Handicapped Rooms? What's the big deal?

[st92jmdc]

We haven't stayed at a Handicapped room yet.

Why do so many people not like them?

Can someone list the reasons why we wouldn't want one?

 

[Scoootch]

I haven't stayed in one personnally, but I think alot of people don't like them because they have just a roll-in shower and no bathtub. Not a big deal for some but for other's like myself, I wouldn't want to not have a bathtub because I have 2 small kids who I'd need to bathe and they're not ready for using a shower Other than that, since I haven't stayed in a h/c room, I wouldn't know the differences.

HTH's

 

[crisi]

The one bedrooms still have a bathtub. They do, however have a roll in shower, which is sort of tricky to use without getting the floor wet.

I think the beds and toilets are both higher. We didn't have barstools in our unit. The shower has a handheld attachment. In the studio, less counter space in the bathroom. In the kitchen, lower counters (including the stove, meaning people with small kids should pull burners when staying in a hc unit) and no under sink cupboard. Lower lightswitches.

We didn't think it was a big deal.

 

[Nanajo1]

The biggest problem for folks is the HA studio. It does not have a tub but only a roll in shower. The larger villas do have the big tub. I stayed in a 1BR HA. The storage area in the kitchen is less and there was no garbage disposal. The bathroom with the roll in shower had less storage than a non HA bath. I was surprised that the entry door was so heavy and was not power assisted. I also found the toilet higher than I liked. But the railings were very helpful.
I would not request an HA room but if I got one again it wouldn't ruin my stay.

 

[jarestel]

It all boils down to personal preference. Some people that request non-smoking can be perfectly happy in a smoking-optional room. Others would find it totally unacceptable. I don't care for HA rooms and feel that due to the shower and bathroom layout, it represents a downgrade in accomodations for me. Others have no problems with these issues and are happy campers if they get an HA room. As I said, it all boils down to personal preference

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Not a big deal if it's a short trip or if you don't have little kids.

Definitely need a bath tub for the kids.

We were in a HA OKV GV last January. There was a roll in shower in the master bath but it was definitely no big deal since we still had the big jacuzzi - not to mention the other 2 baths upstairs(which I wouldn't have treked up to anyways).

But I did notice the lack of storage space in the master bath as well as the kitchen which was annoying but not a big enough deal to request a move.

 

[TW1]

As someone with quite a few close friends in wheelchairs due to significant disabilities, may I suggest you request NOT to have one.

Let MS know you prefer to not have one unless its truly the last room available.

Please leave them available for the folks who need them.

Thanks,

...almost doing the single digit dance....

 

[all4fun]

TW1

Just wondering why would they put someone who did not specifically request an HA room in an HA if it wasn' t the last available room? That just doesn't make sense to me, since there are a limited number of them one would think they would keep them available if possible for people who DO request them.

We did end up staying in an HA room (at an off-site resort) during out last stay even though we requested non-HA. They did not have anything else available at the time. It wasn't a really big deal, but I would prefer to not have to stay in one again, if I can help it, so we did request non-HA for our next trip to WDW (BWV this time - Yay!), just in case.

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

TW1: My understanding from reading these boards frequently is that Disney has many HA rooms and generally have these rooms left over all the time. Therefore, when the resorts are at near or full capacity, non HA customers are put in these HA rooms unless they make a specific request not to get them. Whew

My kids are older so, for me, a non-smoking room is top priority. Also, we won't get to try a studio any time soon unless it's just me and hubby

Lisa

 

[travelbug]

Besides the factors that others have listed, the bathroom in a HC studio has the sink/vanity in the same room with the shower and toilet. Sorta inconvenient, though obviously not earth-shattering.

I have been assigned a HC studio 3 times, and for 2 of those times I had indeed requested NOT to have a HC room. Twice I was able to change rooms right away, which made me wonder why I was assigned a HC room when others were available. On my last trip, I was traveling solo and the HC room at BWV was in an awesome location. So I decided to go ahead and give it a try. It worked out just great! I'd gladly take that room again.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Also, in the HA bathroom, there is no edge/counter around the sink. DH ended up having to put all his shaving stuff on the floor. Also, there was no closet, except this little tiny area around the TV armoire. In the kitchen, the microwave was on the counter, making the already small amount of counter space even smaller. Yes, we've gotten a HA room (without being told in advance) when it wasn't the last room available. And yes, we've also been given smoking optional rooms when we requested non-smoking, and don't object to that nearly as much.

 

[crisi]

Simba's Mom,

Was your HA room a studio? We had a one bedroom (BWV) and had more than enough counter space in the bathroom.

Our HA room was certainly not the last room available - we checked in at 1:00. And it was smoking as well - our only request had been non-smoking. But it didn't smell like smoke so we didn't mind.

I'm afraid the front desk clerk did it to us on purpose. I told him it was our first DVC trip. He spent a lot of time dinking around with the computer. I said something about check in seeming very complicated - his reply was "I'm moving you around." I'm guessing he stuck us with the HA room, figuring on our first trip we wouldn't complain. I didn't - I'm not predisposed to complain about something like that.

 

[JimC]

H/C accessible rooms are designed to accommodate someone in a wheelchair. Others have posted the many small design features that make a significant difference to those who need it.

I suspect that those who find it objectionable do so primarily because of the roll in shower and the issue of getting the floor wet. There is a trick to using one and containing the water. It is critical that the floor be installed with the proper grade or there is very little one can do.

We have stayed in them. No big deal for us. Someday we may need one and its nice to know that we will be able to return home if that day comes.

 

[barbarabee]

I have to say that in addition to it being a roll-in shower, the HA room that we got stuck in also has a big plastic fold up seat thingy that takes up quite a bit of room, and the one where we were wouldn't stay folded up, so I kept running into it. Ick...

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by crisi
Simba's Mom,

Was your HA room a studio? We had a one bedroom (BWV) and had more than enough counter space in the bathroom.

Yes, it was a studio. And that's why putting the microwave down on the counter (which I can understand the need to do) really cut in to the kitchen counter space. It seems they didn't tell us or you that we were getting HA. Shouldn't they at least do that? At regular resorts, twice I've gotten HA rooms, but was always asked beforehand id that was OK. It was the not being told, sort of like it was "slipped by", that really upset me.

 

[crisi]

The microwave was on the counter in the one bedroom as well. But since we weren't cooking much, it was easy enough to work around.

They slipped it by us as well. And I do think that, as was posted one of the last times this came up, CM attitude makes all the difference....

Walking in unexpected to a HC accessible room - particularly if you are predispossed to finding it unacceptable - doesn't make for a great first impression. Having the desk clerk say "I currently have a room for you, its HA, will that be ok?" or "The only room I have available is HA, you'll be in room XXXX" allows you to make peace with the idea while walking down the hall.

 

[DVCTiff]

Originally posted by crisi

I think the beds and toilets are both higher. [/B]

I think the beds in the OKW studios are actually LOWER. I was reading a thread about how high the OKW beds were and that was certainly not the case in our studios. Those lower beds have been called "SHIN KICKERS" and that's no joke. We were definitely bruised by the end of our stay.

Another note: I had specifically asked for non-handicapped room and got one anyway. I had tried to change from a first-floor room (not knowing yet that it was handicapped AND in a building that the UG says to avoid) to a higher room and there was no way. He just said "There's nothing." I have no way of knowing whether or not he did all he could do.

When all was said and done, the room wasn't that bad. We had nothing to compare it to and certainly wouldn't have let it ruin our vacation. One good point is that the refrigerator was HUGE. I just keep telling myself that one day I'll get off the first floor (I'm two for two).

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by crisi

Walking in unexpected to a HC accessible room - particularly if you are predispossed to finding it unacceptable - doesn't make for a great first impression. Having the desk clerk say "I currently have a room for you, its HA, will that be ok?" or "The only room I have available is HA, you'll be in room XXXX" allows you to make peace with the idea while walking down the hall.

I agree completely! Before we had this one "slipped by", I had gotten a HA room twice. Both times I was told at the front desk, once "if you want upper floor, the only one I have is a HA room on the second floor next to the elevator" and once "I have a king bed room if you'd like, but it's HA if you choose to take it". That time I hadn't requested a king bed, I was solo, and the thought of all that extra room to stretch out was so appealing. In both cases, I was perfectly happy with the HA room. But this time, when the front desk CM didn't say anything left a different impression.

 

[jennypenny]

Yes, a lot of items are actually LOWER. My husband and I are tall--some regular things aren't high enough--so having them lower can be really annoying. I usually don't care on a short trip, but for a longer one I definitely request non-HA now. I remember a long weekend in HH we had one. I had brought a couple of dresses to wear out to dinner and the bottoms were lying on the floor of the closet because the bar was lower. And we have kids so the bathtub thing can be an issue also.

Now my grandma (who was 5' on a good day) would have loved the HA rooms
Jenny

 

[Pa@okw95]

The big attraction for me is the shower in regular rooms. The HA I would fight to the death not to get, security would have to come to take me away, trust me. There should be a rule that they not give these out to people who do not ask for them.