a different type of quiet pool

[spiceycat]

Pop Century has a different type of quiet pool - ones that really helps families with kids or the elderly - it has 4 stair ways to get in/out the pool. This was great for my mother - underwise she can only get in and out the same way. she is too elderly to pull herself using the steps.

I really wish that DVC would go to this layout.

Mother really enjoyed that pool - she didn't feel her choices were limited.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Personally, I am pulling for more Zero-Entry pool setups, so we can roll DS into the pool in a water-wheelchair, rather than carrying him in as we currently do. He is 6 now and passed 50 lbs, so carrying will not be in the cards for much longer (unless I start a really serious weight training regime right now... nah).

 

[spiceycat]

oh gee that is much worst - I have heard (and everyone knows what that means) - when they add the slide to OKW - they might make it a zero entry pool.....

like the Polyn and GF.

You have my sympathy - i have sent the ramps at VWL and that is not a good system (my opinion) - zero entry is much better.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by spiceycat
Pop Century has a different type of quiet pool - ones that really helps families with kids or the elderly - it has 4 stair ways to get in/out the pool. This was great for my mother - underwise she can only get in and out the same way. she is too elderly to pull herself using the steps..

By steps did you mean 'ladder rungs'? Most stairs have steps so I'm slightly bemused. Well, I'm bemused with the term "zero entry" too...first time I heard it I thought a pool you weren't allowed to enter. Regardless, zero-depth entry pools will probably be the wave of the future at resort destinations.

-Joe

 

[SueM in MN]

Personally, I am pulling for more Zero-Entry pool setups, so we can roll DS into the pool in a water-wheelchair, rather than carrying him in as we currently do. He is 6 now and passed 50 lbs, so carrying will not be in the cards for much longer (unless I start a really serious weight training regime right now... nah).

Luckily, they don't go from 50 pounds to 85 overnight. I can still carry DD fairly easily because I have been lifting her every day of her life. DH, on the other hand, only lifts her occasionally (except when we are at WDW) and he keeps commenting how heavy she's getting.
I would also like a zero entry pool, but one with hand rails also to make going down easier.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm curious whether the ADA requires accomodations be made with the pools? The SSR pool has zero-entry, a wheelchair accessible slide and a chair lift to use the hot tub. I have never seen this level of accomodation at a resort before. I was wondering whether it's been mandated or whether Disney has taken the initiative on their own?

 

[spiceycat]

I haven't heard anything - besides WDW is generally customer friendly - DVC even more of - sounds like alot of their members have accessibility problems and DVC just wants to make it easier for EVERYONE to use the pool and hot tub.

Joe you are so right ladder runs is exactly what I mean.....

thanks for pointing that out.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by PamOKW
I'm curious whether the ADA requires accomodations be made with the pools? The SSR pool has zero-entry, a wheelchair accessible slide and a chair lift to use the hot tub. I have never seen this level of accomodation at a resort before. I was wondering whether it's been mandated or whether Disney has taken the initiative on their own?

Disney is generally ahead of the curve on these types of things. I would also be curious as to whther these are mandated or whether they are voluntary (I suspect a combination of the two). Regardless of the motivation, we are darn glad to see them!

I expect on the POP Quiet Pool setup, that this was Disney initiated, as they realize that lots of folks come with their somewhat less mobile elders (eg SpicyCat's mother), and that additional access means a larger customer base .

Perhaps the same is true at SSR. I know the layout of the pool (zero-entry) was a big factor in SSR's favor as we considered add-ons. Given that competing timeshares are less likely to offer the mobility accomodation that SSR does is a strong selling point to those who vacation with someone who is less than fully mobile. Good for Disney for making their newest resorts even more handicap-friendly than anyone else's! It just makes it even more likely that we will use them more in the future; and since it braodens the customer base, boosts resale value of our DVC holding.

 

[pumpkinboy]

quoting myself
...Given that competing timeshares are less likely to offer the mobility accomodation that SSR does is a strong selling point to those who vacation with someone who is less than fully mobile. Good for Disney for making their newest resorts even more handicap-friendly than anyone else's! ...

Perhaps a timeshare expert like Dean can enlighten us on the level of handicap-friendliness of other timeshares. Our other timeshare (inherited from late FIL) is somewhat accommodating, but the pool is tough for us to use with wheelchair-bound DS.

Dean, care to venture an observation here? Any other timeshare group equipping pools with the zero-depth-entry feature?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by spiceycat
oh gee that is much worst - I have heard (and everyone knows what that means) - when they add the slide to OKW - they might make it a zero entry pool.....

like the Polyn and GF.

You have my sympathy - i have sent the ramps at VWL and that is not a good system (my opinion) - zero entry is much better.

I think that would be very nice if they DID revamp the pool as well. Twelve years seems about the right time for an update.

 

[Dean]

I'm afraid I don't have that much info. First, the ADA doesn't apply across the board to timeshares like they do to hotels as they are treated like private condo's. I know many have HA rooms that can be requested but I do not believe they are guaranteed in most situations and certainly not at floating unit resorts or exchanged resorts. Some have zero entry pools and some have actual steps or a ramp though these are often not aimed at being HA.

If anyone needs specific info or is looking for resorts to trade into, I can certainly post on TUG and I'm sure I can find out additional info. Timesharing Today might also be interested in doing an article on this issue, if they haven't already, but I don't recall one. I'd be happy to contact them if people feel there's a need. When TST posts a review of a timeshare, they do ask about a rating in the area of the handicapped but not specifics like number of HA units or pools themselves that I'm aware of.

An interesting area that will likely become more inportant for many timeshare owners as the average age increases.

 

[Dean]

Found this information HA timeshare resorts And this info on TUG

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

My DD22 is a design major and just finished a class concerning ADA. She said there are no regulations for pools at resorts as far as she knows. They covered the parking, common areas, rooms, etc, but pools were never mentioned.

I love the zero entry pools. When you have bad knees, it is just the thing.

 

[burnsoc]

It is great to see that DVC is generally ahead in these things. When I toured the GV at SSR I was impressed that the upstairs would be accessible to handicapped visitors.