Interesting news was recently announced regarding some Disney World Resort hotels. The news has been met with mixed feelings from guests who stay on property.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Disney has taken away the “Do Not Disturb” signs at a few hotels. The signs are used when guests do not want anyone enter their room. In replacement of the “Do Not Disturb” signs Disney has put “Room Occupied” signs in the rooms for guests to use. The absence of the “Do Not Disturb” signs gives housekeeping and maintenance the ability to enter the rooms each day. However, the staff must knock and identify themselves if the “Room Occupied” sign is on the door.
Safety is definitely one of the reasons for this change in procedure, but there are other reasons that Disney sited. Disney has been adding more and more safety features around property lately, like the metal detectors at the parks. Guest and cast member safety is, of course, an important factor in these decisions.
Right now this new procedure is only being done at the monorail hotels: the Polynesian Village Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the Contemporary Resort, and Bay Lake Tower. There is no word on whether Disney plans to extend this procedure to other hotels, but I can’t imagine they would just do this at one set of hotels and not the other hotels on property.
Not everyone is happy about this change. Some people would prefer not to have anyone enter their room when they are not there. Guests can always voice their concerns to the front desk if they are uncomfortable with someone being in their room while they are out.
What do you think about this procedure change?
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
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Liz
I love all things Disney, but my main love is for Disney World and I'm always planning for the next trip. Before becoming a Disney blogger, I was a radio DJ, so I guess I'm just continuing in the communication industry, just in a different form. I love talking Disney and I could talk about Disney all day. That's why I started blogging and created the Facebook group. The Disney community is full of friendly, helpful, and happy people...and I love being a part of it! If there is any Disney subject you would like to see covered just let me know! Need help planning your Disney vacation. Feel free to contact myself or Melissa at Never Stop Dreaming Travel Co. We love helping people plan their trips! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! Don't forget to check out our Countdown to Disney app! Feel free to email me with suggestions of things you would like to see in the app :-)
Does this mean they will be doing away with the gift cards if people don’t want their room cleaned?
Hi Robert!
Unfortunately, I think they already stopped that a month or two ago. I’m not 100% positive, but I thought that’s what I had heard.
Was still offered a GF in Dec, 2018
Good to know. I had heard they stopped offering the gift cards.
I like this!!!! My daughter and I stayed at caribbean beach hotel this fall. Our neighbors kept the do not disturb sign on the Whole week! It creeped us out. We never saw them coming or going and we were
Coming and going at odd hours. You’d think we would have seen them or movement at least once. I can’t explain it, but it was unsettling. I think it’s a good idea for house keeping to have access.
Hi Nicolle!
I think the reason they are doing this is for the exact type of situation you are describing. I can understand why people don’t want people in their room when they are not there, but I can also understand Disney’s reason for making this change.
I go to Disney to enjoy the vacation, not worry if I see my homey neighbors. Relax and focus on the Magic
I get what you are saying about relaxing and enjoying the magic, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be aware of your surroundings.
What about people who want to nap during the day? That pretty much eliminates that option. Who can relax when they know someone can be pounding on their door at any time.
The issue I have with it is that if you are sleeping in because you stayed at the park until 2am, then it is not right that they are going to knock and wake you up. Or you are in the shower right then. I understand the safety concern but there should be a better way to do it without disturbing people.
Our mid day breaks/naps are so important for my kids, and my husband! How can I leave them for my spa/pool time now? Security has to be the main priority, but this seems like a solution in search of a problem. At least there should be a work around, such as being able to call the front desk on a daily basis and request DND for a period of time.