Suggestions on how to ensure our needs are met....

[DRS_Are_Best]

.....so.....we booked a trip to WDW about a month ago to go in November. We were originally going to stay at Port Orleans Riverside (as we are a family of 5), but for $$ purposes, we needed to take advantage of Free Dining, so we ended up getting 2 rooms at All-Star Sports Resort.

We are doing everything through MEI Travel. We have informed them that we are traveling with 2 Autistic 8 year olds (they will be nearly 8.75 yrs at the time of the trip). My son has anxiety issues that accompany his ASD and ADHD diagnosis (not severe enough for a diagnosis, but severe enough that we have to accommodate for it everywhere we go). One of the things that sets him off is elevators.....he's TERRIFIED of them!

We made this knowledge very plain when we made the reservation. We told them that we need to be (1) on the first floor and (2) as far away from the elevators as possible. We also said that we need the 2 rooms to be adjoining rooms.

Apparently, room assignments don't happen until very shortly before the trip. Is there anything we should do to be sure that those two needs are met? I'm not worried about GAC issues (yet).....I just want to make sure our accommodations don't start us off on the wrong foot.

TIA!
Ilene

 

[aaarcher86]

Everything will need to be out through to Disney via the travel agent, but there's no way to guarantee room placing.

It's all based on availability. If it's noted they will so their best.

 

[OurBigTrip]

They will do their best to accommodate, but there are no guarantees on room placement.

And since you mentioned the GAC, just wanted you to know that the GAC was discontinued in October 2013, and replaced with the DAS. There is a sticky thread on this forum that goes into detail about how to request a DAS and how to use it.

 

[DRS_Are_Best]

I did know that.....not sure what made me put the wrong abbreviation in there.....going to read up on the details as we get closer.....we shouldn't need much....we're lucky.....as long as we accommodate for certain things, they can handle others.....and we KNOW to keep him away from Tower of Terror!

 

[OurBigTrip]

I did know that.....not sure what made me put the wrong abbreviation in there.....going to read up on the details as we get closer.....we shouldn't need much....we're lucky.....as long as we accommodate for certain things, they can handle others.....and we KNOW to keep him away from Tower of Terror!

The key thing to remember about the DAS is that all it does is offer an alternative waiting area for the length of standby minus 10 minutes. Not insignificant, but unlike the GAC, it doesn't offer a number of different accommodations.

Enjoy your planning and your trip!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Make sure your TA notes 1st floor, away from elevator, and CONNECTING rooms are medical needs due to your two sons' autism. Medical needs are given top priority for room assignments.

I put connecting in caps to stress you need to say connecting, not adjoining. In Disney-speak, connecting means side by side rooms with an internal door between them while adjoining just means somewhere in the same general area.

 

[SirDuff]

We made this knowledge very plain when we made the reservation. We told them that we need to be (1) on the first floor and (2) as far away from the elevators as possible. We also said that we need the 2 rooms to be adjoining rooms.

Are you okay with adjoining (rooms next to each other) or do you need connecting (rooms that have a door connecting them)? The two terms are often confused, so wanted to make sure that you're asking for the right thing.

 

[DRS_Are_Best]

Thanks....I didn't realize that! I checked with DH (he's the one that set up the arrangements and spoke with the TA).....fortunately, we are in the system as "Connecting" rooms. We have plans to call her a month before the trip (and again at 2 weeks) to be sure that things are happening as we requested. He has made a note to bring up the word "Medical" in these calls.....

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you requested adjoining and the travel agent requested connecting, stick with that agent for any future trips as well. They seem knowledgeable and well-informed.