Mandatory Room Inspections

[thanxfornoticin]

This has been a mostly non-issue for us for years. 90% of the time they come by, we're at the parks or the pool. The few times we are in the room, they knock, we answer, and they ask if it's ok to come in at that time or should they return later. We've answered both, and they've respected our response every time. I've also seen notes taped on the outside of the door telling housekeeping someone is sleeping in the room, please return after such and such a time. The person checking the room isn't looking to intentionally disturb anyone - they're just doing a required part of their job for the overall safety of the guests. It's ok if you feel it's not doing anything for your safety, but overall that's why they're doing it. Plus I like my trash and recycling taken when they come by!!

 

[Moonspinner]

For example (outside of Disney) The front desk called once because we had the do not disturb sign up for 2 days in a row and housekeeping wanted to clean the room (we weren't in the room much and didn't need daily maid service, so kept the DND sign up). They didn't enter until we agreed to take the DND sign down.

Disney comes in even with the DND sign which to me is inappropriate

 

[muppets3d]

Disney comes in even with the DND sign which to me is inappropriate

There is no DND sign in a Disney room. They are "room occupied" signs. Big difference.

The daily room checks are one of those things about Disney - you either live with it or you don't. There's no getting around it.

At least they make a point to remove trash as part of the room check. That's a nice service. I wish they didn't enter the rooms at all until we are due for our housekeeping services though.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yes. We stay at a lot of hotels and it only happens at Disney.

Same here. We even stayed at a Hampton Inn a couple years ago where they said that even housekeeping wouldn't come in unless we requested it (they put it in a nice way that let you know that they certainly didn't mind daily housekeeping but only upon request in case you wanted to be left alone). Just to check, we didn't have housekeeping for the week we were there.

 

[KrzyAsian]

Yes. We stay at a lot of hotels and it only happens at Disney.

I've had it happen to me at every single hotel I've stayed on the strip in Vegas after the 2017 shooting. Bellagio, Cosmo, Aria, V'Dara, NYNY, Park MGM, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Resorts World.

For the most part, it's been a quick scan of the room and a brief confirmation that my stay was going well, then they're on the way. The only time it was a little annoying was during a midday nap. I asked if they would be able to come back later, and they said "Sorry, no, but it would be quick." And was in-and-out within 30 seconds.

TBH, it doesn't really bother me. I'd rather have them check than be part of a mass-shooting. It's like getting upset about a security bag check. It's for your safety, just follow the rules.

 

[mfortis]

I've had it happen to me at every single hotel I've stayed on the strip in Vegas after the 2017 shooting. Bellagio, Cosmo, Aria, V'Dara, NYNY, Park MGM, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Resorts World.

For the most part, it's been a quick scan of the room and a brief confirmation that my stay was going well, then they're on the way. The only time it was a little annoying was during a midday nap. I asked if they would be able to come back later, and they said "Sorry, no, but it would be quick." And was in-and-out within 30 seconds.

TBH, it doesn't really bother me. I'd rather have them check than be part of a mass-shooting. It's like getting upset about a security bag check. It's for your safety, just follow the rules.

I look at it as a matter of privacy or inconvenience and not security. I could easily keep anything I need to cause a chaos in my SUV.
Anyway, Disney can come into my room when I am not there. They know where I am at pretty much the whole time I am there. They know when I have park reservations, dining plans, etc. And why do they need to show up every day? You went once and saw the strollers, cribs, diaper bags, it is not changing. lol

 

[MilesMouse]

We just finished 6 nights at Wilderness Lodge. We had the sign on the door handle majority of the time but i would take it down when we were going to be gone at the parks if I remembered on the way out. Most days it looks like they came in while we were gone. Two of the days we had the sign up and no one knocked but we got a phone call each time saying "we noticed the sign on the door and didn't want to disturb you. What time is convenient for you for our housekeeping to stop by?" I just told them anytime and to knock when they got there so our kids could stay sleeping. They really didn't do anything besides walk in to take out trash from the kitchen and bathroom.

 

[Chuck S]

I look at it as a matter of privacy or inconvenience and not security. I could easily keep anything I need to cause a chaos in my SUV.
Anyway, Disney can come into my room when I am not there. They know where I am at pretty much the whole time I am there. They know when I have park reservations, dining plans, etc. And why do they need to show up every day? You went once and saw the strollers, cribs, diaper bags, it is not changing. lol

You may consider it any way you wish, that does not change the way an insurance underwriter would consider it a liability, after the multi-million dollar settlement in Las Vegas. And given the price of insurance, and often lack of availability in Florida....we should probably consider it to be lucky that Disney DVC has insurance as required by law.

 

[mfortis]

You may consider it any way you wish, that does not change the way an insurance underwriter would consider it a liability, after the multi-million dollar settlement in Las Vegas. And given the price of insurance, and often lack of availability in Florida....we should probably consider it to be lucky that Disney DVC has insurance as required by law.

I will thank you, its obvious you don't.
Insurance, what are you talking about? I'm pretty sure they underwrite it themselves.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

It baffles me that every couple weeks or so people come on here to compain about this.

Its been in place since 2017...

You may not like it. You may think its ridiculous and while I can agree with those statements it is also beyond our control. So either we deal with it or choose other accommodations.

 

[Kingkonig]

Insurance, what are you talking about? I'm pretty sure they underwrite it themselves.

I mean, even if they do self-insure, they still have to address things that internal underwriters would ask them to address. That’s the point of having underwriters, and when there are laws requiring insurance, you have to convince governmental authorities that your self-insured policies are well documented and risk is assessed/mitigated correctly, and you put aside $X per year to offset the expected losses.

Not unlike hiring internal auditors. You pay them to be jerks, you pay them to tell you what you are doing wrong and what you need to correct, because the alternative is the external auditor coming in, and that is 100 times worse.

 

[Chuck S]

I will thank you, its obvious you don't.
Insurance, what are you talking about? I'm pretty sure they underwrite it themselves.

As DVC Resorts are legally timeshares, it is doubtful the state allows them to be self insuring. They n=may allow the wholly Disney resorts to be self-insured, but timeshares are different, as there are so many "owners." that legally have to be protected. If it were self insured, and any DVC Resort got hit with a big settlement like that, who do you think would be paying it? The individual owners of that resort...much like if Vero were severely damaged in a hurricane....there would be special assessment for severe damages beyond the insurance proceeds.

 

[CarolynFH]

I don’t think DVC self-insures. Granted, it was outside Florida, but in 2016 the owners of DHHIR had a special assessment to repay a loan from Disney that covered the insurance deductible for post-hurricane repairs and cleanup.

https://dvcnews.com/other-resorts/h...ead-owners-hit-with-bill-for-hurricane-damage

 

[mfortis]

As DVC Resorts are legally timeshares,

And this is what probably hit me the hardest about these mandatory inspections. It is a timeshare. I legally own a piece of it, they call it my home. They constantly tell me welcome home. But in my home I don't have the garbage man coming in to do visual inspections. . Even HOA's don't come in your home.

 

[CarolynFH]

And this is what probably hit me the hardest about these mandatory inspections. It is a timeshare. I legally own a piece of it, they call it my home. They constantly tell me welcome home. But in my home I don't have the garbage man coming in to do visual inspections. . Even HOA's don't come in your home.

I know. Sadly, DVC timeshares are sort of timeshare-hotel hybrids. The other timeshares we’ve stayed in over the last 30+ years don’t provide fresh towels in the middle of the week, for instance.

 

[GoingSince1990]

It's pointless and ridiculous security theater. If they knock and you tell them through the door that it's not a convenient time, they will come back at a time of your choosing, giving anyone planning any kind of atrocity ample time to hide any evidence of their scheme.

 

[Sandisw]

And this is what probably hit me the hardest about these mandatory inspections. It is a timeshare. I legally own a piece of it, they call it my home. They constantly tell me welcome home. But in my home I don't have the garbage man coming in to do visual inspections. . Even HOA's don't come in your home.

True but part of the terms and conditions to use your timeshare is that you agree to abide by the rules of Disney.

And currently, Disney, as property manager for us, requires them.

 

[Mouseforward]

Two years ago, Florida passed House bill 429 ( 2024) a law that even if it’s a timeshare, if hotel rules are broken, they can kick you out.

Also remember you are tenant not an owner. Just like if you had an apartment where the landlord had contractual rights to inspect the property.

 

[reddog21]

And this is what probably hit me the hardest about these mandatory inspections. It is a timeshare. I legally own a piece of it

That's an extremely flawed view, if you own your house do you not still have to follow the rules of the town or HOA? Just owning something doesn't give you the right not to following the rules.

 

[Steelers0854]

This seems pretty straightforward. 3 options.
1) take down the occupied sign when it’s convenient for you increasing the likelihood they will check during that time
2) talk with the front desk to see if you can arrange a convenient time for them to come each day
3) stay offsite

I don’t think disneys request is unreasonable. You are welcome to send them feedback on this hoping to change their policy but until then the rule is the rule.