accessible room question for coronado springs

[lisam427]

my dd and i are going to coronado springs for an upcoming trip. i need a room with a roll in shower. my ta told me that if i want this type of room i have to pay extra for a king as kings are the only accessible rooms available at that resort. i have never heard of that in all of the years i have been going to disney.

my understanding was that if you want to stay at a resort and need an accessible room they dont charge you extra for it. nor does disney force you to stay somewhere you dont want to. i was told that if i dont want to pay for the king i would have to stay in room without a roll in shower or i have to go to another resort where we dont want to stay. anyone know the answer to this?

 

[Mary976]

Disney has a whole procedure for dealing with these type of room requests. I would have your TA call the special reservation line and they can walk you through what is available at each resort. I don't know the specifics on Coronado as we haven't stayed there in many years. But the special reservation line will take care of you.

Mary

 

[mdvlprof]

I would talk to the TA. Don't think we paid extra. Just said that we needed accessible room.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Your TA is wrong. Explain your needs and have the TA contact "Special (medical) reservations" at 407-939-7807 once a basic reservation is made. It will be properly handled. If your TA is unwilling, get a new TA (or do it yourself).

 

[LilyWDW]

Like was said, your TA is wrong.

It almost sounds like she is trying to book you a King room with a roll in shower request. That is the only way it could cost more since normally a King room is extra money. However, since the roll in shower is an accessible need and that room configuration just happens to require a King bed, it doesn't "count" as booking a King room.

 

[tinka-belle]

I AM a TA, and I had this problem just last week with CSR. The CM on the phone finally put me on the call directly with a special needs co-ordinator and even she insisted that a king upcharge would apply since all the roll in shower rooms at this resort are kings.

I was on the phone for quite a while insisting that they could not charge extra for a roll in shower handicap room and wasn't getting anywhere. I was told it's a new policy (not!) since all those rooms are kings. That size bathroom juts into the room itself so there is no room for two queen beds. I finally had the special needs CM access another handicap res I had made at CSR and she read the notes there and started profusely apologizing saying there were different codes to use for that now. I was calm and professional the entire time on the phone, but I was getting a little exasperated!

It's upsetting that the special needs people are not up to speed on legal ADA points. I did ask if she was a special needs CM or just a reservation supervisor and she indicated that she was special needs. I understand new codes and booking criteria when computer systems change but they shouldn't try to tell us it's a new policy to charge extra when such a thing really doesn't exist and is totally against the law. If they are truely experienced in booking for special needs, they should know to look for the proper booking proceedure when their computer systems change.

Edited to add: Sometimes only the king category is bookable, and in that case you have to pay for the king room as your category. But when a standard room is available and booked, they cannot charge the king premium. In the above case a standard was booked and the CM tried to change the reservation to a king category but I told him NO.

 

[POOHsie]

I AM a TA, and I had this problem just last week with CSR. The CM on the phone finally put me on the call directly with a special needs co-ordinator and even she insisted that a king upcharge would apply since all the roll in shower rooms at this resort are kings.

This is truly disappointing to read. Only good thing is that the disABILITIES board is available so we can post our problems and hopefully get solutions. I found the DISboards after Disney refused to give me a room discount I was qualified for. I lost out that one time, because I thought Disney was all-knowing. I know better now, thanks to info I got here.

 

[SueM in MN]

I AM a TA, and I had this problem just last week with CSR. The CM on the phone finally put me on the call directly with a special needs co-ordinator and even she insisted that a king upcharge would apply since all the roll in shower rooms at this resort are kings.

I was on the phone for quite a while insisting that they could not charge extra for a roll in shower handicap room and wasn't getting anywhere. I was told it's a new policy (not!) since all those rooms are kings. That size bathroom juts into the room itself so there is no room for two queen beds. I finally had the special needs CM access another handicap res I had made at CSR and she read the notes there and started profusely apologizing saying there were different codes to use for that now. I was calm and professional the entire time on the phone, but I was getting a little exasperated!

It's upsetting that the special needs people are not up to speed on legal ADA points. I did ask if she was a special needs CM or just a reservation supervisor and she indicated that she was special needs. I understand new codes and booking criteria when computer systems change but they shouldn't try to tell us it's a new policy to charge extra when such a thing really doesn't exist and is totally against the law. If they are truely experienced in booking for special needs, they should know to look for the proper booking proceedure when their computer systems change.

Edited to add: Sometimes only the king category is bookable, and in that case you have to pay for the king room as your category. But when a standard room is available and booked, they cannot charge the king premium. In the above case a standard was booked and the CM tried to change the reservation to a king category but I told him NO.

Thanks for posting this.
I hope you (and anyone else this happened to) also write to Disney and let them know.

My guess, from what you were told, is that WDW changed one of the codes without telling the Special Needs Department. When the code they usually used was not there, they assumed the policy changed.

As you pointed out, that is very disturbing because if the people in that department really understood the ADA, they would have realized that there was a mistake the first time they saw the codes and would not have needed to have it pointed out to them.

(As you pointed out, if all of the Standard rooms in all categories had already been booked and all that was left were Kings, they could have done the upcharge for the King room. That would be treating someone with a disability the same as anyone else who called for a reservation.
But when Standard rooms are available, to charge for a King just because the room is accessible is against the law).

 

[lisam427]

Thanks for posting this.
I hope you (and anyone else this happened to) also write to Disney and let them know.

My guess, from what you were told, is that WDW changed one of the codes without telling the Special Needs Department. When the code they usually used was not there, they assumed the policy changed.

As you pointed out, that is very disturbing because if the people in that department really understood the ADA, they would have realized that there was a mistake the first time they saw the codes and would not have needed to have it pointed out to them.

(As you pointed out, if all of the Standard rooms in all categories had already been booked and all that was left were Kings, they could have done the upcharge for the King room. That would be treating someone with a disability the same as anyone else who called for a reservation.
But when Standard rooms are available, to charge for a King just because the room is accessible is against the law).

i just got off the phone with disney special reservations (called them twice). both times i was told the same thing my travel agent told me. i can either go to french quarter (which has standard accessible rooms with roll in showers) or pay for a king at coronado. it was explained to me that because french quarter now has standard accessible rooms they now charge people in need of roll in showers for the king rooms at coronado. coronado's roll in shower rooms are only king rooms. there are no standard available at this resort with roll in showers. so i guess i would be responsible for the upcharge .

 

[peemagg]

I would think that those charges only pertain to those booking at POFQ, since they have changed their rooms. I have a feeling that everyone over there is confused with the new rooms that have been changed at FQ.

 

[Tiggerish]

Could it be that Disney is thinking that they are compliant because they have "moderate" level accessible double bedded rooms. That is, because you can get these rooms at one of the moderate resorts, that fulfills the requirement for all the moderate resorts? That thought occurred to me when I heard there were 50 new roll in shower rooms and 25 new extra bars & space rooms at the POFQ.

Unfortunately, it seems that funneling all the disability people to one resort could cause a bus boarding nightmare since the buses can only take 2 or 3 wheelchairs, ECV or power chairs at a time.

 

[KPeveler]

Could it be that Disney is thinking that they are compliant because the have "moderate" level accessible double bedded rooms. That is, because you can get these rooms at one of the moderate resorts, that fulfills the requirement for all the moderate resorts? That thought occurred to me when I heard there were 50 new roll in shower rooms and 25 new extra bars & space rooms at the POFQ.

Unfortunately, it seems that funneling all the disability people to one resort could cause a bus boarding nightmare since the buses can only take 2 or 3 wheelchairs, ECV or power chairs at a time.

You know, I wonder if you aren't right about that... If there is a problem at one resort, Disney will usually look at other "comparable" resorts to find a room for you. Now, we are going to POFQ on our next trip (which we don't have a date for, but I already have planned! ), but we want a King bed! I wish Disney communicated better with their call center people about these new updates!

 

[BillSears]

Tiggerish,

I agree. Funneling all the roll-in shower users to POFQ is unfair and going to cause some big problems.

When I was staying at POFQ last month I noticed that the building I was in had 10 roll-in shower rooms and probably some with grab bars. But it only had 4 handicapped parking spaces. On most nights when I returned from the parks the H/C parking was full.

Katy,

I was told that POFQ now had NO king sized bed rooms with roll-in showers. So they fix the problem of no 2 bed rooms with roll-in showers by creating the problem of no king size rooms with roll-in showers.

 

[peemagg]

I wouldn't consider by having one moderate resort with 2 beds in a room as being ADA compliant. Essentially they are now saying that if you want this, this is the only place you can stay. If you want to stay somewhere else in the same hotel category it will cost you more. That is not equal access. That's discrimination.

If they had both categories in each resort, and charged all who wanted a king bed (accessible or otherwise) more, then that would be equal. Not one hotel out of 4 or 5 of their hotels in that category.

I think if the idea that seems to be present is what is going on, then I think Disney might be in for some trouble with the ADA.

 

[dclfun]

I wouldn't consider by having one moderate resort with 2 beds in a room as being ADA compliant. Essentially they are now saying that if you want this, this is the only place you can stay. If you want to stay somewhere else in the same hotel category it will cost you more. That is not equal access. That's discrimination.

If they had both categories in each resort, and charged all who wanted a king bed (accessible or otherwise) more, then that would be equal. Not one hotel out of 4 or 5 of their hotels in that category.

I think if the idea that seems to be present is what is going on, then I think Disney might be in for some trouble with the ADA.

Agreed! There have to be the same room types available in each resort for disabled guests as there are available to non-disabled guests. They should not have taken ALL the king bed/roll-in shower options out of POFQ for this reason. Remember when Poly club level bldg. had no roll-in shower rooms? They do now after many people complained of discrimination. This is the same story, different chapter. POFQ is not the same resort as Coronado Springs. What about someone who needs a roll in shower who is there for a conference?---Kathy

 

[BillSears]

...What about someone who needs a roll in shower who is there for a conference?---Kathy

I can see them saying that roll-in showers are available. But none available at the standard rate so you'll have to take a king sized bed room upsell. Sort of true...zero rooms available at the standard rate because none were built.

 

[Tiggerish]

I agree that if (and it is only speculation at this point) this is what Disney is planning that it should not be considered ADA compliant. However, if you read they very small print on your Disney paperwork, they do not guarantee that you will get a room at the resort you book, they actually reserve the right to transfer your reservation to another resort of equal value. So with that, they might make an argument that having double bedded rooms available in the catergory is sufficient. And I think they would be being very short sighted with the busing and parking problems created by bundling everyone into one resort.

 

[SueM in MN]

I wouldn't consider by having one moderate resort with 2 beds in a room as being ADA compliant. Essentially they are now saying that if you want this, this is the only place you can stay. If you want to stay somewhere else in the same hotel category it will cost you more. That is not equal access. That's discrimination.

If they had both categories in each resort, and charged all who wanted a king bed (accessible or otherwise) more, then that would be equal. Not one hotel out of 4 or 5 of their hotels in that category.

I think if the idea that seems to be present is what is going on, then I think Disney might be in for some trouble with the ADA.

I agree they will be in trouble.
The ADA does say that a hotel/resort is required to have accessible rooms in all the same room types and locations as non-accessible rooms.
If they charge more for guests in non-accessible rooms for those things, they can charge more for accessible rooms.

Agreed! There have to be the same room types available in each resort for disabled guests as there are available to non-disabled guests. They should not have taken ALL the king bed/roll-in shower options out of POFQ for this reason. Remember when Poly club level bldg. had no roll-in shower rooms? They do now after many people complained of discrimination. This is the same story, different chapter. POFQ is not the same resort as Coronado Springs. What about someone who needs a roll in shower who is there for a conference?---Kathy

I wonder if some of this is temporary because of the updates/ renovations?

 

[LilyWDW]

I agree they will be in trouble.
The ADA does say that a hotel/resort is required to have accessible rooms in all the same room types and locations as non-accessible rooms.
If they charge more for guests in non-accessible rooms for those things, they can charge more for accessible rooms.

I wonder if some of this is temporary because of the updates/ renovations?

I've worked with ADA (though not at this level I will admit) and I have to agree that this would NOT be sufficient. I would have to think this is an issue based off of the updates/renovations. Maybe a communications issue or a temporary issue due to the changes they are making. Perhaps a mix of both... maybe they are going to make similar changes at other resorts and have not yet... but reservations has already been told?

I admit I am trying to come up with a logical explanation because Disney is well known for being accessible. Thus, I really think there is something being lost somewhere.

 

[lisam427]

i got some good news this morning. i got an email from my travel agent this morning (she emailed me last night). she stated that she got me a room with a roll in shower without an extra charge even though it is a king room.

i'm not sure whats happening over there. maybe there are a few new castmembers over there that are not sure about what is going on. i am just glad im getting my roll in shower. i hope other people havent had to go through this mess either.