Which WDW DVC for those with mobility issues?

[tweetykl]

We had rented DVC points to go to WDW with our family and our best friends for 2020. We have a voucher we need to redeem for that 10 night trip that we were booked at Beach Club. Since then we have become DVC owners but are Disneyland people. We have never been to WDW. Now my best friend has mobility issues. She is not using a wheelchair yet but needs a lot of downtime and walking long distances is hard. Which DVC resort would you suggest for mobility issues, relaxing at the resort with the amenities, but also accessible to parks for the rest of the group of 4 adults and 2 teens?

 

[Marionnette]

We had rented DVC points to go to WDW with our family and our best friends for 2020. We have a voucher we need to redeem for that 10 night trip that we were booked at Beach Club. Since then we have become DVC owners but are Disneyland people. We have never been to WDW. Now my best friend has mobility issues. She is not using a wheelchair yet but needs a lot of downtime and walking long distances is hard. Which DVC resort would you suggest for mobility issues, relaxing at the resort with the amenities, but also accessible to parks for the rest of the group of 4 adults and 2 teens?

I would choose Poly or VGF for convenience to MK and Epcot or RIV for its small footprint and convenience to HS and Epcot.

I would avoid OKW because most of the rooms are not accessible via elevator and you could be climbing steps to a 3rd-level villa.

AKV-Kidani and BWV have long hallways. AKV has multiple elevators but BWV only has one.

SSR is very spread out but the rooms are all pretty accessible via elevator.

 

[DeeBee3]

I was going to also suggest a monorail resort. The monorails do go down, but you still have a boat (Poly/VGF) or a walking path from BLT or VGF.

I would definitely avoid SSR or OKW.

 

[Best Aunt]

The BCV handicapped accessible studio rooms are right near the elevator and you hear really really really annoying elevator noise in those rooms. (I do not need a HA room but I always get assigned one for some reason.) The noise was so bad that after 5 minutes I went down to the lobby and begged to be moved.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Part of me says to avoid OKW, but part of me thinks it's one of the better options - it probably depends on how you view it. It's absolutely true that most of the resort has no elevators (a few new buildings do), but with that in mind, 1/3rd of the resort is on the first floor - and they will try to accommodate any accessibility requests you make. If you have a car, you can park right in front of your room, which minimizes walking. If you're using buses, it's a little tougher with the walking.

If you can get an AKL-Jambo room near the main lobby and elevators, it's worked out very well for us in the past.

Just an FYI - if you have a vehicle with a disabled placard or license plate, you can use Disney valet parking free of charge at any of the resorts during your stay - that might come in handy sometimes, if you go places for dinner.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

First idea - AKV Jambo house. Since it will be DVC you'll be on the 5th floor. If you can get room(s) close to the main lobby this would give her easy access with minimal walking to the lobby, the gift/supplies shopping area, two of the three restaurants (Boma and Jiko) , and a short walk to the pool and the counter-service restaurant (Mara). This is because the main bank of elevators is right off the lobby to the right. You will have to take buses to all parks.

In the Epcot resort area you have Boardwalk and Beach Club. Both have ferry service to HS & Epcot, but it is somewhat of a walk from BCV where the BWV boat dock is right outside the main lobby - much less walking distance. There are also a number of dining options in the BW area. You will also have more room availability at BWV.

OKW - if you can get Hospitality House area that puts you where the shopping/dining/ bus stop is and also the boat dock that could take you to Disney Springs. It's also the resort with the largest rooms - 1 bedroom is about 1,000 sq ft and the 2 bedroom is around 1,400 sq ft.

For the MK DVC resorts you will have a decent amount of walking distance from the DVC property to the monorail. I would suggest Bay Lake Tower for the following reasons - the walkway from BLT to the Contemporary is covered, and you have more of a variety of dining options at the Contemporary.

I wish you luck and an enjoyable trip.

 

[RoseGold]

I have a permanently wheelchair-bound family member. We’ve had great experiences at a lot of DVC properties. We know a lot about accessibility,

As you will learn, accessibility is big word with a lot of facets. Being able to get in the shower at kidani might not help if you only have stamina to leave to room for an hour.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I would avoid OKW because most of the rooms are not accessible via elevator and you could be climbing steps to a 3rd-level villa.

Counter-point... If you have a car, Old Key West might be the MOST convenient option because you can basically park right outside your front door. I'm sure it has happened, but I haven't heard of anyone with a bona fide mobility issue being denied a first floor room if requested.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Counter-point... If you have a car, Old Key West might be the MOST convenient option because you can basically park right outside your front door. I'm sure it has happened, but I haven't heard of anyone with a bona fide mobility issue being denied a first floor room if requested.

I agree. The second most convenient would be Kidani with the added benefit that your car would be out of the sun. Kidani has multiple elevators to the parking area and designates HC parking close to them.

 

[robinb]

I would suggest that your friend rent an ECV for her time at WDW. Each of the WDW parks is bigger than Disneyland and DCA combined. An ECV will help with her mobility and stamina and will allow her to keep up with the rest of the group. ECVs can be taken on most WDW transportation so even if she gets tired and wants to go back, she can hop on bus or boat and go “home” on her own.

I personally love being able to get to both Epcot and DHS by the walkway. So, I would choose BWV or BCV. The Polynesian with (mostly) direct monorail access to both MK and Epcot is also nice but you’ll need to rent studios there.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I agree. The second most convenient would be Kidani with the added benefit that your car would be out of the sun. Kidani has multiple elevators to the parking area and designates HC parking close to them.

However, if you don't have a car, you may be very far from the lobby/bus stop. It happened to me, and just before I moved to an ECV, it took me almost 25 minutes to get to the lobby from my room, which was the next to the last room although I'd requested "close to lobby".
My favorite resort for getting around is BCV, but I reserved a HA studio for my next trip, and the post above about elevator noise has me VERY nervous.

 

[Debbie Jean]

However, if you don't have a car, you may be very far from the lobby/bus stop. It happened to me, and just before I moved to an ECV, it took me almost 25 minutes to get to the lobby from my room, which was the next to the last room although I'd requested "close to lobby".
My favorite resort for getting around is BCV, but I reserved a HA studio for my next trip, and the post above about elevator noise has me VERY nervous.

I had a BCV HA studio last month. Will do the same this summer. Had no issues with elevator noise.

 

[Best Aunt]

The BCV HA studio that I hated was 325. As you can see from this map, it's right next to the elevator. The elevator noise that you could hear in the room was weird - it was sort of a whirring sound. I couldn't tune it out.

http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-bcv/floor3.php

 

[jo-jo]

What size rooms are you looking at? This past trip, DH used a scooter for the first time and it was a little tight in a BLT studio with all the furniture. In hindsight, I should have asked for a chair or ottoman to be removed.

Of course, this is if your friend gets a scooter and if you plan a 2 bedroom for all, there are no issues.

 

[sueg]

We just had a last minute, one night stay in Saratoga. We were given an accessible room, although we didn't need it. It was a learning experience.
We didn't know about the front door "closing itself" and almost called front desk to say something was wrong with it. Everything was low...no upper kitchen cabinets, really low bed, suspended rings to close drapes etc. No armchairs in room. But I was surprised that there was no walk-in shower..There were 2 bath tubs for a 1 BD
Lots of handicap parking near our building. And of course, there is the building elevator.
Except for the shower, I think the room would work well for someone who needs mobility assistance

 

[Her Dotness]

But I was surprised that there was no walk-in shower..There were 2 bath tubs for a 1 BD

Sounds like you had what we call a "walking disabled" villa.

When booking, it's important to look for "roll-in shower accessible" if you've someone who'd have difficulty stepping into/out of a tub.

That's what DH prefers as it's easier for him than the tub-shower combos in otherwise accessible villas.

 

[kboo]

I would suggest that your friend rent an ECV for her time at WDW. Each of the WDW parks is bigger than Disneyland and DCA combined. An ECV will help with her mobility and stamina and will allow her to keep up with the rest of the group. ECVs can be taken on most WDW transportation so even if she gets tired and wants to go back, she can hop on bus or boat and go “home” on her own.

I personally love being able to get to both Epcot and DHS by the walkway. So, I would choose BWV or BCV. The Polynesian with (mostly) direct monorail access to both MK and Epcot is also nice but you’ll need to rent studios there.

You might get different and better answers in the disABILITIES! forum - but here goes. I went last summer in a walking boot and rented an ECV at *everyone's* suggestion. (Could have done a knee scooter, could have mostly used the boot, but I am SO GLAD I rented the ECV.) I agree with @robinb's post 100% about the ECV giving your friend a lot more independence and ability to keep up. We did a split between BLT and RIV and I liked both of them very much. I was able to charge the ECV in the hallway outside our room.

If you want to be close to MK, BLT and VGF are wonderful now that VGF also has the longer walking path. RIV was great because of the compact resort - we got to/from our room easily, elevators weren't crowded, etc. BUT sometimes there was a wait to get a skyliner and there is a bit of a learning curve to getting in and out (at the parks there is also a separate line, but they can take a car offline and load you in to a stationary one). The CMs are SO LOVELY about all of this. If you think you might want to spend time at EP and HS, my vote would be BWV #1 (elevators and hallways are a bit painful, but you could roll easily to 2 parks) and RIV #2 (only issue is skyliner).