Mousekeeping and room requst Question

[JEWLSVERN]

I have read over on the WDW planning board about tipping mousekeeping. If I remember correctly mousekeeping is different in DVC rooms. We traded our points through RCI for our first visit. We are staying in a 2 bd at OKW. Can anyone tell me how often they come and what is customary to tip?

Also we requested a wheelchair accessible room as my mom will be using an ECV. What are my chances of getting this and is there any building I should also request? We would like to be close to the pool, food area, and bus.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Do you need a handicap accessible room or just one that the ECV can be brought into? I'm assuming since it's an ECV and not a wheelchair that your mother can and will walk around the rooms. If that is the case then you should request a first floor room or building with elevator due to medical reason. OKW only has 3 buildings that have elevators and any other buildings you would have to be on the first floor.

If it's a fully handicap accessible room that you need then you need to have MS call special needs to reserve that type of room for you if it is available. Those units will typically have a roll-in shower, higher toilets and bars around to assist a person.

 

[CarolMN]

Do you need a handicap accessible room or just one that the ECV can be brought into? I'm assuming since it's an ECV and not a wheelchair that your mother can and will walk around the rooms. If that is the case then you should request a first floor room or building with elevator due to medical reason. OKW only has 3 buildings that have elevators and any other buildings you would have to be on the first floor.

If it's a fully handicap accessible room that you need then you need to have MS call special needs to reserve that type of room for you if it is available. Those units will typically have a roll-in shower, higher toilets and bars around to assist a person.

I thought I read that you need to use stairs to access even the first floor rooms unless you are in one of the elevator buildings.

I think the OP should call MS and make sure the room they get will work for his/her party.

 

[Chuck S]

I thought I read that you need to use stairs to access even the first floor rooms unless you are in one of the elevator buildings.

I think the OP should call MS and make sure the room they get will work for his/her party.

There are no stairs for first floor rooms at OKW.

The confusion may come from the First Floor HA Grand Villa. While the entrance to the GV is on the first floor and is accessible, there are stairs to access the 2nd floor bedrooms.

As far as housekeeping, for a stay of 7 nights or less, as is normally the case for an RCI exchange, you will receive trash and towel service on day 4 of your stay. They will replace the towels and take out the trash, that is all. While many DVCers do tip housekeeping (I leave a tip), offiically it is considered a non-tipped position...so leave whatever you are comfortable with for the limited service.

 

[SueM in MN]

There are no stairs for first floor rooms at OKW.

The confusion may come from the First Floor HA Grand Villa. While the entrance to the GV is on the first floor and is accessible, their are stairs to access the 2nd floor bedrooms.

As far as housekeeping, for a stay of 7 nights or less, as is normally the case for an RCI exchange, you will receive trash and towel service on day 4 of your stay. They will replace the towels and take out the trash, that is all. While many DVCers do tip housekeeping (I leave a tip), offiically it is considered a non-tipped position...so leave whatever you are comfortable with for the limited service.

Exactly - first floor studios, one and two bedroom units do not have any steps - all flat to get in. So, if you are requesting an accessible room just to get in, you would not have a problem with any first floor room.

If she needs a roll in shower, then you need an accessible room, which does have to be arranged thru Special Services (whoever made your reservation thru RCI should do that for you).

If she does not need a roll in shower, I agree with the advice to make a request for a first floor room for medical reasons (make sure they know it is for medical reasons). The accessible and 'regular' OKW rooms are essentailly laid out the same except for the bathroom. You won't need an accessible room to get the ECV into the room or have some place to park it.
Even without making any request, you still have nearly a 50:50 chance of getting a first floor room.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a roll in shower from an OKW Master bathroom:

This is the shower in a non-accessible OKW Master bath. There is a small step up to get into the shower. Note the grab bars by the toilet. NOTE: some rooms are mirror images of others, which is why one of these pictures shows the opposite arrangement.

This picture from allearsnet shows the step into the shower better:

This a studio bathroom (or 2nd bathroom of a 2 bedroom) with roll in shower:

This is the non-accessible studio bathroom. You can see the corner the tub with a fairly low side; at least the first floor units have grab bars for the tub.

This picture shows the side of the tub a little better:

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have read over on the WDW planning board about tipping mousekeeping. If I remember correctly mousekeeping is different in DVC rooms. We traded our points through RCI for our first visit. We are staying in a 2 bd at OKW. Can anyone tell me how often they come and what is customary to tip?....

If you are staying eight nights or more, you will get a full cleaning on day four (day one is check-in day). Then on day eight, you will get your towels replaced and trash removed, plus supplies replenished. If you stay seven nights or less, you get your trash removed and towels replaced on day four.

Housekeeping is a non-tipped position (their compensation does not require tips to be included), so unless they do something special for you, you really don't need to tip them. We usually strip the beds and put all the towels in a central location on the day we check out to make it easier for the housekeepers.