Motion-sensing Air Conditioners... any nighttime tricks?

[Red Helicopter]

We just got back from AKL, and we loved everything about it... except for one thing.

I've noticed that the A/C units at WDW are motion sensing. This makes total sense during the day... if nobody's in the room, the A/C doesn't need to be running.

But at night, when nobody's moving around, the A/C will shut off. I woke up one night in what felt like a pool of sweat. I spent the rest of the night waking up and flailing my legs around to turn the A/C on.

Not acceptable.

So I was wondering, has anyone else ever had this problem, and if so, do you have any tricks to keep the A/C on at night? We left the ceiling fan on, hoping that motion would keep it on, but that didn't work.

Thanks!

[pranker51502]

Haven't stayed in a room with that yet, but my guess would to put a light type of fabric over it to when it blows it moves in front of the sensor. I really don't understand why they would do that for night time.

[Guantanamickey]

The Dolphin and Swan have those motion sensing a/c's also but the room was quite comfortable in the evening. This coming from a guy who likes sleeping in a room so cold penguins would need a sweater to be in.

[HauntedGabe]

I had forgotten about that. It was July when we were at AKL and the room was broiling whenever we returned. The standard rooms were not much larger than a standard at POR however they still took a bit to cool down which was annoying when we were hot coming back from the parks.

Sadly the fabric doesn't work 'cause when the A/C reached the temp set it went off and did not kick back on unless it detected motion. We kept a chair with a windbreaker on it, in front of censor it kept the sensor triggered. Left the the balcony door open half way and cranked up the A/C all night, the door open never let the A/C catch up and kick off.

A waste of money and energy yes, but it beat sweating all night.

[4maxwelz]

We always buy a balloon and tether it near the sensor. Works pretty well.

[NC_WDW_Daddy]

I would not like that either.

[kat228]

There's a way to override the system for 24 hours...I have it written down somewhere...let me see if I can find it and I'll post back...

[kat228]

K, didn't have it written down, but I knew where to find it! (Close enough, right!?) This should help:
On the thermostat, push the power button and the down arrow (button that adjusts the temp) at the exact same time. If you do this correctly, you will see the letters "bp" where the temp normally shows. You are now bypassing the sensors in the room. You can then set the temp to whatever you want and it keeps the room that cold whether you are in it or not. You might have to do this once a day as the thermostat tends to go back to sensor mode after 24 hours.

[GIOny]

K, didn't have it written down, but I knew where to find it! (Close enough, right!?) This should help:
On the thermostat, push the power button and the down arrow (button that adjusts the temp) at the exact same time. If you do this correctly, you will see the letters "bp" where the temp normally shows. You are now bypassing the sensors in the room. You can then set the temp to whatever you want and it keeps the room that cold whether you are in it or not. You might have to do this once a day as the thermostat tends to go back to sensor mode after 24 hours.

That is really good info, I have stayed in rooms like these and hate them. It is so hot in the room when you get back from being out and we had the same problems at night, noone could sleep.

[Buzz2001]

On the thermostat, push the power button and the down arrow (button that adjusts the temp) at the exact same time. If you do this correctly, you will see the letters "bp" where the temp normally shows. You are now bypassing the sensors in the room. You can then set the temp to whatever you want and it keeps the room that cold whether you are in it or not. You might have to do this once a day as the thermostat tends to go back to sensor mode after 24 hours.

It works at CSR but not necessarily at all the resorts.

[disneydame2004]

We always buy a balloon and tether it near the sensor. Works pretty well.

That's a good idea. Unfortunately, AKL doesn't allow balloons in your rooms, due to the hazards they could present to the animals if they got loose. They warn you about this when you check in, and if you do get a balloon in the parks they make you check them with bell services.

[harra]

That's a good idea. Unfortunately, AKL doesn't allow balloons in your rooms, due to the hazards they could present to the animals if they got loose. They warn you about this when you check in, and if you do get a balloon in the parks they make you check them with bell services.

It's a shame they cannot make a balloon with loft but won't float away. Would save a lot of tears...haha

But, sounds like the override that someone posted above should be in everyone's travel packet they bring with their touring plans and important numbers

[kat228]

It works at CSR but not necessarily at all the resorts.

Oh

But you can call maintenance and have them do the override at any resort, right? Just watch what they do!

[GIOny]

Oh

But you can call maintenance and have them do the override at any resort, right? Just watch what they do!

Will they do that for you??

[kat228]

I read that someone did. I personally haven't done it. It was just something I stumbled across in gathering information for my upcoming trip!