Best Way To Contact WDW with Problem (Resort Related)_Small Update

[Searc]

Oh, I'm with you. I love booking online.

We were using a military discount and needed 6 rooms and the online process was not allowing that. Plus as we configured our rooms with various people in each room, that wouldn't even work. I was forced to call. Basically, though, needing the military discount required that.

For now, if I just got to availability for 2-9 November 2019 and trying to get just ONE standard room at the GF, there is only one Club Level King Suite available (at $1200 per night). Last week, that wasn't even available. I feel like a check several times a day. That week seems to be just booked solid for most of the resorts.

Have you looked into a villa and splitting the cost? It looks like there is HA availability at Boulder Ridge for your dates.

 

[Christine]

Have you looked into a villa and splitting the cost? It looks like there is HA availability at Boulder Ridge for your dates.

At the time we made reservations, we looked into where 16 people could fit at the most reasonable cost. Due to the ECV use of two elderly group members, we wanted to stay on the monorail and not rely solely on bus (and boat was often out of the question for ECV use). We also looked at villas and when, on the phone with the CM, a villa in most cases ended up being more pricey then 2 rooms plus had adults sleeping on pull out couches in some cases (not sure right now if the Boulder Ridge Villas had that configuration).

I'm not opposed to changing resorts at this point to make it work (and included that info in my emails to guest services and the GF general manager) but we definitely wanted to be on a monorail line--at least that was the going-in thought process.

 

[Christine]

Update...

Well, not much of an update. Over the past 2 days, including two tries today, we've called several times. Still "no room at the inn" so to speak. Doesn't appear there were any cancellations at the GF at the 30 day mark. I did see 4 different resorts come up today for booking, when previously mostly everything was sold out, but according to the CM, it's basically one room here and there. Certainly can't get our whole party moved.

So now we are in a waiting mode to see if something pops up before we get there. If not, we are basically out of luck and I guess my cousin will have to help my aunt shower.

I do have an email in to Guest Services and one to the General Manager at the GF explaining the situation. It's been two days and I haven't heard one word but, really, what can I expect them to do. There is no room and no way to fix it.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Update...

Well, not much of an update. Over the past 2 days, including two tries today, we've called several times. Still "no room at the inn" so to speak. Doesn't appear there were any cancellations at the GF at the 30 day mark. I did see 4 different resorts come up today for booking, when previously mostly everything was sold out, but according to the CM, it's basically one room here and there. Certainly can't get our whole party moved.

So now we are in a waiting mode to see if something pops up before we get there. If not, we are basically out of luck and I guess my cousin will have to help my aunt shower.

I do have an email in to Guest Services and one to the General Manager at the GF explaining the situation. It's been two days and I haven't heard one word but, really, what can I expect them to do. There is no room and no way to fix it.

Ugh. If it's any consolation, room-only reservations have until 5 days prior to check-in to cancel and people can still modify packages without penalty, so there still could be changes or cancellations. I truly hope they will be able to accommodate your aunt's needs. It is really unfortunate the original CM did not book the room you needed when you first booked.

 

[Lewisc]

You should be speaking to disability services, OP gave you the phone number, exclusively. Tell them your needs and let them do the checking. From the EPCOT resorts you can walk or boat to 2 ,parks. Check swan dolphin

 

[Christine]

You should be speaking to disability services, OP gave you the phone number, exclusively. Tell them your needs and let them do the checking. From the EPCOT resorts you can walk or boat to 2 ,parks. Check swan dolphin

Yes, I will give them a call. I just figured that guest services, the manager, and reservations would be the first stop. As to your suggestions for the other venues, we would need at least 3 rooms for a separation of family (we have 6 rooms at GF) and split up our party. We have 2 guests with mobility issues who are using ECVs. The bus is always an option but we will spend more time at MK this trip, I believe due to the very young children. Having a monorail resort was our #1 priority. As to the boats, I am seeing that most of the boat categories do not take ECVs.

 

[Lewisc]

The boats from the EPCOT resorts to EPCOT and DHS accommodate ECV

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, I will give them a call. I just figured that guest services, the manager, and reservations would be the first stop. As to your suggestions for the other venues, we would need at least 3 rooms for a separation of family (we have 6 rooms at GF) and split up our party. We have 2 guests with mobility issues who are using ECVs. The bus is always an option but we will spend more time at MK this trip, I believe due to the very young children. Having a monorail resort was our #1 priority. As to the boats, I am seeing that most of the boat categories do not take ECVs.

Most of the boats DO take ECVs
All of them in the Epcot area lake do.
Half of them (at least) in the MK lake do.
Only the smallest of the boats don't. This is the boat that always goes to GF/Poly.
WL has a boat like the Friendship boat that can take ECV. It usually alternates with the smaller boat. One bigger, next smaller, next bigger, ect.

 

[Christine]

Most of the boats DO take ECVs
All of them in the Epcot area lake do.
Half of them (at least) in the MK lake do.
Only the smallest of the boats don't. This is the boat that always goes to GF/Poly.
WL has a boat like the Friendship boat that can take ECV. It usually alternates with the smaller boat. One bigger, next smaller, next bigger, ect.

Thank you. I had focused on the boats to GF so that's where I had my perception. We had initially wanted Beach Club but couldn't get in even back then. As of yesterday, we could only get one room at the Epcot resorts, not all of them and she's not going to stay alone.

 

[AngiTN]

Thank you. I had focused on the boats to GF so that's where I had my perception. We had initially wanted Beach Club but couldn't get in even back then. As of yesterday, we could only get one room at the Epcot resorts, not all of them and she's not going to stay alone.

Try that Disability office. There are rooms available that you can't find online. Didn't used to be but now that they have these weird algorithms in place you never know. GS CM (not the first level CM) can find things sometimes. I'm thinking that Disability office can too
Tell them the issue from step 1, how you asked to book an HA room and the first CM didn't do it
Have them look all over for options in the other resorts that will fit all of you.
Having the monorail isn't the end all be all either. It breaks down a lot. Then you are left with buses even to MK
You may have to decide which is worth more to you, a monorail to MK or a room your ECV family members can use and rooms for you all together.

 

[Lewisc]

You have the rooms already reserved. You need one HA room with a roll in shower
That is exactly what you should be asking for from disability services.

 

[Christine]

Try that Disability office. There are rooms available that you can't find online. Didn't used to be but now that they have these weird algorithms in place you never know. GS CM (not the first level CM) can find things sometimes. I'm thinking that Disability office can too
Tell them the issue from step 1, how you asked to book an HA room and the first CM didn't do it
Have them look all over for options in the other resorts that will fit all of you.
Having the monorail isn't the end all be all either. It breaks down a lot. Then you are left with buses even to MK
You may have to decide which is worth more to you, a monorail to MK or a room your ECV family members can use and rooms for you all together.

You have the rooms already reserved. You need one HA room with a roll in shower
That is exactly what you should be asking for from disability services.

Okay, just got off the phone with Disability Services. It was nice that they had NO HOLD time!!!

Anyway, they looked into the reservation, looked over the resort capacity, as well as checked the properties all over and agreed that there was no way to move our party. They could move my aunt to another resort by herself but that was it. Said that Disney is extremely booked that week.

They suggested that I continue to call the reservation and resort line daily looking for an HA room. My option now is to suggest the device that allows her to sit and swing her legs over the tub and I can request handle bars to be attached. But they can't reserve those now. I have to request them at check in. Other than that, they can't do anything more.

 

[Lewisc]

I'd politely call the disability services people weekly. I'd make sure your reservation shows HA room with a roll in shower as a request. Some resorts, not sure about WDW, hold back HA rooms so they can assign them based on need.

 

[lanejudy]

My option now is to suggest the device that allows her to sit and swing her legs over the tub and I can request handle bars to be attached. But they can't reserve those now. I have to request them at check in. Other than that, they can't do anything more.

You can put a request note on the reservation in advance, but it's 50-50 whether you may need to ask again at the desk. The shower chair is provided by housekeeping.

However, to be sure you have the right style of chair to suit your aunt's needs, I suggest you (or your cousin) check Orlando Medical Rentals and rent exactly what she needs. The chair available at the resort may or may not suit her needs. It might just be a shower chair without the transfer, or vice versa; may be back or no back; etc. If you do use a resort-provided chair, be sure to check that the screws are all properly tightened.

Is your aunt booked into a room by herself? If an HA room came up in a different resort, is there someone who could bunk in with her? Maybe swapping every night or two if that person has family in another room as well. She can ask for an extra room key that the family members could share, so it doesn't impact magicbands.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

 

[Christine]

You can put a request note on the reservation in advance, but it's 50-50 whether you may need to ask again at the desk. The shower chair is provided by housekeeping.

However, to be sure you have the right style of chair to suit your aunt's needs, I suggest you (or your cousin) check Orlando Medical Rentals and rent exactly what she needs. The chair available at the resort may or may not suit her needs. It might just be a shower chair without the transfer, or vice versa; may be back or no back; etc. If you do use a resort-provided chair, be sure to check that the screws are all properly tightened.

Is your aunt booked into a room by herself? If an HA room came up in a different resort, is there someone who could bunk in with her? Maybe swapping every night or two if that person has family in another room as well. She can ask for an extra room key that the family members could share, so it doesn't impact magicbands.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

Thanks for the tips on the devices. I'll have her look online to see what works best for her. She basically is booked in her own room. My cousin is listed on the room with her but will most likely be staying in another room with the kids (long) story as my aunt wants a LOT of privacy. She has a colostomy bag that she is mortified over and does not want to share a bathroom with anyone. The colostomy is a big issue for her and she wants to have her privacy when she's in her room so that she doesn't have to always be fully covered up (which she feels the need to do when around others).

I honestly understand what you are saying about finding another room for her at another resort but the whole purpose of this trip was to have the family together at the resort, at least, to just be together, hang out, sit by the pool, etc. I think separating between two resorts really defeats what we are going for. As they say, you can't have it all, so I think in order to be together we're just going to have to muddle through with the tub/shower. That's her choice too. I only wish that it could have been handled better at the start. I feel like we were very clear on her needs.

 

[Lewisc]

If you're willing to use your credit cards I'd book the HA room and keep your existing reservation. Try to get rooms in the new resort. One room at a time maybe even 2 or 3 nights at a time. A week out decide what you're going to do and cancel the extras.
What resort has HA room available?

I'd check in as early as possible. The desk might be able to switch your assigned rooms and get rooms closer. Might get lucky and get a HA room

 

[Christine]

If you're willing to use your credit cards I'd book the HA room and keep your existing reservation. Try to get rooms in the new resort. One room at a time maybe even 2 or 3 nights at a time. A week out decide what you're going to do and cancel the extras.
What resort has HA room available?

I'd check in as early as possible. The desk might be able to switch your assigned rooms and get rooms closer. Might get lucky and get a HA room

As of yesterday, Beach Club had an HA room available. I've been trying to check the WDW site all day for resort availability and I keep getting an "We're Almost In Orbit" and I never get to it. I thought it was my office browser as we have a ton of security but, nope, it's happening here.

As for booking elsewhere, one by one, no one wants to do that. They've given up and said we'll just deal with it. They are tired of dealing with it.

 

[Lewisc]

JMO you'll never find 6 rooms for 7 nights available at the same time. Either grab the HA and add as you find availability or stick with what you have.

Try to get to the GF as early as possible.

 

[sndral]

First, I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. My sense is that the most important part of this trip is that the family be together with your aunt on what may be her last chance to go to WDW. I have no words of advice, but I hope once you are there your aunt and your family have a wonderful vacation and that your aunt’s needs are accommodated as you were promised in that first phone call.

 

[Christine]

First, I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. My sense is that the most important part of this trip is that the family be together with your aunt on what may be her last chance to go to WDW. I have no words of advice, but I hope once you are there your aunt and your family have a wonderful vacation and that your aunt’s needs are accommodated as you were promised in that first phone call.

Thanks. I agree that the togetherness is the important factor. I'm hoping either right before we go on when we check in there will be availability. Maybe even at some point during the trip she could change rooms.