Unsettling “security” checks.

[NickMaio]

It's unsettling when you have a teenage boy and girl who are allowed to return to the room on his or her own to shower or nap or eat and now has to deal with a man or woman entering her room at any time they choose. Does it sound unsettling when it's put that way? Because it is. Plain and simple, and before you start with the don't like it don't stay bit; it's not as easy a decision when you've invested tens of thousands on "pre-paid" vacations though the DVC.

That's our reality now and I think it's worth bringing it to light.

Yessssssss.
Thank you.

 

[Janir]

Just wrapping up a split stay (Kidani/Poly) this week. Along the way we were notified at both resorts of the daily trash service that is really a security check (a search of your room and belongings for weapons)

This is no doubt in response to Las Vegas. I’m a realist and can understand the policy although it is security theatre at best. I’ve also been a bit put off at the level of absolute disregard for our privacy. There is still a placard on the door though now it says room occupied in lieu of do not disturb and let me tell you we were disturbed 4 out of six days. We are early risers and love the afternoon swim and nap before assessing the evening plans. Four times we were woken up by a cast member entering our room without permission through the room occupied sign. I should have prefaced this with the info that is passed on to guests stating if you put the sign out this then triggers housekeeping (yes housekeeping does the “security check” not actual security) to bypass your room and place a phone call to arrange their entry to complete the Security check. Our sign was put out every day and not one day were we called on the days we were away, they came in anyway. On the days we were there pleasantly slumbering and were awoken, we politely told them we don’t want the trash service and assured them all was ok; only to find our trash emptied later that night.

We have teen aged children who we allow to stay in the room at times and now we have to worry about a total stranger from housekeeping coming in weather we want them pet not.

This policy does not make me feel more secure, in fact, we have never felt less confident in our private space here in WDW than we did I this week.

Perhaps they should just search my vehicle and luggage upon arrival and leave my room alone. Those in charge of this ridiculous policy might also actually search the rooms and maybe just maybe rethink the newest cash grab that has come in the form of the start wars lightsaber and staff cases I’ve see every day that 100% could house an actual weapon.

When I stayed in August I met our room checker who called to schedule a visit and all he did was walk in take a glance around and grabbed the trash. (Kidani Village.) No muss no fuss and certainly didn't check around all of our stuff while he was there. Nothing was disturbed other days as well. (yes I set out some disturbance markers each day)

Having road traveled to WDW before I've brought in my firearm into my room, along with my personal pistol safe with cable lock. Cabled to TV base and tucked right next to the TV. It was a quick access pistol safe , says GunVault embossed on the top and never had anyone even ask twice about it including multiple trips of mousekeeping, a few time with me being right there.

Now if I had 3-5 rifles laid out on the bed with a ton of magazines and ammo boxes, they might have (rightly) said something. (with OC Sheriffs delivering the message)

 

[draybook]

I got patted down and wiped for bomb residue because my pants were bejeweled on the back pockets and they were detected by the swirly machine at Orlando airport. They showed me the scan and my butt was glowing.

Same thing happened to our daughter in September of 2015. She was 15 and they took her about 90 yards away without notifying us or gaining her consent. To say we were upset would be an understatement.

 

[King Panda 77]

Unless you want the whole thread moved to the political forum i might suggest that anyone debating "stand your ground" etc might want to head over here

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/why-blame-the-gun.938176/

 

[correcaminos]

Get used to it. This is the new normal.

Don't like it... Don't stay on property.

What do you say to those like me who has owned DVC for 15 years? We are literally paying for the increase with our dues. So unlike all of you who have no increase (daily housekeeping) I think it's okay or complain and see if more reasonable accommodations can take place. We went from no one in our room daily to this.

But maybe I'll go with a knee jerk reaction and sell instead? Not really the adult way to work.

 

[Lilofan]

What do you say to those like me who has owned DVC for 15 years? We are literally paying for the increase with our dues. So unlike all of you who have no increase (daily housekeeping) I think it's okay or complain and see if more reasonable accommodations can take place. We went from no one in our room daily to this.

But maybe I'll go with a knee jerk reaction and sell instead? Not really the adult way to work.

All staying in the resorts are affected but with your paying dues comes with a lots and lots of perks... That regular guests don't have since they are not DVC members.

 

[correcaminos]

All staying in the resorts are affected but with your paying dues comes with a lots and lots of perks... That regular guests don't have since they are not DVC members.

Huh? Those staying onsite in regular hotel rooms had daily checks already with housekeeping. DVC did not. DVC specifically had an increase related to increased number of CMs required to do the daily checks. Prior, unless we paid, we were only visited every 4 days. So now my dues are up to pay for daily checks. Regular rooms do not have to worry about this added cost.

Dues pay for the upkeep and running of the resort. They do not cover any perks you might be alluding to. DVC gets you a room, that's it, end of story. Any perks are offered only to blue card holders and come as offerings from DVC/DVD as extras, but again, not paid for with dues.

I hope this makes sense and that you realize dues are not paying perks and that not all DVC get perks anyway.

 

[correcaminos]

We are naive to think the WDW just gives away perks to DVC members. Moonlight magic special events with lots of food and drink, private use of park including fireworks shows after regular guests depart, private stocked members only DVC VIP areas at the Contemporary and Epcot Imagination staffed with guest relations , someone has got to pay for it. A DVC member told me along with these perks, he really enjoys resort pool hopping allowed for DVC guests but not for anyone else, free laundry, and other perks that come along with it.

Seriously you are not understanding DVC at all

My dues do not, in any way shape or form, pay for perks.

Period

Perks come from a a totally different budget from DVD/DVC and are used as marketing to get direct buyers.

Dues pay only for the upkeep and daily running of the resort. They have to say specifically what the dues pay for as well. They cannot make up numbers nor create ways to pay for the perks since again not all get perks.

So I will say this again and hope this time you read. The dues increases had direct connection to the increase in CMs required to do daily checks. Not to mention their wage increases. This has zero connection to perks.

And again not all DVC owners get these perks. And not all of us who get these perks are braggarts like that too

 

[John park hopper]

Don't you realize these security checks are in a way perks for DVC members regardless of what pot of money payed for it-----Disney is making sure you are safe from murder and mayhem-----------------sarcasm intended

 

[correcaminos]

Don't you realize these security checks are in a way perks for DVC members regardless of what pot of money payed for it-----Disney is making sure you are safe from murder and mayhem-----------------sarcasm intended

Lol

 

[mdcpr]

Don't you realize these security checks are in a way perks for DVC members regardless of what pot of money payed for it-----Disney is making sure you are safe from murder and mayhem-----------------sarcasm intended

I was waiting for something like this.

 

[unmitigated disaster]

If you're going to blame these room checks on someone, blame it on the correct people: the Law Vegas shooter and human traffickers.

 

[Jon81uk]

It's unsettling when you have a teenage boy and girl who are allowed to return to the room on his or her own to shower or nap or eat and now has to deal with a man or woman entering her room at any time they choose. Does it sound unsettling when it's put that way? Because it is. Plain and simple, and before you start with the don't like it don't stay bit; it's not as easy a decision when you've invested tens of thousands on "pre-paid" vacations though the DVC.

That's our reality now and I think it's worth bringing it to light.

Then ask that any additional checks are only carried out during certain hours (so tell the front desk that the room will be occupied 2pm to 5pm for example).
Also if you are concerned about a legitimate member of housekeeping or security staff entering the room, then you should also be concerned about the children when they are unaccompanied anywhere within the resort where something is far more likely to take place. Additionally if you really don't want anyone to enter the room then they need to use the latch, even with the old do not disturb it could fall off or simply be missed by a housekeeper.

 

[Movielover]

Then ask that any additional checks are only carried out during certain hours (so tell the front desk that the room will be occupied 2pm to 5pm for example).
Also if you are concerned about a legitimate member of housekeeping or secuirity staff entering the room, then you should also be concerned about the children when they are unaccompanied anywhere within the resort where something is far more likely to take place.

Stop bringing logic and sound reasoning into this, you know its not allowed around here.

 

[ppete1975]

Unless you go back to your room to sleep mid day (which I know a lot of people do)
Have little ones that you finally get to take a nap (and have been cranky and fussy)
Are on your honeymoon and came back to your room
Have been deployed and haven't seen your gf/wife in months or years

Then it really shouldn't be much of a deal, for those though you would hope that there would be away to circumvent them.
That being said I thought originally the plan was you could opt out for few days before a mandatory one every set amount of days?

Remember there are reason that the DO NOT DISTURB placard exists, if they are going to ignore I then why have it?

 

[DryerLintFan]

Unless you go back to your room to sleep mid day (which I know a lot of people do)
Have little ones that you finally get to take a nap (and have been cranky and fussy)
Are on your honeymoon and came back to your room
Have been deployed and haven't seen your gf/wife in months or years

Then it really shouldn't be much of a deal, for those though you would hope that there would be away to circumvent them.
That being said I thought originally the plan was you could opt out for few days before a mandatory one every set amount of days?

Remember there are reason that the DO NOT DISTURB placard exists, if they are going to ignore I then why have it?

Not to nitpick - but the majority of people who go to the parks are likely the groups that you are minimizing here. People with young children or others in their party who benefit from a mid-day nap, and couples who don't want timing restricted for adult activities when they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

For the latter, nothing that engaging the door locks couldn't fix. But that would wake up the kid, too, most likely.

 

[Jon81uk]

Remember there are reason that the DO NOT DISTURB placard exists, if they are going to ignore I then why have it?

The Do Not Disturb sign no longer exists as they are ignoring them. The sign now states Room Occupied and has small print stating that housekeeping, security or maintenance staff may knock and enter even if the occupied sign is displayed.

 

[Chi84]

What do you say to those like me who has owned DVC for 15 years? We are literally paying for the increase with our dues. So unlike all of you who have no increase (daily housekeeping) I think it's okay or complain and see if more reasonable accommodations can take place. We went from no one in our room daily to this.

But maybe I'll go with a knee jerk reaction and sell instead? Not really the adult way to work.

I think it's okay to complain even if you don't own DVC. As a guest in their hotel, you are within your rights to let Disney know that you don't like the daily room check policy and ask for a reasonable accommodation. Your DVC contract doesn't give you any additional rights over a regular hotel guest with regard to the room checks, but I can understand how it makes it more difficult to accept advice to just stay off-property. We are also DVC members and haven't been affected by the room checks, but I can understand how others would be. I've always found Disney to be very accommodating, so I recommend working with them on a sensible solution. I would caution against shooting the housekeeper, though, no matter what you've read here about Florida law.

 

[larryz]

You do realize that in doing this, management can and will escalate to entering without permission.

... And legally, they can.

Make it as difficult as you want, but Disney's policies aren't changing. As I said before, this is the new normal.

The Add-A-Lock is not there to deny entry... it's there to DELAY entry until I can get up, put some clothes on, and maybe brush my hair just a bit.

 

[Tom P.]

If Disney allows you to request that the security check take place at a certain time, or not take place at a certain time, then the entire security check system is useless.