Boardwalk Inn Acees. Room Question

[JeannieNM]

Was anyone stayed in a wheelchair accesable room at the boardwlk?

I would like to know how accssable the room was/ Where it was located at the Inn?

any tps?

thank you
Jean

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I have stayed at Boardwalk Inn in a wheelchair Access room several times before becoming a DVC member.

With one exception (more later), I have always stayed in an adapted garden view room. I believe these rooms are currently combined with, and re-classified as 'standard' rooms.

Although the rooms I have stayed in have been on different floors, they have always been in the same position. They are the room closest to the elevator lobby and ice machine facing the garden. (you cannot hear them) They make the corner, so the rooms are wedge shaped, normal room width at the window/balcony end and one and a half rooms wide at the corridor end. The rooms are therefore a lot larger than regular rooms with large bathrooms/shower areas. One year my wife & I had two ECVs in the room. There was plenty of room to park one up for charging with space left over to drive figures of eight without hitting the furniture.

Avoid the room on the first (ground) floor unless you like being in a dark hole surrounded by plants. The other floors are great, and you will get a good view if Illuminations from 4th & 5th floors. I think 5th floor has a bath with transfer seat rather than a roll in shower though you need to double check.

My one exception

One year, Boardwalk/Central Reservations fouled up and they didn't have a wheelchair room with roll in shower for me although I had booked one. After waiting for an hour for them to come up with a solution, I said that I would do without taking a shower or bath my first night, provided they could move me on the second. Big mistake! The so-called wheelchair room I was given was a regular room with an enlarged bathroom (and smaller sleeping area as a result). It had a regular bath but with extra grab rails. Wider door and a little extra space. Grab rails around toilet. The sort of room you find in hotels that have adapted a regular room for wheelchair use. The main sleeping area was too small to move around in easily.

I have never stayed at Boardwalk Concierge of in a lake view room, so cannot give you any advice regarding the more expensive rooms.

Andrew

 

[JeannieNM]

Dear Andrew,
Thank you very much for the information.
Jean

 

[SueM in MN]

Are you talking about the Boardwalk Inn (the hotel part) or the Boardwalk Villas (the DVC part)? They are 2 separate parts (in different parts of the same building) of the Boardwalk.
If you are renting/using points and staying at the Villas, you would contact Member Services with your questions. If you are staying in the Inn part, you would contact WDW Resort Special Reservations:
(407) 939-7807
(407) 939-7670 [TTY]

 

[Leia's Mom]

When I took my mom, we were in the concierge level at the Inn. I don't think her room was specifically wheelchair friendly. However, the room was sufficiently large for her to get around in (although the bathroom was a bit small). They gave her a refrigerator free of charge for her insulin.

One note, though, there is only one bank of elevators at the Inn. Concierge was a long, long way from the elevators. If you have a choice, request a room near the elevators.

During our trip, my DH had appendicitis and had his appendix removed at the local hospital. I had two individuals in manual wheelchairs and a 4 year old child. It was a nightmare because neither could push themselves that far to the elevator. That was my only complaint. (The view of illuminations, though, was fabulous.)

Hope you have a wonderful time.

 

[JeannieNM]

Thank you.
We are staying at the Boardwalk Inn.

Did your mother request a wheelchair accessable room? Did the room have a roll in shower? Or was it a regular room and therefore the bathroom was small for a wheelchair.

I requested a room near the elevators. After rolling around the park my arms are not found of rolling long carpeted hallways.


That was quite a challange with your mom and DH and 4 yr old.

Thanks again

 

[Leia's Mom]

Jeannie,

We did request a wheelchair accessible room, if possible. However, because of our particular circumstances, a regular room was ok. So, we did with a regular room -- that was why the bathroom was a little small. It did not have a roll in shower. That would have been nice, but we made due.

I would not recommend doing concierge at the BWI if you do not want long carpeted hallways. At the end of a long day, it seemed like it would never end. Plus, they were recarpeting. Oy.

If you haven't, consider faxing a room request a few days before you arrive reminding them that you would like to be near the elevators. That would have made life much easier; however, there are simply no concierge rooms near the elevators. I likely would have skipped the concierge had I to do it again.

Having said that, I do think that the BWI is wonderfully accessible because of the various means of transportation. The boat to MGM and EPCOT was fabulous (quick and easy). Walking (or in mom's case, wheeling) to EPCOT was quite pleasant. Bus ride only to MK and AK.

You will love the Inn.

 

[SueM in MN]

It's my understanding that if you requesta wheelchair accessible room, that is guaranteed. You might want to chekc your confirmation slip to see how your requests are stated on there. Whatever is on there is in the computer system for the room assigner.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I mentioned early in this thread that I had had one bad experience at Boardwalk Inn.

When I checked in, I had everythingn in order. At first check in denied I had a booking. Once I had retrieved my confirmation paperwork from my luggage, they conceded that I *did* have a booking for a wheelchair room. They didn't have any left!!! After a long time in the back room, the only explanation the supervisor could offer was that Central Reservations, never passed my reservation on to the Boardwalk.

Originally posted by SueM in MN
It's my understanding that if you requesta wheelchair accessible room, that is guaranteed. You might want to chekc your confirmation slip to see how your requests are stated on there. Whatever is on there is in the computer system for the room assigner.

This is not guaranteed!!!!

Originally posted by Leia's Mom

If you haven't, consider faxing a room request a few days before you arrive reminding them that you would like to be near the elevators.

I asked the question 'ought I to have faxed in a confirmation of my arrival?'

I was told a phone call was safer, as faxes are all too easy to set aside and forget! I was told Boardwalk receive reservations from Central Reservations seven days before arrival date and that it was pointless to phone before then.

Andrew

 

[JeannieNM]

Thank you.

It was suggested that I fax the room assigner 3 days in advance.

Andrew I like your suggestionof just calling the hotel directly. I will do this about 5 days in advance.

I would hope Disney would honor their reservaitons and if they over booked at one hotel they would atleast move you to another hotel with an accesable room.

While I am more than willing to make do for a night or 2 , I am not willing to make do for 5 nights.

I have found in general when traveling that no matter how many reassurances and confirmations you get things can turn out differently, I try to smile, be patient but firm about my needs.

To diverage a little.. Last summer at the Ritz carlton in San Juan I had a written confirmation for a wheelchair accessable room with a roll in shower. What I did not realize was the RC was the host hotel for the PVA (Paralysied Veterns of America) convention at this time. When we went to check in The clerk said, there were no accessable rooms available. After about an hour (we had flown for 7 and 1/2 hours so we were tired)of his going back and forth with the manager behind the scenes. Another clerk said, I think we have one without a roll in shower. Later we found out the person had an illness in the family and had left the convention early and that was why there was indeed a room. My husbnad went with the clerk to see the room. The clerk anounced the room was not accessable. My husband disagred. It had a raised toilet with bars, bars in the shower and a bath chair and enough room to roll around once my husband removed most of the furniture to the hall. We put in a roll away for our DD. it was only 2 nights. We ended up having a blast with all the PVA conventioners.

I hope all works out at the Boardwalk.

Jeannie

 

[SueM in MN]

This is not guaranteed!!!![?QUOTE]
We've been told it is guaranteed, so it's another case where WDW is consistently inconsistent.
I would suggest you work thru Special Reservations. At least they are the designanted people to deal with special requests (but still no guarantee that they will get it right.