Accessible Room Types at AOA?

[WonderlandisReality]

We have been looking at the Accessible room types at AOA. There will be three in our party 1 adult 2 kids. We will need a room with 2 double beds and a tub. I have some degree of hearing loss and use some of the features offered for hearing accessibility, as well as a tub grab bar (which doesn't seem to be available in standard rooms). The two children utilize mobility devices. The oldest for all but a few hours of the day. We have a custom device at home for both. I am going to make do with a City Mini GT double stroller at WDW. I have never been able to fly with her devices in the past without incurring damage and just don't want the stress for this vacation. I was directed to two room types during a chat conversation with Disney last night.

To my question: The website has photos of two different types of rooms in the Little Mermaid Section that would work well.
The "Wheelchair Accessible with tub" room would work. I have personal moral reservations about us taking this from someone who uses a wheelchair full time. The CM on chat said that the roll in shower ones typically sell out but the tub ones usually have availability. The bathroom space is really what we need (one child is fully dependent for bathing/toileting and I can't access her in the standard Little Mermaid Room bathroom set up for either).
Is the "Florida Special Accessible" really as pictured? We don't need the wheelchair route in the room so this seems better suited if the bathroom is the same general layout as the wheelchair accessible (as pictured on the website. Actually the toilet height is better suited. Bonus, but not necessary, if anyone knows if the door into the room is wide enough to get that stroller through (I don't have one personally, I assume it is roughly 30" wide). CM on chat indicated that there aren't as many of these?

I really am open to opinions. Really am stuck on on this. From what I can see all 2 double bed/accessible bathroom options combined there may be a few as 16 Little Mermaid rooms at AOA.

 

[ksh1111]

We stayed in 2 different Little Mermaid Accessible rooms in 2012. Both were King Bed with tub, but special Florida rooms. They had a wider door way to bathroom but not sure of exact measurements, sorry. I need the tub rails, and that is the only way for me to get them. There were also folding toilet rails. The sink was open under it (not sure if that is standard in the other rooms or not). There isn't a ton of room from end of bed to dresser and table, but that would be more with a double than a king.

 

[lanejudy]

I believe all doorways from the hall into the room are the same size and will accommodate any device that meets ADA specifications (and most side-by-side double strollers do, especially if you use it in the parks through queues). The specs for the City Mini GT Double indicate 29.75" wide, and I believe ADA requires 32" wide doorways. So I don't think entrance into the room will be a problem.

I can't quite tell from your post if you need a wider access into the bathroom, or just more space in the bathroom. In any case, I believe you will need something designated as "wheelchair accessible" to have more space within the bathroom. That is usually gained by having less space in the "bed" area since the overall footprint of the room (beds+bath) is the same size for all rooms. The "Florida Special Accessible" could be the same bathroom space as a regular (non-accessible) room, especially in a room with 2 doubles; this room type is sort of a hybrid of accessible features, required by Florida state law, and will not have all the features of a fully-accessible (wheelchair accessible) room. Rooms with King beds tend to have the larger bath because not as much space is needed for the bed.

Personally, my opinion is that you should book what your family needs without concern of taking from someone else. You (your children) need it, you deserve to book that room. It doesn't matter if there is another guest who comes along later, they aren't any more deserving than your children.

Enjoy your vacation!