Still thinking of joining... what about 2 contracts??

[tigger2on]

Still thinking of joining DVC through a resale of OKW. DD is wheelchair bound so we'd like the bigger rooms @ OKW plus the slide to come looks great.
Looking at 220 - 260 Total! But are trying to decide whether to split it between 2 contracts.
Definitely want to have OKW as main resort with at least 200 but alos like the idea of Vero and being able to get to the coast for a few days as well.
Wondered if it was hard to get Vero at 7 months for May use? Or should we buy at least 50 - 60 points on a Vero contract and be able to book 2 - 3 nights on that in a studio?

We are trying out a 1 bedroom @ BWV first before we take the DVC plunge! Just wanna know it's what we want for our family now and more little ones in the future!!

 

[Dean]

A 150 pt master contract plus another 50-120 add on contract or similar would be ideal if you can find one all together. I would not buy two separate contracts resale with your plans in mind, the higher costs just aren't worth it. Of course you could buy less OKW points and then look to add on at a different resort to have more choices at the 11 month window and do this either through DVC or resale.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I would buy one contract, since it makes things easier, and simpler when making reservations. I would think that making ressies at Vero in May would be easy. I made ressies for the past two years just 3 months before my arrival in June, and never had any trouble except when I thought I might want a beach cottage Have you considered buying a BWV contract? While I am not wheelchair-bound, I have sciatic nerve difficulties. While at OKW, I found the grab bars around the toilet were set too far back for comfort, and some buildings are not handicapped assessible. There is a site on this board for those with handicaps, which might be useful. I would consider BWV due to the ground floor elevator, wheelchair ramp at the pool with bars, and taller toilet in the handicapped rooms. It was so difficult being unable to take part in normal activities, everyone should try it once.

 

[jodifla]

I don't think Vero would be tough to get in May. I've had good luck booking there at 7 months.

 

[rocketriter]

How many children do you have? We have two, so we plan to end up with two contracts. Each kid can inherit one. It's certainly not the only way to go but (as the farmer said when he kissed the cow) it's a plan.

 

[pumpkinboy]

As I have mentioned before, I get the impression that our two wheelchair-bound children (your DD and my DS) have more or less comparable abilities and needs.

So I think your logic about the larger OKW rooms probably works. Being able to get around the room with the wheelchair in it is a pretty important factor to consider. SueMinMN of the DISabilities board has owned at OKW for more than a decade and swears by it. I would think that you might want a home resort with a Zero-Entry pool (eg SSR); not sure if OKW offers one yet (SueM?). We actually bought at BWV bcs of the elevators, easy access to rooms and especially bcs of the Epcot location: in our thinking, to be able to get to two of the four parks via boat (ie no need to completely secure chair on the bus for each leg of the trip) was the biggest plus. Also, our DS Loves the boats!

Now the question on the multiple contracts, home resorts etc: I would not recommend buying at VB right away, since you will likely be able to secure the type of lodging you want at the 7 month mark, according to most posts I have seen here. The really tight times are US school vacations, and the most difficult type of room to get is the BC, which we can't use bcs of our wheelchairs anyways. I would recommend you get one big contract at one home resort; this will be less expensive and less work for you in any case. It will also make it easier for you to manage your points, since one contract, home resort and UY is much easier to keep track of.

Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

We have stayed in wheelchair accessible and regular 2 bedroom units at OKW. Our whole family has stayed in a regular room at VWL. DH and I stayed in a one bedroom regular unit at BCV and DH and older DD (not in a wheelchair) stayed in a studio at VBW.

Youngest DD uses a wheelchair full time. She's a good driver and it quite independent at home. She uses a narrow adult wheelchair (seat is 14 inches wide and 18 inches long, for some perspective). She has no problems getting around at OKW in a regular or wheelchair accessible unit. She can get everywhere without problems and without having to move anything or being in the way for anyone, even when the sleeper sofa is made into a bed. She is able to go out on the porch and her wheelchair fits well at the table in the great room, even with 4 to 6 chairs aound the table. Both bathrooms are large enough to drive a wheelchair in and close the door, even in the regular units. The raised seat toilets in the handicapped rooms are a bit high for her (she's only 5 feet tall and is done growing). Wheelchair accessible units are scattered thru the resort. One of things we like is that it's so easy to get out of the unit - just open the door and go down the sidewalk. Bus stops are usually not far away and if you drive, the car/van is very close to your unit.

DD doesn't use the pool to much (her idea of a perfect pool would be the temperature of the hot tub). I don't know if they will add a zero entry when they renovate the main OKW pool. I'm quite certain they will at least add a set of "bump steps" for access since they have added these to other pools as they were renovated. I've been told that the pool at Old Turtle Pond does have bump steps.

When we stayed at VWL, we had a lot of problems because of the smaller space. We were in a regular unit, so I don't know if these issues would be solved by having an accessible unit. There were no accessible units to look at when we have taken tours, but the DVC CMs told us the rooms were the smae size, just arranged differently.
If the sofa sleeper was made into a bed, DD could not get thru the great room at all, so she was either trapped in or out of the second bedroom. It was not possible for her to get on the little deck (and even if she could, the wheelchair would not have fit because the deck is narrow). She could not get close enough to the table and when she sat there, only 2 other people could sit there since she partially blocked the bench seat. When she was at the table, she also created a bottleneck to get around.
We were all the way down the hall from the elevator, so to get out, we had to walk in the wrong direction to get to the elevator and then backtrack to get to the bus and boat stops.

When DH and I stayed at BCV this summer, we were also looking at it from an accessibility standpoint. We would have the same problems there as at VWL. It would be nice to have the closeness of 2 parks, but for us, the extra room at OKW (and not having to trip over the wheelchair or have DD upset because she can't get thru someplace) is the most important for us.

If you have a small child, the places may look roomy, but remember that the wheelchair grows somewhat with the child. You will have plenty of room to get around at OKW, but I would definately suggest taking a tour to see what would work for you.

 

[jaysue]

A note of caution on VB booking for May - we attempted to book a 1 or 2BR for this May for May 16-19 albeit only on Feb 24 so not lots of notice period.

The only rooms at time of booking that were open were the Ocean View Inn rooms which I booked one.

We are currently waitlisting for a 1 or 2BR unit at this time.

Remember that May 1-31 is a low points time for VB and as such could be more competitive than people might think at first glance.

Having said that I would not buy a smallish 50-75 pt contract outside of my home resort - If I was buying in the 200pt range, I would concentrate at one resort and probably one contract - this size is easy to move in the resale market if that becomes an issue in the future.

thanks
jaysue

 

[stacy6552]

If you're planning on going to VB regularly then aplit your points. VB is cheaper so why spend more on points that youre just going to use there?

 

[tigger2on]

OK.
My little one is only 7 so I am not even thinking about inheritances yet! Trying for #2 after the Fun-Filled Family Honeymoon to Disney in May !
What are bump steps? I usually just carry her into a pool with regualr steps....?
We like zero-entry pools but figure we can always book into Saratoga or BCV if swimming will be that important for that trip. Ryleigh likes Hot tubbing though!!! The warmer water relaxes the spasticity in her muscles. But we can do that anywhere with a jacuzzi tub!

 

[SueM in MN]

here's a picture of the "bump steps" at SAB.

They are useful for someone who can transfer themselves. You pull the wheelchair next to the steps, make a transfer onto the first step and then use the rails to "bump" your way down the steps into the water. For getting out, you use the rails to pull up, step by step.
My DD can't use them because she has to much spasticity and not enough balance to transfer like that. But, for people who have good upper body strength and balance, or for people who can move fluidly, but are weak, they work well.
Actually, for us, the regular steps work OK as long as we can get to the handrail.
Here's a picture of the zero entry pool at the Polynesian.

I think we would have more problems with that with DD since you have to walk a long way before you get into any depth of water. They have water wheelchairs, but DD is sort of obsessive about only using her own wheelchair.

I have heard from posters (besides Andrew who took this picture), that WDW will let people with disabilities pool hop if they need to use an accessible pool. So, I would base my decision on what resort has rooms/other amenities that work well for you rather than necessarily going for a place with a zero entry pool.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Oh, so that's what bump-steps are. They have those at the VB pool, but not useful to us since DS does not use his arms well yet (could not grab hold, etc.). Thx so much SueM in MN for your info and experience. Maybe we shoulda bought at OKW then; of course DS can always have the hide-a-bed in the 1BR/ 2BR living area, no matter how tall he gets (I am 6'3" and DW 5'8" so I expect kids will get tall).

Now I have to go home an get a picture of my DS in the VB pool to post. Will do later, so watch this space!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thx so much SueM in MN for your info and experience.

Glad to help. It's nice that my obsession can help someone else.

of course DS can always have the hide-a-bed in the 1BR/ 2BR living area, no matter how tall he gets (I am 6'3" and DW 5'8" so I expect kids will get tall).

I'm 5'8" and everyone in my family is tall, but I married into a family of short people. My oldest DD is about 5'6", but when youngest DD got to be 5 feet tall, I told her that she was the perfect size for doing transfers and she could stop growing. For once, she listened to me and she is just the perfect size, not too tall, not too short and not too heavy.

When we bought at OKW, it was the only DVC there was, so we didn't have any choice. For us, it has been the best place though, so I'm glad we ended up there.
quote from tigger2on

We like zero-entry pools but figure we can always book into Saratoga or BCV if swimming will be that important for that trip.

We never used the quiet pool when we stayed at BCV, but we walked by it quite a few times and I don't think it is zero-entry. SAB had the bump steps in the picture in the other post. The only zero-entry area we saw was at the wading pool.