Special accommodations for a guest who expects to make a lot of noise at night?

[spiceycat]

But I'm not perfect and with a longer stay planned I'm getting worried. I'm at the point where I will probably rent a portable sound booth (there is a professional audio-video rental in orlando) and set it up in the room. It is still cheaper than renting a house.

very glad you came back. you might be surprise on the price for a house - there have been $500 a week houses reported on Orlando hotels/attractions
but you can try it - but only if you want too
www.vrbo.com

OKW studio has bigger rooms than POR - 2 queen beds and a balcony (POR does not) you rent from a DVC member and it should also be cheaper than POR if you rent from a DVC member or broker.

hope you enjoy your vacation!

 

[Sammie]

I have to disagree about sound traveling in the cabins versus into the next room of a hotel.

Disney walls between rooms are paper thin, I mean you can hear people snoring, entire conversations, especially through connecting doors.

The absolute best would be a private home rental, then at Disney, the cabins, tree house villas.

Even at Old Key West you will have people next to your bedroom and below or above.

 

[Jennasis]

There isn't anything the hotel can do. If you wake up screaming, expect a visit from security and the police. Even if the desk knows about your condition, they WILL respond to the frantic 911 calls from your neighbors. I'm sorry.

So that leaves the onus on you. What can YOU do? Can you bring blankets and hang them on the walls or across the sliding doors to your balcony? Might help deaden the sound. Can you take a sleep aid (does taking one and the benefits therein outweigh the possibility of having angry neighbors and repeated visits from the cops?). Can you rebook in a condo/townhome etc? The whole "open space" thing you mention is nonsense. The rooms at Disney have horrible sound proofing. You are MUCh better off in a separate space then in a standard room.

Best of luck and have a great trip.

 

[wdwmom3]

I am totally sympathetic to your problem and sorry you have to deal with this. Really there is no simple solution. But please think about this, the majority of people visiting WDW have kids, a lot that are young. If the episodes are really bad it may be very traumatizing to any kids in a nearby room. My ds2 gets very very upset if he hears any yelling or screaming that is obviously not happy in nature. My dd is also pretty sensitive and would probably get scared and upset and break down in tears if she heard someone screaming. I'm sure there are many other kids who would react the same way. So although your kids may be ok with it I'm pretty sure many others would not be.

Like I said I am sympathetic but as a parent I would be very upset if my kids were being traumatized like that. Especially when they are at Disney. I really think it would be best if you stayed in somewhere that is a stand alone building.

 

[Lynne M]

OP, I'd strongly recommend that you visit our disABILITIES forum, the good folks over there have loads of experience and suggestions to offer on visiting WDW with all kinds of special medical situations.

There's a contact number (which I can't find at the moment, but the disABILITIES posters will know it) for people who need special medical services at a Disney resort. I would suggest giving them a call and explaining your situation. They can get a note on your reservation record. It's unlikely that they'd leave the rooms around you empty, but they may be able to get you assigned to a room that's on a less populated floor, or on a less populated end of the building. And at least the resort staff will be made aware of your situation.

 

[DLgal]

Sorry, but if you don't have this under control, you should not be staying in hotels.

We have two autistic kids. One of them went through a phase of night terrors (blood curdling screaming in the middle of the night, would last 30 min or so each time) around the age of 3.

We actually chose to cancel a booked vacation due to this issue. We did not feel it was fair for us to have a child in a hotel room that might do this and wake up the people in the surrounding rooms.

We held off on taking a family vacation until this phase had passed. We finally went when he was 5. It took that long.

This is a serious problem if it's occurring in adulthood, and I am frankly shocked that there is no way to get this under control. I have never heard of adults having long standing issues with night terrors that are not due to some major health or mental issue. However, as much as I feel for you, OP, you really cannot expect to be accommodated in a hotel for this kind of thing. Your only real option (if you are a decent human being) is to stay in an offsite house or simply not travel.

 

[kellymarch]

it's not the traumatic experience you might imagine. In fairness I think I have suffered greater mental anguish changing their diapers....

The night-terrors happen most nights but most times it's just a choked scream that may only wake myself up. When it's not ... well, it's pretty bad. From an outside perspective it would be a really hard thing to listen to.

Which is it? I took the original post saying these episodes were very traumatic to mean just that.

I do NOT think changing a babys diaper can be so described. Nor can the crying of a baby.

In the post above you again say the night terrors occur most nights, are pretty bad and would be a really hard thing to listen to.

I just do not want my young children traumatized on a trip to Disney hearing the screams of an adult man who knew there was a pretty good chance of that happening. I wish you all the best in finding effective treatment.

 

[spidet1964]

Sorry folks but knowing what I know about the subject and all the contradictions int the OP's posts I really think he is pulling our chain.

 

[cobright]

I didn't contradict anything. Jesus.

In the OP I said I have a night-terror most nights and that 1 out of 6 of them were loud and long enough to bother a neighbor. I clarified in a follow-up post that the majority of night-terrors simply wake myself up and don't involve me making a whole lot of noise.

That's kind of the calculus I'm doing in my head. The chances of ~that~ kind of event occurring; maybe 1 in 10? But we're staying 9 nights... So ... sure it's a cost-risk-analysis of sorts.

As it stands I'm clearing a sound-booth with disney. I rent it. A-V company delivers it. And I set it up in the room in about 15 minutes. Disney doesn't think they care one way or the other since it's free standing and doesn't modify the room in any way.

Again, I'm sorry if this comes off like a joke to some of you. that would be a very insulting joke and not a very funny one. I try to make all of my insulting jokes at least be very funny. I appreciate that trolls happen everywhere but if this were a troll it would be one of the worse I've ever seen.

KellyMarch, when I said "it's not the traumatic experience you might imagine" I was speaking specifically about the effect it has on my children who have lived their whole life with me and this, someone had commented on whether I would have kids with me in the room and I was speaking to that.

DLGal, A lot of the men and women who have experience horrible things have long standing disruptions in sleep normalcy. The standard treatment is 600mg of Seroquel a day. That would definitely keep my dreams quiet. I would never claim to be a decent human being, so if staying off that horror-pill means I bother a neighbor once a fortnight ... meh. I'll worry about that when his dog stops using my yard as a toilet. But you (and several others) are right, a Disney vacation is a special time and even I am not the kind of monster who would deliberately ruin someone else's vacation.

I do appreciate the responses that have been given. I don't really have a large circle of people to bounce ideas like this off of and getting an honest reaction is actually a valuable resource for me. The sound-proof booth came from a suggestion someone sent me and it was just this sort of thing I was hoping would come from a bit of brainstorming.

I'm sorry if I didn't come off sincere enough. This whole issue is kind of an unwelcome part of me, like a wart, and I tend to speak lightly about it when, to someone new to it, the issue seems severe enough to preclude any levity at all.

 

[Trish.Glenn]

I didn't contradict anything. Jesus.

In the OP I said I have a night-terror most nights and that 1 out of 6 of them were loud and long enough to bother a neighbor. I clarified in a follow-up post that the majority of night-terrors simply wake myself up and don't involve me making a whole lot of noise.

That's kind of the calculus I'm doing in my head. The chances of ~that~ kind of event occurring; maybe 1 in 10? But we're staying 9 nights... So ... sure it's a cost-risk-analysis of sorts.

As it stands I'm clearing a sound-booth with disney. I rent it. A-V company delivers it. And I set it up in the room in about 15 minutes. Disney doesn't think they care one way or the other since it's free standing and doesn't modify the room in any way.

Again, I'm sorry if this comes off like a joke to some of you. that would be a very insulting joke and not a very funny one. I try to make all of my insulting jokes at least be very funny. I appreciate that trolls happen everywhere but if this were a troll it would be one of the worse I've ever seen.

KellyMarch, when I said "it's not the traumatic experience you might imagine" I was speaking specifically about the effect it has on my children who have lived their whole life with me and this, someone had commented on whether I would have kids with me in the room and I was speaking to that.

DLGal, A lot of the men and women who have experience horrible things have long standing disruptions in sleep normalcy. The standard treatment is 600mg of Seroquel a day. That would definitely keep my dreams quiet. I would never claim to be a decent human being, so if staying off that horror-pill means I bother a neighbor once a fortnight ... meh. I'll worry about that when his dog stops using my yard as a toilet. But you (and several others) are right, a Disney vacation is a special time and even I am not the kind of monster who would deliberately ruin someone else's vacation.

I do appreciate the responses that have been given. I don't really have a large circle of people to bounce ideas like this off of and getting an honest reaction is actually a valuable resource for me. The sound-proof booth came from a suggestion someone sent me and it was just this sort of thing I was hoping would come from a bit of brainstorming.

I'm sorry if I didn't come off sincere enough. This whole issue is kind of an unwelcome part of me, like a wart, and I tend to speak lightly about it when, to someone new to it, the issue seems severe enough to preclude any levity at all.

Good luck, honestly I hope it all works out for you and your family. As I had stated in my earlier reply crying babies or couples fighting happens in a public hotel. 1 in 9 chance I say forget the extra expense of a booth and go to CRT or Wherever you may like.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'd request a corner room and alert the hotel this may happen. Even if you rent a house your neighbors will most likely hear an episode like that, so I don't think that makes any difference.

You are allowed to take a family vacation. You've had this for 10 years, your kids should get to go away like other kids. I've been woken up in hotels by babies crying, loud people in the hallways coming back at the end of EMH, blasting televisions, drunks hanging by the pool till all hours, and yes, amorous neighbors. I certainly wouldn't be happy to be woken up, but there's no exclusion clause in hotels for those that have night terrors. Many folks seem to have missed the fact that on most nights it only wakes you up. Do you best to head it off, and enjoy your vacation.

 

[Mickfarland4]

Thank you for the great replies (even the critical ones). I promise I'm not trolling or trying to have a laugh about this. I do have a weird sort of humor about it but I didn't intend the title to be taken as a joke.

What I suppose I really needed was a sounding board to get a sense of just how much is too much to ask of Disney.

To answer some questions that have come up...
I'm a guy. Married, 2 cool kids. Sleep issues since a rather unpleasant event a decade or so ago(it's not tourettes). No it's not the fun kind of TMI, sorry.

Yes, my kids fully get the whole experience. It sucks but we deal with it openly and it's not the traumatic experience you might imagine. In fairness I think I have suffered greater mental anguish changing their diapers.

The night-terrors happen most nights but most times it's just a choked scream that may only wake myself up. When it's not ... well, it's pretty bad. From an outside perspective it would be a really hard thing to listen to.

Medication is an option but it would involve taking a hypnotic like Ambien before bed then waking up 5 hours later to take a tranquilizer (like Klonopin) otherwise the Ambien wears off enough by morning and I actually am more likely to have an episode. I have no issues with RX therapy, best improvements to my quality of life have come out of a bottle of some sort, but there's such a thing as too much.

Campgrounds (even in a cabin) are actually a really bad idea. It's counter intuitive really. You think more space between you and others would be a good thing. But it's open space and sound travels really easy out in the open.

To make one point a little clearer. The staff at POR are always awesome. I wasn't complaining that they didn't take me seriously only that it's a little much for a CM to take in and the default human reaction seems to default to some version of, "Oh don't worry about it, you'll be fine." Which I will be fine, I've done this before and I'm always fine. Someone in the next room who is hearing what they think is a drug deal gone bad ... they may have a different opinion.

The thing is, if everything goes right we (my wife and I) can head off an episode and everything is copacetic. Maybe it's a sense of entitlement to want to stay at a resort, but I always couple it with a responsibility to do everything possible to prevent my problems from disturbing someone else's vacation.

But I'm not perfect and with a longer stay planned I'm getting worried. I'm at the point where I will probably rent a portable sound booth (there is a professional audio-video rental in orlando) and set it up in the room. It is still cheaper than renting a house.

Or if there are any other practical suggestions I would love to hear them.

It is not a sense of entitlement to want a nice vacation! We all deserve a nice vacation and if staying at a resort will do that for you, make it possible!!

 

[toodycat]

OP, I'd strongly recommend that you visit our disABILITIES forum, the good folks over there have loads of experience and suggestions to offer on visiting WDW with all kinds of special medical situations.

There's a contact number (which I can't find at the moment, but the disABILITIES posters will know it) for people who need special medical services at a Disney resort. I would suggest giving them a call and explaining your situation. They can get a note on your reservation record. It's unlikely that they'd leave the rooms around you empty, but they may be able to get you assigned to a room that's on a less populated floor, or on a less populated end of the building. And at least the resort staff will be made aware of your situation.

I was going to suggest contacting the disabilities office. I couldn't find the phone number, but I am sure if you call WDW directly, they will connect you. I think bringing a recording of one of your episodes might not help as much as a doctor's note with specific descriptions of what you experience and what environment would be best for you. I would make contact with the GM at your resort by letter or email now and explain the situation, forwarding a note from your doctor as well.Perhaps the GM can flag your reservation, so that upon check in, there is a more private room available. My DS has autism and he can't stand loud noises. I contacted the GM at the GF during a period when there was a lot of construction there and he chose our room personally, so it would be quiet. However, you should start your dialogue with the GM now. Don't wait until check-in. Good luck and have a great vacation.

 

[khaoskat]

Notifing the front desk will not prevent a concerend guest or CM from calling security or the police. If they are called they will come.

Hearing an adult screaming in the middle of the night is far differnt than a baby crying. I do not know how you can possibly compare the two.

I do not think it is reasonable to expect a hotel disney or not to leave adjoining rooms empty . They will also have to have the rooms above and below empty and have other guests kepe windows closed and balconey doors closed ?

If you need this accomadation then perhaps you should concider going at a off peak time .

Do you want the hotel to notify all hotel guests that if you hear an adult screaminging the middle of the night ignore it?

I agree that treatment ,medication, and theraphy can help and perhaps get this condition under control .

While notifying the front desk my not do anything, it may also allow them to make some accomodations if they know about it in advance. Like a previous poster said, if it he hotel is not full, they could put her/him a few rooms away from others.

I would also maybe notify security, so that if they do get calls while there, that they know in advance. While they may still come to verify/check it out, they are not going to be calling in all the guns so to speak. They will come check it out, to really make sure that someone is not endanger and it is you. Whereas, if they have no advance knowledge, they may go in guns drawn and blazing. If they know, they could still have weapons in hand/prepared, but be more cautious.

 

[toodycat]

I think you have to assume that you could be visited by security whether you inform them or not. Even if the security staff know of your issue in advance, if they think there is any chance that the person with night terrors is being robbed or having a heart attack or something, they would be negligent if they didn't check the situation.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

To be blunt, there is nothing that the front desk can do to help. It is up to the OP to do what THEY can do to minimize impacting the guests around them. It is not a reasonable accommodation to expect Disney to keep rooms unoccupied. Nor is it reasonable to expect other guests to simply have to deal with it and have their nights interrupted.

The OP needs to take it upon themselves to take the steps needed. This, most likely, would be to get a cabin, a unit at THV, or to rent a house off site.

Notifing the front desk will not prevent a concerend guest or CM from calling security or the police. If they are called they will come.

Hearing an adult screaming in the middle of the night is far differnt than a baby crying. I do not know how you can possibly compare the two.

I do not think it is reasonable to expect a hotel disney or not to leave adjoining rooms empty . They will also have to have the rooms above and below empty and have other guests kepe windows closed and balconey doors closed ?

If you need this accomadation then perhaps you should concider going at a off peak time .

Do you want the hotel to notify all hotel guests that if you hear an adult screaminging the middle of the night ignore it?

I agree that treatment ,medication, and theraphy can help and perhaps get this condition under control .

Can't believe the amazingly rude people on this thread! Thank goodness for the report buttons. To the OP, ignore them. They want to talk about being entitled, yet they feel entitled to come in and be rude. Clearly they have no idea what it's like to experience problems similar to yours.

Getting back to your original post, I think you've gotten some great advice.Have a wonderful holiday and I hope that everything works out for you and your family!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Seriously? People shouldn't be staying in hotels because of a medical condition. Unbelievable. Sorry but no one can simply get night terrors and/or PTSD "under control" it's not a puppy!

As for you mentioning you cancelling your trip, your child was going through a phase with the night terrors whether it was in direct relation to his autism or simply a childhood phase. The OP's condition may never get better so are you suggesting they never go on a holiday with their family?

Disgraceful.

to the OP. Ignore the haters! They are the ones with the problem not you!

Sorry, but if you don't have this under control, you should not be staying in hotels.

We have two autistic kids. One of them went through a phase of night terrors (blood curdling screaming in the middle of the night, would last 30 min or so each time) around the age of 3.

We actually chose to cancel a booked vacation due to this issue. We did not feel it was fair for us to have a child in a hotel room that might do this and wake up the people in the surrounding rooms.

We held off on taking a family vacation until this phase had passed. We finally went when he was 5. It took that long.

This is a serious problem if it's occurring in adulthood, and I am frankly shocked that there is no way to get this under control. I have never heard of adults having long standing issues with night terrors that are not due to some major health or mental issue. However, as much as I feel for you, OP, you really cannot expect to be accommodated in a hotel for this kind of thing. Your only real option (if you are a decent human being) is to stay in an offsite house or simply not travel.

 

[Lynne M]

Folks, either post something useful to the OP, or move on to another thread.

Hint: "don't travel" isn't useful. Neither is arguing amongst yourselves.

 

[disnut8]

I've been woken up in hotels by babies crying, loud people in the hallways coming back at the end of EMH, blasting televisions, drunks hanging by the pool till all hours, and yes, amorous neighbors. I certainly wouldn't be happy to be woken up, but there's no exclusion clause in hotels for those that have night terrors. Many folks seem to have missed the fact that on most nights it only wakes you up. Do you best to head it off, and enjoy your vacation.

Agreed and very well put.

 

[julluvsdisney]

Can't believe the amazingly rude people on this thread! Thank goodness for the report buttons. To the OP, ignore them. They want to talk about being entitled, yet they feel entitled to come in and be rude. Clearly they have no idea what it's like to experience problems similar to yours.

Getting back to your original post, I think you've gotten some great advice.Have a wonderful holiday and I hope that everything works out for you and your family!

I just have to say I agree 100%! People feel they need to be rude and judgmental over being helpful! This is a Disney website you would think people would be a little more cheerful! God forbid they are ever affected by a medical condition hopefully people aren't so rude to them! I keep wondering what some of them would say about a person with Tourette syndrome visiting Disney? Would that be equally traumatic? Should a person with Tourettes stay home? A medical condition like this is not something that can be controlled! God forbid the OP would want to enjoy a Disney vacation with his kids! I know that a screaming man in the middle of the night is not ideal but it is what it is! People need to get over themselves and either help the OP with a suggestion or move on to another thread! In the Words of Thumper " if you don't have nuttin nice to say don't say nuttin at all!"

Good Luck OP ! I hope you have a great time at POR!