Just booked OKW any tips for DN?

[kaffinito]

Hi all,

Just booked an OKW 1 bedroom and requested ground floor for medical reasons. Are there any other tips or suggestions I need to know in order to make this a smooth and magical trip? DN has CP and we'll be bringing his wheelchair stroller with us and we'll have a car. Do I need to contact special services?

I haven't been to WDW with him yet, and am somewhat apprehensive that I'll forget something.


TIA!
Karen

 

[jmkjr72]

i dont know how easy it is to get him in and out of the shower but you could always ask for a handicap room
we did this the year our family friend that was in a wheel chair came down
it was nice as the doors on the first floor of the grand villa seemd a bit larger
we did have to change our dates around a bit to get the handicap grand vila i would imagine they would have more of the 1 and 2 bedrooms that are handicap

 

[kaffinito]

Thanks for the tip! He doesn't shower though, only baths and he got really excited when he saw the picture of the jacuzzi tub. He spends most of this time standing though - he doesn't like to sit so I thought I'd try showers at WDW at the pool area if I can't get him to try one at home. This way he could try it out in his bathing suit and I can see if he likes it or not.

 

[hematite153]

If he doesn't shower and needs to have a bath, then, I'd make sure this information is noted. They have wheelchair accessible rooms with tubs and others with showers, but, if it matters which you need, then you'll need to have it booked.

I think that you need to get DVC to call Special Services to make sure that an appropriate room is blocked for you, but, I'm not completely certain about this.

 

[Chuck S]

At OKW all one bedroom and larger units, HA or not, have both a jacuzzi tub and a shower in the master bath. The difference is whether of not it is a roll-in shower or a standard shower stall.

 

[kaffinito]

OK that's good to know!

I think I'll work on the shower thing at home, with bathing suits and call it rain. Then maybe I can get him to take showers instead of baths. He's very tall for his age and quite heavy so I don't know how much I'll be able to lift him in and out of a tub, and that tub at OKW looks quite deep.

Does anyone have any dining recommendations? He'll eat almost anything and doesn't have any food allergies. Is there a place to eat that your kids liked?

 

[Chuck S]

There was a design change during OKW construction. If your nephew is able to use the restroom without your help, you may want to be in bldg 30 or higher, as there are two entrances to the bathroom...one through the master bedroom and one through the laundry room.

Bldgs 29 and lower have bathroom access through the master bedroom only.

 

[kaffinito]

There was a design change during OKW construction. If your nephew is able to use the restroom without your help, you may want to be in bldg 30 or higher, as there are two entrances to the bathroom...one through the master bedroom and one through the laundry room.

Bldgs 29 and lower have bathroom access through the master bedroom only.

Thanks!

 

[livndisney]

OK that's good to know!

I think I'll work on the shower thing at home, with bathing suits and call it rain. Then maybe I can get him to take showers instead of baths. He's very tall for his age and quite heavy so I don't know how much I'll be able to lift him in and out of a tub, and that tub at OKW looks quite deep.

Does anyone have any dining recommendations? He'll eat almost anything and doesn't have any food allergies. Is there a place to eat that your kids liked?

For dining-does he have any fave characters? We have had success at Chef Mickeys.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just echoing what Chuck wrote. We have also been DVC members since 1992 with OKW as our home resort.
For the things you want, ground floor for Medical reasons, you don't need to contact Special Reservations. There are many ground floor units, so getting one is not much of a problem anyway.

The jacuzzi is very deep and is exactly the same in the accessible units with roll in showers as in the non-accessible one and 2 bedroom units. To be honest, we have never tried putting DD in the jacuzzi because it looked like it would be too hard to get her out. And, she is a tiny thing - 5 feet tall and 85 pounds.

All the doors on the OKW units are the same size, no bigger on the wheelchair accessible units.

Not sure if you know about the boat from OKW to DD, but it is a very nice ride and is wheelchair accessible. I have some pictures of the boat - if you follow the link in my signature to the disABILITEIS FAQs thread and look in post 3, there is a link to my photo album.

 

[Twende]

If you can not get the ground floor a few of the building have an elevator but most do not.

We had a 1 bedroom with the two entrances to the bathroom. We really like that set up.
My mom is in a wheel chair much of the time and we had no problem getting around the suite with it.

 

[kaffinito]

For dining-does he have any fave characters? We have had success at Chef Mickeys.

That's a good idea - is it better to do breakfast or another meal?

Just echoing what Chuck wrote. We have also been DVC members since 1992 with OKW as our home resort.
For the things you want, ground floor for Medical reasons, you don't need to contact Special Reservations. There are many ground floor units, so getting one is not much of a problem anyway.

The jacuzzi is very deep and is exactly the same in the accessible units with roll in showers as in the non-accessible one and 2 bedroom units. To be honest, we have never tried putting DD in the jacuzzi because it looked like it would be too hard to get her out. And, she is a tiny thing - 5 feet tall and 85 pounds.

All the doors on the OKW units are the same size, no bigger on the wheelchair accessible units.

Not sure if you know about the boat from OKW to DD, but it is a very nice ride and is wheelchair accessible. I have some pictures of the boat - if you follow the link in my signature to the disABILITEIS FAQs thread and look in post 3, there is a link to my photo album.

Thanks Sue - that's all good information to know! I am concerned about the jacuzzi tub - DN is very heavy, and can't do stairs. I can't think of how I'll get him in and out of the thing unless I go in with him.

If you can not get the ground floor a few of the building have an elevator but most do not.

We had a 1 bedroom with the two entrances to the bathroom. We really like that set up.
My mom is in a wheel chair much of the time and we had no problem getting around the suite with it.

That's good to know too. I thought about the 2 bathroom entrance villas, but then I'd have to worry more about DN. He's very good at opening doors, and since he can walk he likes to open doors and leave. But with the other two boys, I'd rather have them go through the other bathroom entrance than walking through the master bedroom all the time. I'll have to figure the whole bathroom thing out.

 

[Twende]

......



That's good to know too. I thought about the 2 bathroom entrance villas, but then I'd have to worry more about DN. He's very good at opening doors, and since he can walk he likes to open doors and leave. But with the other two boys, I'd rather have them go through the other bathroom entrance than walking through the master bedroom all the time. I'll have to figure the whole bathroom thing out.

If you are talking about DN leaving the suite, well we have that problem too. Right now I can get by with putting a sting of noisy bells on the exterior door knobs but I may have to look into an actual door alarm for future trips.

We have also learned to never get a first floor villa, as my parent opens the patio or what would be the balcony door and just walks away. When we are not on ground floor the distance to the ground so far has discouraged her from escaping.

 

[kaffinito]

If you are talking about DN leaving the suite, well we have that problem too. Right now I can get by with putting a sting of noisy bells on the exterior door knobs but I may have to look into an actual door alarm for future trips.

We have also learned to never get a first floor villa, as my parent opens the patio or what would be the balcony door and just walks away. When we are not on ground floor the distance to the ground so far has discouraged her from escaping.

I think I'm going to bring the bells myself. I changed resorts BTW - we're at Poly now. I figured that with the transportation and the ability to see the fireworks from the beach it would be better than trying to take him into the park for them at first.

At Poly I can lock the front door and put DS9 in front of the patio door, which should work! ( I hope....)