Room Request for Mobility Disability

[EpcotBill]

Hi there. I travel with someone who has disabilities, one of them being a mobility disability. She only uses a wheelchair occasionally and has a difficult time with steps. Last August I had a problem at Pop Century. I requested a certain building that was close to the food court and parking lot. We were assigned a building as far away from my requests as possible. We explained that the reason for the request was a mobility issue and we were told we should have called Special Needs ahead of time to make that request.

I just called Special Needs (407-939-7807) for our upcoming trip to POR. I told her I just wanted to have the reservation noted that we need a ground floor room because of mobility issues (the Alligator Bayou section doesn't have elevators) and we would like building 16 which has Standard rooms. I'm not trying to get a Preferred room for the Standard price. I just want a Standard room as close to the food court in Alligator Bayou as possible.

I was told that by law they can't put any such requests on the reservation and I should have booked an accessible room or a Preferred room. I was pretty floored by her reply. I explained again that I didn't need an accessible room and I didn't want to and shouldn't be forced to pay extra for a Preferred location. Is this right that they can't make any notation that my request is because of a disability? And if that is right I wonder why the very unhelpful CM at Pop last year told me I should have called Special Needs to make my request.

I'm confused and disappointed right now.

 

[crashbb]

Is their a medical need to be in the Alligator Bayou section? If not, I can see where that can be causing an issue with your requests. For example, you need ground floor because there are no elevators there, but there are elevators elsewhere and building is just a request (which never seems to work for me!).

 

[lovethattink]

When I call disabilities for a room request, I'll ask for 1st floor or near an elevator. They have guaranteed us first floor in the past, but any building has been just a request and not a guarantee.

 

[Schmeck]

Hi there. I travel with someone who has disabilities, one of them being a mobility disability. She only uses a wheelchair occasionally and has a difficult time with steps. Last August I had a problem at Pop Century. I requested a certain building that was close to the food court and parking lot. We were assigned a building as far away from my requests as possible. We explained that the reason for the request was a mobility issue and we were told we should have called Special Needs ahead of time to make that request.

I just called Special Needs (407-939-7807) for our upcoming trip to POR. I told her I just wanted to have the reservation noted that we need a ground floor room because of mobility issues (the Alligator Bayou section doesn't have elevators) and we would like building 16 which has Standard rooms. I'm not trying to get a Preferred room for the Standard price. I just want a Standard room as close to the food court in Alligator Bayou as possible.

I was told that by law they can't put any such requests on the reservation and I should have booked an accessible room or a Preferred room. I was pretty floored by her reply. I explained again that I didn't need an accessible room and I didn't want to and shouldn't be forced to pay extra for a Preferred location. Is this right that they can't make any notation that my request is because of a disability? And if that is right I wonder why the very unhelpful CM at Pop last year told me I should have called Special Needs to make my request.

I'm confused and disappointed right now.

The request you made at Pop Century would have put you in the Preferred Room area, so you would have had to pay extra for that. Since there is so much walking at WDW, the standard response for 'mobility issues' is to use an ECV or wheelchair.

The same goes for POR - you can't really request a certain building because of a disability (well, you can, but they don't have to honor that request). You can request a room that is accessible without having to use stairs though.

Special Reservations can help book an accessible room, and make sure certain equipment (grab bars, special alarms for the hard of hearing, etc) is installed.

 

[clanmcculloch]

If she has so much trouble with walking distances that you need a room near the main building then you REALLY need to consider an ECV. The distance even from the farthest room to the main building is nothing compared to the walking required in the parks. She's not going to be able to handle the walking if the walking at the resort is too much for her. PLEASE talk her into an ECV or wheelchair for the duration of the trip. Keep in mind that if her knees struggle with stairs, she'll likely also struggle to balance on busses as well so having the wheelchair will help with busses too.

I think you're expecting more than is reasonable to expect. A mobility disability does not allow for requiring specific buildings or specific locations for cheaper than those without a disability would pay. It also doesn't allow for requiring specific areas of a resort as those are just preferences; how is that a requirement of the disability? The onus is in the person with a mobility disability to obtain a mobility device. A specific building is even less of a requirement than a specific part of the resort. If you remove a bunch of those requests (that's all they are) then the special needs department might agree that first floor OR near an elevator (both being acceptable) would be something to attach to the reservation as a need. But, she really should get herself a mobility device as well.

 

[Piper]

I agree with the PP. You can make requests, but it isn't guaranteed. Unfortunately a mobility difficulty doesn't entitle to a close in room. WDW just says to rent a WC or ECV. There are some companies listed in the FAqs at the top of this thread that are quite reasonable.

 

[EpcotBill]

I think you're expecting more than is reasonable to expect. A mobility disability does not allow for requiring specific buildings or specific locations for cheaper than those without a disability would pay. It also doesn't allow for requiring specific areas of a resort as those are just preferences; how is that a requirement of the disability? The onus is in the person with a mobility disability to obtain a mobility device. A specific building is even less of a requirement than a specific part of the resort. If you remove a bunch of those requests (that's all they are) then the special needs department might agree that first floor OR near an elevator (both being acceptable) would be something to attach to the reservation as a need. But, she really should get herself a mobility device as well.

Really, I'm being unreasonable? All I asked for was a notation on the reservation that the reason for my requests are mobility related. That's all, I'm not demanding anything. Perhaps you should read my original post again. I said I'm not trying to get a Preferred room for the Standard price. I'm not asking for a specific building or location for cheaper than those without a disability would pay. A bunch of requests you say...I have two requests, building 16 and ground floor. I know a request is just a request. You seem to think I'm trying to get something for nothing. That's not the case at all. BTW, the person I'm talking about would not be able to operate an ECV. Thanks for your input but I don't appreciate being attacked for a simple request.

I just did what the CM at Pop told me I should have done last year. So I thought I'd come here and ask if he was right or if the CM on the phone today was right. I think you're reading more into what I posted.

To the poster who said my request at Pop was Preferred; no it wasn't. I requested building 1. I have stayed at Pop many times and always request building 1. Sometimes I get it, sometimes not. Last year when we checked in at Pop they put us in the 80's. I asked if there was anything closer to Classic Hall and he asked me why I wanted that so I told him. That's when he said I should have call Special Needs. Again, I wasn't trying to get something for nothing then either.

 

[livndisney]

Really, I'm being unreasonable? All I asked for was a notation on the reservation that the reason for my requests are mobility related. That's all, I'm not demanding anything. Perhaps you should read my original post again. I said I'm not trying to get a Preferred room for the Standard price. I'm not asking for a specific building or location for cheaper than those without a disability would pay. A bunch of requests you say...I have two requests, building 16 and ground floor. I know a request is just a request. You seem to think I'm trying to get something for nothing. That's not the case at all. BTW, the person I'm talking about would not be able to operate an ECV. Thanks for your input but I don't appreciate being attacked for a simple request.

I just did what the CM at Pop told me I should have done last year. So I thought I'd come here and ask if he was right or if the CM on the phone today was right. I think you're reading more into what I posted.

To the poster who said my request at Pop was Preferred; no it wasn't. I requested building 1. I have stayed at Pop many times and always request building 1. Sometimes I get it, sometimes not. Last year when we checked in at Pop they put us in the 80's. I asked if there was anything closer to Classic Hall and he asked me why I wanted that so I told him. That's when he said I should have call Special Needs. Again, I wasn't trying to get something for nothing then either.

You were not "attacked". You just did not like the info given.

One thing you are not taking into consideration, the way WDW reserves rooms for those with disabilities has changed (to comply more fully with the law) since the "CM at POP" told you what to do.

Additionally, you are trying to confuse "requests" with medical needs. There is not a medical need that requires a certain building. That is a request. By asking for a certain building you are asking for a request. You are trying to combine that with a medical need. Which in fact is "getting something" since medical needs rooms are specifically booked and blocked out. Requests are granted based on luck, availability etc.

Also, WDW answer to mobility issues is use an ecv or wheelchair. So that information posted by others is also correct.

 

[Schmeck]

To the poster who said my request at Pop was Preferred; no it wasn't. I requested building 1. I have stayed at Pop many times and always request building 1. Sometimes I get it, sometimes not. Last year when we checked in at Pop they put us in the 80's. I asked if there was anything closer to Classic Hall and he asked me why I wanted that so I told him. That's when he said I should have call Special Needs. Again, I wasn't trying to get something for nothing then either.

Parts of building 1 (the ones considered close to the food court, etc) are considered preferred.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I like the closer preferred locations and find it worth the minimal price increase to ensure getting it at check in.

 

[Buckimion]

I like the closer preferred locations and find it worth the minimal price increase to ensure getting it at check in.

Amen.

 

[jmartinez1895]

OP, I would call back to special reservations and ask that they note it on your reservation that a member in your party needs ground floor or near elevator for a medical reason. Once that is done I would call the regular booking line and have them note the request for a certain building. That way the medical aspect will be taken care of and you can also make your preference known.

 

[SueM in MN]

The CM at Pop Century told you incorrectly.

First floor or near an elevator are medical requests.
Location is not a medical request - in fact, the fully wheelchair accessible rooms with roll in showers are located all over each resort, even in the farthest rooms from the food court and other facilities.

For the resorts with preferred areas which cost more, they only assign those rooms to guests who have paid for a preferred location.
I can only think of a few situations where location would be a medical request - and they would be more general requests for things like away from water or in a quiet location. Most guests would not feel those are desirable requests, but they may be important for someone with autism.

Special Needs usually only gets involved in things like assignment of the accessible rooms and things that might need to be done to the room to get it ready for a guest's needs - things like a installing equipment needed by a guest with a hearing impairment, special cleaning or things like removing a regular bed to make room for a rented hospital bed.

 

[EpcotBill]

The CM at Pop Century told you incorrectly.

Thank you. That's all I was looking for. Apparently I confused some others by giving some background information. I should have kept it very simple.

So just to be clear one more time for those who still don't get it; all I wanted to do was have a notation put on my reservation because that's what a CM told me to do, not because I was trying to get something for free. Since I had conflicting information from CM's (which most of us know happens all the time) I thought I'd come here to see if anyone knew which CM was right. That's all.

Schmeck, I know where the preferred rooms are at Pop Century. I've stayed there 7 times. I book Standard rooms and request building 1 because of it's proximity to parking, pool and food court. The parking lot side of building 1 is very close to everything and most rooms on that side are Standard. Thanks for your help.

 

[aubriee]

Really, I'm being unreasonable? All I asked for was a notation on the reservation that the reason for my requests are mobility related. That's all, I'm not demanding anything. Perhaps you should read my original post again. I said I'm not trying to get a Preferred room for the Standard price. I'm not asking for a specific building or location for cheaper than those without a disability would pay. A bunch of requests you say...I have two requests, building 16 and ground floor. I know a request is just a request. You seem to think I'm trying to get something for nothing. That's not the case at all. BTW, the person I'm talking about would not be able to operate an ECV. Thanks for your input but I don't appreciate being attacked for a simple request.

I just did what the CM at Pop told me I should have done last year. So I thought I'd come here and ask if he was right or if the CM on the phone today was right. I think you're reading more into what I posted.

To the poster who said my request at Pop was Preferred; no it wasn't. I requested building 1. I have stayed at Pop many times and always request building 1. Sometimes I get it, sometimes not. Last year when we checked in at Pop they put us in the 80's. I asked if there was anything closer to Classic Hall and he asked me why I wanted that so I told him. That's when he said I should have call Special Needs. Again, I wasn't trying to get something for nothing then either.

Back before they designated preferred rooms at PORS, we stayed there with my elderly mom who uses an ECV down there. We really wanted the AB section but knew those buildings do not have elevators. When I made the ressie, I asked the CM to request 'first floor. buildings 14, 15, 18, or 27 due someone who uses an ECV part time and also being a very brittle diabetic, who needed to be close to the food court'. When we got there we had been placed on the back side, far end of Acadia House (Building 80) on the top floor. I very nicely asked the lady checking us in, if anything was available on the first floor of any AB building that was fairly close to the main building (again this was before they made those buildings preferred). She was able to get us a first floor room in Building 18, but told us that handicapped rooms are all over the resort and WDW recommendation for people with mobility issues is to rent a wheelchair or ECV and as far as my mom being a brittle diabetic who needed to be close to the food court, the recommendation would be to keep plenty of snacks in the room, so technically they will not guarantee a room close to anything just because you are handicapped.