1st trip home OKW - just returned and

[Torontogal]

we loved OKW. I loved our 2 bedroom so much.
I did find the staff to be not so pleasant. It was our 1st visit to OKW - we just became DVC owners a couple months ago - purchased through Timeshare Store.
Upon checkin - we were very disappointed with the check in girls who could have smiled more and been more welcoming. Also, the girl at the other end of the desk was very rude. She was trying to print out our dining itinerary and when we asked her about obtaining our Dining Discount card - she said, "you know, you had the whole day to do this!" She was darked haired with glasses. We found most the CM to be friendly but the ones at OKW need improvement including the guy at Good Food to Go.
Just my opinion.,

 

[Lyndylou]

Isn't it amazing how little things can make such a difference to your vacation experience. We stayed at OKW for 3 weeks this summer[ Our 4th time there our favourite and home resort}and everyone from start to finish was so fantastic. from the CM at check in {1.30am] to the bell services and everyone else. Although its 2 years since we'd been Eddie and Manuel on the recreation crew remembered our family [For all good reasons I hope LOL} We had the most amazing time. Same when we moved to BCV for a week. We couldn't pick a fault if we tried.Our 2 weeks at SSR [1st and last ever visit ]were however a completely different story and I posted my views on that last week. Do you wonder if sometimes Cm's realise how they can make such a difference to our vacations?
For all our problems at SSR we did love the Springs pool and the pool at congress park

 

[hockey mom]

I know what you mean. It does make you giggle when they say "Welcome Home".

We just bought a few weeks ago also, but at SSR. I don't plan a trip there for awhile. We have stayed at OKW before and loved the quiet and room size.

 

[dianeschlicht]

In over 20 stays, I can honestly say we have never experienced a "crabby" cast member at OKW. In fact, we think they are exceptionally friendly. Maybe someone else caused problems before you, and they were reacting to it.

 

[Torontogal]

That could be a possibility since it was late afternoon.
We did not let them ruin our vacation. We loved the room and was very impressed with our location.

 

[Pinmaniac]

In over 20 stays, I can honestly say we have never experienced a "crabby" cast member at OKW. In fact, we think they are exceptionally friendly. Maybe someone else caused problems before you, and they were reacting to it.

We were at OKW last weekend. It was our first trip as DVC members. While I would not call the CM's at check-in crabby they certainly were less friendly than most CM's we have encountered at check-in at the non-DVC resorts. The woman at the take-out food place (can't remember the name was borderline rude). That being said, we got a "Welcome Home" from the security guard everytime we came through the front gate, loved the decor, the gift shop, quiteness of the resort, and the room. And despite having to call for an EPCOT bus after waiting for 40 minutes and watching two virtually empty buses skip our bus stop we would not hesitate to stay at OKW in the future.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I have a feeling a lot of the CM's are suffering from "battle fatigue" at this point in the summer. While it's no excuse for their behavior, can you imagine how many people they've dealt with over the last few months? Plus, the heat and the crowds can bring out a lot of nastiness in people (all my fellow DIS'ers excluded, of course!). I would imagine they get yelled at by several guests a day over things that are pretty trivial. So let's hope the grumpy ones get R&R'd soon...they probably deserve it. And Torontogal, glad you enjoyed your visit and hope the next one finds you with nothing but happy CM's.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You know, I never thought about the weather and crowds, but I'll bet that does make a difference. Plus, if all the people renting who come on here expoinding how they MUST have a specific view or room do the same thing when they arrive at the resort, I'd bet the CM's could get a little testy pretty fast! I have witnessed a few guests checking in who were being VERY demanding and more than rude. I can tell you what I would do if I was the CM facing an overdemanding rude guest. I'd probably give them the exact opposite of what they asked for. It's kind of like when a speeder gets perturbed because I am going only 5 miles an hour over the speed limit when he wants to go 15 miles an hour over...I slow down to the speed limit. Of course, that is always in a no passing zone too.

 

[TiggerFreak]

DD visited OKW in the summer (July) for the first time 2 years ago. This was after 5 trips in Oct or Dec.
She decided that her future visits would NOT be summer time if at all possible.
Her impression was that the Pixie Dust was spread too thin.
It couldn't overcome the Grumpy Effect caused by the heat and crowds

 

[mrsdon]

Im sorry your check-in experience was not magical.
As someone who workd st a job kinds like that, unforturnately the guest before you may have rufflled a few feathers.
i understand its not an excuse, but people are human.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the 2 bedroom,

 

[MiaSRN62]

Glad you loved your villa and the resort Torontogal, but sorry to hear about the CM experience. Just about all of our OKW visits have been during the summer including this past one, Aug 5-12. Found CM's to be terrific this trip (as always) ! Ate at Olivia's twice and both times had real nice servers. We got "welcome home's" at the front gate and the lobby. I was offered Bell Service assistance during check-in without even having to ask for it which I thought was a nice touch. One time I only went into the lobby to drop an envelope off and 2 CM's opened the door for me and said "welcome home". It was kind of funny. I will admit the guy at Good's To Go was a little lackluster. He did look like he could have used an extra pair of hands with the line that had formed and it was like 95 degrees.
On a side note: we went to eat dinner at the Poly and even got a "welcome home" there Seems the guard at the gate was also a DVC Member and spotted our DVC license plate.

 

[rinkwide]

In over 20 stays, I can honestly say we have never experienced a "crabby" cast member at OKW.

Go straight out and buy yourself a lottery ticket.

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, Rinkwide, I'm not lucky!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Plus, if all the people renting who come on here expoinding how they MUST have a specific view or room do the same thing when they arrive at the resort, I'd bet the CM's could get a little testy pretty fast! I have witnessed a few guests checking in who were being VERY demanding and more than rude. I can tell you what I would do if I was the CM facing an overdemanding rude guest. I'd probably give them the exact opposite of what they asked for.

Well, I've never been demanding about view or room and I had the worst CM *ever* check me in at OKW a while back. It was a little after 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning (we'd just gotten off the Disney cruise) and I got in line to check in. There was one woman standing in front of me.

The CM called "Next" and I waited for the woman to move. She didn't, and the CM points at me and says, "I mean YOU. She's waiting for someone" in the nastiest tone. How on earth was I supposed to know she was waiting (in line) for someone?

I went over to her and went through the process. My ONLY request was for a non-smoking room and I reminded her of it. She nodded and said, "Yes, I see that you want that." She gave me a room assignment (VERY back of the complex, but who cares?) and I said, "It's non-smoking, right?" She sighed in an irritated voice and said, "Yes, ma'am, it's non-smoking." I thanked her and left.

We drove back to the villa and started unloading the car. It was the room at the very back of the building. As soon as I walked in, I about gagged on the smoke smell. There were ashtrays everywhere. My son started wheezing immediately. I was LIVID. I called up to the front desk and replayed my check-in experience and my displeasure at the CM purposely assigning us a smoking room (and yes, I believe she did it purposely) to a supervisor. She apologized profusely and asked us to come back up. When we got back to the check-in area, the supervisor was waiting outside for me with new keys (to a non-smoking villa in the FRONT of the complex) and a big apology. I appreciated what she did, but I'll never forget that wretched CM. I did NOTHING to provoke her, and she was positively awful.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I wonder, is there a chance that WDW hires more people during the busy seasons that are more or less temps? Maybe that's why we tend to see more of these reports during those times. I hope I never experience a rude CM upon check-in because I'm the type of person that would dwell on it during the whole vacation. Sorry your's started off that way.

 

[pmcpmc]

Well, I've never been demanding about view or room and I had the worst CM *ever* check me in at OKW a while back. It was a little after 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning (we'd just gotten off the Disney cruise) and I got in line to check in. There was one woman standing in front of me.

The CM called "Next" and I waited for the woman to move. She didn't, and the CM points at me and says, "I mean YOU. She's waiting for someone" in the nastiest tone. How on earth was I supposed to know she was waiting (in line) for someone?

I went over to her and went through the process. My ONLY request was for a non-smoking room and I reminded her of it. She nodded and said, "Yes, I see that you want that." She gave me a room assignment (VERY back of the complex, but who cares?) and I said, "It's non-smoking, right?" She sighed in an irritated voice and said, "Yes, ma'am, it's non-smoking." I thanked her and left.

We drove back to the villa and started unloading the car. It was the room at the very back of the building. As soon as I walked in, I about gagged on the smoke smell. There were ashtrays everywhere. My son started wheezing immediately. I was LIVID. I called up to the front desk and replayed my check-in experience and my displeasure at the CM purposely assigning us a smoking room (and yes, I believe she did it purposely) to a supervisor. She apologized profusely and asked us to come back up. When we got back to the check-in area, the supervisor was waiting outside for me with new keys (to a non-smoking villa in the FRONT of the complex) and a big apology. I appreciated what she did, but I'll never forget that wretched CM. I did NOTHING to provoke her, and she was positively awful.

I have never understand why Americans accept bad behaviour from CMS .You do not have to be rude in reply but I would not accept bad behaviour from any.
On the one occasion i have had a problem in the past i asked for a supervisor and dealt with her instead.

 

[Torontogal]

If it was a regular hotel, I wouldn't have minded and would have even expected that.
BUT - this was our 1st visit to a Disney resort -our first visit home after spending a ton of $$ on membership. I even remarked to the girl - that this was our 1st visit home. There was no enthusiasm from her at all. The other lady was a brown haired lady named Susan. She was very rude. I don't think these people know what effect they have on someone's vacation.
Please note, that we were very friendly and did not have a ton of requirements. I still loved the resort and the security guard always said the WELCOME HOME! which was really nice.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, I've never been demanding about view or room and I had the worst CM *ever* check me in at OKW a while back. It was a little after 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning (we'd just gotten off the Disney cruise) and I got in line to check in. There was one woman standing in front of me.

The CM called "Next" and I waited for the woman to move. She didn't, and the CM points at me and says, "I mean YOU. She's waiting for someone" in the nastiest tone. How on earth was I supposed to know she was waiting (in line) for someone?

I went over to her and went through the process. My ONLY request was for a non-smoking room and I reminded her of it. She nodded and said, "Yes, I see that you want that." She gave me a room assignment (VERY back of the complex, but who cares?) and I said, "It's non-smoking, right?" She sighed in an irritated voice and said, "Yes, ma'am, it's non-smoking." I thanked her and left.

We drove back to the villa and started unloading the car. It was the room at the very back of the building. As soon as I walked in, I about gagged on the smoke smell. There were ashtrays everywhere. My son started wheezing immediately. I was LIVID. I called up to the front desk and replayed my check-in experience and my displeasure at the CM purposely assigning us a smoking room (and yes, I believe she did it purposely) to a supervisor. She apologized profusely and asked us to come back up. When we got back to the check-in area, the supervisor was waiting outside for me with new keys (to a non-smoking villa in the FRONT of the complex) and a big apology. I appreciated what she did, but I'll never forget that wretched CM. I did NOTHING to provoke her, and she was positively awful.

I'm glad you had your problem solved, and I hope you took that CM's name. We like to note the names of CM that give both good and bad service. At the end of the trip, we write to Disney and tell them of the great and not so great cast members. The cast members who get lots of glowing reports are also given incentives for doing a good job. I guess in your case, I would have given a bad report of the first CM and a glowing one for the supervisor (yes, they need CM reports too).

 

[dsneygirl]

I wonder, is there a chance that WDW hires more people during the busy seasons that are more or less temps? Maybe that's why we tend to see more of these reports during those times. I hope I never experience a rude CM upon check-in because I'm the type of person that would dwell on it during the whole vacation. Sorry your's started off that way.

Absolutely they hire "seasonal" cast members. I was a CM for a year and the summer was almost unbearable. So much that I almost quit a few times. It was so hot and crowded I think like someone said "the pixie dust can be spread a little thin sometimes".

 

[DiznEeyore]

I guess in your case, I would have given a bad report of the first CM and a glowing one for the supervisor (yes, they need CM reports too).

I did both (also praised a handful of other CMs that were lovely to deal with) in a letter to the OKW gen. mgr. Never got any type of response (big surprise).