Getting room requests....or not!

[Shanti]

Oh, by the way, I did explain the reason for my requests (by phone - I forgot that) which is that our youngest daughter is autistic and has some mobilities issues with this, but still no luck!

Since you have a medical reason, book a handicapped-accessible room next time. It doesn't matter that you daughter isn't in a wheelchair: mobility limitations based on her special needs are a disability, so you're completely within your rights to book a handicapped room, which are mostly on the ground floor and relatively close to the lobby, etc. You won't be asked why you booked handicapped, I just wanted to go over that as some people feel uncomfortable about booking one without a wheelchair.

 

[Amanda999]

If it makes you feel better, not only do we rarely get any of our requests, but we almost always get connecting rooms! (Which I desperately do not want - if it was a room choice option, I would choose that and only that.)

 

[Dis703]

Now I'm nervous because I realized I didn't make a request when I booked my resort the other day. Being as how we arrive on Tuesday it's likely already been assigned, but I did do online check in and made the requests there. Fingers crossed!

 

[maxiesmom]

Since you have a medical reason, book a handicapped-accessible room next time. It doesn't matter that you daughter isn't in a wheelchair: mobility limitations based on her special needs are a disability, so you're completely within your rights to book a handicapped room, which are mostly on the ground floor and relatively close to the lobby, etc. You won't be asked why you booked handicapped, I just wanted to go over that as some people feel uncomfortable about booking one without a wheelchair.

I wouldn't do that. The OP doesn't need a handicapped accessible room, so why take one out of inventory when there may be someone who truly needs all it offers? The best thing to do is request a ground floor room if that is what needed, or maybe near an elevator if that will work. Arriving late does put the OP at a bit of a disadvantage, as there will be fewer rooms in inventory for them to give her. Even though rooms are pre-assigned that assignment can be changed right up until check in.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We have gotten requests granted and have also not had them granted, when the resort we were staying at was booked to capacity. I think that has a lot to do with it. I used the Touring Plans room request fax for the first time for my November 2015 trip, and also had my TA make a note on my reservation. I was not expecting my requests to be granted, but when I got the text that my room was ready, I was pleasantly surprised to see they had put me in the room I had requested on TP. It was great! We will definitely use the room request fax again through TP, for our Beach Club stay this September, but I am going into it not expecting anything. We are so excited to be staying at BC for the first time!

 

[wildcard898]

It does help too to request things that are easy for them to give you. For many resorts you have to pay for a preferred room in order to be near the food court. So requesting to be near the food court when you haven't paid for that upgrade makes it almost impossible for them to fulfill. Not trying to pick on the previous poster as that is something that I have seen happen many times. People request near food court and don't pay for the proper room type to get it.

Also, and this is for wildcard898, I understand that you would rather be in the Alligator Bayou section of POR. Me too! But I have been told while there that if they are busy they hold that section for larger families, as those are the only rooms at POR that will sleep 5. So when you request AB you are rolling the dice. I have done so a few times and some times I get AB some times I get booted out to the mansion houses.

I totally agree - my fax to them made it clear that I knew we hadn't booked preferred rooms but would appreciate being as close as they could get us to the facilities within our room category. If it was truly important to us, we'd have booked preferred, but we chose not to and to take the chance. We knew that we had no right to expect our requests would be met. The only thing I was frustrated with is that, after all the effort I went to, the requests never even made it onto our reservation.

 

[MJ6987]

Since you have a medical reason, book a handicapped-accessible room next time. It doesn't matter that you daughter isn't in a wheelchair: mobility limitations based on her special needs are a disability, so you're completely within your rights to book a handicapped room, which are mostly on the ground floor and relatively close to the lobby, etc. You won't be asked why you booked handicapped, I just wanted to go over that as some people feel uncomfortable about booking one without a wheelchair.

Thanks. I did assume that they were for people in wheelchairs. Will they be different in other ways though? We are staying in Boardwalk Villas (DVC) in December. Thanks.

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks. I did assume that they were for people in wheelchairs. Will they be different in other ways though? We are staying in Boardwalk Villas (DVC) in December. Thanks.

The bathrooms will be very different. No tub, for one thing.

 

[MJ6987]

The bathrooms will be very different. No tub, for one thing.

Wow, that's out then! She refuses to have showers!

 

[Shanti]

Thanks. I did assume that they were for people in wheelchairs. Will they be different in other ways though? We are staying in Boardwalk Villas (DVC) in December. Thanks.

In addition to generally being better located, they have much larger bathrooms than most resort rooms. There WILL be a bathtub, if you request a handicapped room with tub with railing. I know this because we went to WDW with my elderly mother last month, who is mobility impaired. I chose a handicapped room with tub with rails (of course, as always there's a shower in the tub, too) and we all used it during our trip. So don't think that you can't have a tub.

My son is autistic, too, so I know what it can be like. God bless and have a great trip next time!

 

[Shanti]

The bathrooms will be very different. No tub, for one thing.

If you request a handicapped room with tub with railing, there will be a tub. I know as I've recently stayed in one of these rooms while taking my elderly mother to WDW for her birthday.

 

[Shanti]

I wouldn't do that. The OP doesn't need a handicapped accessible room, so why take one out of inventory when there may be someone who truly needs all it offers? The best thing to do is request a ground floor room if that is what needed, or maybe near an elevator if that will work. Arriving late does put the OP at a bit of a disadvantage, as there will be fewer rooms in inventory for them to give her. Even though rooms are pre-assigned that assignment can be changed right up until check in.

She does need the handicapped room, because her disabled daughter has a mobility impairment.

 

[aaarcher86]

She does need the handicapped room, because her disabled daughter has a mobility impairment.

That's really up for them to decide.

Do they NEED it? No. They need a ground floor room. I personally would not book a handicap room for this instance as there's people that actually need the assistance inside the handicap rooms and they're limited. Just request ground floor and make sure you're at a resort with elevators.

There's a lot of people with mobility issues. I can't imagine them all booking these rooms up to get a ground level room and then someone in a wheelchair needs one for the room differences and can't get one.

 

[lanejudy]

Handicapped accessible rooms may be located on ANY floor and in ANY building of a resort -- not necessarily first floor or "close" (preferred, close to lobby, close to bus, close to...). The exception will be wheelchair accessible rooms in a resort that does not have elevators, though not all rooms will be first floor even in those resorts. Accessible rooms come in various forms -- roll-in shower, tub with handrails, hearing accessible, etc. and are specific bookable categories. There are fairly decent descriptions of the room/accommodations but location is NOT a specific feature of HA rooms.

MANY guests at WDW utilize mobility aids around the resorts and parks, but do not necessarily need an HA room. And others who may not be utilizing a wheelchair or ECV may benefit from handrails in the tub or such. It is up to each guest to determine what their party needs and how it can best be met. Booking an HA room thinking it will be first floor and close to transportation may simply set yourself up for disappointment when you receive exactly what you booked but it doesn't meet your expectations. HA rooms can be anywhere at a resort.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[buzznina]

We have had very good results with our room/building/floor requests even on our last trip at GF and we rarely arrive before midnight.

 

[Shanti]

That's really up for them to decide.

Do they NEED it? No. They need a ground floor room. I personally would not book a handicap room for this instance as there's people that actually need the assistance inside the handicap rooms and they're limited. Just request ground floor and make sure you're at a resort with elevators.

There's a lot of people with mobility issues. I can't imagine them all booking these rooms up to get a ground level room and then someone in a wheelchair needs one for the room differences and can't get one.

She clearly stated that she had asked for a ground floor room, but didn't get one, so that approach didn't work.

Her daughter is mobility disabled, which means she needs a room in close walking distance, and the only way to ensure that is to book an accessible room, which her daughter does need.

It is not your decision exactly "how handicapped" a person has to be to book an accessible room. Practically and morally, she is justified as her daughter's disability requires the proximity.

 

[aaarcher86]

She clearly stated that she had asked for a ground floor room, but didn't get one, so that approach didn't work.

Her daughter is mobility disabled, which means she needs a room in close walking distance, and the only way to ensure that is to book an accessible room, which her daughter does need.

It is not your decision exactly "how handicapped" a person has to be to book an accessible room. Practically and morally, she is justified as her daughter's disability requires the proximity.

What are you talking about? I said it's up to the OP to decide if taking a handicap accessible room would be something she feels comfortable doing. And FYI, as stated above, the handicap accessible rooms are not all on the ground floor and near transportation. It's just as easy to get a handicap room that doesn't meet the requests she's looking for. Booking a handicap room doesn't get her on the ground floor any more than requesting is does - it just gets her a handicap accessible room.

No one mentioned anything about "how handicapped" someone had to be to book that room. Newsflash: It's not required to be handicapped to book it at all

 

[maxiesmom]

If you request a handicapped room with tub with railing, there will be a tub. I know as I've recently stayed in one of these rooms while taking my elderly mother to WDW for her birthday.

Ok, good to know!

 

[HopperFan]

Just stayed at POR. We were booked in Royal Guest Room. Since only a few nights we made no requests.
We ended up with first floor HA room. DS is disabled but we've never booked an HA room before.
Room was the very farthest corner from the main hub so proximity to the food court etc was not close.
The room was great with the extra large bathroom. It is managed with loss of closet but we had a great wardrobe.
LOVED the layout of the room, wish they were all this way.
There was a tub, which seemed strange to me being HA ...... with no support bars.
The support provided was by the toilet.

 

[saskdw]

We have had our requests honored every time. Not always the initial room assignment, but after some "negotiating" at check-in we've always been pleased. I believe it has mostly to do with the days we check-in. All our WDW trips have been in December with check-in dates ranging from the 10th-14th and in the middle of the week. This is pre-Christmas rush and the resort is not full on these dates. Some firm, but professional communication at check-in has always helped. They've had no problem switching rooms when I asked. This of course wouldn't be possible if the resort was full. We do strategically choose our dates and are fortunate enough to be able to do so.