getting food at food courts

[nanatink]

My dad who will be using his own ecv doesn't want to go to the parks with us. I don't want him to stay in the room all day. If he calls housekeeping will they hold the door open for him to go out?
and when he goes to the food court will someone bring him his food?

 

[ducklite]

If you've booked a HA room, I believe they all operate with an automatic opening/closing device, which will allow him to enter and leave the room on his own. I think if he's calling for assistance getting in and out of the room, WDW is going to question his ability to be left in the room alone for safety reasons, and request that you hire a caregiver to stay with him, or require him to move to a HA room that he can manage on his own in.

I'm sure that someone will assist him at the food court, although he might want to avoid peak dining times when it could take a few minutes to find a spare person to assist him.

Anne

 

[SueM in MN]

I think if he's calling for assistance getting in and out of the room, WDW is going to question his ability to be left in the room alone for safety reasons, and request that you hire a caregiver to stay with him, or require him to move to a HA room that he can manage on his own.
Anne

Good point.
Although he may not think he can open the door and drive the ecv out by himself from a regular room, I'm quite certain he probably could. I would not want to leave someone in a room that they could not get out of, in case of a fire or other safety situation.
My DD has fine motor problems that make it hard for her to turn a doorknob, but she is capable of leaning forward in either her power or manual wheelchair, opening the door, letting herself in or out and closing the door behind herself. It takes her quite a while (and a bit of planning), but she can do it.

 

[nanatink]

Thanks SueM and ducklite. Ducklite you are all over these boards when are you going to become a moderator. You are very knowledgeable. My Dad lives on his own and only uses his power chair when he feels he can not walk a long way. Those doors can be very heavy. I have thought about getting him to put a door stop down, driving out, and then picking the door stop up, shut the door and he would be on his way.
We took my dad (74) to disney 4 years ago. You should have seen him. We rented him an ecv and that gave new meaning to his life. He was like a kid again.

 

[dclfun]

None of the accessible rooms has any type of door assist or power feature that opens/closes the door. Videogal has mentioned before that she has asked that the spring ( sorry...can't remember the actual part name) be removed so the door is easier to open and doesn't shut on you while trying to get in/out of the room.
Kathy

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I never had any problems getting in or out of the rooms by myself with an ECV.

To get in I would stop right in front of the door with the front of the ECV just touching the door. I would then reach forward using the room key to unlock the door, open it and push it as far forward as I could. I would then drive inholding the door with one arm as I passed through the doorway.

To exit I would have turned the ECV around so it is going forward. I would grab the door handle with one hand and back the ECV, opening the door. Then I would drive forward holding the door open until I was out.

 

[ducklite]

None of the accessible rooms has any type of door assist or power feature that opens/closes the door. Videogal has mentioned before that she has asked that the spring ( sorry...can't remember the actual part name) be removed so the door is easier to open and doesn't shut on you while trying to get in/out of the room.
Kathy

The HA rooms at the GF offer an automatic opening/closing device. We stayed in one. That's what I based my comment on. Rather foolish of WDW to not offer the same devices in all HA rooms.

Anne

 

[dclfun]

I wish all the HA rooms had a door assist! The last time I stayed at GF our room there didn't have that feature either so it's good to know they have them now. The Disney ships have a door assist on their HA staterooms and it makes a world of difference to someone with very limited arm function or loss of trunk/neck control making it impossible to lean forward. As for WDW the room doors at AK Lodge are particulary heavy and unwieldy. For me, I can no longer get into/out of a room independently but as each person's disability is unique I'm glad to hear others can handle the door with an ECV or at least that WDW will remove the top "spring" to keep the door from shutting on someone in transit.
Kathy

 

[Andrew Bichard]

To exit I would have turned the ECV around so it is going forward. I would grab the door handle with one hand and back the ECV, opening the door. Then I would drive forward holding the door open until I was out.

Or use a retractable dog leash.

you don't need to lean forward and the ECV can be far enough back to allow the door to open.

Andrew

 

[nanatink]

Thanks to all for your thoughtful replies.

 

[Tiger Fan]

The dog leash is an excellent tip, one I will certainly remember and use. I've not had any troubles getting in or out on my own in my ECV and especially if your dad is somewhat mobile he should be fine. I didn't see it mentioned in this thread, but make sure he knows which doors at the foodcourt have the automatic opener. I had to hunt a little at POFQ on our last stay as it was only one set had the auto opener to enter the foodcourt. As for people helping, I had several CMs offer when they noticed I was alone, he should be fine. Have a great trip.
Lisa
Tiger Fan