We’ve prior to now addressed Walt Disney International housekeeper shortages in What’s Up with Mousekeeping? That triggered numerous questions on safety assessments and different insurance policies. This takes a deeper dive into considerations about “hassles” visitors are having in hotel rooms. (Up to date February 21, 2025.)
The newest building comes courtesy of a submit on reddit that has long gone viral, which stocks a horror tale about what’s just about the worst-case situation with room inspections. The refrain of peak feedback there be offering their very own reviews. All of this sounded acquainted. That is necessarily one in all two not unusual lawsuits about housework, with the opposite being early-morning knocks on departure day.
Actually, for those who learn during the feedback right here, you’ll in finding equivalent tales. Some other not unusual grievance is early morning departure day door knocks, waking them up previous to their 11 am checkout time. Over the previous couple of years, readers have reported problems with this as incessantly because the room inspections.
Many different fanatics were skeptical of those claims, sharing that they’ve completed many Walt Disney International hotel remains over time, and feature by no means skilled anything else like this. Others steered hanging up the “Do Now not Disturb” signal as a easy option to get to the bottom of the issue and as a not unusual courtesy to housework personnel. As at all times, it’s foolish to think that simply because one thing hasn’t ever took place to you, it isn’t happening.
We idea it’d be price revisiting this subject as of 2025 to look how issues are going. We’ll get started with departure day early wake-ups, and practice that up with room inspections…
Early Morning Departure Day Door Knocks
Over time, we’ve got additionally skilled the ~9 am knocking on our departure day. This has took place in spite of having the “Room Occupied” signal on our door. (Walt Disney International not does “Do Now not Disturb” indicators.) Each and every time this has passed off, it’s been temporarily and simply resolved by way of one in all us with politeness letting the housekeeper know once we deliberate on leaving.
In each and every unmarried circumstance, they had been overly apologetic. My assumption used to be and is that it’s an increasing number of not unusual as a result of housekeepers are being anticipated to show over extra rooms because of exertions shortages. That coupled with emerging occupancy numbers ends up in precisely this–housekeepers wanting to wash extra rooms ahead of 11 am.
We’re glad to file that this has no longer took place to us as soon as within the closing year-plus. After all, we’re a pattern measurement of 1, so we’d be well-advised to indicate to our personal sentiment on the peak of this submit that it’s foolish to think that one thing no longer taking place to us approach it’s no longer taking place to any person.
However, however we will’t lend a hand however wonder whether whether or not there’s been some aid. Revenge shuttle has exhausted itself, and Disney has mentioned that lodge occupancy has been decrease within the closing yr. On peak of that, staffing shortages were resolved, that means that there must be extra housekeepers and fewer rooms to wash.
On peak of that, Walt Disney International offered “Categorical Room Checkout” within the My Disney Enjoy app. When you have a bank card on document—or you’ve got a zero-dollar steadiness—it’s simple to take a look at of your room, without a want to prevent by way of the Entrance Table. We’ve reliably won push notifications by means of the app prompting us to checkout, and extra other folks the usage of this option approach housework must have higher perception into which rooms are empty with out knocking. They are able to then prioritize the ones rooms for cleansing, and depart the others till later within the morning.
All in all, it will appear that instances have developed to some extent the place those early morning knocks aren’t as “essential” for housekeepers to make it thru their large slate of rooms to wash. We’re no longer suggesting it by no means occurs anymore–once more, pattern measurement of 1!–nevertheless it does appear a ways much less not unusual than at its top in mid-2021 thru early 2023. (To that finish, we’d love to listen to additional comments from readers who’ve or have no longer skilled this–it’d be great to have anecdotes past our personal.)
Our enjoy on departure mornings has been downright sure within the closing yr. There have even been occasions once we’ve been operating in the back of on checkout day and didn’t depart our rooms till in a while after 11 am. In the ones eventualities, no longer simplest did housekeepers no longer rush us out of the room, however they weren’t even lingering round within the hallways close by. We almost certainly may’ve stayed till nearer to midday with out factor. (To be transparent, we’re no longer endorsing a casual past due checkout as a method!)
The large reason why we’re no longer endorsing it is because that it creates much more of a possible burden from already overburden housework Forged Individuals. There’s a reason why they’re (or had been) doing the early morning knocks, and it used to be out of necessity–to not agitate or anger visitors. (It’s at all times a good suggestion to take into consideration the why of one thing ahead of being disillusioned about it.) Suffice to mention, it used to be no longer the Forged Individuals doing the knocking who had been/are the issue.
It’s price underscoring that housekeepers have difficult jobs. Housekeepers all paintings one shift, from 8 am to 4:30 pm. They’re assigned to wash a suite selection of rooms relying upon the hotel tier, starting from 16-18 rooms on reasonable. Checkout time is 11 am, which is midway thru that shift, so merely looking forward to all rooms to drain with the day’s departures isn’t a viable way.
Even supposing many visitors depart previous and do the Categorical Room Checkout, there’s regularly no method of figuring out who has left and who’s opting to sleep past due until Forged Individuals can see into the room during the window or in fact witness the visitors departing their room. The “Room Occupied” signal is a sign, however even empty rooms can nonetheless have this up, making it an inconclusive one. Possibly, that is one unintentional outcome of Disney’s Magical Categorical finishing and why there used to be an uptick of those incidences. After all, housekeepers are anticipated to have all in their rooms wiped clean by way of 4:30 pm, regardless.
In an illuminating Twitter thread, Ben Wszalek, former WDW House responsibilities Supervisor (at Grand Floridian, Castle Desolate tract, All Superstar Motion pictures & Sports activities) shared that housework is likely one of the simplest jobs at Walt Disney International that calls for no English language wisdom in anyway. A majority of housekeepers are from Puerto Rico or Haiti, many are older, and a few have minimum formal training.
Wszalek put it perfect with this tweet: “Hskp are one of the vital maximum joyous, unswerving, arduous running other folks you’ll ever meet. Hskp gives nice hours, first rate pay, Disney advantages, and calls for little training/enjoy. However it’s additionally a particularly tough activity. You most likely couldn’t do it.”
To any person who has interacted with housekeepers, maximum of that is most probably evident. As any person who beverages an excessive amount of espresso, I’m regularly on the lookout for their carts within the morning/noon/afternoon and asking if I will be able to have extra Ok-cups. Our conversations aren’t precisely lengthy, however they’re at all times exceedingly pleasant and chipper. Identical is going once we alternate morning pleasantries.
As Wszalek additionally issues out, all of it is a recipe for “messy interactions.” Whilst we’ve got by no means–no longer as soon as–had anything else however sure reviews with housekeepers, I don’t doubt that this occurs. You mix a language barrier with visitors who would possibly no longer precisely be delightful about being woken up early and really feel like they’re being driven out of a room they paid $500+ in step with night time for…it’s simple to examine eventualities the place that ends poorly.
Irrespective of the specifics of those interactions between visitors and housekeepers, that misframes the problem. Regardless of the drawback and possible answer, the fault lies with Walt Disney International’s protocol and procedures. And as we’ve additionally stated ahead of, the frontline Forged Member with whom you’re interacting isn’t the person who applied the insurance policies with which you are taking factor, nor are they those pocketing the nightly room charge.
The housekeeper didn’t make the verdict that ended in them knocking at the door of occupied rooms at ~9 am. It’s truthful to mention they don’t revel in disagreement with visitors or waking other folks up early…they’re simply looking to do their activity. The basis purpose is control, which establishes requirements, even unworkable ones, and fails to get a hold of ingenious answers when it’s transparent that there are problems.
So what are the possible answers right here? The primary and most evident is restoring the “Carrier Your Approach” present card for declining housework that started in ~2017 when the housekeeper scarcity first cropped up.
That used to be discontinued when the motels reopened post-COVID. That call made sense on the time; occupancy used to be low and rooms didn’t want to be became over the similar day as departure. This is not the case, so this incentive must be introduced again.
Walt Disney International may incentivize early checkouts or use of that Categorical Room Checkout app function with present playing cards. The general public almost certainly wouldn’t alter their checkout occasions in consequence, however sufficient would voluntarily file after they could be leaving their room with that carrot to make a distinction, and strengthen issues for housekeepers and the ones drowsing in.
Once more, this isn’t in line with the “spirit” of new adjustments at Walt Disney International, however it will cut back friction and strengthen visitor pride for one of the vital corporate’s most expensive merchandise. It’s an excessively small worth to pay within the grand scheme of items, particularly if it improves pride or chance to go back/counsel metrics.
Room Inspections
We’ve additionally won numerous questions concerning the “Room Occupied” indicators and room inspections at Walt Disney International lodges. That is in fact not anything new. This coverage began again in December 2017, and used to be first rolled out on the Polynesian Village Lodge, Grand Floridian Lodge & Spa, Recent Lodge, and Bay Lake Tower.
On the time, the corporate declined to touch upon why it swapped “Do Now not Disturb” with “Room Occupied” indicators at that handful of motels. Walt Disney International simplest indicated that they made the verdict for various elements, together with protection, safety and the visitor enjoy.
Walt Disney International hasn’t ever formally stated the cause of this variation–even supposing it’s evident in keeping with the timing. The tighter safety features got here a few months after the Las Vegas bloodbath, the place a gunman step by step assembled an arsenal of guns over the process a number of days ahead of killing 58 other folks from the thirty second flooring of the Mandalay Bay casino-hotel tower.
In a while after that, Hilton Resorts additionally modified its safety coverage. That chain now recommends that staffers alert a safety or accountability supervisor after 24 hours of consecutive Do Now not Disturb signal utilization. Wynn Inns made a equivalent coverage trade, as did many others at the Vegas strip and in different high-rise places that now require “welfare assessments” after a undeniable period of time. Disneyland Paris had already modified its coverage to scan all baggage upon getting into its motels by means of airport-style x-ray machines.
The Room Occupied hanger itself says that the “Disney Lodge lodge and its personnel reserve the appropriate to go into your room, even if this signal is displayed, for upkeep, protection, safety or some other function.” When the trade used to be introduced, the coverage used to be {that a} lodge staffer will have to knock and determine themselves ahead of getting into if the “Room Occupied” signal is out. Arriving visitors are/had been intended to be notified concerning the new right-to-entry tips, in step with the corporate.
Every time the subject of those room inspections arise, Walt Disney International visitors inevitably say that this took place in spite of them having the “Room Occupied” indicators up. If truth be told, they have got it backwards: the room inspections are happening as a result of they have got the ones indicators up!
Room inspections happen within the tournament that housework studies being not able to carrier a room for a suite period of time. To the most productive of my wisdom/recollection, that is two days. It’s no longer at all times constant, and as with anything else, a component of human error is conceivable. That means that perhaps you didn’t have the enroll, however a housekeeper marked that you just did.
It additionally doesn’t lend a hand that the majority Walt Disney International lodges not have day-to-day housework. In the event you’re staying at a Worth or Average Lodge, even temporary use of the “Room Occupied” signal would possibly lead to a room inspection. At a Disney Holiday Membership hotel, it’s possible you’ll in finding that the protection assessments are actually unavoidable.
Regardless, one of the best ways to steer clear of triggering a room inspection is by way of no longer the usage of the “Room Occupied” signal–or by way of the usage of it sparingly. When you have young children who will wish to take noon naps, this can also be difficult. You may well be prone to place up the signal to make certain that your room isn’t being wiped clean while you go back to it. However however, you additionally must wish to steer clear of having a room inspection interrupt naptime.
Again when the “Room Occupied” signal trade used to be made and the random safety inspections started, it used to be a scorching and arguable subject amongst Walt Disney International fanatics. Some contended that protection must be the highest precedence, trumping privateness and all else. Others argued that the inspections had been intrusive, passed off at inopportune occasions, and had been regularly no longer treated in a tactful method by way of safety.
That is only a temporary abstract of one of the vital many various arguments for and in opposition to safety assessments. The debates spanned loads of pages on Walt Disney International boards, eliciting many impassioned responses. That is hardly ever a complete recap of the professionals & cons, however I’m no longer specifically excited about relitigating all of that.
What I can say is that I will be able to see either side of this. Safety is paramount, however an unsupported cry of “safety” can’t merely close down all additional dialog or counterpoints. It’s ok to have wholesome skepticism, particularly given how a lot of The united states’s post-9/11 historical past is dotted with safety theater masquerading as exact protection measures.
There’s additionally the unlucky fact that many company insurance policies quantity to felony legal responsibility CYA greater than anything. Enforcing such insurance policies at flooring stage rooms within the bayou at Port Orleans Riverside inside of steps of the automobile parking space does no longer strike me as narrowly adapted to perform any significant protection goals. That’s no longer the similar as a theme park view room in Bay Lake Tower.
Past the safety coverage on its face, there’s the human implementation. We’ve got been topic to those safety assessments extra occasions than I will be able to depend at Walt Disney International. With out fail, they nearly at all times appear to coincide with noon breaks or afternoon naps.
They’re normally completely delightful and temporary, however about 1 of 10 occasions, that’s no longer the case. (Throughout the closing yr or so, we’ve had a couple of Forged Individuals with politeness tell us that they may be able to’t check out the room whilst it’s occupied, which is okay by way of us. We’ve given them a time we’d be out of the room and, probably, they returned then.)
Greater than anything, my quibbles with this coverage are its ham-fistedness and inconsistency. To my recollection, we’ve by no means been told of the coverage at check-in. It regularly happens all over the center of the day. The approaches range extensively, as does the demeanor of the ones doing the assessments. (I don’t doubt visitors are incessantly impolite to those Forged Individuals, however we’ve got by no means been, and a little bit graciousness when tough get right of entry to to our room could be favored.)
In loads of lodge remains since October 2017, we’ve got actually by no means had a topic with this any place however Walt Disney International. The assessments have passed off in different actual global motels, however they’ve by no means been even a far off trouble. On the subject of either one of the problems on this submit and such a lot of different issues, I feel it’s truthful to invite: why is that this no longer a popular factor with motels out of doors of Walt Disney International?
In the long run, that’s the place we land with either one of those subjects, in addition to many different hotel insurance policies and protocol at Walt Disney International. For a corporation with the sort of huge room stock and a name for visitor carrier, Disney is unusually dangerous hotelier. There’s minimum consideration to element from a hospitality standpoint, as the point of interest is normally on potency above all else.
I like numerous issues about Walt Disney International, however don’t view it as one of the crucial global’s nice operators of motels. While you pay the large dollars for a hotel at Walt Disney International, it’s for theme, location, transportation, and perks–no longer luxuriousness. Even the Deluxe Inns can’t compete with similarly-situated actual global motels in that regard.
Optimistically this helped you know the way a few those housework insurance policies paintings, and tactics you’ll be able to try to steer clear of operating into the worst of the problems. Once more, it’s no longer the fault of the frontline Forged Individuals who’re merely following the orders in their leaders–it’s a top-down drawback. Control sees spectacular occupancy numbers and is aware of that they don’t want to do higher, even supposing there are evident and remediable issues of friction for visitors.
Making plans a Walt Disney International travel? Know about motels on our Walt Disney International Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Critiques. To economize on tickets or resolve which sort to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at suave pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Experience Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most productive position to start out is our Walt Disney International Shuttle Making plans Information for the entirety you want to grasp!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your ideas concerning the “Room Occupied” indicators, safety assessments, and ~9 am departure day door knocks? Suppose Walt Disney International may get a hold of higher and extra guest-friendly answers to all of this, or are the complainers overreacting? What were your contemporary reviews with housework or safety in motels at Walt Disney International–and past? Any questions we will assist you to solution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas under within the feedback!
