Nick Hotel-Not a good experience

[yaytezIOA]

I stayed in Orlando this past week for the 2007 IAAPA Expo. We had a free nights stay at the Nick Hotel, and it was awful. The room was clean, the grounds were clean......but I was embarrassed, and I would also say downright harrassed.
Full Story.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

That's just horrible!

 

[THUNDERMOUNTAINMOMMA]

Hmmm. This makes me wonder if they've had any incidents in the past to cause this level of security?

 

[kirbsam]

i dont see the big deal. they asked you nicely twice about your business, you answered them and you were left on your own. this is a family themed hotel that caters to families. what is the big deal about answering a couple of questions? i dont see where you were harrassed.

 

[yaytezIOA]

i dont see the big deal. they asked you nicely twice about your business, you answered them and you were left on your own. this is a family themed hotel that caters to families. what is the big deal about answering a couple of questions? i dont see where you were harrassed.

You dont see that as being profiled? Just because you are single, and dont have kids with you, you fit their description. Like I said, I understand wanting to be safe, but this is a bit crazy..being stopped twice because I am a single male and only because I am a single male? Being made to feel that I am unwelcome at the hotel that I had booked weeks in advance, yeah, that is kind of a big deal. If thats the case I think they should tell people "We dont want single males here. At all." The way I see it, what they did was like coming out and saying "You're a male alone, you're a pedophile, and we're watching you".

 

[kirbsam]

settle down. i didnt say you werent profiled. i said that i didnt see the big deal. you obviously felt violated in some way and that is your right. i would have just taken it in stride and enjoyed my stay anyway. two different approaches. neither one right or wrong. just a different way of looking at a situation.

 

[yaytezIOA]

Completely settled. I was answering your question. You didnt see where I was harrassed, and I beg to differ
Honestly to me this was the same as saying "you cant go to Magic Kingdom because you dont have children....if you are going to go, we're going to watch you very closesly."
Imagine if they asked to see pictures that you were taking at MK....

 

[ky07]

Completely settled. I was answering your question. You didnt see where I was harrassed, and I beg to differ
Honestly to me this was the same as saying "you cant go to Magic Kingdom because you dont have children....if you are going to go, we're going to watch you very closesly."
Imagine if they asked to see pictures that you were taking at MK....

I completely agree with you and it should never have been done to you and this makes me wonder as a previous poster said did they have some bad things happen before and to be honest with you another question comes up is will they do this to a man with his family if his family was at say the pool and he was walking around by himself.
Don't think me and my family will be staying there anytime soon.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I dont know of any incidents that have happened. And maybe this is why, because quite frankly I was ready to go and stay somewhere else,but a free room...ya know...you gotta take it. And you're right, what if someone were to just go to the pool without the family? Would they be interrogated? The only thing I could think of was because they tagged me at checkin. Makes me wonder if they went through my things as well while they were cleaning the room.
I dont know, but I had stayed there before....never again.

 

[ky07]

I dont know of any incidents that have happened. And maybe this is why, because quite frankly I was ready to go and stay somewhere else,but a free room...ya know...you gotta take it. And you're right, what if someone were to just go to the pool without the family? Would they be interrogated? The only thing I could think of was because they tagged me at checkin. Makes me wonder if they went through my things as well while they were cleaning the room.
I dont know, but I had stayed there before....never again.

thats a good piont and scary thought that they may have gone thru your stuff while your out and right with you I will never stay there and I mean never.

 

[wwessing]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you here. . . . I'm not saying you weren't "profiled", but honestly, you did choose to stay at NICK Hotel. . . NICK hotel was specifically built for families with children. If that awful fire hadn't have happened, your experience most likely would have been 1000% different. Personally, I completely understand why they stopped and talked with you. . . it's the times we live in today.

I'll give you the fact that I have worked for a child welfare agency for over 16 years and have seen the most gruesome, horrible things done to children. I've parented a step-child who was very seriously sexually abused for 3 years before she had the courage to tell (she came to live with us after the abuse). It has ruined her life even after extensive therapy. I've got friends who's child was kidnapped and murdered. It ruined their lives. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with Nick Hotel security practices and I, for one, applaude them. Like everyone always says on these boards, maybe you should try it again when you have your family with you and experience it as it should be experienced. I've read your trippies and seen pictures of your beautiful family. . . I'll assume you would stop at nothing to keep them safe. Putting your experience in perspective, while I understand you felt humiliated, etc., they are only doing it to keep children safe. You probably made a good choice to not sit by the pool as that would likely have made you feel much worse. . . lots of moms giving you curious glares there for certain.

Seriously, I do feel bad that you felt humiliated and that it ruined your stay, but I would think you should be able to see their point and understand. You know and your friend knows that you aren't a child predator, but no one else could make that assumption, given the circumstances. Predator's don't have "a look". I hope in time you are able to move past the bad experience and take your family for a great experience there. I'm really glad you posted this. We have ressies in April, 2008 and I will post a review after we return and I will also watch closely how security interacts with guests, which I likely would not have done before.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I do understand, and I agree....but to stop me as I'm walking out and instead of telling me at check in thats upset number 1. I guarantee that you wont see them stop a single woman that comes in, and after all, there are a lot of teachers in the news lately.
I really think they could have done it a better way...and I also agree, they had to have had something happen. And if it was a policy, they should post it as such, and let it be known. My wife called and asked about them if it would have been a problem, it should have been known right then and there. Wont have to worry about it again though.

 

[wwessing]

You make a good point regarding single women. Here's the thing. . . it's probably much easier for a woman to gain a child's trust without raising suspicion and which makes it easier to lead a child away. I would like to think that ANY guest staying without children would be subject to the same scrutiny you were subjected to. . . but you are probably correct, they most likely wouldn't be.

I doubt if they will ever post their "policy" regarding stopping guests without children. . . wouldn't look good hanging there on the wall or sitting on the check-in desk. Not very politically correct, even though we as parents demand that our children's safety be first and foremost.

I think you should, if you have not, give Nick hotel some feedback regarding your experience. As everyone always says, if there is a problem, let management know otherwise they can not correc it. Maybe you should give them the opportunity to explain to you why they did what they did and do something to make things right. They need to know how offensive their actions were and how they made you feel.

Can I dare ask how the hotel was otherwise? Pool area, arcade, restaurants, etc. How was your room? I read your report, but there weren't many details regarding these other things. I'll go back and take a look at your pics again. I glanced at them, but only had a few minutes to spend. Again, I'll be looking out for their security and how they interact with guests while we are there, but I am wondering if there are other things I should be looking out for.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Wow. That's a horrible experience. I mean yes, you can applaud their security measures as a parent. But you have to admit no one would be comfortable being watched closely assuming they might be a sexual predator. AND he was confronted more than once about it.

I would have stayed at this hotel if it was for free without even thinking about it.. But not anymore.. Nothing says Nickelodeon like being on Pedophile Watch!

 

[yaytezIOA]

I doubt if they will ever post their "policy" regarding stopping guests without children. . . wouldn't look good hanging there on the wall or sitting on the check-in desk. Not very politically correct, even though we as parents demand that our children's safety be first and foremost.

I think you should, if you have not, give Nick hotel some feedback regarding your experience. As everyone always says, if there is a problem, let management know otherwise they can not correc it. Maybe you should give them the opportunity to explain to you why they did what they did and do something to make things right. They need to know how offensive their actions were and how they made you feel.

Can I dare ask how the hotel was otherwise? Pool area, arcade, restaurants, etc. How was your room? I read your report, but there weren't many details regarding these other things. I'll go back and take a look at your pics again. I glanced at them, but only had a few minutes to spend. Again, I'll be looking out for their security and how they interact with guests while we are there, but I am wondering if there are other things I should be looking out for.

Political correctness is one thing they shouldnt have to worry about. If its policy, as it was explained, it should be posted somewhere. Who cares if its not politically correct, if it keeps children safe, then interview away and stop people in the halls, and search them if it makes you feel better.....but you cant just pick guys at random and expect them to go along with it. There is probably a legal ramification waiting to happen somewhere.
I have tried to contact the members of management, and have not recieved a reply a return phone call, or anything. I have sent several emails, as well as links to the report.
Other than that, and I go into this very little in my report...the rooms were okay. The normal price for that night were about 179 for the two bedroom suite I had. I personally dont think that was worth it, but you're not paying for the room....you are paying for the fact that there is a PS2 in the kids room. You're paying for the fact that there is Spongebob on the walls, and you're paying for the extra activities....of which there are a lot. Its a great hotel to spend a few days in, and you can easily do that with all the slides and shows they offer. You dont even have to go to a park, the place is a park in of itself. Of course this time around I didnt feel comfortable doing anything else.

 

[wwessing]

For some reason, this thread has been in my thoughts quite a bit these past couple days. Today, I explained the situation to my supervisor, who is a 55 year old male and travels alone quite a bit. He is very well traveled; has traveled out of country many times and has been all over the US several times. He stated he would have been upset at being profiled, would have understood why they were doing it, but would likely not go back. He said he probably wouldn't have thought about the "adult male with no children" thing when checking in and feels like he probably would have been very shocked at being questioned as you were. After talking with him about it for a while, I see your side of this a bit more, but still feel strongly that I like the level of security and awareness. I think these type of situations could and should be handled differently so guests are not made to feel like you did. You were a GUEST after all.

I'm disappointed that they have not responded to your calls and/or e-mails. There is absolutely no justification for ignoring you and I would go to the Holidy Inn chain management. I can't imagine Nick Hotel wants bad publicity. . . it is Nick Hotel after all. Kids all over the world see this hotel and beg their parents to go. . . as I know first hand and is exactly why we are going.

I'm defnintely going to stop obsessing about this now. . . I do hope you get a response from management and would be interested in what they have to say, if you don't mind sharing. It's not looking too good for their customer service right now, is it?

Thanks for the room and other information. Oh, by the way, my rate is higher than what you posted and we are not even getting a sponge bob room, but we do have a 2 bedroom suite.

 

[SnowWitch]

I do feel bad that you felt violated in some way but with that said I applaud their security measures. Our society is way to obsessed with being PC...should they wait until a child is molested to institute strict security? Ealier this year a child was molested on Disney property by a career child molester traveling alone.

Someone brought up the question of a single female being treated the same. Heres a stat for you:

Nearly all the offenders in sexual assaults reported to law enforcement were male (96%).
- Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement, 7/00, NCJ 182990, U.S. Department of Justice

•The typical offender is male, begins molesting by age 15, engages in a variety of deviant behavior, and molests an average of 117 youngsters, most of whom do not report the offense.
-Dr. Gene Abel in a National Institute of Mental Health Study.

Again I am sorry this happened to you but I am all about protecting our children.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I travel to Orlando frequently on business, in fact my boss calls me the company's "Most Traveled Employee". There are 120,000+ hotel rooms in Orlando and I've stayed in a bunch of them alone including PBH and RPR and have never been profiled like this.
My daughter was molested at the age of 8 in the toy department of a Wal-Mart. She was courageous and we pressed charges and the sicko is still doing time in the big house where I hope he gets his share of molestation. Now, do I think the greeter at Wal-Mart should shakedown single male customers? Molestation can happen anywhere that there is an opportunity. Would I return to a hotel that has me earmarked as a potential perv? Nix at Night!

 

[keishashadow]

Despite my youngest son's urgings, we have never stayed @ the Nick Hotel (mostly because of what i feel were ridiculous prices during our visits - along with dismal reviews) . However, i keep an eye on the Travelzoo specials & if a deal coincides with our dates would book it for 1 or 2 nights. FYI, he's a teen and still would like to visit.

Aside from being very close to the gate of WDW, I think the theming is what draws in the tourists...that is where i start questioning security's heavy-handedness. While i applaud their presence and understand parent's concern, the OP was most def. profiled.

My older DSs grew up with NICK and are now in their 20's; they still get a kick out of SpongeBob...just as I get giddy around Donald duck. Seems odd to suggest that "single" adults can easily blend in @ Disney resorts, especially the values where the icons are living large and many youth groups visit; yet pose a threat @ NICK resort?

 

[ElizabethB]

To the OP -- I don't blame you in the least for being upset. I would be, too. It's just another example of the current attitude toward all travelers these days -- you are guilty until proven innocent. I feel it all the time at the airports. IMO, you were wrongly humiliated and embarassed. I wouldn't go back either, with or without kids. What's wrong with society these days? Is everyone so paranoid that they are happy to see innocent people harassed, embarassed and humiliated for no reason other than the "crime" of being male?