Strange things are happenin.....at OKW

[Donna]

I had something happen two days in a row during my recent OKW stay. I was staying with a few friends of mine in a 1 br, bldg. 24. They left for the day one morning and I was to meet up with them later. Shortly after they left, I get a knock on the door. I look through the peephole (thinking one of them forgot something) and I see a man standing there, didn't see any Disney ID, he was holding a ladder so maybe it was there. I opened the door with the swing lock on and asked what he needed. He said they just got a call from my unit that my ceiling fan was not working on my porch. I glanced over and it was working fine, it was on. I said, no one has called from my room and the fan appeared to be working fine. He said, oh ok and left. I didn't think too much of this until it happened again the next day. The girls left for AK, I was going to downtown Disney and we'd meet up later. Shortly after they left, I get a knock on the door. Yep, maintenance again. They tell me they got a call from my unit that my window blinds were not working properly. I had opened them already that morning and I said, they're working fine, no one has called from here. At that very moment, one of the girls came back cause she had forgotten something and asked if everything was ok. The man said, sorry for the mistake and left. My friend stayed back and we talked about the strange coincidence that this happened two days in a row, after they had left for the day. Did they think the unit was empty and were knocking just to check? who knows? Later on that day, when we came back, we saw a maintenance person working out of a van in the lot. The van had Walt Disney Company on it. We asked if he had any ID, he showed us his picture ID and his nametag and we asked how do they know which units to go to, do they get calls directly from the unit. He said, they don't, the calls come in from the guest and go to maintenance and then they get dispatched out. It probably IS nothing, but we all found it very strange that it happened two days in a row, after the two girls left and both times, no one had called about anything being wrong. I also want to mention, the first day we came back to the unit, last sunday, our porch door (2nd floor) was open. Since this was before these two incidents occurred, we just figured one of us left it open earlier. I can't help but wonder if recent problems with theft may be because of a "ring" or something going on there. Probably not, but it sure had me thinking. Anyone get any "faux" maintenance calls like this?

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Did you call the front desk to report these incidents? If there is something strange going on, they would want to know and I would want to alert them so nothing happens to someone else.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Definitely let someone at Disney know. First time, maybe an honest mistake. But twice....... too fishy.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

We're definitely going to be very careful when my friend and I go down there next month. Things like this makes sure that you keep your guard up even and especially when you're on vacation.

 

[spiceycat]

Donna - I agreed - twice is definitely a problem.

you are one smart gal - not to let him in....

 

[1wk]

While at OKW in August (can't remember room number) we were getting ready to leave for the day, and the same thing happened, 'cept I didn't have the lock on like you did. Two maint. workers at the door. "Routine" they said. They walked in and were a little too pushy for me. DW was getting dressed in the bath room. Being a policeman I probably am a little more suspicious than some, but after a brief discussion, maybe an argument, they left. I did call the desk to inquire, but they didn't seem overly concerned. I'm not sure about the theft ring business, I certainly hope not. We are probably just a little more suspicious because of the times we live in. A general rule, if it doesn't look right and you wouldn't do it, it's a good idea to investigate.

 

[BCV23]

At the Polynesian in 3/03, one morning after most in our family had left there was a knock on one of our adjoining rooms. It was an older guy in painter whites saying there had been a complaint from our room about the interior of the closet. There was no problem with the closet. I did let him in! After telling him we had not called and inspecting the closet he went on his way.

 

[Donna]

I did not call to report this happening but I wish I did. I am going back down on Sunday, maybe I will mention it, since it was so recent. This is one of the things i liked about dvc, no one is trotting in and out of your room all day (except on T & T day or cleaning day). I never leave anything of value in the room, laptop is cable-locked now, but I imagine some people probably do. I wonder if maintenance people have to go thru a security check like we do when we enter the parks? They should probably check them when they LEAVE for the day!

 

[mudd]

Was at OKW couple of weeks ago, had a maid try to come in claiming we had called for a blanket and coffee maker. She knock and when I answered she said Oh I'm sorry I guess your not the ones that called for a blanket or coffee pot. Didn't think much of it at that time. But now it makes me wonder.

 

[PamOKW]

It's possible that the "someone" who called about a problem in a unit is a guest that was in the unit before you. I'm also pretty sure that the maintenance and housekeeping people are dispatched from a central desk. They don't answer calls and resond on their own.

That said -- it's better to be overly cautious. If you're not sure about someone always call the desk and ask if they've sent someone. Never let anyone in the room that you are the least bit suspicious about.

I would let Disney know about what happened. It will help keep everyone safer if we are vigilant. OKW has lost some of the "buffer" now that SSR is being built and DD has expanded. It is more visible to the "outside" world and has several points of access.

The same policy about checking ID and checking with the desk applies to all the Disney resorts.

 

[kymi]

We are heading there this Saturday and it will be our first stay at OKW---now I'm a bit more nervous. I know there was another incident w/i the last 2 months or so w/someone breaking the lock and entering. It worries me greatly that it is so easily for people to get into the place. I would never let anyone in w/o id and calling the desk first---epecially if I never requested anything. Can anyone give me any tips to make our stay safer?

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by kymi
Can anyone give me any tips to make our stay safer?

Maybe I'm just too much of a city boy, but if it's not T&T day or if no one called the desk, no one gets in the room while I'm there and nothing of value is left in the room.

Is there a direct number for security? I can't remember.

You could always ask to take a photograph for your scrapbook. Most burglars don't want to be ID'ed...most legitimate CM's are accustomed to dealing with weird tourists. Just don't pull out a super expensive camera to take the photo.

-Joe

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would like to believe that it was an honest mistake and that someone had room numbers confused, but you just can't be too careful these days. I would report it ASAP if something like that happens. In the case of housekeeping bringing up called for items, that usually occurs very soon after a call. My guess is that she had the wrong room. We have always had quick response from maintanance too, because we always tell them we are waiting for them.

 

[vernon]

Twice for different things does seem a little odd, but it is possible that the previous occupants or mousekeeping reported a problem on their last day and someone was dispatched during your stay. Another possibility is a mix up in room numbers.

I would guess that since the hurricanes, maintenance has been extraordinarily busy dealing with problems related to the bad weather. I also get the feeling that prior to the bad weather Disney (Ei$ner) had cut back on a lot of the staff that deal with those type of problems, making them even busier. Perhaps they are playing "catch up" on a lot of problems and there is a delay in getting round to dealing with "minor" problems. I know when we were staying in September we had a knock on the door from maintenance to fix a broken tile in the bathroom. I told him to come back later (which didn't happen during the rest of our stay), but as I had already noticed the broken tile I am asuming that unless there is a VERY well informed gang working the resorts ( which I doubt) it was genuine.

 

[LisaR]

Two weeks ago while we were at OKW, there was a knock on the door. My DH answered it. The guy said he was from maintenance and our unit needed drywall repair done on a wall in the laundry room. My DH told him he would have to wait until we checked out because our kids have asthma and we didn't want them sanding drywall with the kids around. The guy wasn't a jerk or anything but he wasn't overly thrilled with DH's answer. He did not have a visible name tag. After he left, we went in the laundry room and searched high and low. There wasn't any drywall damage anywhere.

So, here is the kicker. That day, they were arresting a guy at the gate of OKW who my husband swears looked like the guy that came to the door. He said his clothes were different but he swears it was him. We tried to get some details on why this guy was arrested but it is Disney and nobody was talking. Hmmmmm.............

Lisa

 

[SimbaCub]

I have called to have things repaired while on trips--light bulb, broken switch, etc--and when someone showed up to fix it I remember looking to see if a Disney name badge was on the person. I have always seen one on people who claim to be sent to the room. I guess if I saw someone show up without a name badge I would call the front desk. Even my younger sister looked at one of the ladies who came to fix something while I was on the phone. She told me after the lady left she wanted to make sure it was OK to let her in!!

If nothing else I would make sure the front desk knows someone is going around claiming to be sent up to the room. Maybe Disney will make sure all their people are wearing their name badges to identify themselves.

SimbaCub
VWL/SSR Nov/Dec 04

 

[SueOKW]

Some of these things are totally fishy - I'm assuming OKW and DVC staff read these boards - in fact, at least one CM participates, right? I hope by the time we get there in April things are better... but you can bet I'm going to make sure my family is aware of these crooks - as I am sure some of the above cases are potential crooks.

Sue

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by SueOKW
I'm assuming OKW and DVC staff read these boards - in fact, at least one CM participates, right?

I'm here and I am reading

Definetly let the front desk know if things like that are happening, sounds fishy to me too.

It could be harmless, as others have stated it could have been the people in the room prior to you had called it in as they checked out and maint. is just getting to it... It could also be that the calls are taken at a central location for OKW and Saratoga so they may have gotten the call from Saratoga and thought it was OKW (not sure how the room numbers are at SSR but I know when we call over we have to specify OKW).

Any and ALL Disney CM's should have a nametag visable and/or an id badge (most Maint. CM's have their name tags in a clear plastic pouch...so it doesn't get caught on things, but they are visible). You can always ask to see their ID as well if you think it is odd (CM's are supposed to carry them with them at all times). As the original Poster stated, open the door with the latch still on, if you are not expecting someone and if you don't feel comfortable, don't let them in... That is your "home" and you have the right to tell them they are not invited into it.