Medical need for separate bed

[leebee]

I posted this on the resorts board, but they all agreed I should check over here, so here goes...

In early July, I had surgery on my back/hip. I have healed nicely and have the approval of both my doctor and physical therapist to go to WDW this weekend for a quick visit to Food&Wine and MNSSHP. We (me, DH, DD18) have a reservation for 4 nights at POP starting on Friday!! ANYHOW>>>For about 6 weeks post-surgery I slept in my own bed as I couldn't sleep in a bed with another person... I wasn't able to adjust to my own shifting weight and balancing against another person- even though we have a king sized bed. That hasn't been a problem since early September. HOWEVER... we stayed at a friend's home this past weekend and there is NO WAY I can share a double bed with anyone, and neither DH nor DD18 are comfortable sharing a bed so I can have my own. I contacted my travel agent, who talked to Disney and requested a roll-away be put in our room so we can each have our own bed. This is a medical need, made through special needs (I believe).

My TA said that the arrangements have been made, but the email contains the usual disclaimer about this is only a request and while all efforts will be made to meet the request, it's not a guarantee. However, the travel agent followed the disclaimer with a statement that said that as this is a medical request we shouldn't have a problem.

SO... do I believe that there will be a roll-away in my room? I know that POP doesn't have roll-aways available so they'll have to get it from somewhere else. I can't afford to move to a larger resort, with a queen or king bed and sofa bed for DD. Is there somebody I should contact directly (not sure I can as the travel agency legally "owns" the ressie at this point)... or should I bring the aerobed, just in case? It's a hassle to schlep it with us, and we'll have to check a suitcase instead of travel in carry-ons. I know this isn't life-or-death, but it's a little bit of a stressor... I DON"T want to sleep on the floor at POP!

 

[livndisney]

I posted this on the resorts board, but they all agreed I should check over here, so here goes...

In early July, I had surgery on my back/hip. I have healed nicely and have the approval of both my doctor and physical therapist to go to WDW this weekend for a quick visit to Food&Wine and MNSSHP. We (me, DH, DD18) have a reservation for 4 nights at POP starting on Friday!! ANYHOW>>>For about 6 weeks post-surgery I slept in my own bed as I couldn't sleep in a bed with another person... I wasn't able to adjust to my own shifting weight and balancing against another person- even though we have a king sized bed. That hasn't been a problem since early September. HOWEVER... we stayed at a friend's home this past weekend and there is NO WAY I can share a double bed with anyone, and neither DH nor DD18 are comfortable sharing a bed so I can have my own. I contacted my travel agent, who talked to Disney and requested a roll-away be put in our room so we can each have our own bed. This is a medical need, made through special needs (I believe).

My TA said that the arrangements have been made, but the email contains the usual disclaimer about this is only a request and while all efforts will be made to meet the request, it's not a guarantee. However, the travel agent followed the disclaimer with a statement that said that as this is a medical request we shouldn't have a problem.

SO... do I believe that there will be a roll-away in my room? I know that POP doesn't have roll-aways available so they'll have to get it from somewhere else. I can't afford to move to a larger resort, with a queen or king bed and sofa bed for DD. Is there somebody I should contact directly (not sure I can as the travel agency legally "owns" the ressie at this point)... or should I bring the aerobed, just in case? It's a hassle to schlep it with us, and we'll have to check a suitcase instead of travel in carry-ons. I know this isn't life-or-death, but it's a little bit of a stressor... I DON"T want to sleep on the floor at POP!

Personally, I would bring the aerobed. In my experience even if there is a medical need if Pop doesn't have it-they are not going to get it. Even when we have been told on the phone our needs would be met, upon arrival we have been told there is nothing they can do.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Personally, I would bring the aerobed. In my experience even if there is a medical need if Pop doesn't have it-they are not going to get it. Even when we have been told on the phone our needs would be met, upon arrival we have been told there is nothing they can do.

I totally agree..better to have a areobed then get there and find out the folding bed was not available...I'm sure your DD will be comfortable on a aerobed and they are not really expensive and you will have it in the furture.

Have a great vacation.

AKK

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I cannot visualize putting a roll-away in a value resort room. The total room size, including the bathroom and dressing area is only 260 square feet.

 

[krisnme]

Sorry to disillusion you, but I can't imagine how in the world you would get either a roll away or aerobed in one of POP's rooms! even if you ask them to remove the table and chairs I don't think there would be room. there is only about 2 feet between the end of the beds and the tv console/dresser and a small area next to that for the small table. the door all but touches the first bed when opened and there is a narrow space between beds and between the other bed and the wall. you should probly just get connecting rooms if its that important. this may be why POP does not offer roll aways, there is no space for them.

 

[leebee]

We already have the aerobed and I know it fits; my cousin took one on her last trip. Yes, it's tight... and you have to flip the bed up against the wall during the day (or fold up a rollaway). I just didn't know if I should believe that a rollaway will be there or not, because it's a pain to drag it around. I know, better safe than sorry. We'll bring the aerobed.

 

[jerseygirl81]

DS slept on an air mattress when we stayed at the Pop. We put it between the 2 beds he was fine and as you said we stood it up against the wall during the day. I'm not to big on cots, I don't know how the Disney ones are but I don't like a thin mattress and springs. Just remember to bring your own bedding for it. Linda

 

[krisnme]

I stand corrected! I just really could not imagine where you would put the aerobed in such a small room. My perception of the space may have been distorted becouse we had an ECV and a wheelchair in ours along with 4 ppl. and with 2 disabled ppl space to walk safely is really important. Have a good trip!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I don't have experience with this but I do have an experience that is kind of similar. DD13 has to have her own bed due to issues associated with autism. Our most recent stay was at YC where not all of the rooms have day beds. We put in a disability need for a room with a day bed and we did get one. This isn't quite the same thing though because there are already plenty of rooms at this resort that are already equipped with day beds so they just had to be sure to block one for us just like they'd block a HA room for those who need them. If they couldn't block it as a disability need we would have switched to a resort that has day beds in every single room; it truely is a need for us at this point due to her current sensory and obsessive compulsive issues.

When it comes to value resorts, I just see us as no longer being able to stay in a single value room. If we stay value or even moderate we'll either need 2 rooms or a suite. I never even considered putting in a disability request for a roll away (hmm... gotta think about whether or not this would work at a moderate where they do have them). I guess I always just stuck with accomodations that already fit our needs rather than requesting a change besides our need for a medical fridge which is something the resort does already have available to guests onsite. If the resort doesn't have something onsite then I would be extremely anxious until we actually arrived. In your case I think I'd pack the aerobed and skip the request for the day bed if you already know that they don't have them onsite because it's just IMO a huge risk. I know my risk tollerance just isn't that high.

 

[tomboy_m]

good luck

 

[clanmcculloch]

I was thinking a little more about this. I'd definitely bring the aero bed. CMs on the phone are notorious for their inaccurate information. Since they don't normally have roll-aways or provide a way for people without disabilities to have a third bed, there's no requirement for them to provide a third bed for somebody with a disability. They're required to provide equal services so there's no requirement to make sure there's a third bed. They won't have a problem with you bringing your own but I just can't see them providing it since it's not something available to regularly abled guests. Regardless of what somebody on the phone said. As I said, I'd bring the aero bed since you have it already.

 

[leebee]

Well, I am glad I listened to you guys and brought the aerobed. Even though my TA talked with special needs and was told there'd be no problem, and even though I FAX'd POP two days prior to remind them of this, of course there was no extra bed available. I guess I wasn't too surprised. This medical situation didn't exist until just recently, certainly not on the horizon whatsoever when I made the vacation reservations. Oh well... the aerobed fit easily into the room. We moved the table and one chair over in front of the adjoining room door, leaving plenty of space for the aerobed along the wall between the tv/bureau armoire and the remaining chair. That left about two feet or so of walking space between the end of one bed and the aerobed. I realized it was a "special request" so wasn't too surprised/upset without a rollaway bed, but I WAS annoyed that they didn't have sheets or a blanket available, even though they'd been requested also. C'mon, how hard is it to put a blanket in the room? I'd brought sheets with us, and as the check-in CM had said, housekeeping brought a blanket up first thing the NEXT morning!

BTW, we had a great time, even though it poured BUCKETSFUL all day long on Saturday!