Anyone ever been told....

[Hersheybar417]

you need to request a non-handicapped room if you want a non-handicapped room? We recently returned from a 3 week trip to Disney. Two weeks were spent at our home resort - BWV. When we checked into our two bedroom with our extended family (including three children) we were put on the ground floor, by the pool in two handicapped rooms. While these were very nice, clean rooms, we preferred non-handicapped rooms. We immediately inquired at the front desk, but were told there was nothing else available. When we asked about the rooms, we were told we got those rooms because we did not request non-handicapped rooms. We never heard of this before. I will soon be calling for our trip next January. I guess I need to add this to my request.

I'm just curious, do you specify this when you make a DVC reservation?

Linda

 

[Chuck S]

We do occasionally get placed in a handicap room at OKW. It is no big deal to us, but I can see where someone in a studio with kids would want a bathtub.

Since the handicap room are part of the condos, and none of usbought in to a "specific" room, there is alwys the chance you may be placed in one if they are not needed by folks with disabilities. Since our rooms are not specifically assigned at the time of reservation, I don't know if there is any way to avoid the occasional stay in an accessible unit. A request is not a guarantee.

 

[kamikazecat]

I tried to request an non handicapped room for our upcoming trip at BLT and was told that it was unnecessary and they would not put it in our reservation. I was told that these rooms had to be held in case someone needed that room.

The only reason I tried to add this request is that I had read that there were not any balcony door locks (security) in the handicapped accessible rooms and I am traveling with a 4yo so a bathtub is a necessity.

 

[disneynutz]

Here is another thread about the same subject.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2397053

Bill

 

[Checkers]

When I made our reservations for this coming May I specifically told the CM that we did not want HA rooms because we are traveling with small children, one just learning to walk. We also require bathtubs. There didn't seem to be any problem making this request. Several years ago we had a GV at OKW and we waited and waited and waited for our villa to be ready and finally got in after 6 o'clock and it was a HA villa. At the time we were also traveling with family that had a toddler who could reach the top of the stove, all A/C controls, etc. I went directly and talked to the manager and explained the situation to him and we were moved the next day to another GV.

When we returned home I wrote a letter and made the suggestion that families traveling with small children should never be placed in HA rooms unless it was a request because of the safety issues. Don't know how much good it has done but I always mention it too when we check in.

 

[bwvBound]

I'm just curious, do you specify this when you make a DVC reservation?

I haven't in the past -- but will absolutely make a point of doing so in the future. I've been stuck in the HA room and hated it -- and if making a specific request to avoid that room type will help, I'll make the request.

My other points-based timeshare identifies HA rooms as a separate booking category. Sure wish DVC did likewise.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

A long time ago I read on the DIS that you could request a room with a bathtub to get around the HA issue.

 

[crisi]

Because the resorts often operate at full capacity, there wll occasionally be HA rooms that are not booked by people needing them that need to be used by non-disabled guests.

We don't bother with making the request - we stay in one or two bedrooms where we have the jacquzzi and don't find the HA rooms to be that inconvient if we end up in one (which we have).

 

[LIFERBABE]

When we got the AKV CL 1 bedroom without a tub, I immediately called MS and was told I needed to request a tub!!

I too thought that a tub was included in the larger villas. That's a major selling point of 1 bed or larger, the tub, kitchen, laundry. Dont need the kitchen or the laundry on CL so was really looking forward to soaking in the tub

I will never ever book a 1 bed CL again because to pay 1 bed points and not get a tub of any sort is not what I pay 1 bed points for.

I do wish HA was a booking category.

Now that the boys are older, I dont sweat it as much as I used to but I do understand the issue with smaller children.

 

[kamikazecat]

Just called MS and had them add the non HA to our room request. They worded it as "needs a bathtub for a small child."

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Just called MS and had them add the non HA to our room request. They worded it as "needs a bathtub for a small child."

Thanks for the tip!! On one of our trips when we stayed on the 14th floor of the CR we were put in a HA room (probably the only one on the 14th floor). The shower floor was a disaster for us...water everywhere. Tried to move but there were no other rooms available.

I will call and add "needs a bathtub" to our reservation just to be on the safe side...thx!!

 

[Macnjac87]

I just added "NON HA Room" request to our upcoming BWV stay. We stayed at WLV last time in a HA studio and the bathroom floor was constantly flooded. Yuck!

 

[Muhlenberg]

I don't think requesting "needs a tub" works at BLT for keeping you OUT of a HA room. There are pics on Work2Play's thread showing HA rooms with a shower AND a tub. I think at BLT you're going to have to request "non-HA" to be safe.

 

[crisi]

And, in most cases "needs a tub" in a one or two bedroom will not keep you out of a HA, because I think there is ONE unit over at VAKL that doesn't have the jacuzzi. The newer resorts sometimes have the HA tub deal in studios, the older resorts skip the tub for the roll in shower.

 

[Chuck S]

And, in most cases "needs a tub" in a one or two bedroom will not keep you out of a HA, because I think there is ONE unit over at VAKL that doesn't have the jacuzzi. The newer resorts sometimes have the HA tub deal in studios, the older resorts skip the tub for the roll in shower.

Exactly. So far all one bedroom and larger units, with the exception of the concierge unit at AKV, have the jacuzzi tub as well as a shower. The "needs a tub" requirement will only make a difference in studio units, unless you reserve concierge at AKV.

 

[LilGMom]

We've gotten into the habit of telling MS that we do not want/need a HA accessible room due to our kids. Even after telling them while making the ressie we've been given a HA room when checking in. Luckily we were always able to switch out to a std. room.

 

[Dean]

There is no way to guarantee a non HC room, requesting one will help but is by no means absolute. Asking for a ground floor at OKW is a great way to get one though. Personally I'd rather not go than get a HC room but I also realize that someone has to get them and that at this time there are more HC rooms that need in most cases. Often people try the "I don't want to take one from someone who needs it" ploy but the reality is that does not happen given the set up. I try to keep my requests simple. Non smoking (when that was an issue) and NOT a HC unit and if we have multiple units, as close together as possible. As a rule room assigners have a very difficult and thankless task though at most DVC resorts they don't put much effort into fulfilling requests either. Fortunately at many resorts we deal with (non DVC) they actually make real efforts to meet requests based on appropriate info and priorities. Almost all Marriott's actually have a formal list that tends to look something like this.

• Multiple week owners at that resort
• single week owners
• Multiple week Marriott exchangers
• Single Week Marriott exchangers
• Cash guests (formal renters, renters from a member are given the members priority)
• Multiple week non Marriott exchangers
• Single week non Marriott exchangers

Some get a little fancier and add in a couple of minor additional categories. Most resorts give the unit or unit type exchanged with a few exceptions. It's unfortunate that DVC has stopped putting real effort into unit assignments outside the booking categories.

 

[kamikazecat]

We are staying in a studio. I requested a non HA room and that was the way they worded it. I am sure we will be fine.