No room assigner at DVC?

[graygables]

I know when I stay at other resorts, my room is assigned a few days before I arrive by a person who considers my requests. Is this not the case w/ DVC? I have a special needs DD, so sometimes our requests can be pretty specific and I'd hate to have to deal with a randomly assigned, not so good for her place. If they don't follow the same practices as the other resorts, what is the reasoning for it?

 

[rie'smom]

When you make a eservation,have the CM note your requests. The CM can also note that your daughter has special needs.The resorts do note special needs from the reservation,so if you've made one already,make sure all of your requests are noted. They will consider your special needs request first,so if you have several requests you might not get all of the but the chances are nearly 100% that your special needs will be met. Many of the resorts throw out faxes etc.,as they were overwhelmed by the number received.Again,make sure the requests are noted on your reservation.

 

[Dean]

Members cannot fax the resort or deal directly with the room assigner. Other than HC rooms and direct booking unit types, requests are just that. Medical requests are given priority but there are not guarantees. Your best bet is to arrive early and be persistent if need be. Make sure only your most important requests are included. I would not include more than 3 and would not be as specific as a unit # or even a single building #. The nature of timeshares involves a certain amount of risk in these areas.

 

[Nanajo1]

I know when I stay at other resorts, my room is assigned a few days before I arrive by a person who considers my requests. Is this not the case w/ DVC? I have a special needs DD, so sometimes our requests can be pretty specific and I'd hate to have to deal with a randomly assigned, not so good for her place. If they don't follow the same practices as the other resorts, what is the reasoning for it?

When you make your DVC ressie tell the CM you need the special needs dept called. This dept blocks the rooms for special needs and can override any requests made only through Memeber services. I know because my request for Medical reasons for a first floor GV was trumped by a special needs ressie. I did not know that this dept needed to block the room for me.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Our experiences are that rooms at DVC resorts that share the front desk with a "regular" resort (BCV, VWL, BWV) are sometimes preassigned, so they may have a room assigner.

 

[spiceycat]

call ms - list your request -say in the beginning this is a medical request and say it at the end.

if your reservation confirmation does not say medical request (might be reason) - then call them back.

Mother can't do steps anymore even the ones at OKW (much easier than some timeshares) - so I have to get a first floor - now some of the views for studio on the first floor are pretty bad - but it doesn't make a difference - she CAN'T do steps. So far no problems.

now when traveling without her - I take whatever they have.

 

[corinnak]

I was at OKW last week and checked in for our 2BR for the week at about 7am. My 3 year old son and I had spent the previous night in a very nice studio at the far end of building 50. It was HC and there was road noise (Which we have at home, so no biggie!) and it was as far away from HH as possible, but it was one night, so no problem. The rest of the party was arriving later that day. When we went to check in, I asked if there was any chance we could be closer to the HH than we had been the previous night - which was pretty much anywhere else in the resort, really - and she said:

"Well, your assigned room is in Building 28, but it's not clean yet"

We were not shocked!

"The only 2 Bedroom available right now is in.....building 50."

I said that building 28 would be lovely and we'd just wait for it to be ready (which is was at 4pm) and it really, really was.

But the whole point is that we had clearly been assigned a particular room ahead of time. Had I checked in at 6pm, would my room have already been given away to someone else.....maybe. I just don't know.

 

[Nanajo1]

call ms - list your request -say in the beginning this is a medical request and say it at the end.

if your reservation confirmation does not say medical request (might be reason) - then call them back.

Mother can't do steps anymore even the ones at OKW (much easier than some timeshares) - so I have to get a first floor - now some of the views for studio on the first floor are pretty bad - but it doesn't make a difference - she CAN'T do steps. So far no problems.

now when traveling without her - I take whatever they have.

At OKW there are many 1st floor units due to the size of the resort. A request for first floor other than GV are usually met. So the notation on the confirmation the it is a Medical request is usually enough. BUT if you are looking for a GV there are only two at OKW so a special needs block is a must. For 7 years all my OKW ressies had First floor or elevator building for Medical reasons. I use a power chair at home and an ECV when at WDW. Last November my request for a GV was bumped by a special needs ressie even though I booked 11 months ahead and had the Medical Reason noted on my confirmation. Carlie D'Agostino from DVC told me that special needs dept should have been notified by Member services when I made my ressie. You did not say what kind of accommodations your DD needs. If they are important to you and could affect your trip ask about the special needs dept.

 

[JimMIA]

I have a special needs DD, so sometimes our requests can be pretty specific and I'd hate to have to deal with a randomly assigned, not so good for her place.

In your situation, I'd make sure MS got the special needs folks on the line and got them to ensure you get what you need.

Sometimes medical conditions make certain situations uncomfortable, and other times the person simply can't be in that environment. If your situation is one where you really have to have something (and it sounds like it is), the special needs folks are the only ones who can guarantee that happens for you.

 

[canda]

Everytime I check into HHI, I have had an assigned room, Everytime I check into SSR, they ask me where would I like to stay. They then will dot on the map about 4 rooms in several areas. Of course I always pick Congress Park overlooking Downtown.

 

[Jim from Jersey]

Does anyone know if there is a dedicated phone # for the special needs dept. or do you call dVC MS and ask to be redirected? Thanks.......Jim

 

[Nanajo1]

I don't have the number. I'm not sure they want to be called directly. Someone will post if they have called directly. Member Services is supposed to take care of contacting special services. I now will always ask for special service to be involved when I make my Medical necessaryrequest DVC ressie.

 

[CarolMN]

Does anyone know if there is a dedicated phone # for the special needs dept. or do you call dVC MS and ask to be redirected? Thanks.......Jim

Jim - I copied this from the FAQ section of the disABILITIES Forum :

Special Reservations Line: (407) 939-7807 - option 1 (NOTE: WDW no longer lists this number on their website Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities, although it was still in printed guidebooks we picked up at the parks in March 2006).

There is so much information over there that is helpful to those who travel with someone with special needs. Check it out for yourself and see.

Best wishes -

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) All resorts, including DVC have room assignment people.
. . . they assign rooms 4-days in advance, but as late as the day prior
. . . they use a variety of conditions for specific assignments
2) If not too busy, the Front Desk can assign rooms at check-in.
. . . this is part of the room-ready program
. . . helps people from waiting for a room to be ready

 

[kda]

The DVC properties we've stayed in seem to have slightly different routines.

VWL: In 4 trips, we've been told our room was assigned (and twice we asked about other available rooms and were told there were no other available rooms). The rooms that were pre-assigned were all exactly what we requested and we loved them.

OKW: In 4 trip, we've been assigned a room and given the opportunity to select something different, when we asked. All were wonderful rooms, except when I selected a first floor because I liked the bldg location ..... we found out that we really prefer to be higher up. No biggie, just our preference, and we've been fortunate enough to be given options.

SSR: Had a room assigned, and it met most of our requests. Didn't have a great DTD view liked we'd hoped, but the location was wonderful and we had a great trip!