Anyone know what this is.

[DonMacGregor]

There was one in my room at CSR, noticed it when I was unpacking and ignored it after that. I meant to unplug it but just forgot. We don't have anything like that at home since hubby is in computer security for a living and we don't really feel a need for it anyway. Frankly, if someone wants to use the camera to spy on my old body (I'm 67 years old) have at it. They will most likely only look once then run screaming away. And if they were listening they heard me talking to my grand daughter the night I babysat, talking to my son and his SO when they dropped her off and picked her up and me watching TV. Not very exciting in my room.

We tend to announce loudly the length of our vacation, our home address, and that we have no one watching the house and no security system. We also have a bad habit of discussing our bank account numbers and passwords, as well as our social security numbers, while we get ready to head out to the parks.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Lots of people happily manage everyday life without Alexa.
If it entertains you, that's great! Enjoy. But it's not necessary and it's not for everyone.

Correct, but if it is not there in the room, then people that want to enjoy it can't use it. So, good on Disney for making it available.

 

[Marrila]

Correct, but if it is not there in the room, then people that want to enjoy it can't use it. So, good on Disney for making it available.

Oh, absolutely. Just one of many ways to have fun at WDW.

 

[loves to dive]

We tend to announce loudly the length of our vacation, our home address, and that we have no one watching the house and no security system. We also have a bad habit of discussing our bank account numbers and passwords, as well as our social security numbers while we get ready to head out to the parks.

Well of course, everyone does that. I just mumble it to myself though instead of announcing it loudly. I just figured that was not even worth mentioning.

 

[Mle8308]

There are information cards in rooms as well. They're easy enough to unplug if not wanted. But from a security standpoint, it's not a whole lot different than the camera and microphone on a cell phone, tablet, laptop, etc.

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Was coming here to say the same thing! If you have a smart phone or iPad, they are constantly listening. Not much difference. Even if you turn off Siri (on an iPhone), it's still listening. Now is a human actually hearing what we are saying? In most cases, no.

 

[Pens Fan]

When we were there a few weeks ago the hairdryer in our bathroom was pathetic. I came into the living room and told my son I was going to go into his bathroom and see if his worked any better and take it if it did. About 30 minutes after that conversation a housekeeper knocked on our door. He asked if there was anything wrong with our room. I said no, we are fine. He then asked if everything was ok with our bathroom. I said yes, we are fine. He left. He never even entered the room completely. He didn't check the trash as they normally do when they are doing room checks. We all just looked at each other, looked at the Hey Disney thing and laughed. I'm sure it was just a weird coincidence but who knows?

 

[MsChristy12]

I mean...if Disney is spending money on Alexa in every room, can they PLEASE PRETTY PLEEAAASEEE spend money on upgrading their bedding?!?!!!! I don't know how DCL has better beds/bedding than the deluxe resorts but just the blanket alone needs to be upgraded to a real duvet please.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I will be unplugging and putting it in the hall closet under a blanket. I just hope I remember where I put it so I can put it back where it belongs when we checkout.

I would have rather they kept the ceiling fans instead of putting these devises in every room. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I would have rather they kept the ceiling fans instead of putting these devises in every room. Just my 2 cents.

I agree!

 

[DisTravels]

from a security standpoint, it's not a whole lot different than the camera and microphone on a cell phone, tablet, laptop, etc.

Exactly true.

I was in a room where friends were watching the masked singer (I had no active engagement with prior or since) and coincidently the next few weeks advertisements for the masked singer appeared.

 

[Ronaldo17]

We saw the first time when we stayed in September. First thing we did was unplug it!

Yep, same here

 

[bwang123]

. We don't have anything like that at home since hubby is in computer security for a living

I'm in IT relating to security and have my entire house voice enabled. I've embraced the technology and understand the potential issues instead of pretending it's the boogeyman. It's all around us and unavoidable. Most of the time the convenience outweighs the risk.

 

[loves to dive]

We are headed to CSR in January and, based on our experience in January last year, I'm expecting temps to be pretty cold. We were in the Tower before, but are now staying in a Preferred room - any suggestions for a good building/location request to be close to El Centro and a bus stop? In looking at a map, it looks like Building 1 is closer to El Centro, but building 3 might have an interior hallway going to El Centro? Thank you for any advice you can give.

I'm in IT relating to security and have my entire house voice enabled. I've embraced the technology and understand the potential issues instead of pretending it's the boogeyman. It's all around us and unavoidable. Most of the time the convenience outweighs the risk.

I think it's a different strokes thing. I'm not a fan of voice anything. I don't use the ask google on my phone, I look it up, I don't use the voice feature on the remote, I just push that button. I do use bluetooth in my car because I don't want to have wreck. We don't have a camera on our door, we don't need one since there are side windows on the door (which I hate by the way) and any time UPS or Fed Ex delivers, hubby gets an email with a picture of where they delivered it. We don't have internet enabled TVs on purpose (by the way it's hard now days to find them without it). Again, don't need it. We don't have Amazon Echo, again I can look it up don't need to ask. We both have our laptops near us in the living room, hubby actually has his open on the coffee table 24/7 because of his job. We don't think it's the boogeyman, and do know that even just using our computers and phones the potential risk is there but feel no reason to open up any more than is necessary.

 

[Marrila]

I'm in IT relating to security and have my entire house voice enabled. I've embraced the technology and understand the potential issues instead of pretending it's the boogeyman. It's all around us and unavoidable. Most of the time the convenience outweighs the risk.

Nothing wrong with folks enjoying being entertained by Alexa.
It's just not necessary for many of us.
It has nothing to do with "boogeymen."

 

[DonMacGregor]

Nothing wrong with folks enjoying being entertained by Alexa.
It's just not necessary for many of us.
It has nothing to do with "boogeymen."

If people are offering up that the first thing they do is unplug a device, then put it under a blanket in a closet, then it's more than just "not a necessity".

 

[Marrila]

If people are offering up that the first thing they do is unplug a device, then put it under a blanket in a closet, then it's more than just "not a necessity".

Well, I'm certain I never said anything along those lines.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Well, I'm certain I never said anything along those lines.

Take a glance up at post #28...

 

[Marrila]

Take a glance up at post #28...

I'm not @Ms.Minnie

 

[DonMacGregor]

I'm not @Ms.Minnie

I never said you were, and I never suggested you said anything "along those lines". My post reads:

If people are offering up that the first thing they do is unplug a device, then put it under a blanket in a closet, then it's more than just "not a necessity".

Which was in response to Post #28, a post that suggests some people DO consider it a "bogeyman".

Note: I said "if people". I never said "if YOU", so I'm not sure how you could ever assume I was referring to you. In fact, my purpose for referencing the prior post was, in fact, to point out exactly who I WAS referencing. Your whole comment that "Well, I'm certain I never said anything along those lines." is moot, because no one ever said you did, and there are other people commenting in the thread.

 

[bwang123]

If people are offering up that the first thing they do is unplug a device, then put it under a blanket in a closet, then it's more than just "not a necessity".

Putting it in the closet under a blanket prevents the device from plugging itself back in.