DVC says no roll in shower rooms at AKLclub level

[dclfun]

Wow...I'm really shocked. We just used some of our DVC points to book a stay at the concierge level at AKL Villas. I was told by Member Services there are NO rooms with roll in showers. I thought that was illegal, but remember there are no roll in shower rooms at the club level at the Poly either. What's up with this?---Kathy

 

[Matt'sMom]

It's been my understanding that while each resort is required to provide the wheelchair accessible rooms... they are not required to provide accessible rooms within each & every different room view/category.

That said, I am a little surprised that Disney has not made the effort to 'plus' their wheelchair guests' experience, by providing at minimum one fully accessible wheelchair room at the club level within each of their deluxe resorts.

Edited to add, that I hadn't thought about the date AKL & Villas were built. That does make a difference in regards to the requirements regarding to the distribution of accessible accomidations.

I am wondering if the issue may be due to the DVC properties still being under construction at AK... perhaps the accessible rooms planned for the villas are not yet completed? But I agree that, in the mean time, the AKL club level accessible room should be offerred as an alternative. Perhaps it was simply already booked for the dates in question? Just a thought.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Makes me wonder why -there probably aren't too many people asking for this- they wouldn't help you out by getting a club room at AKL with roll in shower. I mean; both AKV and AKL are in the same building and AKL does have at least one club room with roll in shower. I know, because we had one booked a couple of months ago.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't think that is legal either. From the ADA Common ADA Problems at Newly Constructed Lodging Facilities:

Requirements:
In order to provide persons with disabilities the same range of options that are available to other persons at the facility, lodging facilities must disperse accessible guestrooms/suites among the various classes of guestrooms/suites available at the facility. Factors to be considered in dispersing accessible guestrooms among different classes of rooms include room size, cost, amenities provided (e.g., smoking and nonsmoking rooms, suites, kitchenettes, rooms with preferred views, connecting rooms), and the number of beds provided. ADA Standards 9.1.4

That is for "Hotels, motels, inns, and other places of lodging designed and constructed after January 26, 1993". I don't remember the exact date AKL was constructed, but it was definately after that. AKL villas were maybe considered a renovation, rather than a construction, but I would still think they need to comply.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Hmmm, that's weird. And you're sure Member Services didn't just make a mistake, or get the wrong end of the stick? It might be worth writing or phoning someone high up in Disney accommodation to point out this breach of the ADA. As goofieslonglostsis suggested, at the very least they should put you into AKL. Although, that wouldn't include a kitchen, which isn't so great.

 

[merryweather20]

I don't know, I think there is still a good range of HA rooms available at AKV/AKL. I'm not sure I would consider that a violation. I don't think there is that many rooms in the club level category. I remember someone saying only 11 studios (not sure how many 1Bdrms, 2 Bdrms)... 1/10th of rooms as HA seems a bit much to ask.

You can still book a variety of HA villas, and HA rooms.

 

[dizanimator]

I would think if they don't have any HA club level villas, they could give you regular regular HA villa and club level access. I know that when I stayed at AKL (before the villas were under construction) my room was on the 5th floor but the lounge was on the 6th. I haven't been back to AKL since the villas were built, but if it's all in the same building, I can't see as big of issue with giving club level access to people who need a HA room and want to stay club level if there are no rooms on the club level with the accessability they need.

 

[zumbergc]

From what I remember of reading over on the dvc forums, there are like 5 and 5 dvc concierge rooms. 5 face the savanna, 5 have pool view. So, there are not that many rooms to begin with. Maybe when kidani is done, they will have more concierge rooms (don't really know if that will happen), and would make a room that works for you.

Maybe try calling back and asking to speak to a supervisor. Maybe they could do what someone above mentioned. Stay in a room which works for you and still have access to concierge services?

 

[SueM in MN]

I would think if they don't have any HA club level villas, they could give you regular regular HA villa and club level access. I know that when I stayed at AKL (before the villas were under construction) my room was on the 5th floor but the lounge was on the 6th. I haven't been back to AKL since the villas were built, but if it's all in the same building, I can't see as big of issue with giving club level access to people who need a HA room and want to stay club level if there are no rooms on the club level with the accessability they need.

Bingo!
That sounds like it would be a reasonable accomodation if none exist.

I don't know, I think there is still a good range of HA rooms available at AKV/AKL. I'm not sure I would consider that a violation. I don't think there is that many rooms in the club level category. I remember someone saying only 11 studios (not sure how many 1Bdrms, 2 Bdrms)... 1/10th of rooms as HA seems a bit much to ask.

You can still book a variety of HA villas, and HA rooms.

But, if it is something that is offered to other people, not having one at all for someone just because they need a roll-in shower room would be discrimination. And, it would not be allowed under the link to the ADA that I posted before.
It's one thing if they are all full, but if they just don't have any at all, that's no different than saying someone else can't stay there because they have brown eyes (I know it's a ridiculous example, but it's still a physical characteristic that the person has no control over).

 

[merryweather20]

But out of eleven or so rooms... They've still dispersed the rooms "among the various classes available":

There's a 1 bdrm villa with a roll in shower in concierge
There is at least one HA concierge room in the hotel part
There is also non-concierge HA studios with more than one type of view

From what you posted, they only need to have rooms "dispersed" through the categories, not one of each under every possible combination in each category of room.

Although come to think of it, I'm probably just bitter about spending 3 weeks in my room at the Quality Inn (elevator maintenance in my building). The only accessible room was on the ground floor with a construction dumpster blocking the window. The idea of any room at the AKL/AKV (or anywhere with an unblocked window) sounds so good right now I wouldn't be to particular

 

[pugdog]

Actually they have to have them in every different type of room. Now they don't have to have every view type but every room type they do.

 

[BCV23]

Actually they have to have them in every different type of room. Now they don't have to have every view type but every room type they do.

I don't think we know that yet for AKV. With DVC, a studio club level villa is a type of room. It costs different points than any other villa at AKV and isn't specific to view.

We have a 2 BR accessible villa reserved on the club level of AKV in a few months but Member Services told me twice that the rollin shower would be in the master bathroom rather than in the second (studio) bath.

 

[dclfun]

I agree that a reasonable accomodation would be to allow us club level access and to have a studio villa on another floor and this is what I will ask for. According to a friend who recently stayed there the only AKL concierge villa with a roll in shower is the one bedroom ( which could turn into a 2 bedroom unit). I reserved our vacation at exactly 11 months out, day by day, so it's not a matter of the room type I need being already reserved. I feel as though I, (or any other guest requiring a roll in shower) should be able to book and stay at the concierge level just like anyone else without a disability. Hopefully I'll feel better after I call MS on my day off this week and hopefully they'll allow the above scenario. They might not since DVC is only allowed X amt. of concierge rooms at any one time and this would mean another concierge room added and extra expense DVC pays for that level of service. Would I get the daily housekeeping and turndown service that concierge DVC guests get...all things to think about. I guess I was taken aback by the email I received too which just said, "there are no accessible studios with roll in showers on the concierge level" , period, no suggestion to call MS to discuss options, just a feeling of "you're out of luck, goodbye". Thanks for the support and esp. to Sue for sending the links. I don't look at that information often enough.---Kathy