Handicap Studio at OKW

[Figaro]

Got back last week from OKW where we stayed in a ground floor handicapped accessible studio. The room was very nice, but I have to admit that I was surprised that the fridge was not in the kitchenette but instead next to the bed that was next to the patio.

This wasn't a problem for me (I use a wheelchair) because I wasn't traveling alone, but the location the fridge was in wasn't possible for me to use from a wheelchair. Being able to make the turn around the bed would have meant that the table and chairs had to be moved and even then the turning radius would be tight. Plus once I got next to the bed in front of the fridge I wouldn't have been able to open the door because my feet/leg rests would have been in the way.

Also, all I could reach in the kitchenette was the shelf the microwave was on and the the very front part of the shelf above that. The top shelf was totally out of reach from the wheelchair.

But the bathroom was perfect and I loved the fact that there was enough of a lip around the edge of the roll-in shower that the entire bathroom floor didn't get soaked. I wish they did this in all of the roll-in showers in the other resorts, as it certainly made things much easier. I did miss not having a whole lot of shelf space in the bathroom, but solved that by using the luggage rack and the portable ironing board and sliding them partially under the sink. That way I could still reach everything but it wasn't in the way of the chair.

We had a great time and while I loved the resort, my spouse said that he still prefers the Boardwalk because he just likes it better.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Glad you enjoyed your stay. Which studio were you in? The only HA studio I know of is #2316. I don't remember the location of the refrigerator, but it did have a very nice view.

 

[CarolA]

FIGARO,
I have gotten handicapped studios twice at OKW and there appears to be two floor plans. One has the frig where your's was and the other is where it is on the normal floor plan. I decided the difference was that one was an older building (maybe a retrofit).

Since I am not in a wheelchair or handicapped I did not notice the issue with the frig, but I think you should bring it to Disney's attention!

 

[mitros]

Yikes, we stayed in that room a couple of weeks ago! Did you notice the stains/chips/ in the tiles under the sink? That fridge next to the bed was a little much. We requested a ground floor room because of a problem one member has with stairs, but we did not request a handicapped room. I just hope there was not a member in a wheelchair looking for a room like this one. Glad it worked out for you, having someone with you. I still can't get over that fridge next to the bed! We also thought that this room would be difficult for someone in a wheelchair to move around in.

 

[Figaro]

Simba's Mom, we were in 3410 which is the first building on the left when you turn onto Old Turtle Pond Road. The patio was nice and if I could have seen over the bushes/trees planted around it(smile) there was a water view and on the other side of the water was part of the golf course. The room was on the far right end of the building (from the parking lot) and I don't think there was a Grand Villa over us, as the resort was full and our room was still very quiet.

CarolA, I didn't bother to say anything about the location of the fridge because the resort seemed pretty full and since I wasn't traveling alone it wasn't a problem. I just didn't really understand the rationale for putting a fridge next to a bed instead of in the kitchenette(smile).

Our room was clean and there was no mold or mildew anywhere that we saw. Some people who stayed previously had tossed beer cans and some other garbage into the bushes next to our patio. We called housekeeping and it was gone the next day. But not before my spouse found an expensive brand golf ball sitting in the chair on the patio. Considering how far we were from the golf course, it must have been one heck of a drive!

 

[CarolA]

Figaro,
Years ago my Grandparents owned a condo in HH right on the Golf Couse where they play a major tournament. It was very expensive to play there (even then it was about $100 plus cart fees) I thought for that much money only GOOD golfers would play there, but....

 

[Melynny]

We were in a Handicapped unit for 2 nights over thanksgiving. We did not request one, but were lucky enough to get one . I was very unhappy with the fridge put over by the bed...it was very tight getting by the table and chairs and I stubbed my toe several times.. you'd think I'd learn! Not to mention the noise of the fridge right next to my head all night. I was also very unhappy with the cleanliness of the shower. The additional hand held shower head was filthy and covered with mold, as was the flexible water line going to it. I called when we checked out and told them about the mold, and that they may want to make sure it was cleaned properly when the room was next cleaned. All I got was "uhhh ok" as a reply. We were in room 4216, I think. Our veiw was also of shrubbrey.