Help me choose a WDW resort - very specific needs

[jewel]

We will be traveling in Jan 2025. No specific dates yet, but planning on 10ish days at a resort. We are traveling from Ca and are DL experts, but have only been to WDW a couple of times, and the last time was almost 15 years ago.

Our situation is sort of tricky. We are traveling with my mom and younger brother, plus me, my H, and 2 kids. My brother is significantly disabled and uses a wheelchair. He is also the world’s biggest Disney fan 😊

I’m looking at DVC rental but am really open to whatever. We’d prefer a 2 bedroom/2 bath but would settle for 2 totally separate rooms. The main thing is accessibility - he needs a big shower that is not a tub/shower combo. It doesn’t have to be specifically “accessible” but needs to be some kind of walk-in shower that has or can fit a small shower seat.

Secondly, we’d prefer a hotel that has at least one park transportation option that isn’t the buses. I know we’ll need to take the buses, and we have, but it’s not fast or easy for us. If we could eliminate a bus sometimes, that would be amazing.

Price…middle-ish? We’re hoping to stay around $1k per night for the whole group.

Any hotel suggestions? DVC rental sites or other?

[wesleycrusher]

I stayed a few weeks ago with my mom (just me and her) who is disabled. We stayed at an ADA accessible cabin at Fort Wilderness- it doesn't fit your requirements, but was so spacious and had a huge roll-in shower.  I imagine that all ADA rooms would be similar in that regard. My mom was so excited to be able to go into a hot tub!  All the staff at Disney were so amazingly kind and helpful with her needs.

[gretchenindisguise]

I would look into Wilderness Lodge. They have a ramp for folks that need it for the boat to Magic Kingdom and its a pleasant ride.

That or any monorail property would be good, I would assume.

Your best bet may be calling and asking them about shower situations.

[roo54]

I just stayed at Coronado Springs, and my inlaws had a room with a walk in shower. There was plenty of extra floor space that a wheel chair would fit into the room as well.

I'm a travel agent with Seek the Magic Travel if you'd like help booking!

[mccallister84]

Feb 14, 2024 12:32:19 GMT -5 roo54 said:

I just stayed at Coronado Springs, and my inlaws had a room with a walk in shower. There was plenty of extra floor space that a wheel chair would fit into the room as well.

I'm a travel agent with Seek the Magic Travel if you'd like help booking!

Huh so I was right in thinking that your post all about your wonderful trip booking with Seek the Magic Travel was just an extended ad for your agency.

[mrsslocombe]

The Disabilities forum on Disboards will probably be able to give you any all info you need, they are very helpful:
www.disboards.com/forums/disabilities.20/

If you are renting points and want a 2 bed at a monorail or Epcot resort, you will need to inquire 11+ months out, those rooms book quick.


If you don't rent points-Art of Animation family suites have two bathrooms-one has a tub shower, the other is a stall shower, though it's not roll flat entry (except in ADA rooms). I wouldn't cram all of you into one family suite, but depending on the promotions you might be able to get two within your price. Art of Animation has the Skyliner, which has a separate loading area for wheelchair users and it very quick and easy.

You could also try for ADA rooms at Caribbean Beach or Pop Century, both on the Skyliner, within your budget.

[roo54]

Feb 14, 2024 12:41:04 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Feb 14, 2024 12:32:19 GMT -5 roo54 said:

I just stayed at Coronado Springs, and my inlaws had a room with a walk in shower. There was plenty of extra floor space that a wheel chair would fit into the room as well.

I'm a travel agent with Seek the Magic Travel if you'd like help booking!

Huh so I was right in thinking that your post all about your wonderful trip booking with Seek the Magic Travel was just an extended ad for your agency.

Yeah, but I didn't get anything out of it. I'd still give the same advice that I'm giving now regardless of if I was a travel agent or not. I'm not trying to force myself on anyone. I haven't pm'ed anyone or anything. What's wrong with trying to get business and help people out in the meantime? Maybe I should have been honest in that trip report saying the travel agent was myself. but it's all still the same. I was able to book hard to get reservations, and planned the whole trip out the same way I have for many others.   ETA: I took that paragraph out of my trip report. 

[mccallister84]

Feb 14, 2024 13:09:35 GMT -5 roo54 said:

Feb 14, 2024 12:41:04 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Huh so I was right in thinking that your post all about your wonderful trip booking with Seek the Magic Travel was just an extended ad for your agency.

Yeah, but I didn't get anything out of it. I'd still give the same advice that I'm giving now regardless of if I was a travel agent or not. I'm not trying to force myself on anyone. I haven't pm'ed anyone or anything. What's wrong with trying to get business and help people out in the meantime? Maybe I should have been honest in that trip report saying the travel agent was myself. but it's all still the same. I was able to book hard to get reservations, and planned the whole trip out the same way I have for many others. 

There’s a definite difference in saying I had a wonderful trip thanks to this travel agency that I recommend and saying I had a wonderful trip because I was a wonderful travel agent and planner and I can do the same for you. What you did is extremely biased and in my opinion borderline unethical.

[roo54]

Feb 14, 2024 13:35:49 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Feb 14, 2024 13:09:35 GMT -5 roo54 said:

Yeah, but I didn't get anything out of it. I'd still give the same advice that I'm giving now regardless of if I was a travel agent or not. I'm not trying to force myself on anyone. I haven't pm'ed anyone or anything. What's wrong with trying to get business and help people out in the meantime? Maybe I should have been honest in that trip report saying the travel agent was myself. but it's all still the same. I was able to book hard to get reservations, and planned the whole trip out the same way I have for many others. 

There’s a definite difference in saying I had a wonderful trip thanks to this travel agency that I recommend and saying I had a wonderful trip because I was a wonderful travel agent and planner and I can do the same for you. What you did is extremely biased and in my opinion borderline unethical.

I can see where you are coming from, and I edited my post above to say that I removed it from my post. I have no mention of it at all now in my review. 

[georgeglass]

Is there a park where you think you'd spend the most time? We love the Beach Club/Yacht Club/Boardwalk area because you can get to two parks without buses and there is the entertainment of the area itself.

[jewel]

georgeglass - I'm not sure! We're planning on 7 day park hoppers, so I think we'd probably jump around and see where we end up wanting to spend more time. Most of our group tends more bigger rides, but it's been too long since I've been to remember which parks that might end up being. As far as hotel grounds, we don't really care. Unless we're napping or resting, we'll probably be at a park. I don't have any particular desire for certain hotel amenities or theme.

mrsslocombe - that's my dilemma with DVC rental right now! We're right about 11 months out, depending on which week we end up choosing. I'm having a tough time deciding whether I should go for a DVC rental or wait to see direct hotel prices/deals. From what I've seen, hotel reservations for 2025 won't be released until at least May, and deals for January probably won't be released until fall.

I *think* I'm leaning towards a 2 bedroom villa, if I can get one at a decent price. Most seem to already come with a walk-in shower, which is good enough. It doesn't need to be ADA accessible necessarily - it just needs to have a non-tub shower option. Because we'll be there for 10 days and are traveling across the whole country, I'm thinking that having a w/d in the room and a full kitchen would be really helpful.

So...that's sort of where I'm landing right now.

[redhead610]

Feb 15, 2024 19:03:48 GMT -5 jewel said:

georgeglass - I'm not sure! We're planning on 7 day park hoppers, so I think we'd probably jump around and see where we end up wanting to spend more time. Most of our group tends more bigger rides, but it's been too long since I've been to remember which parks that might end up being. As far as hotel grounds, we don't really care. Unless we're napping or resting, we'll probably be at a park. I don't have any particular desire for certain hotel amenities or theme.

mrsslocombe - that's my dilemma with DVC rental right now! We're right about 11 months out, depending on which week we end up choosing. I'm having a tough time deciding whether I should go for a DVC rental or wait to see direct hotel prices/deals. From what I've seen, hotel reservations for 2025 won't be released until at least May, and deals for January probably won't be released until fall.

I *think* I'm leaning towards a 2 bedroom villa, if I can get one at a decent price. Most seem to already come with a walk-in shower, which is good enough. It doesn't need to be ADA accessible necessarily - it just needs to have a non-tub shower option. Because we'll be there for 10 days and are traveling across the whole country, I'm thinking that having a w/d in the room and a full kitchen would be really helpful.

So...that's sort of where I'm landing right now.

We like staying at the Poly in the DVC rooms. Easy to take the monorail to MK and Epcot.

I'm not sure about the ADA rooms, however, the dvc rooms have 2 showers each - a tub one and a walk in one in a separate little room with a sink. They also offer connecting rooms, which we like with a big group.

[badgerwrangler]

We just stayed in a studio at Wilderness Lodge (in the Boulder Ridge villas) and were given an accessible room. I took pictures to send to my dad as he is a motorized scooter/walker user and I knew he would be interested.

Shower had a rubber piece to stop the water coming out that was like glued down (though I could lift it so you could probably remove it if necessary). You can see the folded up shower seat on the left hand side.

Attachments:

[jewel]

badgerwrangler Thank you! I was looking for the Wilderness lodge as a couple PPs suggested and couldn’t find any rooms for DVC rental so I thought maybe they didn’t participate - but Boulder Lodge and Copper creek are Wilderness Lodge. Lol.

How did you like that resort? The room set up and price look good.

Im currently leaning towards a 2 bedroom at the Riviera, Boulder Lodge, or Copper Creek.

[badgerwrangler]

Feb 16, 2024 19:20:53 GMT -5 jewel said:

badgerwrangler Thank you! I was looking for the Wilderness lodge as a couple PPs suggested and couldn’t find any rooms for DVC rental so I thought maybe they didn’t participate - but Boulder Lodge and Copper creek are Wilderness Lodge. Lol.

How did you like that resort? The room set up and price look good.

Im currently leaning towards a 2 bedroom at the Riviera, Boulder Lodge, or Copper Creek.

We actually own DVC at Boulder Ridge, we just love it there.  Two really nice pools, peaceful, boat ride to Magic Kingdom.  My kids would say that the water slide is only mid though, haha.

Boulder Ridge is the stand alone DVC building that is older, but was just refurbished 2022-2023.  Copper Creek is in the main building and newer.  Both are really nice though, I would stay at either.

We haven't stayed at Riviera, mostly because the kids aren't impressed by the pool and the points per night is pretty high.

[abs]

I’d stay where you want and then look at Minnie vans for transportation when you are over the buses (which takes me .12 seconds). Lyft is an option as well for all parks other than MK. Or just rent a car.

[jewel]

Feb 18, 2024 9:40:37 GMT -5 abs said:

I’d stay where you want and then look at Minnie vans for transportation when you are over the buses (which takes me .12 seconds). Lyft is an option as well for all parks other than MK. Or just rent a car.

We do plan to use the Minnie Vans if we can, but a lot of what I’ve seen in WDW Facebook groups is that the accessible vans are really difficult to get, especially close to opening or closing. Unfortunately, we can’t use any other rideshare service because my brother uses a full sized wheelchair that doesn’t collapse.

[joy]

You can walk to Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian.

You can walk to Epcot from Beach Club.

Walking was so pleasant, especially at open/close times.

[nsl]

Feb 22, 2024 14:58:15 GMT -5 joy said:

You can walk to Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian.

You can walk to Epcot from Beach Club.

Walking was so pleasant, especially at open/close times.

You can actually walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios from Yacht Club, Beach Club, the Boardwalk, the Swan, and the Dolphin. IMO Crescent Bay area is worth the extra money (and Swan and Dolphin are more Moderate priced!) any day.

[satsuma]

Just a heads up that BC/YC’s Stormalong Bay pool will be undergoing maintenance from Jan ‘25 - May ‘25 and it’d be a bummer to be there and not be able to use the flagship pool.

[nellywilk]

i guess all back to normal now? How was your last trip?
Also what can you guys say about san antonio zoo customer service? Is it easy and smooth?
We purchased tickets couple of weeks ago, but i am afraid we can't go, so would be great to get a refund.

[quesyrah]

We love Caribbean beach resort. The skyliner goes to Epcot and Hollywood Studios and is a breeze for wheelchairs.

The resort has accessible rooms with roll in shower, et.