OKW Questions?

[chaoscent]

I am not sure if there is a FAQ for OKW? I am going to read the 50 pages of the OKW lovers thread, but hopefully someone can help me. I am a new DVC member. We bought last May. We stayed at BWV in Sept and loved it. We are wait listed for a Standard View for 2/4 to 2/9. However, Since I wasn't sure if a wait list request would come through, I booked a 2 BR at OKW. My travel party consists of DH & I, (master BR), 80 year old mom who is in a wheelchair (we will bring her wheelchair with) & my Sister will be in the 2nd bedroom. Each with their own bed. If we get a bed and a couch in the 2nd bedroom, my sister will sleep on the couch/bed. My nephew and his wife will sleep in the LR on the pull out.
My questions -
1. What buildings have an elevator? If we are in a non-elevator building will we be able to get her into a first floor 2 BR or are there 3 or 4 steps she would need to go up?
2. Is there anything else I should ask for to ensure my mom will have access to the room. I made it very clear that my mom was in a wheelchair and that there was no way she could walk up steps.
3. Do all rooms have a walk in shower like BWV? If that's the case I would like to know if you think it is feasible that I bring a plastic chair in off the patio, put a towel on it so my mom can get a shower sitting down? Obviously, I would be there to assist her.
4. What buildings have a nice view on the first floor. My mom is taking this trip as her great-grandchildren are taking their first trip and she is a Disney nut (each of the 4 trips we have taken in the last 7 years have been "her last trip" according to her ). However, we know she is going to spend more time at the Villa than at the parks and we won't always be with her. She loves to people watch, so a view of the main area would be wonderful.
Thanks for any advice you can give us. Penny
We will have a car so buses will not be a concern.

 

[disney54us]

There is one section that is a Elevator building, so if your mom can't walk you need to be in that building. The view from that building is a pretty one depending on the location of your room you can watch people walking over the bridge, see the buses come and go and watch the golfers. There is no pull out sofa in bedroom #2 it has 2 qn size beds, the master has a King and L/R has a pull out sleeping sofa. The shower in the Master Bath I would not call a complete walk in, there is a ledge that you need to step over to get into it. In bedroom #2 it is a shower/tub. It has been a while since we have stayed on the ground floor, but if I remember correctly you can just wheel her to the door with no steps involved. Hope, this helps. enjoy your trip!

 

[Chuck S]

I am not sure if there is a FAQ for OKW? I am going to read the 50 pages of the OKW lovers thread, but hopefully someone can help me. I am a new DVC member. We bought last May. We stayed at BWV in Sept and loved it. We are wait listed for a Standard View for 2/4 to 2/9. However, Since I wasn't sure if a wait list request would come through, I booked a 2 BR at OKW. My travel party consists of DH & I, (master BR), 80 year old mom who is in a wheelchair (we will bring her wheelchair with) & my Sister will be in the 2nd bedroom. Each with their own bed. If we get a bed and a couch in the 2nd bedroom, my sister will sleep on the couch/bed. My nephew and his wife will sleep in the LR on the pull out.
My questions -
1. What buildings have an elevator? If we are in a non-elevator building will we be able to get her into a first floor 2 BR or are there 3 or 4 steps she would need to go up?
2. Is there anything else I should ask for to ensure my mom will have access to the room. I made it very clear that my mom was in a wheelchair and that there was no way she could walk up steps.
3. Do all rooms have a walk in shower like BWV? If that's the case I would like to know if you think it is feasible that I bring a plastic chair in off the patio, put a towel on it so my mom can get a shower sitting down? Obviously, I would be there to assist her.
4. What buildings have a nice view on the first floor. My mom is taking this trip as her great-grandchildren are taking their first trip and she is a Disney nut (each of the 4 trips we have taken in the last 7 years have been "her last trip" according to her ). However, we know she is going to spend more time at the Villa than at the parks and we won't always be with her. She loves to people watch, so a view of the main area would be wonderful.
Thanks for any advice you can give us. Penny
We will have a car so buses will not be a concern.

1 & 2. Buildings 62, 63 and 64 have elevators. Be sure to request elevator or ground floor for medical reasons. The only step into a ground floor room should be about 1 inch or so for the threshold of the doorway, and that would apply to the elevator buildings as well.

3. All one bedroom and larger units have a walk-in shower stall in the master bath, and a standard tub in the 2nd bedroom, unless it is a handicap unit. I hadn't thought of using one of the plastic patio chairs in the shower, but I don't see why it wouldn't work OK.

4. The higher floors, will of course, have better views. The first floor units often, but not always, have lush vegetation around the patio, most of the views, though, are pretty nice. I think bldgs 28 and 29 have the worst views of anywhere at OKW.

If you have a car, you may want to avoid bldgs 62, 63, and 64, thoough. Their parking is more limited than the other buildings.

All two-bedroom units at OKW, both dedicated and lock-offs, have two queen beds in the second bedroom, so your unit will have a king bed in the master suite, a queen sofa sleeper in the living room, and 2 queen beds in the second bedroom.

 

[chaoscent]

Thanks so much to both of you for answering my questions so quickly. I spoke to her last night and she is a little nervous about going. Last year she fell in the bathroom at home (she lives with my brother) and broke her neck. She had a halo for 4 months. Her biggest concern is being able to access the villa. I told her I would come on here and post and get back to her with the answers. She will be very happy to hear your answers. Again, Thanks so very much. Penny

 

[disney54us]

I'm sorry, but the shower in the master bath does have a ledge you have to step over it is not a "walk in". I would make sure to request a handicap access room, I would think those rooms would have a walk in shower. They may have shower chairs available. I worry about the stabilty of a patio chair in the shower. If Disney, does not have them available, maybe a medical supply place has rentals.

 

[chaoscent]

Thank you. I will call today and ask about a HA room. However, if there are none available, she can walk for a short distance. She uses a walker at home, not the wheelchair. She only uses the wheelchair when she goes out.
Thanks, Penny

 

[colleen costello]

The majority of people do not need an accessible unit and you should have no trouble getting one, if you decide you want one. My Mom can not do steps and we have always gotten a ground floor unit at OKW. They aim to please!

Building #55 has a beautiful view of the water even from the ground floor. The ferry to Downtown Disney goes right by this one. #35 is also a nice building, right across from a bus stop and fairly close to Turtle Pond Pool, which is our favorite. This building has a large pond out back and there are loads of ducks.

Have fun!

 

[chaoscent]

Thanks for the feedback. I called DVC. I decided not to ask for a HA room. I thought that would be unfair for someone who needed it more than my Mom does. When I spoke to Customer Service they told me that I would be guaranteed a first floor since my mom was in a wheel chair. She said that my reservation already had medical needs for first floor, but she would add the Mom was in a wheelchair. Thanks everyone for answering my questions and giving me feedback. It's appreciated.
Penny