Where can we stay onsite with medically fragile, wheelchair and ventilator dependent child...

[Lauren-n-Jeff]

Hi all, We are trying to do some preliminary research in hopes of making a trip to WDW with our family, which includes a 7 year old child who is medically fragile. She is feeding tube and ventilator dependent and wheelchair dependent and so we require accessible accommodations that include a kitchenette and a roll in shower. Most of what I've seen are DVC accommodations, ie: villas and such. Am I missing something?

We would prefer to stay on property as it's part of the magic!

 

[lanejudy]

Accommodations at WDW that include a kitchenette will largely be DVC villas -- which come as studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and some 3-bedroom. While mostly offered as Vacation Club accommodations, you can book these with cash through Disney directly. DVC points can be rented, either from an owner or through a 3rd party, but be aware of cancellation terms if you go this route.

Depending on the kitchenette needs, the Family Suites at either All Star Music or Art of Animation all have basic kitchenettes. One other option may be the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, though that isn't a typical "resort" and may or may not suit your needs but they do have a full kitchen.

All resorts have rooms with a roll-in shower. Make sure you check the "Accessible Rooms" checkbox when searching online. The description will specifically state "wheelchair accessible with roll-in shower" -- be aware there are different types of accessible rooms, some have tubs, some are not wheelchair accessible but hearing accessible, etc. So watch the descriptions.

A lot of which level of resort you choose will depend on budget. DVC villas are considered "deluxe" level resorts with higher price tags. Art of Animation and All Start Music are "value" level resorts with lower price tags.

 

[lanejudy]

The box to check when searching for "Accessible Rooms" looks like this:

 

[HopperFan]

Hi all, We are trying to do some preliminary research in hopes of making a trip to WDW with our family, which includes a 7 year old child who is medically fragile. She is feeding tube and ventilator dependent and wheelchair dependent and so we require accessible accommodations that include a kitchenette and a roll in shower. Most of what I've seen are DVC accommodations, ie: villas and such. Am I missing something?

We would prefer to stay on property as it's part of the magic!

See if All Star Music Family Suites / HA will work for you. Their kitchenette is nice with a full size fridge not cooler.

Disney ASMU

 

[mamabunny]

See if All Star Music Family Suites / HA will work for you. Their kitchenette is nice with a full size fridge not cooler.

Yes - this is important; all Disney Resort Hotel rooms now have glass-fronted "beverage coolers" that can be - according to what many of us have experienced - hit or miss on exactly how cold they get, and stay.

Any accommodation that has a "kitchenette" or kitchen will have a real, full-size fridge that also has a freezer.

 

[lanejudy]

Any accommodation that has a "kitchenette" or kitchen will have a real, full-size fridge that also has a freezer.

Any “kitchens” should have a real full-sized refrigerator. That would be the larger (1-2-3 BR) villas, the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, and as PP mentions the ASMu family suites.

However most “kitchenettes” may have a mini-fridge (DVC studios) or even just a beverage cooler (AoA family suites); definitely not full-sized. And freezer quality of mini-fridges can vary.

 

[luisov]

You're definitely on the right track with looking at DVC villas, they usually have the accommodations you need. Another option could be the Family Suites at Art of Animation or All-Star Music—they have kitchenettes and are wheelchair accessible. Staying on property is great for the full Disney experience, plus it makes getting around easier with the transportation options.

 

[mamabunny]

Any “kitchens” should have a real full-sized refrigerator. That would be the larger (1-2-3 BR) villas, the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, and as PP mentions the ASMu family suites.

However most “kitchenettes” may have a mini-fridge (DVC studios) or even just a beverage cooler (AoA family suites); definitely not full-sized. And freezer quality of mini-fridges can vary.

Thank you for that - I thought that all of the kitchenettes still had the apartment-sized (but "real) fridges that used to be in some of them. Or maybe I'm thinking of some of the Marriott Vacation Club units...

 

[Lauren-n-Jeff]

See if All Star Music Family Suites / HA will work for you. Their kitchenette is nice with a full size fridge not cooler.

Disney ASMU

Yes! An actual refrigerator and freezer are necessary due to medications and her blended food. I'll check it out. Thanks!

 

[Lauren-n-Jeff]

Any “kitchens” should have a real full-sized refrigerator. That would be the larger (1-2-3 BR) villas, the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, and as PP mentions the ASMu family suites.

However most “kitchenettes” may have a mini-fridge (DVC studios) or even just a beverage cooler (AoA family suites); definitely not full-sized. And freezer quality of mini-fridges can vary.

Thanks for clarifying this. A freezer and an ACTUAL fridge are critical.

 

[Lauren-n-Jeff]

Accommodations at WDW that include a kitchenette will largely be DVC villas -- which come as studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and some 3-bedroom. While mostly offered as Vacation Club accommodations, you can book these with cash through Disney directly. DVC points can be rented, either from an owner or through a 3rd party, but be aware of cancellation terms if you go this route.

Depending on the kitchenette needs, the Family Suites at either All Star Music or Art of Animation all have basic kitchenettes. One other option may be the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, though that isn't a typical "resort" and may or may not suit your needs but they do have a full kitchen.

All resorts have rooms with a roll-in shower. Make sure you check the "Accessible Rooms" checkbox when searching online. The description will specifically state "wheelchair accessible with roll-in shower" -- be aware there are different types of accessible rooms, some have tubs, some are not wheelchair accessible but hearing accessible, etc. So watch the descriptions.

A lot of which level of resort you choose will depend on budget. DVC villas are considered "deluxe" level resorts with higher price tags. Art of Animation and All Start Music are "value" level resorts with lower price tags.

I appreciate this. Thanks! We used to always stay at FW Cabins and rent a golf cart and have the time of our lives. What constitutes a fantastic vacation sure changes when you have a child whose needs are vastly different!!

 

[PurpleKomodo]

Hi there! I also have a medically fragile child who uses a ventilator at night, uses a wheelchair, and is tube fed. We actually ended up buying DVC shortly after he was diagnosed because we love Disney, knew we would want to keep going, and also knew we would always require the bigger accommodations. We loved Old Key West with him. The DVC rooms are some of the largest on property. All wheelchair accessible rooms are on the bottom floor because it is an older resort with no elevator. We were able to park our van pretty close to our room and not deal with lots of extra doors or elevators while loading and unloading our "mobile PICU" and all the supplies and such we had to bring. We have also stayed in a 2-bedroom villa at the Boardwalk with him and also found it to have what we needed, but maybe not as convenient of parking/unloading situation. Because we own DVC, we have not ever tried the AoA suites with him, but that might be a more cost effective option for you depending on how many are in your group. We are a family of 5 and always bring at least 1 extra adult, so we don't fit in the AoA suites anyway.

 

[HopperFan]

Yes! An actual refrigerator and freezer are necessary due to medications and her blended food. I'll check it out. Thanks!

Most kitchenettes will not offer these so check closely. Disney has converted to mostly beverage coolers.

This is the kitchenette at All Star Music.

 

[sunburnin]

I appreciate this. Thanks! We used to always stay at FW Cabins and rent a golf cart and have the time of our lives. What constitutes a fantastic vacation sure changes when you have a child whose needs are vastly different!!

We loved FW Cabins!!!!! Our first two trips were there when our kids were young. We'd rent a golf cart and a double stroller and had the best experience roaming around the campground. Those trips were in early Dec and the decorations people had with their RVs were epic. Sadly the transportation logistics there get more complicated with wheelchairs. But I'd love to try and go back again.

Since my daughter transitioned to a powerchair several years ago, we've stayed at Boardwalk, Beach Club, or Yacht Club (with one split stay at Contemporary). We'd walk to/from Epcot and HS and use the bus for MK and AK. Or if hopping, we'd walk through Epcot and take the monorail to MK.

The DVC villas will give you the most space and probably the fridge you need. We stayed at Beach Club last month, and the roll-in shower and bathroom were fine, but the room wasn't super large, and we only had the mini-fridge.

Best wishes planning your trip!!!

 

[lanejudy]

This is the kitchenette at All Star Music.

Yes, such a better kitchenette area at ASMu! There is a big difference between "family suites" at ASMu (above) and AoA (below):



The entire layout of the space is different. ASMu is designed from 2 regular connecting hotel rooms. AoA was designed to be suites.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi there! I also have a medically fragile child who uses a ventilator at night, uses a wheelchair, and is tube fed. We actually ended up buying DVC shortly after he was diagnosed because we love Disney, knew we would want to keep going, and also knew we would always require the bigger accommodations. We loved Old Key West with him. The DVC rooms are some of the largest on property. All wheelchair accessible rooms are on the bottom floor because it is an older resort with no elevator. We were able to park our van pretty close to our room and not deal with lots of extra doors or elevators while loading and unloading our "mobile PICU" and all the supplies and such we had to bring. We have also stayed in a 2-bedroom villa at the Boardwalk with him and also found it to have what we needed, but maybe not as convenient of parking/unloading situation. Because we own DVC, we have not ever tried the AoA suites with him, but that might be a more cost effective option for you depending on how many are in your group. We are a family of 5 and always bring at least 1 extra adult, so we don't fit in the AoA suites anyway.

We are DVC members at OKW too and usually stay in a one bedroom, even if it's only 3 of us. Our daughter uses a wheelchair. She isn't tube fed or ventilator dependent, but we have a lot of medical 'stuff' with catheters, flush kits, sterile water. I like that there is enough space for her to get around easily without moving furniture.
There is also a lot of room to put her stuff. I usually only have about 2 days worth out at a time and use her medical bag as a kind of locker to store everything else.

If the OP is considering DVC, they might want to look into Bay Lake Towers at Contemporary. It's on the monorail line, so easy access to MK and EPCOT. Plus there is a nice walking path to MK

 

[Mochi0310]

I know you said onsite but we really love staying at Flamingo Crossing. Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Homewood Suites, Home2Suites all have large rooms and you can even book a 1 and sometimes 2 bedroom suites. All of them have good sized kitchenettes as well. No more than 15 minutes away from the parks and way cheaper than staying onsite.

 

[Genie+]

DVC is a great onsite option for suites. Here’s a few things to keep in mind:

Renting DVC points usually saves a decent amount over cash reservations, even possible compared to strong cash discounts. One of the biggest differences is cancellation policies.

Cash cancellation terms are quite generous. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/terms-conditions-package-2024/

DVC requires stronger commitment. Depending where/who you rent though, terms may differ. Some may allow date changes [limited on when those points expire (up to 2 years) and DVC availability (depending what options are left you might need to change resort)]. Some allow partial refunds and some offer insurance.

Booking DVC can seem complicated at first. I think it’s worth the effort, especially if you might repeat, because the next bookings feel simple after learning the ropes. It can save alot of money over a few visits.

The 1 DVC category that may not save money compared to cash is 1 Bedroom. Point charts do not follow the same patterns as rack rates. DVC 1BR is usually 2 times the points of studios or more while rack rates 1BR are often only 50% more than dollar cost of studio. Seasons and daily rates are also different. For example, in December DVC can save 75% off rack rates yet some dates in Oct or Nov save less than 50%, so discount may end up close in cost with cash.

DVC HA category example-



^That’s for Grand Flo. The other resorts are similar HA options (but much lower points lol!).

 

[Lewisc]

I suggest a medically fragile guest avoid cancellation issues inherent with renting points.

 

[Astingel2016]

Yes, such a better kitchenette area at ASMu! There is a big difference between "family suites" at ASMu (above) and AoA (below):

View attachment 867483

The entire layout of the space is different. ASMu is designed from 2 regular connecting hotel rooms. AoA was designed to be suites.

I just came across this post while looking into AoA accommodations. My family is taking a trip to Disney in December and we booked a wheelchair accessible room at AoA. Do the wheelchair accessible rooms at All Star Music still have the full kitchen? And if so would it still be big enough for me with my wheelchair as well as my husband, and 2 kids, aged 16 and 12?