Handicap Accessible Stateroom Question

[kcashner]

I'm sorry if my orginal post was not clear. I have reserved a balcony room. They just don't seem much bigger than the last room we had in comparison to the HA rooms. And I personally do not see anything wrong with wanting a HA room IF no one who needs it has already booked it. I don't want to take a HA room away from anyone, but if its just sitting there not being used, then what is the problem?

There is nothing wrong with wanting the HA room IF no one NEEDS it. The point should not be that they have to book it before you do.

Thus, the note that can be applied to your reservation--you'd like to move to one of the HA balcony rooms IF no one needs it.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

There is nothing wrong with wanting the HA room IF no one NEEDS it. The point should not be that they have to book it before you do.

Thus, the note that can be applied to your reservation--you'd like to move to one of the HA balcony rooms IF no one needs it.

I totally agree with that. I think my question has really been misunderstood. I had no intentions of booking one. I just wanted to know how to go about getting one that's leftover. In fact, I have decided not to even put it on my ressie as a request. I'll just ask when I get to the port.

 

[kimb96]

I understand about feeling claustrophobic. I would too in an inside stateroom. Hence why I booked a category 5E with the bigger verandah. I can't do much about inside space outside of booking concierge or higher. I can get a bigger balcony and increase outdoor space. I am happy to have gotten a large balcony with room for two chairs, two small side tables and two loungers from looking at pictures. I think being able to go outside and move around a bit will help. You might look into a bigger balcony. It wasn't much more, less than $100 for me to go from cat 6a to 5E. I would book the minimum you think you can live with and not wait until port for a hopeful upgrade. The double porthole rooms look roomier by the way they are set up. Or try for a cat 5E with larger balcony. There are options besides a HA room which is probably going to be hard to get anyway. Also the 9D (I think) rooms with obstructed porthole views appear to have more floor space and might be something to consider as well.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

If there are more than two of you, why not book multiple staterooms (so that there's no more than 2 in a cabin)? With only two people in a cabin, it won't feel so crowded - if you combine that with a verandah, you should have more space to move around and just breathe.

For my mother, we need a HA cabin - no way around it. I won't lie, it bothers me when I read about people booking them for convenience. A HA cabin is the difference between her being able to cruise or not being able to cruise. Too many times we've had to be overly flexible or change our plans because an HA spaces were not available on cruise ships, hotels, theatres, etc - even finding appropriate washrooms can be difficult. When I think that sometimes it's because people who don't really need those facilaties are using them, it does make me upset .

 

[coloradodumbo]

Does DCL really require documents from your doctor stating that you need the HA stateroom? My parents and I are cruising with DCL for the 7th time in January. We are also bring my grandma 82 and two of my cousins. We have connecting concierge staterooms on the Fantasy one is HA. Part of our logic behind this is we don't want my grandma to try to step over a bathtub edge since she doesn't do that at home. But if we need to prove that we require the HA other than her age my mom and I are both legally disabled. Our rheumatologist will sign a note no problem, so I want to make sure that a note is in fact needed or not. I have talked to DCL on the phone when rearranging our stateroom assignments, they said that my grandma's age was enough. But as many of us know DCL doesn't always give the same answer to everybody.

 

[justmestace]

Does DCL really require documents from your doctor stating that you need the HA stateroom? My parents and I are cruising with DCL for the 7th time in January. We are also bring my grandma 82 and two of my cousins. We have connecting concierge staterooms on the Fantasy one is HA. Part of our logic behind this is we don't want my grandma to try to step over a bathtub edge since she doesn't do that at home. But if we need to prove that we require the HA other than her age my mom and I are both legally disabled. Our rheumatologist will sign a note no problem, so I want to make sure that a note is in fact needed or not. I have talked to DCL on the phone when rearranging our stateroom assignments, they said that my grandma's age was enough. But as many of us know DCL doesn't always give the same answer to everybody.

Here's what could happen....if you don't have the form "on file" with DCL, and someone comes along that DOES have the form, they could possibly move you (or whoever is in the HA room) to another room in the same category.
One of the worst mistakes DCL made was to put the HA rooms on the website for booking. It used to be that you had to call DCL to book an HA room, and also send in the form before "X" date...or you'd lose the room.
Now, since they're available online, anyone can book them, not turn in the form, and get away with it. And in the mean time, someone with needs can't cruise at all. Sorry....I digress.....I definitely would download the form from Disney's website, take it to a doctor, have them fill it out and sign it, and then fax it to DCL (or have your TA do it) so that you will be guaranteed to not lose the room.

 

[Piggeldy]

on the Magic and Wonder there are some rooms that have shower and tub. Not the norm by far, but there are some to be had. For instance 1 of the cat 6. staterooms have a tub. A great thing for those needs where a tub can be a must again.

Does anyone know which ones this would be? I always thought all stateroom had a tub. Desperately searching for a stateroom with "regular" shower that is not hc (unlike 6145/6645) and not a suite.

 

[justmestace]

Does anyone know which ones this would be? I always thought all stateroom had a tub. Desperately searching for a stateroom with "regular" shower that is not hc (unlike 6145/6645) and not a suite.

I know it's a typo, but I didn't want anyone to get confused.....

6154 and 6654 are both HA rooms, and they have a tub/shower combo on one side of the bathroom, toilet & sink in the middle, and a separate shower on the other side.

I don't think there are any STANDARD staterooms that do not have the tub/shower combo.

 

[Disney922]

Here's what could happen....if you don't have the form "on file" with DCL, and someone comes along that DOES have the form, they could possibly move you (or whoever is in the HA room) to another room in the same category.
One of the worst mistakes DCL made was to put the HA rooms on the website for booking. It used to be that you had to call DCL to book an HA room, and also send in the form before "X" date...or you'd lose the room.
Now, since they're available online, anyone can book them, not turn in the form, and get away with it. And in the mean time, someone with needs can't cruise at all. Sorry....I digress.....I definitely would download the form from Disney's website, take it to a doctor, have them fill it out and sign it, and then fax it to DCL (or have your TA do it) so that you will be guaranteed to not lose the room.

I am not sure about filling out forms or what not. But I will tell you my situation.

We booked VGT and IGT in March for our upcoming Fantasy cruise. IGT was for my MIL and GFIL who is 97 years old.

I booked directly through DCL. A few weeks later I called regarding a foldable wheelchair that we were bring on board. Becasue we were IGT we did not book stateroom, they asked me if I needed HA room, I told them that would be great if possible since he can walk(not long distances), but needs shower handles and not having a lip on the tub would be great. They advised that they would put it in as a REQUEST. She advised me that based on his age, it would most likely be granted.

Not two weeks later they were assigned there stateroom 2033 HA room.

We were not assigned our VGT until 12 days prior to our cruise.

Just thought I would share my experience regarding HA room. They never advised me that we needed any documents signed.

We sail this weekend, I will post back if there are any problems.

Thanks

 

[SnackyStacky]

Here's what could happen....if you don't have the form "on file" with DCL, and someone comes along that DOES have the form, they could possibly move you (or whoever is in the HA room) to another room in the same category.
One of the worst mistakes DCL made was to put the HA rooms on the website for booking. It used to be that you had to call DCL to book an HA room, and also send in the form before "X" date...or you'd lose the room.
Now, since they're available online, anyone can book them, not turn in the form, and get away with it. And in the mean time, someone with needs can't cruise at all. Sorry....I digress.....I definitely would download the form from Disney's website, take it to a doctor, have them fill it out and sign it, and then fax it to DCL (or have your TA do it) so that you will be guaranteed to not lose the room.

I believe that this has more to do with federal law than DCL.

I think the ADA was updated to indicate that HA rooms need to be able to be booked exactly the same way as other rooms. No more needing to call to get the space you need.

I understand the flip side - where anyone can book them. But then - anybody could have called in and requested them before, too.

 

[justmestace]

I believe that this has more to do with federal law than DCL.

I think the ADA was updated to indicate that HA rooms need to be able to be booked exactly the same way as other rooms. No more needing to call to get the space you need.

I understand the flip side - where anyone can book them. But then - anybody could have called in and requested them before, too.

Good point. I think though, that people are less likely to actually call and speak to someone and ask...especially if they know they don't really have needs...than to just click a button online.
But it makes sense if it's an ADA update.

 

[justmestace]

I am not sure about filling out forms or what not. But I will tell you my situation.

We booked VGT and IGT in March for our upcoming Fantasy cruise. IGT was for my MIL and GFIL who is 97 years old.

I booked directly through DCL. A few weeks later I called regarding a foldable wheelchair that we were bring on board. Becasue we were IGT we did not book stateroom, they asked me if I needed HA room, I told them that would be great if possible since he can walk(not long distances), but needs shower handles and not having a lip on the tub would be great. They advised that they would put it in as a REQUEST. She advised me that based on his age, it would most likely be granted.

Not two weeks later they were assigned there stateroom 2033 HA room.

We were not assigned our VGT until 12 days prior to our cruise.

Just thought I would share my experience regarding HA room. They never advised me that we needed any documents signed.

We sail this weekend, I will post back if there are any problems.

Thanks

I think you'll be fine. I've always taken along a copy of my signed form, just in case, but they have never asked to see it. But then, they've received one from me for every cruise that I've booked HA since my surgeries. I don't trust them to keep it "on file".

 

[Piggeldy]

6154 and 6654 are both HA rooms, and they have a tub/shower combo on one side of the bathroom, toilet & sink in the middle, and a separate shower on the other side.

I don't think there are any STANDARD staterooms that do not have the tub/shower combo.

Oups... yes, it indeed was. Thank you for pointing that out. Of course 6154 and 6654 ard the HA rooms.

I thought there were no standard staterooms without the tub/shower set up but when goofieslonglostsis said that there were some to be had... my hope rose that we wouldn't need a ha room. DH has mobility issues (CP) and while he does not use a wheelchair/scooter/walker he also won't be able to get into the stupid tub. Well, I could of course push him in head first, I just don't know how much he'd like that idea. We'd rather not book an accessible room and take it away from someone who "really" needs it for the extra space. The only feature we really need is "not a tub" (and not a mile long hike from the elevator to the cabin and no, he will not shower in the spa on a $$$ vacation neither is not showering at all an option - and yes, both has been advised on other boards) which appears to only be a problem on DCL

 

[coloradodumbo]

I thought legally under the ADA a cast member can not ask you what your disability is? Or does that only apply to people who have a service animal? I know that with service animals you can only ask if the animal is a service animal and what that animal is trained to do. You can't ask about the individuals disability.

I talked with DCL today about having to have a form signed by a doctor and the guy I talked to said that because of health care laws they can't require a doctor's note. Also he said that I don't have to fill out the special services form if I don't want to since it is such a generic form. He double checked our rooms for me also since we got a planning guide in the mail that had our old stateroom numbers. We still have our HA and connecting room.

How could DCL "bump" us from our HA room without checking with us first since we have our room assignments?

 

[Anjelica]

I am not sure about filling out forms or what not. But I will tell you my situation.

We booked VGT and IGT in March for our upcoming Fantasy cruise. IGT was for my MIL and GFIL who is 97 years old.

I booked directly through DCL. A few weeks later I called regarding a foldable wheelchair that we were bring on board. Becasue we were IGT we did not book stateroom, they asked me if I needed HA room, I told them that would be great if possible since he can walk(not long distances), but needs shower handles and not having a lip on the tub would be great. They advised that they would put it in as a REQUEST. She advised me that based on his age, it would most likely be granted.

Not two weeks later they were assigned there stateroom 2033 HA room.

We were not assigned our VGT until 12 days prior to our cruise.

Just thought I would share my experience regarding HA room. They never advised me that we needed any documents signed.

We sail this weekend, I will post back if there are any problems.

Thanks

This gives me hope that DCL holds back some HA rooms or shuffles folks who booked HA but didn't need it around. We have a cruise in October 2013 and my brother wishes to join us but he requires a HA room - they didn't have one when our travel agent talked to them but she is working with Disney to find one.

 

[kcashner]

Do you know exactly what Disney requires as documentation for a HA room? My mom may be going with us and she is not in a wheelchair, but does have health issues that give her a handicap parking tag for her car. I've always assumed that someone in your party must be using a wheelchair to book a HA room, but I don't know. I don't want to book it if I'm not supposed to.

There are people who don't need wheelchairs but need HA bathroom facilities (shower chair, walk in shower, grab bars, bars on toilet.) The issue is not whether or not one qualifies for a handicaped parking tag, but whether one needs the facilities of an HA room. In 2009, one needed a document signed by a physician to prove that the HA cabin was needed. Unfortunately, this practice has been discontinued, and it is now a matter of "honor." Anyone can say they need the room and get it.

No, there is not a requirement that one needs a wheelchair to have the cabin, but rather that one needs the adaptations in the cabin.

There are people who need a wheelchair to get around the big distances on the ship, but are fine in their cabin (don't need chair in cabin, don't need HA facilities in cabin). Again--probably should leave the cabin for someone who needs it.

There are people who don't get to cruise with their family because they can't get the cabin that they need. On other cruise dates, HA cabins go empty or are available for last minute upgrades as no one has booked them.

 

[disneydiva16]

I just booked a HA room for my mother on the Fantasy. She had a stroke 5 years ago and needs the walk in shower/grab bars/shower seat. It is difficult for her to get around, but she soooo wants to go on the cruise with her grandchildren
I asked the cast member if they needed a note from my mother's doctor stating her medical needs and she said no. I realize that a company can not ask you to prove your disability, but I certainly don't want her to get bumped from this cabin because she did not bring a note.
I did not see the form for the doctor to sign on their website. Can someone tell me exactly where it is. Thank you

 

[coloradodumbo]

I just booked a HA room for my mother on the Fantasy. She had a stroke 5 years ago and needs the walk in shower/grab bars/shower seat. It is difficult for her to get around, but she soooo wants to go on the cruise with her grandchildren
I asked the cast member if they needed a note from my mother's doctor stating her medical needs and she said no. I realize that a company can not ask you to prove your disability, but I certainly don't want her to get bumped from this cabin because she did not bring a note.
I did not see the form for the doctor to sign on their website. Can someone tell me exactly where it is. Thank you

If you are that worried about having a note just have her doctor write a letter stating her needs in concern to the walk in shower with grab bars and seat. We also have a handicap room for January on the Fantasy we have three legally disabled people in our group, my mom and I are both legally disabled even though on good days we don't look it, and my grandma is going to be 82. I am not worrying about a letter, we will have a handicap placard in our luggage with us from the rental car so if it comes down to some sort of proof (I highly doubt they will question us, I made it perfectly clear to the concierge and DCL reservation people about our needs) we can always show them the placard. What was interesting for us since we just hit our 120 day mark was when we called concierge to ask a question about our cabana they asked us if we rather have cabana 1 the handicap accessible one. We declined but I thought thy waited till right before the cruise to assign that cabana.

 

[weswife]

Hello,
We booked room 8588 b/c DD 19 uses a wheelchair full time. We also booked room 8586 for older DD 24. DCL did not ask for any "proof" byt we def. need HC room. From what I read room 8588 is great! I hope its a great choice for our family. We are a family of 6. I do hope we are granted this room. I noticed the original post quoted romm 8588 being great!

Happy cruising everyone! This is our 1st cruise!

 

[lilouisianagal]

OP- To answer the question that it sounds like you were originally asking.... we cruised last May (Dream) and ended up in a HA inside room (didn't need it, didn't ask for it). We booked the trip two or three weeks out from sail date and didn't book a specific room (whatever the "room to be assigned later" category is, that's what we were in). It is a roomier layout from what I've seen of the other inside rooms. On the downside there is no tub and the doors are a bit of a pain if you don't need them to open/shut on their own. I don't know that you could request it, but you could certainly ask a CM or voice a preference. For comparison though, we had a room with ocean view when we cruised on the Wonder and I felt like that was just as spacious, except right by the door. I would definitely pick an outside room with a view/verandah over an inside HA room if you can do it. Hope this helps!