One of the highlights of a Disney vacation is the sense of security guests enjoy while on the property. Disney’s security team and dedicated cast members work hard to ensure everyone has a fun and safe experience. We’ve all seen how quickly they spring into action when issues, like a fight, occur.
However, a recent experience involving one female guest has raised questions about how far some Disney cast members will go under the guise of “safety.” The incident left her feeling uneasy for the rest of her trip.
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According to a Reddit post that has since gone viral, a female guest’s privacy was violated when a Disney cast member bypassed her “Do Not Disturb” sign and safety lock, entering her room unexpectedly while she was in the shower.
What Was Meant to Be a Relaxing Stay Turns Into a Nightmare
Staying at a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort, the guest — who goes by the username WolfieGurl7 — had anticipated a peaceful solo getaway. She had settled into her room, placing the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and engaging the safety lock for extra security, a standard practice for many Disney guests.
However, as she took a hot shower, her tranquility was abruptly interrupted by the shock of a lifetime.
Stepping out of the shower, she was horrified to find a cast member standing in the middle of her room. She quickly realized that the cast member had entered despite her safety measures, violating her privacy in a moment of vulnerability.
So I was staying in a 1-bdrm DVC resort. Was alone in the room, it was mid-afternoon. Went in for a nice hot shower, walked out of my bathroom undressed to find a strange man standing in my bedroom. He saw everything before I could run back into the bathroom. He apologized profusely as he exited, saying he was a cast member and just doing their daily room safety check. And yes, I had put on the safety lock and the sign on the knob outside. Apparently they’re able to by-pass that lock. So he knew I had the safety lock on, which you can only put on from the inside. And he made it to my bedroom without apparently hearing me in the shower.
A Dismissive Response from Hotel Management
The guest’s distress didn’t end with the cast member’s intrusion. After the incident, she sought help from hotel management, expecting them to take her concerns seriously. Instead, she was met with indifference.
Can I just say how mortified I was? And suddenly multiple managers and security were at my door. In the end, the manager did not care. Was completely nonchalant about it. Said they have to check the room daily. Apparently that includes while women are alone and showering.
There needs to be a better way. They need to figure it out ASAP. I had such a difficult time sleeping and showering after that. I actually piled luggage and chairs against the door after that while I did.
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This response left the guest feeling vulnerable and unsafe for the remainder of her stay. She described how she had to pile her luggage and chairs against the door at night for additional peace of mind, something that no guest should ever have to do.
A Call for Change in Disney’s Room Check Procedures
This unsettling experience has sparked a larger conversation about the need for more considerate and transparent room safety procedures at Disney resorts.
The guest called for Disney to find a better way to ensure guest safety without invading their privacy, suggesting options like an inside “Do Not Disturb” button that would be visible from the outside or an app-based system to schedule room checks.
There are so many other scenarios they can negatively impact too. Parents who just got their little ones down for a nap. Someone sleeping because they weren’t feeling well or just plain exhausted after a day at the parks. A family sleeping in because they did extra magic hours til 1am the night before.
We pay too much to be there. Prices for everything are now astronomical. So many benefits that used to be free now cost money. They are taking money from guests hand over foot. They need to think of something, Like a do not disturb button on the inside that you click to red when you’re sleeping or showering, with a reminder light on the inside. Or a way to schedule a visit on the DW app or Alexa in the rooms. Something. Don’t tell me they can’t find a better way than walking in on naked guests who are simply trying to get clean.
The post has since garnered hundreds of comments, many from other Disney fans who shared their own similar experiences.
Some users questioned the cast member’s claim that he didn’t know anyone was in the room and encouraged the guest to escalate the matter further.
The Importance of Guest Privacy and Safety
The post has raised a crucial point: while safety is a priority at Disney, there needs to be a balance between ensuring the well-being of guests and respecting their privacy. This situation could have been much worse if it had involved a more dangerous or malicious intent.
Several commenters shared their own frustrations with Disney’s room check process, noting that they had received calls asking for permission to enter their rooms when a “Do Not Disturb” sign was in place. Many suggested that Disney should have systems in place to confirm a guest’s presence before entering their room.
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, you are encouraged to speak up and escalate the matter to Disney management if you don’t feel your concerns are being taken seriously.
Have you experienced something like this at Disney World? How do you think Disney could improve its room safety check system? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Could the police have called? Violation of privacy. Sinister purpose?