hoist, rollin shower and lock-offs

[Ali and boyz]

sitting here near to tears. we came back in July after having a wonderful time at SSR. we had 2 bedroom lock-off which we shared with my parents. the hoist wouldn't fit under the beds so we had to put our DS into the sofabed which was fine as the rollin shower was in the 1 bedroom part and he got privacy getting up (he can't move at all so it takes time to do all the things with him) as my parents were in the studio part and they could make their own breakfast and cup of coffee etc without us having to worry about them not getting access to the kitchen.

but here is my problem phoned Member services to book and they wouldn't allow us to book cash nights + points for an assessable lock-off only. so I said I would call her back after talking it over with my husband. we decided to book using borrowed points so I phoned back only to be told now you can't book any accessable lock-offs I told her we had one this year but didn't make a difference she said I must like last year book a dedicated. Well I never. I have went and booked but sitting here worrying myself sick as I now no longer know how to get round my son using the sofabed but at the same time him getting his privacy with it being a dedicated.

does anyone use a hoist that fits under the beds as this we even help.

 

[SueM in MN]

but here is my problem phoned Member services to book and they wouldn't allow us to book cash nights + points for an assessable lock-off only. so I said I would call her back after talking it over with my husband. we decided to book using borrowed points so I phoned back only to be told now you can't book any accessable lock-offs

A couple of things.
One is that there may not have been any cash nights available for when you are going. DVC owns 4% (I think it's 4%, whatever number, it's fairly small) They use those points to keep a certain number of units available for renovation/repairs and they can rent out the points they are not using.
So, it's possible they may not have had any points available to rent out.

Another possibility is that the accessible lock-offs have already been reserved for that time period by other guests.

The last possibility is that they decided to make lock offs be a request and you can't reserve one.

I guess the best thing would be to call back and see what they have to say; be real pleasant and ask to speak to a manager if you need to. Keep the message as you need the lock off to meet your son's needs for accomidation.
DVC used to do their own special needs reservations, but last time we went, they contact Special Reservations (they talked to them, we didn't). You might be able to contact Special Reservations yourself (the number is in the disABILITIES FAQs thread). CRO (the Disney reservation system) is on a different system than the DVC (or at least they used to be). If they still are on a different computer system, I'm not sure if Special Reservations can "see" the DVC reservations or not.

For the lift question, I don't know your son's needs and I'm not sure if there was no space at all under the bed, or the space was just not high enough for the hoist. If you could let us know, someone might have a better idea for you. Also, did you bring your own lift, or rent one?
Here's a suggestions that might not work at all:
CindyLift

 

[Ali and boyz]

thanks Sue. what confused me more than anything was that in the space of 10 minutes the 'rules' had changed from yes you can use points for an accessable lock-off to no you can't EVER !! plus I am booking for next July 11 months out so would have though from the points scenario they would have had plenty .

I emailed the people we hire the equipment off and told him the problems and he emailed me back to say he can supply blocks to lift the bed to enable the hoist legs to go under the bed so releaved. that takes some of the pressure off. I also emailed our guide to ask what is the 'rules' regarding lock-offs and fully assessable rooms so that I know where I stand when booking and can say well actualy you can and be presistant in a nice way.

 

[cquick]

What hoist do you use? How big is it? We have recently bought a "foldup" hoist to use at home, but I can't imagine how we could take it with us on the plane. so far, we haven't needed it.

 

[Ali and boyz]

What hoist do you use? How big is it? We have recently bought a "foldup" hoist to use at home, but I can't imagine how we could take it with us on the plane. so far, we haven't needed it.

unsure Connie . we have a molift one here at home and also a tracking hoist. like you it just would be to much hassle taking it on the plane even though it folds up like a golf trolley. we hire one over there and I emailed the guy and he emailed me right back and he is going to give us bed blocks ro raise the bed so the hoist can get under.

another panic over

 

[LindsayDunn228]

What on earth is a lock-off? An adjoining room, maybe?

 

[SueM in MN]

What on earth is a lock-off? An adjoining room, maybe?

I can explain (although it still is kind of confusing, so I may not be able to explain it very well).

For all the Disney Vacation Club resorts, there are 3 sizes of rooms:
Studios (which have a kitchenette)
1 bedrooms, which have a kitchen and a living room area (with a sleeper sofa)
2 bedrooms, which is the same space as a 1 bedroom plus a studio
Some resorts also have Grand Villas, with 3 bedrooms, kitchen, living room

Some of the 2 bedrooms are "dedicated" units - they can only be used as a 2 bedroom unit. The space is the same as a one bedroom and a studio combined, but there is only one door to get into the unit and the studio space doesn't have a kitchenette.
Some of the 2 bedroom units are "lock-offs" because the unit has a connecting door (like connecting rooms have) that can be locked off and both the studio part and the 1 bedroom part have doors that open to the outside. The studio has a kitchenette. With the connecting door locked, they can be rented as a studio to one party and as a one bedroom to another party. The "lock-offs" can also be left open so the whole thing can be rented to the same party as a 2 bedroom unit.

The OP liked the 2 bedroom lock off because her son who is disabled slept on the sleeper sofa in the living room. Her parents stayed in the portion that could have been rented out as a studio. That meant they had a door to the outside and could come and go without going thru the living room. They also had a kitchenette, so they could make coffee or a light breakfast in the morning without disturbing the son who was sleeping in the living room.

 

[Ali and boyz]

gold star SueM well explained

 

[SueM in MN]

gold star SueM well explained

Well, if I couldn't explain it, they might take my DVC card back.
We have been DVC members since 1992 or 93, and over the years, we hve stayed in almost every combination at every resort (although the only GV we've stayed in was at OKW).

 

[Ali and boyz]

thanks Sue

once we have been a few times and travelled more with DS I will not get so paniced. If someone had said to us 4 year ago you will manage to get him to America we would have been "don't think so" so we are getting there and we have achieved "America" but there is always something extra to panic about. i.e. his wheelchair seat for travelling and now there is threads starting about us in the UK having to get visa's if they do away with the waiver forms for us all and it would mean an 18hr drive round trip for us up here to get to London.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Thanks Sue. I couldn't quite figure that one out

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks Sue. I couldn't quite figure that one out

You're welcome.
It's not easy even for people who are DVC members to understand.