What constitutes being disabled at resort for room location?

[amandaraye]

I am very fortunate that I function as well as I do, and better than many others can. But, I DO have terrible pain issues due to an auto accident I was in years ago. I have arthritis, limited ROM in one ankle, no movement in the other, back and hip problems, I could go on and on. I am on pain medicine which helps, but that long walk to bus stop in the morning when I’m still stiff and back to the room at the end of the day after walking at the parks all days nearly brings me to tears.
My question is, if I explain these disabilities to the front desk is there any hope of getting a room in a location in closer proximity to bus stop, etc.? Looking at me you would never know I have these issues and I would hate to be judged and thought a liar, but it really did put a damper on my last trip when we were placed far from the main building despite requesting a preferred room.
Or are these issues not considered a disability by their standards?
Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[brenalexacamp]

Let them know- they'll tell you they will do what they can. I have a disabled child and always ask to be near the bus or food, or close to the elevator. We have a convaid stroller. They ask if I need a handicapped room- we don't so I never take it.

 

[peemagg]

You need to request the room be close to the bus stops and main building because "of medical reasons". It you don't place it that way, your request is just that a request. If you are staying in a value resort, you need to pay the extra fee to be sure to get a preferred room. Other wise your request is a room close to the main building in a non-preferred room.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I am in your situation and I work directly with the special needs reservation/help area of Disney. I am sure that someone will come along and get that number for you.. Sorry I don't have it close.

Make a list before you talk with them. I have some strange requests that I have written down; like I can't have a low toilet, I have use bathtub rails even to shower, and I ask to be close, etc. No one has ever questioned me in that department or made me "confirm" my disability. I really don't think they can. Good luck to you and if you don't get the help you need, call back. Have a great trip!!

 

[bidnow5]

I have always had special requests due to health issues they always try to do what ever we need they are great at helping to make the vacation a great one

 

[SueM in MN]

The Special Reservations number is in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There is a link in my signature to that thread; look in post #1 of that thread to find the index of where to find the information.

There are a couple of 'buts' though.

- The Special Needs number usually only deals with special requests that are different than a regular room (like the person who said they can't have a low toilet), not so often location. Most often, they are dealing with rooms with roll in showers, since there are a limited number of them and they do need to be sure that those are blocked for people who need them.

- The ADA requires that accessible rooms be spread throughout a hotel or resort. So, someone who requires a room with a roll in shower could be anywhere in the resort; some of those rooms may not be that close to parking, bus stops, etc.

- As peemag noted, if the resort has Preferred Rooms with an additional charge to be close to everything, you will have to pay the additional charge if you want to be in the "Preferred" area.

- Put your requests in order so that the one that is most important to you is listed first. Room controllers have reported that they do try to assign rooms so that at least one of the guest's requests are met. They assume that whatever is listed first was the most important thing to the guest. Things labeled as medical needs are usually filled before other requests.

- If the room you are assigned at check in doesn't meet your needs, you can ask if they have something closer to _ _ _ _ _ _. If you are checking in late or on a day where there are not many open rooms, they may not have much choice, but usually it won't be a problem to re-assign your room at check in.

 

[Bete]

The preferred rooms go for about $15/ night more than the standard ones at the values. The rooms are closest to the buses and food courts.

You can get an outside scooter rental for $150/week for a smaller one at Apple Scooter rental.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

I have 2 children with hidden disabilities. Don't worry about what other people think. There are plenty of us out there who can relate. For our last three trips to the World we have had someone with us who couldn't do stairs. We stay at DVC resorts for the larger accodations because of this. We always ask for a 1st floor room or to be near an elevator for medical reasons. We have always gotten our request. A relative of mine had a problem a while back because she did not state it was a medical problem and her request was not filled until she explained it to a manager. They had to move her to another resort so she was dissapointed. Now though when she and her family go along with her request they bring a note from her doctor she can show at the front desk.

 

[dclfun]

I have 2 children with hidden disabilities. Don't worry about what other people think. There are plenty of us out there who can relate. For our last three trips to the World we have had someone with us who couldn't do stairs. We stay at DVC resorts for the larger accodations because of this. We always ask for a 1st floor room or to be near an elevator for medical reasons. We have always gotten our request. A relative of mine had a problem a while back because she did not state it was a medical problem and her request was not filled until she explained it to a manager. They had to move her to another resort so she was dissapointed. Now though when she and her family go along with her request they bring a note from her doctor she can show at the front desk.

Per ADA law the front desk CM's cannot require a note and often they won't read a note- it really won't help as the rooms will have been assigned before guest's arrive. Yes, they might be able to make some changes to your assigned location but it all depends on how full the resort is so it's best to note your request when the reservation is made and say that it's for medical reasons. As was noted, you would need to request and pay more for a preferred room location at both the value and the moderate resorts if you want to be near the food court. At least in the moderate resorts the bus stops are spread out, but there is only one food court and it can be a long hike. As Sue mentioned, the accessible rooms are spread throughout the resort so even for those who need an accessible room, it's necessary to pay for the preferred room if you want to be close to the food court/main bldg. It doesn't matter to me as I use a power w/c but I have never been assigned to a preferred location without paying for it. Sounds like the extra money might be worth it to guarantee you won't have a long, painful walk at the end of the day.---Kathy

 

[mousebymarriage]

On our last trip in feb. we stayed in Pop. My DH was wearing a medical "boot" on his left foot because he pulled some tendons in his foot/ankle shortly before the trip. He could walk on the foot(which was painful but usually bearable when walking for a short amount of time. extended time was a different story) but the doc insisted he wear the boot because of the amount of walking in Disney and DH refused to get a scooter or wheelchair. Anyway, when we checked in at the resort(we didn't do online check in)the CM saw my Dh's foot even before we hit the counter and put us in a room right by the pool but on the other side so noise wasn't a problem. The CM was so sweet and did this without us even asking. When DH asked her if there was anyway we could get a room that wasn't too far away she told us not to worry it was already done. we took alot of breaks during our trip so he could get off the foot, not the way we usually travel but he just couldn't be on the foot too much. the rest stops were a great way to people watch and just relax.

p.s. we did not pay extra for a preferred room but, I am pretty sure it was one because we were very close to the food court/pool.

I'm sure if you explain your situation they will accomodate you if there are rooms available. Maybe calling ahead and explaining your situation might help so they can at least put a notation on your ressie and possibly hold a closer room for you.

 

[amandaraye]

Thank you all for your input and help! I think I will call and see how to best handle it. We are staying at a DVC reorts so I'm not sure how that works as far as getting a preferred room. It' snot like the All-Stars where we would pay the extra$15/night for preferred.
Thanks again!

 

[PatsMom]

Thank you all for your input and help! I think I will call and see how to best handle it. We are staying at a DVC reorts so I'm not sure how that works as far as getting a preferred room. It' snot like the All-Stars where we would pay the extra$15/night for preferred.
Thanks again!

I see that you are staying at Saratoga Springs. The resort is very spread out but it has multiple bus stops. To be near the food court is kind of tough but they are supposed to be adding another quick service location in the Paddock. Did you rent points or are you on a cash reservation? If you rented points, you might want the member you rented from to call and add the medical request for close to a bus stop to your reservation. If you don't absolutely need the food court, you might be better off not staying at the Springs (the section closest to the main pool and food court). It is the last bus stop and the bus is often standing room only when it gets there.

If you just want first floor, Grandstand is nice and it is the first bus stop so you are pretty certain of getting a seat in the mornings. It is a bit of a walk over to the food court, but not too bad. You can take any theme park bus if you want and just get off at the Springs.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[amandaraye]

We traded in from RCI for the week. I don't understand how any of it works, it's my sister's timeshare and she's in charge.

 

[PatsMom]

We traded in from RCI for the week. I don't understand how any of it works, it's my sister's timeshare and she's in charge.

I'm not sure how things work when you trade in either. But your sister should be able to add the medical room request that you be near the bus stop. And on the first floor or near the elevator.

We don't eat at the food court enough for that to be a priority to me. And my daughter and whichever teenaged friend she has with her don't need our supervision at the pool. So when I stay at Saratogo, I prefer a building near the beginning of the bus route!

Saratogo is a great resort. If you are not near the feature pool, the quiet pools also have hot tubs. I really like the hot tub after a day of walking around the parks!