Earlier this year, Disney announced a new service that will be available through Amazon Alexa in your Disney World hotel room and at home — “Hey, Disney!”

We’ve taken a look at how the new service will enhance your hotel stay by answering questions and completing some requests. Though the service is optional, we asked our readers (That’s YOU!) if there are any privacy concerns with an Alexa device in your hotel room. Here’s what you said!

We reached out to our readers on our Facebook page (Give us a like if you want to weigh-in in the future!) and asked, “Are you worried about privacy in your Disney World resort room with Amazon’s upcoming “Hey, Disney!” feature?”

Yes.

Some of you noted that yes, you do have concerns about privacy. One reader noted, “I don’t have them [Smarthome Devices] in my house. Don’t want them on vacation.” 

One reader put it plainly, “An Amazon device listening into my hotel room when I am on vacation is a BIG FAT NO. Major invasion of privacy.” 

For some of you, you just don’t feel comfortable with the prospect of a microphone in your hotel room. One reader said, “It will be unplugged right when I come in the door,” and another noted, “We stopped using our Alexa for that reason. It would randomly respond without prompting to a conversation in the room.” 

No, As Long As You Can Turn It Off

A number of our readers said they weren’t concerned about privacy duue to the fact that the service is optional. Many of you noted that you can turn the microphone on the service off or unplug the device.

One reader said, “This is what unplugging is for,” and another agreed, “If you’re worried about privacy just unplug it.” 

For these readers, privacy is enough concern to turn off the device, but not enough to be upset that it’s in the room. Yet another reader explained, “Best possible scenario is you can unplug it or ask to have it removed from your room during your stay.” 

No, There’s No Privacy Anyway

The majority of comments came from those who don’t consider “Hey, Disney!” a breach of privacy because there are already a lot of ways that companies monitor consumers. One reader said, “What’s privacy these days? Nonexistent. I just hope I can tell it to turn on the lights, pay this hotel bill.”

Between smartphones and even Disney’s own technology (like MagicBands!), most of us make our data available. A reader notes, “Not at all. The phone I’m typing this on probably records just as much data if not MORE than smart home systems like Alexa and ‘Hey, Disney!'” 

One reader pointed out that the data Disney already has is probably enough to tell them whatever they’d be talking about in their hotel room, “I don’t like smart home devices, but we’ll be there for such a short time that Disney (and Amazon probably) already know anything we might discuss in the room.” 

A bunch of you also humorously pointed out that if anyone IS listening to you through “Hey, Disney!,” they’re not going to hear anything interesting. “All they will hear is me trying to wrangle 4 small children lol same thing my Alexa hears at home,” one reader said.

No, You Don’t Think It’s Going To Breach Privacy

We noticed a few readers who don’t have privacy concerns because they don’t think anyone is going to monitor the average guest’s conversations. Some pointed out that that would take an immense staffing effort and that there might not be much reason to do so.

A reader said, “I seriously doubt it’s for anything other than service.” 

No, You’re Excited About It

And a final group of readers said they aren’t concerned AND they’re excited about the new service. One said, “In fact, I can’t wait for it. Of course last trip it took me two days before realizing “hey Alexa, turn off the lights” wasn’t gonna work there.” 

A lot of you are used to your smart devices at home! “Just got back and can’t tell you how many times I wished I could ask my Alexa something while we were getting ready for the day,” a reader said, “Old habits die hard I guess.” 

And “Hey, Disney!” is set to have some fun features too that a few people are really looking forward to, “I’d totally ask it to tell me a dad joke and hope Mickey and friends take turns telling me the worst jokes ever.” 

We’ll be sure to bring you all the updates about “Hey, Disney!” In the meantime, keep following DFB for more Disney World news!

Learn all about Hey, Disney and its privacy details here. 

Do you have privacy concerns with the new service? Tell us in the comments!