Interesting note on reservation confirmation

[goofieslonglostsis]

I've got a reservation for sept/oct 2010 at CBR, 21 nights. Apparently WDTC can not make a 21 night ressie but a max of 14 nights. Weird as the website will allow for a 21-night ressie, but oh well. So we ended up making 2 reservations, one for 14 nights and one for 7 nights. As I need a roll in shower, they made the arrangements for that also.

Fast forward a couple of days. Didn't check my confirmations yet, did that earlier today. First 21 night; everything OK, done. Second one for 7 nights; I find a note on there

Resort Information:
GUEST WITH DISABILITIES
CHECK IN AFTER : 3:00 PM CHECK OUT BEFORE : 11:00 AM
DINE - ADV DINING ARRANGEMENTS CALL 407-WDW-DINE
SIMPLIFY YOUR ARRIVAL! DISNEY'S ONLINE CHECK-IN IS AVAILABLE 10 DAYS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
http://mydisneyvacation.com

Note the first line in capslock. That is new to me! Been to WDW 3 times before, had more reservations than that (changed resorts a couple of times, didn't go every time I had hoped), but never this note. Yet, no note on the first 14 nights ressie.

So I decided to call CR to recheck on that roll in shower for the first ressie. It took them some time before being able to talk to Special Needs Department but the result is that yes a roll in shower was confirmed for both ressies, but the SN department is running behind, so it'll take them a couple of days before they can mail guests the right confirmation. You'll get a new confirmation in a couple of days but rest assure it has been blocked for you. Also, it was confirmed that both ressies are for the same room. CM made it sound like the roomnumber was already known, but who knows. If anything, they made it sounds like now WDW puts this note on each confirmation for the guest to see. As we all know, the confirmations are really hit or miss anyway -have had ressies where I never got any confirmation, period-, but maybe they are changing the way they deal with this??

[dclfun]

Hmmmm....I'd never assume that "guest with disabilities" would guarantee me the roll in shower either, esp. since they also have a room type that has a tub with rails, or rooms with a TTY kit for hearing impairments. I'm glad you called to confirm what's being reserved for you.---Kathy

[SueM in MN]

Originally Posted by goofieslonglostsis

I've got a reservation for sept/oct 2010 at CBR, 21 nights. Apparently WDTC can not make a 21 night ressie but a max of 14 nights. Weird as the website will allow for a 21-night ressie, but oh well. So we ended up making 2 reservations, one for 14 nights and one for 7 nights. As I need a roll in shower, they made the arrangements for that also.

Fast forward a couple of days. Didn't check my confirmations yet, did that earlier today. First 21 night; everything OK, done. Second one for 7 nights; I find a note on there



Note the first line in capslock. That is new to me! Been to WDW 3 times before, had more reservations than that (changed resorts a couple of times, didn't go every time I had hoped), but never this note. Yet, no note on the first 14 nights ressie.

So I decided to call CR to recheck on that roll in shower for the first ressie. It took them some time before being able to talk to Special Needs Department but the result is that yes a roll in shower was confirmed for both ressies, but the SN department is running behind, so it'll take them a couple of days before they can mail guests the right confirmation. You'll get a new confirmation in a couple of days but rest assure it has been blocked for you. Also, it was confirmed that both ressies are for the same room. CM made it sound like the roomnumber was already known, but who knows. If anything, they made it sounds like now WDW puts this note on each confirmation for the guest to see. As we all know, the confirmations are really hit or miss anyway -have had ressies where I never got any confirmation, period-, but maybe they are changing the way they deal with this??

from what I have been told before, Special Needs does block a specific room for you, so they do know the room number ahead of time.
We have been told that the reason they don't tell the guest what room has been blocked is so the guest is not planning on that room in case it needs to be reassigned for reasons like a problem with the room.

Originally Posted by dclfun

Hmmmm....I'd never assume that "guest with disabilities" would guarantee me the roll in shower either, esp. since they also have a room type that has a tub with rails, or rooms with a TTY kit for hearing impairments. I'm glad you called to confirm what's being reserved for you.---Kathy

I think, but don't know for sure, that the "Guest with disabilities" note is for the CMs, rather than for the guest's reference. I have been told in the past that the Special Needs CMs keep a log of the special needs reservations. I don't know if this is still true, but in the past, the special needs computer system did not communicate with the main reservation or DVC Member Services computers. I believe that the note on the reservation is a notification for the check in CM to check for the special needs.
I do know that in the past, there was a note on the computer that the CM assigning rooms and doing check in were supposed to see. I don't think they always did.

[bookwormde]

It is my understanding that the special needs and disability department is actually very small (just a few people) so it is not surprising that they “get behind” on occasions. All indications are that they are very knowledgeable and dedicated So I think some delays are worth not having to deal with CMs that really do not understand needs.

Thanks for the info

bokwormde

[goofieslonglostsis]

Originally Posted by SueM in MN

from what I have been told before, Special Needs does block a specific room for you, so they do know the room number ahead of time.
We have been told that the reason they don't tell the guest what room has been blocked is so the guest is not planning on that room in case it needs to be reassigned for reasons like a problem with the room.

And right they are for not telling.

I think, but don't know for sure, that the "Guest with disabilities" note is for the CMs, rather than for the guest's reference. I have been told in the past that the Special Needs CMs keep a log of the special needs reservations. I don't know if this is still true, but in the past, the special needs computer system did not communicate with the main reservation or DVC Member Services computers. I believe that the note on the reservation is a notification for the check in CM to check for the special needs.
I do know that in the past, there was a note on the computer that the CM assigning rooms and doing check in were supposed to see. I don't think they always did.

Sounds pretty credible. Would line up with the experience I had with CRO. The CM could see right away that my 7-nighter was a special needs ressie, but could not see it for the 21-nighter. (he didn't try to alter it, so didn't notice being unable to chance it without having special needs 'release' it)

[SueM in MN]

Originally Posted by bookwormde

It is my understanding that the special needs and disability department is actually very small (just a few people) so it is not surprising that they “get behind” on occasions. All indications are that they are very knowledgeable and dedicated So I think some delays are worth not having to deal with CMs that really do not understand needs.

Thanks for the info

bokwormde

you are correct. It is very small.
I have called the number several times just to make sure I understood the way something worked before posting it here.
I also have called numerous times to check on our reservations in the past. Things change with time, but the last time I called, the SN CMs could see reservations made thru CRO (Disney Central Reservation) and actually look at the notes in there. They could not access the DVC MS computer at all; since our reservations were under DVC MS, all they could do was check their log for me after I gave the dates of the stay.