Musty Ole Key West

[TiggerFreak]

Live from OKW!

Just checked in to rooms 1113 and 1114.
Both rooms have that signature OKW musty smell.
It just below the threshold of overbearing and over the point that you are not aware of it.

Does anyone have suggestions for remedying the issue or are we just stuck with this crapppy aroma?

Have to say that we just finished 3 nights in a "accessable" room at BCV that I normally would have rejected, but decided to keep with the idea that "someone" needs to take these sometimes.

Kevin

[mikron]

Call housekeeping, they have stuff to get rid of musty odders.

[disneynutz]

According to other DISers, I thought that we were the only ones to noticed the smell.:goodvibes

By day two, you won't even notice it. Crank up the AC, it helps.

:) Bill

[TiggerFreak]

Why can't the rooms smell as nice and inviting as the checkin area?
We shouldn't just accept the smell. Would you allow your home to exhibit the same aroma and not remedy it? Something is causing it. All the rooms do not have the problem. If they can't fix it take the rooms out of inventory until it is remedied. It is that simple.

[disneynutz]

The place is built on a Florida swamp, next to a canal, surrounded by mature bushes, trees, and vegetation. I understand the smell and I don't think that there is a permanent fix.

:) Bill

[PamOKW]

I don't doubt that you may have a smell in your unit but I don't think it's something people should expect (or tolerate) at OKW. In 16 years of stays at OKW it's something I have never experienced. Do you think it might be the smell of trying to cover up from a smoker in the unit?

[Cee]

The last time we were at OKW, the musty smell was very apparent. We attributed it to the fact that they had just wet-vac(ed) the carpets because they were damp(it was gross to walk in sock feet!), and had turned the A/C down between guests. The wet carpets paired with warmer/humid temps in the room results in that odor. Just a possibility....:confused3

[MouseMomx2]

I don't doubt that you may have a smell in your unit but I don't think it's something people should expect (or tolerate) at OKW. In 16 years of stays at OKW it's something I have never experienced. Do you think it might be the smell of trying to cover up from a smoker in the unit?

The last time we were at OKW, the musty smell was very apparent. We attributed it to the fact that they had just wet-vac(ed) the carpets because they were damp(it was gross to walk in sock feet!), and had turned the A/C down between guests. The wet carpets paired with warmer/humid temps in the room results in that odor. Just a possibility....:confused3

Ditto! We've owned at OKW since 1997 and have had many stays there. We've never noticed a musty odor.

I'm not saying that the OP is wrong. I fully believe there is an odor in his/her room. I"m just staying that it isn't something that is widespread at OKW.

I also believe that it due to freshly shampooed carpets. We've experienced what I believe is a similar smell twice (not at OKW, but at other DVC properties) and that was the cause.

[DenLo]

disneynutz;The place is built on a Florida swamp, next to a canal, surrounded by mature bushes, trees, and vegetation. I understand the smell and I don't think that there is a permanent fix.

I live in swampy area near several creeks with lots of landscaping and it's not standard to have that smell in your house. This musty smell problem really should be fixed and not just when someone complains about it. A musty smell does not go with a "Deluxe Villa". There have been several postings from members staying at OKW regarding this smell and others stating that's the smell at OKW. Shouldn't the management not just housekeeping be informed of this ongoing problem?

We always thought OKW would be a pleasant place to stay but I don't think my allergies (which are triggered by odors) would enjoy it.

[Brandis]

Stayed in studios as paying guests twice. I noticed the smell much more outdoors and I think it's coming from the wood chips they use to fertilize(?) the greenery around the buildings. Because on our last visit, they were just replacing them and when they got wet, there was a nice cedar plank smell in the air, in the areas where they hadn't replaced them there was a musty smell.

Marc

[Deb & Bill]

It's the Ben-Gay used by the member who bought there years ago.

[chepic]

No matter where we are staying, I always bring Febreeze and lysol because you just never know. I found that the condos on the floor level at OKW (and all the resorts for that matter) always seem a bit "mustier" than the others and I just chalk it up to the Florida humidity. I know my basement can get that same smell in the summer here in the north east.

[Simba's Mom]

It's the Ben-Gay used by the member who bought there years ago.


Hey, I think I'm insulted! I'm an OKW owner who just needed to buy more Ben-Gay this morning. For everyone who says OKW is like retirement home, DH and I say "If that's what retirement is like, bring it on! I'm retiring tomorrow!"

[Sammie]

I actually like the smell of Ben-Gay. :confused3

[LisaS]

I found that the condos on the floor level at OKW (and all the resorts for that matter) always seem a bit "mustier" than the others and I just chalk it up to the Florida humidity.I agree with you. The only musty room we've ever had was a ground floor studio at BWV. It was close to the pool area and laundry room so maybe it was just a very damp area. We've stayed at OKW twice, both times on the second floor and no musty odor whatsoever.

[dianeschlicht]

I can honestly say that I have never had a musty smelling room at OKW, but now that we've had several reports of this, I'm wondering if it's specific buildings. I noticed you were in building 11, and that one certainly is in a low marshy spot.

[JimC]

Call housekeeping and ask for some assistance. It might be the A/C filters (the problem we had once at a non-Disney resort) and that is an easy fix.

[dianeschlicht]

Call housekeeping and ask for some assistance. It might be the A/C filters (the problem we had once at a non-Disney resort) and that is an easy fix.

Ah, good point! Since we are just at the end of the summer heat too, that makes sense.

[Deb & Bill]

Hey, I think I'm insulted! I'm an OKW owner who just needed to buy more Ben-Gay this morning. For everyone who says OKW is like retirement home, DH and I say "If that's what retirement is like, bring it on! I'm retiring tomorrow!"

Then I have just insulted myself as well. OKW, I love it. Quiet, away from noise. Don't they even have Bingo in the Community Hall??

[Kim&Chris]

I know the 'musty' smell you're talking about. Yuck.

The air conditioner definitely helps pull much of that odor out, but we always stop at Target on the way into WDW for water, Pepsi, etc...and I buy a can of Lysol to spray around. That pretty much zaps the odor for the length of the stay.

[KirstenB]

No matter where we are staying, I always bring Febreeze and lysol because you just never know. I found that the condos on the floor level at OKW (and all the resorts for that matter) always seem a bit "mustier" than the others and I just chalk it up to the Florida humidity. I know my basement can get that same smell in the summer here in the north east.

That's the way I feel too. Not our basement, but if I cut off the a/c and leave the windows open at home here in the summer, it gets musty. Ironically my asthma seems better in damp weather, so it doesn't bother me.

[MiaSRN62]

I don't doubt that you may have a smell in your unit but I don't think it's something people should expect (or tolerate) at OKW. In 16 years of stays at OKW it's something I have never experienced. Do you think it might be the smell of trying to cover up from a smoker in the unit?

Same here. I've never stayed in bldg 11. But in many stays since becoming a DVC Member in 2000, I have never had a musty smelling room at OKW--or any WDW DVC. I have had it at VB---but it's right on the ocean so attribute that to the problem there.

I would definitely report it as others have said. My daughter goes to college in FL and they highly suggest running the AC high to keep mold/mustiness down. At her school last year in Melbourne they were not allowed to open their windows in their dorm apartments. Had to keep AC on at all times. Her apartment now, at FSU, has a dehumidifier in it to help control issues like that---same as the rooms at Disney's VB. Maybe rooms like this at OKW with musty issues should have one placed in there as well. I would request it from maintenance if possible.

Maria

[Connears]

I don't doubt that you may have a smell in your unit but I don't think it's something people should expect (or tolerate) at OKW. In 16 years of stays at OKW it's something I have never experienced. Do you think it might be the smell of trying to cover up from a smoker in the unit?

I have NEVER experienced a musty smell at OKWeither, and I have been going 1-2x a yr since we purchased in 1994. I think that making the statement the first post made is unfair and you should not generalize!

Connears