Accessible rooms?

[las3888]

I am checking some hard to get dates and see accessible rooms are available, but standard rooms are not. Are we allowed to book these rooms if we do not have a disability (and no other room types are available)?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I am checking some hard to get dates and see accessible rooms are available, but standard rooms are not. Are we allowed to book these rooms if we do not have a disability (and no other room types are available)?

Yes, but don't complain when assigned an accessible unit.

 

[las3888]

So what would one expect? Looks like there are 2 kinds, some that are wheelchair accessible and some that are more hearing accessible. Some also mention "Florida Special Accessible with option for Hearing Accessibility." I can somewhat imagine what a wheelchair room would look like, not totally sure what a hearing accessible room would look like. Thanks for your help.

 

[erionm]

So what would one expect? Looks like there are 2 kinds, some that are wheelchair accessible and some that are more hearing accessible. Some also mention "Florida Special Accessible with option for Hearing Accessibility." I can somewhat imagine what a wheelchair room would look like, not totally sure what a hearing accessible room would look like. Thanks for your help.

Florida Special Accessible Room (plus option for hearing accessibility)
This room is equipped with toilet grab bars, an open bed frame and lower toilet height.

A portable raised toilet seat is available upon request. Optional communication features for guests with hearing disabilities include: visual alarm; visual door knock/door bell alert; visual telephone call alert; a telephone with volume control; and electrical outlet near telephone jack.

TTY equipment is available upon request at check-in.

 

[Sorcerer's Dad]

Please consider that making a request for an accessible room when it's not necessary means that room is not going to be available for someone who does need the features provided.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Please consider that making a request for an accessible room when it's not necessary means that room is not going to be available for someone who does need the features provided.

So, here is the thing: DVC has always allowed booking to 100% and not holding HA units aside. People get assigned in to them having booked outside of HA because DVC books to 100%.

That they're showing up differently right now doesn't mean that there has always been shadow HA availability when, say, BWV studios book in 2 days last 11 months for December. Disney book to 100%, and if no one has requested an HA unit someone will still be in it. It's like at some resorts where there are both dedicated and lock-off studios: You don't get to request it, but they'll all get used, trust.

You can search these forums and find any number of threads of people angry for being assigned to an HA unit.

 

[kilik64]

I for one wouldnt feel bad booking within the 7 month window for a HA room if that was all I could get my hands on. If you needed an HA room you had 4 months to book it before it was open to everyone.

 

[kes601]

We grabbed a hearing accessible BCV room for 3 nights over Labor Day Weekend. We were in a regular room at OKW, but we are doing the Remy's preview for AP on Saturday and the DVC one on Sunday and wanted to be close to Epcot. I likely wouldn't book an accessible room at 7 months out, but when we were within 2 weeks I didn't feel bad about it.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I may book one in April once my 7 month window opens next week. To me, once it's 7 months out, it's open season. That said, I will not book a WC room, I am trying for the hearing accessible one, we have had that type room before. My adult son actually does use a chair in the parks, but doesn't need one inside our hotel room. We had the roll in shower room, and it was a mess of water everywhere.

We will waitlist a regular room as well.

 

[las3888]

Just an update, that we were able to get the dates we desired but in the end we were only able to book an accessible room. At GCV booking is really and truly a 7 month wake up early affair no matter how you slice and dice, it--because there are so very very few rooms, and especially now, since a CM told me there is a lot of pent-up demand for the resort since it has been closed for longer. I feel slightly bad that it's an accessible room, but I also feel largely very lucky to have gotten A room, especially since my booking is during a peak season, and is a complex process for me, requiring 2 separate reservations with 2 separate contracts. So while I might get one or two nights of my stay, one morning, it's always tentative because I have to wait a day or two use my other contract and do it all over again to book the remainder of our stay on another contract (if it's even available). Plus GCV is sort of all or nothing. If we didn't get the room we wanted at the 7 month mark at WDW, well, it's much easier to have a backup option at a different resort. Other than booking a standard room at the DL hotels which doesn't work for us, it's kind of all or nothing out there.

While nobody will know for sure, if I didn't get that room, seconds later somebody else likely to not need H/A would have gotten it seconds later.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I need and got an accessible BCV studio today at only 8 days out. I had OKW, and was surprised BCV became available! It’s the night before a Dream Cruise which we only booked two days ago! That’s when I got the OKW, and BCV wasn’t available then.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I frankly absolutely hate HA rooms. And I definitely think they should clear it with guests before assigning them. Some of Disney’s HA rooms are so over the top HA that they really are uncomfortable for people who do not need them.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I booked a hearing impaired accessible room for April at BCV. Hopefully it will not also have the accessible bathroom/shower. It is a studio so the kitchen accomodations won't be a factor. I also waitlisted a regular studio.

I have been given an accessible room a couple times (not booked that way) before, and generally agree that they are not ideal for us, but since I specifically booked one I am fine with whatever it has this trip.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes I loved my accessible studio room at BC. I had a huge balcony with french doors. and the room was a bit bigger. There are no tubs just a walk in shower

 

[kes601]

So we didn’t actually experience the HA room at BCV. We were early and told them we didn’t need it to be HA if something else was available so got put into a regular studio.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes I loved my accessible studio room at BC. I had a huge balcony with french doors. and the room was a bit bigger. There are no tubs just a walk in shower

Will be in one in BCV tomorrow!

 

[Simba's Mom]

So we didn’t actually experience the HA room at BCV. We were early and told them we didn’t need it to be HA if something else was available so got put into a regular studio.

That's probably just as well. One time when I was at BCV, they gave me a HA villa when I didn't ask for or need it (back when I could still walk). They didn't tell me, nor did WL when I got one there (and WL refused to move us). BWV actually lied to us when we asked "Is this villa HA?" "No it's not." Some are OK, though-POR gave me a HA room once (they asked first) and it was fine for me.