Grand California Hearing Accessible?

[jlovesee]

So I booked two nights in a 1 bedroom hearing accessible room at GCV for January. What are the differences in the room compared to normal rooms? I'm just curious. Is it the same as wheelchair accessible, but with lights? Or is it a normal room with lights for the doorbell, etc? I apologize it was the only room type left when I was able to book, and I feel lucky just getting Grand Californian at all at 7 months!

Jennifer

 

[Malcon10t]

It primarily has lights that go off if someone knocks on the door, or if the phone rings, or an alarm goes off. My daughter is deaf and we usually get these rooms if they are still available.

 

[vicarrieous]

So I booked two nights in a 1 bedroom hearing accessible room at GCV for January. What are the differences in the room compared to normal rooms? I'm just curious. Is it the same as wheelchair accessible, but with lights? Or is it a normal room with lights for the doorbell, etc? I apologize it was the only room type left when I was able to book, and I feel lucky just getting Grand Californian at all at 7 months!

Jennifer

@jlovesee Did you stay in this room? Can you report back on what room it was and the modifications?

 

[jlovesee]

@jlovesee Did you stay in this room? Can you report back on what room it was and the modifications?

I check in Jan 16th! I will report back!

Jennifer

 

[vicarrieous]

I check in Jan 16th! I will report back!

Jennifer

That would be AWESOME! We are interested in all the details - what floor, what room, any apparent differences to a regular room/studio.

 

[Malcon10t]

That would be AWESOME! We are interested in all the details - what floor, what room, any apparent differences to a regular room/studio.

The rooms we have used are "convertible." They add a vibration alert on the door that will light up certain lights in the rooms.

 

[DodgerGirl]

How you can tell if your room is hearing accessible is that it will feature a sign with an ear symbol on it which means it will have what is called an Audible Listening Device which is a special alarm that will make a buzzer sound "similar to a game show buzzer" with a flashing light that will tell deaf people there's someone at the door but also alerts them of fires or emergencies. There will also be a tiny button that will open the hotel room door automatically
Hope this helps Jlovesee
Dodger

 

[vicarrieous]

The rooms we have used are "convertible." They add a vibration alert on the door that will light up certain lights in the rooms.

Good to know. Was this the same for you at Grand Cal? With a separate booking category I assumed it was a designated room. That is what I am most interested in knowing. The room location.

 

[Malcon10t]

Good to know. Was this the same for you at Grand Cal? With a separate booking category I assumed it was a designated room. That is what I am most interested in knowing. The room location.

We had it in a courtyard room when we did it. The room was a regular room, and they came and placed a device on the door which was activated and when people knocked activated lights in the room. Also, when the phone rang the lights activated. We only used it once to check it out. While my daughter is hard of hearing, we have a service dog, which we feel is a better option than the lights.

 

[Malcon10t]

How you can tell if your room is hearing accessible is that it will feature a sign with an ear symbol on it which means it will have what is called an Audible Listening Device which is a special alarm that will make a buzzer sound "similar to a game show buzzer" with a flashing light that will tell deaf people there's someone at the door but also alerts them of fires or emergencies. There will also be a tiny button that will open the hotel room door automatically
Hope this helps Jlovesee
Dodger

I just want to clarify, this has NOT been my experience having a hearing accessible room at either GCH or DLH. (I have not experience GCV.). I have never had an accessible room (wheelchair or hearing) with doors that open with a button at either hotel (it would be handy if they did!!!). (Doors around the main hotel do have this, but not room doors.).

 

[lolcatparty]

I check in Jan 16th! I will report back!

Jennifer

Any update?

 

[Lexxiefern]

is There just 1 hearing accessible room per room size? Any updates on where these are located?

 

[Malcon10t]

is There just 1 hearing accessible room per room size? Any updates on where these are located?

It iis my understanding, there are many rooms in each category that can be set up for hearing accessible. They know my daughter is hearing impaired, and even though I don't request a hearing accessible room, we frequently get asked if I want them to bring the equipment for the room.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

is There just 1 hearing accessible room per room size? Any updates on where these are located?

I know that one of the one bedroom hearing accessible villas is on the first floor with a pool view. I don't know if there are additional ones besides that one. The studio next door may also be a HA villa, allowing for a 2 bedroom lock off.

 

[vicarrieous]

I know that one of the one bedroom hearing accessible villas is on the first floor with a pool view. I don't know if there are additional ones besides that one. The studio next door may also be a HA villa, allowing for a 2 bedroom lock off.

Based off my research and a youtube vid, I would guess the HA Studio is room 1509. Not sure if there is more than one. This would line up with your info as well that the 1 bed HA is the pool view 1st floor.

 

[elenex]

I don't have pictures but can confirm it was 1509. Stayed here for several nights in January.

No noticeable difference in layout or features from a standard studio. I believe the bellman knocked on our door and it didn't cause any alarms/strobe, so i think it's a modifiable feature. The view wasn't great but not terrible, you can kind of see the pool through the foliage. On the plus side, it was a pretty private patio for the 1st floor. We did let them know ahead of time that we did not require accessibility, only booked d/t availability and were happy to give it up if someone requested.

The wheelchair room is very different than standard, I've never stayed there but you can find it on YouTube.

 

[vicarrieous]

Double confirmed it is 1509. The only difference is there is a visual fire alarm on the wall in the bedroom and in the bathroom. Neither is noticeable unless you are looking for it. We did have someone call and knock and no difference.

There is also a youtube video of this room online.

 

[Malcon10t]

Double confirmed it is 1509. The only difference is there is a visual fire alarm on the wall in the bedroom and in the bathroom. Neither is noticeable unless you are looking for it. We did have someone call and knock and no difference.

There is also a youtube video of this room online.

If the lights didn't go off when the door was knocked on or the phone rang, they didn't turn the system on. My daughter is deaf, we have to specifically ask for it to happen.

 

[vicarrieous]

If the lights didn't go off when the door was knocked on or the phone rang, they didn't turn the system on. My daughter is deaf, we have to specifically ask for it to happen.

I don't disbelieve you. Just reporting our experience I expected to notice more difference than we did.

 

[Malcon10t]

I don't disbelieve you. Just reporting our experience I expected to notice more difference than we did.

Actually, you won't notice much of a difference unless you tell them you need it activated. All rooms are equipped now with the lights for the fire alarm. If the room was set up, there would have been a box placed on the door for the knock. The room is only set to activate when it is needed, you need to ask. We've use it for my daughter, when she doesn't have her service dog with her. When we have the dog along, we don't get it activated as the dog does the alerts. And the alerts are annoying.