Interesting info about new OKW slide...

[KNWVIKING]

..... since OLD Key West is starting to ressemble a blue hair retirement park, that they build a zero entry pool.
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Note to the humor impaired: I'm joking.

 

[lenshanem]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=645725

OK, I went and posted. I'll be curious to see how long the Poly and GF were closed for their pool rehabs.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by lenshanem
Seems every pool they have rehabbed now they have added the zero depth, though. Seems like a style they are after, such as at AKL and SSR, which both have beautiful pools, despite the small size of SSR.

FWIW, the pools at the new Pop Century are not a zero depth. At least the main pool and the bowling pool. I did not look at the third pool.

 

[goldilocks_63]

and was told by the CM there that he didn't think there would be a zero entry pool.

I asked what about Handicapp accessible issues then? and was told by the CM that he thought they would be putting in a bump thing for people in wheelchairs.

He described it as you roll up your wheelchair, and then can bump down into the water.

He said that they wouldn't be putting in the chair kind like SSR.

Hope this helps, Goldi

Oh, he said that they weren't changing the big pool, ie the shape, but are going to refinish the inside of it (put another coating of something to reseal it).

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Nanajo1
Sue, I was thinking the same thing. A zero entry pool doesn't help me. I have big time balance problems and I need water well over my waist to keep me upright. The zero entry would be great for small children though. I believe there is a ramp or bump down steps at the Turtle Pond pool.

The zero entry pool doesn't really help anyone with disabilities that I can think of unless, once they get in, the water is at least waist high.
As I mentioned earlier, the zero entry pool at SSR is only 3 feet deep. I don't know about the other WDW zero entry pools.
To make a zero entry that goes to a deeper depth would require a pretty long ramp - 1 foot of ramp for each inch you go down. That's probably one of the reasons why the pool at SSR is only 3 feet deep.
There is a bump step at Turtle Pond pool.
They do have bump steps at the new pools and the ones that were recently renovated. They are only useful for people with disabilities who have pretty good balance while sitting who can use their arms to "bump" their butt down the steps.
Basically, it's a set of steps that starts out at wheelchair or chair height. There is space next to it to park a wheelchiar. The person transfers from their wheelchair to the top step and then "bumps" down the steps one by one on their butt. There are handrails to help with getting up and down.

 

[rinkwide]

Seems every pool they have rehabbed now they have added the zero depth, though. Seems like a style they are after, such as at AKL and SSR, which both have beautiful pools...

Don't forget the Poly and GF pools were also done in this style as well.

I hope they do add it. It's an enjoyable feature for many, especially families with small children.

 

[tigger2on]

I have a severely disabled daughter who needs to be transferred into the pool by carrying her. She is unable to sit unassited and there fore, can't use the bump steps. However it is really hard for us to carry her up and downstairs and she is only 7.5 yrs old.
She would rather swim all day in the pools than do the parks or see Mickey. Again the zero entry pool has some pluses for us... she can take a few steps supported by us and is is safer on our backs. But she likes to swim in deeper water... and float around which is also easier on the person swimming with her.

I wish Disney had a hoist at each pool.... or one you could request.... or a ramp built right into the pool instead of zero-entry. We just were at SAB and we liked the pool but used the stairs to get in and out.

Oh well... guess we'll swim as long as we can I guess!!!! )

 

[kathleena]

"but there is something that looks like it might be a zero entry area on the picture Doc posted at the bottom of the right side of the drawing"

I think that looks like a walkway/bridge if you are refering to the reddish brown slide on the side. Isn't there a bridge there now with the dolphins in the background? I don' thave a good picture in my mind, but that's what I'm thinking.....

 

[TwingleMum]

We really enjoyed the zero entry pools during our last visit. It would be nice if OKW had one.

 

[KBFinFan]

As an aside-

When is this construction supposed to happen? I'd like to use the new pool/slide possibly Jan 1 to Jan 7 2005.

Thanks as always

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by KBFinFan
When is this construction supposed to happen? I'd like to use the new pool/slide possibly Jan 1 to Jan 7 2005.

It is happening now. The pool is supposed to reopen by the end of this year. So if it stays on schedule (no more hurricanes), you should be okay.

HBC

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by kathleena
"but there is something that looks like it might be a zero entry area on the picture Doc posted at the bottom of the right side of the drawing"

I think that looks like a walkway/bridge if you are refering to the reddish brown slide on the side. Isn't there a bridge there now with the dolphins in the background? I don' thave a good picture in my mind, but that's what I'm thinking.....

You might be right. I trhought there was something familiar about that area. That might be what it is.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by kathleena
"but there is something that looks like it might be a zero entry area on the picture Doc posted at the bottom of the right side of the drawing"

I think that looks like a walkway/bridge if you are refering to the reddish brown slide on the side. Isn't there a bridge there now with the dolphins in the background? I don' thave a good picture in my mind, but that's what I'm thinking.....

The reddish-brown area is the coping around the pool currently. There is also a wooden bridge (Boardwalk ) around a portion of the pool. I really can't see that a zero-entry area will be added- especially in the time proposed for completion.

<img width="400"src="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/files/DVC_OKW_009.jpg">
<img width="400"src="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/files/DVC_OKW_010.jpg">

 

[roadtripper]

re: the new OKW slide--
from the rendering Doc posted, it looks as though the slide has stairs going to the top. Does anyone know how they avoided the ADA requirement of accessibility?

We were at VWL this past August, and our 7 yr old son, who uses a w/c, was thrilled that he could be brought up the ramp to the top of the slide, and with his inner tube, slide down by himself. It was the highlight of our trip.

I was hoping for a similar experience at OKW this April, but it looks like stairs to me...anyone know for sure?

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by twocjsmom
I just got off the phone with member services to book our trip in May, and as I was putting in a last minute request (and I know requests are only requests) for the villa to be near the main pool, the CM (Stan I think his name was) told me that not only will there be the new slide, but that they are redesigning the entire main pool, including adding a zero entry area. I had thought that the construction was to just add the slide in, not a total redesign (not that I'm complaining). Has anyone heard anything like this?

This is a great rumor. In another thread I was hoping for more "0" entry pools. Glad SSR has one.

 

[lenshanem]

Just back. Each day we saw workers busy. Couldn't see anything, but a pile of dirt near the pool from the road across the river. Otherwise, all around is boarded up. The workers are taking up plenty of parking at and near HH.