Housekeeping door knocking at 8am on check-out days - what's going on?

[Lilofan]

That would seriously tempt me to dump my bowl on the table and walk away.

Petulant? Childish? Yes.

But so is pestering me to give up a table while I'm still eating.

Disney still takes your money. With quick service dining, you pay first.

 

[DisneyCane]

This is somewhat related, but anyone know what the deal is with room checks? During a Dec. trip I was getting dressed in my room when there was a knock on my door, when I answered it a CM just barged into my room without asking. I asked her what was going on and she rudely stated a room check. She walked through the room, out to the balcony and then left abruptly. It was really strange.

It happened again on my recent trip staying at the Yacht Club. This time, we were in the park. Our dog was in our room (they are allowed to stay there), and the front desk called us and told us we had to come back so a CM could perform a room check. It was absurd to think a CM was telling us to leave our park day to go to our room so someone could check it.

I’ve been to Disney a million times and have never experienced this before. When we asked the front desk about it, they just said it was standard. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone know why Disney does this?

BTW, I always put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on my door.

Yes it’s been standard for a few years now, it’s listed in the reservation confirmation. It’s just a check to make sure the room and guests are safe (not to get into details but there have been specific incidents at non Disney hotels that made this policy necessary) though the cast member should be polite about it. You can also call housekeeping from the in room phone to schedule times for the check when you plan to be out of the room. Guests will also notice that Disney no longer has “do not disturb” signs and have been replaced with “room occupied” signs. I’m sorry the cast member was rude though, anytime I’ve had room checks they been quick and courteous.

The "specific incident" was the Las Vegas shooting. The only thing that makes the policy "necessary" is lawyers because MGM Resorts was sued by victims of the shooting saying it was negligence that they allowed somebody to bring all of the weapons and ammunition to the room.

Of course, the checks do absolutely nothing to prevent a similar incident. You could just wait for housekeeping/room check and then bring your arsenal up. They can't look inside your suitcases either so you could put stuff in there to.

They also don't want to be sued if somebody is a kidnapper and holds their hostage in a hotel room or if they are running a prostitution ring in a hotel room. Now they can defend themselves and show that they did due diligence.

 

[Snow Queen 83]

I don't know what their rush is, it doesn't look like they clean the rooms anyways. I guess that's the 1 time in 7-14 days they are forced to do so.

 

[Lilofan]

I don't know what their rush is, it doesn't look like they clean the rooms anyways. I guess that's the 1 time in 7-14 days they are forced to do so.

You didn't read a previous post that if cleaning crew finishes their work by 345pm, one can go home and get paid until 430pm.

 

[Snow Queen 83]

You didn't read a previous post that if cleaning crew finishes their work by 345pm, one can go home and get paid until 430pm.

LOL, I didn't see them my whole trip. But I did see plenty of dust and what looked like an old Jolly Rancher under the bed. It was green apple... and it no longer tasted good.

 

[Lilofan]

LOL, I didn't see them my whole trip. But I did see plenty of dust and what looked like an old Jolly Rancher under the bed. It was green apple... it no longer tasted good.

It is a fact that the workload of the cleaning crew was much more in cleaning a room in the past compared to what they do now or not do.

 

[Vacationeer]

LOL, I didn't see them my whole trip. But I did see plenty of dust and what looked like an old Jolly Rancher under the bed. It was green apple... and it no longer tasted good.

Seeing your avatar and reading that comment was a good chuckle, lol. Come and get yer apple...

 

[marymarypoppins]

Housekeepers work a day shift that ends in mid to late afternoon. Does one expect them to hang out on the clock the first several hours of their shift? Don't want go be woken up? Try putting the Do Not Disturb sign on the front door .

I am not checking out a few hours early to accommodate their schedule. You are right though they should have put out the Do Not Disturb sign.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

They also don't want to be sued if somebody is a kidnapper and holds their hostage in a hotel room or if they are running a prostitution ring in a hotel room. Now they can defend themselves and show that they did due diligence.

WDW resorts, the first choice in accommodations for pimps everywhere.

 

[Lilofan]

The "specific incident" was the Las Vegas shooting. The only thing that makes the policy "necessary" is lawyers because MGM Resorts was sued by victims of the shooting saying it was negligence that they allowed somebody to bring all of the weapons and ammunition to the room.

Of course, the checks do absolutely nothing to prevent a similar incident. You could just wait for housekeeping/room check and then bring your arsenal up. They can't look inside your suitcases either so you could put stuff in there to.

They also don't want to be sued if somebody is a kidnapper and holds their hostage in a hotel room or if they are running a prostitution ring in a hotel room. Now they can defend themselves and show that they did due diligence.

Recall the Boardwalk incident when a man held a female hostage in a room. The area was flooded with law enforcement but the pimp rings and crack rooms would probably be in the International Drive convention/ shopping outlets area area instead of WDW. The upscale Mall of Millenia is there that borders a dangerous area - Tangelo Park and nearby Orange Blossom Trail area.

 

[Diamond Dot]

I have stayed at Disney resorts since 2004 and as far as I can remember mousekeeping has never happened before 8am. And if I had the kind of attitude from a mousekeeper as described in one post I'd sure as heck would take their name and let front desk know.
Re.Room checks. Knocking on the door and looking into the room from the door is hardly going to spot anything untoward. So, if these 'room checks' are there to prevent anything illegal or an endangerment to other guests then the room checks should involve such things as looking under beds, looking in all drawers and checking the guests luggage and Disney would have to have a darn good reason for doing that, even on their own property that is an invasion of privacy.
Just going into the room and flushing the toilets and turning lights on and off isn't going to find contraband, hostages, weapons etc. All the CM find are annoyed guests who have had their afternoon nap disturbed.
Do any non Disney hotels in Orlando/Kissimmee do room checks? And be honest, no one is going to pay $200+ for a room to do anything illegal.
Disney should reinstate full daily mousekeeping if they want to prevent what room checks are being touted as for.
Disney needs to state clearly the reason for room checks because all I've ever seen is speculation on message boards and vague replies from CMs, nothing definitive.

 

[Naplesgolfer]

I have stayed at Disney resorts since 2004 and as far as I can remember mousekeeping has never happened before 8am. And if I had the kind of attitude from a mousekeeper as described in one post I'd sure as heck would take their name and let front desk know.
Re.Room checks. Knocking on the door and looking into the room from the door is hardly going to spot anything untoward. So, if these 'room checks' are there to prevent anything illegal or an endangerment to other guests then the room checks should involve such things as looking under beds, looking in all drawers and checking the guests luggage and Disney would have to have a darn good reason for doing that, even on their own property that is an invasion of privacy.
Just going into the room and flushing the toilets and turning lights on and off isn't going to find contraband, hostages, weapons etc. All the CM find are annoyed guests who have had their afternoon nap disturbed.
Do any non Disney hotels in Orlando/Kissimmee do room checks? And be honest, no one is going to pay $200+ for a room to do anything illegal.
Disney should reinstate full daily mousekeeping if they want to prevent what room checks are being touted as for.
Disney needs to state clearly the reason for room checks because all I've ever seen is speculation on message boards and vague replies from CMs, nothing definitive.

Corporate CYA after the Vegas shooting. Ineffective IMO.

 

[Chi84]

I have stayed at Disney resorts since 2004 and as far as I can remember mousekeeping has never happened before 8am. And if I had the kind of attitude from a mousekeeper as described in one post I'd sure as heck would take their name and let front desk know.
Re.Room checks. Knocking on the door and looking into the room from the door is hardly going to spot anything untoward. So, if these 'room checks' are there to prevent anything illegal or an endangerment to other guests then the room checks should involve such things as looking under beds, looking in all drawers and checking the guests luggage and Disney would have to have a darn good reason for doing that, even on their own property that is an invasion of privacy.
Just going into the room and flushing the toilets and turning lights on and off isn't going to find contraband, hostages, weapons etc. All the CM find are annoyed guests who have had their afternoon nap disturbed.
Do any non Disney hotels in Orlando/Kissimmee do room checks? And be honest, no one is going to pay $200+ for a room to do anything illegal.
Disney should reinstate full daily mousekeeping if they want to prevent what room checks are being touted as for.
Disney needs to state clearly the reason for room checks because all I've ever seen is speculation on message boards and vague replies from CMs, nothing definitive.

People intent on wrongdoing are more likely to choose a place where staff doesn’t enter the room at random times. It’s just easier to go elsewhere. It seems these checks are designed more as a deterrent than a means to uncover evidence of criminal activity. That said, I don’t like the interruptions.

 

[drizgirl]

People intent on wrongdoing are more likely to choose a place where staff doesn’t enter the room at random times. It’s just easier to go elsewhere. It seems these checks are designed more as a deterrent than a means to uncover evidence of criminal activity. That said, I don’t like the interruptions.

Given that many have said they were able to schedule a time for the room check, I see absolutely no value to it at all.

 

[Chi84]

Given that many have said they were able to schedule a time for the room check, I see absolutely no value to it at all.

Well, they’re still having to interact with staff on the scheduling. I still see some deterrent effect, but it’s not a practice I like.

 

[castlecake2.0]

I have stayed at Disney resorts since 2004 and as far as I can remember mousekeeping has never happened before 8am. And if I had the kind of attitude from a mousekeeper as described in one post I'd sure as heck would take their name and let front desk know.
Re.Room checks. Knocking on the door and looking into the room from the door is hardly going to spot anything untoward. So, if these 'room checks' are there to prevent anything illegal or an endangerment to other guests then the room checks should involve such things as looking under beds, looking in all drawers and checking the guests luggage and Disney would have to have a darn good reason for doing that, even on their own property that is an invasion of privacy.
Just going into the room and flushing the toilets and turning lights on and off isn't going to find contraband, hostages, weapons etc. All the CM find are annoyed guests who have had their afternoon nap disturbed.
Do any non Disney hotels in Orlando/Kissimmee do room checks? And be honest, no one is going to pay $200+ for a room to do anything illegal.
Disney should reinstate full daily mousekeeping if they want to prevent what room checks are being touted as for.
Disney needs to state clearly the reason for room checks because all I've ever seen is speculation on message boards and vague replies from CMs, nothing definitive.

It’s listed in every resort reservation under the terms and conditions. Full housekeeping is starting to return which will take the place of room checks. If you decline service or are at a resort that is still working on the return to full service you’ll get a room check. Once a day a cast member must enter the room, whether it be housekeeping or a room check.

 

[Diamond Dot]

View attachment 634016
It’s listed in every resort reservation under the terms and conditions. Full housekeeping is starting to return which will take the place of room checks. If you decline service or are at a resort that is still working on the return to full service you’ll get a room check. Once a day a cast member must enter the room, whether it be housekeeping or a room check

My experience of room checks and over a two week stay I had plenty of experience of them, was knock on the door, open the door, CM more often than not glancing over my shoulder into the room and thanking me. That is not a room check, that is unnecessarily disturbing a paying guest because some person at Disney HQ thought it was a great idea. A room check for contraband, weapons or people trafficking is pointless unless it is a thorough search and as that may throw up legal issues Disney will continue with this method of treating paying guests like criminals.

Perhaps you'd like to attach the rules about running in the parks in your reply as that mad stampede at rope drop, especially down Main Street is a genuine danger to guest safety.

 

[castlecake2.0]

My experience of room checks and over a two week stay I had plenty of experience of them, was knock on the door, open the door, CM more often than not glancing over my shoulder into the room and thanking me. That is not a room check, that is unnecessarily disturbing a paying guest because some person at Disney HQ thought it was a great idea. A room check for contraband, weapons or people trafficking is pointless unless it is a thorough search and as that may throw up legal issues Disney will continue with this method of treating paying guests like criminals.

Perhaps you'd like to attach the rules about running in the parks in your reply as that mad stampede at rope drop, especially down Main Street is a genuine danger to guest safety.

guest.services@disneyworld.com

I didn’t make this service standard, was just explaining what it was and how it’s part of the terms of the room. Tell guest relations if you don’t like it.

 

[Chi84]

My experience of room checks and over a two week stay I had plenty of experience of them, was knock on the door, open the door, CM more often than not glancing over my shoulder into the room and thanking me. That is not a room check, that is unnecessarily disturbing a paying guest because some person at Disney HQ thought it was a great idea. A room check for contraband, weapons or people trafficking is pointless unless it is a thorough search and as that may throw up legal issues Disney will continue with this method of treating paying guests like criminals.

Perhaps you'd like to attach the rules about running in the parks in your reply as that mad stampede at rope drop, especially down Main Street is a genuine danger to guest safety.

I think the point is that even a minimal contact such as the one you describe may act as a deterrent to people intent on criminal activity. No one is suggesting Disney is doing a room search to find contraband or discover illegal behavior. Criminals tend to go to places where they are least likely to be monitored or observed. Why take the chance?

In any event, when these room checks first started, the people who were incensed by them were convinced that the masses would rise up in protest and take their business to other hotels. That didn't happen. It seems most people find them a minor annoyance; those who are bothered by it and still elect to stay at WDW hotels have apparently found a way to make peace with the policy.

I agree with the suggestion to contact guest relations if someone has particular issues with the policy, such as a CM not leaving enough time between knocking and trying to enter. If it's the policy itself that a person can't live with, the answer is to vote with your wallet and not give WDW your business.

 

[drizgirl]

I think the point is that even a minimal contact such as the one you describe may act as a deterrent to people intent on criminal activity. No one is suggesting Disney is doing a room search to find contraband or discover illegal behavior. Criminals tend to go to places where they are least likely to be monitored or observed. Why take the chance?

In any event, when these room checks first started, the people who were incensed by them were convinced that the masses would rise up in protest and take their business to other hotels. That didn't happen. It seems most people find them a minor annoyance; those who are bothered by it and still elect to stay at WDW hotels have apparently found a way to make peace with the policy.

I agree with the suggestion to contact guest relations if someone has particular issues with the policy, such as a CM not leaving enough time between knocking and trying to enter. If it's the policy itself that a person can't live with, the answer is to vote with your wallet and not give WDW your business.

I think the bigger issue is that if something happens, Disney can say they did something to try and avoid it.

Disney legal cover>guest comfort.