Room request for med reasons at OKW

[MulanMom]

Been a member of DVC OKW since '93. However, we have not stayed at a DVC resort since my Dh's mobility decreased due to a neuromuscular disease. He now needs an ECV 24/7 while at WDW. Since many of OKW's rooms are 2nd and 3rd floor, accessible only via stairs, we noted we needed a first floor room or assignment into a building with elevators. I recalled reading somewhere that a person's request for the same reason was not honored during their stay at OKW. When I checked with Member services they gave me the same spiel as if I were requesting a water view!

This would be a nonissue if all the rooms were accessible via elevator. When we purchased DVC, we were in our early 30s and didn't think we'd face these type of mobility problems until we were much older, if at all. Many of our recent experiences have not been positive with the OKW front desk and I really am dreading check in. What do we do if they cannot give us a room that the ECV can be driven into?

I'd be interested in hearing anyone's experiences in this regard. I thought I should contact special needs services, but was told by DVC member services that this was only to block out Handicapped Accessible rooms.

TIA!

 

[SueM in MN]

It is really only a problem for the GVs. That is because there are only 2 wheelchair accessible GV (and I think one other non-HA GV in one of the elevator buildings).

If you are staying in a studio, one or 2 bedroom, you won't have a problem because there are many more of them (plus many people don't want first floor because they like the views higher up).
As long as you are not looking for a GV, and your confirmation sheet says something similar to "First Floor or Elevator Building for Medical Reasons", you will be OK. If you want to be absolutely positive, you have the option to get a wheelchair accessible room, which would be blocked for you. But, we have been members at OKW since 1993 also and have had a DD using a wheelchair on almost every visit and have not had any problem.

 

[DebbieB]

What time will you be checking in? If you check-in early you should be able to get it.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know what they are doing with "room ready" about medical requests, but in the past, those were filled before the other requests for the same thing. So, even though it was not guaranteed, it was a problem getting it filled. Unless you are checking in really late in the day, I don't think it should be a problem even if they are assigning rooms as people check in. Especially if you don't have a lot of other requests.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have to always have non-smoking for medical reasons, and I have never failed to get that.

 

[Pootle]

I have always requested first floor for medical reasons and on more than 20 check-ins I have always been offered this.

I am certain that this will be fine for you. I too read the post you mentioned and I think something must have gone very wrong on that occasion, and like others have said, probably because it was a GV.

Good luck

 

[spiceycat]

when you get your confirmation does it say on the confirmation

MEDICAL REASONS....

if not call back MS and tell them your situation.

more medical request are guaranteed.

I would think you would need a handicapped room.... they have the bigger rooms so ECV will fit into it easier.

with a studio the tub is gone with a handicapped room - you only have shower with a curtain.

in a 1-bedroom and up - the shower has a curtain instead of the glass door...

the toliet is higher.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We needed an ECV on several trips, and the 1-2 bedroom units fit an ECV just fine. There is a great place to plug it in near the easy chair with the ottoman and lamp. Medical requests are blocked even though they aren't guaranteed. In 20 plus stays of always needing non-smoking for medical reasons and a couple with needing ECV access, we have never been disappointed.

 

[MulanMom]

Thanks, everyone, for telling me your experiences. They are very encouraging. I couldn't recall if the issue I read about included a GV or not. There also seemed to be a few messages regarding nonsmoking for med. reasons not being honored, but I cannot recall if they were DVC or not. IIRC, the post regarding the individual with an ECV who did not get his/her request mentioned s/he had to park the ECV overnight at Hospitality House. That would present difficulty for my DH if he had to be the one retrieiving it.

Spiceycat...re: your suggestion on a Handicap Accessible room, the bathrooms actually present more of a challenge to him than regular ones. He has MD and can balance fairly well with braces on. When they are off (for showers and such), he can balance but cannot recover well if he slips on wet flooring....which is more prevalent in a HA bathroom. In addition to that, he staunchly doesn't want a HA room unless he absolutely needs it. Can't say I blame him as sometime in the future that will be the only type of room in which we can stay.

Maybe a call to member services will help ease my mind as much as your messages have. Thanks again!

Sharon

 

[Dean]

Just book a HC unit and you'll be set. Otherwise it's just a request even if it is of higher priority than other requests.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would think you would need a handicapped room.... they have the bigger rooms so ECV will fit into it easier.

I don't think the handicapped rooms are any bigger. The ones we have been in at OKW seem to be the same size as the non-handicapped accessible rooms. You would have plenty of room to manouver around in a regular room with an ECV at OKW.

 

[magicmama]

I had to add 'first floor for ECV' in addition to 'non-smoking for medical reasons' to a reservation at OKW over a year ago. I had unexpected surgery weeks before and was determined not to cancel my trip. I did get first floor and it was great. There was room for the ECV in the studio!! Everything worked out great. Bus drivers were very helpful and I became a pro at backing up and parking the ECV on & off the buses.

Enjoy your visit!

 

[MiaSRN62]

When my mil was still with us and undergoing chemo/radiation treatments, we would request ground floor/elevator bldg for medical reasons and always received either one. The OKW CM's were always the best. One time we arrived from a long 18 hour drive and my mil was feeling ill. Her stomach was very upset. The Olivia staff escorted her into the restaurant after a CM from the front desk took us to the restaurant, sat her down at a table and brought her ginger ale and saltines (on the house). They even sat with her until she felt better. Can't say nicer things about the OKW CM's over the years.
Have a nice trip MulanMom......

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I'm sure you'll be fine, but just in case...maybe it wouldn't hurt to get a letter from your DH's doctor indicating a ground-floor room is a medical requirement. I would fax it to the resort with your confirmation number on it and also call a few days later to make sure it was received. It doesn't hurt to try and cover all the bases!

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm sure you'll be fine, but just in case...maybe it wouldn't hurt to get a letter from your DH's doctor indicating a ground-floor room is a medical requirement. I would fax it to the resort with your confirmation number on it and also call a few days later to make sure it was received. It doesn't hurt to try and cover all the bases!

Except that the DVC resorts have written in the member newsletters several times that they don't accept faxes.
I would not worry about first floor (as long as you don't have a reservation for a GV). There are many first floor studio, one and 2 bedrooms, so there are lots to fit your needs. I'd just make sure that it does say "for Medical Reasons" and make sure when you are checking in that what they are giving you is first floor.

 

[MulanMom]

Except that the DVC resorts have written in the member newsletters several times that they don't accept faxes.
I would not worry about first floor (as long as you don't have a reservation for a GV). There are many first floor studio, one and 2 bedrooms, so there are lots to fit your needs. I'd just make sure that it does say "for Medical Reasons" and make sure when you are checking in that what they are giving you is first floor.

Yes, it is noted that the request is due to medical reasons.

Calypso*a*go-go...re: the doctor's note, that is a good idea if the disability is not apparent. In our case, my DH's leg braces, his walk, and his atrophied calf muscles in one leg vs. the other make it pretty obvious. He also has a handicapped ID which corresponds to the placard in our car. When you think about it, anyone who rents an ECV (expense equivalent to a rental car) or brings their own would not do so unless there was a physical need. Of course, if MS required a doctor's note to lock something in, we would have no problems providing it.

My thanks, again, to all who responded. Having some difficulty with my dial-up service, so I'm unable to answer as freely as I normally would! Hope everyone has a good Memorial Day weekend!

 

[Dean]

Yes, it is noted that the request is due to medical reasons.

Calypso*a*go-go...re: the doctor's note, that is a good idea if the disability is not apparent. In our case, my DH's leg braces, his walk, and his atrophied calf muscles in one leg vs. the other make it pretty obvious. He also has a handicapped ID which corresponds to the placard in our car. When you think about it, anyone who rents an ECV (expense equivalent to a rental car) or brings their own would not do so unless there was a physical need. Of course, if MS required a doctor's note to lock something in, we would have no problems providing it.

My thanks, again, to all who responded. Having some difficulty with my dial-up service, so I'm unable to answer as freely as I normally would! Hope everyone has a good Memorial Day weekend!

DVC does not accept medical documentation. As I understand it, the requirements of the ADA are specific to the law and not floating based on the needs of the person. They must supply a certain amount of rooms that meet a certain access criteria along with other modifications. If those rooms don't work for everyone or all of them are gone, then they're legal responsibility is done as it currently stands. Plus the ADA doesn't always apply to timeshares or condo's the same as hotels. Requesting a unit for access for medical reasons but not being willing to accept a HC unit to do so is not reasonable unless one is willing to take their chances. If one asks in this way, it should only be a request. To be clear, I think it's OK to ask, just not to expect it unless a HC unit is reserved.

 

[MulanMom]

....Requesting a unit for access for medical reasons but not being willing to accept a HC unit to do so is not reasonable unless one is willing to take their chances. If one asks in this way, it should only be a request. To be clear, I think it's OK to ask, just not to expect it unless a HC unit is reserved.

I agree with you completely. As I said before, this would be a nonissue if all the rooms/floors were accessible by an ECV. My husband is able to ambulate within the room, so really none of the features of a HA room are required. We were able to fit an ECV into our POP room last trip, so I'm confident we can fit it into probably any room on property!

If the CM responded along the lines of "although we cannot guarantee anything as this is treated as a request, it's been our experience we've been able to meet requests for medical needs x percent of the time," then I would have been more reassured that our need was acknowledged. It would also have been helpful to have an alternative outlined as in "if your ECV cannot be brought into your room, it can be accommodated .......".

This is our first time staying at OKW with an ECV. And still learning in that regard. Many people have not had a problem with requests. I really don't foresee a problem. And if one comes up, I'm sure there's a way to resolve it that's workable.

 

[Dean]

I agree with you completely. As I said before, this would be a nonissue if all the rooms/floors were accessible by an ECV. My husband is able to ambulate within the room, so really none of the features of a HA room are required. We were able to fit an ECV into our POP room last trip, so I'm confident we can fit it into probably any room on property!

If the CM responded along the lines of "although we cannot guarantee anything as this is treated as a request, it's been our experience we've been able to meet requests for medical needs x percent of the time," then I would have been more reassured that our need was acknowledged. It would also have been helpful to have an alternative outlined as in "if your ECV cannot be brought into your room, it can be accommodated .......".

This is our first time staying at OKW with an ECV. And still learning in that regard. Many people have not had a problem with requests. I really don't foresee a problem. And if one comes up, I'm sure there's a way to resolve it that's workable.

And therein lies the problem. DVC has gotten to where they don't consistently make an effort to meet ANY requests. What DVC should do is tell members no that make stupid requests, like a specific unit. Come up with a short request list of acceptable requests that includes general resort location, smoking vs non and true medical requests. They could, and likely should, ask for medical documentation to be on file for applicable requests. But the reality remains that the only way to guarantee a unit you can get to with the ECV at OKW or HH is to reserve a HC unit, else simply take your chances. And given that currently there are more HC units than are needed, this does not take one away from one who needs it. The truth is you'll likely be fine but do you want to chance it. This is an issue that will get worse over time, esp for OKW.

 

[MulanMom]

Yes, we do want to chance it. Maybe it doesn't make a lot of sense to others outside our situation. I've stated some of the reasons in my previous posts in this thread. There are also others that are personal and I don't care to air on a public board.

I finally saw the "Can this happen?" thread and reading it has been enlightening. Are you assuming the issue with HA GVs will get worse with OKW as owners age?