Ethical Question- Accessibility Rooms

[AstroBlasters]

My wife and I were having a discussion about this after looking at VDH availability and I though I would throw the question out to the community…

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

I would feel bad about snagging an Accessible room REALLY close to the 11 or 7 month window. After that... welcome to the club. Giving our ADA friends a little headstart is being considerate. That said... There are only 2 Grand Villas and the only one that is declared for points booking is the Accessible one. So if you want a GV right now... There ya go! Also at VDH there are VERY few 1-2 bedrooms in general... and only a (literally) couple have been declared - so especially right now with VDH... after giving our ADA brothers and sisters a brief moment... those larger rooms kinda need to be available to all since there are so few.

 

[disney-inspired]

I don't think it's right to book those rooms at 11 mo/7 mo windows but if it's a last minute trip and it's available, go for it.

As someone who has needed an accessible room in the past, I was sure to book it as soon as possible.

 

[Sandisw]

It would never be my first option but I can say that I have booked one in the past but also waitlisted a regular room and was we got closer, did contact MS to see if they had something that wasn’t and they did and switched me.

 

[kes601]

Here's my take with the caveat that VDH is currently the exception because they are showing regular rooms and accessible rooms as separate inventories. I know VCG used to be the same way, but it appears this has changed.

Accessible rooms ARE NOT inventoried differently from regular rooms (again, VDH is the exception right now). So, let's say there are 100 studios at a particular resort and 5 of them are accessible. If you book a studio and it ends up being the last studio that is available at that resort then 5 people are going to be put in an accessible room. Now, let's say 2 of those people explicitly booked an accessible studio then they will get that type of room. But 3 people who did not are also going to get that type of room.

What I am getting at is that you might be booking an accessible room without even knowing it, so to me if the inventory is there at the resort you want then you by all means have the right to book it. After all the other person who needs the room had the same opportunity.

So, with VDH and the limited number rooms available in general I see no reason not to book an accessible room if it is all that is left.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Here's my take with the caveat that VDH is currently the exception because they are showing regular rooms and accessible rooms as separate inventories. I know VCG used to be the same way, but it appears this has changed.

Accessible rooms ARE NOT inventoried differently from regular rooms (again, VDH is the exception right now). So, let's say there are 100 studios at a particular resort and 5 of them are accessible. If you book a studio and it ends up being the last studio that is available at that resort then 5 people are going to be put in an accessible room. Now, let's say 2 of those people explicitly booked an accessible studio then they will get that type of room. But 3 people who did not are also going to get that type of room.

What I am getting at is that you might be booking an accessible room without even knowing it, so to me if the inventory is there at the resort you want then you be all means have the right to book it. After all the other person who needs the room had the same opportunity.

So, with VDH and the limited number rooms available in general I see no reason not to book an accessible room if it is all that is left.

This has happened to us several times. We've never asked for or booked an accessible room but have been assigned to an accessible room twice in the last few years.

 

[Chuck S]

As others said, I don't think I'd want to book one, if I didn't need it, until the 7 month window. On the few times I did need them, when traveling with a scooter using person, I always booked at 11 months out. in the case of an OKW GV, I walked the reservation for nearly a month, as there are only 3 GVs at OKW with access for scooters. Now until my Mom passed in 2011, she needed a manual wheel chair in the parks, and we traveled with our own, but she was fine getting around inside the room, so I always just requested first floor at OKW, sometimes we were assigned an HA unit, most of the time not, but as long as the entrance was on the first floor we were good.

 

[ehh]

Here's my take with the caveat that VDH is currently the exception because they are showing regular rooms and accessible rooms as separate inventories. I know VCG used to be the same way, but it appears this has changed.

Accessible rooms ARE NOT inventoried differently from regular rooms (again, VDH is the exception right now). So, let's say there are 100 studios at a particular resort and 5 of them are accessible. If you book a studio and it ends up being the last studio that is available at that resort then 5 people are going to be put in an accessible room. Now, let's say 2 of those people explicitly booked an accessible studio then they will get that type of room. But 3 people who did not are also going to get that type of room.

What I am getting at is that you might be booking an accessible room without even knowing it, so to me if the inventory is there at the resort you want then you by all means have the right to book it. After all the other person who needs the room had the same opportunity.

So, with VDH and the limited number rooms available in general I see no reason not to book an accessible room if it is all that is left.

Clarification on VGC: accessible are a distinct inventory from non-HA. (you might be saying that already, I'm unclear which inventory method "used to be the same way" references)

I wonder why VDH and VGC are the only resorts that use the 'distinct inventory' method and are exceptions to the 'subset inventory' method, gotta be some CA law?

Anyway, to answer the OP's question: regardless of inventory method I'd never book an accessible room when non-HA is available for my stay. But if non-HA isn't available, I would consider an accessible room + a waitlist for a non-HA. Similar to if there's just one Studio left at a 2BRLO-only resort, I'm not going to hold off so a family of 7 can book a 2BRLO.

 

[miksicnarf]

As your question is worded, “Is it ethical?” that’s a hard no. But your other answer choices seem to lean more toward “Can it be justifiable?” which may be different.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

Clarification on VGC: accessible are a distinct inventory from non-HA. (you might be saying that already, I'm unclear which inventory method "used to be the same way" references)

I wonder why VDH and VGC are the only resorts that use the 'distinct inventory' method and are exceptions to the 'subset inventory' method, gotta be some CA law?

Anyway, to answer the OP's question: regardless of inventory method I'd never book an accessible room when non-HA is available for my stay. But if non-HA isn't available, I would consider an accessible room + a waitlist for a non-HA. Similar to if there's just one Studio left at a 2BRLO-only resort, I'm not going to hold off so a family of 7 can book a 2BRLO.

California has a requirement that HA rooms are “held back” from ”ordinary” booking systems until all similar non-HA rooms are booked, so it is not inadvertently booked by a person who is not disabled.

 

[kes601]

Clarification on VGC: accessible are a distinct inventory from non-HA. (you might be saying that already, I'm unclear which inventory method "used to be the same way" references)

Thanks. I knew that previously when you searched VGC it showed all room types (accessible and non-accessible) regardless of whether you had the accessible rooms checkbox checked, that changed sometime in the last few months. So I wasn't sure if they changed it to be like the inventory at WDW resorts, but sounds like that is not the case based upon your answer and @Epcot Forever Forever's indication that it is CA law that HA be different inventory.

It does not change my answer though.

 

[Best Aunt]

This has happened to us several times. We've never asked for or booked an accessible room but have been assigned to an accessible room twice in the last few years.

Yup. I don't want an accessible room, and I have never booked one, but I have received one numerous times. It almost makes me wonder if there is something buried in the system which makes the room assigner think I want one.

 

[Chuck S]

Yup. I don't want an accessible room, and I have never booked one, but I have received one numerous times. It almost makes me wonder if there is something buried in the system which makes the room assigner think I want one.

Depending upon resort, certain location requests could also garner an enexpected HA room.

For instance, since OKW has no elevators, except for 3 buildings, requesting a ground floor unit greatly increases the chance of being assigned an HA unit as ALL HA units except for the single HA Elevator building, are on the ground floor.

 

[SteveMouse]

People with disabilities may not be able to use a room at all if it doesn’t have the modifications needed. And no room means NO travel. For example, I cannot step over a bathtub “wall” into a shower. I cannot step even over a 1 inch shower threshold. . I literally cannot sit on a normal chair, with or without assistance.

Consequently, I cannot use a shower transfer bench. Anything other than a zero-entry (toll-in) shower doesn‘t work AT ALL for me. I NEED the roll-in if I am to bathe at all.

If there is no other room available in the same points class. it may be OK to take the room.

 

[kes601]

People with disabilities may not be able to use a room at all if it doesn’t have the modifications needed. And no room means NO travel. For example, I cannot step over a bathtub “wall” into a shower. I cannot step even over a 1 inch shower threshold. . I literally cannot sit on a normal chair, with or without assistance.

Consequently, I cannot use a shower transfer bench. Anything other than a zero-entry (toll-in) shower doesn‘t work AT ALL for me. I NEED the roll-in if I am to bathe at all.

If there is no other room available in the same points class. it may be OK to take the room.

I completely get that, my dad is the same way.

I guess my point is that the way WDW resorts are listed is that people aren't necessarily booking ADA rooms, but if somebody books the last studio while there is still an ADA room left they are essentially booking the last ADA room without knowing it.

So, in the case of VDH if somebody is wanting to book a duo studio -- and let's say that's all they can get with the points they have -- but an ADA room is the only one available then they can't go if they aren't allowed to book that room type. That doesn't seem fair to them either.

 

[SteveMouse]

I completely get that, my dad is the same way.

I guess my point is that the way WDW resorts are listed is that people aren't necessarily booking ADA rooms, but if somebody books the last studio while there is still an ADA room left they are essentially booking the last ADA room without knowing it.

So, in the case of VDH if somebody is wanting to book a duo studio -- and let's say that's all they can get with the points they have -- but an ADA room is the only one available then they can't go if they aren't allowed to book that room type. That doesn't seem fair to them either.

It’s their choice about the number of points they possess. The person with the disability has little choice regarding having a disability.

If were looking for a 1 BR regular room and there were none available, your next (cheaper) choice should be a regular studio. If there is a HA 1BR available. and no regular 1BR was available, it would not be out of bounds to request the accessible 1BR. That being said. if the regular studio met your needs and using the studio would have minimal impact on your visit, choosing the studio preserves options for someone else. And everyone, disabled or not, likes it when their needs are met.

You might consider it as sharing a little Pixie dust.

Same thing for a stall in the restroom- Please leave the accessible stall open, unless other stalls are in use or otherwise out of service, unless you need the stall’s features.

 

[kes601]

I agree with you that if you can book a non-ADA room then you should, but what I was saying is #1) at WDW DVC resorts you don't know whether you are booking the last ADA room or not since inventory is lumped together and #2) if somebody's points are only good for one room type (as in they don't have enough points for another room type or would have too many people for certain room types) and the last room is an ADA room then I don't think they should choose to forfeit their opportunity to get that room.

I'll bow out of this conversation now. I'm coming across as heartless, but that isn't my intention. I really do agree with you unless the person has to choose whether to go or not if the last room is ADA when inventory is separate.

 

[Sandisw]

It’s their choice about the number of points they possess. The person with the disability has little choice regarding having a disability.

If were looking for a 1 BR regular room and there were none available, your next (cheaper) choice should be a regular studio. If there is a HA 1BR available. and no regular 1BR was available, it would not be out of bounds to request the accessible 1BR. That being said. if the regular studio met your needs and using the studio would have minimal impact on your visit, choosing the studio preserves options for someone else. And everyone, disabled or not, likes it when their needs are met.

You might consider it as sharing a little Pixie dust.

Same thing for a stall in the restroom- Please leave the accessible stall open, unless other stalls are in use or otherwise out of service, unless you need the stall’s features.

My guess is that most people would only purposefully book a HA room if that is all that is left in inventory for what they want.

When we did it, it was all that was left and therefore, we did secure it, but waitlisted for a non HA room and continued to stalk.

When we secured all our other nights in a regular room. I did contact MS about it and they were actually able to change it for us back to match the others,

But, it doesn’t look like it works that way anymore for me and that if rooms are gone when I search normally, nothing shows under HA either.

 

[kes601]

When we did it, it was all that was left and therefore, we did secure it, but waitlisted for a non HA room and continued to stalk.

We’ve done it once before also. It was 2 days before Remys previews at BCV. We ended up in a regular room as we got there super early and they got us in a room as they asked if we cared if it was Hearing Accessible or not. It was that or pay rack rates at Pop.

 

[Best Aunt]

Depending upon resort, certain location requests could also garner an enexpected HA room.

For instance, since OKW has no elevators, except for 3 buildings, requesting a ground floor unit greatly increases the chance of being assigned an HA unit as ALL HA units exceot for the single HA Elevator building, are on the ground floor.

Understood, but I have not made room requests which could only result in a HA room.

Once I purposely tried making a room request which could not be filled with a HA room. They ignored my request and put me in an HA room anyway.