The Traveling Wheelchair

1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard
Uncasville, CT   06382
Phone: 1-888-226-7711
http://www.mohegansun.com/gateway/playing.html

Recently, Jamie and Crew took a 3 day get away to Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut and here is our wheelchair accessibility review of our stay.  Please keep in mind that we stayed in the hotel for two nights.  The entrance for those spending just a day at the casino would be different.  Due to our luggage and medical equipment, we used valet parking which was very friendly and accommodating.  The doors all opened automatically, even the door to my room had a push button access once the card was swiped.  The elevators are easy to locate and wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair.

Unfortunately, the rest of their review is not as good.  My mother made the reservations personally by phone requesting one accessible room with roll in shower and second room to be adjoining.  Mom was required to pay in advance one night for each room to guarantee these rooms to be blocked off for us. Total cost of rooms for two nights was over a $1,000!!

Two days prior to check-in, the reservations were confirmed one more time and mom also spoke to an Engineer explaining that we need the bed raised 5 inches for the hoyer lift.  Engineer stated they had their own risers and this would not be problem. However, we arrived to find that the accessible room did not have a roll in shower. Mom called downstairs to the Front Desk and had to go back down stairs.  She was then told that they had an accessible room with a roll in shower but did not have the second adjoining room. 

The second room would be three doors down.  Mom spoke to the Manager and he informed Mom that her reservation did not have any request for a handicap room. Mom assured him that she would not travel with me without making all the arrangements that is so crucial. The Manager was very flippant and was not concerned. Mom informed the Manager that we wrote reviews on establishments and rated them on their accessibility.

So now we have two rooms, not adjoining but have the roll in shower. When you travel with company, as we did, mistakes like this can cause great problems for sleeping arrangements. The room itself was very spacious. The bathroom had a roll in shower and a nice size one at that; it even had a button access for bathroom door to open. The sink however did not have covered pipes. In fact, it had a shelf that came out to hold tissues which greatly got in the way; the toilet was complete with bars on each side.

The bed was another story.  Two engineers came up to look at the bed and scratched their heads trying to figure out how they were going to raise the bed. No risers but we had brought 4 of our own. Engineers took the bed platform apart and we placed each riser under each corner of box springs and mattress.  My staff put me on the bed and the box spring frame cracked. All said and done my mother figured out the way to boost the bed for me, safely. GO MOM!!! (Note to all: NEVER LEAVE HOME WITH OUT HER!!!)

Another big issue was trying to have fun gambling.  They have chairs installed in front of each gaming machine. One of my crew members had to ask an employee of the casino to move the chair each time I wanted a chance at another slot machine.  Not every employee asked could have the chair moved. The chairs are locked into place, with a key that only select employees hold. As any good gambler knows, you are on the lookout for a “hot” machine. This involves changing machines several times until you find a “loose” machine that pays well. Due to the fact I wanted to switch machines a lot, it was obviously annoying to the employees. None of my crew played at the tables, but I did have them take a look at them and it would be hard for a person in a wheelchair to see the tables if they were playing.

They have several different places to dine and shop.  Each restaurant we looked into had a least one table I could roll up too.  The staff at each shop was very friendly and practically greeted us at the door each time.  While downstairs at the shops I got a chance to review their bathrooms.  Their handicap stall was just as little as the other stalls were.  It did have bars, but it was so narrow I could barely get my chair in the door frame to the stall.  I honestly had not room to turn myself at all!  The other option for a toilet I found was a “family” restroom.  It was very large and had the bars for handicap persons as well, however the odor was more than I could handle!

Please keep in mind that I need someone’s assistance to push my wheelchair for me so this review was written from that perspective. 

I could only give Mohegan Sun  TWO STARS for wheelchair accessibility.  The following are ways in which they can improve that rating:  Mohegan’s Reservation Staff – need to make notes of any special requests and specific needs at the time of the reservations are being made such as a roll in shower. Do to the economy it appeared that many staff members were in clusters just talking amongst themselves. I felt at least one of them had ample opportunity to see my needs as a person in a wheelchair and approach me to see if I needed to get at a gaming machine.  They need to enlarge their handicap restroom facilities as well.  A simple in service for the employees on how to spot all customers’ needs, not just a disabled person, would greatly improve anyone’s visit to Mohegan Sun!