back from Old Key West - what's the deal?

[delmar411]

This was literally like sleeping on a cement slab. It was way worse than any other trip we had there, and we've probably stayed there 20 times. I thought it was a fluke -- until everyone else started saying they had switched to these horrible beds (well, for me, anyway.)

Apparently they get frequent complaints at the front desk.

Yep I know the beds. They are wonderful for me. There is no way I could get DH to switch to something like that at home though! LOL Sorry it was so awful for you. I have heard of people having good success of making it tolerable with adding the egg crates (or 2 of them!).

 

[jodifla]

Yep I know the beds. They are wonderful for me. There is no way I could get DH to switch to something like that at home though! LOL Sorry it was so awful for you. I have heard of people having good success of making it tolerable with adding the egg crates (or 2 of them!).

The thing is, I don't want it tolerable. It's a vacation. I want a Doubletree quality bed!...

Sounds like you need one of those beds where each side can be adjusted at home.

 

[delmar411]

The thing is, I don't want it tolerable. It's a vacation. I want a Doubletree quality bed!...

Sounds like you need one of those beds where each side can be adjusted at home.

LOL! Maybe if I'm a good girl Santa will bring me one?

 

[lah3hh]

Just back from OKW (12/5 through 12/10) and stayed in a studio in Bldg 18 (Miller's Road area) and LOVED the beds. Both DH and myself are rather tall folks and the new mattresses set up so much higher and for us....extremely comfortable.

I guess this discussion just goes to prove once again...nothing DVC does will make all of us happy. As for me and my family, keep those mattresses coming!!!

 

[smjj]

We are going to OKW in Oct. 2010. I hope our Grand Villa has had the refub. We have family members with us who have never been and we have been bragging up OKW to them for two plus years now...smjj

 

[Anal Annie]

LOL! Maybe if I'm a good girl Santa will bring me one?

WE have a Select Comfort bed at home - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Select Comfort bed!! Prior to that we had gone thru 2 extra firm mattresses 'cuz when you wake up with back pain everyone automatically always says "Oh you need a FIRM mattress"! The firmer the bed the worse my back was. Prior to getting our S.C. bed I had slept sitting up for 2 years propped up with about 3 or 4 pillows. I had not slept thru the night in probably 3 years. I had to do the same thing at OKW & Vero with those SLABS. They were worse than FIRM. They were like ROCKS. Anyway, funny thing about my S.C. setting. It's like a 25 or 30 which is just almost the softest setting you can have. It's sink into it soft!! I can now sleep with just ONE pillow and I CAN STAND UP IN THE MORNING without pain. My DH no longer tosses & turns to the point of ripping the sheets off the bed!!! His setting is about a 40 or 45 I think. But I used to have to strap the sheets on the bed on his side so he wouldn't tear them off with his tossing!! I HIGHLY recommend a S.C. bed!! BEST purchase EVER!!!!

And for anyone else out there who THINKS only a firm mattress will "fix" your back think again. My parents just went thru the same thing. My Dad used to try to sleep on the floor 'cuz everyone always told him that would help! They got a S.C. bed last year and his setting is also about a 30 I think. He HATES to come visit us now 'cuz we put our old really FIRM mattress in the guestroom!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I think it would cost more to do it that way that to wok with scheduled rehabs. Disney and other companies have a lot of experience in the field of maintenance vs. cost for both hotels and timeshares, so I'm sure the numbers justify it.

Especially if you consider the higher cost of furnishings if you replace "as needed" rather than getting a quantity price for a full resort rehab.

Yes, it certainly would cost more.. But, I didn't purchase DVC to stay in a room with peeling paint in order to save a few bucks.
This is a Disney product, and as such ANY room should not look in a state of disrepair.

I may be on my own with this view, but I would rather pay a bit more and have a truly Disney quality experience.
I'm growing tired of having to make excuses for their short comings.

MG

 

[Disney Doll]

I like a firm bed.

I'd have to see the extent of peeling paint before I got all excited about it.

A little paint chip that got chipped off thwe wall by someone's suitcase...I probably wouldn't notice, let alone care about it.

A huge slice taken out...different story.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We just got back from Old Key West and have some questions. Our mattress was rock hard and by our last night it was painful to try to sleep. Did the resort have something that would have helped and I neglected to ask? Also we were in building 30 in a studio and had paint flaking in several places is that true for the whole resort or were we in a unit that needed a refurb?

The resort is charming and the staff wonderful, just wondered about these items.

I like a firm bed.

I'd have to see the extent of peeling paint before I got all excited about it.

A little paint chip that got chipped off thwe wall by someone's suitcase...I probably wouldn't notice, let alone care about it.

A huge slice taken out...different story.

I agree with you DD, but I'm just going with the OP's description.

MG

 

[Chuck S]

This is a Disney product, and as such ANY room should not look in a state of disrepair.



MG

Sometimes a fully refurbsihed room can look like it is in a state of disrepair after a single guest.

While staying in an OKW studio once, I heard loud thumps commong from the one bedroom next door. I went out on the balcony and could see a middle aged woman and a young child both jumping up and down on the couch. I guess Grandma was having fun with the grandson. No matter how great the quality may be for the furnishings, nothing can stand up for long to that type of intential abuse. And we really don;t know who may have occupied the room prior.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Sometimes a fully refurbsihed room can look like it is in a state of disrepair after a single guest.

While staying in an OKW studio once, I heard loud thumps commong from the one bedroom next door. I went out on the balcony and could see a middle aged woman and a young child both jumping up and down on the couch. I guess Grandma was having fun with the grandson. No matter how great the quality may be for the furnishings, nothing can stand up for long to that type of intential abuse. And we really don;t know who may have occupied the room prior.

That's true.. However I don't see things such as peeling paint to be intentional abuse.
I know opinions may differ, but I think the DVC rooms should be as up to date, and maintained as well as any Disney deluxe resort hotel room.

MG

 

[dsneygirl]

We just got back from OKW and thought our unit looked very worn as well. Definitely needs some spucing up.

 

[treehugnmama]

i must have been really really tired I slept fine but it was our first trip so we tried to do it all.

 

[Caren]

I've seen the complaint about OKW mattresses before, so I must admit that we approached our first stay in an OKW 1-bedroom with some trepidation. However, our mattress was a perfectly comfortable pillow-top mattress.

 

[zendisney]

The paint is flaking off ceiling and wall...
But we do enjoy a " firm" mattress.
This is our first OKW stay... the resort is beautiful.
We get the appeal.
We usually stay at SSR. Loving our visit. (even with flaky paint)

 

[dianeschlicht]

That's true.. However I don't see things such as peeling paint to be intentional abuse.
I know opinions may differ, but I think the DVC rooms should be as up to date, and maintained as well as any Disney deluxe resort hotel room.

MG

I tend to agree with you MG. We just got back from a stay in building 14. It is one of the first buildings that opened at OKW, and it was in GREAT shape! No peeling paint, no tired carpet etc. The thing I hope they address when they do the rehab is the cabinet doors and counter tops. That is the part I think makes OKW look dated and tired. I'm starting to hate that carpeting too. I heard the rehab is going to include hardwood floors, but I worry that will cause a lot of noise issues. I know now if you are under a GV with the hard wood floors, it sounds like the Japan drummers are practicing on the floor above you!

 

[maddmike]

I tend to agree with you MG. We just got back from a stay in building 14. It is one of the first buildings that opened at OKW, and it was in GREAT shape! No peeling paint, no tired carpet etc. The thing I hope they address when they do the rehab is the cabinet doors and counter tops. That is the part I think makes OKW look dated and tired. I'm starting to hate that carpeting too. I heard the rehab is going to include hardwood floors, but I worry that will cause a lot of noise issues. I know now if you are under a GV with the hard wood floors, it sounds like the Japan drummers are practicing on the floor above you!

We were in building 14 at Thanksgiving and thought the room was fine. A couple marks on the wall and the carpet worn in places but this is a hotel room not my home. Some people expect these rooms to be perfect but even when new they don't stay that way long with so many different people staying there. Some people just don't care and they get beat up fast.

 

[dmoore22]

When we were there in Feb, it looked like there were some major work going on. I think it was around building 62. You could not park over there. It was blocked off.

Ditto: When we were there during Star Wars Weekends there was major work going on in the same area. We stayed in building 34 (Old Turtle Pond). While we were there maintenance came in and refurbished our fridge. Took care of rust, paint, and other issues while we were in the parks. We left in the morning from a dismal room and, when we returned, it was obvious the Pixie Dust had done its magic.

 

[Micca]

By the time I hit the bed on our WDW trips I'm so tired I could probably sleep on broken glass(but let's not let member services in on that)

 

[roylanc]

Reasonable people could certainly disagree about the upgrade schedule at OKW (or any of the other resorts). Naturally, more-frequent refurbishments would lead to higher dues, while less-frequent refurbishments lead to lower dues.

The unit we were in this past February (a 2BR in building 21) was definitely a little bit tired---a few spots on the carpet that mousekeeping spotted before we checked in, rust on the fridge, etc. The only problem that really impacted our stay, though, was the top rack on the dishwasher---it was hanging on by a thread, and tended to come all the way out if you weren't careful when opening it. If I owned there, I might well be willing to pay a little more for more aggressive refurbishment cycles. But, it didn't negatively impact our stay in a material way, and I don't regret staying there.

We are off to OKW in September for 2 weeks cant wait.
We stayed at POFQ in 2008 and all the tie we were there they were painting and working around the area. But it did not bother any one. I think you are right though re-furbs on a regular bases would definately push the costs to visitors up.