OKW and handicapped accessible rooms ?

[delmar411]

We have ressies for my IL's in an OKW studio w/ the close to HH booking category. My MIL just asked me to request a handicapped accessible room for FIL who's legs are much worse than they have been and won't be able to step into a tub w/o assistance(he's got MS). When I called member services the rep was very nice but didn't seem able to fill my request other than to add that FIL had special needs and a first floor room request.
I know my IL's will just deal with whatever room they get as long as they are close to us but I'd prefer to give up location if I can guarantee FIL a room where he will be comfortable and able to fend for himself in the shower.
I know OKW is pretty much booked solid at that time, first week in Dec, so if all else fails is there a walk in shower in the 2bedrooms? If so then he could shower in our room.

Thanks for any info you might be able to provide!

 

[bobbiwoz]

The one bedrooms have a walk in shower, so I'm assuming that OKW's 2 bedrooms do too! It has a ledge to step over,into, will that be OK for him?

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

None of the studios have walk in showers. It will be a tub/shower combination, and I believe even if you get a handicapped accessible unit, it will just have hand rails for the tub and not a walk in shower. To get the walk in shower, you would need a 1 or 2 bedroom.

 

[Chuck S]

There are studios at OKW with roll in type showers for wheelchairs, there was also a seat that could fold down so your FIL could sit in the shower. You should call Member Services and ask them again about a H/C unit, and ask that they check with special services. Special services can block an H/C unit for you, if one will be available during that timeframe. You may not be able to get one in the "near HH" booking category, though.

 

[dianeschlicht]

There are studios at OKW with roll in type showers for wheelchairs, there was also a seat that could fold down so your FIL could sit in the shower. You should call Member Services and ask them again about a H/C unit, and ask that they check with special services. Special services can block an H/C unit for you, if one will be available during that timeframe. You may not be able to get one in the "near HH" booking category, though.

Good to know, Chuck. I thought they only had the grab rails.

 

[delmar411]

There are studios at OKW with roll in type showers for wheelchairs, there was also a seat that could fold down so your FIL could sit in the shower. You should call Member Services and ask them again about a H/C unit, and ask that they check with special services. Special services can block an H/C unit for you, if one will be available during that timeframe. You may not be able to get one in the "near HH" booking category, though.

Thank you for the information!

I'll give them a call again. I can give up the location if they can get FIL in an accessible room.

 

[fkj2]

I don't know if this policy has been changed over the years (since I recall some posts here about people getting HA rooms they hadn't asked for) but when I recently spoke to a MS cast member she said that HA rooms HAD to be held until they were requested. Evidently they couldn't be reserved by anyone who didn't have a special need even if the rest of the rooms were filled.

We once stayed at the Contemporary and their version of HA baths included handrails. The tub was stepover. After that experience we stayed exclusively at DVC because of the wonderful HA facilities.

To the OP, I hate to sound like I'm overselling the HA rooms at OKW--and I can't speak about studios--but staying in a one- or two-bedroom (or a GV) with HA facilities was a Godsend.

 

[delmar411]

I don't know if this policy has been changed over the years (since I recall some posts here about people getting HA rooms they hadn't asked for) but when I recently spoke to a MS cast member she said that HA rooms HAD to be held until they were requested. Evidently they couldn't be reserved by anyone who didn't have a special need even if the rest of the rooms were filled.

We once stayed at the Contemporary and their version of HA baths included handrails. The tub was stepover. After that experience we stayed exclusively at DVC because of the wonderful HA facilities.

To the OP, I hate to sound like I'm overselling the HA rooms at OKW--and I can't speak about studios--but staying in a one- or two-bedroom (or a GV) with HA facilities was a Godsend.

This is great info, thanks! We already have a 2br and a studio booked so between those 2 room sizes I'd hope they could find one that he doesn't have to step over a ledge to take a shower.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here are some pictures from OKW.

This is a roll in shower from the studio portion of a 2 bedroom lock off :

This is the other part of that bathroom:

The Master bedroom also had a roll in shower:

I can't find my pictures of the OKW non-accessible rooms, but the studio has a tub/shower combination. The tub has a fairly low side. The Master Bedroom has a glass shower stall with a door. There is a low threshold to walk over to get into the master bedroom shower.