Hyatt Coconut Plantation [is hard to access on a scooter]

[taffy19]

You are right because a rescission notice is not a contract. The postmark date is important and I found out recently that you can do this in any post office in the USA if the post office is closed but have to send something with proof of mailing it before a certain date.

I had never used one of these machines where you can do all this yourself and was watching a lady sending a package late at night when I was posting a letter at our post office. She also had to send a letter with a receipt that it was mailed so she had proof of the date stamp and offered to show me. I didn't know that these machines let you do this all so learned something new. In our area, we can drive to a post office that still has a pick-up late at night but this is much more convenient.

There may still be people who are not familiar with what these machines can do either so we may want to mention this if someone is in a bind and needs to get the date stamp no later than that particular day. There was a post here recently where this was mentioned that they were too late by only one single day.

 

[icydog]

I sent in my rescission letter on Tuesday by certified mail, signature required, with a return receipt requested.

I was getting nowhere with the GM about the disability thing.

I spoke with an II representative who added an AC to my account.

Today I started calling everyone at the II Leisure Group. I finally spoke to a lady at II in Miami who listened to me and got me two extra nights stay here.. that'll be terrific because our plane leaves on Monday and we were going to our respectively motel rooms for those two nights.

This way my friends can help me in and out the non-electronic doors here. Tomorrow and Sunday will be my second and third day outside my room. My friends had business to do in the area and could not accompany me to the pools which meant I didn't go.

The GM told me he had people at the doors to the clubhouse to let me in anytime I wanted to go in (or out) but I didn't know that. I also got $100 towards a meal at the hotel.

I like the GM here at Coconut Planatation but this vacation was ruined by Hyatt's lack of regard for my disability or my safety. Only after I pursued a solution through II did anything happen here at the resort.

I'm glad I rescinded. I will never return to another Hyatt. Marriott and Disney Vacation Club are fine with me. I have NEVER encountered a problem like this with either vacation club.

 

[tschwa2]

The resort is ADA compliant. That doesn't mean it will be accessible to everyone. It doesn't mean others aren't sympathetic to your plight but I don't think you are owed additional compensation because you did not want to ask for help opening doors. When we stayed at a Marriott Ocean Watch in an accessible room there was a 6 inch lip on the balconies and there was no where to get a wheel chair out onto the balcony. She cried because sitting on the balcony and looking at the ocean is one of the few things she could do. They tried to build a makeshift ramp which they said they have used in the past but it was not safe. There was no way to get her outside without physically carrying her in and out. I didn't feel like compensation was owed. It is what it is and the resort wasn't out of compliance. We won't return with her because of this but I wouldn't disparage the company as inconsiderate to the disabled. I would imagine you have a phone and could call the front office and someone would open the doors for you. You may not have known it at first but you do now.

You mentioned that you just started using the scooter. I think you may find the same problem at more resorts than you think.

 

[icydog]

I have my own opinions as to how this was handled. It was sorted out to my satisfaction and I believe I was entitled to some compensation.

 

[DeniseM]

icydog - How will you handle this in your home town? I was thinking about our region, and only the very large chain stores have automated doors. The majority of doors have to be opened by hand.

 

[dagger1]

My wife has been in a wheelchair (full time, she cannot walk at all) for fifteen years. We have been to numerous hotels/resorts, and I can assure you Hyatt's are ADA compliant. That does not mean that every door can open automatically, or that we don't run into the occasional obstacle. I feel for the OP, because it sounds as though this is new for her...

 

[dagger1]

I appreciate that tschwa2 researched the door situation but not having ANY doors accessible by some means seems counterintuitive doesn't it?

We have been to Ritz Carlton's, Hyatt's, Disney, Westin's, and many other resorts, and not one of them would have been any more "accessible" than the Hyatt you stayed at.. Not one.... Sorry to tell you this... You will need help getting into some areas, through most doors, and even getting around properties. We have found all these resorts to be very helpful, just like the Hyatt Coconut Plantation was to you. We have only complained when the ADA room (with roll in shower) we always book and confirm prior to arrival has not been available. This does upset us...

 

[icydog]

I'm surprised you mentioned Disney. I think I remember that the main doors into/out of Disney Vacation Club Resorts have been sliding doors. I could be wrong because I'm new to this.

Denise, I live in NJ and all the stores I visited had sliding glass doors or a large button to push to open the door. Maybe that's why I was surprised by this Hyatt.

I have to tell you though, since this was brought to the GM's attention, I have been escorted through doors, had elevators opened for me and had everyone from the pool towel people to the front desk managers check on me. They have made me feel heard and I appreciate that very much.

 

[topcop400]

I have MS and I’ve been in a wheelchair since 2002. OP needs to know a couple of things that have not been mentioned here. ADA only applies to buildings that were built or sold after a certain year (I think it’s 1992). Historic buildings are completely exempt—it doesn’t matter when they are sold. San Francisco, Charleston and other areas have TS properties in historic buildings. Even Wyndham Southshore has no ADA units and that’s not historic—not by a long shot. I don’t know how they are compliant.



I need a roll-in shower, and that isn’t always easy to come by (even at Hyatt & Hilton). A lot of places have just ONE unit with a roll-in shower. If that’s already taken, I’m out-of-luck. Even when I call ahead and confirm. Tubs with grab bars are ADA compliant, so some (like Carlsbad Seapointe) have NONE. I can only imagine how mad you would have been if you had needed a roll-in shower, couldn’t get one, and had to sponge bath all week. Staff couldn’t help you with that!


There are a lot of timeshare properties that are not ADA compliant, but what you are describing at this Hyatt property certainly is.


Never count on ADA compliance as a guarantee of convenience, much less comfort.

 

[dagger1]

I'm surprised you mentioned Disney. I think I remember that the main doors into/out of Disney Vacation Club Resorts have been sliding doors. I could be wrong because I'm new to this.

Denise, I live in NJ and all the stores I visited had sliding glass doors or a large button to push to open the door. Maybe that's why I was surprised by this Hyatt.

I have to tell you though, since this was brought to the GM's attention, I have been escorted through doors, had elevators opened for me and had everyone from the pool towel people to the front desk managers check on me. They have made me feel heard and I appreciate that

I'm surprised you mentioned Disney. I think I remember that the main doors into/out of Disney Vacation Club Resorts have been sliding doors. I could be wrong because I'm new to this.

Denise, I live in NJ and all the stores I visited had sliding glass doors or a large button to push to open the door. Maybe that's why I was surprised by this Hyatt.

I have to tell you though, since this was brought to the GM's attention, I have been escorted through doors, had elevators opened for me and had everyone from the pool towel people to the front desk managers check on me. They have made me feel heard and I appreciate that very much.

I think I may have been unclear: many of the resorts and hotels, maybe most, have "automatic" doors entering the lobby. Those entrance doors are the only "automatic" doors, though. Then the obstacle course begins. But all of those hotels are considered "ADA" compliant.

 

[dagger1]

I have MS and I’ve been in a wheelchair since 2002. OP needs to know a couple of things that have not been mentioned here. ADA only applies to buildings that were built or sold after a certain year (I think it’s 1992). Historic buildings are completely exempt—it doesn’t matter when they are sold. San Francisco, Charleston and other areas have TS properties in historic buildings. Even Wyndham Southshore has no ADA units and that’s not historic—not by a long shot. I don’t know how they are compliant.



I need a roll-in shower, and that isn’t always easy to come by (even at Hyatt & Hilton). A lot of places have just ONE unit with a roll-in shower. If that’s already taken, I’m out-of-luck. Even when I call ahead and confirm. Tubs with grab bars are ADA compliant, so some (like Carlsbad Seapointe) have NONE. I can only imagine how mad you would have been if you had needed a roll-in shower, couldn’t get one, and had to sponge bath all week. Staff couldn’t help you with that!


There are a lot of timeshare properties that are not ADA compliant, but what you are describing at this Hyatt property certainly is.


Never count on ADA compliance as a guarantee of convenience, much less comfort.

I completely agree with this post!!! Well said!

 

[dagger1]

I'm surprised you mentioned Disney. I think I remember that the main doors into/out of Disney Vacation Club Resorts have been sliding doors. I could be wrong because I'm new to this.

Denise, I live in NJ and all the stores I visited had sliding glass doors or a large button to push to open the door. Maybe that's why I was surprised by this Hyatt.

I have to tell you though, since this was brought to the GM's attention, I have been escorted through doors, had elevators opened for me and had everyone from the pool towel people to the front desk managers check on me. They have made me feel heard and I appreciate that very much.

I think it is fantastic that Hyatt took such good care of you after you pointed out your difficulties...

 

[dagger1]

that is disgusting. Hyatt company should know better. Can you sue them?? or at least
file a complaint with the ADA.

What is terrible is that her "travel companions" abandoned her. They should have known better. Hyatt is completely ADA compliant, the headline of this post is not correct.

 

[pedro47]

The majority of all hotels and resorts in the USA meet ADA compliant. In the past there was a check list form completed by the hotel management staff that was submitted to federal government stating that were in compliant.

The major issue for hotels and resorts was the pool lift apparatus . Because the pool lift apparatus was used maybe and mean maybe once or twice a year. This is a very costly piece of equipment to install and to upkeep. This is why you are seeing more and more outdoor pools with zero entrance to their pool with railings on the side. Thus, you can roll a wheel chair directly into the pool.

 

[dagger1]

The majority of all hotels and resorts in the USA meet ADA compliant. In the past there was a check list form completed by the hotel management staff that was submitted to federal government stating that were in compliant.

The major issue for hotels and resorts was the pool lift apparatus . Because the pool lift apparatus was used maybe and mean maybe once or twice a year. This is a very costly piece of equipment to install and to upkeep. This is why you are seeing more and more outdoor pools with zero entrance to their pool with railings on the side. Thus, you can roll a wheel chair directly into the pool.

We utilize the pool lift at almost every resort we go to. They require assistance as well, I lift my wife from her wheelchair onto the lift. And I have never seen anyone else use the lift while we are at the pool, but I am sure the lifts are used (very seldomly.) I have yet to see a roll in pool. I'm not sure we would want to put her wheelchair in a pool, especially a salt water pool. And this won't help a person in a scooter. It never occurred to me to ask for monetary reimbursement because of my wife's difficulties.... This is just life. And we are definitely not going to allow her inability to walk to interfere with our travels... Until I can't walk, that is!!

 

[tschwa2]

We utilize the pool lift at almost every resort we go to. They require assistance as well, I lift my wife from her wheelchair onto the lift. And I have never seen anyone else use the lift while we are at the pool, but I am sure the lifts are used (very seldomly.) I have yet to see a roll in pool. I'm not sure we would want to put her wheelchair in a pool, especially a salt water pool. And this won't help a person in a scooter. It never occurred to me to ask for monetary reimbursement because of my wife's difficulties.... This is just life. And we are definitely not going to allow her inability to walk to interfere with our travels... Until I can't walk, that is!!

They usually have one of those pvc tube type wheel chairs you can use with the zero entry ramp.

 

[dagger1]

They usually have one of those pvc tube type wheel chairs you can use with the zero entry ramp.

Oh, I've seen those at the Y. I would still have to transfer my wife to the PVC chair, which I am happy to do!! (She is a helluva woman!!)