Increasingly, travelers are seeking accessible accommodations while heading for vacation on an ocean cruise ship. In December 2024, Travel Agent sailed for three nights on Disney Cruise Line's new 4,000-passenger Disney Treasure, now homeported at Port Canaveral, FL. We stayed in No. 8604, an accessible Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Veranda. Check out the slide show above to view this stateroom's spaces and read on below for our insight about this 284-square-foot accommodation. We also utilized a rented electric scooter aboard and provide some details about that experience, as well.
Staying in No. 8604
Opening the entry door to No. 8604 with our key card was a breeze, but, alternatively, the guest can use a Disney wristband to open the door if desired. Swinging open automatically the entire way, the door will hold in that position for a minute or so. That gives guests using a wheelchair or scooter adequate time to enter.
From the outset, we were impressed with the spaciousness of this accessible accommodation. In fact, it was larger than many other accessible staterooms we've experienced on other contemporary or premium cruise ships. Given the space, guests have the flexibility to either park their electric wheelchair or scooter in two main spots. The first is within the entrance area just inside the door (yet still providing guests with plenty of room to maneuver there and access the adjacent bathroom). The second is just about any spot farther inside the stateroom. We found the perfect spot to be the open space under the wall-mounted flat-screen TV.
This stateroom offers a queen-sized bed with storage beneath for luggage. Disney doesn't use a bed skirt to hide whatever is placed underneath, though. We liked that as we could more readily see—and remove—any luggage or other items stored there.
Bedding on Disney Treasure consists of a premium plush Euro-top mattress, soft duvet and Frette 300-thread-count, 100 percent cotton sheets. For us, the mattress was a tad too firm, although others we spoke with liked it and said they slept well. But it's good to know that Disney can add a mattress topper if the guest requests that. In addition, a phone, USB and USB-C ports, as well as emergency alarm buttons, are positioned adjacent to the bed.
This was the first accessible accommodation that we’ve stayed in that offers "ease of use" for driving the scooter around the room. With the scooter facing inward at the entryway, we could motor in, curve around the bed, enter the living room area, do a simple two-point turn, and presto, we were zipping back to the entryway to exit the stateroom.
Worth mentioning? This accommodation does have two large structural support poles viewable within the living space. The one in the entryway (see photo above) was most noticeable in our sight lines. Another was at the edge of the living room area off to the side, adjacent to the outer wall. Neither column, though, proved to be an issue for us in driving the scooter around the room.
Open Living Area
Accommodating four guests (five in some Disney Treasure's accessible configurations), our spacious living area could be separated from the bedroom area with a curtain that could be pulled across the space. Within the living area was one small couch/chair that could be converted to a twin bed. Just above was a second twin berth that can be deployed to drop from the ceiling, if needed. Also, this accommodation can connect to the adjacent accessible stateroom to provide an even larger accessible unit with more berths.
Opposite the small seating area is a good-sized desk/entertainment area with a small stool for sitting. Guests will also find a large mirror, glassware, many storage shelves and a mini-drawer refrigerator in that cabinetry.
Each night, we easily parked the scooter in front of the desk to plug it in for charging. Good to know: Even if an electric scooter still has some charge left, it's prudent to plug it in every night. Written directions for our scooter explained that once the charge goes below a certain low level, the scooter simply may not recharge properly. So, make nightly charging a routine task.
Guests either seated on the small couch/chair or on the bed can look across the room to view infotainment on a 43-inch flat-screen HDTV. This stateroom also has a proliferation of open shelves. We used them for holding the creative “towel animals” that our cabin steward created nightly to adorn our bed. In addition, the shelves proved well for holding "grab and go" equipment, a backpack or other items guests may need to get out and explore.
This stateroom's large wardrobe offers decent hanging space and additional shelves for storing items. Plus, the small personal safe within the wardrobe is positioned at a lower level. So, it's easy to reach for anyone seated on a wheelchair or scooter.
No. 8604's Accessible Bathroom
The bathroom door of No. 8604 opens automatically by tapping a switch outside. Plus, it's a bit wider than a normal entry door. Once inside the bathroom, guests will discover a completely flat floor. There's no shower step-up or "lip." So, guests using a wheelchair or walker can simply wheel or walk safely into the shower.
There they'll find a pull-down shower seat, adjustable shower head and grab bars. One nice touch? We liked that shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles are positioned at the right height for someone seated in the shower to access. Disney provides Frette premium bath towels for guest use.
As for the sink, it's centrally positioned on an accessible vanity with a large mirror. A wheelchair user can simply "roll into" that vanity as there's some space open beneath the sink.
Across from the sink is the toilet, which has an adjacent grab bar. Plus, there's an emergency pull cord adjacent to the toilet (to summon help if needed).
Private Balcony and More
Guests using a walker, wheelchair or even an electric scooter can also head outside for fresh air and scenic views as No. 8604 has a ramped threshold for its private balcony.
Yes, it's a relatively compact, elongated space, but we felt it worked just fine. At one end of the balcony were two chairs and a small table. At the other was nothing—designed to accommodate a guest seated on a walker, wheelchair or electric scooter.
Other tidbits about No. 8604? It offers individual climate control, Wi-Fi availability at a fee (ours worked quite well while in this stateroom), a hair dryer and phone with voicemail messaging. Also, there were visual indicators and a bed shaker for the doorbell, telephone calls and alarms.
Exiting this stateroom was a breeze as guests just tap a small panel on the wall. One thing to keep in mind, though? We sail on many cruise lines and it's not unusual for some to have electronic switches that guests can hit near the door to reflect “do not disturb” or “make up the room.” We clearly had that in mind at one point as we depressed a small red button (adjacent to a green one) near the door, thinking it meant "do not disturb." Oops, it was instead an emergency call button! Almost instantly, the stateroom’s phone rang, with a crew member inquiring whether everything was okay. Simultaneously, incessant knocking at the door beckoned us. Opening it, there were our cabin steward and a manager/supervisor in a white uniform, both looking concerned. "Is everything okay?" one said, while the other pressed the green button to stop further responses by crew members and added: "Well, we're just glad you’re not hurt."
Tip for clients. Tell them to keep their hands off the small red and green switches on the wall adjacent to the entry door. That said, it was good to know that in the event of a potential emergency, Disney Cruise Line seems quite responsive to guests' safety.
Easy-Peasy Scooter Rental
We rented our electric scooter from Special Needs at Sea, a South Florida company that provides mobility equipment in multiple cities in the U.S. and overseas. For our short cruise, the rental of a regular (non-bariatric) electric scooter was $175. So, how did we pick up the scooter and where?
Last summer, for example, we were met at the Royal Caribbean International terminal at Port Canaveral for a Utopia of the Seas' sailing, and we received Special Needs at Sea's pampering "White Glove Service." (Readers can learn more about the company's service, growth in the accessibility marketplace and insight from Andrew Garnett, president and CEO of Special Needs Group, in this story we previously published.) During that trip, Special Needs at Sea staffers were outside the Royal Caribbean International terminal and waiting for us with our scooter. But that "White Glove Service" isn't available for all sailings and at all ports. That's because the rental equipment pick-up process varies based on what's permitted within the regulations/policies of cruise ports, individual cruise lines and even the specific cruise terminal used.
Sometimes, for example, as we experienced on a recent Celebrity Cruises' sailing from Port Everglades, FL, a rental scooter must be delivered and picked up inside the guest's stateroom. So, that means a guest must arrange for wheelchair assistance in the terminal, if needed, and subsequently, upon arrival on the ship to reach their cabin. There, they'll find the scooter waiting.
During our recent rental at the Disney terminal, the process was different than those examples above, though, and it also worked quite well. The Special Needs at Sea team delivered our rental scooter—tagged with our name, stateroom number and other details—inside the Disney terminal. Then, upon our arrival at the port, the Disney representative on our coach phoned a fellow Disney staffer inside the terminal about our scooter. Within just a few minutes, another Disney "cast member" moved the scooter outside and greeted us.
Seated on the scooter, we zipped into the Disney terminal, waited our turn in line and checked in normally with other guests (but the scooter seat helped us avoid standing on bad knees during that process). Then, it was an elevator ride upstairs and soon we were riding through the terminal and onto the ship. Disney's process was smooth and easy, with friendly faces throughout the terminal experience. When the cruise was over, we simply returned the scooter to a spot outside the terminal, as directed by Disney terminal team members.
Delivering Freedom
From our firsthand perspective, Disney Treasure’s public venues such as the theater, lounges, dining spaces and most other spots are highly accessible. We found ramps nearly everywhere that guests might want to go on the ship. Most doors opened automatically as guests approached. Only once did we encounter doors that had to be manually pulled, and there may have been another way to enter that we simply didn’t see.
For those using a wheelchair or scooter, stateroom No. 8604 offers flexibility and ease-of-use. It helps make the cruise experience an even more positive experience. While we do many times stay in regular (non-accessible) cabins on many cruises, here's a tip: If booking those accommodations, just make sure the entry door is wide enough to handle the mobility equipment. For example, scooters can't typically be parked directly outside the guest's room in a corridor, based on government or cruise line safety procedures/regulations.
Simply put, we loved our accessible Disney Treasure stateroom, which easily accommodated our electric scooter. It improved our enjoyment of the sailing experience. Most of all, it gave us the freedom and flexibility to explore this razzle-dazzle new ship—brimming with Disney movie/attraction-themed spaces and vibrant coloring—at our own pace and in our own way.
For more information on Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, check out our recent story about new spaces, such as the Haunted Mansion or Plaza de Coco, or visit the official Disney Cruise Line webpage at disneycruise.disney.go.com/treasure. For more about Special Needs at Sea, visit www.specialneedsatsea.com.
Related Stories
DOT Issues New Protections for Travelers With Disabilities
Windstar’s New Star Seeker Floated Out in Portugal
United Outlines New Accessibility Features for Wheelchair Users