Accessible Room Choices

[autumnblue]

I just booked a room at AKL with a roll in shower, there are four of us going. I was told I got the only AKL standard view accessible room with two queen beds, all others have one King bed. This just seems a little odd that a family resort only as one standard view room to accommodate a family. I'm a little concerned about what is going on here. What this basically means is any other family that needs a standard accessible room at AKL will need to book two rooms to accommodate them all. This just doesn't seem fair. I just thought I'd bring this up, so that families considering the AKL will know to book very early and make a specific request. I'm very scared that I'm going to have a problem when I get down there.

Autumn

 

[BillSears]

I booked my late July trip to POR last week. When I did so I was told I would be able to get a room with 2 double beds and a roll in shower. Someone else here was trying to get a similar room for thier trip but was told that only King Sized rooms where available and that they would need a roll away bed. I suspect that the double bed room(s) were already booked for POR.

WDW used to only have roll in showers with king sized beds. I think that finally they are realizing that this is a problem and are converting some double beds rooms into wheelchair accessable rooms. Hopefully they will see how the demand for these is high and will convert more.

 

[Michigan]

Unfortunatally it's that way at most hotels in the US. I guess they figure if your disabled you don't have a family.

 

[autumnblue]

I don't know what to do. I sent an email to Disney about the room and now they say no such room exists. I'm really frustrated. All I want is a walk in shower and a room that sleeps four. This shouldn't be so complicated.

 

[BillSears]

Autumn,

I'm not sure who you emailed at Disney but I suspect they might not really know what is going on.

I think/hope WDW is trying to add the 2 beds with a roll in shower room. But I have no real proof of this except that you and I were offered these accomidations now when we couldn't get them in the past. So I think the person you emailed was probably working with the old information but the person you made the reservation with might have had the current information.

If you're concerned about this, and I probably would be, how about contacting the hotel directly. The room assigner and the front desk should know what rooms they have in thier hotel. Here are some numbers I picked up from Deb Wills' sight. The Animal Kingdom Lodge Address is: 2901 Osceola Parkway, Bay Lake, FL 32830 The main number is 407-938-3000 and the fax number is 407-938-4799.

Hopefully the AKL can settle this once and for all.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

If I had to guess, I would say that most hotel chains (disney included) have a standard shell size (bedroom, hall & bathroom).

'Disabled' bathrooms tend to be a bit bigger to allow space to turn a wheelchair around. This space gets 'borrowed' from the bedroom and you end up with no space for two queen beds.

BTW, I am an architect in a wheelchair!!!

Andrew

 

[autumnblue]

I can certainly understand the issue with room size, two double beds would take up more room. However as a person with a disability I feel that I should have the same options as anyone else booking at Disney or anywhere else for that matter. I'm sick of having limited or often more expensive choices. I'm wondering if we can start some type of write in campaign or a petition asking Disney to consider having reasonable accommodations available to people who need them. One of the reasons I choose AKL was the zero entry pool,(which is great, I applaud disney on this feature) but now I can't find a room that accommodates me. I have cancelled the reservation and will be going to Myrtle Beach instead (I did find a wheel in shower room that accommodates four people there).
All I want is the same choices that all other families of four get.

Autumn

 

[Julia H.]

I don't know about AKL, but there are rooms elsewhere at WDW with both a roll-in shower *and* two fuill (or queen) beds. We have stayed in them at the Polynesian recently and PO (the part that used to be DL), Beach Club, and OKW in previous years.

Autumn, you mentioned the zero-entry pool at AKL--the Polynesian and GF have this feature, too. I realize those resorts are more expensive but wanted to mention it.

BTW, we have found the older resorts at WDW are better for our family, which includes two wheelchair users, than the newer ones simply because the older rooms have more square footage.

If you have not already done so, I would suggest you call CRO at WDW and ask to be connected to the "Special" department to check on exactly what types of rooms are available. The cast memebers in Special have always been extremely helpful to us.

I agree it is very common in many US hotels to only be able to get a king bed in an accessible room. I believe that if the hotel was constructed after the ADA went into effect, this is a violation, based on the premise that comparable accomodations must be available to those with and without disabilities. There was a suit brought by the Justice Dept. against a hotel chain about this issue several years ago, but I do not recall the outcome.