Opinons- neighbor leaving their balcony door open all night

[dansamy]

I told my kids about this thread - their response: "Well, duh, why didn't she just close her door then?"

Yore kids shore are smart! ;-)

 

[mjc2003]

I stayed in a hotel recently where the air didn't work if the sliding patio door was open. It was an Eco-friendly hotel, and sincere the room was poolside I was happy to know I wasn't wasting air conditioning sitting by the pool with the door ajar.

Obviously DVC doesn't implement this (or any) technology, so I guess I sort of hope your "neighbors" are still scratching their mosquito bites.

 

[wulfekamp]

Go get a box catch a few of the lizards that are everywhere and turn them lose on there balcony at night. Of course were I'm from we tend to take a Hatfield McCoy approach to rude people.

 

[JWG]

Let's be honest, we know the AC wasn't running. Unless you're in our room hurdling furniture and doing backsprings off the bed, that sensor believes the room to be empty and the AC is shutdown for the next 8 hours...

 

[rusafee1183]

I just read this question to my DH and asked his opinion. We both agree that people have the right to enjoy their space as they see fit. But, we both agree that running, screaming, loud music etc is not OK at that time of day. A conversation with some laughs? Come on....

We have a VERY obnoxious neighbor who is ridiculously loud and smokes outside all day, causing us to not be able to have windows open during nice weather without having to hear every detail of her life and our house smelling like stale cigarettes.

But, we keep out mouths shut because the way we see it - she is enjoying her space too. It's outdoor space, so what am I going to do? It's a shame that we feel we have to sacrifice things because of her lifestyle, but when it gets out of hand and its 4am and shes having a fight with someone right outside our bedroom window, we do say something to her.

A casual outdoor conversation at 11pm, on vacation does NOT warrant that type of a rude reaction IMO.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MoreTravels]

You should have waited an hour and then yelled in "Stop Snoring! We're trying to enjoy the quiet out on our balcony!"

I hope your neighbor was not the one that brought a loaded gun to Disney World..

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/30/disney-world-patron-finds-gun-on-ride/

 

[buzz5985]

+1

As discussed in other threads, it is reasonable to speak in a normal tone and use all amenities of your room (washer, dishwasher, jet tub, the megaflush 2000 toilet, balcony, etc) any time of day you'd like. Excessive noise, as determined by a reasonable individual, is frowned upon any time of day and not in line with socially acceptable norms. However, Disney is open early and closes late, so any visitor should come to understand that many timetables are catered and respected.


This is a fascinating observation, and I wonder what is causing the perception. It seems there are likely three causes: 1) people are louder, 2) the material separating the rooms is less noise canceling, 3) you are simply more aware or attune than before.

In my opinion, noise levels are the same as they were back in 2004 in the hotels at Disney, and it feels the same as with any hotel I've stayed in that caters to family vacations. More than likely, it is number 3 or 2 that is the cause.

I bring this up, since I pay attention when people use generalities to explain something, since most of the time the change is within ourselves (as the common denominator for all of our perceptions).

I have been visiting WDW since I was 16 yo, I am now 54. I travelled a lot with my parents and when in a hotel room we were always reminded when we became too loud - please think of those around you. It was drilled into our heads. I brought my son up the same way. I am in a villa and I can hear people running around upstairs - they are not thinking about the people around them. They could care less about the people around them, it's all about them. People are always saying how Disney is going downhill - i't's not Disney - it's the people visiting that are going downhill.

If I was on my balcony and someone accused me of being too loud - I would have told them I am sorry and didn't realize we were disturbing you. Very simple. Would I have moved?? No - but I would have tried to be a little quieter. It's all about respecting others. Call me old fashioned.

Janis

 

[delilah]

The balconies late at night are beautiful. With Mk emh going
to
1am, it is ridiculous for people to tell you to observe quiet time at 10pm. The pools are open till 11pm. Do people chide folks at the pool if their room is too close? I'm sure you were being respectfully quiet. I'd have let the front desk know they kept their door open overnight. People, it's always all about them.

Well, actually, sometimes people do chide those using the pool outside their room. One evening, my brother and husband brought our children, aged about 5, 8 and 9 at the time to one of the pools at BCV interval between the large pool closing and 11 pm. I was inside doing the laundry, so, it was the pool that is closest guest laundry. In the few minutes it took to load the wash into the washer and then go outside, somebody had chewed my brother and husband a new ***hole, because the kids were making "too much noise" in the pool. The kids were so quiet when I got outside that I thought at first they had decided to wait for me in the room, instead of going to the pool. Now, like all school aged children enjoying a pool, sometimes our kids will splash and shout while playing in the water. I think that was the last time we stayed at BCV, because the next year, AKL villas opened. Would think twice about staying there again. We are usually at parks during the day, and the big pool is usually so crowded as to be unenjoyable. We don't own at BCV, anyway.

 

[Minniesgal]

People really need to learn to live and let live!

 

[delilah]

Now, on the other hand, there were the people that we reported to the front desk one evening at AKL lodge. We were resting in the hot tub after going to the park during the day. It was about 10-11pm or so. These people were having an extremely loud, nasty altercation on their balcony, to the point we were afraid that somebody in the room was going to suffer physical injury. It was so frightening that we went inside because of the fighting, and reported it anonymously. Didn't want to be the next on that guys list. From the sound of the voices of the people in the room, it sounded like they were from the UK.

 

[LSchrow]

I have been visiting WDW since I was 16 yo, I am now 54. I travelled a lot with my parents and when in a hotel room we were always reminded when we became too loud - please think of those around you. It was drilled into our heads. I brought my son up the same way. I am in a villa and I can hear people running around upstairs - they are not thinking about the people around them. They could care less about the people around them, it's all about them. People are always saying how Disney is going downhill - i't's not Disney - it's the people visiting that are going downhill.

If I was on my balcony and someone accused me of being too loud - I would have told them I am sorry and didn't realize we were disturbing you. Very simple. Would I have moved?? No - but I would have tried to be a little quieter. It's all about respecting others. Call me old fashioned.

Janis

i'll also play devil's advocate :
hasn't anyone else had "quiet conversations" that they got so engrossed in, when suddenly they realized their voices were much louder than they realized?
or your companion mentioned something funny, and you both cracked up laughing, forgetting where you were and what time it was?

i agree that her balcony door should have been shut, and her chiding was impolite, but isn't there even the slightest possibility that voice levels has unintentionally escalated?

btw, we find the BWV balcony doors do a great job of shielding out any BW noise but we were still able to hear the ppl on the balcony next door in may (at and after 11PM - when the BW itself was very quiet). the kids (and parents) were locking one another out, and each turn a turn yelling to get in - another room notified FD. they probably didn't even realize how loud they were - each studio balcony is only a very few feet more to the neighbor's doors than one's own.

i agree that balcony doors should be kept closed, and she could have been more polite, but we don't know if she had a just gotten in from an 8plus hour plane flight, had a child that refused to sleep with the door closed, someone had a fear of sealed spaces......
i agree with janis: a simple "oops, sorry", probably would have made everyone feel better

 

[Ln42]

This is a fascinating observation, and I wonder what is causing the perception. It seems there are likely three causes: 1) people are louder, 2) the material separating the rooms is less noise canceling, 3) you are simply more aware or attune than before.

In my opinion, noise levels are the same as they were back in 2004 in the hotels at Disney, and it feels the same as with any hotel I've stayed in that caters to family vacations. More than likely, it is number 3 or 2 that is the cause.

I bring this up, since I pay attention when people use generalities to explain something, since most of the time the change is within ourselves (as the common denominator for all of our perceptions).[/QUOTE]


Having considered your ideas, I think its mostly that people are less concerned about their noise level and how it impacts others. I could speak of specific behaviors that I have observed in which people realize they are out of bounds with noise but feel helpless to do anything about it. I disagree, I think its a choice you make. The materials in the rooms probably are less adequate so all the more reason for people to adjust. I do find that the materials are fine so long as my neighbor is reasonable in behavior. We have been next to people who come and go at schedules opposite of ours and found the noise to be absolutely acceptable. After all, a library may not have many walls but it is still quiet because we agree to keep it that way in respect to those who are working. It is our perception of others needs that determines how we behave. For example, if you knew you were in a room next to a family with a terminal child, would you change your noise level to accommodate their needs? If the answer is yes, then you know you are intruding some way on your neighbor but you just can't see it because it has not been explained to you. If you run under the basic assumption that others may have more needs than you realize, its easy to live in a way that meets not only your needs but their needs too. It is for me, at least.

 

[jjbescher]

Reading all the responses, the OP was not given a chance to respond to the neighbor. The neighbor said her comment and then shut the door.

I know I get loud at times, even when trying to be quiet. I am often told by my DW to quiet down. If outside late at night, I definitely try to keep my voice down, but as others have mentioned, sometimes we do not realize that we get loud. If the neighbors door was shut, then I could understand them being upset. But when they leave the door open, sorry, complain all you want, but I am going to stay outside and talk.

 

[Starshine]

i'll also play devil's advocate :
hasn't anyone else had "quiet conversations" that they got so engrossed in, when suddenly they realized their voices were much louder than they realized?
or your companion mentioned something funny, and you both cracked up laughing, forgetting where you were and what time it was?

i agree that her balcony door should have been shut, and her chiding was impolite, but isn't there even the slightest possibility that voice levels has unintentionally escalated?

i agree that balcony doors should be kept closed, and she could have been more polite, but we don't know if she had a just gotten in from an 8plus hour plane flight, had a child that refused to sleep with the door closed, someone had a fear of sealed spaces......
i agree with janis: a simple "oops, sorry", probably would have made everyone feel better

I understand, it's certainly possible that our laughing was louder than we thought, we weren't trying to whisper. But then again we weren't being any louder than we would in normal conversation, definitely not hollering since we were sitting right next to each other. If she had asked us nicely I would certainly have apologized (but I think I would have probably also mentioned it never occurred to us that anyone would ever have their balcony door open while they were trying to sleep!) It really didn't matter though, since we didn't have a chance- since she only stuck her head outside long enough to yell and slam the door!

 

[twinklebug]

I understand, it's certainly possible that our laughing was louder than we thought, we weren't trying to whisper. But then again we weren't being any louder than we would in normal conversation, definitely not hollering since we were sitting right next to each other. If she had asked us nicely I would certainly have apologized (but I think I would have probably also mentioned it never occurred to us that anyone would ever have their balcony door open while they were trying to sleep!) It really didn't matter though, since we didn't have a chance- since she only stuck her head outside long enough to yell and slam the door!

Sounds to me like she snapped. Any other person would have either quietly closed the door without a word to you, or have stepped out with a "Hi, excuse me... but could you keep it down a little?" and given you a chance to respond.

We have no knowledge of her situation - could have been a good reason on her end for snapping (bad day, too much travel, kids fighting...). Don't take it personally.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I have been visiting WDW since I was 16 yo, I am now 54. I travelled a lot with my parents and when in a hotel room we were always reminded when we became too loud - please think of those around you. It was drilled into our heads. I brought my son up the same way. I am in a villa and I can hear people running around upstairs - they are not thinking about the people around them. They could care less about the people around them, it's all about them. People are always saying how Disney is going downhill - i't's not Disney - it's the people visiting that are going downhill.

If I was on my balcony and someone accused me of being too loud - I would have told them I am sorry and didn't realize we were disturbing you. Very simple. Would I have moved?? No - but I would have tried to be a little quieter. It's all about respecting others. Call me old fashioned.

Janis

Janis, you're dead on, on every point! Your upbringing/experiences mirror mine and I also raised my son the way my parents raised me.

This thread is reflective of how much society has changed.

I love my balconies (especially OKW & Kidani) and spend quite a bit of time out there in the early am and the late pm, I don't sleep much! In this instance I would have apologized and lowered my tone, no matter if my neighbor had been rude or not but I would have stayed out there till I was good and ready to go in! Sometimes on vacation we loose sight of the time and even maybe how loud our conversations are, it can happen but if you leave your door open, and the outdoor noise bothers you, then just shut it!

Probably the same person who would complain that the maintenance vehicles woke them up too early!

Leaving a window or a door without screens open in Florida, not a good idea but hey, good luck to you!

 

[Lorelei528]

This kind of reminds me of something that happened on our last cruise. On the ship, sometimes we leave the door open as we like to hear the ocean etc when we sleep yadda, yadda, yadda.
One night the couple next to us (who I know had kids cause we certainly heard them enough on the trip) were out on their balcony on the chair...having sex.
Did I go out and say to them "we like to sleep with the door open and you're sounds of fornicating are keeping us up!" LOL. NO! And let me just say, it was before 11pm....

First of all, the way I look at it, it would embarass them and me. (although I kind of wanted to do it just to see the look on their faces). Secondly, I figure, as in the words used in Dirty Dancing "this is your dance space, this is my dance space" What you do on your balcony is your business. Sure, if it was 2am and you guys were throwing a balcony party, maybe then, try to keep it down. A man and a woman enjoying the night air and some cheerful conversation? No freaking way.
What she should have done is just close her door. There was no reason for her to be nasty. So, one night they go without leaving the door open! There are more important things in this world.
If your voices were not raised constantly, I see no reason at all to apologize or keep your voice down. These people are the type who think everything revolves around them and the entire resort should be quiet because they're sleeping...
Unfortunately for them, I'm sure they'll never realize the world, and also The World, does not revolve around them.

 

[jekjones1558]

This post is a good reminder to me to respect differences. I could be either of the two parties in this incident. I love being on the balcony because I am often escaping Minnesota's cold. I also will admit to having left the balcony door open to relish the warm air, also because I spend so many months cooped up inside. When you are used to living in a single family dwelling it is hard to remember all of the things that can be disturbing to others, especially at night--things like a noisy jacuzzi or washer/dryer or music or even voices. Balancing your own right to enjoy your stay the way you like against someone else's right to do the same in a totally different way is bound to sometimes cause conflict. I hope that I am never the person who resorts to rudeness, at least not until after I have tried a polite request first!

 

[tjkraz]

If the complaint had been "it's late...we're trying to sleep...could you please keep it down", the fault may lie with OP.

But for any guest to assume they are entitled to peace and quiet with the patio door open is simply not realistic.

 

[LisaS]

Go get a box catch a few of the lizards that are everywhere and turn them lose on there balcony at night. Of course were I'm from we tend to take a Hatfield McCoy approach to rude people.

I assume you are joking but let's hope nobody would actually disturb and possibly endanger an innocent creature to try to make a point with a rude neighbor.