Do Poly HA rooms have 2 queens or 1 king?

[carymomof3]

Does anyone know whether there are any handicapped accessible rooms with roll-in shower at the Polynesian with 2 beds? Or are they all 1 king? TIA.

 

[BCV23]

All rooms at the Polynesian including the accessible rooms have two queens and a daybed. The only exception is the suites.

The rooms are very spacious especially in Rapa Nui which houses the accessible rooms.

 

[shovan]

Yep, BCV23 is correct again! The Poly rooms with the roll in shower have two queen beds & a single sofa bed. They are very spacious, nice rooms.

 

[carymomof3]

Thanks so much for the quick reply!! I knew someone here would have the answer

 

[SueM in MN]

You got the 2 big experts on the Polynesian answering you.
shovan and BCV23 have a lot of experience with the Poly.

If you haven't been there yet, a poster named tikiman has a very nice website about the Polynesian.

 

[dclfun]

Also, as has been mentioned before, if you need a roll in shower room at the Poly there is only one building, Rapa Nui, that can accomodate that request. It has a garden view. If you wanted a Magic Kingdom view or a concierge room, you cannot have one. Can you tell I'm a bitter about this? From what I have learned it is also illegal. ---Kathy

 

[carymomof3]

Also, as has been mentioned before, if you need a roll in shower room at the Poly there is only one building, Rapa Nui, that can accomodate that request. It has a garden view. If you wanted a Magic Kingdom view or a concierge room, you cannot have one. Can you tell I'm a bitter about this? From what I have learned it is also illegal. ---Kathy

Thanks for pointing that out - I didn't realize it. I know all about being bitter over the illegal inequities. I guess we'll have to decide whether that matters to us. I hate having to choose my battles.

 

[shovan]

Thanks Sue, don't think I've ever been called an expert on anything before!!

Please guys, don't get me started on HA inequities! I'll start griping about the pool situation at the Beach Club AGAIN!!!!

 

[ohdisco]

It's crazy the way they treat handicapped people via hotel rooms. The Grand Floridian doesn't have enough handicapped rooms for it to be legal (they need 18 HA rooms to not break the law, yet they only have 14).

About the room locations, they're going to place the HA rooms in the cheapest rooms available (with the WORST views), and they're only doing it because they HAVE to. If there was no such thing as the ADA, do you honestly think ANY hotel would have HA rooms?

 

[BCV23]

Thanks Sue, don't think I've ever been called an expert on anything before!!

Nor have I!

Although I share the frustration about concierge availability, the rooms at Rapa Nui are around 60 sq ft larger than Hawaii rooms, have truly beautiful garden views and the most conveneient self parking in the resort.

 

[BCV23]

About the room locations, they're going to place the HA rooms in the cheapest rooms available (with the WORST views), and they're only doing it because they HAVE to. If there was no such thing as the ADA, do you honestly think ANY hotel would have HA rooms?

The accessible rooms at the GF have a variety of views. Three times we've been in a room in Conch Key with a deadon view of the MK (considered MK view now). We've twice stayed in a room in Sugar Loaf with a view of the marina (gardenview). I know there are also lagoon view room(s) as that is the only view originally available for most nights of our last stay. Eventually, they just put us in Conch Key for the whole stay which was very good of them. From post of Janet2K, I know there is a rollin shower room in the main building as well.....far from a cheap room!

 

[carymomof3]

Since resort comparisons are popping up, which deluxe do you all think is the best fit for a power chair and why? In our case, it's DD13 that's in the chair, if that makes a difference.

 

[BCV23]

Polynesian for space and ease of transportation.

Our daughter who is 21 and in a power chair loves the Polynesian becaue that is where our memories are. But she adores the bathrooms with pocket doors at the GF. The bathrooms are also bright and spacious there. Because she likes to come and go on her own some of the time, the GF rooms are better as they have door pads. The rooms are considerably smaller than the rooms in Rap Nui though.

 

[carymomof3]

Polynesian for space and ease of transportation.

Our daughter who is 21 and in a power chair loves the Polynesian becaue that is where our memories are. But she adores the bathrooms with pocket doors at the GF. The bathrooms are also bright and spacious there. Because she likes to come and go on her own some of the time, the GF rooms are better as they have door pads. The rooms are considerably smaller than the rooms in Rap Nui though.

Thanks! Those are exactly the kinds of details I was looking for.

 

[dclfun]

For myself, I don't like the Polynesian. I prefer to use the monorail, and the only accessible building is the furthest possible from the monorail at the resort. It spoils the "magic" for me to have to go to the TTC ( ticket and transportation center) to join the hordes of day guests getting on the monorail vs. using the GCH ( Great Ceremonial House) with the other Poly guests. Also the restaurants and food court are in the GCH. If you have a refillable mug, etc., you have the longest possible walk when you are requiring an accessible room at the Poly. If it's raining ( or if it's someone with a mobility challenge not in a chair who needs a roll in shower for other reasons) then you are in the worst possible location to access the GCH. The Grand Floridian may have gorgeous rooms, but if they don't have enough rooms to be compliant with the ADA, then that doesn't matter. This means that at any given time, a guest needing an accessible room may not get the resort they have chosen if there aren't enough available to start with. There is no excuse for that. ---Kathy

 

[BCV23]

Kathy, which monorail resort do you like then?

I agree with you about the refillable mugs. It is a five minute stroll or so to refill those from Rapa Nui. But actaully, Tahiti is even further away and is a very large longhouse so we're not the only ones making the trek. Years ago both Tangaroa Terrace and the Snck Isle by it were very convenient to Rap Nui. We do miss those.

But we usually plan our dining around the park so dine at Kona when we're headed to the MK.

Rapa Nui is the closest longhouse to the TTC and makes for the fastest trip to Epcot by far of the monorail resorts. In addition it is so easy to catch the ferry from the TTC. It is an easy rollon for those who don't like the monorail ramps and no more than a two minute walk.

We too have had trouble getting accessible rooms at both the Polynesian and GF from time to time. I wish it was easier. We do try to plan ahead just like the old days when getting any room at WDW was tough.

 

[dclfun]

I actually prefer AKL, Boardwalk and the Beach Club as they have the rooms inside one building. I refuse to stay ever again at the Poly and have only stayed once at the GF, which I enjoyed. If I ever stayed there again I'd have to have won the lotto and thus be able to be in the main building. ---Kathy

 

[ducklite]

It's crazy the way they treat handicapped people via hotel rooms. The Grand Floridian doesn't have enough handicapped rooms for it to be legal (they need 18 HA rooms to not break the law, yet they only have 14).

Actually I believe that four of the suites have enough accomodation to be considered HA. Because they were built prior to the ADA, and they offer some level of accomodation, they actually are within the law that says "reasonable accomodation."

DH and I sometimes stay at a B&B whose owners were taken to court because they only have one out of 16 rooms that's accessible, and it's one of the more expensive rooms. Well, it's a 100+ year old facility with three stories and no elevator in the main building, and all the guest rooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floor. So they converted one of the carriage house suites--all single floor and located behind the main house. Somebody was demanding that they either get to rent that suite repleat with fireplace and walk-in jacuzzi at the same price as the lowest price room, or install an elevator. The owners fought it and won. They made a reasonable accomodation by coverting the suite closest to the main house and do offer it for less than the other suites, although the others have a river view and that one doesn't--they chose to convert that one to keep it as close as possible so mobility impaired people would have a shorter distance in bad weather. I guess sometimes you can't win even when you do the right thing.

About the room locations, they're going to place the HA rooms in the cheapest rooms available (with the WORST views), and they're only doing it because they HAVE to. If there was no such thing as the ADA, do you honestly think ANY hotel would have HA rooms?

The HA rooms at the GF are far from the worst views. In fact at least two of them are two of the best locations at the resort--one is dead on castle view on the second or third floor of Conch Key, the other is just off the lounge on the third floor of the RPC overlooking the quiet pool. (Over half of those rooms overlook the quiet pool.)

Anne

 

[minnie61650]

For myself, I don't like the Polynesian. I prefer to use the monorail, and the only accessible building is the furthest possible from the monorail at the resort. It spoils the "magic" for me to have to go to the TTC ( ticket and transportation center) to join the hordes of day guests getting on the monorail vs. using the GCH ( Great Ceremonial House) with the other Poly guests. Also the restaurants and food court are in the GCH. If you have a refillable mug, etc., you have the longest possible walk when you are requiring an accessible room at the Poly. If it's raining ( or if it's someone with a mobility challenge not in a chair who needs a roll in shower for other reasons) then you are in the worst possible location to access the GCH. The Grand Floridian may have gorgeous rooms, but if they don't have enough rooms to be compliant with the ADA, then that doesn't matter. This means that at any given time, a guest needing an accessible room may not get the resort they have chosen if there aren't enough available to start with. There is no excuse for that. ---Kathy

You are correct and I agree that means that at any given time, a guest needing an accessible room may not get the resort they have chosen if there aren't enough available to start with.

That is one reason I will not book a tower room at the MK.

I was able to stay in a MK tower rooms years ago before my disability and because I loved that view so much and HA tower rooms with roll in showers are so few I want others to be able to enjoy that view and I do not want to take up a room others really want.


I agree Disney is not meeting ADA requirements.

 

[shovan]

I agree with you about the refillable mugs. It is a five minute stroll or so to refill those from Rapa Nui. But actaully, Tahiti is even further away and is a very large longhouse so we're not the only ones making the trek. Years ago both Tangaroa Terrace and the Snck Isle by it were very convenient to Rap Nui. We do miss those.

Sort of OT here guys, but I can't believe someone else remembers this!
BCV23, I'm was floored to see a mention of Tangaroa Terrace & the Snack Isle! You remember that! Oh, the good old days! Do you remember when the Character Breakfast was in Tangaroa Terrace! Or when you could just walk a few steps to get a quick breakfast at the Snack Isle!

Well, this makes it pretty clear to me, why we all have different favorite places! Even though it's changed so much, I still have a soft spot in my heart for the Polynesian, due to good memories!

Good memories aside & not to disagree with Kathy. But I think overall the Poly has the most accessibility for someone in a WC. The access to use of the monorail, the ferry to MK, and the TTC for everyplace else, just makes it the easiest resort, in my opinion.