resort suggestion for md child w/wheelchair and service dog

[hahmood]

I am planning a surprise trip to DW as a Christmas gift for my family. We have a reservation at WL club level March 2008. I found out today from the mom of one of my sons friends who has musculsar distrophy that she is planning a trip to DW at the same time. He has a service dog and is in a wheelchair. Any suggestions as to resort best suited? Or a villa? A travel agent suggested the Poly due to size of rooms. There will be 4 adults (mom, dad, grandma & GRANDPA)and the boy with his service dog. We are going to try to keep it a secret that they will be there at the same time until the boys get there!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I think they may like the FW cabins. They have a bedroom with bunks and a double bed and a living room with a murphy bed, plus a full kitchen. Since FW does allow pets(not in cabins unless service dogs) there are several dog walk areas, so seeing the service dog might not draw as much attention when he is "off duty". With the cabins you also have the ability to park right in front of you "home"

 

[madenon]

Four adults and a child in a standard room would be too crowdy anyway if you ask me. Purely for size, I wouldn't book one of the most expensive resorts. I've done CBR (largest rooms of the mods) this last september, with a powerchair and manual. The room was large enough to get around in very comfortably in both chairs with the other still in the room. While I travelled alone, there was enough room for a second adult. I had a room with a roll in shower. This is something they'll need to think about, do they need a roll in shower? In that case he'ld be able to roll to the shower and toilet in his chair. In the other handicapped rooms, there are bars and a bath. Some prefer the first, some the latter.

I found the room to have some cooler spots, some warmer, some a bit drafty, some not drafty. There is enough shade and enough corners (for instance under table) for the dog to lie down, choosing whatever it would prefer itself. Also enough place to put a feedingbowl without standing/riding in it.

If they purely need a second room because of the disability (instead of 4, a disabled room will only fit 2 adults), special reservations will get them a second room for the remaining adults at no cost.

There are stickies on top of the disABILITIES section with info about the rooms and pics incl. sizes of all kinds of things. This can come in handy. If I remember correctly, the CBR rooms are even bigger than some of the Deluxe rooms, but not sure about that.

The dog will be welcome everywhere. DCLfun (kathy) will be able to tell you more about the practical side of it. I've seen her posting regularely about requesting an extra tight cleaning up after see leaves, so everybody knows for sure things are clean again and no doghairs are left behind in case anybody with an allergy for dogs would be next in that room. But again, the best info will come right out of Kathy's mouth.

 

[hahmood]

All good stuff. We have been to WDW 3 times and I love reading the posts and doing the research. My husband has health issues and everyone was wonderful at WL when we were there this spring. I s there a way to send a message to DCLfun (kathy) to get some good pointers? I have ordered the pasporter for special needs (expensive! I was shocked coz I always use the passporter as a filing system for each trip) for them as a gift.

 

[madenon]

You can send her a PM (private message), if you click on her nickname above her avatar. For instance, your nick Hahmood. It's underlinded. If you click on there, you'll get the option of sending a PM. But knowing DCLfun, if she sees this topic title and notices the dog, she'll come round and post.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I found Caribbean Beach to be a great place to stay with my service dog this past May. I wasn't in an accessible room, but was on the first floor on the outside of the building we were in (in other words, not facing the court yard [which is now a smoking area]). Our door went right out to a nice grassy area that was hidden from view of the parking lot from trees. It was perfect to let my dog out on the Flexi to go potty there.

The only nearby outdoor trash can was in the court yard, though, so you'd either have to go there or I guess you could leave your extra resort room trash can outside to use for the poops, if it was hard for you to get to the court yard every time or you have a smoke allergy/asthma. (You could prob'ly also ask housekeeping to put a can out there for your stay - I would think they would do that.)

Oh - and the room we had was able to be a connecting room, as it had the door. (We didn't need that feature.) But, again, it wasn't an accessible room - I don't know where in the buildings those are located.

 

[dclfun]

Just got back from a short stay at Pop and saw this thread. Sent a PM to the OP ( and sorry I didn't read this thread first!). The Poly is actually a good suggestion if their budget allows. The rooms there are quite large and there are grassy areas for the SD. The one resort I'd avoid is AKLodge. It can be quite a trek from your room to the one break area, which has no grass and only mulch. Skye would go into the "woods" to relieve herself and come back out covered in brambles. Renting a villa ( they've changed the name now from DVC villas to something else ) on property is also a great suggestion. In that case, OKW gives the most space and maneuverability plus parking is right outside your room. Did you say you are coming at Christmas? Skye and I are rehearsing again for Candlelight Processional so if you go and you see a lady in a w/c with her service dog on stage, that's us! We sit right in front of the trumpets and behind the orchestra and Skye sleeps throught the whole thing, only standing up for the Hallelujah Chorus.---Kathy

 

[soarinfan]

we recently stayed at WL and I use a scooter. It was so tight getting into the room that I had to leave my scooter out in the lobby. I went to the front desk to see if a handicapped room would be better and they said they are the same size as a regular room. I'm able to walk - just not distances so I was okay, but I can't imagine how anyone who can't get out of a chair can manage.

I've never been in a villa, but I'd ask about square footage. There's a chart in a book I just got called Walt Disney World with Disabilites. It lists Polynesian as the biggest room at 407 feet, then grand floridian at 403 feet (very expensive though), then comes yacht club and beach club at 400 feet. Wilderness Lodge is only 344 feet.

Really we love WL, but we stay there for the atmosphere of the resort, and not the rooms. They feel really small.

By the way polynesian, animal kingdom and Grand Floridian have zero entry pools so you can ride a wheelchair right into the water.

 

[SueM in MN]

If they purely need a second room because of the disability (instead of 4, a disabled room will only fit 2 adults), special reservations will get them a second room for the remaining adults at no cost.

Just to clarify for the OP, this only applies if you don't have more people than would normally fit in that room. It would apply for a party of 4, but since 5 people would be more than 'normally' fit in a room, you would have to pay for the second room.

Another part of the DIS site has information pages about each resort.