Mixed results with Bluegreen and RCI re Disability Units

[Ozark Earl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozark Earl]

As Bluegreen owners for nearly ten years, we have experienced varied results with Bluegreen, primarily after my wife was struck with a debilitating condition that precludes her from walking. So, she uses a walker for short distances and a wheelchair or scooter for greater distances. In our early years with BG, we found that it paid to call the resort immediately after making a reservation to confirm the availability of an accessible unit. Our first experience with this was in Myrtle Beach, where we had to wait two hours for another owner to move out of an accessible unit he had not requested or needed. We heard the blame game of local resort vs. Boca Raton. Since then, the online reservations system has the wheelchair accessible option to allow us to check that in order to screen available units. But I still call ahead to confirm that an accessible unit will be available. But, for the most part, the number of owners with handicapped placards or license plates far exceeds the number of available handicapped parking spaces at every BG resort. I daresay the number of spaces does not equal the number of accessible units. But I digress. Recently, I attempted to convert saved points that would expire to RCI reservations, only to find out that RCI does not have the accessibility options as does Bluegreen. Would this constitute a violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act? The "workaround" I was offered by Bluegreen was unworkable for its own resorts... Would anyone care to join us in a class action style complaint with the Department of Justice? Anyone out there who has experienced the frustration of traveling with a less-abled companion can appreciate this situation.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Hi Earl and welcome to the forum.

I've had mixed results with obtaining disability units.
It's not easy to travel with a disability and timeshare travel seems to be exempt from some
of these laws since many of the resorts are older and possibly pre-date these laws.

I've found the bigger developers to be a bit better at this game.
Many of the Bluegreen resorts predate Bluegreen club and use fixed week assignments if the
owner has not converted to points.
Disney and Wyndham will show you the accessible units online but I always call anyway.

As for RCI, I find that putting a unit on hold and then calling in and asking for the unit number
that is on hold and then verifying with the resort helps, before you pay the exchange fee.
I've had to cancel many holds because the unit was on the 2nd floor and there were no elevators
in the building.

As for the parking spaces, I use a handicap decal but I don't need a handicap unit, just a ground
floor if there are no elevators. Lots of people have handicap decals and don't need the full
accessible units. I only request those units when traveling with my Auntie & Mom in their
80's and I don't want any falls which sadly has happened to us in regular units.

I'm not sure what a class action suit would do but have at it.

[weavboy04 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close weavboy04]

I have requested hearing impaired room for past two years and get the run around or have to check in and wait till next night to move. Even after I have in the notes at reservations when booked and called resort manager months prior to check in . I have called ADA Dept but no luck as keep getting run around because the management team changes every three months

[Ozark Earl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozark Earl]

Not a class action suit; too expensive! But a complaint through the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Check out their website and you can see what is required. Perhaps that might jar some rocks out of some heads at Boca Raton! I just want all members to have an equal opportunity to maximize their points and travel horizons... That is what I have tried to convey to those with whom I have spoken in person and by telephone. Enough is enough...not trying to beat dead horse...

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Ozark Earl and Weavboy,
I feel your pain but doubt anything is going to change.
When you are an "owner" some of those laws don't seem to apply.
Many of these resort predate disability laws and if they were deeded and sold as regular rooms
they can't be converted into a handicap unit because there may be fixed week owners who still
own those rooms.
Not sure about the newer 100% trust owned units, I imagine those can be converted.

I own in an older resort and would not want my fixed week unit to be converted to a handicap unit.
I bought it as it is and expect it to stay as is even if the developer converts any weeks to points sales.
I'm thinking that that is possibly why BG is not answering your concerns.

BG has grown the club acquiring older resorts like Christmas Mountain Village and Solara Surfside both
developed in the 80's by other companies who are long gone.
Yes they have some newer resorts and maybe those are the ones you need to focus on in the future for
your vacations or start considering using hotels instead of timeshares where you can guarantee an ADA
room.