Question about accessible rooms

[pwdebbie]

Are there any rooms with grab bars in a regular shower stall (instead of in a tub or wheelchair accessible shower)?

I've been looking at various resorts and bathroom pictures and just not finding rooms with shower stalls instead of tubs with grab bars.

Do not need a roll-in shower but do need a shower stall and not a tub (balance issues).

 

[bobbiwoz]

The studios in VGF, Poly and Riviera have a regular shower stall as well as a tub. I am not sure about the grab bar in the shower stall, however. I have balance issues, so I do get HA with the roll in shower because now I need the grab bar. I didn’t always.

 

[MICKIMINI]

You can buy a suction cup grab bar at most big box home stores for under $20. Bring it with you.

Good luck!

 

[pwdebbie]

You can buy a suction cup grab bar at most big box home stores for under $20. Bring it with you.

Good luck!

I had no idea! Thank you.

 

[Tiggerish]

You can buy a suction cup grab bar at most big box home stores for under $20. Bring it with you.

You should be aware that the suction cup grab bars are controversial. There are many reports that they don't stay stuck to the wall very well and are actually dangerous. If you look at recent reviews on Amazon about 40% of the reviews are complaints that the bars failed.

 

[elvispursley]

My mom had a suction cup grab bar in her shower at home. It definitely can move with any amount of pressure. As an OT, I despise these things because they give a false sense of security. I’d recommend asking the resort for a shower chair (or packing your own) or tub transfer bench. I’d also think
About bringing an anti-skid mat as showers/tub bottoms can be extremely slick.

 

[Selket]

Are there any rooms with grab bars in a regular shower stall (instead of in a tub or wheelchair accessible shower)?

I've been looking at various resorts and bathroom pictures and just not finding rooms with shower stalls instead of tubs with grab bars.

Do not need a roll-in shower but do need a shower stall and not a tub (balance issues).

This is my ongoing issue. because of my knees and knee surgeries.

I THINK (I could be wrong) most rooms in the CR wing have walk in showers and the rooms in the Grand Destino tower at CSR as well. I don't usually stay at DVC resorts so I can't speak to those. I've had decent luck at CSR with regular rooms requesting a room with a walk in shower so I think they must have a lot of them (non tower room). Zero luck with that at CBR (maybe they don't have them). Requested a walk in shower at Pop and they gave me a tub (even when asking at the front desk).

@SueM in MN or @lanejudy from the disabilities board might be able to help us both out because now I'm worried my Destino tower room will have a tub lol.

If you really need it, then your most assured option is to get a WC accessible room with the shower bench or roll in shower. I definitely would NOT get the suction cup grab bar because that's an accident waiting to happen.

 

[CarolynFH]

Re the suction cup grab bars - we have one, an Oxo. It sticks very well to the glass on one side of our shower but not at all to the porcelain tile on the other wall. That said, I use it only to balance myself and wouldn’t trust it to hold my weight if I slipped. IOW, I wouldn’t count on one to work in an unfamiliar shower. I’d follow some of the other suggestions above.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You should be aware that the suction cup grab bars are controversial. There are many reports that they don't stay stuck to the wall very well and are actually dangerous. If you look at recent reviews on Amazon about 40% of the reviews are complaints that the bars failed.

Did DH pay you to tell me that? Just kidding- I've looked at the suction cup grab bars, but whenever I mention them at home, DH says absolutely not for the above reasons.
But back to the OP's question. I think all the HA rooms that have showers are roll-in types. However, if you're concerned about water getting out, we had an interesting kind of roll-in shower at OKW last year. It had the "lip" of an inch or two, so the water didn't get out, but the lip was a hollow rubber, like an inner tube, so if you stepped (or rolled) on it, it collapsed with virtually no pressure. That's the kind we had in a HA GV, I don't know if it's in other HA villas at OKW, or anywhere else.

 

[lanejudy]

To my knowledge, only way to guarantee a walk-in shower with grab bars is to reserve an HA room with roll-in shower. The wheelchair-accessible rooms with tubs will also have grab bars, if you are able to step into the tub.

A shower chair can be requested. Or rent one, or I’ve known some folks who pack their own. If you borrow one from the hotel be sure to check that any bolts are tight.

The suction cup bars are iffy. If there is any texture to the shower wall or if the bar hits at the point of tile grout lines, the suction won’t hold.

 

[SueM in MN]

Did DH pay you to tell me that? Just kidding- I've looked at the suction cup grab bars, but whenever I mention them at home, DH says absolutely not for the above reasons.
But back to the OP's question. I think all the HA rooms that have showers are roll-in types. However, if you're concerned about water getting out, we had an interesting kind of roll-in shower at OKW last year. It had the "lip" of an inch or two, so the water didn't get out, but the lip was a hollow rubber, like an inner tube, so if you stepped (or rolled) on it, it collapsed with virtually no pressure. That's the kind we had in a HA GV, I don't know if it's in other HA villas at OKW, or anywhere else.

I know that OKW has a few HA 1 bedrooms with tubs with grab bars, I don't know about the other Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villas.
Other than that, all DVC 1 and 2 bedroom villas have showers in the main bedroom bathroom along with a whirlpool or soaking tub. Only the accessible roll in showers have grab bars.
I don't know about the other DVC resorts, but all the roll in showers we've had at OKW had those little bumpers in the shower

 

[elvispursley]

I know that OKW has a few HA 1 bedrooms with tubs with grab bars, I don't know about the other Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villas.
Other than that, all DVC 1 and 2 bedroom villas have showers in the main bedroom bathroom along with a whirlpool or soaking tub. Only the accessible roll in showers have grab bars.
I don't know about the other DVC resorts, but all the roll in showers we've had at OKW had those little bumpers in the shower

We stayed at OKW in a 1-br “Florida” HA room. We had a a jacuzzi tub and a walk-in shower that did indeed have grab bars. The toilet was raised and had the pull-down grab. Ar next to the toilet (although we could never get it in the down position). Worked really well (although my mom tripped over the step up to the tub and fell not even 5-min after we got in our room! The bathroom was dark and she didn’t see the step…oops)!

 

[SueM in MN]

We stayed at OKW in a 1-br “Florida” HA room. We had a a jacuzzi tub and a walk-in shower that did indeed have grab bars. The toilet was raised and had the pull-down grab. Ar next to the toilet (although we could never get it in the down position). Worked really well (although my mom tripped over the step up to the tub and fell not even 5-min after we got in our room! The bathroom was dark and she didn’t see the step…oops)!

Thanks!
I forgot about the "Florida Special Accessibility" rooms.
The whirlpool tubs all have that step, even in the fully accessible rooms. I use the step as a shelf to store a few days worth of DD's medical supplies (the rest stay in her medical suitcase which we use as a 'storage locker')

 

[pwdebbie]

We stayed at OKW in a 1-br “Florida” HA room. We had a a jacuzzi tub and a walk-in shower that did indeed have grab bars. The toilet was raised and had the pull-down grab. Ar next to the toilet (although we could never get it in the down position). Worked really well (although my mom tripped over the step up to the tub and fell not even 5-min after we got in our room! The bathroom was dark and she didn’t see the step…oops)!

We had a Florida special at POFQ, but it was a tub with grab bars. Dh's balance is so bad now that I don't trust him being able to get into the tub.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I always wondered what "Florida Special Accessibility" rooms meant. Do they all have a shower (roll-in or not?) with grab bars? The OP specifically said that she wanted a regular shower, not a tub, just with grab bars. Unfortunately I've never seen one, but I haven't seen a Florida Special yet.

 

[pwdebbie]

I always wondered what "Florida Special Accessibility" rooms meant. Do they all have a shower (roll-in or not?) with grab bars? The OP specifically said that she wanted a regular shower, not a tub, just with grab bars. Unfortunately I've never seen one, but I haven't seen a Florida Special yet.

Our "Florida Special" room at POFQ (5101) had a tub with grab bars and a fixed upper shower head with a lower shower head that could be removed. At the time, it was perfect for us.

 

[SueM in MN]

The WDW website used to have a description of Florida Special Accessibility room. I can't find it there, but I had it in a note:
This room is equipped with toilet grab bars, an open bed frame and lower toilet height. A portable raised toilet seat is available upon request. Optional communication features for guests with hearing disabilities

 

[lanejudy]

The WDW website used to have a description of Florida Special Accessibility room. I can't find it there, but I had it in a note:
This room is equipped with toilet grab bars, an open bed frame and lower toilet height. A portable raised toilet seat is available upon request. Optional communication features for guests with hearing disabilities

Thank you, I thought that description hadn’t mentioned grab bars in the tub. Interesting that some have it anyway.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you, I thought that description hadn’t mentioned grab bars in the tub. Interesting that some have it anyway.

I wonder if they added them?
I can't find the description on the website any more. I'll keep trying

 

[lanejudy]

I wonder if they added them?
I can't find the description on the website any more. I'll keep trying

I found this for OKW FL Special 1-Bedroom Villa:

Wheelchair-Accessible Route in Room​

Grab Bars at Toilet and in Shower​

And FL Special Deluxe Studio:

Wheelchair-Accessible Route in Room​

Grab Bars at Toilet and Tub​

But POP only indicates:

Grab Bars at Toilet
Open Bed Frame
Lower Toilet Height
Portable Raised Toilet Seat Available​

So FL Special must differ by resort.