More DVC troubles with accessible rooms

[dclfun]

Just wanted to share that I just found out that along with having NO accessible studios in the AKLV concierge category, there are also NO AKLV value studios either, although I had been told otherwise. How a new DVC resort could be built without providing a percentage of studio rooms in each category as fully accessible is legally beyond me. I had been assured that my upcoming Sept. 21 ressie in a value studio would be fine as they had accessible rooms in that cat with roll-in shower. Yesterday I received a call from a manager at DVC to let me know that my needs would not be met and that all the rooms at AKLV's were sold out. My choice was to move resorts or cancel. I kept the room- I'll be washing off in the lobby bathroom much to everyone's dismay I'm sure.---Kathy

 

[bookwormde]

What should have happened is they should have put you in a HC 1br club level if it was available at the time of booking (for the price of a studio).

Did you ask the supervisor if they could place you in a HC 1 br or if it comes available a studio on another floor and give you Club access privileges (if that is acceptable to you as equivalent).

Also if you are keeping the non HC reservation I would have special services put a note on your reservation of the need for the HC room and that a room on another floor with Club privileges would be acceptable, I would think that the front desk could pretty easily create the scenario I proposed above, even if it cannot fit into the formal reservation system.

There are other issues like this in DVC, at OKW there are no HC grand villas in the HH booking category, but they try to keep bldg 63 available for this situation since it is essentially “equivalent” to a HH accommodation.

bookwormde

 

[SueM in MN]

just agreeing with bookwormde.

The OKW HH situation is at least understandable since they came up with HH category after the fact. Since some of the buildings in the 60's are so close to HH, I have wondered if they purposely left them out of the HH category to avoid having to assign them to people asking for HH. If they were part of that, the only people who could get a building with an elevator would be those who have asked for HH.

 

[dclfun]

When we had the issue last May with the concierge studio not being accessible we were given a one bedroom on another floor with "lounge" privileges, but we were no longer considered concierge. We couldn't book the sunrise safari, use the IPO, get the welcome gift (that part wasn't such a big deal), etc., plus had a very long trek to/from the lounge which was tough on my son in kidney failure as he also has cardiac problems that tire him easily. I'm in a power chair so it was just a longer ride for me, although inconvenient. Since there are so few rooms in DVC concierge, they aren't going to give anyone the *concierge* one bedroom villa for an upgrade as usually it's also reserved by another member on the first day it becomes available- and I wouldn't expect that kind of upgrade either so there's no real solution. During the time I had this challenge though we also discussed this September's ressie in a value studio at AKLV. I was told that this ressie at would be fine as they DID have roll in shower rooms in that category and my room was confirmed. Now I'm told they don't even have a roll in shower room in that category but that they're working on improving that situation- and I'm assuming that once built, we'll be relegated to Kidani rather than being able to stay in Jambo House. This doesn't help me for my upcoming ressie on Sept. 21. The supervisor that I spoke with on Friday is the one I spoke with last year who was also taking a look at all my future DVC bookings. She noticed that we have a concierge studio booked for May 09 which I told her I was going to keep as I didn't like the one-bedroom we were assigned this year, it wasn't acceptable to NOT have concierge which is what we paid for, and that I'd be using the lounge restroom area since I couldn't get into the bathroom in my room. I think she thought I was going to ask for an upgrade which in her eyes, now that I knew there was no accessible studio in concierge, wasn't going to happen. There's more to the story as I had a ressie for November that was cancelled without my permission ( no notes in the ressie, etc.) that I was told was a mistake and am now being told there are no rooms left- this is one of the issues we discussed in the call. It's a long story and hopefully will have a better ending as right now I'm really angry with Member Services- something that hasn't happened in my 12 years of membership. I think what made me the most angry was being told that "well, we'll have to see if we can get back the cancelled res as exceptions have been made for you in the past". The only exception that has EVER been made for me was the one bedroom villa in exchange for my concierge studio which is something I never asked for and didn't work for me. It's not my fault that I'm disabled and that they don't have rooms for special needs guests to accommodate our needs.---Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for posting this further information.
What's happened to you is really disgusting.

 

[bookwormde]

It sound like WDW has not handled your situation very well. You certainly should have had access to all the options that other guests did on your last AKV visit, clearly someone at the resort did not understand equal access.

Have you talked to the special services group I am sure they are better informed and would be much more likely to get the proper notes in your reservation to get you the best room possible for your needs (not a long way from the elevator to the club lounge) and would stop the idiousy of being denied part of the services which go along with the concierge booking category.

Also you should be first in line for any cancelled 1br HC on the concierge floor. Technically this probably includes CRO rooms also since DVC and CRO are owned by the same parent company and have cooperative agreements.

I would be more than annoyed also.

bookwormde