No accessible roll in shower rooms/AKL concierge

[dclfun]

Well, I'm both shocked and disappointed. We bought AKL Villas points specifically so we could get the early booking advantage to book concierge. I diligently booked our Memorial week trip right at 11 months out and my kids were so looking forward to our stay there. We've stayed concierge before and done the safari so they know what to expect. I left an email for MS yesterday and they were quite prompt in a response but it wasn't what I expected. I was told that there are NO roll in shower rooms at this level and was left with no alternative either. Gosh, I'm sorry I'm disabled and need this type room but what's up with not providing those kind of accomodations at every level of room type? Is this even legal? I'm so upset right now and although I will call MS when I get a chance on my day's off work I know I will be bursting into tears over this one. I'm not sure what to say to my kids and even if something else DVC is available at this point in time or if we'll just have to cancel our vacation. ---Kathy

 

[bobbiwoz]

This thread says that there are HA rooms in AKV concierge:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=22976369#post22976369

Perhaps you are late in making that request in your reservation. I hope you can get what you need.

Bobbi

 

[bwvBound]

We stayed last week in 6202, the same unit described by 'LIFERBABE' in the thread linked above. It was a 1BR Concierge HA unit -- and very certainly had a roll in shower.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Did you make the request for HA when you made the 11 month ressie? Usually the earlier the better, and most with a HA need are sent to a special booking when they mention that fact at the time the reservation is made. I'm surprised the MS agent who made your booking at 11 months didn't send you there. This must be a case of those new CM's at MS not knowing all the ropes. I would call back and see what they can do.

 

[BCV23]

We were able to book an accessible 2 BR club level at AKV for a May stay. However, the CM made it a point to let me know that the rollin shower would be in the master bathroom.

A concierge CM posted that there are actually 2 accessible 1 BRs in AKV on the 6th floor. He didn't specify whether the second was a tub or rollin though.

Oh, did you book a studio? Perhaps that's the issue.

But did you request accessible when you booked? I always do that immediately when our daughter will be with us as those rooms do go fast in my experience.

Good luck with everything, Kathy.

 

[CarolA]

I think that's the problem... Someone else "specfically requested" it before you did.

Personally IMHO buying because of concerige is going to leave you unhappy more often then not... (I expect this will result in lots of tears over the course of your membership!)

As this issue points out there are VERY FEW rooms for concerige and as the member base there increases....... It's just going to get tougher. (IMHO Disney is going to regret this move!!!)

 

[Inkmahm]

I think that's the problem... Someone else "specfically requested" it before you did.

Personally IMHO buying because of concerige is going to leave you unhappy more often then not... (I expect this will result in lots of tears over the course of your membership!)

As this issue points out there are VERY FEW rooms for concerige and as the member base there increases....... It's just going to get tougher. (IMHO Disney is going to regret this move!!!)

Very few concierge and even fewer concierge that are HA!

 

[bobbiwoz]

It's a shame if there isn't 1 HA studio, and that should be addressed. As far as how many AKV concierge units, it seems to me that the few BWV GV's would be a similar number problem. I am not sorry that there are concierge units available at AKV nor am I upset with the few GV's at BWV, or even BC's at VB. I am glad they exist for the experience they provide.

Bobbi

 

[CarolA]

It's a shame if there isn't 1 HA studio, and that should be addressed. As far as how many AKV concierge units, it seems to me that the few BWV GV's would be a similar number problem. I am not sorry that there are concierge units available at AKV nor am I upset with the few GV's at BWV, or even BC's at VB. I am glad they exist for the experience they provide.

Bobbi

Yes but you didn't buy "just because of the GV's at BWV" or the "concerige units at AKV"


The OP bought specificially for concerige.....

 

[BCV23]

If in fact there are no accessible studios, it may be that there was no way to retrofit the existing rooms on that floor to accommodate a rollin shower. In a one BR, there's a lot more room to make such changes.

Liferbabe, didn't you say that your neighbors in the studio 01 had an accessible unit too except it had a tub?

We bought a small # of points specifically because of concierge as well. I know that the odds of getting it are not great but we have two very short club stays booked with our first two years of points almost used up. In the future, if I can get 2 or 3 nights in a row, I'll be happy. Or borrow and save and get a GV for a few nights. But we'll also be enjoy Savannah view in Kidani if club level doesn't come through.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We bought AKV partially because of concierge, and I had a stay booked in a concierge studio, but I cancelled it to change it to something else because DH wasn't able to be there and I want it when we can be together. When we first learned that there would be concierge, I never thought that there would only be 5 2 bedroom lock off units, but it wasn't a deal breaker for us.
OP does have early booking advantage which was their stated reason for buying, and I hope it works out that an HA unit is available for them sometime.

Bobbi

 

[BroganMc]

I left an email for MS yesterday and they were quite prompt in a response but it wasn't what I expected. I was told that there are NO roll in shower rooms at this level and was left with no alternative either.

Just so you know in future (from one disabled person who needs a roll-in shower to another), when you call to book your rooms specifically ask for a roll-in shower room to be blocked. After you have verified your identity, general room availability and your points availability, the MS CM should put you on hold to call Special Needs and request that room type. If one is available Special Needs will block it out for you and only you. Your written confirmation will say "Handicap accessible room guaranteed" and MS or the resort will not be able to give the room to anyone else.

I would not rely on e-mail communications for this. It's too easy for someone to misunderstand and/or not follow thru.

Roll-in shower rooms are in even less supply than the other booking categories. And as we know there is no subsititution for those who need it.

I had a similar issue with the very large SSR resort. I booked a studio for April last Fall. No roll-in shower studios were left. I got a tub HA room but later changed it to a 1bedroom with roll-in. More points for me but at least I have what I need.

And no, it isn't fair that there aren't enough roll-in shower rooms to go around. But that is the state of the accommodations industry today. A few years ago, there were no roll-in showers. The industry is slowly getting better about it.

Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

Your written confirmation will say "Handicap accessible room guaranteed" and MS or the resort will not be able to give the room to anyone else.

The written confirmations no longer say anything about "Handicapped accessible room."
We found that out when we booked a trip for Oct 2007 at SSR and again when we booked a trip to OKW for April of 2008.
Member Services had contacted Special Needs for both of our reservations and we were told the information had been added into the computer for us. When we got our confirmation letter, it said nothing. So, I called back and the CM said it was in the computer, but they no longer print it on the letters. I didn't get a really good explanation, but it had to do with MS computer and the Special Needs (SN) computer being on different systems that will not allow the SN computer information to be printed on the confirmation.
I called about once a month for our October visit to make sure everything was still in the computer as it should be and we did end up getting a wheelchair accessible room with a roll in shower.

For our April trip, I have called about once a month just to check and so far, the information is still in there. I will continue to call once a month until March and then I'll call once a week (they will probably get to know my voice).
I am concerned about it 'disappearing' because we have nothing to show that we reserved it in the first place. I was much more comfortable when we at least had a piece of paper that proved they had reserved what we needed. I have expressed this to the CMs every time I've called and their response has been 'keep calling. We don't mind."
That doesn't really set my mind at ease though and I won't relax until we get there and know what we have.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Wow, that would be scary if it didn't say it on the ressie! I'd be doing that too, Sue!

 

[dclfun]

Just to further explain, I booked at exactly 11 months out, day by day, and had requested the accessible room. I called to ask specifically about the roll in shower and was told there are "no studio conceirge AKV rooms with roll in showers". They are only in the one bedroom villas ( which could turn into a two bedroom villa). So if you are disabled and need a roll in shower and want to book a studio, you are out of luck. I'm not willing to waste my points on a one bedroom villa nor should I have to- we should be able to enjoy our membership the same way a nondisabled family does. As we all age ourselves or travel with elderly family members, trust me there will be more people needing a roll in shower. Of course I realize the limited availability of concierge which is why I called day by day to get my ressies to start with. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy a different room type, but for this particular trip concierge is/was important. I had posted the same issue on the disabilities board and a suggestion was made that perhaps I can ask to be placed in a roll in shower room on another floor and have concierge access. I will ask about this but am not certain that it's possible as I know DVC only has a X amt. of rooms available in concierge and this would add another room to their inventory, plus adding another room that is eligible for housekeeping and turndown service.---Kathy

 

[LisaS]

When I first saw the floor plans for the concierge units I was very surprised that there were no roll-in showers. We've since learned that one of the 1BRs does have a roll-in shower but I am surprised that none of the studios have one. I hope they will put you in a 5th floor studio with a roll-in shower and just program your room keycard to allow you to get to the 6th floor lounge.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Just to further explain, I booked at exactly 11 months out, day by day, and had requested the accessible room. I called to ask specifically about the roll in shower and was told there are "no studio conceirge AKV rooms with roll in showers". They are only in the one bedroom villas ( which could turn into a two bedroom villa). So if you are disabled and need a roll in shower and want to book a studio, you are out of luck. I'm not willing to waste my points on a one bedroom villa nor should I have to- we should be able to enjoy our membership the same way a nondisabled family does. As we all age ourselves or travel with elderly family members, trust me there will be more people needing a roll in shower. Of course I realize the limited availability of concierge which is why I called day by day to get my ressies to start with. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy a different room type, but for this particular trip concierge is/was important. I had posted the same issue on the disabilities board and a suggestion was made that perhaps I can ask to be placed in a roll in shower room on another floor and have concierge access. I will ask about this but am not certain that it's possible as I know DVC only has a X amt. of rooms available in concierge and this would add another room to their inventory, plus adding another room that is eligible for housekeeping and turndown service.---Kathy

I was told that AKV Concierge had to have the unit with the roll in shower, because it was the law. But this probably explains why they declared these units as 2 bedroom lockoffs to satisfy their legal requirement and not have to put the roll ins in the studios. Legally, it is a 2 bedroom.

I did think it was strange, that unit 6202 (1 bed) had a roll in, but another Diser posted here that they were in 6201 (studio) and they did have a tub, albeit very tight.

I really dont think from the size of the Concierge units, that there was enough room to make the studios to the highest level of accessibility, so they offered it on the 1 bed side, and they still got credit for meeting the law.
I think that was a pretty unmagical thing to do personally.

And for the record, I am not against Disney putting the roll in in the 1 bedroom concierge that we were in. I just felt like they should have offered both the shower and the tub in the unit or used a different floorplan. I think DVC maximized their profits and minimized their membership.

 

[dclfun]

To satisfy the law I wish they would have put it in the studio instead. It's not just AKV. The Poly does not have roll in shower rooms in their recently renovated concierge building and the BC/YC do not have roll in showers on their concierge floor rooms. I'm not sure about BWV or the other deluxe resorts as I've never asked. It's just disappointing to always feel left out and not have your needs met by a place that does such a good job otherwise with accessibility. ---Kathy

 

[BCV23]

The Polynesian does have two accessible rooms in Hawaii now. Both are gardenview and at least one has a rollin shower as we have a short stay planned there as well.

Good luck, Kathy. I agree that you shouldn't need to spend the points for a 1 BR to get an accessible room. I do wonder if there were space constraints in renovating as opposed to building a studio from scratch.

 

[BroganMc]

This is why retrofits in general suck.

It's also why Disney needs to offer Concierge rooms in Kidani as well. 15 rooms max, in the worst place in an old hotel, is a joke.

dclfun, it's not ideal but is there anyway you can manage with a bath transfer bench? Those tubs seemed pretty low to me. I'm considering doing the transfer bench thing for a few days at BWV in Sep. (I figure I won't have much chance at getting an HA room there at 7 mos.) I know it sucks to have to improvise a solution but in the accessibility game sometimes that's all you can do. On the bright side, it keeps us creative.