something I noticed on the Disney Website

[SueM in MN]

I went on the official WDW website to look for something and noticed there was a place to book a reservation. At the bottom of that little window, it said something about if you need accommodations for special needs. Being curious, I clicked it and here's what it said:
Special Accommodations

Please select your requested special accommodations from the list below. Note, there is no guarantee these accommodations will be available at time of check-in.:
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom
Room for a hearing impaired or deaf Guest
Room for a visually impaired or blind Guest
Roll-in Shower
Tub and hand rails (with wheelchair access)
Tub and hand rails (wheelchair access not required)
Bed raised for Hoyer lift
VIP Clean - for allergies
VIP Clean - no chemicals or scents
VIP Clean - remove all linens (if you will bring own linens)
VIP Clean - replace with new linens due to sever peanut allergies
Double rinsed linens
Air filter replaced and carpets cleaned
Handrails
Carpet has not been just cleaned
TDD kit
Transfer bench and hand-held shower
Extra pillows
Connecting rooms for medical assistance
Hospital bed delivered
Microwave for medical requests
Items removed from room (ex. soaps)
Recliner
Rubber sheets
No down or feather pillows due to allergies
Bringing a service animal

The worrisome thing was he second line:
Note, there is no guarantee these accommodations will be available at time of check-in.:

 

[mykidsintow]

I am most certainly not telling them when I am bringing a service animal. I don't want to give them some grand idea to have rooms for animals... or areas/sections for families that let them know they are traveling with service animals.

Maybe I am just being grumpy........

 

[mechurchlady]

I am bookmarking this here and on my computer but unfortunately me E drive is on vacation and I hope this will stay when if ever he returns. I wonder if they mean "may note be available ever in your trip" or that when you check in then you will have to wait for the services to be done. Hoping it is the last one as I would hate to plunk down money and end up not able to use a room.

Pokes Sue. don't you love the English language, so befuddling and confusing.

 

[Nalla]

I am most certainly not telling them when I am bringing a service animal. I don't want to give them some grand idea to have rooms for animals... or areas/sections for families that let them know they are traveling with service animals.

Maybe I am just being grumpy........

Personally, that's not happened to me at Disney. All except one time (and the exception was peak season) I've been given a room on the first floor, that opens out onto a grassy area. Maybe it's coincidence, but it was super convenient!
Other hotels, I've been given bad rooms because of my dog. One room I was in even had poisonous spiders (which strangely doesn't bother me... it's the principal of the thing).
But yeah... I wouldn't worry too much about Disney being stupid on account of the dog, I've not seen it happen there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Interesting... one question, and one observation.

First - can you select more than one special accommodation, or is it a simple dropdown menu (with no CTRL+C option)? And, since this has come up recently somewhere on the DIS - I see there's no option for a LOW bed, one into which a person in a wheelchair can transfer unassisted. Interesting.

 

[mechurchlady]

replace with new linens due to sever peanut allergies

note the typo

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think that this is only for online reservations that they cannot do a guarantee. And this would especially apply to the accessible rooms as opposed to the furnishings or cleanings. If the roll-in or grab bars are needed I would suggest making the reservation online and then calling Special Reservations and ask them to confirm or lock in the special room.

 

[Talking Hands]

Frankly even when I have requested a handicapped room it has not always been assigned and I have had to either argue with them and on a few occasions they have flat out refused to accommodate me and place me in a regular room. It really depends on who is at the desk. Also I think it depends on whether or not the DRC person actually sets it up with special services or not. Keeping guest from working with special needs reservations has become a definate problem as the regualr DRC CMs seem to be clueless.
Big problems every time we have reserved at CBR. If that is my only choice I now tell them sorry I will stay offsite.

 

[BillSears]

This is the reason I don't book my vacation on-line. I'd much rather talk to a person and have them put me on hold while they talk to special services. That way I know the room has been blocked for my use at the time I make my reservation.

 

[RobinFabulous]

In December Some of those were not avaliable at Pop. I requested a ground floor room and wasn't given it upon check in, only when I pushed were we moved. Also I was told they "didn't offer rubber sheets, but we can put a shower curtain on the bed"

 

[SueM in MN]

Interesting... one question, and one observation.

First - can you select more than one special accommodation, or is it a simple dropdown menu (with no CTRL+C option)? And, since this has come up recently somewhere on the DIS - I see there's no option for a LOW bed, one into which a person in a wheelchair can transfer unassisted. Interesting.

I don't know if it will let me use this link, but here it is to try:
Special Needs Reservation Request
It's not a popup, it's an actual new page loaded when you click on a spot that says Need Accomodation for Guests with Disabilities? right above a link for 'get a quote on the reservation page.
The request page has the list that I posted in the first page (I just copied and pasted) and has a checkbox in front of each item. I tried and it does allow you to click on as many want/need.
Since it actually opens a new page titled in the address bar as "Special Needs Request", hopefully, it does get separated out and routed to the Special Needs Department.

 

[dclfun]

I've always made my ressies online and then called to have the special requests added. I always note that I am travelling with a service animal as I've never had a problem at Disney. I mostly note it so that after we check out, the room can be thoroughly cleaned for someone who comes after me that might have allergies. I figure housekeeping may not see me or my SD and thus not know that this would be necessary. Of course, they may not do a thorough cleaning either so I'm assuming that they would do it as a courtesy to the next family. Since the only dogs that are allowed are service animals I don't think there's a chance that we'd be put in "pet rooms" or dirty rooms. I could see this possibility though with a hotel chain elsewhere- I just happen to trust Disney.---Kathy

 

[mechurchlady]

Please specify travel dates and number of room

So that is two typos I found. I hope they do better with guest services, lol.
The URL does say special requests so maybe that is where it will go but for me my money would be on mine being sent to Bulgaria.

 

[suz_cute]

This happened to us on our last vacation to WDW in Sept. We needed a handicapped accessible room for my dad (whos disability is clearly visible), which was necessary to be on the first floor. We paid for preferred room, had room request noted upon booking, called several times before our trip to make sure that we would have an appropriate room for him, and a regular room for us nearby. We ended up waiting for close to an hour at check-in while they got 2 managers to explain to us that being disabled and requiring a handicapped accessible room, is merely a request an not a guarantee nor a necessity. That's when my dad started to get MORE than a little upset, as we missed our dinner reservations for the evening, and POOF MAGICALLY 2 rooms appeared after the big fuss. When we explained that the check-in fiasco had made us late for our ADRs in epcot, they set a private unmarked van to our room, picked up the 4 of us, and took us in the backlot of Epcot. They dropped us off right behind France, and they luckily still honored our reservations. The backlot escort was truly the best part of our trip. He used to be the VIP escort to all the celebrities, and gave us alot of cool info, and was really accommodating. I wish I could say the same for the check-in desk and managers at CBR resort.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

That's great that they allow disabled ppl with special needs to book online now (whereas before when you clicked that, it would just tell you to call in your reservation).

I don't think called-in accessible features/rooms are guaranteed, either, so no difference there.