Bed Height Question

[toocherie]

I did a search but didn't see anything recent--last weekend I stayed in an accessible room at the Disneyland hotel that had two Queen beds. When we checked in we were surprised to find that both beds were very high--like they would be in a regular room--even though it clearly was otherwise an accessible room. I called down to the front desk and after getting transferred a couple of times spoke with someone who said they would remove part of the bed (we only needed one lower) to make it an accessible height. It was done by the time we came back that night after dinner.

Is this normal? If a room is designated as "accessible" why wouldn't the bed be at a height that could be used by a handicapped person?

I am now wondering what will happen when we will soon be going to Saratoga Springs and have an accessible studio--will we have to have the resort make changes to the bed after checking in there too?

I have to admit that the recent trend towards high beds is distressing to me as it makes it harder for "other abled" people.

What are others' experiences (especially at SSR)?

 

[lanejudy]

I’m not familiar with the room types at Disneyland hotels, but the WDW resorts offer different types of accessible rooms. Some have more “accessibility” features than others. What specific type of room did you reserve at SSR?

 

[cmwade77]

While I like the taller beds from the standpoint that you can store luggage under them, they definitely can make things difficult.

I am not a short guy and even I had a hard time getting in and out of bed at AKL Kidani on our last trip. I wonder if you can ask for the bed to be lowered in the nonaccessible rooms as well.

 

[cmwade77]

I’m not familiar with the room types at Disneyland hotels, but the WDAw resorts offer different types of accessible rooms. Some have more “accessibility” features than others. What specific type of room did you reserve at SSR?

Generally California has two types of accessing rooms:
Rooms for those with visual/audio impairments (usually required to also be fully accesible from mobility standpoint) and mobility accessible rooms.

The problem is Disney tries to skirt the state rules every chance they get. For example, their "accessible" 3 bedroom grand villa at Grand Californian Villas has:

• A single washer/dryer combined into one appliance, not stacked or side by side, but one single appliance. Makes sense that it wouldn't be stacked;however, the dryer portion couldn't dry clothes in 4 hours time. When a complaint was made, it was commented that the appliance was put in because that is an accessible room. So, now let's look at the rest of accessibility in the room.
• The entry door on the lower level was indeed wider; however since the elevator to reach the second level is the main elevator, the upstairs entry door would also need to be wider.
• None of the bathrooms had a roll in shower (required in California to be considered an ADA room in any hotel built after the mid 1990s and the Villas definitely would have such requirements)
• In the kitchen, a smaller refrigerator was provided; however, the freezer was still to high to be accessible.
• The upper cabinets could not be pulled down in any way.
• There is a garbage disposal and cabinets under the kitchen sink, which means the sink is not wheelchair accessible

So in short while the room is deemed as accessible and by California law is required to be, it does not meet the minimum requirements to be considered an ADA room in California, even though it may qualify under federal laws, California is much stricter.

Also, remodeling the rooms like they did recently would reset the governing California rules to the now current rules, which would be even stricter.

 

[nyviolet]

high beds are a problem frequently encountered in accessible rooms in hotels. I mean mobility accessible rooms, not those with other accessible features such as hearing accessible. Many times people have to ask for part of the bed to be removed so they can get in. I use a wheelchair and I can't stand; I can get on the high beds, but it's work.

 

[toocherie]

I’m not familiar with the room types at Disneyland hotels, but the WDW resorts offer different types of accessible rooms. Some have more “accessibility” features than others. What specific type of room did you reserve at SSR?

Wheelchair accessible with roll-in shower.

 

[kaytieeldr]

First time I stayed at OKW, I had an accesseble room with a lower bed. Well, starting the second night. Before they moved me, I had to pull myself fafe-first onto the bed.

Next time I stayed there, no low bed. At my request, maintenance took apart one of the beds so it was floor, box spring, mattress, me. Both stays were then perfect.

My favorite hotel in Las Vegas got new bedding between two of my visits. They were able to dig up an old/lower mattress for me.

I would say, make a special request for a bed x inches high.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Generally California has two types of accessing rooms:
Rooms for those with visual/audio impairments (usually required to also be fully accesible from mobility standpoint) and mobility accessible rooms.

The problem is Disney tries to skirt the state rules every chance they get. For example, their "accessible" 3 bedroom grand villa at Grand Californian Villas has:

• A single washer/dryer combined into one appliance, not stacked or side by side, but one single appliance. Makes sense that it wouldn't be stacked;however, the dryer portion couldn't dry clothes in 4 hours time. When a complaint was made, it was commented that the appliance was put in because that is an accessible room. So, now let's look at the rest of accessibility in the room.
• The entry door on the lower level was indeed wider; however since the elevator to reach the second level is the main elevator, the upstairs entry door would also need to be wider.
• None of the bathrooms had a roll in shower (required in California to be considered an ADA room in any hotel built after the mid 1990s and the Villas definitely would have such requirements)
• In the kitchen, a smaller refrigerator was provided; however, the freezer was still to high to be accessible.
• The upper cabinets could not be pulled down in any way.
• There is a garbage disposal and cabinets under the kitchen sink, which means the sink is not wheelchair accessible

So in short while the room is deemed as accessible and by California law is required to be, it does not meet the minimum requirements to be considered an ADA room in California, even though it may qualify under federal laws, California is much stricter.

Also, remodeling the rooms like they did recently would reset the governing California rules to the now current rules, which would be even stricter.

I can find no requirement in the California Building Code that requires every mobility accessible room to have a roll in shower. Although there must be some rooms with roll-in showers, mobility accessible rooms must have either a roll-in shower or an ADA-compliant tub, i.e., shower seat, grab bars, etc. There are also requirements for hand-held shower heads.

Also, an ADA-compliant room is an ADA-compliant room; California can, and does, add some additional requirements in order to be CBC compliant, so a room can be ADA complaint (federal) while not CBC compliant (California). There is really no such thing as "not ADA compliant in California".

 

[toocherie]

I don't believe anyone said that every accessible room has to have a roll-in shower? CMWade was observing the many ways in which the "accessible" Grand Villa is not really fully accessible. I could probably get by with an ADA-compliant tub that has grab bars, etc.--my issue is the bed height as I am short and after numerous surgeries not as spry as I used to be. I have e-mailed Disability Services at WDW to try to get info about the accessible SSR room and I also e-mailed Disability Services at Disneyland Resort to lodge a complaint about my experience last weekend with the bed height (acknowledging that they fixed it--but it shouldn't have been required to be fixed int he first place.)

 

[cmwade77]

I don't believe anyone said that every accessible room has to have a roll-in shower? CMWade was observing the many ways in which the "accessible" Grand Villa is not really fully accessible. I could probably get by with an ADA-compliant tub that has grab bars, etc.--my issue is the bed height as I am short and after numerous surgeries not as spry as I used to be. I have e-mailed Disability Services at WDW to try to get info about the accessible SSR room and I also e-mailed Disability Services at Disneyland Resort to lodge a complaint about my experience last weekend with the bed height (acknowledging that they fixed it--but it shouldn't have been required to be fixed int he first place.)

In California, it is a requirement for hotels built after a certain date.

 

[arminnie]

I really need a roll-in shower now (fairly new requirement), but one of my concerns is the lower bed height. I have a different requirement in that I cannot get up from a low bed. As of now I can no longer get up even from ADA height toilets, but I have a 5" seat that is fairly portable. My transfer is to stand, hold on to something, pivot and sit. I'll figure out something.

 

[OurBigTrip]

In California, it is a requirement for hotels built after a certain date.

Citation please.

 

[toocherie]

So I'm a real estate attorney and you'd think I'd know ADA right? (I do --but just with respect to shopping centers and retail stores). I have been doing some research and it looks like there is not a specified ADA height for beds in hotels. I did find one publication in Florida where the group responsible for Florida ADA standards indicated that because of the trend to higher beds (as being more "luxurious" I guess) they might need to prescribe maximum (and presumably minimum) bed heights. Arminnie: I would have trouble getting out of a really low bed too. The other thing--when they removed part of the bed last weekend at the DLH, the bedskirt basically was left on the floor fanned out around the bed--talk about a disaster waiting to happen! I tucked it under the part of the bed on the floor as much as I could--but this was really a safety issue for anyone--let alone someone with disabilities.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I don't believe anyone said that every accessible room has to have a roll-in shower?

That’s exactly what cmwade said.

 

[cmwade77]

So I'm a real estate attorney and you'd think I'd know ADA right? (I do --but just with respect to shopping centers and retail stores). I have been doing some research and it looks like there is not a specified ADA height for beds in hotels. I did find one publication in Florida where the group responsible for Florida ADA standards indicated that because of the trend to higher beds (as being more "luxurious" I guess) they might need to prescribe maximum (and presumably minimum) bed heights. Arminnie: I would have trouble getting out of a really low bed too. The other thing--when they removed part of the bed last weekend at the DLH, the bedskirt basically was left on the floor fanned out around the bed--talk about a disaster waiting to happen! I tucked it under the part of the bed on the floor as much as I could--but this was really a safety issue for anyone--let alone someone with disabilities.

Oddly enough, I don't even think California's more strict rules specify a bed height.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The other thing--when they removed part of the bed last weekend at the DLH, the bedskirt basically was left on the floor fanned out around the bed--talk about a disaster waiting to happen! I tucked it under the part of the bed on the floor as much as I could

If you find yourself in a similar situation, maybe tuck the bed skirt between the mattress and box spring?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I couldn't find anything in the CBC about washers/dryers in hotels, or bed heights.

 

[cmwade77]

I couldn't find anything in the CBC about washers/dryers in hotels, or bed heights.

ADA requires that washers and dryers can't be stacked, that wouldn't be CBC and as I said, I don't think California has anything about bed heights. But there is another code that is stricter than ADA that California uses, I can't remember it's name right now.

 

[toocherie]

Hmmm. From what I've seen there have to be roll-in showers "available" for booking (and there is a formula on how many accessible rooms there must be, and how many of those need to be "roll-in"). CMWade I spent about an hour this afternoon and I couldn't find that California had a bed height restriction. Found lots of people (like me) concerned about the "trend" to higher beds. I've actually emailed a disability rights group to double-check.

 

[cmwade77]

Hmmm. From what I've seen there have to be roll-in showers "available" for booking (and there is a formula on how many accessible rooms there must be, and how many of those need to be "roll-in"). CMWade I spent about an hour this afternoon and I couldn't find that California had a bed height restriction. Found lots of people (like me) concerned about the "trend" to higher beds. I've actually emailed a disability rights group to double-check.

Ok, how many times do I have to say it? I have never said California has a bed heights requirement, in fact I specifically said I don't think they did. But that there are other requirements and I have first hand knowledge of many of these requirements, as my work designs hotels. And no, I don't know every rule, but I do know a lot of them.