WDW Cracking Down on Third-Party Businesses

[Calmdownnow]

I don't like unvetted delivery people wandering through hotels.

Now that is a really weird comment. Nobody vets anyone arriving on a bus from Disney Springs, wandering into a Disney hotel, getting into an elevator, walking down the hall. Can you somehow identify a service worker and differentiate them from a "regular guest"? Are they more sweaty? Do they wear cheaper shorts? Are they carrying bigger bags? Do they look less American touristy?

 

[Tha Realest]

If a private chef gives you food poisoning during a holiday rental, you don't sue your AirBNB host.

But Disney is locked in to a very nasty wrongful death case involving food allergens at Raglan Road’s Disney Springs location. I can totally see the liability issues for the private chefs guiding that decision.

 

[natatomic]

Here’s new information I didn’t know before. See, I thought C&Ds went to pretty much every small business they had on record of doing work at the resorts, particularly the in-room services.

Turns out, not a single princess makeover business in a 3rd party vendor FB group got a C&D. Not ONE, and there are many in this group.

Considering this is a service Disney offers (yes i know it sells out), it requires being in the room, there is touching of the guests, and product placed on the clients’ hair and skin, I’m really surprised that this seems to be one of the few businesses Disney is allowing to continue with zero oversight. Like, I get that might change in the future, but all of the businesses who received C&Ds received them within a few days to a week of each other and they seem to have since stopped.

 

[larryz]

In the case of a private chef, or make-up/over artist, or even a private massage "therapist," how is Disney to filter out the professional service provider from "Aunt Winnie" or "Uncle Billy" who's just "visiting" the family in the resort (and just so happens to be a private chef, make-up artist and/or a professional masseur)?

 

[castlecake2.0]

Here’s new information I didn’t know before. See, I thought C&Ds went to pretty much every small business they had on record of doing work at the resorts, particularly the in-room services.

Turns out, not a single princess makeover business in a 3rd party vendor FB group got a C&D. Not ONE, and there are many in this group.

Considering this is a service Disney offers (yes i know it sells out), it requires being in the room, there is touching of the guests, and product placed on the clients’ hair and skin, I’m really surprised that this seems to be one of the few businesses Disney is allowing to continue with zero oversight. Like, I get that might change in the future, but all of the businesses who received C&Ds received them within a few days to a week of each other and they seem to have since stopped.

It seems to be going in waves. I’m sure this is incoming. Also apparently the reason the DS AND GF BBB never reopened was the State changed some cosmetology regulations that made it more difficult to operate. Something with it being in the park it’s considered an experience whereas outside the park it would be considered a salon or something like that.

 

[castlecake2.0]

In the case of a private chef, or make-up/over artist, or even a private massage "therapist," how is Disney to filter out the professional service provider from "Aunt Winnie" or "Uncle Billy" who's just "visiting" the family in the resort?

Anyone visiting the resort has to show ID, and were told in their C&D letters they would be trespassed if found operating on property

 

[larryz]

Anyone visiting the resort has to show ID, and were told in their C&D letters they would be trespassed if found operating on property

So it doesn't apply to any small business that hasn't been C&D'd then... good to know.

 

[castlecake2.0]

So it doesn't apply to any small business that hasn't been C&D'd then... good to know.

Well I mean the property rules state that unauthorized businesses cannot operate on property, it’s up to that business/customer to see how long they can go without being told (if ever) to stop.

 

[larryz]

Well I mean the property rules state that unauthorized businesses cannot operate on property, it’s up to that business/customer to see how long they can go without being told (if ever) to stop.

Agreed, but without a contingent of private investigators to sniff out commercial relationships, there's not much Disney can do if I say that "Cousin Wolfgang" -- who's cooking a 5-course feast for my extended family of 6 in a rented DVC suite -- is just one of the many relatives I have in the Orlando area and is "treating us to a demonstration of his skills" while "Aunt Betty" dolls up my daughters to look like Anastasia and Drisella prior to a MNSSHP and "Uncle Sven" is folding my wife like a fitted sheet on a massage table in the master bedroom to work out her "concrete back spasms"...

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Agreed, but without a contingent of private investigators to sniff out commercial relationships, there's not much Disney can do if I say that "Cousin Wolfgang" -- who's cooking a 5-course feast for my extended family of 6 in a rented DVC suite -- is just one of the many relatives I have in the Orlando area and is "treating us to a demonstration of his skills" while "Aunt Betty" dolls up my daughters to look like Anastasia and Drisella prior to a MNSSHP and "Uncle Sven" is folding my wife like a fitted sheet on a massage table in the master bedroom to work out her "concrete back spasms"...

Well if they catch them, they can still tresspass them, and really you if they want. Its not like they need proof beyond a reasonable doubt to booth them/you off the property if they believe "Cousin Wolfgang" is being paid.

But what also needs to be remembered is that the point isn't to try and play pokemon here and "catch them all." WDW knows that given the number of resorts, rooms in each, and people trying to operate services like being talked about here, unless you are devoting TSA level security at each resort, its going to be impossible to completely stop it from happening. You perform crackdowns like this periodically and send C&D letters out in order to, amongst other reasons 1) Allow the option for criminal trespass and charges against people who have been warned/trespassed and are caught subsequently to the notice. 2) be able to show in any third party lawsuit that is brought by a plaintiff against WDW that they are not silently consenting to these people coming on property, and that they have an history of trying to prevent it from happening, including sending C&D's and trespassing people when found.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Anyone visiting the resort has to show ID, and were told in their C&D letters they would be trespassed if found operating on property

What does showing ID accomplish? It’s dumb theater that makes security look like they’re doing something. They just look at the ID and hand it back. An hourly security guard isn’t going to have a list of names memorized.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Agreed, but without a contingent of private investigators to sniff out commercial relationships, there's not much Disney can do if I say that "Cousin Wolfgang" -- who's cooking a 5-course feast for my extended family of 6 in a rented DVC suite -- is just one of the many relatives I have in the Orlando area and is "treating us to a demonstration of his skills" while "Aunt Betty" dolls up my daughters to look like Anastasia and Drisella prior to a MNSSHP and "Uncle Sven" is folding my wife like a fitted sheet on a massage table in the master bedroom to work out her "concrete back spasms"...

I imagine Disney can keep track of this information if they wanted. Cousin Wolfgang and Aunt Betty might show up once a year. Someone running a business will be visiting far more frequently.

Regardless, when we're talking about catering, there is a lot of food and other items that Wolfgang will be bringing. If he's showing up once a month with all that, I imagine it will stand out. He might get away with it, but it's definitely a risk.

 

[natatomic]

What does showing ID accomplish? It’s dumb theater that makes security look like they’re doing something. They just look at the ID and hand it back. An hourly security guard isn’t going to have a list of names memorized.

I have always wondered what the point of looking at an ID is. Like you said, they aren’t gonna memorize thousands of names and faces. And what about the other people in the car? What if none of them have ID and something happens to/because of them? And I know they have a list of BOLOs for trespassed individuals, but I doubt they have them memorized either. That list must also be in the thousands!
Anyway, this has always irked me because literally does NOTHING. Security theater, like you said.

 

[flynnibus]

In the case of a private chef, or make-up/over artist, or even a private massage "therapist," how is Disney to filter out the professional service provider from "Aunt Winnie" or "Uncle Billy" who's just "visiting" the family in the resort (and just so happens to be a private chef, make-up artist and/or a professional masseur)?

It's not that hard to distinguish between people who market themselves and someone who just happens to have a skill.

This isn't Disney raiding people's rooms trying to catch people in the act.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

What does showing ID accomplish? It’s dumb theater that makes security look like they’re doing something. They just look at the ID and hand it back. An hourly security guard isn’t going to have a list of names memorized.

It does several things.

First, there are a non-zero number of third party vendors who will not want to give over ID. Either for fear of getting on a trespass list, or for fear that they are already on the list, and realize if they are caught, and its shown they have previously received a trespass, they can be criminally charged.

Second it allows the checking for higher profile people if there is a list in place of repeat offenders or trespassed individuals.

Third, it gives guests the appearance of safety/exclusivity. It lets the feel better, even if its not 100% foolproof.

Fourth, it shows WDW is doing something in connection with not sanctioning/promoting unauthorized third parties on site. Remember the point/goal isn't to prevent 100% third party people operating on site. Its to protect against suits from people that stem from them. You don't have to turn the place into fort knox, you just have to show that WDW isn't sanctioning the activity, which means a minimal reasonable effort to show WDW isn't promoting it. An ID check is one relatively unobtrusive and not costly manner to do that.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It does several things.

First, there are a non-zero number of third party vendors who will not want to give over ID. Either for fear of getting on a trespass list, or for fear that they are already on the list, and realize if they are caught, and its shown they have previously received a trespass, they can be criminally charged.

Second it allows the checking for higher profile people if there is a list in place of repeat offenders or trespassed individuals.

Third, it gives guests the appearance of safety/exclusivity. It lets the feel better, even if its not 100% foolproof.

Fourth, it shows WDW is doing something in connection with not sanctioning/promoting unauthorized third parties on site. Remember the point/goal isn't to prevent 100% third party people operating on site. It’s to protect against suits from people that stem from them. You don't have to turn the place into fort knox, you just have to show that WDW isn't sanctioning the activity, which means a minimal reasonable effort to show WDW isn't promoting it. An ID check is one relatively unobtrusive and not costly manner to do that.

What part of them not cross checking a list did you miss? The ID “checks” aren’t new. These third party companies were showing them and being waved through just like everyone else.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

What part of them not cross checking a list did you miss? The ID “checks” aren’t new. These third party companies were showing them and being waved through just like everyone else.

The point isn't to actually catch everyone that might be on a list somewhere. The point is to show minimal efforts in order to make your customers feel safer (even if they aren't) and to show you are not actively sanctioning unrestricted third party access to the sites.

The point isn't to stop it from happening (unless they are getting ready to start offering a similar service) its not even to stop third party lawsuits from coming. Its to show the minimal amount of effort, at the minimal cost, in order to avoid third party liability. Having each security guard cross checking a list every time would be a terrible idea from a liability standpoint, because you could be held negligent in a case where an ID was supposed to be checked, and wasn't, or if it was checked against a list any the guard just missed it, or the list wasn't updated within a reasonable time.

Nor do you need to check the list every time, to have at least some chilling effect from people who have already been trespassed to know if they give ID they might get checked. But really catching someone that way is really just a side effect/bonus. Its the risk mitigation from third party suits that's the primary objective.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Agreed, but without a contingent of private investigators to sniff out commercial relationships, there's not much Disney can do if I say that "Cousin Wolfgang" -- who's cooking a 5-course feast for my extended family of 6 in a rented DVC suite -- is just one of the many relatives I have in the Orlando area and is "treating us to a demonstration of his skills" while "Aunt Betty" dolls up my daughters to look like Anastasia and Drisella prior to a MNSSHP and "Uncle Sven" is folding my wife like a fitted sheet on a massage table in the master bedroom to work out her "concrete back spasms"...

Are you saying that I ... I mean, Wolfgang... needs to get rid of my his "Wolfgang's Mobile Chef Services" truck if I'm he's going to continue doing business for my his DVC customers?

But I'm going to have to have a talk with Sven about his "services"...

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I would allow your news stand on one condition. You must be set up facing the fence so only the back yard birds can hear you yelling “extra, extra”…..additionally I will commit to starting a rumor every decade or so about remodeling the landscaping and moving you to a prime spot by the cars passing in the street. (However don’t expect that to ever happen)

So like the paperboy on SSE…

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I don’t think customers went rogue here. At worst they were guilty of not seeking out all the fine print involved in resort rules but honestly - who does? Room parties, breakfast boxes, in room makeovers, photography and such went on for years and if Disney had an issue with it, again, it was buried in fine print somewhere, not something that was apparent to guests.

If guests demand these services back, then as long as they’re sticking to the proper channels (sending complaints, staying offsite, making angry TikToks, etc.), I don’t see a problem. At worst Disney continues to say “no”, the way they did after the DAS backlash. (Although I think allowing approved offsite vendors might be more of a win-win for them so long as they can limit their liability and make sure it doesn’t impact the resorts negatively in terms of health, safety, general vibe, etc.)

Guests can demand all they want…I can demand to get the ME buses back…I can demand to get the room delivery restored…if the mouse says no, it’s no, FULL STOP.

Now as far as them adopting an “authorized” vendor list, that’s not gonna happen because I can assure you they would probably require vendors to carry MILLIONS in liability insurance which most “mom & pop” entities will never be able to afford.

Speaking of liabilities, I worked in retail management for most of my adult life. I worked for many NATIONAL chains that wouldn’t allow charitable organizations ex. Girl Scouts) to set up a table to sell cookies…I used to feel absolutely horrible saying no to the scouts, but it’s their company and if a customer trips and falls due to a table leg while walking into or out of the store, the scouts won’t get sued, the store will.

If these big ticket guests want chefs, decorated doors & rooms, book a room off property or an air B&B and have at it.

I owned a small retail establishment…if I didn’t provide a service, I’m still not going to let another vendor to set up shop to make money off my infrastructure. That’s how you LOSE your business…