Would this upset you? DVC gave us another HC room.

[higleytownheros]

Last week we took our first trip to Hilton Head and we had a great time! However, as it usually seems to be going for us, we had a difficult check in. We had a studio reserved for Sunday thru Friday for DH, myself and DS's 4 & 2. We arrive about 5:30 PM and my DH checks in while I watch the boys, as he's better with the directions to our room. After checking in, he reluctantly tells me that they had to give us a handicapped room (meaning no bath tub) and that there was absolutely nothing else available for two days, when we could then move to a regular studio.

As I wrote earlier, I have DS's 4 and 2, and they WILL NOT take showers. I don't know why, but they will scream and cry thru the whole thing, they hate it!

Of our 4 DVC vacations thus far, we have been given a handicapped room 3 times. The first time, we didn't have a clue about the rooms with only showers, and we were able to move to a new room (although the front desk tried to charge us with a room change fee ... that was resolved). After that time, we put requests in when making our reservations that we would like a non-handicapped room. Last Dec. at SSR, they still tried to give us a handicapped studio, but we found out before we checked into the room, and they gave us a regular studio. Then again this past week at Hilton Head.

Ok, so back to Hilton Head check in. After DH told me what he had learned at check in, I went back to the front desk to talk with the cast member my DH had talked to. I explained our situation and why the no bathtub would not work for us, and she told me several times they were at full capacity and there was nothing they could do other than give us a regular studio after two nights, as they were at full capacity. I asked to speak with the supervisor. The supervisor said they could get us the regular studio after one night, but we'd be out of a room from 11 to 4. Told her that wouldn't work ... I wouldn't be out of a room at naptime. She went to an office for a bit and then came back that we could have a 2 bedroom for the first night then move to a regular studio for the rest of the week, I told her we would do this only if I could have the 2 bedroom until the studio was ready to check into. She agreed and went back to her office for a while. The supervisor then came back and had suddenly found a non-handicapped studio we could check into immediately.

This whole check in experience was very long and painful ... imagine trying to discuss this while keeping an eye on a 2 and 4 year old that have been in the car for hours. The biggest problem is that DH and I HATE complaining about things. It put a real damper on the first evening there when we should have been having fun exploring the resort. Our whole plan, since we decided to purchase DVC, was to reserve studios while the boys are young to maximize our points/trips. I cannot go thru this everytime we take a trip. I'm already experiencing anxiety about getting a handicapped room for our next disney world trip. I want to add that I was as nice as I possibly could be to the CM's at the front desk, I just kept saying, "that isn't going to work for us" and why. I felt like they just trying to give us the least they could to get us out of there. DH mentioned that the reservation request system is changing ... but even that doesn't sound like non-HC rooms are being guaranteed. Can anyone give some insite into this? What should we be doing differently? Thanks for reading ...

 

[WolfpackFan]

The problem is at HHI there are not that many studio rooms and they have to have some percentage handicapped. We ran into the same thing last year at HHI but we had a choice - either a handicapped room with a good view or a regular room with a nice view of a tree. We chose the tree, but about mid-week we wished we had taken the handicapped room. This probably won't help you any, but my way of getting around it is to drive down to HHI the day before and spend the night at a cheap motel - like the Hampton Inn at Sun City. Then check in as early as possible - asking them what is available for the day. Even if we can't get in the room that early, we could at least go sit out on the beach or around the pool until our room is ready.

 

[AKV707]

Wow, what a tough check in! I don't know what you could do other than letting member services know when you make a reservation that you have already had so many HA rooms and would not like to have one again.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Forget about the studios all together and stay in a one bedroom. Then you won't have to worry about the handicapped accessible and not having a tub.

 

[Chuck S]

THe handicap rooms are included in the total available point offerings for the resorts. While many people don;t like it, there is probably little you can do. You are promised a room, everything else is a request. I realize it is frustrating, but it is the way the system works, as rooms are not assigned at time of booking.

As Deb & Bill said, larger HA units have both a tub and shower (except for one unit in Jambo house at AKV). The only way to absolutely guarantee you will have a tub is to book something larger than a studio.

 

[CarolMN]

WHen you book, ask for a room with a tub (instead of a non-handicapped room). Sometimes, the person doing the room assingments unintentionally skips over the "non". Better to ask for what you want instead of what you don't want. It's still a request, but I've found your odds are better.

If you can, get the CM to note you have small children who need a tub, not just a shower.

Hope your next studio is one with a tub.

 

[RobDoc]

HH has a total of 21 studios (and 21 1BR villas). HH has no dedicated 2BR villas or GVs that are HCA since none of the buildings except the Live Oak Lodge (buildings 11/12) have elevators and there are no ground floor units at all at the resort due to local building codes. There are no dedicated 2BR villas or GVs in buildings 11/12.

Thus, all of the HCA villas are located in buildings 11/12. There are a total of 16 lock-off 2BRs in those buildings which are almost always reserved only as a Studio or 1BR unless there is a need for a HCA 2BR villa. If none of the HCA rooms are reserved for that purpose and the resort is at full capacity, someone has to have a HCA villa.

There is a studio/1BR lockoff located under each of the 5 GVs - none of those are HCA - so you could possibly request a studio under a GV - just be prepared for some noise since the GVs tend to generate more sound on the hardwood floors in the dining area. You might also request a studio with a tub instead of a non-handicapped studio.

Glad your issue was resolved and that you had a good trip!

 

[TinkGirl]

Wow! We've had four DVC trips and not run into this. I'm assuming this is all at HH? I would definitely request a unit with a tub as a previous poster said. Good luck! Don't let that spoil your DVC experience.

 

[jarestel]

Wow! We've had four DVC trips and not run into this. I'm assuming this is all at HH?

Au contraire! It can, and does, happen at all of the resorts. I've been assigned an HCA room at BCV, AKV, and VWL. Sometimes, if the resort isn't full, they will move you if they feel like it, but when there are no rooms to move to, that's not an option. Luck of the draw mostly, but the vast majority of our trips have been in rooms that were better suited to our needs.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I have this theory and this relates to both getting HA rooms as well as rooms with other undesirable features like dumpster view at VWL - at check in if you don't mention not wanting the undesirable room and they give you another room but you ask for a change for some other reason - they will put you in that undesirable room just to get rid of it.

This has happened to us twice. At VWL back in March, at check in the CM mentioned our room was ready and that it was on the first floor. Well I don't like first floor rooms (for security reasons) and I asked to be changed. They changed us alright, right into a room with a nice view of the dumpster. Also, back last year at HHI - at check in we wanted a nice water view but at check in the CM mentioned we did have a water view room but it was HA. Well I didn't like that and said we don't want HA. So sure enough they moved us but gave us about the worst view you could get of a tree. Looking back on it now, in both cases, I wish I had taken the first floor room at VWL and the HA room at HHI.

I think CM's see this as an opportunity to get rid of that undesirable room when you make a big deal about not being happy with what they initially assign you, thinking you won't want to make a big fuss a second time. Anyway that's my theory. What I do now is ask for the thing that is most undesirable in my mind at check in, like no dumpster view and no tree view and just be happy with what they give.

 

[edk35]

When we stayed at SSR for our very first trip home last Aug...we got a modified (found out later that is what it is called) HC room. At first I didn't notice this even though I had requested a NON HC room....but after check in ....we went to our villa and left. So when we got back that night and started getting ready for bed...I noticed the bathrooms were different and then the kitchen too. I was disappointed so the next day when we were at MK I called the front desk and they said that they would move us the next morning without a charge. So we moved the next morning...across the hall, had to still have bell services hold our bags even though it was across the hall. So we come back around 3:00 and check in and that room HAD NOT BEEN CLEANED...it looked as if they only did towel and trash. SO they had to send a lady to clean it. What a mess....looking back we should have just stayed with our modified room but since this was our first official stay I wanted a non hc room. I almost feel guilty putting anything like that as a request from now on so I don't. I just ask when we check in.

 

[disynut]

I've had the same thing happen to me--both times at BCV. It becomes a safety issue as well---my kids have both fallen taking showers in the rooms at WDW--those tubs are slick and the walk in showers in the ha rooms probably are as well. Also--they had assigned us a 2bedroom HA room once with a toddler in tow---since it was HA everything was in his reach--stove knobs included! We were changed, but not without a hassle. The other time I was practically on my knees begging to be changed because I had two little ones with me and it is hard enough being in a hotel room trying to keep little ones happy, without trying to keep them from burning the place down playing with the stove knobs!

I don't understand how they can guarantee sections of resorts(SSR) when booking but not HA/non HA.

 

[higleytownheros]

Forget about the studios all together and stay in a one bedroom. Then you won't have to worry about the handicapped accessible and not having a tub.

I've thought of this also, but like I said in the original post, we purchased DVC with the intention of getting studios. I don't feel like we should have to use up more points just to have a bathtub when we don't need the extra space just yet.

WHen you book, ask for a room with a tub (instead of a non-handicapped room). Sometimes, the person doing the room assingments unintentionally skips over the "non". Better to ask for what you want instead of what you don't want. It's still a request, but I've found your odds are better.

Thanks, we are going to start doing this. DH said that he read somewhere on the disboards that the reservation request system is changing, so that the requests are honored in order of the reservation made date rather than in order of who is at the resort first the day of check-in. Is this accurate? I haven't been able to find the thread.

Also, I was wondering if anyone has called the front desk in the morning of check-in day to have a specific room type held?

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinions and shared your experiences.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Last week we took our first trip to Hilton Head and we had a great time! However, as it usually seems to be going for us, we had a difficult check in. We had a studio reserved for Sunday thru Friday for DH, myself and DS's 4 & 2. We arrive about 5:30 PM and my DH checks in while I watch the boys, as he's better with the directions to our room. After checking in, he reluctantly tells me that they had to give us a handicapped room (meaning no bath tub) and that there was absolutely nothing else available for two days, when we could then move to a regular studio.

As I wrote earlier, I have DS's 4 and 2, and they WILL NOT take showers. I don't know why, but they will scream and cry thru the whole thing, they hate it!

Of our 4 DVC vacations thus far, we have been given a handicapped room 3 times. The first time, we didn't have a clue about the rooms with only showers, and we were able to move to a new room (although the front desk tried to charge us with a room change fee ... that was resolved). After that time, we put requests in when making our reservations that we would like a non-handicapped room. Last Dec. at SSR, they still tried to give us a handicapped studio, but we found out before we checked into the room, and they gave us a regular studio. Then again this past week at Hilton Head.

Ok, so back to Hilton Head check in. After DH told me what he had learned at check in, I went back to the front desk to talk with the cast member my DH had talked to. I explained our situation and why the no bathtub would not work for us, and she told me several times they were at full capacity and there was nothing they could do other than give us a regular studio after two nights, as they were at full capacity. I asked to speak with the supervisor. The supervisor said they could get us the regular studio after one night, but we'd be out of a room from 11 to 4. Told her that wouldn't work ... I wouldn't be out of a room at naptime. She went to an office for a bit and then came back that we could have a 2 bedroom for the first night then move to a regular studio for the rest of the week, I told her we would do this only if I could have the 2 bedroom until the studio was ready to check into. She agreed and went back to her office for a while. The supervisor then came back and had suddenly found a non-handicapped studio we could check into immediately.

This whole check in experience was very long and painful ... imagine trying to discuss this while keeping an eye on a 2 and 4 year old that have been in the car for hours. The biggest problem is that DH and I HATE complaining about things. It put a real damper on the first evening there when we should have been having fun exploring the resort. Our whole plan, since we decided to purchase DVC, was to reserve studios while the boys are young to maximize our points/trips. I cannot go thru this everytime we take a trip. I'm already experiencing anxiety about getting a handicapped room for our next disney world trip. I want to add that I was as nice as I possibly could be to the CM's at the front desk, I just kept saying, "that isn't going to work for us" and why. I felt like they just trying to give us the least they could to get us out of there. DH mentioned that the reservation request system is changing ... but even that doesn't sound like non-HC rooms are being guaranteed. Can anyone give some insite into this? What should we be doing differently? Thanks for reading ...

This wouldn't really upset me-they did try to correct things for you. At least they told you at check-in. One time, at check-in, we were lied to-when I asked if the room was HA, the CM said it wasn't, but when we got to the room-sure enough, it was! Of our first 5-6 DVC stays, 3 were HA. And we also were told once that we'd be charged if we moved (that was when we called as soon as we got to the room and saw it was HA one trip). So we keep a list of the HA rooms at wherever we might stay and deal with it, politely like you did, at check in. If it's any consolation, after the first few years, during which it was a (not too funny) joke in our family about being given HA villas so often, we haven't gotten a HA villa in several years.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Nope. Wouldn't upset me. I've gone to different DVC resorts prob. close to a few few dozen times (with switching resorts mid stay, etc). I've had a few HC rooms. It was not the best situation when I had my son who was 2 at the time at the BWV and was afraid of showers. But I'm always left with the feeling of how lucky I am that I got 'stuck' in the room and not one of the people who really needed it.

 

[lisaviolet]

It wouldn't bother me. I've had one at HHI as well. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't have any emotions about it OP - a la possible disappointment initially if I was in your family situation. But it wouldn't bother me in the sense of I know they exist and anyone can get them. And I'm anyone. Therefore I could get one at any time. That's part of the DVC deal. So not bothered - it's reality - all DVC members could end up with one.

But I am sorry that you've ended up with one so many times and that it creates difficulty for you on vacation. Empathy there OP.

My suggestion, not unlike others, is to get there early for a better chance. And I liked Carol's suggestion as well about the wording on the requests. Although I have had MS tell me when I word something my own way that they can't put it in unless there is a code for that request. But who knows - conflicting info exists for sure.

Lisa

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I don't understand how they can guarantee sections of resorts(SSR) when booking but not HA/non HA.

They don't guarantee sections of the resort. They only guarantee the resort and size of villa you reserved. SSR doesn't have any booking categories yet. OKW has one booking category - near the Hospitality House. AKV has a few booking categories. BCV and BWV have a few booking categories. I don't think VWL has any booking categories.

Plus, by law they must have a certain percentage of HA rooms available. And when 95% of the villas are sold, someone is going to get those HA rooms, even if they don't need them. It would be even worse if you needed a HA room and were unable to get it for some reason.

 

[BroganMc]

Nope. Wouldn't upset me. I've gone to different DVC resorts prob. close to a few few dozen times (with switching resorts mid stay, etc). I've had a few HC rooms. It was not the best situation when I had my son who was 2 at the time at the BWV and was afraid of showers. But I'm always left with the feeling of how lucky I am that I got 'stuck' in the room and not one of the people who really needed it.

I guess my POV is "what is all the fuss"? A crying kid is nothing compared to not being able to bathe. But then like beauty difficulties are in the eye of the beholder.

As for the time at the Front Desk, while it's annoying it's also understandable. Frequently the computer systems they have in hotels are not up to par. HA rooms are not marked or marked incorrectly. Rooms disappear as they are listed on the "Next" screen and not every clerk knows how to search the database properly. Best you can do is be sweetly persistent and encourage them to keep looking.

Probably your biggest problem is not communicating the crucial detail to the room assigner. That being "room with a tub". Also, I've been told the first request is the one honored and additionals tend to be overlooked.

I know when I book my absolute dealbreaker request is "roll-in shower". I've made do with enough rooms with tubs to realize how that can ruin my vacation. So usually I'm extremely anal about checking it at all stages. I also never believe what I'm told until I see the room myself.

I wonder if you can call ahead to the Front Desk on check-in day to inquire about that request? I've always done the "be there early so there's a pick of the litter".

 

[westjones]

Forget about the studios all together and stay in a one bedroom. Then you won't have to worry about the handicapped accessible and not having a tub.

Is this true with all DVC units? None of the 1 bedrooms are handicapped accessible rooms? I didn't realize this because we have been getting studios. We are cutting back to 1 trip to WDW a year rather than two (getting too expensive to go twice), so we are planning to start getting a 1BR in the future instead of a studio, so it would be nice to know we won't have to worry about this situation.

DJ

 

[BroganMc]

Is this true with all DVC units? None of the 1 bedrooms are handicapped accessible rooms?

I think you misunderstood. There are HA rooms in every category (by law). The difference with a 1bedroom is that they also have the jacuzzi tub besides a roll-in shower. The roll-in replaces the standard shower in the master bath.

A 2bedroom HA lockoff usually has only one HA bathroom (could be 1bed master or studio bath depending on which room set is assigned).