Weird Disney Hotel Policy Is One That Every Guest Should Be Aware Of

If you're planning a Disney World vacation, and you can afford to splurge a bit on a nice hotel (or you get good discounts), staying on the property in a Disney hotel just makes the most sense. Disney resorts are convenient, they're clean, they're safe, they have fun themes, and they come with extra perks and amenities to make your vacation ever more fun, like character breakfasts and early park entry.

But for as much as Disneygoers love gabbing about the resort's many hotels, there's a weird, universally enforced Disney hotel policy that most guests (primarily first-timers, but even many returning guests) aren't aware of. Online, Disney travel experts are doing their part to get the word out and let Disney newbies know what to expect if they stay on the property.

Obviously, Disney hotels do housekeeping during the day - but were you aware that they also run separate mandatory security checks on every room? Even if you've stayed at Disney World hotels in the past, you might not have noticed. According to Walt Disney World News Today (aka @wdwnt ), these room checks (aka "visual inspections") are usually done during the middle of the day when most guests are hitting the parks and only involve a quick appraisal on the room (don't worry, they won't rifle through your luggage).

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Disney is strict about enforcing these checks, though. They're done either daily or every other day depending on location, and neither a guest's presence in the room nor a "Do Not Disturb" sign will deter them!

According to TouringPlans.com, Disney instituted this practice after the 2017 shooting in Las Vegas , during which the gunman was able to stockpile weapons in his hotel room. Despite the good intentions behind the practice, though, a lot of Disney guests consider the room checks an invasion of their privacy. Some even shared awkward stories of being surprised by Disney hotel staff at... less than opportune times.

"In 2018 we were in our room, I was in my underwear. They knocked then came in right away!" said @doglover1965. "I was sooo angry. I complained at the front desk."

"My husband and I were in the middle of hanky panky when they knocked on the door and they insisted on coming in," shared @iliana5464. "I had to hide myself in the bathroom because I didn't have time to get dressed!"

Preparing for Disney Hotel Room Checks

Stories like these are exactly why guests should know about these room checks beforehand, and Disney World doesn't exactly advertise this policy. For some people, these room checks cross a line and may make them reconsider staying at a Disney World resort . Even guests who are OK with the room checks might still want to know how to handle certain scenarios if a room check catches them off-guard. For instance, how do you know if the person at your door is really a staff member?

One way or another, the staff will have to check your room, but if you're not sure who's knocking, @wdwnt advises latching the door and calling the front desk agent to confirm that they're legit first. As for parents who want peace and quiet so their young kids can nap during the afternoon, well, that's tricky. According to @wdwnt, Disney staff can't guarantee that they can honor all requests for a room check earlier in the day, but they will do their best to accommodate parents who ask for that option. At least parents should know what to expect beforehand so their kids don't get a rude awakening!

Bearing that in mind, even the grown-up guests might want to postpone certain delightful "afternoon activities" until the evening, too...

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