How do I make sure I don't get a bunk bed room?

[drp4video]

Going to Orlando for my Aunt's 90th birthday. I am flying down and my mom is flying in from another state. I am going to meet her at the airport and take her to WDW for three nights. I booked AKL, pool view, but didn't specify what sleeping arrangements we would need. I have always stayed at POFQ or sometimes POR, in the early years All Star Music or POP..over 25 times, but just realized that I could possibly get bunk beds at AKL. Mom is 82 and there is no way she can do a bunk bed. I tried emailing but heard nothing back. As I usually book on line, do I assume I will have to call reservations and how good are they about honoring my request? In all my years of going, I have never had to call and request something special.

Also, we will get to the hotel about 6:30is. For those who have eaten at Boma or Jiko, I am assuming a buffet would be too much for mom. The only buffet I have ever done is Hollywood and Vine and it was so crazy with people all over and not sure if it would be too much for her. Is Boma like that?

 

[Tuvalu]

You can call and have your request noted on your reservation. However, there are no guarantees. There will be a queen bed in addition to the bunk bed (should there be one) so your mom would not necessarily have to sleep in the bunk (though you might!)

I just returned from a stay at WL with my senior aged mother and we were given a king bed (?!) I went to the front desk and we were reassigned a new room with 2 queens.

Boma is a huge buffet and is pretty popular (usually requires an ADR). Jiko is pretty pricey. Your best bet may be getting dinner from The Mara, the quick serve location.

 

[Tinkerbell397]

My recommendation would be to call the hotel directly about 3 days before arrival and state your concerns. When my husband and I went in September 2013, we stayed at The WL and stated our preference on our reservations we requested, 1. A room overlooking the lobby 2. A pool view and 3. a king or queens. They have us the first 2 requests but we had a queen and bunks. The bunks at the WL make the room very claustrophobic as they partially block the entrance to the room. They are also very small....I would say that an average adult cannot fit in them. You need to crawl into the bottom bunk and there is maybe 24" of headroom. You cannot sit up when in the bottom bunk. Not sure how the bunks in the AKL are but I would imagine that they are pretty much the same. When you call with your request, be sure to prioritize your needs and I would imagine that 2 queens would be # 1 on your list. Of course, they never guarantee requests but I think that they try their best to accommodate. Have a Magical Trip!

 

[drp4video]

Thank you for the responses. I am going to call tomorrow then probably call again a few days before we get there. I am not a youngster either, 61, and have both hips replaced, mom has had one, so we really need two queens.

Also, Since I paid for a pool view, I would assume I would get that. (although Savannah would be nice

 

[dreamfinder]

I think the bunk beds are usually an upcharge. Looks like if you have a Pool room view, then bunkbeds are a separately category. That's not to say you may end up with a king bed and a day bed. Although, the lower level bunk bed looks lower to the ground than the queen beds do. I find the beds at AKL to be fairly high up.

See here

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You have to pay extra for the bunk bed rooms. I've never heard of someone getting one "by accident".

 

[ToTBellHop]

You have to pay extra for the bunk bed rooms. I've never heard of someone getting one "by accident".

And I'm sure if you got one, you could get moved.

 

[drp4video]

Thanks for the information. I will call though in a few days just to put in my two cents. lol

Those would have been great all the years that I went with my daughter and she took a friend. But we used to stay at POP or POFQ so they shared a bed. Of course I was paying for the whole thing at that time. This time out with Mom, we are splitting the cost, hence, the deluxe.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I am one of those people who paid extra for a bunk bed room at AKL. While you are much more likely to get a savanna view of some sort without any upcharge (also room preference options at online check in), I have also seen 2 or 3 instances where people have been given complimentary upgrades to bunk bed rooms, so I would do the following...
1. call and have it noted on your reservation.
2. double check when you arrive at AKL to ensure you are not in a bunk bed room.

 

[shipley731]

You have to pay extra for the bunk bed rooms. I've never heard of someone getting one "by accident".

.
I generally always book a standard view room at AKL. Of the last three times we've stayed there, we got assigned a savannah view room with bunk beds. We were grateful for the view upgrade, so we didn't say anything. (We are 2 adults, no kids.). The last time we were there, I have the feeling the same assignment had happened, but when the CM @ the front desk realized it was just 2 of us, we got assigned a room with a king bed. (Also with a sunset savannah view. Bonus!)

 

[BuddyThomas]

Bunk bed rooms are listed as a room category on the online Disney reservation site and they seem to be slightly more expensive than non bunk rooms. So if you didn't book that category, I'm going to bet that you don't have to worry about it.

 

[drp4video]

Thanks. I booked the room special discount and it was a pool view. I will call and then let them know when I check in as well.

 

[drp4video]

I booked on line and it said this, so I am assuming I guess I won't have to worry about bunk beds. After I booked I was reading about bunk beds and I guess that freaked me out a bit. I will still request two queens. Mom doesn't like to share....even with a king lol.and I am not thrilled about sleeping on a day bed.

"2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed"

I am not booking park tickets, We will only be at WDW for two full days and there is no savings. With mom being 82, she might get tired after the first day at MK (probably have to take a break during the day for a nap for her and we might just do DDT the second day. I realize we may miss things without FP+, but she doesn't do thunder mountain, or space...she will do splash lol. And at 75, the last time I took her, she loved TOT, but she was a lot younger then. I do everything but this will just be a "we are at Disney and don't have to do it all trip." Just happy to be there! A very different trip than when I go with my 27 year old daughter.

 

[Swissmiss]

The first time we stayed at AKL we had booked a standard room but we were given a partial savannah view with bunk beds so it can happen (my daughter was six at the time and she was thrilled with sleeping in it ). As for your restaurant question, the buffet is busy but as it is not a character meal it is not as noisy as other buffets (but of course noisier than a traditional restaurant) You could also go to Sanaa - there is a shuttle van between Jambo House and Kidani which makes eating at Sanaa very convenient. In any event, all three restaurants are good so there will be no bad choice. And I sure hope when I am your mother's age my daughter still wants to go to wdw with me! Enjoy AKL!

 

[drp4video]

Thanks, I will check out the menus at all three. I just worry the buffet might be too much for mom to handle. And I love that at MY age, my 27 year old daughter has always loved to go to Disney with just ME lol. I am still hoping she may joint us for a three generation trip. Although now, with her, we went so much when she was growing up (AP's-at least twice or more per year) , that she is not that excited about it anymore. Funniest thing is, that last year she and her boyfriend were talking about a vacation and he said to her, "do you know where I really want to go?" and then he said, "Disney." hahahahaha. She was like, ok, you can go with my mom!