WSJ: Even Disney Is Worried About The High Cost Of A Disney Vacation (gift link)

[Tha Realest]

Around WDW you can find hotels that don't do them. In Las Vegas I'm pretty sure all the major resorts do them, at least the ones on the Strip.

You've probably never been awakened at night to find security has entered your room to do one. I can assure you that you'd notice if that happened to you.

In general, you won't notice them if you get housekeeping service regularly. On vacation we are generally pretty clean and don't want housekeepers in the room with our stuff when we're not there so, unless we're staying more than a week, we leave the "Do Not Disturb" sign up all the time. At a place that has the room check policy, we need to basically schedule periodic interactions with housekeeping.

I’ve never heard of this happening at night.

 

[DisneyHead123]

The paid LLs and getting rid of Magic Express were things they have always wanted to do. With Covid it gave them the excuse to finally do it.

The thing is not every resort has gone this way. While prices have gone up for other park resorts, the perks they offer have stayed the same. I'm talking Universal, Hershey and Cedar Point.

Sure but since the return of Iger there has at least been some attempt to sell it, right? Sort of an alternative narrative that Disney is really invested in new rides, park offerings, resorts and cruise offerings right now. That might not be everyone's cup of tea (and some people might not believe them, which is what I know you're going to say, lol) but it's at least, again, an alternative narrative. I'm convinced there's been a push to focus on customer service with CMs as I've seen a difference each year we've been back since Covid. It seems like they've upped the focus on viral / social media type stuff like a constant array of new snacks and drinks for different seasons and holidays (maybe that was always there but I don't recall there being so many before).

I just found the slash and burn approach taken during Covid strange, but then, it was a strange time all around.

 

[Chi84]

Do they actually do this? I’d be beyond fuming if someone entered our room at night while we were in bed.

No. This is not their practice.

But I suppose anything can happen.

I often think I go to an entirely different WDW than others here

 

[DisneyCane]

Do they actually do this? I’d be beyond fuming if someone entered our room at night while we were in bed.

I know. I can’t believe it either.

I’ve never heard of this happening at night.

No. This is not their practice.

But I suppose anything can happen.

I often think I go to an entirely different WDW than others here

It didn't happen at WDW. It did happen in Vegas a few years ago. We had gone to bed early because we had an activity planned early the next morning.

We were awakened a little after 10 PM. "Beyond fuming" was an understatement. My vision is terrible without my contacts which I don't wear while sleeping. Imagine waking up to see two large blurry figures in the dark in your hotel room.

 

[Chi84]

It didn't happen at WDW. It did happen in Vegas a few years ago. We had gone to bed early because we had an activity planned early the next morning.

We were awakened a little after 10 PM. "Beyond fuming" was an understatement. My vision is terrible without my contacts which I don't wear while sleeping. Imagine waking up to see two large blurry figures in the dark in your hotel room.

I think that’s the middle of the day in Vegas

 

[DisneyHead123]

It didn't happen at WDW. It did happen in Vegas a few years ago. We had gone to bed early because we had an activity planned early the next morning.

We were awakened a little after 10 PM. "Beyond fuming" was an understatement. My vision is terrible without my contacts which I don't wear while sleeping. Imagine waking up to see two large blurry figures in the dark in your hotel room.

That sounds suspicious, did management confirm it was a security check?

 

[DisneyCane]

That sounds suspicious, did management confirm it was a security check?

All they told me was that the personnel involved were disciplined.

 

[Agent H]

It didn't happen at WDW. It did happen in Vegas a few years ago. We had gone to bed early because we had an activity planned early the next morning.

We were awakened a little after 10 PM. "Beyond fuming" was an understatement. My vision is terrible without my contacts which I don't wear while sleeping. Imagine waking up to see two large blurry figures in the dark in your hotel room.

That sounds terrifying!

 

[DisneyHead123]

All they told me was that the personnel involved were disciplined.

I’m thinking that was not really a security check.

I remember once traveling with my son as a baby when I was suffering from a ton of postpartum anxiety issues. I was alone and so freaked I literally pushed half the hotel room furniture against the door. I feel slightly less crazy now!

 

[DisneyCane]

I’m thinking that was not really a security check.

I remember once traveling with my son as a baby when I was suffering from a ton of postpartum anxiety issues. I was alone and so freaked I literally pushed half the hotel room furniture against the door. I feel slightly less crazy now!

I suspect they were up to no good but they were wearing security uniforms, had the physical key that could unlock the deadbolt and were confirmed by management that they were employees.

I suspect that they saw us on the list of rooms needing checks and held that in their back pocket as an excuse if we were in the room. If we weren't in the room I think there's a pretty good chance that something would have been stolen.

That sounds terrifying!

It was quite terrifying. They were between us and the door so there was no way to escape had they decided to harm us.

 

[Agent H]

That’s scary

I’m thinking that was not really a security check.

I remember once traveling with my son as a baby when I was suffering from a ton of postpartum anxiety issues. I was alone and so freaked I literally pushed half the hotel room furniture against the door. I feel slightly less crazy now!

 

[Tha Realest]

All they told me was that the personnel involved were disciplined.

I’m confused why you used an example of a very atypical experience in Las Vegas where the employees were disciplined as somehow bearing on what may or may not happen in WDW?

 

[flynnibus]

All they told me was that the personnel involved were disciplined.

So obviously something that wasn’t considered normal…. Yet you keep acting like it could/likely happen again?

Staff will sometimes enter a room when they thought it was empty… because of mixups… sometimes you can even get assigned a room and find someone already in it…. But do you stop using hotels because of that?

 

[DisneyCane]

I’m confused why you used an example of a very atypical experience in Las Vegas where the employees were disciplined as somehow bearing on what may or may not happen in WDW?

So obviously something that wasn’t considered normal…. Yet you keep acting like it could/likely happen again?

Staff will sometimes enter a room when they thought it was empty… because of mixups… sometimes you can even get assigned a room and find someone already in it…. But do you stop using hotels because of that?

It was a response to a "what's the big deal" type of post about the room check policy. I was giving an example of something that can happen/did happen with these pointless policies in place.

I don't think it is likely to happen again to me (at least I hope not) or likely to happen at WDW. However, it CAN happen and, since the procedure is completely useless, the policies shouldn't be in place. They are due to our insane legal system that can hold a company financially liable for something that they shouldn't be liable for.

I will guarantee you that, nationwide, these policies have led to more experiences like I experienced than number of incidents they prevented. I'd be willing to bet that the checks have probably never prevented an incident or crime. Maybe, if somebody is staying alone and passes away in the room they will discover it a little earlier instead of when they were supposed to check out. However, I'd imagine that, even in that scenario, there will be a smell that will alert somebody to check.

 

[Chi84]

It was a response to a "what's the big deal" type of post about the room check policy. I was giving an example of something that can happen/did happen with these pointless policies in place.

I don't think it is likely to happen again to me (at least I hope not) or likely to happen at WDW. However, it CAN happen and, since the procedure is completely useless, the policies shouldn't be in place. They are due to our insane legal system that can hold a company financially liable for something that they shouldn't be liable for.

I will guarantee you that, nationwide, these policies have led to more experiences like I experienced than number of incidents they prevented. I'd be willing to bet that the checks have probably never prevented an incident or crime. Maybe, if somebody is staying alone and passes away in the room they will discover it a little earlier instead of when they were supposed to check out. However, I'd imagine that, even in that scenario, there will be a smell that will alert somebody to check.

My comment was only that I never noticed the room checks at WDW.

 

[Dranth]

My comment was only that I never noticed the room checks at WDW.

You are lucky with that, or we are just unlucky.

We often take naps in the middle of the day and about twice a trip get woken up by people coming in for inspections.

 

[Chi84]

You are lucky with that, or we are just unlucky.

We often take naps in the middle of the day and about twice a trip get woken up by people coming in for inspections.

We usually stay at SSR or CBR (not as recently) and put out the “occupied” sign if we’re resting or getting ready for dinner. We haven’t had anyone knock while the sign was out.

But I’ve read that some people leave the sign out all the time even when they’re out, so I wouldn’t be surprised if those signs are being ignored now.

 

[surfsupdon]

But I’ve read that some people leave the sign out all the time even when they’re out, so I wouldn’t be surprised if those signs are being ignored now.

But I am certain that this is because of all the anecdotal stories.

meanwhile I am at Pop and Caribbean begging for new towels and my bed to be made.

 

[Calmdownnow]

I did 10% of the population - like I said in my post, not sure how they calculate those numbers. But regardless - the top 10% will clearly be larger by many millions when the population has grown by over 100 million people in the US alone.

But this basic bit of data doesn't tell you much about the relative wealth and disposable income. You can still be in the top 10%, having more income than the 90% below you, but maybe only the top 2 or 3% have seen any real growth in value and those below have either stagnated or declined in real terms.

 

[Calmdownnow]

Average high/low temps (F/C) in Orlando for 5 months since 2010:

88	68	May	31	20
91	73	June	33	23
92	74	July	33	23
92	75	August	33	24
90	73	September	32	23

Average high/low temps (F/C) in Orlando for 5 months since 1991:

88	69	May	31	20
91	73	June	33	23
92	75	July	33	24
92	75	August	33	24
90	74	September	32	23

You need to also reference increasing rainfall during Orlando's summer months -- nothing is more unpleasant than a theme park that you feel you have to splash through in a downpour because you have paid for LL and need to get your money's worth.