My Reservation

[Densgirl]

I'm new to renting wheelchair accessible rooms but not to my DS being in a chair. He's on his 10th year. On previous trips we just rented regular rooms and he was small enough to hoist into the tub, combined with the fact that my DS used to be partially ambulatory for small distances with aid of his walker. He had an extensive surgery on his foot in January that didn't go well at all and now he is completely non ambulatory and we are in need of a roll in shower, lower sinks etc.... Sorry for the novel now on to the question.

I was assured when I made my reservation through the WDTC that the need for the room and the ability to make the reservation through them was taken care of. When I checked my reservation on line and then when the paper work just showed up it doesn't say a thing about the wheel chair accessible room. I know the special needs guest services number isn't being advertised any longer but is it still able to be used? My DS is 17 now and lifting him in and out of the tub is no longer an option plus he is unable to walk even a foot or two. He can simply stand to transfer basically. TIA for your help.

 

[madenon]

Densgirl, that's not a novel, that's being clear and not using more words than needed.

You checked your reservation online you said, do you mean on the WDW-site? Because there it doesn't show. Very confusing if you ask me, but ok. What you've got to check; the reservation-link you got in the mail that confirmed your reservation. If you open that link, it'll state the resort, room type, names of the people in the party, if you booked it; the ME, if you booked it, the DDP and most important for you; after the resortname it'll state that you need a handicapped room with roll in shower. That'll be put in the notes.

If it doesn't state that, or you have any questions, call special reservations. They're the ones to deal with if you need anything arranged because of a handicap or disease. They actually block a room for you at the moment you've booked, instead of waiting and assigning them 4 days before arrival. Normally CRO will arrange things with SR, but it can never hurt to check for yourself. THe phonenumber for SR can be found in the sticky in the disABILITIES.

SR still is there and helping out lots. For instance; I just changed my reservation last weekend from ASMo to CBR. I need a roll in shower also. Normally I wouldn't like it if I wouldn't get it, but would make the best of it with the help of others in my party. However, I'm going solo in september so I NEED the room, or "houston, we've got a problem".

I talked to SR after making the change with CRO. They first told me "no more roll in available at CBR during your stay". I explained I really needed it and why, and the CM told me to hang on for a moment while she made sure that I got what I needed, even if it took looking at other resorts (upgrading) or looking at all the other reservations if they any could be switched to handicapped without roll in to make room for me. Anyhow, within about a minute she was back; no problem!

Turns out CRO mailed them. The people that deal with the mails are one part of SR, and the ones on the phone are another. So when she tried to block a room with roll in shower for me, she couldn't because a mail-SR-CM just blocked the last room with roll in shower for................ me! Anyhow, it showed me how far they go to make sure you get what you need. As the CM told me; CRO promised you and that's why you booked/made the switch, so now we have to give you what you need.

So look at the mail and give SR a call. I'm sure it is either allready arranged or they'll help you to make sure it'll be done today. Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

We have a reservation for a roll in shower room for October for SSR (we are DVC members staying on points). When we got our confirmation sheet, there was no mention of the accessible room - although there has been on all our previous reservations. I called Member Services back to make sure they DID know we needed the roll in shower. The CM said it WAS in the computer and was locked there with a room already blocked for us, but "we don't have space to list everything on the confirmation". I said we didn't have ANY requests listed, so it was not a situation of running out of space. She said they were not listing it any more on the confirmations, but people could always call. I told her to expect MANY calls because for the people who need those rooms, it is vital information and asked her to please pass that information on to her supervisors.

Because ours are DVC reservations, we can't call WDW Special Reservations (their computer system apparently can't 'see' the DVC member reservations). I intend to call back about once a month to Member Services to make sure it's still in the computer and I'll call more often before we get there.

I'd suggest you call Special Reservations; as was already mentioned, the number is in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Since your reservation is not a DVC one, they should be able to see your reservation. Since they already are supposed to have you in their system, you are calling to check on a reservation - not make one, which was the problem they were trying to address by not having people call there directly. (I may call them myself about our reservation just to check whether or not they can see it).
You can also call WDTC and check that it is in their computer.

I think if they have enough people calliing and checking over and over (because we need to know, not to harass them), they will make sure it is back on the confirmation slip.

The other concern I have is that the only proof that we needed a roll in shower room is on their computer. I have nothing that says we ever requested it and I'm not sure what the impact of that will be if there is a problem. I will have my confirmation sheet with notes about all the calls I made (date, time and name), but nothing else.

 

[zaksmom]

We made special reservations at All Stars Music for last October. Adjoining rooms one with roll-in shower. The second room was comp. Needed more than one bed. At check-in everything was fine. Got our cards for both rooms. Confirmed roll-in shower with desk and headed for the parks until check in time. Got back around 4:00 and began moving in. The card to the second room didn't work, so couldn't check it. Got all our stuff in by the time the CM came with our new card. Got in. No roll-in shower. The desk said the computer showed it as a roll-in shower room. At first wouldn't believe us. Finally someone came down to confirm that it actually wasn't. They were very nice, but by that time all the roll-in shower rooms were taken. So, even advance planning and preparing doesn't always work out. We made reservations on the day that the AP discounts came out. They moved us to All-Stars sports. But by the time all was worked out. Everything packed back into the car and moved into our new room, our dinner/park plans were abandoned. BUT - because we were detoured, we had a wonderful evening. Went to EMH Epcot. Ran into some old friends from home (about 900 miles away) and were able to get walk up dinner at Alfredo's and a great time. Advice: Prepare and plan, GET INTO YOUR ROOM ASAP and check it out, and know that they always try to work stuff out for you at Disney. At least our experienve.
Have fun.

 

[Densgirl]

You guys are all so awesome. I thought I was just being picky in not seeing it on the reservation. It absolutely should be there. I don't think if it isn't in your reality you are able to comprehend how badly we need to see those words HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE/ROLL IN SHOWER on our reservations. Not having a roll in shower would just flip DH out. He is already starting to think that we should rethink vacations if we can't tell the rooms are big enough etc. Because we could always walk DH around with a walker or each of us under one of his arms, in his mind it was doable no matter the room we got.

I'll call and repost with the results. Thank you all so much for the advice. It so strange to not know this part of the special needs system as we've been a bunch of times but we always left the roll in rooms until we absolutely needed one. I appreciate all your quick and complete answers!

 

[Densgirl]

I told her to expect MANY calls because for the people who need those rooms, it is vital information and asked her to please pass that information on to her supervisors.

I think if they have enough people calliing and checking over and over (because we need to know, not to harass them), they will make sure it is back on the confirmation slip.

The other concern I have is that the only proof that we needed a roll in shower room is on their computer. I have nothing that says we ever requested it and I'm not sure what the impact of that will be if there is a problem. I will have my confirmation sheet with notes about all the calls I made (date, time and name), but nothing else.

I called back and the Special Reservations department did assure me that just as you said Sue, they are not placing it on the reservation any longer. I told the gentleman I spoke with pretty much what you had said. That to those of us that need those accomodations, seeing it on our reservation is pretty important. I asked him also to pass that along to his supervisors. Squeaky wheel...

To make matters more confusing we had to swap resorts because although we'd upgraded to POFQ, once DS saw the pics and the video from the planning DVD he was sorely upset about the accomodations and wasn't having any of it. We are at POP now. The Special Reservations number had us call back and swap the resort with the regular WDTC travel co. line. He told me call Special Reservations back tomorrow if I wanted to be certain that roll in shower was included. I have to say the man from Special Reservations was very nice and said he fully understood all of our need to call and double check. The person at WDTC that I spoke to assured me he had indeed recieved confirmation that we needed the roll in shower. I'll double check once again when my new confirmation slip comes but I want DH to be comfy that we have just what we need.

My next question is are there doubles with roll-ins at Pop? Does anyone know? There will be four of us in the room. TIA again!