does anyone else find this strange??

[danagirl]

My daughter had JRA and uses a wheelchair...we stayed at the Poly last June and are staying there again the end of march and while i dont need a handicapped accessible room and didnt feel i should take it from someone who might need it i requested one on the bottom floor and was told that because there were elevators they couldnt grant my request....but as i stated to the CM at Poly check in last year..what if theres a fire...am i supposed to use the elevator??? well it got me a room on the first floor last year but i dont like waiting last min...does anyone have any suggestions for what i can possibly do before i get there?

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

That's a load of crap! There are some buildings that don't have elevators at the Poly. Call back and get someone else to help you. You have every right to request a ground floor room.

http://allears.net/acc/faq_poly.htm - look at the longhouse details for proof that not all have elevators

http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/_Disabilities.html - nice detailed info on the accessible rooms

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't understand why they would tell you that they can't grant your request - the reservation people don't grant requests, they just note them so that the room assigner knows what someone wants/needs when they assign rooms. So, they should have taken your request and added it to your reservation.

In the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is information about lodging in post #7. It includes the phone number for the Special Reservations Department that deals with special needs. Have your reservation number ready when you call because you will need it. They may not be able to help you directly, since they have usually just been involved in accessible rooms and other needs for equipment or special procedures. Even if they can't help directly, they should be able to help point you in the right direction.

In the past, first floor was a request, not a guarantee, with handicapped accessible rooms the only things that were/are guaranteed. The First Floor request should be listed as a "Medical Request" rather than just a regular request. Medical Requests are filled first before similar requests from other guests, so it's as close to a guarantee as possible.

 

[bookwormde]

As said I have never found that you could not “request” just about anything, there is just no guarantee that you will get it.

All buildings with elevators are required to have an “area of refuge” in an area with a fire separation. Typically this is the stair tower. The CMs at the hotel are supposed to be “briefed” on this and should have let you know; also it should be marked on the evacuation plan in any of the HC accessible rooms.

Do not use the elevator this is very dangerous until it is place in “firefighter” mode and is manually operated by a firefighter. Typically an active area of refuge will be assigned a crew to stay with the civilians if the incident is of short duration (room and contents) or to evacuate them down the stairwell is conditions in the building are deteriorating.

bookwormde

 

[dclfun]

Recently when making a ressie with DVC member services for OKW and letting them know that I needed a ground floor room but did NOT need an accessible studio ( due to the angle of the bathrooms I can get in one that is "regular" ) I was told that in order to guarantee ground floor, I MUST request an accessible room. Apparently that's the only way now that special services can block a location. That policy is bothersome as now people who don't really need accessible rooms will feel compelled to reserve them, thus taking them away from someone who cannot travel without one.---Kathy

 

[LauraVV]

I'd do what Kathy does and ask for an accessible room. We stayed at the Poly last year. We were in a ground floor room and, well, wouldn't want any other type of room. With my scooter, daughter's w/c, and service dogs, that's the best option for us. We don't need an accessible room but will ask for one next time.

 

[SueM in MN]

Recently when making a ressie with DVC member services for OKW and letting them know that I needed a ground floor room but did NOT need an accessible studio ( due to the angle of the bathrooms I can get in one that is "regular" ) I was told that in order to guarantee ground floor, I MUST request an accessible room. Apparently that's the only way now that special services can block a location. That policy is bothersome as now people who don't really need accessible rooms will feel compelled to reserve them, thus taking them away from someone who cannot travel without one.---Kathy

We've been DVC members at OKW since 1993 and first floor has never been a guarantee there. We have never had a problem getting first floor there as a request because most of the buildings are only 2 floors, so even without a y request you pretty much have a 50 50 chance of getting first floor.
There is one BIG IF THOUGH.
There are a very small number of Grand Villas that can be entered without going up a flight of stairs. So, at OKW ifyou need a Grand Villa, you must reserve an accessible GV or you will probably be on 2nd floor

So, you are correct that if you want to guarantee first floor, you do need to reserve an accessible room.

 

[danagirl]

thanks for the info...i still would rather not take up a hadicapped room...i guess i will call a little before my res. and see if they can do anything...thanks!!