connecting rooms

[disneynewman]

Hi all!
I am having a bit of anxiety about or trip to POP in October. I have put in a request that our 2 rooms be connecting so that DM is able to help with our DS who has autism and a service dog. I know this is only a request but given our situation, it is very important. Also we are not checking in until late probably 9ish depending on ME. Is there anything I can do to assure that we have connecting rooms?

 

[bookwormde]

IT is important that you make it as a medical/disability request. There is information and I belive a number to call for this in the stickys above.

I am sure that our moderator Sue will be along soon and she can give you the most accurate information.

welcome

We have lots of active parents of children who are on the autism spectum on the community board so feel free to come over and join in.

bookwormde

 

[mechurchlady]

Welcome aboard.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713
That is the sticky that bookworm talked about.
Somewhere on there is the number for special rooms and you need to emphasize that it is for medical reasons.

Sue is very smart but probably is at work again.

hugs
Laurie

 

[disneynewman]

okay just called the disability reservation #. I requested that our rooms be connecting but I guess I should not have mentioned that we had a SD traveling with us. She made it seem that it may work against us because they will only but SDs on the 1st floor. Can they legally do that?

 

[Bete]

keep calling the day of your arrival and talk to POP directly even including a supervisor if need be. Keep stating you are going to be later in the evening and to save the connecting rooms and you are coming in.

 

[Schmeck]

okay just called the disability reservation #. I requested that our rooms be connecting but I guess I should not have mentioned that we had a SD traveling with us. She made it seem that it may work against us because they will only but SDs on the 1st floor. Can they legally do that?

As long as the room category you are booking is identical on each floor, yes, they can limit service dogs to the first floor. If you are paying extra for a cetain view, and that is not available for a first floor room, then you may have a case. I'm trying to think of why service dogs are only allowed on the first floor - maybe it's not possible to get allergen cleaning equipment up to higher floors to clean out the rooms after a dog has been in them? (I'm thinking of buildings without elevators, BTW)

 

[SueM in MN]

okay just called the disability reservation #. I requested that our rooms be connecting but I guess I should not have mentioned that we had a SD traveling with us. She made it seem that it may work against us because they will only but SDs on the 1st floor. Can they legally do that?

Not sure why they only do SD on first floor, but it may have to do with the fact that most people traveling with SDs have physical disabilities and would probably find it easier to get the dog out for toileting, etc. if on first floor. Even though I'm assuming your dog is an autism SD, they may try to keep all the SDs on first floor to avoid having someone with a physical disability and a SD on a higher floor.

 

[SueM in MN]

keep calling the day of your arrival and talk to POP directly even including a supervisor if need be. Keep stating you are going to be later in the evening and to save the connecting rooms and you are coming in.

Just so the OP is aware, when you call the resort number, you are not actually talking to someone at the resort, you are talking to someone at a call center who is answering for the resort. It won't hurt to call that number, but just wanted to make sure the OP knows it doesn't get you directly to the resort.

You can call the reservation number now and have them note on your reservation that you will be a late arrival, if you have not already done so.

 

[disneynewman]

I called the ADA hotline yesterday. A hotel is not allowed to restrict SDs to a certain floor or section of a bldg. I am going to hope that we just get the connecting rooms. But if when I arrive, there are connecting rooms on a higher floor that they won't allow us to ave I will have to speak up about that.

 

[Schmeck]

I called the ADA hotline yesterday. A hotel is not allowed to restrict SDs to a certain floor or section of a bldg. I am going to hope that we just get the connecting rooms. But if when I arrive, there are connecting rooms on a higher floor that they won't allow us to ave I will have to speak up about that.

But what will 'speaking up' do for you at that time? Just because you say that the ADA hotline said it's not allowed, that doesn't mean the CM needs to believe you - all it means is that if it is true, and you get denied a service because of your service dog, then you can take Disney to court.

What you really need to do is be prepared for what you want to do if you do not get the connecting rooms you need. What do you have planned for options? Do you have an offsite hotel you could book that would meet your needs, or any other solution that would work for you? Think of other onsite resorts you might like to stay at, in case they offer you an option.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Would you mind being more specific? Do you mean, "if there are connecting rooms on the ground floor and there are connecting rooms on the upper floors but they give us rooms on the ground floor (and thus won't allow us to have the connecting rooms on the higher floors)", or do you mean, "if there are no connecting rooms available on the ground floor but there are connecting rooms available on upper floors but they won't assign us to those rooms"?

Because requests - for location, configuration, etc. - ARE just requests.

 

[bookwormde]

Keep the hotline number with you, so if there is an issue that the resort manager can call, so he can get “informed”. No manager who wants to keep his job is going to not follow what he has been told is an administrative interpretation from a reliable source, since there is a big difference between violation that come from “lack of knowledge” and those that are intentional even when reliable advice has been given.

It is a funny misconception that you have to go to court to enforce ADA, most issues are handled through administrative ruling and complaints. The only people who need to go to court are those who disagree with an administrative ruling, those who are setting new precedent and those who are looking to “make some money”.

bookwormde

 

[disneynewman]

Would you mind being more specific? Do you mean, "if there are connecting rooms on the ground floor and there are connecting rooms on the upper floors but they give us rooms on the ground floor (and thus won't allow us to have the connecting rooms on the higher floors)", or do you mean, "if there are no connecting rooms available on the ground floor but there are connecting rooms available on upper floors but they won't assign us to those rooms"?

Because requests - for location, configuration, etc. - ARE just requests.

I mean if there are connecting rooms on an upper floor and they will not place us there just beause of the SD

 

[disneynewman]

Keep the hotline number with you, so if there is an issue that the resort manager can call, so he can get “informed”. No manager who wants to keep his job is going to not follow what he has been told is an administrative interpretation from a reliable source, since there is a big difference between violation that come from “lack of knowledge” and those that are intentional even when reliable advice has been given.

It is a funny misconception that you have to go to court to enforce ADA, most issues are handled through administrative ruling and complaints. The only people who need to go to court are those who disagree with an administrative ruling, those who are setting new precedent and those who are looking to “make some money”.

bookwormde

unfortunately the hotline is only open during 'business hours' which is something like 9:30-4 Mon-Fri. Since we arrive Friday night it won't do me much good, but I am sure if I looked on the web I could find it in writting somewhere

Again, I have only been speaking to the call center people. I am sure a resort manager would be better versed in these laws and I am just going to hope eveything works out. I just like to know my rights going into these situations.

 

[Schmeck]

No, the resort managers are not specially trained in ADA - and will not answer to anyone on a hotline for that matter either. Why would they? The hotline is not law enforcement, it's just someone trained in ADA (hopefully).

I agree with bookwormde that the CMs will try their best to accomodate, and if a manager needs to be involved then your options open up a lot more, maybe even an upgrade to a suitable situation at another resort.

Put yourself in the CMs shoes though - if they have been instructed to not put service dogs on an upper floor, then they would not go against their training just because some person hands them a phone number to call. They could lose their jobs. Even if their training is incorrect, and against ADA, they have to go with what their employer tells them to do. ADA in regards to service is more of an 'after the fact' act. The service has to be shown to be out of compliance, they can't be forced to comply on the spot. Who would be the enforcer?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I mean if there are connecting rooms on an upper floor and they will not place us there just beause of the SD

But how will you know? Do you expect the CM checking you in to say, "All our first floor connecting rooms are occupied; we have connecting rooms available on the third floor but our policy is to locate service dogs only on the first floor"?

You do need to be prepared for the possibility that, while connecting rooms are very important to you so your DM can help with your son, Disney simply may not be able to comply.

Schmeck mentions upgrade. Instead, one option might be a move to an equivalent resort with connecting rooms available (or, yes, possibly an upgraded resort). Other options might be to change rooms - usually the following day; or to get adjoining (nearby) rooms and an extra key to your room for your DM.

 

[ireland_nicole]

another possible option would be to see if there are any family suites at ASMu. That way you would be assured of the space.

 

[disneynewman]

Ok, I know things may not go my way! I originally posted this just to try and see how often that happens to people. As much as I wish that all CMs or at least managers had ADA training, I know that is not true though I would expect a manager to be more accomodating in our situation and realize that maybe they should try to avoid any ADA complaints.
I am simply trying to be as prepared as I can be and hope for the best.

 

[livndisney]

Ok, I know things may not go my way! I originally posted this just to try and see how often that happens to people. As much as I wish that all CMs or at least managers had ADA training, I know that is not true though I would expect a manager to be more accomodating in our situation and realize that maybe they should try to avoid any ADA complaints.
I am simply trying to be as prepared as I can be and hope for the best.

Hopefully the management at Pop has gotten better since last year. They were less than helpful last year and a big reason we have no plans to stay at Pop ever again.

Personally I would have a back up as several people have suggested. Hopefully you will get what you need without a fight. But it never hurts to be prepared. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Has anybody given you stats?
Floor layouts/building layouts are identical throughout the resort.
Each building has 288 rooms.
Each floor has 72 rooms.
Eighteen pairs of those rooms on each floor connect to other rooms (50% of Pop's rooms are connecting rooms is accurate but can be misleading - 36 rooms per floor do connect to other rooms, but that equates to the eighteen pairs).

livndisney recommends you should have a backup; you can certainly list the alternatives that have been offered here and bring that with you, but for the most part I think these are options Disney may offer you - for example, "We don't have any connecting rooms left tonight. We can move you tomorrow, or we can send you to All Star Movies...". That kind of thing.