Booking Accessible Studios

[voxparse]

Does anyone have experience booking accessible rooms? I'm wondering if it is going to make getting a studio that much harder even at 11 months and if I should lean toward a studio heavy resort for my purchase to help availability. Obviously we could also book a 1BR but we're a small family and spend very little time in our room typically so anything larger is a waste. Thoughts?

 

[RoseGold]

Accessibility is tricky because there are multiple kinds of accessible rooms, hearing, roll in shower, and so on. Combine that with all the views, and there might be only a room or two (or zero) that meets your needs in any particular booking category. So even if studios aren't gone in general, the accessible room can be booked (or not exist) and you are out of luck. If accessibility is important, you ned to make a choice with the numbers to support that. If you must have an accessible studio, then somewhere with tight studio availability, like CCV/BC/BW, probably not a great idea.

VGF2 has a lot of accessible rooms, but it also now has five studio booking categories. Combine that with multiple accessibility categories, and this could be dicey to actually book, or it might cost you points because you can only get some category you didn't want.

The obvious choice to me would be Poly. It has hundreds of studios in the standard view category, and multiple in each accessibility category. Also, the TTC boat next door is the easiest for accessibility. It's wonderful.

My other choice would be AKL. Kidani is just so big, there are a lot of rooms, and not a ton of categories. But then you are dealing with AK buses.

OKW/SSR also probably not a problem to book accessible, but I have no interest in those properties.

 

[voxparse]

E

Accessibility is tricky because there are multiple kinds of accessible rooms, hearing, roll in shower, and so on. Combine that with all the views, and there might be only a room or two (or zero) that meets your needs in any particular booking category. So even if studios aren't gone in general, the accessible room can be booked (or not exist) and you are out of luck. If accessibility is important, you ned to make a choice with the numbers to support that. If you must have an accessible studio, then somewhere with tight studio availability, like CCV/BC/BW, probably not a great idea.

VGF2 has a lot of accessible rooms, but it also now has five studio booking categories. Combine that with multiple accessibility categories, and this could be dicey to actually book, or it might cost you points because you can only get some category you didn't want.

The obvious choice to me would be Poly. It has hundreds of studios in the standard view category, and multiple in each accessibility category. Also, the TTC boat next door is the easiest for accessibility. It's wonderful.

My other choice would be AKL. Kidani is just so big, there are a lot of rooms, and not a ton of categories. But then you are dealing with AK buses.

OKW/SSR also probably not a problem to book accessible, but I have no interest in those properties.

Excellent point, I should have been more specific. My accessibility needs are relatively straightforward. I am in a wheelchair and just need a little extra space. My chair is very compact and I don’t care much about how the bathroom is setup. It sounds like Poly might be my best bet which is great because we really love the idea of Poly.

 

[RoseGold]

I have a permanently disabled family member in a Whill who did fine in a non-accessible Poly studio. They brought a shower chair. DVC is good with easy accessibility requests like that one. Poly studios have plenty of space and clearance. In comparison, the VGF2 layout has multiple pocket doors, and I don't see how you could get to the toilet, at least in a non-accessible room.

I think the Poly renovation even put the push buttons on the accessible rooms for the heavy door, I've never stayed in one myself. I'd check out some room tours of Poly studios, sounds like it might be perfect, even if you couldn't book accessible exactly.

Rolling over to the TTC boat is a piece of cake. Massive ramps, get to ride a boat no problem. It's one of those things that really makes Disney just feel normal and easy, which is so neat.

IMO, the next Skyliner expansion should be HS to Coronado to TTC. If that happens, Poly will have even better location.

 

[sethschroeder]

Is there a possibility for you to do room tours possibly at some of the resorts? As those wont be accessible in nature you could then see "worst case" and if its acceptable. Flip side you can then purposely try for the accessible rooms each time you travel.

Also if there is a specific resort or two you are wondering about I have links to all the resort rooms with matterport so you could actually do measurements of the space like doorway, space in kitchen, space around living room, ect.

 

[Her Dotness]

I think the Poly renovation even put the push buttons on the accessible rooms for the heavy door...

Yup. We had a PagoPago HA studio a year ago about 6 weeks after the refurb there was done.

That button opener was sooooooo nice.

Rolling over to the TTC boat is a piece of cake. Massive ramps, get to ride a boat no problem. It's one of those things that really makes Disney just feel normal and easy, which is so neat.

Depends on how bothersome textured paving is for the OP. DH really disliked the Poly courtyard pavement with his powerchair. But, that may be something someone who likes the Poly could tolerate. Admittedly, neither of us cares for the place enough to stay there again.

It is blissfully easy to get from the far corner of PagoPago onto the path to the TTC. A mere 5-10 minute walk/roll depending upon how eager you are to get there. Beautifully landscaped path.

 

[RoseGold]

Depends on how bothersome textured paving is for the OP. DH really disliked the Poly courtyard pavement with his powerchair. But, that may be something someone who likes the Poly could tolerate. Admittedly, neither of us cares for the place enough to stay there again.

Huh? You mean the light prints in the concrete right around the buildings? didn't seem like much of anything to me, it's not an actual accessibility barrier like impassable crazy cobblestones or something. The Poly sidewalks and elevators and buildings are definitely all accessible to even larger scooters. A small power chair won't have a problem, unless you need a totally smooth surface, I guess.

You can see room tours on Youtube for all of these rooms. Make sure you get recent one for the Poly renovations.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Huh? You mean the light prints in the concrete right around the buildings? didn't seem like much of anything to me, it's not an actual accessibility barrier like impassable crazy cobblestones or something. The Poly sidewalks and elevators and buildings are definitely all accessible to even larger scooters.

They are accessible, yes, but they are not necessarily comfortable for someone who uses a wheelchair with pelvic &/or hip pain (like I do). I use a Fold & Go WC which can handle tough terrain without a problem… but if I’m already in a lot of pain, those little imprints are a big deal. I stayed completely away from the Poly for over a year bc of them. Thankfully, I’m doing better now & was able to stay there again this year, but I still slowed my speed way down in & around the great ceremonial house.

(Incidentally, the Poly’s elevators are some of the smallest in DVC resorts that I’ve experienced. Workable, but very small.)

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Does anyone have experience booking accessible rooms? I'm wondering if it is going to make getting a studio that much harder even at 11 months and if I should lean toward a studio heavy resort for my purchase to help availability. Obviously we could also book a 1BR but we're a small family and spend very little time in our room typically so anything larger is a waste. Thoughts?

Yes, I do have some experience booking accessible studios- and as long as we’re not talking a crazy hard booking- I don’t find it any more difficult than getting a “normal” studio IF you’re booking right at 11 months (even at BC). However, it gets harder much quicker than standard bookings do (days instead of weeks).

Depending on your mobility needs (ie- strictly in the WC, or walking some within room, etc), you may very well be able to get by with a standard studio & not require an accessible room at all (as others suggested). I often stay in standard studios (I actually prefer them as I’m pretty mobile within the room & prefer the “normal” setup), but when I’m doing worse I will book accessible rooms so I can stay in my chair more (& hope to get a door button… which are not that common).