Are HA rooms all that bad?

[Mom B]

Often I read posts from people who are less than pleased with being "stuck" with a handicapped accessible room. I'd like to hear from anyone who actually PREFERS a HA room (and doesn't necessarily need it!) Are they really all that bad? We don't have "little" kids anymore, the youngest just graduated high school, so we don't really need a tub, and when we're down on trips when it's just the two of us, would I be unhappy if I got a HA room? As long as it's a studio and I'm not expecting the jacuzzi like in a 1 bedroom, would it really matter much? What do you think?

 

[Cruelladeville]

We ended up with a HA studio at BWV, and I didn't notice much difference. The bathroom was larger, there was a shower with a seat in it, and slightly less storage space in the closet. Actually, last year on vacation I requested a HA room, due to some problems with my sciatic nerve. I wanted the bars around the toilet for getting up and down.

 

[crisi]

I don't prefer it, but we didn't find a one/two bedroom bad at all. We have smallish kids, but past the age where they are likely to play with the lights. And with a one bedroom, we still had a tub and plenty of counter space in the bathroom

 

[JimC]

We have had HA rooms. Most often becuase we have requested them, but not always. The design typically is to accommodate a wheelchair -- larger bathroom, roll in shower with seat, wider kitchen area, lower countertops, grab bars and the like. It varies by resort. YC has some with a power door opener. They can tailor the accessibility to your needs. When we have requested one we were often asked what kind of accommodation was required. If it is not a wheelchair than they might be able to adapt a regular room.

Some folks get really upset if they have an HA room. It does not bother us even if we do not need it.

 

[MdmMim]

I've been assigned a HA room twice at the BWV--assigned the same room both times! I didn't mind it at all. Actually, the first time was during hurricane Jeanne, so when I was assigned that room again--my eyes lit up and I told the CM, "That's my hurricane room!" I loved that room.

Anyway, I liked the shower, as I could walk right in--no stepping in and out of the tub. (I'm no kid anymore!) The closet had a lot of shelving, which for me was convenient. I was solo, and I'm short--so I didn't have to share any storage space--and I could reach everything.

During the same year, I was assigned a HA at the BCV, which I did not really like. There was no place to put anything in the bathroom. I had to use the back of the toilet for my toiletries. Also, the bed was really low. I did get used to it, but I prefer the BWV HA room. (It was great to be able to reach everything in the cabinets, however!)

For me, any room at WDW is a good one! You do realize that someday--not too far off--all of us baby-boomers will be fighting over these rooms!

 

[dianeschlicht]

(snip) You do realize that someday--not too far off--all of us baby-boomers will be fighting over these rooms!

LOL! How true!

 

[Alexander]

The only thing that I really, really didn't like was that there was a very narrow shelf to hold toiletries. That was all there was. We bring a ton of different stuff and had to store a suitcase on the floor under the sink to hold it all. I really missed the drawers to put stuff in. The only other "issue" we had was the water from the shower doesn't stay in the shower. We had to put towels on the floor to prevent the whole bathroom floor from being wet. I chalked it up to, "well, they have given us this room, I guess they won't mind if I take a few pool towels in for the floor". Other than that, we absolutely LOVED the location of our room! We had a great view of the quiet pool, we were only a few doors from the elevator, and although our room was N/S, we were on the floor close to "you-know-what" for those of us in studios.

 

[JimMIA]

I think most of the negative comments you will hear are from parents with small children. Little kids are often afraid of showers, so tubs work much better...and you don't get a tub. Our DD3goingon23 just doesn't do showers!

Also, some kids need to have a tub bath for medical reasons, and HA is not a good option for those families. If we were in that boat, I'd request non-HA for medical reasons -- sounds like you've got it backwards, but it's a legitimate request in those circumstances.

 

[CarolA]

I have had them several times. (Probably because I don't whine LOL!) I had no problems with them.

Personally I hope that some of those who find them "bad" someday find themselves in the position of needing one of these rooms when it's not availalbe. Then they would really understand why Disney has them.


I do understand the little kid problem, but I have read enought on this board to know that LOTS of the complainers don't have kids.

 

[Chuck S]

For adults, it isn't bad at all. I can see the poit with kids in a studio and no tub. We've gotten HA (unrequested) a few times, and it wasn't a problem.

 

[mikesmom]

We've had a non requested HA room twice. DH really liked it - shower is bigger, easy for 2 to shower at once.

 

[CarolA]

We've had a non requested HA room twice. DH really liked it - shower is bigger, easy for 2 to shower at once.

 

[DVC-Don]

Had HA 1 bedroom at BCV a while back. It did not bother me at all. Some complain of the shower, but there was a slight lip that kept the water in the shower stall. BTW, we've never had a problem getting 2 in any of the DVC showers.

 

[tjkraz]

I think most of the negative comments you will hear are from parents with small children. Little kids are often afraid of showers, so tubs work much better...and you don't get a tub.

Just to clarify, that's only the case in the STUDIO rooms. One Bedroom and larger still have the jacuzzi tub in the master bedroom, along with a roll-in shower in the bathroom.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

For us the problem with the HA 2 bed lock off we had at SSR last September was the accessibility of the kitchen equipment. DD was 16 months at the time and she could reach everything (coffee maker, cutlery drawer, oven control, trash cans) in the kitchen as it was lower. Our friends who were in the studio portion did find storage, particularly in the bathroom a bit difficult. Because of the health and safety issues, we asked to move and we were moved with no problem.

If we weren't travelling with a small child we would not be bothered I don't think.

Mandy

 

[littlestar]

My husband is 6' 7" and handicap rooms are not much fun for him. Everything is down low. And there usually isn't much storage space in the bathrooms. In the one and two bedrooms they still have the jacuzzi tub, but the roll in shower is in the studio part or 2nd bedroom. You have to be careful in some of the units because of water overflowing on the floor (or you might just need a handicap room if you slip and fall).

We had a handicapped two bedroom last fall (during Hurricane Jeanne) and we had a two year old with us. The stove buttons were in easy reach and the fire extinguisher was down low (so we had to block off access to that with chairs) and basically watch him like a hawk! Of course, when he got his bath we were able to use the jacuzzi tub. Not having anywhere to store the toiletries was hard also as everything was within his reach. I can understand why people complain about them (especially people with little kids).

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

We stay at HHI in a studio for one night on our way home each trip. We always ask for a first floor room in the Lodge, because the kids are normally zonked by then and we are carrying them, and the closer we are to the car (elevator or not) the better off my back is. Most of the time we get a handicapped room. Not a problem since it is just for one night, but we couldn't do it for an entire trip as it really is a problem not having a bath for the kids.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

WE were in a HA room at SSR and could not get to the closet (not the utility closet) which was in the corner of the bedroom area. The increased area of the shower (I think) made it necessary to locate the closet in a very difficult place.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Put me down as one who does not like the HA room. I like the regular room design and not the modified room. If some day I need the modified access, I will be grateful it is available.

But I don't need it, i don't like it, and it makes the room inconvenient. If I knew in advance that that was all that was available, I would stay home and go another week.

That being said, I have to add that we go 3-4 times a year and probably feel diffeently about it than if we went just once a year or every other year.

We have had a HA room a few times, both before and after we became DVC members. I am absolutley much more particular about what I want in a room now. We also spend more time in the room than in our earlier trips and a HA room is not equipped for how we want to vacation.

just MHO, no flames please

 

[mom23boys]

We've had a non requested HA room twice. DH really liked it - shower is bigger, easy for 2 to shower at once.

Way too much information but thanks for sharing.

Seriously, if we do get one, which we would have a 2 bedroom so I really do not care. But is the counter in the kitchen much lower. We are tall and that might be a problem.