Room safety checks? About This Page:

[TINK2843]

I do not know if this has been posted before, but it just happened to me and I am concerned. A Pop Century employee knocked on our room and when we answered he entered :confused and said he was doing a safety check of the room.

We were stunned that he would just come in. Then he asked if he could do a room check. Never had anyone do this. We are usually in the parks at this time ( 145pm ) He then proceeded to the bathroom and then asked if he could check the bathroom. We asked why and he said he was checking for safety. He handed us a paper stating that the hotel may need to check the room for wifi updates. Nothing about safety. This justs really bothers me. Was he staking out the room to steal? It felt wrong.

My husband thinks maybe they got a tip that something else is going on. We aren't making noise. The tv was barely on because I was taking a nap. Before I complain at the desk, can someone assure me that this is nothing and that I am being paranoid.

[Geri604]

This has been in place for just over a year (since the shooting in Las Vegas). In most cases, the security checks are done by Mousekeeping during their daily cleaning. For DVC, rooms that have the Room Occupied sign out all day, or rooms that decline daily Mousekeeping services, then someone will still come to do a quick check.

[TINK2843]

Ok thanks

[MichaelF]

This happened during our last trip in March. We knew they were doing it at OKW but it was considered daily trash pick up for DVC Resorts. Everyone was nice and it wasn't overly intrusive. They didn't look under beds, in closets or dresser drawers, etc. The only way they would find something is if it was left in plain sight. I had the feeling that most of the housekeepers that came through wouldn't know what they are looking for anyway.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by TINK2843

[...] A Pop Century employee [...] said he was doing a safety check of the room.

First off, if it had been me in the room and he tried to enter, he'd've found my open hand on his chest, stopping him from doing so. I would then have said "pardon me, while I call the front desk to verify your identity and that you are supposed to be here right now. Please wait here, outside the room, while I do so - I will leave the door open for you."

If he argued, I'd've closed the door in his face, called the front desk, and reported a possible intruder, requesting security and/or the police be dispatched to the room immediately.

We asked why and he said he was checking for safety. He handed us a paper stating that the hotel may need to check the room for wifi updates. Nothing about safety.

This is another very large red flag, IMO.

Before I complain at the desk, can someone assure me that this is nothing and that I am being paranoid.

Go to the front desk anyway. Ask to speak to a manager.

At the absolute very least, the employee should have stated what he was there for WITHOUT entering the room, should not have handed you a paper that contradicted his claim, and suggested you call the front desk to verify that he was there legitimately to perform that safety check.

...

It is remotely possible they had a report about an intruder hiding in one or another room. BUT, if that was so, they conducted themselves all wrong, anyway.

(a) at least two employees should have been present;
(b) they should have first tried to get you out of the room before entering to check anything;
(c) they should have had security or the police standing by in close proximity in case they actually found an intruder.

...

All in all, that was an ill-managed encounter that left the Guest feeling unsecure and uncertain. That is Bad Juju for any hotel or similar operation, and the manager needs to be made aware of that so that steps can be taken in the future.

...

Also, even Disney resort employees can be thieves. He might actually have been scoping out the room to see if there was anything worth stealing later. A manager would know if he was legitimately supposed to be there or not.

And honestly, I think I'd be asking to be moved to a different room entirely, regardless - just for my own peace of mind.

EDIT TO ADD: I had forgotten the angle created by the Vegas shooting. Even so, this was poorly handled - both from the Guests side of it, and the guy doing the check. I mean, what if he'd actually FOUND someone intent on shooting up, say, the pool area from inside the room? With no second employee, he could have been overpowered and injured or killed, and it might be several minutes before any suspicion was raised among other employees. This was just badly done, all around.

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

First of all, any hotel employee is allowed to enter any room at any time they need to they do not need to have the occupants permission to do so although it is usually asked. Any employee entering a room should knock at least two or three times on the door and announce who they are (ie the department they are in Housekeeping, Front Desk, Security, etc.) Usually, by the second or third knock, they will have a key card in the lock or n the case of WDW or anywhere else that uses RFID an RFID enabled card. The cards they have will not bypass a deadbolt special keys are required for that and should only be used in an emergency if there is no answer from a guest in the room. For a room check they wouldn't be carrying such a key they would likely return to the front desk and call the room first before they do so as it could be an indication that the guest may be in distress if they don't answer the phone.

Originally Posted by Pax

First off, if it had been me in the room and he tried to enter, he'd've found my open hand on his chest, stopping him from doing so. I would then have said "pardon me, while I call the front desk to verify your identity and that you are supposed to be here right now. Please wait here, outside the room, while I do so - I will leave the door open for you."

If he argued, I'd've closed the door in his face, called the front desk, and reported a possible intruder, requesting security and/or the police be dispatched to the room immediately.


This is another very large red flag, IMO.


Go to the front desk anyway. Ask to speak to a manager.

At the absolute very least, the employee should have stated what he was there for WITHOUT entering the room, should not have handed you a paper that contradicted his claim, and suggested you call the front desk to verify that he was there legitimately to perform that safety check.

...

It is remotely possible they had a report about an intruder hiding in one or another room. BUT, if that was so, they conducted themselves all wrong, anyway.

(a) at least two employees should have been present;
(b) they should have first tried to get you out of the room before entering to check anything;
(c) they should have had security or the police standing by in close proximity in case they actually found an intruder.

...

All in all, that was an ill-managed encounter that left the Guest feeling unsecure and uncertain. That is Bad Juju for any hotel or similar operation, and the manager needs to be made aware of that so that steps can be taken in the future.

...

Also, even Disney resort employees can be thieves. He might actually have been scoping out the room to see if there was anything worth stealing later. A manager would know if he was legitimately supposed to be there or not.

And honestly, I think I'd be asking to be moved to a different room entirely, regardless - just for my own peace of mind.

EDIT TO ADD: I had forgotten the angle created by the Vegas shooting. Even so, this was poorly handled - both from the Guests side of it, and the guy doing the check. I mean, what if he'd actually FOUND someone intent on shooting up, say, the pool area from inside the room? With no second employee, he could have been overpowered and injured or killed, and it might be several minutes before any suspicion was raised among other employees. This was just badly done, all around.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by EastYorkDisneyFan

First of all, any hotel employee is [...]

... something/someone that can be impersonated.

Hence calling the front desk, to verify that they actually are an employee.