Pool Access-Beach Club update

[shovan]

I still have not seen pictures that show the planned accessibility features for the pool at CBR, so I'm not sure what they are doing.
It had been hoped that the pool at OKW would be more accessible after renovation (I think it was completed in 2006), but all that was added for accessibility was a set of transfer steps. We will be going to OKW in April and I will look whether they have also added a lift, but there was not one when we were there in April 2007.

We walked around OKW last October & I don't remember seeing a lift. But maybe we missed it.

We've checked into lifts for our own pool here at home. (We have one that was made by my DH's Dad, it works but is a bit difficult to manuever.) They really aren't all that expensive (especially in the Disney scope of expenses).

They have permanent lifts installed at SSR, so they are aware of that type of equipment. Why they are not being installed at ALL of the Disney Resorts is beyond my understanding.

 

[shovan]

Oops! It took out where I copied and pasted the web site. I'll try to type it like so it doesn't look like a link -- hope that works.

I was able to find & see those pics. With a project that extensive, I would think they would follow the lastest ADAAG guidelines. Which should mean a zero-entry & or a pool lift, but we'll see.

 

[BroganMc]

Shovan, thanks for continuing to push this issue. One of the reasons I was eager to buy by DVC ownership at SSR was for the pool accessibility. I can not use bump steps in anyway, but have admired the zero entry pools for years.

The pool lift at SSR is my favorite thing in the world. I'll hobble my way in and out of the zero entry pool and over to the hot tub lift. (I wouldn't be able to get into the hot tub eitherwise.)

FWIW, when I talked to the lifeguard manager working SSR's pool last October he told me interesting things about Disney's plans for pool accessibility. They were pilot testing the lift at SSR then planned to add them to other pools. He believed Caribbean Beach and VWL were next. All new pools (and some retrofitted pools) were to be zero entry. Hopefully the pool construction at CBR is evidence of that.

Beyond the lift, I'm not sure how they'd handle SAB. Zero entry seems out of the question since they'd have to close it and re-excavate.

 

[Schmeck]

SAB is sort-of zero entry in the sandy area. Of course, it's very shallow and you'd need a beach chair to get through the sand.

Since it is really 3 separate pools, I don't think they'd be rushing to tear it all apart and make it zero-entry. A lift would work well in the main pool though - but the hot tubs are up above the pool - and it's very narrow up there, no space for a lift that I can remember seeing. Maybe a lift at the quiet pool's hot tub?

 

[zaksmom]

Just saw on another disney web site that a permit was filed for the Boardwalk quiet pool to install "two new deck anchors for chair lift." I looked at the permit linked. That's all it said. Sounds like that could be an adaptation. We'll see.
Have fun.

 

[zaksmom]

Sorry. I know so little about the computers etc that I don't know how to reply to the warning that I got for trying to go around the rules by identifying where I saw the pictures of the swimming pool rehab. I want to apologize. I was so worried that people were saying that they couldn't comment etc because they couldn't see the pictures I referred to I just kept trying until I could find a way to get the info to those asking for it. Before I read the warning I had already posted another piece of info about swimming pools (this is our biggest issue at Disney now) so I went back and was able to edit out an identifiable reference. Your website makes that so easy, It just says "edit." Please once again accept my apology. I am so thankful for all the information I get; I thought others were trying to get me to give them a way to find the pictures so they could see. Hope I didn't cause any major problems. thanks for the "warning." Thank you for all you do. Many times the people here have made our vacations much better/easier than we could imagine.
Have fun.

 

[shovan]

Shovan, thanks for continuing to push this issue. One of the reasons I was eager to buy by DVC ownership at SSR was for the pool accessibility. I can not use bump steps in anyway, but have admired the zero entry pools for years.

The pool lift at SSR is my favorite thing in the world. I'll hobble my way in and out of the zero entry pool and over to the hot tub lift. (I wouldn't be able to get into the hot tub eitherwise.)

FWIW, when I talked to the lifeguard manager working SSR's pool last October he told me interesting things about Disney's plans for pool accessibility. They were pilot testing the lift at SSR then planned to add them to other pools. He believed Caribbean Beach and VWL were next. All new pools (and some retrofitted pools) were to be zero entry. Hopefully the pool construction at CBR is evidence of that.

Beyond the lift, I'm not sure how they'd handle SAB. Zero entry seems out of the question since they'd have to close it and re-excavate.

We stayed at SSR on our last visit in Feb. but we were there for the Daytona 500 & didn't have a chance to try out the pool! I'm glad to hear the lift works well & really hope Disney will follow through on installing them at all pools!

SAB is sort-of zero entry in the sandy area. Of course, it's very shallow and you'd need a beach chair to get through the sand.

Since it is really 3 separate pools, I don't think they'd be rushing to tear it all apart and make it zero-entry. A lift would work well in the main pool though - but the hot tubs are up above the pool - and it's very narrow up there, no space for a lift that I can remember seeing. Maybe a lift at the quiet pool's hot tub?

That's exactly our issue with SAB. We were told before we purchased DVC there that it was zero entry. But only that little sand play area, for an adult that is not much access. On our first visit there, they did not even have a pool wheelchair for access to that area. We were informed that they now have one. A lift would be a simple solution for the other areas of SAB & the quiet pools, & hot tubs.

Just saw on another disney web site that a permit was filed for the Boardwalk quiet pool to install "two new deck anchors for chair lift." I looked at the permit linked. That's all it said. Sounds like that could be an adaptation. We'll see.
Have fun.

Wooo-hoo!!! Well I certainly hope this is in the works for all pools at every resort! That is great news, thanks for posting that info!!!

We are still working on re-writing our letter and sending it out. I'll post it when it's finished and let everyone know when & if we receive any reply.

 

[wilde_oscar]

The link you have provided states that enforceable stanards have not yet been established.

And, of course, once they are in place they will apply to new construction or major rebuild.

It does appear that WDW is making the newer pools, and possibly rehabbing older ones, so they are more accessible.

i haven't read the whole thread so if this was mentioned before sorry... but as I understood it the reason the CBR pool refurb is so long is to make it zero entry, which I assume would make it compliant. As the AKL pool is zero entry, doesn't have lifts, and was built after the recommendations came out?

but it would make good sense to have a Moderate with Zero entry and a value with zero entry, at least I guess it would.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry. I know so little about the computers etc that I don't know how to reply to the warning that I got for trying to go around the rules by identifying where I saw the pictures of the swimming pool rehab. I want to apologize. I was so worried that people were saying that they couldn't comment etc because they couldn't see the pictures I referred to I just kept trying until I could find a way to get the info to those asking for it. Before I read the warning I had already posted another piece of info about swimming pools (this is our biggest issue at Disney now) so I went back and was able to edit out an identifiable reference. Your website makes that so easy, It just says "edit." Please once again accept my apology. I am so thankful for all the information I get; I thought others were trying to get me to give them a way to find the pictures so they could see. Hope I didn't cause any major problems. thanks for the "warning." Thank you for all you do. Many times the people here have made our vacations much better/easier than we could imagine.
Have fun.

I kind of made the problem by asking you for the place you saw it. I didn't realize if was on a website that can't have links posted to on this site.
Sorry.

As the AKL pool is zero entry, doesn't have lifts, and was built after the recommendations came out?

AKL was opened in April of 2001, so the standards that the OP quoted in the first post did not apply to the construction at AKL.
The current standards are from 2002; they are final standards, but can't be enforced because the law that would make them enforceable was not yet passed.

 

[dclfun]

For someone like myself a lift would be feasible but zero entry would not. I doubt I could really use a lift though due to my ventilator and other equipment but for someone who is in a power chair and doesn't get enough support from a pool chair or can't transfer into a manual type chair a lift would be a great option. I'm really glad to see this happening. I had heard years ago that DCL was considering a lift but that there wasn't enough space for it not to be hazardous? Hopefully the new ships will have that feature. There are so many disabled/elderly people vacationing that our dollars finally mean something- we wanna play too!---Kathy

 

[shovan]

Update:

Well we sent the letters off again. I got a call this morning from a very nice lady, Joy in the DVC Correspondence dept.. She said that she spoke with her supervisor & our last letter sent in July had been forwarded to the Beach Club Review Board. And is currently under review.

I asked if we would get an answer on that anytime soon & was told that was not policy. That the Correspondence dept. would not even get an answer.

I told her I had heard of lifts being installed at some of the other resorts & was hoping to hear that the Beach Club would eventually be on that lists. She told me she did not have any information on that. But of course we are welcome to call & write again.

I didn't know what else to say, without being rude. So that's where it stands. The same place as when we started our writing campaign over a year ago.

I will post this as a new thread also.

 

[zaksmom]

FYI - for what it's worth I saw this on another website. They have a regular contributor who seems like he/she works at WDW, generally only puts info up when it has been announced. Saw this, it included the beach club, so maybe you have some hope!

"Over the last few months an unprecedented number of resort pool refurbishments have been announced for Spring/Early Summer 2008 potentially impacting Guests staying at the All-Star Sports, Boardwalk Inn, Boardwalk Villas, Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Beach Club, and Yacht Club resorts."

Maybe it's the lifts that I was told about about a year ago from the special reservations CM. She said within a year or so I wouldn't have to worry about the pools anymore when I make reservations.

Have fun.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Just saw on another disney web site that a permit was filed for the Boardwalk quiet pool to install "two new deck anchors for chair lift." I looked at the permit linked. That's all it said. Sounds like that could be an adaptation. We'll see.
Have fun.

I'd love to see a lift at the BWV pools, as that is our home resort. We love the Zero-depth-entry pool at AKL, which so far is the only pool our DS has used at WDW. He was thrilled that in a water wheelchair he could join the rest of us in the pool (though the temperature was a bit alarming for him). We have intended to try the one at SSR, but those low Std View point costs and the convenience of Epcot and the Studios keep taking us back to BWV.

DS has not tried using a lift before, but if they put them in at BWV, we'll give it a shot.

 

[shovan]

FYI - for what it's worth I saw this on another website. They have a regular contributor who seems like he/she works at WDW, generally only puts info up when it has been announced. Saw this, it included the beach club, so maybe you have some hope!

"Over the last few months an unprecedented number of resort pool refurbishments have been announced for Spring/Early Summer 2008 potentially impacting Guests staying at the All-Star Sports, Boardwalk Inn, Boardwalk Villas, Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Beach Club, and Yacht Club resorts."

Maybe it's the lifts that I was told about about a year ago from the special reservations CM. She said within a year or so I wouldn't have to worry about the pools anymore when I make reservations.

Have fun.

Thanks for posting the info! We are hoping!!

 

[shovan]

I'd love to see a lift at the BWV pools, as that is our home resort. We love the Zero-depth-entry pool at AKL, which so far is the only pool our DS has used at WDW. He was thrilled that in a water wheelchair he could join the rest of us in the pool (though the temperature was a bit alarming for him). We have intended to try the one at SSR, but those low Std View point costs and the convenience of Epcot and the Studios keep taking us back to BWV.

DS has not tried using a lift before, but if they put them in at BWV, we'll give it a shot.

That's why we keep going back to BCV, the location! Super easy access to 2 parks! But we really aren't getting the full benefits of owning at a great resort, since DH doesn't have access to any of the pools there.

 

[SueM in MN]

When we were at OKW earlier this week, we used the quiet pool near our room. That did have a set of bump steps, but since DD can't use them and they would not really help us to get her into the pool, she could not swim. (Most pools are too cold for her anyway - her idea of ideal pool temperature is a hot tub).
Anyway, when we were by the main pool by Hospitality House, we looked for accessibility there. I didn't even see a set of bump steps, so I asked a lifeguard and another CM working in the area whether there was a portable lift or any other accessibility. They said there was not and suggested we could pool hop to SSR if we needed to.
I don't remember exactly when the main pool at OKW was renovated to add the big pool slide, but it was within the last 5 years. So, it is kind of disturbing that they didn't add anything to make it accessible.

 

[Schmeck]

I don't remember exactly when the main pool at OKW was renovated to add the big pool slide, but it was within the last 5 years. So, it is kind of disturbing that they didn't add anything to make it accessible.

Was the entire pool renovated, or just the pool slide added? Isn't there some clause in the code that states what renovation level something has to be to be compliant under ADA? If they don't change the pool layout, for instance, just redo the liner, then it doesn't have to be made ADA compliant, does it? But if they were adding a new section, then they'd have to make that section accessible, right?

 

[BroganMc]

Anyway, when we were by the main pool by Hospitality House, we looked for accessibility there. I didn't even see a set of bump steps, so I asked a lifeguard and another CM working in the area whether there was a portable lift or any other accessibility. They said there was not and suggested we could pool hop to SSR if we needed to.
I don't remember exactly when the main pool at OKW was renovated to add the big pool slide, but it was within the last 5 years. So, it is kind of disturbing that they didn't add anything to make it accessible.

In talking to one of the pool supervisors at SSR I was told OKW is one place they can't put in the pool lifts. The reason is that the pool has a lip that interferes with the mechanism. I'm not sure if that applies to all the OKW pools or just the main one. (I never paid much attention to the lip.)

I was also told Contemporary has lifts on order (SSR pool super is friends with Contemp pool super) and all SSR pools have mounts for the lifts. They also own two pool lifts. I guess the experiment with SSR's pool lift last year was successful. I know I enjoyed it and complimented them profusely.

I can confirm lift mounts at HRS pool, Grandstand and Paddocks pools and their adjacent hot tubs. I took pics on my walk yesterday looking for the mounts. I'll be checking out Congress Park pool today.

 

[SueM in MN]

In talking to one of the pool supervisors at SSR I was told OKW is one place they can't put in the pool lifts. The reason is that the pool has a lip that interferes with the mechanism. I'm not sure if that applies to all the OKW pools or just the main one. (I never paid much attention to the lip.)

I was also told Contemporary has lifts on order (SSR pool super is friends with Contemp pool super) and all SSR pools have mounts for the lifts. They also own two pool lifts. I guess the experiment with SSR's pool lift last year was successful. I know I enjoyed it and complimented them profusely.

I can confirm lift mounts at HRS pool, Grandstand and Paddocks pools and their adjacent hot tubs. I took pics on my walk yesterday looking for the mounts. I'll be checking out Congress Park pool today.

Yep, I noticed that big lip at the OKW pool. That was what makes me think that they didn't actually redo the whole pool like I thought they were going to when they announced their renovation to add the slide. The half of the pool without the slide actually looks exactly like it did before the renovation.

I can't make this picture bigger, but it shows the end of the OKW pool and you can clearly see the big lip - it's about 6 inches high.

We swam in the OKW quiet pool by building 22 during our trip several times on our recent trip, but I can't recall whether that pool had a lip or not. I have pictures, but they are from my last 'batch' and I haven't downloaded them to my computer yet.