WDW Resort Reservations: Are they truly reservations?

[susan mccartney]

Quick phone call with your requirement usually gets what you need.

When you book a room at WDW and make requests for a floor and a roll in shower, they let you know that your requests are just requests and cannot be guaranteed. IF the room assigner cannot meet your requests at assignment time, they will give you the best room that they can - but then it is up to the front desk and you to work out the details when you check in.

When you speak to the people in the Disability Services department, you tell them everything you require and they are supposed to take care of that. I actually don't like to get a text message

The point of all this is that nothing is guaranteed. It is there in black and white when you reserve. They always try to accommodate any requests and it is always best to talk to a real live person when making these requests. Then at check in confirm what you wanted and escalate it up the chain when you need to get it right. Disney is no different than any other hotel business when it comes to assigning rooms. You are asking for what you need and they need to figure out how to give it to you. And usually do.

I always speak to a person and NEVER book online. I need to make sure I get what I need and will fight for it when I get there. That may sound Bit*hey, but I can't just use a regular room with someone who is in a wheelchair and needs grab bars in the bathroom now can I. If they have to move me to another hotel, they have done that for me and I appreciated it, because had they not I would have had to get on the next plane home.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Thank you for understanding that. I will say for the most part Disney is accommodating, but there was this one time.....well let's just say it wasn't good.

There’s only one place in WDW where they could make a major screw up by putting a wheelchair on a second floor...

It’s at Caribbean...the only place built prior to ADA That’s not compliant.

Other than that...any other rooms technically meet the fire codes and they can’t technically assign a “wrong” room.

Beyond that...Disney hotels only pay room service to requests...and that’s it. You often can get what you request...but then only internal policy to room control is: don’t lockout any rooms...aka make sure the puzzle fits together...

That puzzle that is nothing like a cruises ship where all days are the same.

You can fax/call/send carrier pigeons...but the reality is they fit the puzzle together first and if that doesn’t work...requests go.

It’s been that way for 30 years...at a minimum. Revenue is first. If you don’t make it, it’s audited daily and explanations are required up the chain.

 

[susan mccartney]

There’s only one place in WDW where they could make a major screw up by putting a wheelchair on a second floor...

It’s at Caribbean...the only place built prior to ADA That’s not compliant.

Other than that...any other rooms technically meet the fire codes and they can’t technically assign a “wrong” room.

Beyond that...Disney hotels only pay room service to requests...and that’s it. You often can get what you request...but then only internal policy to room control is: don’t lockout any rooms...aka make sure the puzzle fits together...

That puzzle that is nothing like a cruises ship where all days are the same.

You can fax/call/send carrier pigeons...but the reality is they fit the puzzle together first and if that doesn’t work...requests go.

It’s been that way for 30 years...at a minimum. Revenue is first. If you don’t make it, it’s audited daily and explanations are required up the chain.

My opinion is putting any wheelchair bound person on anything other than a first floor is beyond crazy. How would they get down in an emergency. I’m sure Disney isn’t going to carry my daughter downstairs and I sure couldn’t. They have moved us 2 times when what they didn’t have what we needed, so for the most part they are accommodating and I do appreciate it. That being said I think I’m done with this thread.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My opinion is putting any wheelchair bound person on anything other than a first floor is beyond crazy. How would they get down in an emergency. I’m sure Disney isn’t going to carry my daughter downstairs and I sure couldn’t. They have moved us 2 times when what they didn’t have what we needed, so for the most part they are accommodating and I do appreciate it. That being said I think I’m done with this thread.

I agree with your stance...

But in Florida - land of “freedom” - and a corporate entity that does their own code enforcement (only place in the US)....the fire suppression and structural components of Disney hotels does not make that a safety hazard...

 

[susan mccartney]

I agree with your stance...

But in Florida - land of “freedom” - and a corporate entity that does their own code enforcement (only place in the US)....the fire suppression and structural components of Disney hotels does not make that a safety hazard...

oh but if the elevator was out of commission, what would happen then. I will have spent all that money for me to stay in my room because I couldn't get my daughter downstairs. Safety or not.....being on anything other than the 1st floor for someone in a wheelchair is unacceptable.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

oh but if the elevator was out of commission, what would happen then. I will have spent all that money for me to stay in my room because I couldn't get my daughter downstairs. Safety or not.....being on anything other than the 1st floor for someone in a wheelchair is unacceptable.

No argument

 

[susan mccartney]

No argument

Thank you

 

[Club Cooloholic]

There’s only one place in WDW where they could make a major screw up by putting a wheelchair on a second floor...

It’s at Caribbean...the only place built prior to ADA That’s not compliant.

Other than that...any other rooms technically meet the fire codes and they can’t technically assign a “wrong” room.

Beyond that...Disney hotels only pay room service to requests...and that’s it. You often can get what you request...but then only internal policy to room control is: don’t lockout any rooms...aka make sure the puzzle fits together...

That puzzle that is nothing like a cruises ship where all days are the same.

You can fax/call/send carrier pigeons...but the reality is they fit the puzzle together first and if that doesn’t work...requests go.

It’s been that way for 30 years...at a minimum. Revenue is first. If you don’t make it, it’s audited daily and explanations are required up the chain.

You forgot Alligator Bayou as well. That said OP comparing buying a car to getting a hotel room is really wacky. Your talking about hundreds of rooms, some going in and out of service daily due to maintenance issues, the comparison is utterly laughable.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

oh but if the elevator was out of commission, what would happen then. I will have spent all that money for me to stay in my room because I couldn't get my daughter downstairs. Safety or not.....being on anything other than the 1st floor for someone in a wheelchair is unacceptable.

Where do you stay if your in a major city? I can't think of any hotel in say New York that has rooms with a ground floor entry.

 

[susan mccartney]

Where do you stay if your in a major city? I can't think of any hotel in say New York that has rooms with a ground floor entry.

Where do you stay if your in a major city? I can't think of any hotel in say New York that has rooms with a ground floor entry.

I stay where there are 1st floor rooms, even if that is just a motel. When I travel I don't plan on being in my room much, I plan on taking in the sights. That being said, I only travel to places where I can be on the first floor. BTW, I know you were using this as an example, but I live 15 minutes from NYC, I wouldn't stay there, I would come back home.

 

[JennSmith]

oh but if the elevator was out of commission, what would happen then. I will have spent all that money for me to stay in my room because I couldn't get my daughter downstairs. Safety or not.....being on anything other than the 1st floor for someone in a wheelchair is unacceptable.

I never really thought about that. That's a good point and kind of not something I would like to have happen to anyone.

 

[susan mccartney]

I never really thought about that. That's a good point and kind of not something I would like to have happen to anyone.

 

[TheGuyThatMakesSwords]

WDW Resort Reservations: Are they truly reservations?
Welllll - not exactly. If you booked via MDE? Restaurant "Reservations" are actually "ADRs" - "Advanced Dining REQUESTS". Using Open Table? One can get a real RESERVATION (classic sense), for many on property, or off property, RESERVATIONS.

 

[MinnieWaffles]

Old Key West tried to put our party with a scooter on the 2nd floor in a building with no elevators last trip...