AKL accessible rooms question

[SeaSpray]

I did read the Accessible Rooms thread but I didn't see this question anywhere; Do the accessible rooms at AKL have the button inside the room that automatically opens up the door?

We were just at the Polynesian and our room came with that feature and it was EXTREMELY handy and much appreciated. Just wondering if all of the resorts/accessible rooms have that feature. We're now booked in an accessible pool-view room at the AKL. Thanks.

P.S. I took pictures of the accessible features of our room, I'll post them to the Accessible Rooms thread once I get them on the internet.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I was in a HC room at the AKL in Dec of 2006 and there was no such button.

I'm staying at the PR this Nov. and I know DW would be excited to have this feature I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures.

 

[SeaSpray]

Here are the pictures from the accessible room at the Polynesian:

http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/PolynAccessRm.htm

 

[Schmeck]

When my inlaws stayed in a pool-view accessible room at AKL there was no button. That was a long time ago, but I haven't heard of any upgrades to the rooms besides the DVC expansion.

 

[dclfun]

No, there is no button and the doors are extremely heavy. I always have maintenance remove the spring loaded bar so the door opens freely however it also prevents it from shutting automatically so you have to remember then to do that. I put my SD's strap on the knob so she can then open/close the door for me once it's free-swinging, otherwise I'd be trapped inside or outside my door if I'm solo at the moment.---Kathy

 

[BCV23]

We had an accessible villa at AKL a week and a half ago and no button or plate there either.

The accessible rooms at the GF have a wall plate. The only room with a button that we've had at the Polynesian is the concierge level room. Those in Rapa Nui did not have them in the past. It would be fantastic is they've retrofitted those doors.

 

[dclfun]

Truly, having a pushplate or button would help keep the doors from getting banged up or scraped and they can easily be "turned off" when a family is in the room that doesn't need that feature. I'm thinking of kids having fun pushing the button just to see the door open/shut vs. a person who can't get in/out of a room independently without it. The one time I had to argue with someone on the phone about having maintenance remove the spring-loaded bar was at AKL. I asked if they'd prefer that I scrape and gouge their door vs. them taking a few moments to help me. Maintenance came right up.---Kathy

 

[BCV23]

Truly, having a pushplate or button would help keep the doors from getting banged up or scraped and they can easily be "turned off" when a family is in the room that doesn't need that feature. I'm thinking of kids having fun pushing the button just to see the door open/shut vs. a person who can't get in/out of a room independently without it. The one time I had to argue with someone on the phone about having maintenance remove the spring-loaded bar was at AKL. I asked if they'd prefer that I scrape and gouge their door vs. them taking a few moments to help me. Maintenance came right up.---Kathy

Yep, in fact the button wasn't operational when we checked into our room at the Polynesian. We were so excited to see the button and pushed it... and nothing happened. But a CM arrived in minutes to turn on the switch and now we know where it is.

Our daughter is 22 and enjoys coming and going on her own. It is very difficult for her to manage the doors on her own but manage she does. But there is absolutely no way to do it without her chair and the door scraping each other when she's alone.

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks everyone, for the information. Hopefully eventually WDW will install the door switches in all accessible rooms. It really did make a world of difference.

 

[shovan]

Thanks everyone, for the information. Hopefully eventually WDW will install the door switches in all accessible rooms. It really did make a world of difference.

That is an easy retrofit to install. We recently added one to our home. Let's hope WDW plans on putting them in all HA rooms!

Thanks for posting the pics of the Poly. It's been quite a few years since we've stayed there, it's great to see the changes for ourselves!!