OKW Info

[Tink03477]

Just in case anyone is interested and since I couldn't find the info here, I called down to OKW directly to ask them about the Handicapped Buildings. I have the map & matching rooms setup that someone provided here on the boards (Thank you very much!) but I wasn't sure if the H.A. buildings were entirely HA only or just some of the rooms. They told me at the resort that only some of the rooms in each building are HA, but she couldn't tell me if there was a studio in Building 20 that was not HA, which is what I want. She said that I could put it on the reservation request that I'd like Bldg. 20, Studio, non HA. Of course I know there is no guarantee, but I did think that you could not put building requests on the reservations anyway?
Also, I confirmed the opening of the main pool, December 16th as of this morning. Bummer, I was hoping it would be earlier. But this does play into where I'd like my building location. I'm thinking either 20, 19, 56, 55 in that order. Has anyone stayed in a Studio in any of these buildings? Were they OK, close to pool? We have a car so I can drive to the check in area if 56 & 55 take too long to walk to. This is a short trip for us this time, only 4 days, so time is a little precious! But, we walk everywhere and it doesn't bother us. From MGM to Epcot/BCV, PORFQ to PORRS. We don't care, just happy to be in WDW and in the sun!
I tried to find a FAQ thread on OKW too, but couldn't find one in the search. Does anyone know if there is one?
Thanks for all the help and guidence, as always!!!

Kim

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wouldn't obsess about it. In over 20 trips to OKW I have never requested a non-handicapped room, and I have never been offered a handicapped room. Even when I needed a scooter accessible room, I did not have a handicapped room. The only place I have ever gotten a handicapped room was AKL.

 

[Chuck S]

In about 20 trips to OKW, we've been placed in HA rooms 2x. Since we were all adults in our party, it did not matter that there was not a tub.

However, if you request 2nd or 3rd floor accomodations, and are placed anywhere except Bldg 62,63,64 you are virtually guaranteed a non-HA room, as only those 3 bldg have elevators and HA rooms on upper floors.

 

[Tink03477]

When we stayed at BCV in Sept. they gave us a HA room and didn't tell me. I didn't know until I got to the room. To be honest, it's not the missing tub that bothers me, but the water all over the bathroom floor that I don't want to deal with. Especially since I don't have the luxury of a washer/dryer or mousekeeping with new towels every day. I'd be using my towels on the floor. I wouldn't have a hissy-fit or anything if that was all they had available, I'd just rather not; if possible

Has anyone stayed in a studio in any of the buildings I mentioned?

Thanks for your help Chuck & Diane!
Kim

 

[spiceycat]

stay in a studio in building 55 - second floor - all the handicapped rooms (except 62, 63, 64) are on the first floor at OKW.

None on the second floor because of the no elevators.

so I would ask for a water view (I assume that is what you want) second floor or higher, non-smoking.

I have gotten a handicapped twice - once a studio - the other a 1-bedroom - both were pretty messy - and mother complainted loudly about the 1-bedroom - had a friend at the studio - and she prefer showers - I don't...

So now I ask at the front desk.

mother did not complaint about the shower problem - her problem was the toilet seat was too high for her - but of course in a regular room she complaints that it is too low.....Some people are never going to be happy!

 

[Chuck S]

I've had a studio in Bldg 20, not too bad a view..could see the Hospitality area in the distance over the golf course. It was a 2nd floor unit, so it was not HA.

 

[Tink03477]

Thanks Pat & Chuck! Believe it or not, I don't care about the view, just the HA part. You're mother is right Pat, I have a hard time when the toliet is too high as well. I'm short.
So, I'll ask for a 2nd floor in bldg 20 or 2nd floor in any other and I should be ok.
Thank you very much!!!

 

[StitchGirl]

Make sure you put it in your reservation -- and ask at the desk. I requested an upper floor non-handicap accessible room...

...I am on a first floor handicap-accessible room, in the corner of building 21 as we speak-- it's a horrible room (studio), you hear the buses because they turn around right outside of the room, and then the picture frame above the table between the beds vibrates every time they go past. There is hardly any view from the patio as well :-(

 

[Simba's Mom]

Which room # is that HA room? I'm trying to keep room reports from OKW, and so far I don't have any studios from Building #21

 

[Tink03477]

You're there now Stitchgirl? And you're unhappy too. I'm very, very sorry to hear that. You need to tell the desk if you don't like your room. It sounds like you really don't too. I would tell them right away. When I got to my room at BCV and saw that it was HA, I went right back down and over to the front desk. (not a quick walk either). I very nicely told them that I do not want an HA room and I'd wait for one that wasn't. I did have to wait, but that was fine with me. Please go tell them. You sound too sad. Please let us know if you were able to get a more suitable room, if you can. Good Luck, I'm sure it will be fine; they have tons of rooms there, the place is HUGE!

Kim

 

[StitchGirl]

Simba's Mom-- the room is 2116.

Tink03477-- I did just that (after getting in late last night, and being woken up at 6:45 this morning by vibrating bed and picture frame from the busses ). I didn't want to move because I didn't want to be without a room until 4pm, but I can't stay in this room, so this afternoon, we're moving!

Oh by the way, this morning, there was a FROG in the shower!!! Bugs, I've heard, but I've never heard of a frog!!!

 

[Tink03477]

Stitchgirl- I'll make sure I stay far away from 2116! A frog! Well, that's a first! Personally I rather a frog than a creepy crawly lots of legs bug!!!! Totally freak me out! lololol Of course, no bugs and no frogs is preferred. =)
I'm very glad that you all are moving to another room today!
Please let us know if you've been moved to a more acceptable room (and if I should ask for it when I get there next month!)
Good luck!
Kim

 

[SueM in MN]

I just wanted to point out that there are not that many handicapped accessible rooms in any particular resort.
The formula for the ADA is a certain number of rooms per total number of rooms in the resort:
1st column is total Number of Rooms, followed by number of Accessible Rooms in red and roll in shower rooms in blue
1 to 25 = 1

26 to 50 = 2

51 to 75 = 3 1

76 to 100 = 4 1

101 to 100 = 5 2

151 to 200 = 6 2

201 to 300 = 7 3

301 to 400 = 8 4

401 to 500 = 9 4 plus one for each
additional 100 over 400

501 to 1000 = 2% of total

1001 and over = 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000

Accessible rooms are different than roll in shower rooms. Accessible rooms might have the same tub or shower as a regular room, but just have grab bars by the tub/shower and toilet. They may have raised seat toilets. Many people who get those rooms don't even realize that they have a HA room. The "fully wheelchair accessible rooms are the ones with roll in showers and roll in space under sinks for a wheelchair.
I think the actual percentage of Handicapped Accessible rooms in the WDW/DVC resorts is more like 2-4% (at least at OKW). I can't find the file where I had the numbers right now, but at OKW I know it was a total of 29 HA rooms, but the way they counted them - it sounded like more. At OKW, I was told there were 29 one bedrooms, 30 two bedrooms and 29 studios. When I asked for clarification of what this meant, I was told there was one dedicated 2 bedroom and 29 lock offs that could be made into studio, one or two bedroom units.
Someone else also posted that MS told them to avoid the words "Handicapped" or "Wheelchair" in your requests unless you wantone of those rooms. They said it was easy to miss the "NOT' and think one was being requested when seen on the computer. The poster said it was suggested to them to say "regular tub" in their requests.