Disney World Resort Accessible Rooms & Accommodations

Have you ever stayed on Disney property for your vacation? Let’s talk about the resort room options with accessibility features.

Disney offers accommodations for visual, hearing, and mobility impairments. Each resort has accessible rooms spread throughout the property which allows for room availability with standard view, pool view, water view (where applicable), theme-ark view (where applicable), savanna view (where applicable), garden view (where applicable), preferred, and club level.

These are the options available when booking a room with differing views.

Hearing accessible with visual alarms and notifications
Florida accessible with option for hearing accessibility
Wheelchair accessible with tub and option for hearing accessibility
Wheelchair accessible with roll-in shower and option for hearing accessibility

Some options are available in accessible rooms but will not be listed on the description online. These include low threshold at balcony, touch switch lamp electrical switches & thermostat 48" from floor, and lower towel racks, countertops, cabinets, and bathroom/shower fixtures.

As Disney remodels rooms they’re enhancing accessibility as well! In newly remodeled rooms you may find adapted curtain adjusters with rings rather than the typical skinny rod, open shelving, removal of closet doors, lowered soap dispensers, and the room safe is relocated to a more accessible area and provides a key for security rather than a keypad.

A limited number of rooms feature an automatic room door that opens and remains for 10 seconds to allow for entry. This feature is activated whether opening the door manually or using the push button.

The best way to ensure your specific needs are met is to speak with a Special Reservations cast member. They are trained to locate an ideal room based on your needs so try to be as detailed as possible. The more flexible you are with dates and resort

location, the more accommodating Disney could be for your family.

Special Reservations phone number:

(407) 939-7807

You can also book on the Disney website for easy comparison of prices and options, but with perhaps less allowance for specificity.

To filter your online room search, plug in dates and guests then select the box labeled “accessible rooms” to see availability.

Using a free travel agent specialized in disability travel would be a great way to express your needs and have them hunt for the perfect fit for your family!

Hearing accessible with visual alarms and notifications

These rooms may appear standard at first glance, however; they are equipped with visual alarm, visual door knock/door bell alert, a strobe light smoke detector, visual telephone call alert, a telephone with volume control, and electrical outlet near telephone jack. A Text Typewriter (TTY) telephone is available upon request at checkin. Another accommodation that can be requested is a bed shaker notification. Additionally, TTY can be added to any of the other accessible rooms.

Florida accessible with option for hearing accessibility

This room is equipped with toilet grab bars, an open bed frame and lower toilet height. No adapted room layout is provided, but communication features are available upon request.

Wheelchair accessible with tub and option for hearing accessibility

This type of room is comparable to a standard, non accessible room in layout and door widths making it difficult for a wheelchair user that needs to remain in their chair when accessing the bathroom. In the bathroom there’s grab bars located by the toilet and on the wall of the tub/shower combo. The toilet seats are also raised. This is a good option for someone with limited mobility, perhaps not fully lacking mobility. Visual, communication, and hearing accessibility are available for some rooms and are notated in the description.

Wheelchair accessible with roll-in shower and option for hearing accessibility

This type of room has an accessible route within the room and wider doors to accommodate a wheelchair. bathrooms include a raised toilet with grab bars, roll-in shower with a seat and grab bars, and a handheld shower head. The vanity/sink area is open so a wheelchair can be positioned under the counter for use. In the bedroom, beds are lowered to allow for easier transfer from a wheelchair. Visual, communication, and hearing accessibility are available for some rooms and are notated in the description. I have seen conflicting answers on room size for this room type—You may find the bedroom area to be smaller in these rooms to allow for the oversized bathroom according to some, and others say the room is overall larger than it’s non-accessible counterpart to account for wheelchair routes. I tend to see the rooms as slightly larger. Visual, communication, and hearing accessibility are available for some rooms and are notated in the description.

This is our room preference when traveling and after attempting to use other room selections with the heart of flexibility- other options just don’t cut it.

Optional Adaptives

In addition to room accommodations, there is equipment that can be requested for use during your stay at no charge.

Crib/playpen
Bed rails
Portable over the toilet seat with grab bars
Portable shower/bath chair

You can request these items at the front desk or call from your room and bell services will deliver to your room. These are available on a first come, first serve basis so if you’d like to ensure your needs are met, I suggest calling the reservations line to have a cast member notate the reservation with your requests.

Hot tips

If you need more space in your room, call the front desk to have them remove any excess furniture from the room.
Before you travel, look at a resort room map (I like to use the ones on touringplans.com) and determine an ideal location based on your plans and needs. If you’ll be using Disney transportation, look for an area closer to the bus stop or skyliner. If you are driving and need to access your vehicle daily, request closer proximity to the parking lot. If being close to food or the lobby is important- consider a preferred room upgrade. You can also call the reservation phone number and give your specifics to a cast member who can include those requests on your reservation. They’re not guaranteed but Disney does attempt to accommodate location requests.
Charge your ECV in the hallway if you have an interior room but keep the key in the room with you. This gives you much more space without risk of the chair being taken. (Primarily a tip for renters)

A note of integrity

As usual, I wish this went without stating, but alas— if your needs to not require an accessible room, please refrain from reserving one. You do not get special access or better room placement on property with these rooms, you just get the modifications. Please leave these options open for travelers who need them.

If you are using an ECV for the parks, but do not need the enhanced features of an accessible room, ECVs and all wheelchairs fit easily through the front door of every room, including non-accessible ones, so opt for one of those rooms instead. There are far more choices for you without the accessibility anyway which may lead you to a more desirable option.

If you have needs or equipment not available through a Disney resort, there are also local rental companies to fulfill your needs making it easier to temporarily relocate your medical setup.

www.orlandomedicalrentals.com

I recommend making sure a company will deliver and offers insurance on equipment before using their services.

When traveling with a disability, I know you are nervous about your environment in a new location. We have never felt more taken care of than on Disney property. If you have needs I haven’t listed, simply ask- there may be more accommodations that I have not encountered before!