Tiny vent.... big worries......

[Laurabearz]

Okay I have tried not to get worked up about the room assignment situation at OKW..... but since we are arriving so late (after 11pm) during the sold out time of early December I am concerned

BUT the fact is.........

If we do not get a 1st floor villa OR a building with and elevator we might as well head home......... No way No how can pops walk up a flight of stairs........

We booked 10 months out........ for December 7th-14th.......

Should I prepare a back up plan...... make cash ressies somewhere else just in case...... but then I would loose the deposit coz we wouldnt need the cash room if we got a 1st fl/elevator building.......... Would the front desk assist us on getting other accomidations if they are unable to provide us with a 1st floor room......... With such short notice could we do AKL or Poly on points? Heck even Widerness Cabins?

We are listed as needed the 1st floor or elevator for medical reasons, but I have been reading how so many people are not getting non smoking rooms for medical reasons......

UGH I hate fretting about details....... but this is a big one......

I do plan on faxing the requests again a couple of days out..... and I hope that the scooter that should be there waiting for us would help them remember....... but still I worry..........

Can anyone reassure me? Or at least let me know if the front desk could swicth us to AKL/Poly that night?

THanks bunches......

Laura <--------- who is still misty eyed about the trip and is really trying not to worry about this yet cant help herself..... I gotta plan for the worst and hope for the best...... Ya know?

 

[kda]

Gosh, what can you do to GUARANTEE that you'll have an acceptable room so you can relax --- especially since Disney doesn't seem to guarantee rooms?

Perhaps you'd feel better if you could contact the manager at OKW and ask them to get involved, especially since you've heard of their (sometimes) policy of assigning rooms based on arrival time and you're arriving late. Ask that person if they recommend that you just book a room somewhere else that night (ie, the airport) so you can show up at OKW the next AM and get your request in early for that day. Or ask what they recommend your back-up plan should be.

At the very least, you could call the room assigner now, just to discuss the situation and get their recommendations. You know, this will probably all work out just fine, but we all have read about other people's misfortunes, and hope we won't have the same problem. Good luck!

 

[DebbieB]

I agree, I would talk to the room assigner or manager and I would also call again the morning of your arrival. That morning they should be able to block your room. If you get there and there is not an acceptable room, it would be their responsibility to move you to another resort for that night, I would not make a cash reservation elsewhere and lose the deposit. Isn't there a number to call to help with disabilities? Maybe they can direct you. I would check over on the disabilities board.

 

[Sneaky3]

hI I hope this helps when you request ground floor ask them to put for medical reasons that way they will either put you on the ground floor or the buildings with the elevators. When I request non-smoking I put for medical reasons because my son is asthmatic.

Michele

 

[Chuck S]

I agree, fax the room assigner a few days out, be sure to let him/her know of your late arrival time and that the first floor is required for medical reasons. Be prepared, though, since it IS for medical reasons that you may wind up with a handi-accessible room. The biggest difference is a roll-in shower instead of a bathtub. I plan to fax a few days out from our arrival on Dec 3rd, and advise them that while one flight of steps is OK (and probably good exercise for Mom's replaced hip) that a 3rd floor room is out of the question for us.

 

[RobDoc]

I would write to the manager: 1510 North Cove Road, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 and let him know of your concerns. Let him know that you made your requests when the reservation was first made and you need the requests met for medical needs, but that you are concerned about not getting them met due to your late arrival and the suggestions that the resort is now not honoring such requests.

I would hope you will get a prompt response, reassuring you that you need not worry.

If you call and are able to speak with a room "controller", then your original requests should be met anyway- since a "controller" is not needed unless rooms are being pre-assigned based on requests. (I'm not sure you could actually "speak" to the controller anyway- so don't be put off if you don't.)...If there is absolutely no "controller", then rooms are likely being assigned only at check-in, but don't assume there is no "controller" just because you don't get to speak to someone with that title.

I'm sure your requests will be met, but asking for assurance from the manager would certainly be a help!

Enjoy!

 

[chris1gill]

I really wouldn't worry too much about this... BUT, I would definitely call the OKW manager (today even) & speak with them about your upcoming reservation. See what they say... The resort will actually get your reservation 3 days in advance & you could call at that time... Just to absolutely confirm, you could call the morning of your check-in & speak to somebody about getting a first floor room blocked off for you, if one hasn't been already...

We faced the same thing last year however & in the end, I reserved a Handicapped Accessible unit, the only major difference, is that the shower is a wheel-in shower which nobody in our family liked!!

 

[Terry S]

I just sent you a PM.

I would call and speak with an OKW Guest Services Resort Manager, they should be able to help you out.

chris1gill... I learned something recently, the DVC resorts "get" our reservations on the day we make them. They don't get a feed 5 days prior to our arrival like we all know that the regular resorts get from CRO.

 

[Laurabearz]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts....... I think I will call then follow up with a letter

I do feel a bit better, and I really am great with rolling with the punches.... it is just this is so non negogiable (ack my spelling sucks) and so unlike us.....

Thanks for making me feel better

 

[SueM in MN]

There is not a spcial needs number to call for DVC members. MS covers all member reservations, special needs or not.
We made a reservation for March 2003 for OKW and need first floor for medical reasons. We were told that medical needs are always blocked out and filled before other requests (the smae as we have been told since 1993). Your most important need should always be listed first (they assume what is listed first is most important to you). Even if something is a medical need, if it's listed last, it might be missed because the other requests are higher on the list. We have been members since 1993 and have not a had a problem getting a first floor room (especially since a lot of people specifically request not to have first floor because they want the view and less noise being on 2nd or 3rd floor). If someone absolutely can't go on 2nd or 3rd floor, why would they not assign it ahead of time? They would have to "fix" it at check in later anyway, which could cost them more money if they have to move you.
If you absolutely want to guarantee a first floor room with no chance of being bumped out of it, change your reservation to a handicapped accessible room. Those are blocked at the time of the reservation and are guaranteed.

The other thing is that all the "they are not pre-assigning rooms at all" doesn't make sense. This is a huge resort. When I was in high school and college my mom worked as a desk clerk for a 125 room hotel. They "blocked out" rooms based on preferences several days ahead of time. The rooms might not have been "assigned" until check in, but I can't see how you would run a huge resort without some idea of where the guests would be going.

 

[Disneyaholic]

Laura:

Are you totally opposed to requesting a handicapped room? (I know some people don't like them for other reasons.) It seems to me that your situation would qualify for one, and then you would be guaranteed a first floor or elevator room.

 

[Laurabearz]

We really dont want to request a handicapped room, because that would take it out of inventory for someone who may really need it...... and we dont...... Pops has no trouble getting in and out of a shower, going to the bathroom etc..... he just can not walk up more than 1 or two steps.......

Thanks for the suggestion though

 

[Rock'n Robin]

this is in regards to BWV but I thought it might make you feel better....we took my parents in July. Dad had back surgery in August and was in some pain in July--he rented a scooter and it helped a lot. I had requested non smoking close to elevators, but called in June to make sure that was noted and we could be as close as possible. Well, we were the FIRST standard view 2BR off of the elevators on the 3rd floor! The view was nothing to speak of, but we sure got what we wanted in terms of making it easy on my parents.
Robin M.

 

[CarolA]

I have a friends staying on my points right now. I called just a week before and asked for a first floor room or one of the new buildings with a wheelchair because my friend's mother-in-laws has mobility issues. I told them I did not need a handicap room. Member services noted it as a medical need and we got exactly what they needed! So quit panicing and just call and tell them it is a medical need.

 

[SueM in MN]

I sent a rather long email to Member Services about this and got a rather short reply:

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Member Services.

Your medical request still gets special attention.

Let us know if we can be of further assistance.

I agree with CarolA. As long as it is noted as a Medical Need on your confirmation letter, you won't have a problem. If you tell them, but it's not on the confirmation letter as a medical need, then it may not be in the computer that way. Check your confirmation letter.

 

[Sorcerer]

We have the same issue: Mom needs first floor but not necessarily a handicapped accesible room. We've never had a problem. On our last trip at the end of October we had to wait until 4pm for our room (we arrived at OKW in the morning). Rooms must be assigned based on need in advance, or we would not have had to wait for our room. I would assume that anyone who did not request anything special is getting first available rooms.