Room Check - Always use the latch when in the room

[thegales]

Reading all these threads about the room checks reminded me of a story from about 20 years ago. The company I was working for was just bought out by another company. We were having a big meeting where people from both companies were getting together. The other company's policy for business trips was for two people to share a room, where as our (now former) policy was that each person got their own room. So this was the first time that many people at our company were sharing a room with someone else. They tried to put people together who may have known each other, but that was not always the case.

One woman from my company checked in and got her key. She went to the room, used the key to enter. Another woman was already in the room. The woman from my company introduced herself, and said that she was going to be her roommate. I guess the other woman had this look of horror and was questioning what was going on. As it turns out, the hotel made a mistake, and gave her the same room as someone not even with our group. Oops.

Just imagine having checked into a room, and a few moments later, a complete stranger uses the key to enter the room and says that she is going to be your roommate. Because of this, I always use the additional deadbolt whenever I am in a hotel room. You never know when it might be the hotel that makes a mistake and sends someone to your room.

I will continue with the same philosophy while at Disney. Whenever in the room, I will put the Occupied sign out and latch the door to not be surprised by someone just coming in. If someone knocks on the door, after verifying they are a proper person, I will let them in.

 

[Sue M]

I always use room latch too. Hotels have been known to make mistakes that’s for sure.

 

[trvlgirlmq]

That is great advice if your entire party is in the room at the same time. Does not work so well when grandma needs her afternoon nap and everyone else is out and about, then returns. Can't exactly open the door quietly and not interrupt her sleep if we have to knock.

 

[Disneylover99]

That is great advice if your entire party is in the room at the same time. Does not work so well when grandma needs her afternoon nap and everyone else is out and about, then returns. Can't exactly open the door quietly and not interrupt her sleep if we have to knock.

Yep. That's the frustration when you've got a room full of people coming or going. We only use the latch at night when everyone is in for the evening.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Reading all these threads about the room checks reminded me of a story from about 20 years ago. The company I was working for was just bought out by another company. We were having a big meeting where people from both companies were getting together. The other company's policy for business trips was for two people to share a room, where as our (now former) policy was that each person got their own room. So this was the first time that many people at our company were sharing a room with someone else. They tried to put people together who may have known each other, but that was not always the case.

One woman from my company checked in and got her key. She went to the room, used the key to enter. Another woman was already in the room. The woman from my company introduced herself, and said that she was going to be her roommate. I guess the other woman had this look of horror and was questioning what was going on. As it turns out, the hotel made a mistake, and gave her the same room as someone not even with our group. Oops.

Just imagine having checked into a room, and a few moments later, a complete stranger uses the key to enter the room and says that she is going to be your roommate. Because of this, I always use the additional deadbolt whenever I am in a hotel room. You never know when it might be the hotel that makes a mistake and sends someone to your room.

I will continue with the same philosophy while at Disney. Whenever in the room, I will put the Occupied sign out and latch the door to not be surprised by someone just coming in. If someone knocks on the door, after verifying they are a proper person, I will let them in.

When we were on our honeymoon in Reno (hey, free hotel stay, no kids, gambling and good food...I actually made $$ on the honeymoon, even after all the expenses!), the hotel tried to put someone into our room the first night, at 2am. The person had an employee with them that popped open our latch when their key didn't work. I guess we were so exhausted that we didn't hear anyone trying to come in, until that latch popped and the door was flung open.

The employee and the drunk guest got an eyeful of DH (I stayed under the covers, thank goodness) and between that and my screams, I think they were struck blind and deaf. LOL

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

That is great advice if your entire party is in the room at the same time. Does not work so well when grandma needs her afternoon nap and everyone else is out and about, then returns. Can't exactly open the door quietly and not interrupt her sleep if we have to knock.

That is our problem, and there are only two of us.

Husband goes out for a walk while I take a nap. Or goes and gets breakfast while I shower. Or whatever.

Crazy that we can't do that now.

 

[Jennasis]

Rooms that are occupied mistakenly being given to a new check in are a fairly common issue in the hotel industry. We've checked in and found other people's stuff in the room when we went in. It happens so we always latch when we are in the room.

Incidentally, we always lock our door at home whenever we are in the house. A coworker of mine was recently attacked and kid napped in her home, 5 minutes after her DH left to go play golf. Luckily she survived and managed to escape her abductor. They use to not lock their door when home in their nice suburban housing development.

 

[pattyw]

Crazy that we can't do that now.

Yes it truly is! Not a lot to ask on a vacation you'd think?

 

[AngiTN]

DH travels a lot for work and has had several instances where he's been assigned rooms already occupied and had someone attempt to walk in to his room.
It happens, even outside of Disney. And not Housekeeping trying to do security checks either.
If you can imagine that mistakes happen everywhere. I know we all think only Disney is error prone these days.
So the flip bar is always used on our rooms.
We never leave it unused, even when one of us is in the room alone. Crazy that others have never done that, quite honestly. Guess y'all have never had strangers wander in your rooms like he has.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Incidentally, we always lock our door at home whenever we are in the house. A coworker of mine was recently attacked and kid napped in her home, 5 minutes after her DH left to go play golf. Luckily she survived and managed to escape her abductor. They use to not lock their door when home in their nice suburban housing development.

We also ALWAYS lock our doors at home. I'm so used to clicking the lock when I come in that I have locked DH out in the yard when he was mowing and things before.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We also ALWAYS lock our doors at home. I'm so used to clicking the lock when I come in that I have locked DH out in the yard when he was mowing and things before.

I've done that numerous times.

I get the "Really" look when I open it to his knock.

 

[Sue M]

Rooms that are occupied mistakenly being given to a new check in are a fairly common issue in the hotel industry. We've checked in and found other people's stuff in the room when we went in. It happens so we always latch when we are in the room.

Incidentally, we always lock our door at home whenever we are in the house. A coworker of mine was recently attacked and kid napped in her home, 5 minutes after her DH left to go play golf. Luckily she survived and managed to escape her abductor. They use to not lock their door when home in their nice suburban housing development.

How terrifying. I’m glad she was able to escape. I am guilty of leaving kitchen door open in summertime. Won’t be doing that anymore!

 

[Disneylover99]

DH travels a lot for work and has had several instances where he's been assigned rooms already occupied and had someone attempt to walk in to his room.
It happens, even outside of Disney. And not Housekeeping trying to do security checks either.
If you can imagine that mistakes happen everywhere. I know we all think only Disney is error prone these days.
So the flip bar is always used on our rooms.
We never leave it unused, even when one of us is in the room alone. Crazy that others have never done that, quite honestly. Guess y'all have never had strangers wander in your rooms like he has.

Yes, someone has been assigned our room once in my 40+ years of travelling. It definitely can happen. A stranger did open our door and come into our room. I felt bad for the guy. He was mortified. But it was an accident.

When we go to the Poly this summer for four nights, we will not be going to any parks and because we spend lots of time lounging in our room or by the pool, we do not want housekeeping. Now I know there will be someone purposely entering my room at a random time each day.

There is a huge difference between someone accidentally being assigned your room and someone entering daily. And sure, the latchbar is great when everyone is in the room. But for many families who are in and out of the room constantly, it's really just not a feasible option.