Do I Need To Call For A Ground Floor Reservation?

[Trollingforthimbles]

My dad broke his foot the other day, but he's still coming to Disney with us. We're staying at Pop Century and he will have to have a ground floor room close to the lobby.

Do I need to call and have them note my reservation or is this handled at check-in?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Do I need to call and have them note my reservation or is this handled at check-in?

1) YES, YES, YES, YES.
2) Rooms are assigned 5-days ahead of time.
3) Then, ressies that are unassigned are placed 1-2 days ahead of check-in.
4) Sometimes the evening before check-in!
5) If you need a ground floor,
. . . call CRO as soon as possible
. . . ask for a Ground Floor, "Due To Medical Reasons"
. . . you are not mandated to tell the medical cause
. . . but, a brief "Dad broke his foot and is on crutches with a cast" lends credence
. . . no guarantees, but I can *almost* assure that you get ground floor

 

[Bete]

There are preferred rooms which cost like $15/night more. You have to have that kind of reservation. Anyway, with a preferred location you can request to be near the lobby. You may be able to upgrade, right now based on availability.

For medical reasons should help you get a first floor room. Whether or not you can take it the next step requesting near the lobby building may or may not work for you without getting a preferred room. This will depend heavily on how crowded they will be at the time.

Be prepared your dad may need to rent a scooter. If you go that route then you can get a rental from an outside company and you can have the scooter at the resort.

 

[Schmeck]

My dad broke his foot the other day, but he's still coming to Disney with us. We're staying at Pop Century and he will have to have a ground floor room close to the lobby.

Do I need to call and have them note my reservation or is this handled at check-in?

I'm thinking he's going to be in a wheelchair/ECV most of the time?

The lobby area at Pop Century is a premium - so you would have to pay extra to be in that section. It's also very loud, especially on the ground floor. If you are worried about the ECV access, all of the buildings have elevators and are accessible.

If he is not planning on using an ECV, or is just thinking of renting one at the parks - have him rethink! There's so much walking before you even get into the parks, and complimentary wheelchairs are not always available or in very good shape. Having his own ECV 24/7 would be so much easier for him, and help him enjoy the trip.

 

[DCDisney]

We used a travel agent on our trip with a med issue but they did call ahead. We got the closest room in the category we paid for so at Pop for 1 night it was the closest in the non-preferred rooms. It wasn't really too far but was a back area facing the parking lot. At Animal Kingdom Lodge for the rest of our stay we got the 2nd room off the lobby which was perfect. I worried it would be loud but it was great.

 

[suz_cute]

Just know that even if you have 5 different cast members tell you that they assure you will get the location- that its very possible you will not. That is exactly what happened to us a few years back. (This was before the days of preferred booking location.) My dad had total hip replacement right before one of our trips and I requested close to elevator or ground floor, and close to bus stop due to recent surgery and walking with cane. Neither was granted. We asked to be moved, they said they were booked. We asked if we could change resorts, nothing. Since then, he has had both knees replaced. We always try and request to be close to transportation due to medical reasons, and we have gotten lucky about 2/3 of the time since the initial time. Cross your fingers and hope for the best!!