Polynesian with disabilities?

[BillSears]

On the subject of zero entry pools and bump down steps. It sure would be nice if they could do both. I can use the bump down steps very easily but I can't use the zero entry at all. As a paraplegic transfers are part of my everyday life. But I'm not going to take my own personal wheelchair into the pool and I can't push the pool chairs by myself.


The Poly is my favorite resort but it's been years since I've actually stayed there. I can't really tell you much about the current room situation. But the access to the 2 monorails was fantastic for me. I'd love to stay at the Ploy again and hopefully I will be there in 2009 to celebrate my 50th birthday.

 

[Tikiman]

Thanks Bill. Well the Polynesian does have both in the new pool. I would love to see a report if you go in 2009 and share your experience as a paraplegic. I know just from trying to get information I gain a whole new appreciation for things. I think everyone should understand the challenges of dealing with things from a different perspective. I have one had 3 things in my life that make me look at the world differently. First is that I have had exercise induced asthma since birth and I had to live with an inhaler in my pocket up until about 2 years ago. It made me appreciate those with asthma and what they have to deal with day to day even if it is nothing compared to other disabilities or diseases. Another thing that made me look at things different is riding a motorcycle makes you learn to give some room to others and be more aware of traffic. The last thing that has changed how I look at things is my son being born last February. I now know what so many parents have to deal with on vacation or anywhere for that matter.

I think everyone should spend one vacation in a wheelchair to see how things work and don’t work in some cases…or at least the designers of the resorts should.

Thanks for the info. If anyone has more I would love anything you have.

 

[Juliah]

BCV23, thanks for the info on the table! I like the idea of being able to move it around the room. That would be an improvement over the old set up--if the new table is tall enough for my DDs to get their wheelchairs under it, that is. I wonder if they keep extra ones anywhere. From the picture I saw, there's probably no way to get two power wheelchairs under one table. If they'd let us use a second one during our stay, that would be awesome.

Glad to hear you guys enjoy Rapa Nui so much, too. How old is your DD?

 

[BCV23]

Hi Julia, our daughter just turned 20 and is in college so she wasn't with us this past trip. How old are yours?

But I am pretty positive that her chair won't fit under the table...at least not with the armrests in their normal position. But that was true with the old table too if I'm remembering correctly. But she often sits in a regular chair in the room. She "knee walks" way more than she should.

I'm a little concerned about the table for her as I can see it rolling as she leans on it. I don't think it had locks. But we'll just use a shoes or a towel or something to brake it if that turns out to be an issue. Our son loved it though. He loked rolling it over to the daybed and drawing away while sitting there.

 

[Juliah]

BCV23, our DDs are very close to yours in age. They're 19, and one just started college. I am hoping we might be able to take advantage of her long Christmas break for a trip to WDW one of these years. We used to go in December when they were little, and we loved it. Now, her twin has developed heat intolerance, so going in December or January makes even more sense.

That's too bad about the tables probably not being high enough. You're right, the old one wasn't the greatest (if I remember correctly, there was a piece below the table top that made it hard to get up to), but they could kind of get up to it sideways. Maybe that will work with the new one. Sure would like to be down there doing some research on the matter!!!

 

[Tikiman]

Just bumping to see if anyone has any photos or information that will go well on a page about staying at the Polynesian with a disability.

 

[BCV23]

No photos of the bathrooms. Sorry.

As far as info, I imagine you mention the convenience of the parking lot at Rapa Nui.

The launches are not accessible by wheelchair unless the rider can transfer and someone can fold and lift the chair. However, the ferry is very easy to use in a wheelchair and the entrance is very close to Rapa Nui.

For going to Epcot, it is by far faster and easier to just walk to the TTC. That way you don't have to transfer monorails including going down one ramp and up the other. Although at the TTC, there is no elevator there is one at Epcot for return trips to the TTC. It is sort of hidden although it is marked. I would ask a CM at the exit where it is if you've not used it before.

There is a sort of hidden path by the Western side of Hawaii that must be used if you're in a wheelchair and trying to get down to the beach or pool from that end of Samoa or Hawaii.

 

[jenn-n-okla]

I am just looking for any information that would be helpful to someone going to the Polynesian with a disability. If any of you have experience with being there with a disability or someone who does, what things were important to you? Also did you have a accessible room? Do you have photos or the location of it?

Any info I can add to my web page for the Polynesian would be appreciated.

Aloha

Steve

Steve,
Thanks so much for setting this up. It has provided valuable information. We will be traveling to WDW May 28-June 5, 2008 with our daughter who uses a Portable Oxygen Concentrator. We went last year with her and stayed in the Pop Century. It was affordable but very cramped and the wait from the park busses back to the hotel was very long at times, (one day we ran out of battery power just from waiting too long for the bus). We picked the Poly this time so we could have a bigger room (dad is going this time), and have less waiting times. I am very grateful for the tip on which room building to ask for (Rapa Nui). We don't need a walk in shower but the distance between everything from that building looks wonderful. I will give tips I learned when we return from this years visit. If anyone would like tips about using a POC in the parks with a child just let me know. I have personally been to WDW 14 times ....3 times now with a special needs child.
Jenn

 

[Juliah]

jenn-n-okla,

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip. I hope you have a great time!

 

[SueM in MN]

Steve,
Thanks so much for setting this uI will give tips I learned when we return from this years visit. If anyone would like tips about using a POC in the parks with a child just let me know. I have personally been to WDW 14 times ....3 times now with a special needs child.
Jenn

If you want to start a thread of your tips, that would be great.
Wee don't have a lot of hints from people who have gone with portable oxygen concentrators - some pre-planning, but not a lot of feedback regarding how it went and tips to make it go smoothly.

 

[dclfun]

I know this is an old thread but thought I'd add my opinion of the Poly. We never made our 2005 trip as that was when we found out there were no roll in shower rooms in the concierge building. From what I recently heard they now have such rooms but only in garden view. While others like Rapa Nui I don't, and I resent being relegated to the building furthest from the GCH and I resent only being able to choose garden view. Even though the garden view rooms at the Poly have lovely views it would be nice to have a choice like everyone else.---Kathy

 

[Juliah]

I heard last fall that rooms in several buildings are being remodeled to be accessible. The info I have says the rooms are Hawaii 1529 and 1530 (Garden view), Tahiti 1016 (lagoon view) and 1017 (Magic Kingdom view), and Niue 1702 and 1703 (garden view). Also, one of the suites was remodeled in recent years to be accessible.

I agree that at least one of the concierge rooms in Hawaii with a MK view should have been remodeled to give people who need an accessible room an option equivalent to those avaiable to other guests, but at least this will give some possibilities other than Rapa Nui.

 

[LauraVV]

I am just looking for any information that would be helpful to someone going to the Polynesian with a disability.

We stayed at the Poly for six nights in late Jan/early Feb. Our flight home got cancelled due to the fog at Midway so we had to find another room for one night. We stayed at the Contemporary our last night.

We had ground floor rooms in both places. The Poly was absolutely wonderful!! I have a scooter, my daughter has a w/c, and both kids have service dogs. We did not have an accessible room. We all walk so it wasn't necessary. Our room was on the ground floor and we were in the last building on the side opposite from the transportation center. It was nice and close to the the main building. It was also close to a grassy field and had easy access to the pool. Our building was Aotearoa. We reserved a garden view but we were on the side of the building that faces the water. It really was the perfect room.

At the Contemporary we were also on the ground floor. I'd say that the room was a bit fancier. But, boy, it was a hike. The sinks were really cool looking but there was absolutely no counter top. The room looked more spacious but it was much more difficult to fit in both my the w/c and scooter. I think that a lot of the problem was the large desk with computer.

We certainly would like the same room, or at least be really close to the same room, on our next trip.