Getting int touch with resort manager prior to arrival?

[Mich Mouse]

Hello,

Due to medical needs I have some specific requests. Last vivsit to AOA, I had called ahead of time and also sent a fax noting requests. When we arrived nothing I had asked for had been taken care of.

I know when calling the resort you are sent to a call center and they tell you that you are speaking to an AOA manager, but in reality you are just talking to someone in a call center.

How do I actually coordinate with AOA staff prior to arrival?

 

[kaytieeldr]

disABILITIES FAQ post 7: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=10889442&postcount=7

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes - the Special Reservations number listed in the link already posted is who to contact.
You should also make your medical requests when making your reservation when talking to the regular reservations phone number.

It's also important to know that even though various websites list a fax number for resorts, many of them are not functional or faxes are thrown away because the resorts don't want to get information that way - they were not the ones publicizing the fax numbers. CMs in room assignment have said it was pretty much an impossible task to try to match the faxes to reservations.

 

[bidnow5]

Another thing I found out because I'm OCD I call to check my reservation a few weeks before we go and several times it was wrong so I get it corrected call back the week before and the same problem then called the day before and once again wrong I recommend calling a day or 2 before to check unfortunately I have to keep calling just because

 

[ttintagel]

And, just to be forewarned, it is possible to call the the Special Reservations number listed in the link, get down there, and find out that your requests have still not been honored even though the person you spoke to at the Special Reservations number said they would be. It's happened to me before. The people actually present at the resort when I checked in went out of their way to help us as best they could, and everything turned out pretty much OK, but they were full enough that they couldn't move us the a room that would have met *all* our needs as we were told we'd have ahead of time.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . How do I actually coordinate with AOA staff prior to arrival?

1) Call an have it noted on the ressie.
2) In *almost* every case, WE THROW OUT FAXES.
3) They take too long to read, and cuts into our other duties.
4) Plus, most are for rinky-dinky or Mickey-Mouse issues/items.
5) So, the policy is no faxes.
. . . we, at Wilderness Lodge, first start this
. . . other resorts shortly followed
. . . now, many fax numbers have been changed so they are no longer public knowledge
6) As far as calling the resort, we do not even see your ressie until 2-4 days ahead of arrival.

 

[lanejudy]

I would also like to point out that if the request is something that is a bookable category at the resort (such as a specific building or location, king bed, accessible room, etc.) then you need to actually book that category. Don't rely on a "medical request" to get you into a different room category. It may happen, but no guarantee. And note that bookable categories can vary by resort.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . How do I actually coordinate with AOA staff prior to arrival?

1) Of course, the questions are
. . . what do you have to coordinate?
. . . why can't it/they be handled on the ressie?
2) Lot of folks with disabilities go to WDW, and few actually have to call in advance.

 

[Schmeck]

Sometimes they will not make accommodations until you arrive - they want to make sure that you are going to actually be there. For example, moving a bed would be something they'd want to do at the last minute, as they'd just have to move it back if you didn't show or the room didn't work for you. Not sure if they would want it on your ressie beforehand or not, as they wouldn't want someone to do it too soon?