The terrifying reason Disney World has banned 'Do not Disturb' signs in some of its hotels
A number Walt Disney World hotels have removed “Do Not Disturb” signs because of America's worst mass-shooting, allegedly carried out by a lone gunman.
The theme park in Orlando, Florida has removed the signs from four hotels located on the Monorail loop that connects with the Magic Kingdom theme park: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower, the New York Post reports.
Instead, guests will be able to use a “Room Occupied” sign. The Orlando Sentinel reports a hotel staffer will have to knock and identify him or her self before entering the room even if the sign is up.
Guests will still be able to prevent staff from entering while they’re vacant from the room by making prior arrangements with the hotel.
While Disney declined to say whether the October 2017 Las Vegas shooting, which saw 58 people killed and more than 500 injured, was behind the decision to enact its policy. However, it did cite safety and security as reasons.
Gunman Stephen Paddock, who fired shots from the 32nd floor of a room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino into crowds below, had a “Do Not Disturb” sign on his hotel door which prevented hotel staff entering and seeing his large cache of weapons.
Paddock stored thousands of rounds of ammunition and multiple firearms in his room prior to the shooting. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the shooter may have been able to prepare for the attack because housekeeping wasn’t allowed access to his room due to hotel policy.
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Hotels require staff to check on rooms after three days even if they have a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. But there is no industry standard.
Multiple hotels in Vegas have also revised their sign policies in response to the shooting including The Orleans Hotel and the Casino on the Strip, KVVU reports.
Disney said it is deciding whether to change its policies at other resorts.
