ADA Rooms in BLT - Disappointment

[robinb]

For the money we paid and continue to pay for DVC, I expect to be assigned what I picked. We stay at BLT 1 bedroom maybe once a year, so we value our vacation and the accommodations. We also don't go to the parks, so we spend more time in the room and enjoy the resort.

So while you don't view it as an inconvenience, we certainly did given we didn't request an ADA room and didn't get what we normally stay in.

Heck, even Marriott and Hilton basic hotels give you the option of selecting an ADA room. They don't just put you in one.

Your expectation is unrealistic.

DVC does not work the way you think it does. As @KAT4DISNEY explained, HA units are set aside for people who wish to book them, but they are otherwise part of regular inventory. You do understand that you are talking to others who all have all "paid the money and continue to pay for DVC", right? Every single one of us paid for DVC and pays for dues and books a vacation that we want to enjoy and every single one of us has an equal chance of getting a HA assigned if it is not already booked. You drew the short straw this time. It's the small price the we pay as members and as humans to make things a little easier for those people who need that accessibility.

My point is that it's OK to be disappointed by a HA room, but thems are the breaks. I recall one with a roll in shower at BWV (which I had been assigned *twice*, it was actually a great studio) where I had to have a supply of pool towels ready because the water went everywhere. Yes, it was a pain. You know what a bigger pain would be for me? Needing a roll in shower *and* still needing to sop up water.

 

[SteveMouse]

Your expectation is unrealistic.

DVC does not work the way you think it does. As @KAT4DISNEY explained, HA units are set aside for people who wish to book them, but they are otherwise part of regular inventory. You do understand that you are talking to others who all have all "paid the money and continue to pay for DVC", right? Every single one of us paid for DVC and pays for dues and books a vacation that we want to enjoy and every single one of us has an equal chance of getting a HA assigned if it is not already booked. You drew the short straw this time. It's the small price the we pay as members and as humans to make things a little easier for those people who need that accessibility.

My point is that it's OK to be disappointed by a HA room, but thems are the breaks. I recall one with a roll in shower at BWV (which I had been assigned *twice*, it was actually a great studio) where I had to have a supply of pool towels ready because the water went everywhere. Yes, it was a pain. You know what a bigger pain would be for me? Needing a roll in shower *and* still needing to sop up water.

No, there shouldn't be disappointment. HA rooms should be at least as nice as any other room. People with disabilities should no be discriminated against because of their disability.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

No, there shouldn't be disappointment. HA rooms should be at least as nice as any other room. People with disabilities should no be discriminated against because of their disability.

Not certain what you are referencing as they are the same. The difference are in the set up to provide for accessibility. Now I'd quibble with some of the accessible decision DVC has made but that's another subject.
If you are meaning the "terrible" view? Eye of the beholder. BLT accessible rooms have theme park views but when you are disappointed overall in getting one you do glass is empty.

 

[Mle8308]

Same thing can happen with regular/non DVC Disney hotel rooms. If they are running full occupancy and the only room available is a HA room, then it will be assigned to a guest who did not request it. If being assigned a HA room when not needed is the biggest issue, consider yourself lucky - and be grateful you don't have a need for it.

 

[CarolynFH]

even Marriott and Hilton basic hotels give you the option of selecting an ADA room. They don't just put you in one.

“Hotels” is the key word here. Very few hotels run at 100% occupancy all of the time, so they rarely need to assign guests to HA if they haven’t requested them. DVC, like most timeshares, is designed to run at 100% occupancy all the time, so if no one has booked the HA villa, someone will still be assigned to it. I can’t recall reading anything on TUG about being assigned an unbooked, unrequested HA villa at other timeshare resorts, so I’m going to ask whether it happens at other resort systems, too.

We have our fingers crossed that the new DVC component will work for us. The tricky part about that resort is definitely the transportation. But after recently staying at OKW and dealing that dang internal loop, I think we would be ok! Haha

Unfortunately, at FW you ride the internal loop, then you have to transfer to another form of transportation (boat to MK, bus everywhere else), whereas at OKW you get on one bus and get off at the park (transfer only from bus to DS boat, if that’s your destination). I will admit the transportation system was what kept us from staying in a FW cabin after our first trip there (we ended up using our rental car most of the time). I think DH and I will enjoy staying there again, but I recognize it’s because we spend less time in the parks and more time at our resort nowadays, so transportation isn’t as important as it was on that first trip.

 

[Einstein509]

Everyone brought up good points and after this experience, we are now the wiser.

I guess the next time this happens, we will understand the process and the reasoning.

BTW, we did not complain or become "those guests" to the CMs. I politely inquired about the setup with guest services and asked if there were any other rooms available that we could move to. They were the ones that offered us a credit. It was a nice gesture and we certainly didn't expect it or ask for it.

 

[jekjones1558]

I live in fear of being assigned the one and only BW view one bedroom that is HA, but for a different reason than you might think. For years BWV room 2049 was "our room" because my husband was disabled and we booked BW view. It was great knowing the exact configuration of the room so I knew precisely what I needed to do and what I should bring so it met his needs. I thought it was dumb planning by Disney that this room had the wall instead of railings on the balcony because only a person who can stand up can see over that wall. There could have been better bars around the toilet so I kept a toilet frame with my Owner's Locker. Since my husband died, I dread being assigned that room. It was "our" room and I just couldn't stay in it without him.

 

[CarolynFH]

I live in fear of being assigned the one and only BW view one bedroom that is HA, but for a different reason than you might think. For years BWV room 2049 was "our room" because my husband was disabled and we booked BW view. It was great knowing the exact configuration of the room so I knew precisely what I needed to do and what I should bring so it met his needs. I thought it was dumb planning by Disney that this room had the wall instead of railings on the balcony because only a person who can stand up can see over that wall. There could have been better bars around the toilet so I kept a toilet frame with my Owner's Locker. Since my husband died, I dread being assigned that room. It was "our" room and I just couldn't stay in it without him.

 

[Chuck S]

It seems odd that there was no roll-in shower in a HA one bedroom. At OKW, the HA one bedrooms have a roll-in shower AND the jacuzzi tub, There is a little less cabinet space to allow for the turning radius of a wheelchair, and the beds are lower. But the main difference that people notice is the roll in shower instead of the standard shower stall.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It seems odd that there was no roll-in shower in a HA one bedroom. At OKW, the HA one bedrooms have a roll-in shower AND the jacuzzi tub, There is a little less cabinet space to allow for the turning radius of a wheelchair, and the beds are lower. But the main difference that people notice is the roll in shower instead of the standard shower stall.

There is at least one or maybe two at BLT that have a roll in shower.

 

[fla4fun]

I have been visiting WDW for years, well over 100 trips at all types of resort including DVC, and I have been given an accessible room only once. I was checking into WL the Wednesday eve before Thanksgiving and that was all they had. I was disappointed at first, but then I caught the flu and was stuck in the room for three days and appreciated the grab bars and seat in the shower. I have also stayed in resorts outside of Disney and had it happen a handful of times, including at a Hilton resort when the room I selected had a maintenance issue. It can happen anywhere. There’s not really much that can be done other than ask if you can be moved at some point during your stay.

OP, I am sorry it affected your enjoyment of your trip. It is disappointing when you are expecting and looking forward to one room type, but receive another. I am sure there are more than a few recent BWV guests who can really sympathize with not getting what they expected. It stinks.

 

[PetePanMan]

We have received an ADA room in VGF. The bathroom layout was a bit inconvenient (just one very large room with no separation of toilet from sink area, bathtub) and the bed was very low to ground. Also, the top cabinets in kitchen area were moved lower to counter space. They were so low that you had to pull entire coffee maker off counter top (very tight fit). so you could lift lid to add water. We now ask to not be put into an ADA room.

 

[mom2missmous]

I've been assigned a number of HA rooms over the years. Are they ideal for someone who doesn't need the accommodations? Nope. Would I complain about it? Nope again. I consider myself lucky that I'm not limited to just a few villas in the resort and if I happen to get one ... "oh well". I'm actually shocked they gave you any money for your "inconvenience" of living like a person with disabilities for a few nights.

I'm actually shocked they gave you any money for your "inconvenience" of living like a person with disabilities for a few nights.

This is a little harsh IMHO. We try our best not to get a handicapped room! My adult daughter and my husband actually have more difficulty with that type of room. Often the shower type makes the floors more slippery for my daughter with a hip problem and my husband with an ankle issue. Both can do just fine with reg shower and tub. Also the lower bed and counters are harder for both as someone else mentioned as low to ground does not always equal easier if you have issues (it actually makes it harder for my husband who has a rod inside his leg from knee to ankle - puts him at the wrong angle when he sits on bed or tries to access things on counter ). I understand we need these rooms to accommodate those for whom they fit, but I disagree that they are NOT an inconvience for others. Again, I know we NEED these type of rooms, but I disagree about the fact that they do not affect our enjoyment of the accommodations we are paying for.

 

[Chuck S]

Imagine, though, if the HA units were not part of the resort point total, and were basically owned by Disney and used as cash units...only transferring to DVC as needed. Then a regular DVC room would neeed to be removed from Member inventory and turned over to cash for that timeframe. Then imagine a resort with say, 200 studios, and the required 5% of them being HA, having to remove 10 regular studios from Member inventory during peak travel weeks. The cries of DVC Members not able to book a studio because of them being removed from inventory would be deafening.

 

[Einstein509]

It seems odd that there was no roll-in shower in a HA one bedroom. At OKW, the HA one bedrooms have a roll-in shower AND the jacuzzi tub, There is a little less cabinet space to allow for the turning radius of a wheelchair, and the beds are lower. But the main difference that people notice is the roll in shower instead of the standard shower stall.

I thought so as well. Everything else in the room seemed to accommodate someone in a wheelchair, except both showers. They did have the handles in the showers, but no seat. Weird.

 

[Einstein509]

We have received an ADA room in VGF. The bathroom layout was a bit inconvenient (just one very large room with no separation of toilet from sink area, bathtub) and the bed was very low to ground. Also, the top cabinets in kitchen area were moved lower to counter space. They were so low that you had to pull entire coffee maker off counter top (very tight fit). so you could lift lid to add water. We now ask to not be put into an ADA room.

Our coffee maker didn't even fit under the cabinets (by a long shot). They had it parked on the island. The cabinets were very low to the counters.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This is a little harsh IMHO. We try our best not to get a handicapped room! My adult daughter and my husband actually have more difficulty with that type of room. Often the shower type makes the floors more slippery for my daughter with a hip problem and my husband with an ankle issue. Both can do just fine with reg shower and tub. Also the lower bed and counters are harder for both as someone else mentioned as low to ground does not always equal easier if you have issues (it actually makes it harder for my husband who has a rod inside his leg from knee to ankle - puts him at the wrong angle when he sits on bed or tries to access things on counter ). I understand we need these rooms to accommodate those for whom they fit, but I disagree that they are NOT an inconvience for others. Again, I know we NEED these type of rooms, but I disagree about the fact that they do not affect our enjoyment of the accommodations we are paying for.

The shower floor comment outlines some of what I mentioned that Disney does so-so or poorly on HA rooms. Think of this - if it's slippery and unsafe for your daughter with a hip problem and husband with an ankle issue would you think it's safe for anybody else that has walking issues? It does seem somewhat better in newer resorts vs older.

Then there's the things like Poly where they left the microwave on a shelf in the HA studio. I needed to go assist my sister if she wanted to warm something up. But on the plus they put in automatic door openers so someone in a wheelchair can actually enter and exit without assistance. Or housekeeping placing items up high in the full cabinets when there was space lower. There are others but the point is they unfortunately have inconveniences for everyone from our experiences.

It used to be you could ask to have risers placed under the bed. Not certain if that's possible with the different styles they not put in - probably not.

 

[crisi]

Not certain what you are referencing as they are the same. The difference are in the set up to provide for accessibility. Now I'd quibble with some of the accessible decision DVC has made but that's another subject.
If you are meaning the "terrible" view? Eye of the beholder. BLT accessible rooms have theme park views but when you are disappointed overall in getting one you do glass is empty.

Our first trip at BWV was a HA room - it was before Boardwalk View was a category and it was also a Boardwalk View room. And yes, the roll in shower (in that room.... as ADA requirements have matured, Disney and the law have begun to realize that handicapped accessible doesn't always mean "roll in shower" and "room for wheelchair" or "microwave on counter" - but that's what this room was) meant that extra towels were needed to keep the bathroom floor from getting wet and that we didn't have counter space and the table and chairs had been removed to increase floor space. But the view was great and it was very convenient to the elevators..

 

[crisi]

This is a little harsh IMHO. We try our best not to get a handicapped room! My adult daughter and my husband actually have more difficulty with that type of room. Often the shower type makes the floors more slippery for my daughter with a hip problem and my husband with an ankle issue. Both can do just fine with reg shower and tub. Also the lower bed and counters are harder for both as someone else mentioned as low to ground does not always equal easier if you have issues (it actually makes it harder for my husband who has a rod inside his leg from knee to ankle - puts him at the wrong angle when he sits on bed or tries to access things on counter ). I understand we need these rooms to accommodate those for whom they fit, but I disagree that they are NOT an inconvience for others. Again, I know we NEED these type of rooms, but I disagree about the fact that they do not affect our enjoyment of the accommodations we are paying for.

It isn't harsh at all. You are telling other DVC members and Disboarders that their desire to not stay in a HA room is less important than yours. Who do you think gets the HA room you don't want? - the rest of us. None of us who don't need a HA room want one, and our wants are no less important than yours.

 

[mom2missmous]

It isn't harsh at all. You are telling other DVC members and Disboarders that their desire to not stay in a HA room is less important than yours. Who do you think gets the HA room you don't want? - the rest of us. None of us who don't need a HA room want one, and our wants are no less important than yours.

We do not think our needs are more important than others! The harsh I was referring to was the comment "your inconvenience of living like a person with disabilities for a few nights." I was simply giving an example of how it can be more than an inconvenience for some- NOT just us! And YES we HAVE stayed in a handicapped room - just because we prefer not to do so if possible , doesn't mean we have not stayed in one! I also agree Disney needs to do a better job at making these rooms uniformly 'Magical ' for all guests- those who require these rooms should have not have to deal with things like microwaves mounted too high or lack of ample storage as sited in some posts