Warning- daily safety and security room check

[natfrac]

My biggest gripe about the security checks is that Disney doesn’t seem to care about guest experience and there’s no consideration for those who actually want to fully utilize their room. On our last trip, DH and I got sick. We needed time to sleep and recover, but that was not in Disney’s plans. Everyday at least once, sometimes twice each day, someone would be banging on our door. It was obvious we were sick and sleeping, but that didn’t seem to matter.

We said never again, but we’re probably going to give them one more try next year. I do plan on speaking with a manager when we check in, although I don’t expect it to do any good. Their policy overrides guest experience.

BWV DVC is where we stay(ed).

 

[snappy]

My biggest gripe about the security checks is that Disney doesn’t seem to care about guest experience and there’s no consideration for those who actually want to fully utilize their room. On our last trip, DH and I got sick. We needed time to sleep and recover, but that was not in Disney’s plans. Everyday at least once, sometimes twice each day, someone would be banging on our door. It was obvious we were sick and sleeping, but that didn’t seem to matter.

We said never again, but we’re probably going to give them one more try next year. I do plan on speaking with a manager when we check in, although I don’t expect it to do any good. Their policy overrides guest experience.

BWV DVC is where we stay(ed).

Sorry you were disturbed when trying to recover from illness. Implementation of the policy is the problem, it’s TSA ish. Back in the day when my husband worked alone in the room when we were at Disney, I can only imagine how he would have reacted with several interruptions a day. He was irritated enough while staying at AKL with low lighting and having to rearrange the room to have enough light to work.

I have had several lay in sick days in years past at WDW. With kids, I imagine a lot of guests do. Bad enough to be sick on vacation.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Please exercise caution when it comes to letting anyone into your room. Verify who they are by looking for castmember name tags and credentials. A housekeeper would be easier to spot but some random person in a maintenance suit would be fishy. I really see this new policy backfiring (because all hotels are now vulnerable) and I’m not saying it will happen at Disney, but how long until someone uses this opportunity to rob someone...or worse?

 

[nkereina]

Did you experience a room check at the casino hotel? Just because they have a sign saying that they have a right to enter the room at any time for any reason, it doesn’t mean they WILL enter it daily.

No, but we only stayed one night and were out by 10am the next morning. In my opinion, by nature of them changing out the old "Do Not Disturb" signs for new "Room Occupied" signs with fine print about reserving the right to enter the room, they are setting themselves up for some kind of room check policy.

 

[snappy]

No, but we only stayed one night and were out by 10am the next morning. In my opinion, by nature of them changing out the old "Do Not Disturb" signs for new "Room Occupied" signs with fine print about reserving the right to enter the room, they are setting themselves up for some kind of room check policy.

Oh I agree but it might or might not be daily like Disney. May be more directed at guests who leave the RO signs up 24/7. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[HopperFan]

Please exercise caution when it comes to letting anyone into your room. Verify who they are by looking for castmember name tags and credentials. A housekeeper would be easier to spot but some random person in a maintenance suit would be fishy. I really see this new policy backfiring (because all hotels are now vulnerable) and I’m not saying it will happen at Disney, but how long until someone uses this opportunity to rob someone...or worse?

A name tag and uniform mean nothing as they are readily available to buy, if concerned ask for their ID cards and hopefully if they are not a CM they would have thought the costume alone would allow them in. If any part of it seems inappropriate WALK to the front desk and ask for a manager and share your experience.

My suggestion is NEVER let them enter the room with you inside if there isn't a group of you. Tell them to wait a minute while you all prepare to walk outside the room. Then shut the door. Make them open the door with their pass key to prove who they are. Once they do, hold that door open and watch what they do to insure your things are not touched - since you were in the room you likely had valuable things out and showing.

If you are comfortable with them coming in the room with you, I would still tell them you are going to shut the door and then they can let themselves in with the pass key. Again, this is to prove (hopefully) they are an actual CM.

Oh I agree but it might or might not be daily like Disney. May be more directed at guests who leave the RO signs up 24/7.

Many of the hotels have said they will do "well checks" if the sign is up over 24 hours. Not really anything new. This would be not only security but making sure there isn't a health issue or death in the room. This is completely understandable.

 

[nkereina]

Oh I agree but it might or might not be daily like Disney. May be more directed at guests who leave the RO signs up 24/7.

My point was just that room checks are something people should come to expect when staying at hotels as they become more and more popular. Whether daily or at random.

However, its my understanding at Disney that if you decline housekeeping and/or leave the sign out 24/7, you will receive daily room checks as well. If you receive housekeeping service like normal, that counts as your room check and you will not receive a second one.

 

[snappy]

A name tag and uniform mean nothing as they are readily available to buy, if concerned ask for their ID cards and hopefully if they are not a CM they would have thought the costume alone would allow them in. If any part of it seems inappropriate WALK to the front desk and ask for a manager and share your experience.

My suggestion is NEVER let them enter the room with you inside if there isn't a group of you. Tell them to wait a minute while you all prepare to walk outside the room. Then shut the door. Make them open the door with their pass key to prove who they are. Once they do, hold that door open and watch what they do to insure your things are not touched - since you were in the room you likely had valuable things out and showing.

If you are comfortable with them coming in the room with you, I would still tell them you are going to shut the door and then they can let themselves in with the pass key. Again, this is to prove (hopefully) they are an actual CM.



Many of the hotels have said they will do "well checks" if the sign is up over 24 hours. Not really anything new. This would be not only security but making sure there isn't a health issue or death in the room. This is completely understandable.

I agree if the sign is constantly left on the door. I am determined to remember to use it (and the security latch)when needed (when in room and not wanting to be disturbed) and remove it when we leave the room. And I am assigning DH the responsibility of reminding me as a back up. Thanks

 

[snappy]

My point was just that room checks are something people should come to expect when staying at hotels as they become more and more popular. Whether daily or at random.

However, its my understanding at Disney that if you decline housekeeping and/or leave the sign out 24/7, you will receive daily room checks as well. If you receive housekeeping service like normal, that counts as your room check and you will not receive a second one.

And DVC stays no daily HK but you get room checks (at least sometimes) to empty some or all of the trashcans.

Although due to reports of inconsistent application, your results may vary during your trip or at different resorts of a split stay. Thanks

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Please exercise caution when it comes to letting anyone into your room. Verify who they are by looking for castmember name tags and credentials. A housekeeper would be easier to spot but some random person in a maintenance suit would be fishy. I really see this new policy backfiring (because all hotels are now vulnerable) and I’m not saying it will happen at Disney, but how long until someone uses this opportunity to rob someone...or worse?

This reminds me of my experience at POR in January...To preface, I understand that this is Disney's policy and if I want to stay there I agree to it. I also understand that there may be valid reasons for it, but I continue to hope as it evolves that it is clearly communicated to guests and such.

So, I posted my experience in the sticky thread, but long story short - no problems with it impacting my trip, but I did have a very negative interaction with a CM trying to get some specifics on how the policy worked in practice at the resort.

Anyway, there was a PSA of sorts on the back of the door about safety/security. I don't remember the specific wording, but I do recall that Jiminy Cricket was pretty clear that I should not open my door to strangers, which was in direct opposition to what the front desk CM told me that I needed to do.

I've wondered if they've replaced these signs. I think it would be helpful to maybe use that space with a sign about how the "Room Occupied" policy means/works, and tips like using the latch while in the room, etc. - maybe similar to how some people have had letters in their room. I suggested this idea to CM in guest services after my trip, although she said the resorts were all implementing things differently, etc. I still think it could be helpful to have some basics there so people aren't surprised if they didn't catch it when they made their reservation or checked in.

 

[snappy]

This reminds me of my experience at POR in January...To preface, I understand that this is Disney's policy and if I want to stay there I agree to it. I also understand that there may be valid reasons for it, but I continue to hope as it evolves that it is clearly communicated to guests and such.

So, I posted my experience in the sticky thread, but long story short - no problems with it impacting my trip, but I did have a very negative interaction with a CM trying to get some specifics on how the policy worked in practice at the resort.

Anyway, there was a PSA of sorts on the back of the door about safety/security. I don't remember the specific wording, but I do recall that Jiminy Cricket was pretty clear that I should not open my door to strangers, which was in direct opposition to what the front desk CM told me that I needed to do.

I've wondered if they've replaced these signs. I think it would be helpful to maybe use that space with a sign about how the "Room Occupied" policy means/works, and tips like using the latch while in the room, etc. - maybe similar to how some people have had letters in their room. I suggested this idea to CM in guest services after my trip, although she said the resorts were all implementing things differently, etc. I still think it could be helpful to have some basics there so people aren't surprised if they didn't catch it when they made their reservation or checked in.

Excellent suggestions!

The CM you spoke to is correct about resorts implementing things differently, and I think individual HK or security staff seem to also have different approaches. I suspect also things are changing over time, hopefully with more security AND guest consideration. Not sure those should be or have to be mutually excludive. Thanks.

 

[SharonZ]

I know that the room/security checks are a major inconvenience, but there is no way that they can accommodate everyone's schedule, nap time, etc.

 

[snappy]

I know that the room/security checks are a major inconvenience, but there is no way that they can accommodate everyone's schedule, nap time, etc.

You are right! luckily many times the Ro signs are off doors when people are at the parks. Sounds like HK likes to just go door to door though regardless of signs. Thanks

 

[bumbershoot]

Many of the hotels have said they will do "well checks" if the sign is up over 24 hours. Not really anything new. This would be not only security but making sure there isn't a health issue or death in the room. This is completely understandable.

And the way this is done at most hotels is by a phone call. Speaking to the person in the room.

I know that the room/security checks are a major inconvenience, but there is no way that they can accommodate everyone's schedule, nap time, etc.

Sure they can. HK used to be able to do it no problem. Why not security? They have longer hours, it seems, than HK.

 

[HopperFan]

And the way this is done at most hotels is by a phone call. Speaking to the person in the room.

Correct. I suppose I should have said 24 hours of sign up and with no contact with guest.

 

[jimmykitefan]

We will be at Pop next week and if they knock too early in the morning, they shouldn't be surprised when my husband opens the door in the nude. Also, if a men were to enter the room, I could see my husband striking him. You have no idea who they are and just saying "Security Check" means nothing, anyone can do that. Also, the uniform means nothing.
I can certainly see where this could be a train wreak waiting to happen, especially with a man walking into a room with a single women or a group of women. I see lawsuits in Disney's future about this.

 

[ellbell]

We will be at Pop next week and if they knock too early in the morning, they shouldn't be surprised when my husband opens the door in the nude. Also, if a men were to enter the room, I could see my husband striking him. You have no idea who they are and just saying "Security Check" means nothing, anyone can do that. Also, the uniform means nothing.
I can certainly see where this could be a train wreak waiting to happen, especially with a man walking into a room with a single women or a group of women. I see lawsuits in Disney's future about this.

The security check has been happening for 8 months. This is speculation and very unlikely to happen and statements like this are what start the arguments on the boards regarding this topic. There is no basis to believe any of that will happen.

 

[stinkpickle]

Because they do that, I leave my sheets like this when I leave the room...

 

[KarenP64]

-
- Offsite hotels have DND signs and one handed us a letter that said "use it, we WILL RESPECT your privacy" ... shade.

 

[KarenP64]

Oops! I meant to ask which hotel gave you a letter that says they'll respect your privacy. It sounds like one I'd like to stay at!