Handicapped room

[yourtravelpro]

Has anyone stayed on a handicapped room that wasn't handicapped. I see that a couple of these rooms are in regular inventory to book and I know that they are larger but Disney can not give me the dimensions.

If anyone has any info on these it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[eek40]

Originally posted by yourtravelpro
Has anyone stayed on a handicapped room that wasn't handicapped. I see that a couple of these rooms are in regular inventory to book and I know that they are larger but Disney can not give me the dimensions.

If anyone has any info on these it would be greatly appreciated.

Well I was handicapped when I used the room. But they are HUGE. I was in 6654. The verhanda is about a block long! And the room itself is massive. I would say 4 times the size of a normal room.
Aimee

 

[yourtravelpro]

Thank you! Did you feel a lot of movement in the back of the ship. Would more midship be better?

 

[ElaineMc]

Disney has handicapped rooms in their inventory to book but do save these rooms for people who are actually handicapped. I think once it gets closer to the actual sail date and if these rooms have not been booked that they make them available to non-handicapped persons. I once knew someone who told the cruise line she was booking with that she had a heart condition so she could get the larger room (not on Disney) and they gave it to her. I couldn't imagine doing that just to get a larger stateroom and would hope that it is not a common practice.

 

[yourtravelpro]

As far as I know you have to have a dr's note to book a handicapped room if you need it.

I am sailing soon and a handicapped room has become avail for everyone. I am wondering if I should change to this room since I know it is larger. It is however in the aft and I am wondering how much motion I would actually feel.

 

[ElaineMc]

I have only cruised once and that was foward and I most certainly did feel the motion. We were also up on deck 8 which I understand that the higher up you are the more motion you feel. I've read quite a few comments on this board from people who love the aft location. Where is your cabin located now and is it necessary to change to a larger cabin due to someone being handicapped or did DCL just offer you the larger cabin? The only drawback from what I've read and some may not consider it a drawback is that you can hear the engine more in the aft location.

 

[mariamard]

we had a form mailed to us from dcl that we had to bring to the dr to fill out then fax back to dcl. my mother in law is an amputee who uses an ecv for mobility and needs the roll-in shower. i imagine if there is no one booking the handicap rooms by sailing, they can go to regular cruisers. they are huge roons compared to the standard size. hope this helps

 

[eek40]

I think that yes the movement is more felt in the aft, but it didnt bother me at all. The thing that did bother me was the engine noise, its very loud during docking and it woke me up several times. I would recomend earplugs.

 

[polkadotladybug]

Yes, DCL requires you to get a doctor's verification for the handicapped room. My sister has Multiple Sclerosis and she had to get a doctor's note to maintain the handicapped category 11 room reservation that we had in April. With that being said, once we arrived at the port with her in a wheelchair (she is not always in one, but was feeling weak that day) and me shlepping all the luggage for her, my 6 year old and myself - a wonderful woman "in charge" at the port looked at our room assignment and said - hang on - let me see if I can do better - she came back with a new room assignment - We had been upgraded to a non-handicapped category 5 room with a veranda! It was smaller size-wise than the cat. 11 (I popped my head in there to compare) - but we gladly took her up on her cat. 5 offer!

 

[Debbie1967]

I would love to take my mother with us on a Disney Cruise. She can only walk a few steps on her own with the use of her walker. She needs her powerchair to get around. Does Disney allow powerchairs on the ship? Are the showers in the handicap rooms the walk in type where you don't need to step up to get in? I remember reading somewhere that Disney has sand wheelchairs for Castaway Cay, but what about the tram that takes people to the beach itself. Are they like the ones at the parks? She can not step up high enough to get on them. Is there any place on the ship were she would have a problem getting around if she could bring her power chair?

Thank you for any information you can give me.

Debbie from FL






Please don't park in a handicap parking space if you really don't need to.

 

[yourtravelpro]

Our room right now is 6555 the handicapped room avail to anyone now is 6147. Have to make a decision soon or it will be gone.

Thanks.

 

[pjpoohbear]

When are you sailing? This could tell us how far in advance they release the Handicap rooms.

My mother requires the larger bath room without the tub, so it would be interesting to know the lastest we should leave booking until!

Penny

 

[yourtravelpro]

I'm sailing on 12/04 and they released the handicapped rooms today.

 

[mcguirls]

Yes, Disney does allow the motorized carts on board the ship; however, just like in the parks, people are EXTREMELY rude and constantly "cut in front" so it is very, very stressful trying to get anywhere... as long as you take your time, and breathe deeply to control the desire to "floor it" and deliberately crash into the person , you'll be fine. Also, the elevators are incredibly small and, again, rude people make the experience unpleasant by basically laying/pushing on the cart so they have room.. hello... truly unbelievable experience the first time--after that, you sadly get used to people with absolutely no manners.

I would suggest booking a handicapped room to allow room for storing the cart as we had a "regular" cabin one time that required my mom to park the cart in the hall. Noting "rude people" once again, we were constantly surprised how many people let their children climb on the cart as their own personal playground... sometimes to the point we'd open the cabin door, stare at them for literally about a minute before they finally wised up.. and almost no one would ever apologize---they would actually look at us with frowns like we were intruding on their personal family "fun" experience... some people are truly clueless!

You may also want to consider renting a cart from a company in Florida. We've found over the years that it's easier to have a company deliver a cart to the hotel (we do land/sea packages) and they'll pick it up at the port at the end of the trip---although it adds a few hundred to the price of the trip, it's easier than dealing with the airport as the cart has to be broken down into pieces for easier transport by the airline, and gets really roughed up on the flights.

Also, if you plan to rent in the parks, make sure you get there EARLY. Magic Kingdom only has a certain number of carts, and often runs out (found this out the hard way twice!)... and if you leave during the day, there's no guarantee one will be available when you return at night... and if the cart is left unattended, they will "confiscate it".... these fun experiences led to rental for the entire trip from private companies...

Not to sound totally negative---Disney does do very well at the bus system---they are always quick "uploads" with the carts, and I'm grateful they offer the service!!

All in all, carts make it possible for a great experience for handicapped people... but it would be great if public service announcements were made to the general population to be kind to the physically challenged and be respectful of people on carts!

 

[Cruisin]

I don't mean to be disrespectful to people in wheelchairs and motorized carts, but I find that a lot of these people are disrespectful to us walkers.
Some seem to think because they have a cart they are automically entitled to have the right of way in every situation.
I try to be polite and make way for carts and wheelchairs but sometimes it is not possible and I don't appreciate being sworn at by the operators of these vehicles.
And before you say I am being rude and pushy, I am usually several steps behind the rest of my family because I tend to give way to people and therefore become separated from the rest of my own group!

 

[Debbie1967]

Thank you “Mcguirls” for your helpful suggestions, but my mom is unable to operator the scooter-carts that Disney rents. I called DCL and asked if she could bring her powerchair. They said that she could, but she could not take it on the tram at Castaway Cay. They said that she could drive it the gift shop where she could exchange it for a sand wheelchair and they are on first come basics. They weren’t sure if she could do the Bridge Tour. I’ve been to the Disney’s parks at least 150 plus times. (I have a lot of handicap helpful tips if you would like them) We have experience the unsupervised children problem (they play with the buttons and climb on her chair while she’s in the RR or eating) My mother’s disables are very visible and I have to said that we had never experience any rude people at Disney. (Only once at Sea World) Actually we’ve found that strangers have gone out of their way to help with opening doors and even in the parking lot I had a stranger who helped me unload her chair.

“Cruisin’Kroezes” I too have experience those type of people like this co-worker who has no disables at all except of being overweight and lazy. She brags that her and her family rents the Disney’s scooters so that they don’t have to walk and that they skip people who are waiting in line. Disney doesn’t scream people or require a doctor’s note to rent their wheelchairs or scooters. For this reason sometimes you will experience my co-worker type. But, notice for those people who are indeed in need for wheelchairs, scooters, and powerchairs are very humble and don’t expect special treatment.

“Yourtravelpro” when you get back I would like to hear your review on the room.

Thank you,
Debbie from FL


P.S. I live about an hour and 15 minutes south of Cape Canaveral it's cold and windy today 48 degrees at 8:00 a.m. My pool (unheated) water temp. reads 65 degrees