Ok, so about sliding bathroom doors . . .

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

We stayed at Kidani last month and I posted about the sliding bathroom door we had in a HA studio. There was a gap, about an inch or so, where you could always see in - looking right at the toilet. I let the front desk know and they said they'd note that to get it fixed but it would not be fixed while we were there. We solved the problem by taking one of our big beach towels, hanging it lengthwise on the leading edge of the door to fill the gap.

So, I came across a few threads about sliding bathroom doors at BLT - was it a similar problem? I don't like the sliding doors at all but I could have dealt with it much better if you couldn't see in.

Then I started thinking - what units have these doors? Is it just the HA rooms at AKV? Just the studios at BLT? All studios there? I've seen the models but now I don't remember. I could see how a sliding door would be convenient for some disabled guests but for me, don't like them.

Thanks!

 

[Tara]

The sliding doors are in all BLT rooms. DVC Mike reported the gap in one door in his room was narrow at the top and got narrower toward the bottom.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The sliding doors are in all BLT rooms. DVC Mike reported the gap in one door in his room was narrow at the top and got narrower toward the bottom.

So someone framed the opening and the wall poorly. Not square.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

So someone framed the opening and the wall poorly. Not square.

Or the door isn't hanging level. There should be a small shoe mold or quarter round molding tacked to the jam on both sides of the door so the door actually seats into something when closed. I'm surprised Disney would overlook this.

 

[CarolMN]

Work2play included a piccture of the gap in this post:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33291374&postcount=33

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks for the replies.

The door at Kidani was different, I wish I'd thought to take a picture of it, the gap was very obvious.

On our last stay at VWL we had two maintenance problems. One the dryer was really loud and the other was all the bathroom door locks were broken. I wonder if Disney did the sliding doors in order to not have to maintain door locks? I read the treehouses don't have bathroom locks either right? I wonder if they might be saving some repair costs.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Then I started thinking - what units have these doors? Is it just the HA rooms at AKV? Just the studios at BLT? All studios there? I've seen the models but now I don't remember. I could see how a sliding door would be convenient for some disabled guests but for me, don't like them.
Thanks!

Our room at AKV was in Jambo House and it was HA. We also had the big sliding doors to the bathroom, vanity area, and bedroom. I didn't notice any gaps but they were extremely heavy and I didn't like the fact that they had no way to lock them. Our four year old little DGS who was staying with his parents in the studio part of our lock off would try to open it while one of us would be using it. I liked having the HA room because it was easier getting into the tub/shower combination with all of the safety bars but I have to admit those doors were a pain.

 

[disneynutz]

I don't get the door issue.

If anyone in my party gets caught peeking through the door crack, they would find themselves sleeping in the closet.

If the door is closed, the bathroom is occupied so stay away. If the door is open, feel free to use the bathroom.

It's not like the bathroom is open to the public, it's family and/or friends.

 

[Tara]

I don't get the door issue.

If anyone in my party gets caught peeking through the door crack, they would find themselves sleeping in the closet.

If the door is closed, the bathroom is occupied so stay away. If the door is open, feel free to use the bathroom.

It's not like the bathroom is open to the public, it's family and/or friends.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

I don't get the door issue.

If anyone in my party gets caught peeking through the door crack, they would find themselves sleeping in the closet.

If the door is closed, the bathroom is occupied so stay away. If the door is open, feel free to use the bathroom.

It's not like the bathroom is open to the public, it's family and/or friends.

At home, we sometimes close the bathroom door, even when not occupied (and especially after just being occupied!)

For us, "occupied" status has always been signaled by a locked bathroom door. It is ingrained into our kids' (and our) brains at this point. To ask them to "think about it" when they have to go potty, or need to wash some crud off of their hands is just inviting trouble and embarrassment.

What it comes down to, is that a certain segment of the population wants locks on the bathrooms (for reasons similar to mine above).

If Disney had elected to use dirt floors in the studios, someone else could could come up with reasons why dirt floors aren't a big deal, but others would not be comfortable with them.

 

[Tara]

At home, we sometimes close the bathroom door, even when not occupied (and especially after just being occupied!)

For us, "occupied" status has always been signaled by a locked bathroom door. It is ingrained into our kids' (and our) brains at this point. To ask them to "think about it" when they have to go potty, or need to wash some crud off of their hands is just inviting trouble and embarrassment.

What it comes down to, is that a certain segment of the population wants locks on the bathrooms (for reasons similar to mine above).

If Disney had elected to use dirt floors in the studios, someone else could could come up with reasons why dirt floors aren't a big deal, but others would not be comfortable with them.

I dunno - I live in a cute little 100-yr old house with a bunch of old door knobs and one key that, frankly, doesn't work all that well. In our house, a closed door means you *knock* before entering. Locks fail, as do memories and IMO it's better to knock and be sure than bust in on someone who just forgot to lock the door.

As for why Disney did it, I assume that it's because doors without locks are easier and cheaper to maintain.

(I'll never forget being on a business trip with my boss, her 2 young kids and her childcare provider - the younger child, not even 2 though I don't recall how old he was now - locked himself in the bathroom and it took ages for the hotel staff to get him out. )

 

[queenie82]

I don't get the door issue.

If anyone in my party gets caught peeking through the door crack, they would find themselves sleeping in the closet.

If the door is closed, the bathroom is occupied so stay away. If the door is open, feel free to use the bathroom.

It's not like the bathroom is open to the public, it's family and/or friends.

We don't close or lock the bathroom or toilet doors at home.
We have a little door wedge between the jam and the door so there is a small crack.
The signal it is in use is the light being on...you can see that it is on because the light is visible through the crack before you are upon the door.
You need to actually want to look to see the person beyond.
I have been trying to imagine the crack people are talking about and I finally saw the picture today and cracked up!!!
Seriously people
There are FAR more important things to worry about in life...

And particularly given in the studios the sink is OUTSIDE the bathroom...and there is another sink in the kitchenette there is no logical reason anyone else needs to be in there when others are using it and if you can't be bothered to teach your children manners and courtesy then that is a problem of your own making.

*steps off soapbox*

 

[Maistre Gracey]

it sounds as though some gaps may be bigger than others??

The sink is outside of the bathroom?? As in no sink in the bathroom?? Yikes...

MG

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

The issue for us at Kidani was inconvenience, no one was going to open the door when they could plainly tell if another person was in there! It wasn't that someone would walk in, it was that until we filled the gap with a towel everyone had to remember to avert their eyes or not walk over to the entrance or the kitchenette area while someone else was in the bathroom - either a poor design or not installed properly.

I know everyone has different levels of comfort with privacy but there are some things I prefer not to share! Just my comfort level, so I was annoyed at having to hang a towel on the door and keeping it up there. The way the towel fell in folds filled in the gap at the crucial level, LOL

In the HA studio the sinks and toilet are in one big room. I believe in the non HA room the toilet was in a separate room so it would not have been the same issue. When I read the BLT post I wondered if it was a similar problem.

Our gap was larger, you could plainly see in. Again I wish I'd taken a picture, it may have been just that studio and something that needed to be fixed.

 

[DenLo]

Thanks for the replies.

The door at Kidani was different, I wish I'd thought to take a picture of it, the gap was very obvious.

I don't get the door issue.

I don't get it either. If anyone is attempting to see through that little crack, it's just down right rude and the bad habit should be corrected. If someone is worried other's might hear, turn on the fan. And if your family walks in without knocking, then post a sign outside when occupied and perhaps a lesson about knocking before entering a closed door is in order.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

At Kidani it wasn't a little crack and I think I'm giving up on trying to explain that.

 

[Inkmahm]

Maybe DH and I are the oddballs but we rarely close the bathroom door at all when we are in there. It's just the two of us so why bother? (there are fans that we turn on automatically when we use the bathroom). I have to actually remember to close the door when there are others in the house visiting!

We were at the GCH last week and that hotel also has sliding doors for the bathroom. Since I never closed it completely though, I can't tell you if there was a gap or not.

 

[DenLo]

At Kidani it wasn't a little crack and I think I'm giving up on trying to explain that.

Sorry I wasn't referring to your problem in a Handicap room at AKV. But everything posted regarding the sliding doors at BLT indicate a gap of less than a quarter of inch. You have more of a gap in public restrooms and we all deal with it. I still don't get the fuss.

 

[Sandisw]

Sorry I wasn't referring to your problem in a Handicap room at AKV. But everything posted regarding the sliding doors at BLT indicate a gap of less than a quarter of inch. You have more of a gap in public restrooms and we all deal with it. I still don't get the fuss.

Having stayed in a studio at BLT, it is not so much the locks as it is that the door doesn't shut, but slide. It can easily open, just from someone on the outside bumping when walking out of the room--not in a purposeful way.

For some (including my family), it just doesn't feel as though you have privacy and yes, my DD 16, felt a bit uncomfortable with her 20 year old brother in the next room.

While we don't lock our doors at home (other than DH), we do shut them. And, with this design, they don't shut, which makes some uncomfortable. Whether its a mind thing or not, it is simply a poor design that does not work for everyone.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

it sounds as though some gaps may be bigger than others??

The sink is outside of the bathroom?? As in no sink in the bathroom?? Yikes...

MG

I could not believe this either. There really should be a sink in the bathroom, even if it is a very small one.
There must be a lot of germs on the door handle! YUCK!