Guaranteed NS and non HA rooms...

[CarolMN]

Thanks, crisi.

While we'd prefer not to have a HA room until we actually NEED one, LOL, we could live with one if necessary. Helps to know the "tricks."

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by DisneyMeMa
My guess is that at least 10% of the DVC accommodations are HA. I have based this guess on the information that was released when BCV opened. I think it was the BCV manager that released the following: 78 dedicated two bedrooms; 74 lock-off two bedrooms; 36 studios and 20 one bedrooms. There are 29 HA rooms. He stated there were a total of 282 keys - this allows for a key to the studio part, and a key for the one bedroom part of the two bedroom lock-offs. Again, this is just a guess based on one DVC resort, but either we had just been unlucky in our room assignments or there is at least this amount. We are a family that does not need, nor do we want HA accommodations -we also want NS. I would like to know when we make our reservations what to expect. If we had this information, then we could decide if we wanted to change resorts, size of accommodations, dates, etc. or just "make do". Sometimes it doesn't make much difference to us, but other times it really does.

Here's the actual number of rooms required to be accessible, according to the ADA:
9.1.2 Accessible Units, Sleeping Rooms, and Suites. Accessible sleeping rooms or suites that comply with the requirements of 9.2 (Requirements for Accessible Units, Sleeping Rooms, and Suites) shall be provided in conformance with the table below. In addition, in hotels, of 50 or more sleeping rooms or suites, additional accessible sleeping rooms or suites that include a roll- in shower shall also be provided in conformance with the table below. Such accommodations shall comply with the requirements of 9.2, 4.21, and Figure 57(a) or (b).
1st column is total Number of Rooms, followed by number of Accessible Rooms in red and roll in shower rooms in blue
1 to 25 = 1

26 to 50 = 2

51 to 75 = 3 1

76 to 100 = 4 1

101 to 100 = 5 2

151 to 200 = 6 2

201 to 300 = 7 3

301 to 400 = 8 4

401 to 500 = 9 4 plus one for each
additional 100 over 400

501 to 1000 = 2% of total

1001 and over = 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000

Accessible rooms are different than roll in shower rooms. Accessible rooms might have the same tub or shower as a regular room, but just have grab bars by the tub/shower and toilet. They may have raised seat toilets. Many people who get those rooms don't even realize that they have a HA room. The "fully wheelchair accessible rooms are the ones with roll in showers and roll in space under sinks for a wheelchair.
I think the actual percentage of Handicapped Accessible rooms in the WDW/DVC resorts is more like 2-4% (at least at OKW). I can't find the file where I had the numbers right now, but at OKW I know it was a total of 29 HA rooms, but the way they counted them - it sounded like more. At OKW, I was told there were 29 one bedrooms, 30 two bedrooms and 29 studios. When I asked for clarification of what this meant, I was told there was one dedicated 2 bedroom and 29 lock offs that could be made into studio, one or two bedroom units.
Someone else also posted that MS told them to avoid the words "Handicapped" or "Wheelchair" in your requests unless you wantone of those rooms. They said it was easy to miss the "NOT' and think one was being requested when seen on the computer. The poster said it was suggested to them to say "regular tub" in their requests.

PS-I apologize if the numbers on the table above don't line up. I can't use the TAB for posting and it doesn't seem to work to just visually line them up with spaces. I re-edited again to add color. Hope it helps. Here's a link to a page with a table you can read.

 

[CarolA]

DVC and Disney do a MUCH better job of this then just about any motel.

Motel 6 and the others may tell you you have a non-smoking room, but..... DON'T count on it. They just give rooms out, plus a lot of buget hotels do NOTHING if someone smokes in a non -smoking room. That gurantee you get on your reservation is about as useless as they come. I have had some HORRID discussions with hotels on this because my rooms not only smelled like smoke, but CIGAR smoke (and this ranges from the Hampton Inn to the Hyatt!) Disney will work on getting it right again for you. The Hyatt told me they were full and I was out of luck. The manager did admit the room stunk, but.... that was all.

As for HA, just be grateful that they have those rooms. By the end of your contract you may need one. If you get one know and it ruins your trip, then maybe you need to think long and hard about what it would be like to need that room and not have it.

 

[lenshanem]

I woudl think as our conract dates coem closer to the end these HA rooms might be so in demand it will be hard to get one!

Perosnally, it wouldn't ruin my trip, but for now I wodul like to ahve a tub in a studio so I can bathe my kids.