Policy When Only Accessible Rooms are Left in Category

[galacticb]

Hi everyone,

We were looking at concierge (1 Bedroom) options for a cruise in April of next year. In this case, the only 1 Bedroom suites remaining are accessible rooms, and that category shows up when searching for non-accessible rooms (i.e. when you don't check the "accessible room" option in the search).

Does anyone know if this means that these rooms are now bookable by the general public without medical proof of need for that type of room?

We generally wouldn't be looking to book these kind of rooms but wondered what Disney's policy is in this case since there isn't really any other option in the category.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Marc D]

It is my understanding that US law prohibits DCL from requesting proof of disability. In any case, they do not restrict access to those rooms and you can therefore book it.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

If it’s all that’s left- I’d book it BUT I’d send an email to the concierge team saying you’d happily switch to a non HA 1-bedroom if they hear of the need.

 

[happycamper47]

It is my understanding that US law prohibits DCL from requesting proof of disability. In any case, they do not restrict access to those rooms and you can therefore book it.

WRONG!! From the web-site:

By selecting a wheelchair-accessible room, you have indicated that you or a member of your party has a disability that requires the features of this stateroom. You may be required to provide written confirmation of this need.

If it’s all that’s left- I’d book it BUT I’d send an email to the concierge team saying you’d happily switch to a non HA 1-bedroom if they hear of the need.

DCL will never know someone else needs the cabin because once someone who doesn't need it books it, it is no longer shown in inventory so the person with the need is out of luck.

As a disabled VET, I KNOW...

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, they will assign someone to an accessible stateroom if not otherwise booked by someone in need. But that is different than booking one you don't need. My guess as to why it's showing up -- website glitch, Disney IT and all that . It's my understanding DCL does have the right to request documentation proving need for an accessible stateroom. I suggest you contact DCL directly to ask for options and assistance.

 

[tobikaye]

I know when I booked for our 2014 cruise, we had to provide documentation from my mom's need for the HA suite. I expect I will need to do the same for my HOTHS cruise for my sister.

 

[standardgirl]

It is my understanding that US law prohibits DCL from requesting proof of disability. In any case, they do not restrict access to those rooms and you can therefore book it.

Except DCL doesn't exactly operate under US laws... for the same reason (that they don't operate under US laws), they also do not provide fridge / freezer for breast milk which is also required by US laws for hotels as breast milk is classed in the same category as medicine. Needless to say, we were shocked!

 

[happycamper47]

HIPAA does not prohibit DCL or any other CL from requiring proof of need. HIPAA only prohibits medical professionals from disclosing that info without the patient's consent. The statement that it does has been misinterpreted since it was passed and was debunked as a result of the COVID fiasco.

HIPAA only applies to what are called “covered entities.” Those are, essentially, health care providers (doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, for instance), health insurers, and health care clearinghouses (which process medical data). It also covers their “business associates,” or contractors who have to handle medical records in some way to do work for those covered entities. Those parties are required to follow certain protocols to keep your protected health information secure and private.

 

[galacticb]

Thanks everyone for the replies. We plan to inquire with our travel agent about this sometime later this week.

WRONG!! From the web-site:

By selecting a wheelchair-accessible room, you have indicated that you or a member of your party has a disability that requires the features of this stateroom. You may be required to provide written confirmation of this need.


DCL will never know someone else needs the cabin because once someone who doesn't need it books it, it is no longer shown in inventory so the person with the need is out of luck.

As a disabled VET, I KNOW...

I did see that message come up if I tried to select the "accessible room" option when doing a search (i.e. where you enter # adults, # children, etc.). However, in this case, the accessible room category for a 1-Bedroom shows up even when that is *not* selected/checked. I went as far as adding to cart without any message like the above being given in this case. Maybe there would be something in the final checkout terms, but the absence of the message is something that surprised me.

Yes, they will assign someone to an accessible stateroom if not otherwise booked by someone in need. But that is different than booking one you don't need. My guess as to why it's showing up -- website glitch, Disney IT and all that . It's my understanding DCL does have the right to request documentation proving need for an accessible stateroom. I suggest you contact DCL directly to ask for options and assistance.

I would agree with you if I had only seen this once. However, this has been a pattern that I've noticed over multiple years and across multiple ships/sailings/etc. At least for 1-Bedroom suites, the accessible rooms consistently show up if all of the regular rooms in the category have already been booked. But that still doesn't meant that it isn't a consistent glitch. We will ask our TA to inquire.

The last thing that we are trying to do is to book something that is *supposed* to be reserved only for guests with accessibility needs at this point in the booking process. (This sailing is for early 2023, so it obviously has been released/available for some time.)

Thanks again for the responses.

 

[brentm77]

Thanks everyone for the replies. We plan to inquire with our travel agent about this sometime later this week.



I did see that message come up if I tried to select the "accessible room" option when doing a search (i.e. where you enter # adults, # children, etc.). However, in this case, the accessible room category for a 1-Bedroom shows up even when that is *not* selected/checked. I went as far as adding to cart without any message like the above being given in this case. Maybe there would be something in the final checkout terms, but the absence of the message is something that surprised me.



I would agree with you if I had only seen this once. However, this has been a pattern that I've noticed over multiple years and across multiple ships/sailings/etc. At least for 1-Bedroom suites, the accessible rooms consistently show up if all of the regular rooms in the category have already been booked. But that still doesn't meant that it isn't a consistent glitch. We will ask our TA to inquire.

The last thing that we are trying to do is to book something that is *supposed* to be reserved only for guests with accessibility needs at this point in the booking process. (This sailing is for early 2023, so it obviously has been released/available for some time.)

Thanks again for the responses.

Not wanting to be controversial, but that doesn't sound like a glitch to me. Once inventory is full in a category, why woukd DCL have an obligation to keep rooms unsold in csse someone with a need decides to book later? The rooms were held for those in need for as long as non-accessible rooms were available. That sounds like a reasonable accommodations to me. It sounds unreasonable to expect DCL to hold open accessible rooms just in case someone with a need decides to book long after everyone else, and at the risk of the room sailing empty.

 

[galacticb]

Not wanting to be controversial, but that doesn't sound like a glitch to me. Once inventory is full in a category, why woukd DCL have an obligation to keep rooms unsold in csse someone with a need decides to book later? The rooms were held for those in need for as long as non-accessible rooms were available. That sounds like a reasonable accommodations to me. It sounds unreasonable to expect DCL to hold open accessible rooms just in case someone with a need decides to book long after everyone else, and at the risk of the room sailing empty.

To be honest, this was the logic that we had as well. We suspected that Disney would keep accessible rooms open exclusively for those in need until 1) a certain amount of time had passed and/or 2) there were no non-accessible rooms in the same category.

We will be call our travel agent to confirm later this week.