Anyone ever warned about PO's 5th person?

[teacher31]

This is bugging me. We've made reservations for 5 at PO. We've stayed there twice before with three kids, but now the reservationist said that we couldn't. When I asked why she said that my youngest was too big for the trundle. I told her that I thought they were for people under 5 feet tall and my two youngest are way under that. She said she was warning me. She kept repeating that. When I asked her point blank if we would be turned away, she said no, but she was warning me. The only other option for a family of 5 would be at the deluxe resorts. For being a "Family" place, there aren't many options for a family of 5. So...

1. Anyone else 'warned'?
2. Anyone turned away upon check-in?

 

[tlbwriter]

I assume it means that if you show up and complain that the trundle is too small, they can say "we warned you!"

 

[Allison]

I have read posts before of people being told they couldn't book POR for 5 because the youngest child was considered too old for the trundle.

Since you have it booked, I wouldn't worry.

 

[maxiesmom]

One of my Disney travel books states that the child is to be between the ages of 3-9. If you have stayed on-site before the computer will show the ages of your children. Maybe she is warning you because you children will be older than that? Though I have never heard of anyone being kicked out of their room becuase their 3rd child is too old.

 

[Bill From PA]

When faced with this a few years back I solved the problem by booking for 4 and taking an inflatable bed. At POR such a bed will fit nicely between the door and the bed nearest the door. Deflate in the morning and put it back in the suitcase. Expect to be scolded here that it's against the rules/buildingcode/God'sWill. I'm offering advice, not a Sunday School lesson.

Bill From PA

 

[bicker]

I think being more deliberate about warning folks about things like this stems from the fact that some folks tend to read assurances into every bit of information provided by WDW, assurances that simply aren't being offered. (Heck, some people read assurances into what we say here on the DIS -- as if they were iron-clad guarantees promised by Disney! ) By warning people, at least they're doing the best they can to bring as many guests as possible back to the reality of what is truly being offered versus what is not.

For example, we're currently discussing the closure of Roaring Forks for rehab in early 2006 -- there are many people who seem to feel that there was some guarantee that it would be open. The same sort of thing seems to happen with regard to dining offerings that are discontinued. I'm not sure how effective warnings will be, but I'm not sure what more they can do, other than making us sign papers agreeing to what is and is not guaranteed.

 

[mickman1962]

I recently booked for 3 adults and 2 kids 15/11 with no warning. I think that they should just inform you that the trundle bed is very small and let you decide if it is feasible. It is for us as one adult and one kid are both under 5 feet tall.

 

[teacher31]

I think being more deliberate about warning folks about things like this stems from the fact that some folks tend to read assurances into every bit of information provided by WDW, assurances that simply aren't being offered. (Heck, some people read assurances into what we say here on the DIS -- as if they were iron-clad guarantees promised by Disney! ) By warning people, at least they're doing the best they can to bring as many guests as possible back to the reality of what is truly being offered versus what is not.

For example, we're currently discussing the closure of Roaring Forks for rehab in early 2006 -- there are many people who seem to feel that there was some guarantee that it would be open. The same sort of thing seems to happen with regard to dining offerings that are discontinued. I'm not sure how effective warnings will be, but I'm not sure what more they can do, other than making us sign papers agreeing to what is and is not guaranteed.

I agree with what you said. I do think some people are unrealistic by what even WDW can do. What irritated me most is that she wouldn't clarify what she was warning me about. If she said the weight limit was 50 pounds, fine. We'd work something out. I was looking for a reason rather than, "I am warning you."

 

[bicker]

You mean, beyond just having five in a room. Yeah, well, sometimes being more specific causes more trouble than it resolves. Customer service is a very sticky business.

 

[Sammie]

Another warning, If you book a room for 4 and actually have 5 in the room using an inflatible bed, one of your party will not get a Resort ID and not be allowed to use Early Entry or Extra Magic Hours.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm betting they've had some complaints from parties who were not aware of the small size of the trundle.

 

[Sammie]

I'm betting they've had some complaints from parties who were not aware of the small size of the trundle.

Probably so and then they wanted Disney to provide them a rollaway instead of the trundle.

 

[annie1995]

We stayed at POR last summer, both my kids were at the time 5 and almost 10. Both are tall for their age, and alternated nights on the trundle, and neither one complained. Your at Disney, what kid doesn't fall totally exausted into bed at night? I'm sure they will be fine!

 

[HopperFan]

Disney REFUSED to book POR for my family because my petite DD was over the age of 9 (she is 12). She would have fit better than most 9 year olds and I explained this.......but she absolutely refused to book it and gave me my two room or deluxe options. She said it had nothing to do with size, it was her age.

 

[KeepSwimming]

When faced with this a few years back I solved the problem by booking for 4 and taking an inflatable bed. At POR such a bed will fit nicely between the door and the bed nearest the door. Deflate in the morning and put it back in the suitcase. Expect to be scolded here that it's against the rules/buildingcode/God'sWill. I'm offering advice, not a Sunday School lesson.

Bill From PA

My family has chosen this route as well over the years. No problems for us or from anyone at the POR.

Also, Bill - did you ever teach in Pensacola? You look like a professor I had several years ago!

 

[lagunaseca]

I recently booked for 3 adults and 2 kids 15/11 with no warning. I think that they should just inform you that the trundle bed is very small and let you decide if it is feasible. It is for us as one adult and one kid are both under 5 feet tall.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you but I was shocked when I put a quote request in and they would not let us have one room with our family of 5 because of the kids' ages. They are 15, just turned 12 at the time we will be there, and one just 10. I tried through a TA and they got the same response. We have stayed at POR before, my youngest son can sleep in a box if he's tired (just kidding he has a nice comfy bed ) and we were going to take the blow up mattress anyway. But they said no so we booked 2 rooms. Oh well, I'll try to look on the bright side. It means another bathroom. At least I'll TRY to think of that when we're at the parks all day and I know we're paying for 2 rooms sitting empty instead of one

 

[teacher31]

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you but I was shocked when I put a quote request in and they would not let us have one room with our family of 5 because of the kids' ages. They are 15, just turned 12 at the time we will be there, and one just 10. I tried through a TA and they got the same response. We have stayed at POR before, my youngest son can sleep in a box if he's tired (just kidding he has a nice comfy bed ) and we were going to take the blow up mattress anyway. But they said no so we booked 2 rooms. Oh well, I'll try to look on the bright side. It means another bathroom. At least I'll TRY to think of that when we're at the parks all day and I know we're paying for 2 rooms sitting empty instead of one

I'm so surprised. I scoped it out online first to see all of my options, and since I could proceed to "Book this Offer," with POR, I didn't think twice about it. I'm sure that I could have proceeded but decided to call it in because I'm uptight and I wanted to make sure that it went through. Shop all the time online, but making reservations online worried me. Did you try booking online?

 

[shades]

Another warning, If you book a room for 4 and actually have 5 in the room using an inflatible bed, one of your party will not get a Resort ID and not be allowed to use Early Entry or Extra Magic Hours.

Huh?? We have 5 in our group and only 2 resort keys and we always go to early entry with only one adult showing a key. We go every morning to the park with early entry - we have done this more than 60 times over the past few years with no problems at all.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Huh?? We have 5 in our group and only 2 resort keys and we always go to early entry with only one adult showing a key. We go every morning to the park with early entry - we have done this more than 60 times over the past few years with no problems at all.

I'd say you were pretty lucky. We've been to Disney Studios, MK and AK and had to show room IDs for all three of us. If you go to the evening EMH, you will have your room ID scanned. Once it's scanned, it can't be scanned a second time that evening.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Huh?? We have 5 in our group and only 2 resort keys and we always go to early entry with only one adult showing a key. We go every morning to the park with early entry - we have done this more than 60 times over the past few years with no problems at all.

This used to be the case. I think it might still be for the morning EMH. However the evening ones require wrist band for every member. You need to show your card to get a wrist band. If you don't have a wrist band you can stay in the park, but not go on any rides. Now the front desk gives room cards for every member with a ticket (over 3 years old) In the past they didn't for young kids. Now your name is on the card, in the past it was only the person that booked the room (for example if I booked the room my name was on all the cards.)