How Common is it to get a Handicapped Accessible Room?

[idratherbeinwdw]

I am curious how widespread the "I Got a Handicapped Accessible Room Even Though I Didn't Request One" Phenomenon is. I'm also curious if it happens all of the time, or if it's skewed towards happening at historically crowded DVC times. I don't go during times that are crowded for the parks, but I have been to DVC during F&W and F&G. I never got a HA room.

 

[CarolMN]

I've never gotten one, but we usually stay in 1 or 2 bedrooms. Only stayed in a studio once and had a dedicated /studio plus unit that time.

Maybe your chances are greater if you stay in studios or ask for ground floor. I usually request upper floor.

I don't know how many HA rooms there are, but I believe it is a very small percentage of the total. Since I don't travel with small children, I never worry about getting one. It would be a minor inconvenience for us.

Best wishes -

 

[MdmMim]

In the past year, I've been assigned 3 HA rooms. The only request I made for each ressie was N/S. It works out OK for me, as I'm usually solo, and I'm not tall, so the lower shelves are fine. I actually prefer the walk-in shower. One thing I did not like was the lack of any space on the bathroom vanity at the BC (studio). These trips were in Sept., Oct. and Dec.

 

[Chuck S]

While HA rooms aren't our "first choice" for accomodations, I have no big "problem" with them, either. During our nearly 30 stays at OKW over the years, we've been assigned HA rooms about 4 times. We've taken a smoking room (by choice) once, since it was ready at 8am when we arrived for check-in and we didn't want to wait.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

We had a 2 bed lock off at SSR for 14 nights last September. We were given a HA room. We asked at check in if we could have a different room but they said it was not possible. It was the kitchen that was most different in the one bed with everything being low and accessible and it was hard for us because we were travelling with a toddler. After about 5 days of near disasters in the kitchen we were moved to another room. We much preferred the regular room as there was more storage.

The one bed bathroom was standard but the studio portion was a little different as it had a free standing sink inside the bathroom (no cupboards at all) rather than the sink outside the bathroom with a surface around it. No roll in tub though.The cupboard lay out was odd too, a closet right next to the bed where it was hard to get to.

This 2 bed lock off was on the 3rd or 4th floor which I thought was odd. How would a wheelchair user get downstairs in the event of an emergency? (No lifts to be used in emergencies I assume)

While our DD is young we will request Non HA in future.

Edited to add: this was our first and only DVC trip to date.

Mandy

 

[CarolA]

I think it would be better if you could see it as percent of reservations the poster made. However, I have NO idea how many times I have stayed at DVC. I got a HA room once on a late reservation at Spring Break and one other time when it wasn't busy. Didn't bother me.

 

[Simba's Mom]

It's pretty common to me-in 9 stays, we've gotten one 3 times, once in June, once in May, and once in January. In none of those times was I told at the front desk that it was Handicapped. On the latest trip, the front desk just ignored my question-when I asked, "Is it handicapped accessible?", she answered by saying "It's got a wonderful view". And once, as soon as we saw it was handicapped and called to be moved, the front desk said, "Well, of course, you'll have to pay the $25 room change fee if you move" After this latest event, I Emailed DVC to complain and they just said I should have asked for the manager (it WAS the front desk manager who insisted I'd have to pay just because I wouldn't accept a HA room). And we always ask for upper floor, too.

 

[DebbieB]

I've had 12 DVC stays and never got one. Never got a smoking room either. All in 1 bedrooms except one 2 bedroom. My trips were in early March (1), late April (1), May (5), early December (5).

 

[DBBN]

In 33 trips 28 of them at OKW we've been assigned a HA room exactly once. It was a 1 bedroom at OKW and although I can't remember exactly when it happened I would guess it was during our March 2002 trip.

At check-in, I specifically remember aking if the assigned room was HA...the cast member answered no. We noticed otherwise as soon as we entered the villa. We returned to the front desk and approached the cast member who checked us in and asked for another room explaining our findings. He stated that the computer system didn't list it as HA then promptly found us another room. He never mentioned the room change fee and it never appeared on our bill at check-out.

If assigned a HA room again we'll ask for something else but if nothing is available we'll keep it for the length of our vacation...I'd rather keep the room than move mid stay.

 

[SueM in MN]

The total number of wheelchair accessible rooms is less than 4% of the total number of rooms in the resorts.
I don't have time right now to search for more specific info, but that's what I remember of what the ADA requires.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

We were assigned a HA GV at OKW in July '03. I believe the main reason we were assigned one was because our top request (other than NS) was to be close to the HH. We were given the GV closest to the HH.

One category you forgot was for HH or VB. When staying at HH in a 1br or studio, you have a much higher likelihood of getting an HA room because almost all of them are located in the lodge and that is were all the HA rooms are located.

 

[ATCMickey]

We were assigned one at OKW for a September trip (had not made a specific request not to have one).

Subsequently we began to request not to have one and on a BCV trip got one in spite of our request (an October trip). At checkin at BCV I had asked specifically if it was a HA room and was told no. Arrived at the room only to find out that it was. Gathered up all our suitcases, went back to front desk, and thankfully was re-assigned a different room. Maybe my perception was off, but BCV seemed very "un-crowded" that week and we were left wondering why we were ever put into that situation in the first place. Now I've began making a note of the name of the person that checks us in at the front desk because inevitably when we return we get the "who told you that" question. Not the end of the world but when you've just come off a 5 hour flight and a 2 hour commute, the last thing you want to do is lug all your bags back up to the front desk.

ATCMickey

 

[Tink03477]

At check-in, I specifically remember aking if the assigned room was HA...the cast member answered no. We noticed otherwise as soon as we entered the villa. We returned to the front desk and approached the cast member who checked us in and asked for another room explaining our findings. He stated that the computer system didn't list it as HA then promptly found us another room. He never mentioned the room change fee and it never appeared on our bill at check-out.

The same thing happened to me at BCV. Well, except when I asked, she didn't even answer me. Just handed me the room keys. When I saw that it was HA, went back to the desk and got another room. I was not charged an additional fee. The first CM wasn't at the desk then. It was on the 4th floor too. I don't like the HA rooms and would rather wait for a regular room.
Kim

 

[MDonley]

We were assigned one once at OKW. We were more concerned that we'd have headlights and noise from the busses turning around by our studio at the time. The room was nice and we didn't complain ... I guess that, in those days, we just figured that you accepted the room as it was assigned and looked at it as being the greatest thing since you were at WDW and you were "home". I sure have learned a lot since reading these boards though! Even now, we've never complained about location or ask to be moved. Although our last trip to VB, we did request that they come and spray the room for us ... does that count?

 

[jmminarik]

We've only gotten one HA DVC room, a studio at VWL for a long weekend trip in September. Other than shower pressure being a bit lame, we'd no problems with the room. We were happy to be able to get away for an unscheduled holiday and didn't realize we were supposed to be annoyed by the HA aspects of the room.

-Joe

 

[jarestel]

I don't think it's as common as one would think from reading these boards, but it can happen. We've only had an HA room twice in 20 stays, so I guess that works out to 10% of the time for us. ( and both times the CMs were kind enough to move us ).

jmminarik:

One of the points many of us always try to make on these boards is that we are certainly not obligated to accept any other member's idea of comfort when staying at DVC. DOn't worry about what someone else likes or doesn't like. You're the boss of your vacation!

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

I guess my first attempt at a poll was not exactly a rip roaring success. There are too many variables, as some of you pointed out, especially number of trips. Maybe I should just do a poll that asks people who have been to a DVC resort 10 times or more to answer, it might give us something more definitive to go on.

But thanks for all the posts and the input. From what I've read on this thread and others, it seems pretty obvious that the earlier you check in the more likely your requests will be met and less likely you'll be to get a HA room.

I agree with the sentiment that it's simply not fair to book 11 months out and not get your request(s) because someone that booked a month ago arrived earlier in the day than you did. But some people want to get into their accomodations ASAP, and consequently they are often willing to forgo their requests if it means earlier check in. I'm not sure what the answer is, clearly whatever system is used will make someone unhappy.

I am one who would be willing to wait for a room as long as it met my requests. Naturally I'd PREFER it to be ready early (I usually arrive about 12PM), but if it's not, as someone else posted I just check my bags and go to a park or take a walk. Never had a problem, even with perishables (always were stored in the fridge and returned to me cold). If the majority of DVC'er's feel this way and make our voices heard perhaps they will preassign rooms by when the ressie was made. I plan to write MS and make my feelings known.

I'm not so sure I want to give Home Advantage regardless of when the ressie was made, as some have said. Once the 7 month window opens up I think it should still go by when the ressie was made. After all if one calls to check availability in general and there are only 10 ressies available at the 7 month window they are not held over for those that own at that property. I don't see why room choices and requests should be any different.

 

[pumpkinboy]

I did get one, a HA 2BR Std View at BWV last Veterans' Day. Of course, the resort was fully booked and there was reason for them to book us into a HA room, as my son is wheelchair-bound. Of course since DS does not use his arms so all the low level stuff for wheelchair bound folks on thier own was useless to us, and the shower only in the studio portion was actually dangerous for us, since a slippery naked boy on a parnet's lap is much harder to bathe than one in a bathtub. But they were full, and the location turned out to be very convenient (two doors from the actual Boardwalk, no elevator waiting). That was, however, the only time we have had HA units.

 

[smjj]

If you ask at checkin if the room assigned to you is HA and they say no and it turns out to be HA, can they still charge you the $25.00? I mean you ask up front and they told you no. There have been several posts indicating the CM stated a room was not HA and it turned out to be HA, I was just wondering..smjj

 

[GCM13]

We got one at OKW (one bedroom) when we stayed there the 3rd week of August '01.