Beware handicapped rooms if you're not handicapped!!!

[DLKT]

OK, my second negative Resort post.
I really do love it at Disney but this took us by surprise and messed us up royally at TWO Resorts on the SAME TRIP!!!

We check in to WLV, 3 adults and 2 toddlers.
We're vacationing with another family who is in a different room also on the same 1st floor.

Just so everyone knows:1st floor rooms have patio's that are esentially useless for families with wandering kids. There's nothing to keep them from walking away , no little fence or shrubs, so you have to keep the sliding doors closed at all time. That stinks!

As our bags are delivered I notice the the room looks different.
Then I see that the bathroom is handicapped.
A handicap bathroom has no tub and no storage for toiletries.
3 adults have no place to but their stuff and there's no way to give the kids a bath.
This was never mentioned at the front desk!

So we call down and stay on the phone for a 1/2 hour as we get the run around about no rooms available but they can move us the next day and, get this, waive the $25 room transfer fee!
Gee thanks, what a freaking deal!

So I leave it at that and go to the bathroom.
THERE IS NO LOCK ON THE BATHROOM DOOR!
It's a slider with no lock. It's not missing. It was never an option.
That might work for a few adults but not with toddlers that follow a particular parent around like crazy.
Sometimes a shower is your only good break from the kids.
At this point my head almost exploded!
There's NO WAY I'm putting up with this for the amount of money we paid.
I call down and talk to Dave for the 3rd time and he sets us up in a one bedroom for the night.
So we wait 45 minutes (I timed it) for the belhop to pick up our stuff , bring us our new keys and take us to the new room.
This room was also a handicap room but it had a jaccuzi so we could at least wash the kids.
I know what you're thinking "Wow a jaccuzi, you made out".
No, you try giving a 20lb kid a bath in a giant jaccuzi, it's not easy.
The room *was* nice, much bigger than a studio but we were so frazzled from our arrival that we didn't really appriciate it.
We couldn't even unpack because it was all being moved the next morning.
The next day we went to the park and transfered again that night to our regular room.
Dave made a follow up call to apologize and said that that sholdn't have happened, that check in should have said something or noticed the children being checked in.
I said "fine, no problem" This is my 3rd time staying there and the other family that we were meeting had stayed several times and this had never happened.
BUT remember: Everytime you change rooms you need to tip the Belhop!
It's not his/her fault.
So that's a fair chunk of change that is lost THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN!
Plus time lost and the stress of not knowing what's going on.

Now lets fast forward a few days to when we switched to the BCV.
We walk in..........same damn thing!!!
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!
This time they had another studio and our luggage was still in storage so it worked out better.
I still had to call and have maintenence come up and fix the lock on the bathroom door.
The pin was missing!
What is up with that?

Still, I understand the need for handicap rooms.
Thank God Disney makes them!
But it should be told up front what your getting.
The bigger question is WHAT HAPPENS TO HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO NEED MY ROOM?
If I was handicapped and I checked in and was told that there are no handicapped rooms I'd assume that they were all being used by handicapped people!!
I mean, THEY REALLY NEED THE ROOM!
I just don't get it.
This is a full service top of the line resort.
That is supposed to mean something more than having a coffee pot in the room.

 

[Lewisc]

I agree handicap accessible rooms don't work well for guests that don't need them. Many hotels assign them last, they hold the rooms in case someone actually needs the room. When a hotel is sold out someone has to get "stuck" with the less desirable rooms.Some hotels most of the king rooms are also handicap accessible rooms, ask for a king room and you might not like what you get. By the way many parents prefer a patio to a balcony, they don't have to worry about the kids falling or jumping off the balcony.

Sounds like you got a free upgrade from a studio to one bedroom. Probably worth a lot more than the few dollars in extra tips and the time it took to change rooms.

 

[DLKT]

I agree handicap accessible rooms don't work well for guests that don't need them. Many hotels assign them last, they hold the rooms in case someone actually needs the room. When a hotel is sold out someone has to get "stuck" with the less desirable rooms.Some hotels most of the king rooms are also handicap accessible rooms, ask for a king room and you might not like what you get. By the way many parents prefer a patio to a balcony, they don't have to worry about the kids falling or jumping off the balcony.

Sounds like you got a free upgrade from a studio to one bedroom. Probably worth a lot more than the few dollars in extra tips and the time it took to change rooms.

Few dollars?
We had about 8 bags(suitcases, backpacks) PLUS a dozen grocery bags from the supermarket we stopped in before arriving, remember this is a Villa.
With $1 a bag and a little extra for the groceries moving 3 times adds up!
AND REMEMBER, this wasn't our fault.
If we were planning this trip down to the dime losing $35 for nothing would hurt.

You're right about the balcony.
That is a concern and something we did take special care with but i prefer it.

The free upgrade would have been great if it was for the length of stay!
LOL!
But it was just from 10PM (we still had to leave to get dinner) to 7AM.
And like I said, we couldn't even unpack.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Oh my god!!! I love it!!! AKL 1st, now WL!!! Now presenting, in a one time only, one man presentation, DLKT's world tour in pissing off all DISer's everywhere!!! C'mon, man, you've got to do the CR next. I'm begging you!!!

Honestly, I have never understood why Disney Resorts take soooo long to get a bellman up to get your luggage. We switched resorts last trip (big mistake!) and the bell captain told us it would be a 40 minute wait. I said you're kidding, right?!? Nope, that's the time. Well long story short...I carried my own bags, because the only way they'd tranfer them to the new resort is if we presented them to the bell captain in person. C'mon now, that's a bit ridiculous!!!

 

[sarahg311@hotmail.co]

We had a handicapped room at CBR a couple years ago and it wasn't too bad because it had a tub. The vanity sink was taller than normal so it was a real pain in the butt to brush their teeth and wash the kids hands....glad it worked out for you in the end!

 

[ADisneygirl]

Did they tell you why you ended up in a handicapped room when that is not what you needed? Was it because the rest of the resort was totally booked? I feel for you. No tub? How upsetting. Especially when I moved to the next resort and found that we were once again in a handicapped room! What's the odds of that happening I wonder?

You are right about all that tipping adding up. Yes, it is not your fault that all your stuff needs to moved again and again, yet I understand feeling that the bellman also aren't at fault and deserve their tips. I think in this case Disney dropped the ball a little. They should have allowed you to remain in the one bedroom if at all possible.

Hope the rest of your stay went well.

 

[txgirl]

We are making our first trip in August, and I must say I really appreciate your posts! They are honest and not sugar-coated and that is exactly what I'm looking for. DW is still reality and "stuff" happens It helps to know what type of circumstances may arise. If you had read a post about being placed in a handicapped room before your trip you might have been able to avoid some of your hassles, right? I read your post about AKL and I think that it also shined a little light on what otherwise has been nuttin' but roses from all the other posts. The good, the bad, the ugly.... ALL OF IT

Keep'em comin!!!!!

 

[DebbieB]

Over on the DVC board, there have been alot of discussions about handicapped rooms. Since DVC resorts are usually full and few people actually need a handicapped room, they are often assigned to non-handicapped. I always ask at the front desk if the room is handicapped to avoid it up front if possible. I've been lucky, I was never assigned one.

You had all these people, 8 pieces of luggage and 12 bags of groceries in a studio? Sounds pretty crowded.

 

[DLKT]

Over on the DVC board, there have been alot of discussions about handicapped rooms. Since DVC resorts are usually full and few people actually need a handicapped room, they are often assigned to non-handicapped. I always ask at the front desk if the room is handicapped to avoid it up front if possible. I've been lucky, I was never assigned one.

You had all these people, 8 pieces of luggage and 12 bags of groceries in a studio? Sounds pretty crowded.

Yeah I didn't post in the DVC forum because it always seems flooded with "points" discussions.(I leave that for the wife. She handles the points and I eat the food!)
And I thought it would be helpful here.
If we didn't have little kids we probably wouldn't have cared.
But they are at the age where not having a tub would have ruined the whole vacation.

 

[goofy4tink]

Not having a tub would be an issue for me also and my dd takes showers. But, for the money we pay, I expect to be able to take a bath at the end of the day. And I have to agree with the whole 'tipping' issue. We had a problem with our room at BWV at THanksgiving time. They were very helpful about getting us a new room. We lugged our stuff ourselves to the new room. And that room was already occupied so off dh went again to the lobby to get a third room!!! The manager came up with him to see for himself. He was really shocked when he put the room key in, opened the door and found a nice family sitting there, having a snack!!! Seems they decided to add another night but didn't tell anyone. But, the manager told us.."Please, leave your bags, bell services will take them for you to the lobby while we get this cleared up." And they did...there went $10. And then when we finally got our final room, another bell person brought our stuff up and yet another tip. So, I do understand that aspect.

Looks like I'll be double checking this June to make sure I don't get a handicap room at BCV.

 

[DebIreland]

Thanks for the heads up about the baths (of lack of them) in the handicapped rooms. I have a 1 year old (just) so she definitely needs baths... she can barely stand, let alone take showers, lol! I think it sucks that you had to wait for the luggage to be moved and then move again in the morning, that's a lot of wasted time. I wouldn't consider getting the 1-bedroom a free upgrade *at all* too temporary, involved extra tipping, extra lugging of bags, wasted time and another move the next day. That's not an upgrade! If anything, it must have been annoying having to get adjusted to the studio after seeing the extra space in the 1-bedroom. Thanks again for the heads-up about the bath. I would never have thought of that in advance.

 

[Gillian]

Thank you for letting people know that HC DVC units are often assigned to people who don't need them. it's good to ask about it when you check in.

Maybe the clerk should have noticed the little kids, but it's not the worst thing that could happen. Maybe he/she didn't notice that it was a HC room.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I received an entirely free future stay, tickets and all, in concierge, for being assigned a handicapped room when we had not requested one. To be fair, the gift was a mistake by the CM. When I redeemed it later I was informed that the CM had made a mistake in offering it to me, but it was honored in any case. It happened at the Yacht Club and we were compensated by receiving a complimentary future stay in either Yacht club or Beach club concierge with park tickets. I chose the Beach club. It was for three nights. It was great...we redeemed the nights right before our first Disney cruise on the Magic.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

We had a handicapped room at AKL and we LOVED it, HUGE bathroom with tub! I do agree about the sliding, no locking door though.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The bigger question is WHAT HAPPENS TO HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO NEED MY ROOM?

Those needing the accessible rooms are blocked out a week or two before your room was assigned. They have already been taken care of. The room you got assigned just happened to be not needed for that particular time frame.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Ahhh, I was so happy to see another review by DLKT! Although this one was not as snotty and sarcastic.... I am disappointed!

I did not have anything to learn with your AKL review, but I enjoyed it immensely even thogh I did not agree, I could still find humor in it!) But this post has been most informative. I will probably be at BWV in May and I never thought about the handicapped rooms. As a matter of fact, when I used to travel regularly (I was a flight attendant) we LOVED handicapped rooms cuz they were HUUUGE! So if I was told I was getting a handicapped room at check in, I would have probably squealed with delight and felt like an idiot a few moments later as I trudged downstairs to change rooms.

I would never want a first floor room at WL for any reason. I enjoy the pool view too much.

Still waiting for the scathing CR review!

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks for your unbiased reviews of the resorts you have experienced..

I like to hear opinions both for and against, as it gives me a better overview of the resorts in general..

 

[DLKT]

Unfortunatly this was my last review here!
My other review of Boma and AKL was closed against my wishes for no reason given.
I made another post asking why and expressing my disappointment with DIS.
It was deleted within minutes.

Needless to say this ruins any fun of sharing opinions or wanting to help anyone out.
I'll just lurk and take any info that I find intersting for myself in the future.

 

[TLinden16]

Please remember that personal attacks are not welcome on these boards.

DLKT, please continue to share your experiences on the boards. I agree with C.Ann--it's good to have both good and bad reviews so that we can better make decisions on food and lodging that is best for our families.

Karen

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Unfortunatly this was my last review here!
My other review of Boma and AKL was closed against my wishes for no reason given.
I made another post asking why and expressing my disappointment with DIS.
It was deleted within minutes.

Needless to say this ruins any fun of sharing opinions or wanting to help anyone out.
I'll just lurk and take any info that I find intersting for myself in the future.

DKLT-
I don't think your Boma/AKL thread was closed because of anything you said. I think it was closed because Kathleena called you an idiot or at least made reference to it. That's the kind of thing that gets threads shut down, not anything you did! Keep posting!!