Most handicap accesible resort

[Leleluvsdis]

We are planning a trip for dec 2011, and it will be 11 of us. 2 of our party are dwarfs, 1 being in a wheelchair. They have never been to disney before so we'd like to stay near the action. Mom and Dad are planning on transfering in their RCI to DVC, so preferably a resort that has dvc so we can all be at the same resort. Which would you recommend? Thanks for any suggestions!

[Cheshire Figment]

My thought would be the Contemporary Tower (and Bay Lake Towers for DVC). The big thing is all the restaurants and shops are basically an elevator ride away.

For MK and Epcot you would be taking the monorail; everything else would be buses.

Second choice would be Beach Club/Beach Club Villas or Boardwalk Inn/Boardwalk Villas. For these Epcot and DHS would be a boat ride away, other parks would require a bus. Major downsides are the corridors can be very long and also many of the restaurants are not accessible from inside the building.

[Leleluvsdis]

How handicap accessible are the boats between resorts?

[KPeveler]

a note about parks - If the members of your party who need it get a GAC, it can allow them to sit in the front row of shows. I know in theatres, if you are of short stature it can be very difficult to see over the seat in front of you. that can be very helpful. I don't know about any other GAC accommodations that could be helpful - that depends on the person. Also, with the wheelchair, both of them will be allowed into the wheelchair viewing area, which will allow them to be able to see shows and parades more easily. I am short, only just reaching 5 ft recently (and i am 24!) and I am about 3'5" in a wheelchair, so I have some idea of how hard it is to reach things and see over people (though I do not claim to understand all their difficulties!)

The boats are generally quite accessible, as long as the water level is not very high or very low. I have never had a problem

[Leleluvsdis]

a note about parks - If the members of your party who need it get a GAC, it can allow them to sit in the front row of shows. I know in theatres, if you are of short stature it can be very difficult to see over the seat in front of you. that can be very helpful. I don't know about any other GAC accommodations that could be helpful - that depends on the person. Also, with the wheelchair, both of them will be allowed into the wheelchair viewing area, which will allow them to be able to see shows and parades more easily. I am short, only just reaching 5 ft recently (and i am 24!) and I am about 3'5" in a wheelchair, so I have some idea of how hard it is to reach things and see over people (though I do not claim to understand all their difficulties!)

The boats are generally quite accessible, as long as the water level is not very high or very low. I have never had a problem

I'm new to the disability board. What is a GAC?

[KPeveler]

A GAC is a Guest Assistance Card. It helps with inivisible disabilties, or disabilities which are not helped/fixed by a wheelchair. For example, a child with disabilities who needs to remain in their stroller can get a "stroller as wheelchair" card, which allows them to use their stroller in lines and restaurants where they would not otherwise be allowed.

also, they can provide front row seating for people with vision problems (or people of short stature who cannot see over the seats in front of them)...

Check out the FAQs - there is some great info there about it!

[Leleluvsdis]

A GAC is a Guest Assistance Card. It helps with inivisible disabilties, or disabilities which are not helped/fixed by a wheelchair. For example, a child with disabilities who needs to remain in their stroller can get a "stroller as wheelchair" card, which allows them to use their stroller in lines and restaurants where they would not otherwise be allowed.

also, they can provide front row seating for people with vision problems (or people of short stature who cannot see over the seats in front of them)...

Check out the FAQs - there is some great info there about it!

Thanks! that will def be needed.

[kaytieeldr]

also, they can provide front row seating for people with vision problems (or people of short stature who cannot see over the seats in front of them)...
Respectfully - perhaps not. There are likely many children in the parks shorter than either of the two adults in the OP's party, and Disney doesn't provide GACs for them for front seating so they can see; therefore, it's likely that adultstature isn't covered by a GAC provision.

[KPeveler]

I think it depends on how a person is able to sit and move their neck. My friend who is a little person would need to be up front, so i think it will all depend...

I am sure the GAC would be able to be used if a person needs front of theatre seating for any medically-related reason. (disability related, not just for fun)

[mechurchlady]

Dwarfism is a disibility. The ADA says to make the event available to the disabled guest. Ramps and elevators would get a dwarf into a show but if the dwarf cannot see over the back of a theater seat then that would mean they do not have access to the event. I fell that a CM would let the dwarf sit down front.

There may not be a GAC for dwarfism though but the GAC no stairs for the one not in a chair would help that person since you have 11 people. Your party could split with each dwarf using their wheelchair for one group and the gac for the other group get your whole group to see shows together in theory. The parks do stick to the height limits as a dwarf is child like in size so they would be in danger if they were under the height limits just like a child.

Every day there something new to learn and I want to hear the outcome of this matter.

[kat_balou]

My thought would be the Contemporary Tower (and Bay Lake Towers for DVC). The big thing is all the restaurants and shops are basically an elevator ride away.

Maybe it was just me but I thought the elevator situation inside the CR with an ECV was weird. We had walked from MK to our lunch ADR's at The Wave and afterward wanted to get up to the monorail. They said we had to change elevators which we tried to do and found ourselves wandering on the 5th floor. I have to say it was certainly a quiet floor - not a soul in sight. We finally found a live housekeeper to help us.:rotfl:

[mechurchlady]

Contemporary Resort is pre-ADA and unlike the Polynesian did not have an elevator, bridge or ramp to the monorail station until recently. They wedged an elevator into the resort but it is very small from what prior posters have said and some of the larger ECVs may not even fit in the elevator. Disabled guests love the Polynesian because it has always been there for disabled guest unlike the Contemporary.

[kat_balou]

Contemporary Resort is pre-ADA and unlike the Polynesian did not have an elevator, bridge or ramp to the monorail station until recently. They wedged an elevator into the resort but it is very small from what prior posters have said and some of the larger ECVs may not even fit in the elevator. Disabled guests love the Polynesian because it has always been there for disabled guest unlike the Contemporary.

Yes, it was small and difficult to find. We had transferred on the wrong elevator thus our little adventure.

[Leleluvsdis]

She doesn't have an ECV, she has a motorized wheelchair. It turns on a dime, and doesn't have the platform out front like a scooter does. Would that make a difference?

[mechurchlady]

She has a powerchair and those fit fine in the elevator at the Contemporary Resort. She will have to transfer to a wheelchair for some rides like Haunted Mansion though and on some rides may have to transfer because the ride only holds regular chairs. Check the FAQs for Sue's information as she has tons of pictures. Sue is not around but I could swear the elevator was near the monorail and that you should not be taking a bunch of elevators.

Next time talk to someone at the monorail or front desk and they should give you a short way to the monorail elevators.

[Leleluvsdis]

As far as transfering, on the rides that are continuous load ie HM, PPF would they stop for her load. She doesn't have much fine motor skills in her legs so it would take her longer than normal.

[mechurchlady]

Peter Pan's Flight only stops for an E-Stop and never at any other time. TTA aka peoplemover has a ramp and does not ever stop except for E-stops.
E-stops are emergency stops so nope on Peter Pan and TTA.

All other rides will stop for her. FAQs has a lot of info on rides written by Sue that you need to check out. It will tell you a little about each ride and how to enter it and so forth.

[dclfun]

Just wanted to say if someone is using their RCI for a DVC exchange there may not be availability at your preferred DVC resort, therefore I'd look into the possiblity, which is most likely, of being at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs. They are both beautiful resorts, with OKW having the most spacious rooms in the larger accommodations. Transportation would be by bus to all the parks.

[SandrA9810]

You're wrong on both accounts for TTA and PPF. I took my grandmother on both rides, and at 84 yrs old, she does not move quickly at all. But you do have to transfer into the ride car. Like at PPF and Buzz, you enter the ride from the exit, and they have a button that slows down the converer belt until it comes to a complete stop. Generally most people can get on and off before it competly stops. The best part is when you get stuck in one of the bonus rooms on Buzz and start racking up points.

In any case rides like small world might make you transfer from the power chair to a disney wheelchair. But rides like Pirates and Speedway require a full transfer to ride vehicle and it might be a bit harder without some family help because you have to climb down into it, rather than just sitting in it like a seat.


Just remember that the GAC card can only be used for the disabled person and 5 members in the party. Certain groups are famous for trying to have 1 older person in a wheelchair get access for like 12 members. One group came up to Kari at thunder one day, the grandmother was in the wheelchair and it was like 6 of the "kids" wanting to get on using the her GAC that was only for wheelchair access.

But if there's several different disabilities all within the same group, I'm sure disney will be more than accomidating. Just remember to show up early for shows, and talk to the cast members at the doors about where you need to sit. I know at Little Mermaid seating for wheelchair is in the back. But it might be better for some of the group to sit in the front. Of course they'll start loading the wheelchairs in first a minute or so before they let every one else in, so make sure you make your request known up front.

[KPeveler]

PPF will NOT stop for people to get on or off. Neither will the TTA, unless someone gets stuck on it. I know, because I have asked. They WILL slow down PPF, and you have a few seconds extra to transfer, but it cannot stop, and it is not an easy transfer anyway.

[figment82]

PPF will NOT stop for people to get on or off. Neither will the TTA, unless someone gets stuck on it. I know, because I have asked. They WILL slow down PPF, and you have a few seconds extra to transfer, but it cannot stop, and it is not an easy transfer anyway.

This is 100% accurate. My grandfather almost fell getting onto HM when it was slowed down (it DOES have a stop feature, but he didn't want them to use it unless absolutely necessary as he hates interrupting other guests' rides, no matter how much we berate him for it) After that we knew he couldn't do conveyer belts unless they could stop, and PPF said absolutely not under any circumstances (obviously the exception being an E-stop). The ride is also labeled this way, though I didn't take a picture.

[OneLittleSpark]

Just wanted to say if someone is using their RCI for a DVC exchange there may not be availability at your preferred DVC resort, therefore I'd look into the possiblity, which is most likely, of being at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs. They are both beautiful resorts, with OKW having the most spacious rooms in the larger accommodations. Transportation would be by bus to all the parks.

I can certainly vouch for OKW as being a very nice resort! My mother and I stayed there a few years back, and were very happy there. Most of the buildings don't have lifts, so you'd need to request a ground floor room for medical reasons (include that last bit, as it gives you priority over those who would just like to be on the ground floor). It is a fairly spread out resort, but the room we were in was close enough to the main building to be an easy roll.

As DCL said, the rooms are very spacious, and we had loads of room to get my wheelchair in, and move about in it. My only concern is that the beds in the standard rooms are very high, about 3' I reckon. It was a bit of a clamber for me to get into bed at night with aching joints, and I'm about 5'4". I'm guessing the beds in wheelchair accessible rooms will be lower (I'm partially mobile, so we were in a standard room) to aid transfer, but I can't swear to it.

The swimming pools have bump steps (well, the one we were close to did, anyway) and the main building has power assisted doors most of the places where you might need them. We didn't have any problems with the buses when we were there (it was September, so fairly quiet), and I got on the first available bus almost every time.

If you were looking at non-DVC hotels too, POFQ is a nice small hotel, and is very easy to get around.
EDIT: Just wanted to add a few things that I didn't get time to write yesterday. French Quarter is a good resort for people with limited mobility, as everything is close to everthing else. I'm pretty sure the pool has bump steps (please someone correct me if I'm wrong), and the main buildings are easy enough to navigate on wheels. Last time I stayed there was before I needed a wheelchair of my own, so I was using a heavy WDW rental with untrained arms, and I could get myself about the hotel when I needed to. With my lightweight chair and big muscley arms :rotfl:, it would be a doddle!