Help with choosing resort for parents

[JungleMansion]

My parents have surprised us by asking to go to Disney for a week to see the Christmas decorations. We have asked them to join us at WDW for 20 years & after a year of serious health problems for my mom, my Dad decided he really wants to do this trip for her with their grandaughters. I was lucky to get two rms for a week at WL but they looked at our photos of the BWI from Aug. & thought the rooms were so pretty. So, now I am thinking of splitting the stay, 3nts each resort. I convinced my mom she will need to use a wheel chair, she really can't walk far & she agreed but I think she is sad about it, doesn't want to slow us down, which she won't the best part of the trip is having them with us. I have split stays before so that will be the easy part. My question is which other resort to choose. The BWI, BC or GF. I was thinking Epcot resort first as we will be at WL at the end of the trip, any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.Does any one of the hotels have more rooms for disabilities, she has trouble getting in & out of the bathtub. I just want her to feel as comfortable as possible & this site has really given me alot of tips already. MY DH can't get away for another week so my daughters & I will be helping her with the wheelchair.

 

[s&k'smom]

It sounds like you are going to have a wonderful trip. I've never stayed at an Epcot resort but have scene the Travel Channel show on the Beach Club and it looks wonderful. One suggestion that I use that may help you is that when you call ask for a first floor room. I know at WL we always stay on the first floor and it is very close to everything. It's the same level as the pool area, coffee shop, laundry etc. I know CRO will say they can't guarantee but I've never had that problem. PS the travel channel is running a bunch of shows on Disney resorts this month. I'm sorry I can't think of the thread with the times but I'm sure if you buzz on over to the resort boards they can help.

 

[travelitis]

Why don't you show her pictures and let her pick? Otherwise, my choice would be GF. I can't imagine she wouldn't be struck by it, and you'd get to try a different place (or have you already stayed there?). Every Disney hotel is equipped to accomodate guests with special needs. I tour in an ECV, and I would think the GF would be very convenient.

Pushing a wheelchair all day is very tiring. Have you considered suggesting she rent an ECV? I much prefer driving an ECV to riding in a wheelchair. When you're in a chair you have to ask someone else to push you where you want to go and stop, etc. It's nice to have some control so you don't feel like you're inconveniencing someone else. It's harder to carry on a conversation with someone behind you than beside you, too. I found myself constantly having to repeat myself and trying to turn around in my seat so my dh could hear me. If I'm in an ECV and want to stop and take a picture, I can. If I see a cute store window, I can go to it without my dh roaring by then having to backtrack.

 

[SueM in MN]

Since you are staying at the WL for sure, I'd suggest your other resort be one of the Epcot ones. We stayed at VWL last March for 3 days. It's quite convenient to MK, but Ecpot and the Studio are a long ride on the bus. If you stayed at BW or BC, you could go to MK while you are at WL and save your trips to the other parks for when you will be in the Epcot resort.
The resorts have several types of handicapped accessible rooms: handicapped accessible rooms with tubs and toilets with grab bars; and fully wheelchair accessible rooms with roll in showers that a bath chair can roll right into. If you need more information about what is availble, you could call WDW RESORTS/SPECIAL RESERVATIONS
(407) 939-7807 [voice]
(407) 939-7670 [TTY]

Also, since it doesn't sound like she has her own wheelchair, you might want to look into renting one (or an ecv) from one of the local medical equipment companies. Here are the ones that DIS posters have reported renting from:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

 

[JungleMansion]

Thank you so much for your suggestions, I finished our plans this morning & we will be at the BWI for 3 nights & the WL for 3 nts.The first part of the week we will be at Epcot & MGM mostly & then the MK when we are at the WL. The special reservations CM requested a roll-in shower room for my parents with a connecting room for us at the WL. This will be wonderful for my mom. Do you have any idea where this would be at the WL? It is a woodlands view. I did get a PS for the GF tea as she will love it there too. So, I just need to call to rent a wheelchair off property as I think she will be more comfortable with it if we use it at the Boardwalk a little before the crowded parks & won't have to wait in line to get one for her. I just need to get in shape quickly to push her but it's worth every minute.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you have a roll in shower, you may also want to get a shower chair. The roll in showers are basically a big tiled area with a shower curtain. They sort of assume that the person using them will be in a shower chair.

 

[JungleMansion]

Where can I get a shower chair, possibly where we rent the wheel chair? My mom had an accident years ago & has a screw in her ankle & should have had another surgery a long time ago, it is always swollen & hurts after walking short distances. So we are very concerned if she loses her balance or steps down on the foot the wrong way, it could give out on her. But she has other health concerns more pressing so says she can live with her ankle pain. I'm so grateful for the disabilities board as already I feel her trip will be alot more comfortable as I research everyone's suggestions. Thanks again.

 

[SueM in MN]

You could call the place you are renting the wheelchair. If it's Care or Walker, those are full service medical rental places and would have anything you might needs.
You might also want to call WDW RESORTS/SPECIAL RESERVATIONS
(407) 939-7807 [voice]
(407) 939-7670 [TTY]
for more information about the roll in shower. Most that I have seen don't have any sort of fold out seat, but the one you are getting might or it might be that there are grab bars that would be enough for her to be secure.

 

[Talking Hands]

All the roll in showers I have seen at Disney have pull down benches so you don't need to get a shower seat. Check wqith the resort about this.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

JungleMansion'

Your choice of Bordwalk Inn could not be better. I have stayed in a wheelchair room with roll in shower many times. The First Floor room is no real advantage at BWI, as reception is on the second floor, and except when you visit the quiet pool, you will have to ride up one floor, change elevators and ride down again. First floor rooms are dark with no view. If you can get it try for the roll-in room on the fourth floor, as you can see most of the epcot illuminations from your balcony. Fifth floor has the best view, but that room has a bath, not roll in shower.

The shower has a seat, but you need to make a sliding transfer. from a wheelchair. You can rent commode style wheelchairs from Walkers that will be good for both shower and toilet. Houskeeping also have booster rings for the toilet available on request.

I go along with the view that you should rent an off-site ECV - pushing a chair all day will eventually become tiresome.

BWI is ideally located for the Chrismas lights at Epcot, and the Osborne lights at MGM.

Have a great time.

 

[SueM in MN]

I guess I didn't notice the seat since it's not much help with DD anyway. Hope you get what you need.