An open letter to Disney about mandatory room checks.

[Jen1995]

Why care what other people think or say at all? Just have your opinion on the matter and deal with it your way.

The first post on this thread is about a policy that OP does not like. Why respond to him if you don't care what he thinks or says? Why be on this thread at all?

 

[Jen1995]

There should never have been an expectation of privacy, given the 'enter any room any time' in the T&C.

Completely disagree with this. In the law there is something called "reasonable expectation" and there absolutely IS reasonable expectation that Disney would not barge in on guests without compelling reason. That is implied in what any reasonable person thinks when they are renting use of the room to sleep, shower, etc. Disney actually knows this which is one of the reasons they are not being up front about what they are doing. What you are saying is that you think it is reasonable for a guest to expect Disney to come into their room at 2 AM and stare at them if they, you know, just want to.

 

[maxiesmom]

Completely disagree with this. In the law there is something called "reasonable expectation" and there absolutely IS reasonable expectation that Disney would not barge in on guests without compelling reason.

Even after they tell you something different? Why would someone reasonably expect them to not enter your room, after they tell you they can?

What they are doing is not breaking any law. And like it or not, how any of us feel about it doesn't matter. Until they decide to change policy, what they are doing now is what we need to deal with. And we can deal with it by staying off site if we like. Or by letting them in and doing their check. Whatever works.

 

[marikujawa]

Talking about the law just muddles things up. People have a valid business expectation that renting a room entitles them to enjoy that room without undue disturbances. Reasonableness will sometimes be implied if the terms of an agreement are incomplete or unclear. Disney is telling people explicitly that they reserve the right to enter for any reason. I personally think they should be more explicit about their policy and should tell people they will enter once a day for security reasons. Then you know exactly what you’re agreeing to when you rent a room there.

 

[darrengs]

According to the Orlando Sentinal (and per market watch Disney confirmed the details were accurate) Disney will inform guest when checking in about this policy, this is not true. I was not informed. I booked this trip well before this policy existed so it was not mentioned in the terms, I did not have a room occupied sign until asking housekeeping for one, and there is no other mention of the new policy in the room. It also states that Disney will work with guests that don’t want their room entered when they aren’t there, from reports on this forum this is also not being followed. Oh yeah and there are many reports of rooms being entered or entry being attempted without announcing themselves first, again not flowing the “policy”.

So even worse than this useless policy is the fact that it isn’t being correctly followed, 5 months later. So much for the excuse of they were working out the bugs.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-security-policy-20171227-story.html

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/t...o-not-disturb-signs-at-some-hotels-2017-12-28

 

[coast2coastmickey]

We found out via phone call while we were in line at an attraction that they would be entering right then and there. We were not pleased. Had there been a maintenance emergency? By all means, enter, and thanks for the call. But, it was “just to see the room” and like I’ve said before, we don’t like people around our stuff without us around if we can help it.

Had they told us at check in, we could have adjusted and made peace with it. Even better though would be at booking, then nobody would be upset.

 

[snappy]

Definition of policy per Wikipedia:

A policy is a deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by a governance body within an organization.

I think Disney needs to do a little homework as what the meaning of a policy is.

 

[mousehockey37]

We found out via phone call while we were in line at an attraction that they would be entering right then and there. We were not pleased. Had there been a maintenance emergency? By all means, enter, and thanks for the call. But, it was “just to see the room” and like I’ve said before, we don’t like people around our stuff without us around if we can help it.

Had they told us at check in, we could have adjusted and made peace with it. Even better though would be at booking, then nobody would be upset.

Definition of policy per Wikipedia:

A policy is a deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by a governance body within an organization.

I think Disney needs to do a little homework as what the meaning of a policy is.

The answer to this is very simple....

If you don't like the way they're doing business, don't do business with them. There are many other places in Orlando and the surrounding areas that will offer you a room, at probably a much better rate per night, and not enter to just "check" things.

 

[Minniesgal]

Then you've missed the point.

Many folks are simply used to having the option of declining housekeeping through the use of DND signs. That's no longer an option at Disney hotels. That's why people are upset. Literally many hundreds, likely thousands of dollars spent on lodging at Disney for each party, and now there's zero expectation of privacy for those that want it.

So you say that "housekeeping have always been in the rooms every day I don't see what the big issue is." That's literally not true for many many people. It's true for you, but not true for a not-insignificant number of people.

So you may think "so what, coast2coastmickey, it's not your property, the owner has a right to enter." And I'd agree with you 100%. But, there's a difference between exercising that right every single day no matter what, and exercising that right when truly necessary. Those of us who are upset truly believe that exercising the right to enter EVERY SINGLE DAY is excessive when we've given no indication to the property owner that we aim to do anything wrong.

I'm sorry but I still don't see the issue with Mousekeeping coming in a room for a minute or so each day. Especially since if you to ask them to avoid certain times they will respect that. People are not in the rooms 24/7 so I really am not getting the problem.

Leaving aside the security issues Disney have a right to make sure heir rooms are being looked after and not abused during stays. I think an extremely short visit a day is not unreasonable.

 

[snappy]

I'm sorry but I still don't see the issue with Mousekeeping coming in a room for a minute or so each day. Especially since if you to ask them to avoid certain times they will respect that. People are not in the rooms 24/7 so I really am not getting the problem.

It could go either way. Some guests have posted that neither their requests to avoid certain time periods made in advance nor in the moment when they are knocking on the door have been met. Repeated knocks multiple days. Other guests report trash is removed while they are out, others no apparent checks as the trash remains, or maybe HK checks and forgets the trash? Who knows? Lots of different managers and staff, the policy execution varies. It may bother you, it may not. I think it’s reasonable that folks who want to sleep in first thing or rest later, have napping kids, etc. might be troubled by the application of the policy. Sorry that expressing that notion bothers some, but I guess that is what the thread is about?

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm sorry but I still don't see the issue with Mousekeeping coming in a room for a minute or so each day. Especially since if you to ask them to avoid certain times they will respect that. People are not in the rooms 24/7 so I really am not getting the problem.

Leaving aside the security issues Disney have a right to make sure heir rooms are being looked after and not abused during stays. I think an extremely short visit a day is not unreasonable.

Many people do not get daily housekeeping for a variety of reasons. Sometimes people are in their rooms 24/7. There are many people who travel with their family but opt to stay in their room for the day. Maybe you just can’t see the issue because you get housekeeping every day so it’s a non issue for you.

 

[snappy]

Many people do not get daily housekeeping for a variety of reasons. Sometimes people are in their rooms 24/7. There are many people who travel with their family but opt to stay in their room for the day. Maybe you just can’t see the issue because you get housekeeping every day so it’s a non issue for you.

Yes, and if you are not feeling well or have come down with something and are trying to sleep, the last thing you want is to having someone knocking away when you have the room occupied sign up until you wake up and get to the door. How long the room check takes is not the crux of the issue for me, it is the disturbance.

 

[Nancyg56]

Yes, and if you are feeling well or have come down with something and are trying to sleep, the last thing you want is to having someone knocking away when you have the room occupied sign up until you wake up and get to the door. How long the room check takes is not the crux of the issue for me, it is the disturbance.

Oh dear, that would not be good.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes, and if you are feeling well or have come down with something and are trying to sleep, the last thing you want is to having someone knocking away when you have the room occupied sign up until you wake up and get to the door. How long the room check takes is not the crux of the issue for me, it is the disturbance.

Yes. Totally agree!

 

[snappy]

The answer to this is very simple....

If you don't like the way they're doing business, don't do business with them. There are many other places in Orlando and the surrounding areas that will offer you a room, at probably a much better rate per night, and not enter to just "check" things.

Thanks! Glad the answer is very simple for you, it’s not for me. I have both an emotional and financial investment in Disney (DVC). I decided it mattered enough to invest my effort and time to send emails to Disney and DVC management about this policy and other issues. I received multiple emails and calls in response. We have a F&W stay coming up in the fall, a Dolphin stay within a few months after that, similar to my trip itinerary this past year. If we get too annoyed/disturbed, it will be again easy to compare the experience of Disney resort to non- Disney (the Dolphin). It’s not worth the effort to me to rent my points if we decide to give up Disney stays, so our DVC contract can be sold for way more than we paid for it. And we will move on. It’s a great big world out there!

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm sorry but I still don't see the issue with Mousekeeping coming in a room for a minute or so each day. Especially since if you to ask them to avoid certain times they will respect that. People are not in the rooms 24/7 so I really am not getting the problem.

Leaving aside the security issues Disney have a right to make sure heir rooms are being looked after and not abused during stays. I think an extremely short visit a day is not unreasonable.

On the surface I agree with you, and so far, I am not worried about the policy. We opt in for housekeeping daily, and ask fro turn down service whenever our resort offers it. However, from what I have read, the policy is not standardized from one resort to another, or even within one resort.

I am not sure why it seems to be a challenge for Disney to manage to avoid barging in on people who have expressed that their rooom check be for a specific time or that it be avoided for that time.

I am not sure why "I'm sleeping, come back later" is at times considered a reason to have a CM bang on the door until it is opened.

I still cannot understand why this was rolled out tot he DVC folks as a way to get their trash removed daily, year many report the trash bag is still left behind.

There have been may first hand accounts of this policy Escalating from a mild nuisance to an enormous cluster that ruined a family vacation.

If Disney want to implement a policy that has always been in place but seldom adhered to, the rollout and subsequent visits should be pretty much consistant between resorts, never mind between rooms. This mass confusion of how to make potentially intrusive daily visits comfortable for every guest was never thought out, and training was not what it should have been. It baffles me that an organization that can manage to orchestrate so many details for guest and crowds cannot manage to respect that Family A in room 3207 has a little one whose nap runs from 1PM to 3PM, so get the visit in before or after. Or that Famiy C in room 5432 has just checked in. No need to bang on their door 30 minutes later to see if there is anything to worry about.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think the reason for not letting people pick a time for the check, or say when they don't want the check, is that if someone is planning something nefarious, then you don't want to give them time to hide whatever it is they are doing. I mean, if the cops wanted to come to my house and I had some guns or week to hide (which I don't for the record) then my saying Come Back Later and them going OK would make no sense whatsoever.

I'm honestly not sure how they can do room checks and not offend some guests. I don't think it is possible.

 

[snappy]

I think the reason for not letting people pick a time for the check, or say when they don't want the check, is that if someone is planning something nefarious, then you don't want to give them time to hide whatever it is they are doing. I mean, if the cops wanted to come to my house and I had some guns or week to hide (which I don't for the record) then my saying Come Back Later and them going OK would make no sense whatsoever.

I'm honestly not sure how they can do room checks and not offend some guests. I don't think it is possible.

Maybe not. But I am skeptical and I think Disney wants to do the room checks the cheapest way they can get away with using housekeepers and not deviating from the most efficient housekeeping rounds schedule. I think doing it efficiently is great if it works for the guests. And it likely will for a lot of guests. But. . . if guests request something else, come by later. Don’t insist if the guest had requested an alternative and had the room occupied sign up. This policy is not going to prevent all safety issues no matter how and when the housekeepers check and take trash. Not fail safe by any means. I am not against it in theory.

 

[rock_doctor]

To the original poster: Thank you for taking the time to contact disney on this matter. This policy will never change because it gives an appearance of making people safe and that is all they are looking for. As one who got walked in on by a searcher the first day they decided to implement the search policy (with no warning to the guests what so ever) i can tell you they don't care. I went round and round with every manager at the Contemporary and they did not care even in the slightest. And as also said, you don't like it stay elsewhere and that is what you should do. You can rent a house or condo minutes away from disney for less then what it costs to stay on property. Take your money elsewhere and have a longer vacation.

Just remember rule number 1 .... keep the chain on the door otherwise you will wakeup to find a disney cast member looking at you... Somebody stole the sign off the door so she walked in...

If interested here is the link to my original thread... https://www.disboards.com/threads/do-not-disturb-gone-blt.3653925/

 

[lsyorke]

So to me it is basically no change to the way it has always been and I am not really sure what the dust up is all about. Of course I have also admitted in another post that I probably don't see any changes because our touring style is get up in the morning, leave the room for the parks all day and not return till later in the evening. We don't often take midday breaks in our room. That's not what we are there for.

Just my observations about a subject that I think is much ado about nothing.

For the way you vacation it's not a problem...that doesn't mean that for others it has to be the same. Prior to this change the "do not disturb" sign was honored..now it's gone. We always opted out of housekeeping. Just not something we felt we needed or wanted. This is just one more thing in a long list of Disney changes that have pushed us off site, which ends up being a whole lot less stressful.