How do I secure a handicapped GV at OKW? UPDATE post 16

[maryisme]

Hi,

I currently have a GV at OKW booked for 5 nights in August. Since making my ressie my Mom has fallen and broken her hip. She will still be traveling with us but will still need the aid of her walker. Steps are a huge problem for her.

Is there any sure way of confirming a handicapped room? Thank you.

Mary

 

[Liljam]

I'm sorry to hear that your mom fell. I hope she recovers quickly.

To answer your question - Call MS and tell them that your first request is for the HCA room. Explain the situation. Arrive as early as possible before check in. That way you can request one early in the AM go have brunch and make your way back to your room once it is ready. They tell you that requests aren't guaranteed and I've read different things on how rooms are assigned. Good luck!

 

[JimC]

My experience is that they are quite good at assigning HA rooms to those who have a need. As suggested a call to MS to explain your needs is the best way to proceed.

 

[DebbieB]

I believe handicapped rooms can be actually reserved. Call member services to see if one is available for your dates. According to Doc's summary, there are 2 handicapped GV's plus one non-handicapped in building 63, which has an elevator.

 

[maryisme]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've called members services and OKW directly several times. Each time I call, I get someone different and a diffrent response .

They do seem very willing to make this as comfortable for my mom as possible but my request is just that a request. We will be coming directly from our 4 day cruise so we will be able to check in early. Hopefully, that will do the trick.

Thanks again.

Mary

 

[BroganMc]

Call Member Services back now and tell them you need an HA Grand Villa. Have them talk to Special Needs so they can block out the villa for you. Only Special Needs can block out rooms for medical reasons. Once your room is blocked it becomes a guarantee (written on your mailed confirmation) and the room can not be changed by the Front Desk (giving it to another guest at check-in).

Make sure your HA room is the first request and triple check that it is reserved for you. If you don't do this then you run the risk of them not having the few HA rooms available (because someone else blocked it first) and them accommodating you by moving you to another resort (probably SSR) or changing your GV to a couple 2-bedrooms.

I have to have an HA room to stay at any resort. With Disney, I've gotten used to this process. I simply tell MS what I need, they put me on hold to check with Special Needs, then reserve the room.

 

[rigsby25]

Make sure your HA room is the first request and triple check that it is reserved for you. If you don't do this then you run the risk of them not having the few HA rooms available (because someone else blocked it first) and them accommodating you by moving you to another resort (probably SSR) or changing your GV to a couple 2-bedrooms.

Not kidding. This happened to us. My DSIL is completely wheelchair bound. 3 days before our trip, they called and said they had double booked OKW and they moved us to SSR. We were so disappointed, but what could we do? So I have never stayed in the OKW GV.

 

[RobDoc]

While you may be able to get a HCA GV by a simple request, there are only two at OKW and I would urge you to go thru Special Needs (accessed thru MS) to reserve one of those villas as BroganMc suggested. There are only 3 accessible GVs at OKW. ONe is a ground floor HCA in building 48 and the other two have an elevator to get guests to the main floor of the villa (which is on the 2nd floor). One of those is HCA. None will have HCA for the 2nd and 3rd BRs. Only the masterbedroom is accessible in any of the GVs.

All of the GVs at SSR have elevator access - even the 2nd floor bedrooms have elevator access.

Otherwise it is just luck of the draw. The HCA villas are reservable for medical reasons and this should qualify. I would call today to take of this.

Good luck!

 

[BCV23]

Are there first floor GVs that are not HCA? Perhaps that is the type unit that fits Mary's mom best?

If she doesn't need the accessible features of the room but rather access without steps, I don't know that Special Services would get involved.

If she does need a rollin shower than I agree with Brogan and Doc. But even with a blocked room, I would double check as your trip nears. In May, we were supposed to have a blocked 2BR at BCV. We didn't. Luckily there was still one available and we were switched. I've seen references to a new system at the front desks and I think something is broken right now. Somehow the blocked rooms are no longer blocked. I hope this is fixed quickly.

Rigsby, what a shame.

 

[Nanajo1]

Medical Requests for first floor are usually met at OKW EXCEPT for GVs. If you need first floor or no stairs access this must be reserved by special needs. I posted my sad tale two years ago when I found out on arrival that my medical request for first floor GV had been bumped by special needs. As previously mentioned if you need a BR other than the Master to be accessible explain this to the Special needs dept. The GV I eventually got the MB was the only accessible BR. The other two BRs were upstairs.
Good luck, have a great trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

Are there first floor GVs that are not HCA? Perhaps that is the type unit that fits Mary's mom best?

Not at OKW. The only first floor GV at OKW is in building 48 and it is a handicapped accessible unit.

While you may be able to get a HCA GV by a simple request, there are only two at OKW and I would urge you to go thru Special Needs (accessed thru MS) to reserve one of those villas as BroganMc suggested. There are only 3 accessible GVs at OKW. ONe is a ground floor HCA in building 48 and the other two have an elevator to get guests to the main floor of the villa (which is on the 2nd floor). One of those is HCA. None will have HCA for the 2nd and 3rd BRs. Only the masterbedroom is accessible in any of the GVs.

Make sure when you call back that they know you need a Handicapped Accessible GV, not that you need first floor access. If you say you need first floor or 'no steps' access, they will put it as a medical request. That is usually enough for a studio or a 2 bedroom because there are a lot of them on the first floor. That is a gamble for a GV at OKW, where there are only 3 possible GVs that meet that request.
Handicapped Accessible is a guarantee that can be blocked and reserved.
First floor is a request that can be filled if no one blocks and reserves it, or requests it on checkin before you arrive.
When you make your reservation (or change it), the CM will check with Special Reservations to make sure there actually is a handicapped accessible GV available for the time you need.

 

[maryisme]

Wow, thanks for the heads up! With the info you all gave me, I will hopefully be able to get what my Mom needs. She definitely cannot do stairs.

I'll give them a call tomorrow morning as you all suggested, this time I'll know exactly what to say and who to speak with. I should have come here first, as this board always knows exactly what the deal is.

Thanks again!

Mary

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, the master bath is accessible, but the other 'downstairs' bathroom is not. Your mother might still be able to manage using the other bathroom with a walker, but the only roll in shower and raised seat toilet are in the master bathroom.

 

[BroganMc]

As to that, keep in mind that a broken hip is a significant disability. Now by August she may be mobile enough to manage a few small steps, but most of the time broken hips make everything difficult. That includes getting up from regular height commodes, stepping in/out of wet showers, and climbing in/out of beds.

Unlike a broken arm, knee or foot, the hip is used when standing, walking, sitting and lying down. My worst flare ups with arthritis are in the hip. (A flare up feels like a cross between a sprain and break.) It pretty much incapacitates me in everything I do, including sleep.

You'll want the most accessibility for your mom as possible. Otherwise she'll be struggling to enjoy herself. Also I hope you'll be renting a wheelchair or scooter for her. I can't the imagine the torture of trying to walk the parks or resorts with a bum hip and walker.

 

[maryisme]

As to that, keep in mind that a broken hip is a significant disability. Now by August she may be mobile enough to manage a few small steps, but most of the time broken hips make everything difficult. That includes getting up from regular height commodes, stepping in/out of wet showers, and climbing in/out of beds.
QUOTE]

My goodness, I don't know how I forgot about the commode and the beds...yikes!

I am her primary care giver so it really is inconceivable that I forgot the other issues involved. I was concentrating on the steps and everything else flew out of my mind. I guess I viewed the steps as our biggest hurdle. Thank you for the wake up call! I feel I very closely averted a disaster.

My Mom won't be doing the parks, she enjoys walking around the resort and just enjoying the Grand Villa. We usually take turns hanging out and enjoying a quiet day with her.

Thanks again!

Mary

 

[maryisme]

Just got off the phone with member services and I was able to secure a HA grand villa. Member services knew exactly what to do when I requested "special needs". Thank you all again.

What I don't understand is why they didn't just connect me to "special needs" 7 weeks ago when I initially called.

Anyway, all is good and many thanks.

Mary

 

[Nanajo1]

Two years ago when I had my fiasco I wrote to Carli D'agostino (Member Rep) asking how was I to know that special needs should have been involved. In the past the medical request for first floor rooms was met without a problem. It is when a GV is involved because there are so few accessible GV available.
She told me that booking CMs would be better trained to know when they should contact special needs. I'm sad that some CMs still don't get it.