Yes, each building at SSR has an elevator in it. The 2-BR's are located in each building, so scattered all around the resort.
Things like first floor and location are only requests. When possible they'll try to honour it, but it is not guarenteed. The only things that can be guarenteed (after going through the SN dep.) are stuff like accessible rooms etc.
The floor shouldn't be that big of an issue, seeing there are elevators in each building.
If distance to specific locations like main building, bus stops etc. is a big thing I would recommend getting a mobility aid. Even if you were able to get a 2BR close to both, you will run into same types of 'longer' distances getting from the bus and/or carpark to the front of a park where you can rent a mobility aid for the park.
If your father can operate one, I would strongly suggest an
ECV. That way he can travel totally independant, allowing him to go where ever whenever he wants at both resort and parks.
I agree totally with goofieslonglostsis
If he has mobility needs where you are concerned with the distance walked, he will really need some sort of mobility aid. Many people don't realize how much walking is involved in a day at WDW. Most people estimate they walk 3-9 miles a day. Just to walk around the water at World Showcase in Epcot is over a mile (not stopping and going into shops). Someone measured the queue at Soarin' and it is over 1/4 mile from the point you enter the queue until you actually get to the boarding area. Once you have ridden, it is a similar distance back out again to reach the area you started from.
Many attractions have similar distances.
There are 2 bedroom villas in every building, each building does have elevaors, but the distances between buildings is pretty far. The location of your room in relation to other things, like the bus or pool are just requests which may or may not be granted. You could be close to the bus, but too far for him to walk to the pool. And, the main check in area, where you will find the food court and restaurants may be too far to walk - even if it's not, there is a fairly large hill to walk to get from the main sidewalk, past the big feature pool to get into the food court area.
If you want more information about renting mobility aids, there is information, with links and phone numbers, in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature to get there.
This time our mobility issues are more severe, where we need a wheelchair accessible room, will be traveling with a stroller, require bed rails and such. What are any suggestions that those with disabilities/traveling with a disabled family member might have to ensure we don't have such problems upon check-in this time? Is there a person I need to speak with at SSR so this doesn't happen again?
Thanks so much in advance!!
You are not able to speak directly to the resort. Even though you may find an SSR phone number, you are actually speaking to someone in a call center, answering for the resort.
You may also find some references on line to faxing the room assigner with requests, but SSR is a Disney Vacation Club resort and they do not accept faxes (in the information sent to DVC members, they state that they do not accept faxes and throw away any they receive).
As far as wheelchair accessible room, there are 4 different things people are thinking of when they say wheelchair accessible room:
1) On the first floor, so they can drive or walk in without climbing any stairs (as was already mentioned, all buildings at SSR have elevators, so that would not be an issue).
2) A room with grab bars in the shower and near the toilet. Many hotels have these in all rooms, just because it is safer to have grab bars for anyone, to prevent falls.
3) A room with a roll in shower so that the shower can be used without having to step over the threshold of the shower.
4) A room big enough to bring a wheelchair or ECV into the room. Some people are concerned about the size of the door or space in the room and think they need a wheelchair accessible room just because they have a wheelchair - all the rooms, even the ones with roll in showers at SSR are the same size. So, if all you need is to make sure a wheelchair or ECV can be brought into the room, any room will do.
So, your first task is making sure that what you mean by 'wheelchair accessible room' is the same thing that the resort understands and has on your record. A roll in shower is a guaranteed room type. Any of the other things (location, first floor) are requests which may or may not be granted.
There is a post on the disABILITIES FAQs thread that has information about room/resort accomodations, which includes information about the different room types and includes information on contacting the WDW Special Reservations. They handle the scheduling for rooms with roll in showers.
If you made the reservation thru the regular WDW reservation system, you can call that number directly.
If you rented points for your trip from a DVC member, they will need to call for you and make your needs known.
If you made your reseration thru a
travel agent, that agent actually owns the reservation and needs to call/make requests or changes for you.
This is a picture of the Master bathroom of a 1 or 2 bedroom SSR unit:
The roll in shower is off the picture to the right - hard to get a picture of it, but here is a picture that shows the shower entrance and another that shows the fold down seat.
All DVC villas have a whirlpool tub in the master bedroom in a separate room outside of the shower/toilet room. The rooms with roll in showers are no exception. Here is a picture of the whirlpool tub in the room with a roll in shower:
You have put my mind at ease!!
). I'm planning transferring from one chair to the other in the master bedroom most of the times. Will use the manual chair most of the time while getting around the villa, but will also do some getting around in the powerchair. It does have a pretty small turningradius (if you might be familiar with them, it's a Permobil C500) but when looking at pics for the first time some months ago I already noticed it'll be somewhat of a challenge getting around the living room with the powerchair.
