Treehouse villas handicapped accessible?

[SonicGuy]

Just booked a graduation trip (AKV) for next August for my niece and DD. My DD uses a wheelchair and we were looking at the artists renderings for the treehouse villas. They do not appear to be ADA accessible. Does anyone have any information or idea? I know that they would really like to stay there if possible.

 

[jekjones1558]

Some of the units WILL be ADA accessible. It is the law. I was told by a CM at a DVC kiosk that the units will have elevators, but I don't really believe that. It would be cost prohibitive. At least some of the units will have ramps. Be sure that you tell MS you MUST have a HA unit when you book!!!

 

[mikesmom]

I was wondering this myself as DH has issues with stair climbing. I'm thinking the law says that there have to be accessible units in the resort. I don't think it says there has to be accessibility in every type of unit. Since the Treehouse units are part of SSR, that would clear them there. Not sure about this, just thinking (typing) out loud.

I wouldn't really trust what a CM said about it, unless they were on the planning team. Sometimes they tend to shoot from the hip when you ask them a question.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I thought I read that four of the 60 will be handicapped accessible with a ramp.

 

[SueM in MN]

I was wondering this myself as DH has issues with stair climbing. I'm thinking the law says that there have to be accessible units in the resort. I don't think it says there has to be accessibility in every type of unit. Since the Treehouse units are part of SSR, that would clear them there. Not sure about this, just thinking (typing) out loud.

I wouldn't really trust what a CM said about it, unless they were on the planning team. Sometimes they tend to shoot from the hip when you ask them a question.

The ADA Guidelines says that there have to be rooms available in each type of room available to people without disabilities (so, for example, they could not make only 1 bedroom villas or have only one view have accessible rooms).
Because of that, they would have to provide some accessible Treehouses.

I thought I read that four of the 60 will be handicapped accessible with a ramp.

I know from old guidebooks that none of the Treehouses were accessible originally when they were built.
Someone has posted before that some of the old Treehouses were accessible (possibly made accessible when they renovated them for use by CMs on the college programs).

The ADA Guidelines have specific numbers of rooms that need to be accessible in new construction (which this is). Without looking it up again for the 'for sure' number, it's about 4-5 accessible rooms for a resort with 60 rooms. Not all of those would have to have a roll in shower - only one would have to have that. The rest could have a raised seat toilet and a bathtub with grab bars.
There would need to be either a ramp or an elevator to get up to the 'living level' for the accessible villas. Two Treehouses close together could share an elevator or ramp, so they could make it more economical.

 

[cokenut33]

We were in Rochester on Sat night at the DVC presentation there, and we were shown artists concepts of the villas and there was a picture of the outside of the villa with a ramp going up. I remember thinking that would be easier than stairs. I don't know if it will be part of the final design but I would think that Disney wouldn't want to deny anyone access to any of their resorts.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

Just booked a graduation trip (AKV) for next August for my niece and DD. My DD uses a wheelchair and we were looking at the artists renderings for the treehouse villas. They do not appear to be ADA accessible. Does anyone have any information or idea? I know that they would really like to stay there if possible.

Were you able to book the treehouse villa category? I didn't think it was available yet.

 

[SonicGuy]

No we have not booked - not yet available. We were just discussing looking at changing when they do become available. Just did not want to get DD's hopes up if she would not be able to get to them.