alarm that's radioactive? Anyhow, they see a "timing device" on the x-ray and have to check it. They also had to search the bag, and wipe test it, the clock, and my hands, and run it through the GC (or GCMS) that they have at security. As DH was standing next to me with his bag, the agent focused me with a stare and said, "Did you pack that bag, too? Because if you did, we have to search and wipe it, too." Nope, not me, didn't pack it at all (I said with my fingers crossed). We almost missed our flight that day, because of a simple travel alarm clock.

 

[RLGNC]

I don't own a cell phone or a watch, so I really like having that bedside clock in the hotel. As others have said, I'm not going to turn on the TV in the middle of the night to see what time it is. Also, bringing your own travel alarm is only an option if you are checking a suitcase. If it's in a carry-on, it'll get pulled by security. It's happened to me once and DH three times (he's a slow learner... or forgetful). The time it happened to me, the security agent said there's something in the travel alarm that's radioactive? Anyhow, they see a "timing device" on the x-ray and have to check it. They also had to search the bag, and wipe test it, the clock, and my hands, and run it through the GC (or GCMS) that they have at security. As DH was standing next to me with his bag, the agent focused me with a stare and said, "Did you pack that bag, too? Because if you did, we have to search and wipe it, too." Nope, not me, didn't pack it at all (I said with my fingers crossed). We almost missed our flight that day, because of a simple travel alarm clock.

Wow, go figure! That is wild!

 

[GaryDis]

We do not have smart phones so we need one.

Even my old, dumb TracFone has a clock display.

I don't bring my phone to Florida (roaming charges),

Are there any US plans left with roaming charges?

I do have a cell phone, but I turn it off at night.

I used to do that in the good old days, and always found myself forgetting to turn it back on. So now I leave it on, and since I always charge it in the car, I only need to charge at home every other day at most. If calls were a problem, I'd silence it; the latest iOS has a do-not-disturb programmable setting (which I've never used).

I don't get the problem with fumbling for the phone. I always put it on he nightstand and never have trouble finding it.

 

[pampam]

Are there any US plans left with roaming charges?

.

I can't speak for US plans, but in Canada yes, there are roaming charges.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I agree. I don't use a cell phone much on vacation and will not turn the tv on to check the time. I much prefer a clock.

after reading some of the other comments - I am so glad to read yours and know I'm not alone!

 

[Dr.Mickey]

That channel was not working in our room the whole time we were there! It was all scrambled.

But how would you ever know about the Must Do for each park????

 

[Mambo Junkie]

When I'm in for the night, be it home or away, I don't use my cell phone. Like others, I wake, glance at the clock, fall back asleep. If I have to get the phone, turn it on, check the time (after finding my glasses) I'm awake. Same with the tv.

 

[goofyernmost]

I too need a clock in the room. I don't bring my phone to Florida (roaming charges), and have no desire to wake everyone in the room up at 3:00 a.m. by turning on the tv to see how long I've tossed and turned. It's too bad that they don't keep them in a drawer like an extra pillow, or on a shelf like an iron, for those who need them. I really feel that they should be standard equipment in a hotel room.

They make very small fold out clocks that are battery operated that work very well. I always bring it with me. I swear to whomever is listening, it still has the same battery and I have had it for at least 15 years. I don't use it when I'm not traveling, it just remains closed up until I need it again, however, it is still running all that time and when I open it up it has the correct date and correct time. It's about 2.5 inches square and a quarter inch thick when folded.

 

[wendow]

When I'm in for the night, be it home or away, I don't use my cell phone. Like others, I wake, glance at the clock, fall back asleep. If I have to get the phone, turn it on, check the time (after finding my glasses) I'm awake. Same with the tv.

Me too!!! My insomnia is so bad that if I have to fumble for a phone and turn it on to see the time, I might as well go ahead and get up and start getting ready for the parks.

 

[mjr0483]

Bags and Bag Check -- In the parks, only DD took a cinch sack and it only held our ponchos and umbrellas. I had a teeny tiny bag with phone, cash and ID, and chapstick, plus our touring plans. DH and DS carried their stuff in their pockets. Bag check took one second for those with no bags but much longer if you actually had a bag. They checked everything and every single pocket. Only once did anyone from our family go through the metal detector. My son-in-law is dark and hairy and we kid him that he looks like a terrorist, and they never made him go through extra screening (so I guess that's good that they're not profiling?) But anyone who went through the "no bags" line could have had guns or knives or who knows what in their pockets. I did not feel safe in that regard (I felt just as safe as going anywhere else, such as the grocery store, etc). What I mean is, I don't know why they had such extensive bag checks if they're not going to check pockets. (Does that make sense?)

I am totally with you about the bag check. I could rant all day about this.
What Disney is doing here is just checking a box. Do we have screening? Check.
There are so many ways if someone wanted to get something past that crack security force.
I feel safer at Six Flags where everyone goes through a metal detector. You have to empty your pockets and take off your belt.

This check is nothing but an annoying waste of time.
There is no consistency in how or the level in which they check bags. I love the guys who pick up the bag from bottom and seem to have eyes in their hands like they are looking into the bag.

 

[Jessiemendez1]

Great report, thanks! We will also be renting a car, but debating using it on our MK day. Think we will take the bus like you did, but still on the fence, since we could very well have taken off by the time we wait for a bus. On a flip note, the bus does drop you off at the front versus taking the monorail/ferry at TTC...decisions. As far as the parking permit, is that just a one-time paper permit you need to get at the front desk at check-in and not something you need to go back up for every day?

Definitely opt for the bus. We have driven it and swore to never again drive to MK. Takes almost an hour and much more hassle.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We don't even use an alarm clock at home.

We use my Kindle Fire. I've downloaded the White Noise App.

It also has a clock.

If we want to set an alarm at home, I use my phone. At Disney, I ask for a wake up call.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am totally with you about the bag check. I could rant all day about this.
What Disney is doing here is just checking a box. Do we have screening? Check.
There are so many ways if someone wanted to get something past that crack security force.
I feel safer at Six Flags where everyone goes through a metal detector. You have to empty your pockets and take off your belt.

This check is nothing but an annoying waste of time.
There is no consistency in how or the level in which they check bags. I love the guys who pick up the bag from bottom and seem to have eyes in their hands like they are looking into the bag.

A lot of what Disney is doing is slowing down the line so that the real security can get a good look at everyone. It has long been said that most of their security we don't know about. Which is true of many places. If you know what security measures are in place, you can take steps to circumvent it.

They pick up the bag from the bottom to feel the weight of it, btw. And being inconsistent is the best thing to be.