No accessible roll in shower rooms/AKL concierge

[LisaS]

OK- resolution to my saga. After several calls and returned calls to me yesterday both by MS and Special Services I was given a SV room with a roll in shower by the elevators on the 5th floor and will be allowed concierge access.

That's great news! By "SV" do you mean "Savanna View" or "Standard View"? According to the published floor plans for Jambo House there is a Standard View studio with a roll-in shower near the elevator along the Zebra trail.

 

[Deb & Bill]

That's great news! By "SV" do you mean "Savanna View" or "Standard View"? According to the published floor plans for Jambo House there is a Standard View studio with a roll-in shower near the elevator along the Zebra trail.

There aren't any elevators by the savannas, are there? I thought the elevators were only towards the front (towards the parking lot and entrance) of the building.

 

[Claire L]

There aren't any elevators by the savannas, are there? I thought the elevators were only towards the front (towards the parking lot and entrance) of the building.

There is the elevator from the pool up to the Zebra Trail.

Claire

 

[Deb & Bill]

There is the elevator from the pool up to the Zebra Trail.

Claire

I didn't use that one before. Good to know it's there. Thanks.

 

[LisaS]

There aren't any elevators by the savannas, are there? I thought the elevators were only towards the front (towards the parking lot and entrance) of the building.

There is an elevator at the first "spoke" along the horseshoe on both the Zebra trail and Kudu trail.

 

[Dean]

There actually is a legal requirement in the standards I linked to above that resorts disperse the rooms.

I guess I wasn't as clear as I needed to be. ADA standards do not apply to timeshare the way they do to hotels. DVC is certainly an in between system so it's hard to know which requirements to apply, condo's or hotels, most people in the industry would deem the condo standards to apply to timeshares to the exclusion of the hotel standards, same for no smoking rules. Currently under the ADA guidelines only 1 roll in shower would be required in all of AKL, two when it's completed in the current buildings, 4 total for the entire resort on full completion. Given those min, there's no way to have one of everything in every category. Also, I doubt the cost requirement of a hotel room when a resort utilizes the multi room concept to meet the requirement would not apply to points reservations.

 

[SueM in MN]

I guess I wasn't as clear as I needed to be. ADA standards do not apply to timeshare the way they do to hotels. DVC is certainly an in between system so it's hard to know which requirements to apply, condo's or hotels, most people in the industry would deem the condo standards to apply to timeshares to the exclusion of the hotel standards, same for no smoking rules. Currently under the ADA guidelines only 1 roll in shower would be required in all of AKL, two when it's completed in the current buildings, 4 total for the entire resort on full completion. Given those min, there's no way to have one of everything in every category. Also, I doubt the cost requirement of a hotel room when a resort utilizes the multi room concept to meet the requirement would not apply to points reservations.

I think I posted the correct information, so I'm wondering where your information is from.

Everything I have seen would consider DVC Timeshare as a place of accomodation, which would fit under the ADA link that I posted before.
Here are a couple of references I found:
TUG website, disability information.

Quote from the ADA Title III Technical Assistance Manual Covering Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities
Can a vacation timeshare property be a place of public accommodation? Yes. Whether a particular timeshare property is a place of public accommodation depends upon how much the timeshare operation resembles that of a hotel or other typical place of lodging. Among the factors to be considered in this determination are --

1) Whether the timeshare offers short-term ownership interests (for instance, stays of one week or less are considered short term);

2) The nature of the ownership interest conveyed (e.g., fee simple);

3) The degree of restrictions placed on the ownership (e.g., whether the timeshare owner has the right to occupy, alter, or exercise control over a particular unit over a period of time);

4) The extent to which the operations resemble those of a hotel, motel, or inn (e.g., reservations, central registration, meals, laundry service).

Link to a letter from the Attorney General's office about Marriott Timeshare, which sounds very much like DVC and was deemed to be a place of accomodation that must meet the standards in the link I posted earlier.

 

[BroganMc]

Well this has turned into a fascinating discussion. So DVC must have more than 4 units with roll-in showers. Good to know.

Samantha, please do call MS again and get that accessible unit. I now know there are Savannah rooms with roll-in showers. You can also call Special Needs directly and find out what is still available for your reservation. The number is posted in the DISabilities section of the forum in the FAQ sticky. They seem to be open longer than MS too. I've called them as late as 10pm.

 

[Dean]

Sue, most of my info over the years has come from lawyers who deal with or work with/for timeshare companies, esp Marriott and from resort managers with various resort companies including Marriott as well as previous readings on line. I've seen the letter previously you linked and it clearly points out it is not a legal interpretation. TN just instituted significant smoking restrictions for hotels, timeshare are not following those requirement. I did acknowledge that DVC is a different animal given their set up, shorter stays, cash reservations, as they are somewhat in between hotels and regular timeshares in function. I'd suggest you keep your ears open from a timeshare standpoint as you travel and explore, I think you'll find in function that I am right though obviously you feel it is supposed to be otherwise. I'm simply glad it is not something I need at present and hope that those that do get what hey do need at every opportunity.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue, most of my info over the years has come from lawyers who deal with or work with/for timeshare companies, esp Marriott and from resort managers with various resort companies including Marriott as well as previous readings on line. I've seen the letter previously you linked and it clearly points out it is not a legal interpretation. TN just instituted significant smoking restrictions for hotels, timeshare are not following those requirement. I did acknowledge that DVC is a different animal given their set up, shorter stays, cash reservations, as they are somewhat in between hotels and regular timeshares in function. I'd suggest you keep your ears open from a timeshare standpoint as you travel and explore, I think you'll find in function that I am right though obviously you feel it is supposed to be otherwise. I'm simply glad it is not something I need at present and hope that those that do get what hey do need at every opportunity.

Thanks.
I have only what I can find on the internet.

I think DVC fits more with hotels (which are covered) than it does other things that are not covered (where you actually own a whole unit and can do alterations, etc). I think the reason that timeshares that operate specifically like DVC are not specifically mentioned is that they didn't exist (at least as far as I know) until DVC.

While the letter I linked might not be a not a legal interpretation, it does bring up a lot of pertinent points that would be included in any legal interpretation. And, the opinion that is given in that letter is based on the ADA Technical Manual which is "one of a series of publications issued by Federal agencies under section 506 of the ADA to assist individuals and entities in understanding their rights and duties under the Act." (Quote from the Technical Manual).

PS - the definition of Timeshare for the ADA might be different than it is for other things like smoking restrictions.
And, if you want to disagree with me, we can agree to disagree.

Edited to add:
Just found something else. If the choice is being a "transient lodging and having to comply with the ADA rather than being considered to be under the Fair Housing Act, I guess DVC would rather comply with the ADA.

 

[dclfun]

For those who asked, I was given a Savannah View with roll in shower which I was told was close to the elevator. I know with concierge you are not guaranteed a Savannah View room and I only wanted something equal, not asking for better. I was of course really happy to be confirmed with the savannah view and the supervisor said she was happy to give it to me as I was giving up being on the 6th floor. As to the discussion about the ADA, DVC isn't the same as a timeshare free standing property, and esp. since cash paying guests can use the DVC rooms, this is why I was told that they have to follow the ADA requirements the same as the Disney resort hotels. If they were to exclude guests using cash through DRC and only "rent" to "timeshare/DVC" owners then perhaps that would be different. I can only hope that no one else has this issue as it means that you have limitations in your life that those without a disability such as mine could not imagine. The challenges to us are immense and we deserve to enjoy the same accomodations and stress free vacation as anyone else, perhaps moreso. ---Kathy

 

[LisaS]

For those who asked, I was given a Savannah View with roll in shower which I was told was close to the elevator.

Thanks for the update on the room type. I have been keeping a list of where the rooms with roll-in showers are located because this question has come up a few times. I don't see this particular room in the floor plans I've downloaded so I'm guessing it's one of the rooms that has not yet been declared. It could also be a room where the floor plan is not correct (there have been a few of those). If you wouldn't mind giving us an update after your trip with the actual room number, I'll add it to my list.

I am so glad they worked something out for you!

 

[Poohs Pal]

LisaS,
Since you are keeping a roll in shower list I thought i would mention that when making my ressie for a roll in shower GV I was told we would be the first Gv at the first spoke. I'm assuming we will have a pool/savanah view. It looks like it will be a great location. We will be able to use the elavator at the beginning of the hall(intersection) for going to the pool and over to Mara. Am I correct in assuming this. I had a room number posted somewhere here. Susan