I am going to apologize now.... TRIP REPORT OKW

[loribell]

Sorry, I just think you should give the resorts more of a chance then you have and are going to miss out on some amazing places. I will leave it at that.

 

[n2mm]

That's too bad that the OP had a bad experience with a resort. I've been to WDW more the 60 visits now and have had great trips and not so great trips even at the same resorts on difference occasions. It is very unfair to judge a resort by one visit. I've had great trips at value resorts and bad experiences at delux resorts and great trips at deluxes and not great ones a values. Things happen, it's just the way it is. I've seen horrible bus waits at the WL in Feb this year and just as bad service at the Contemporary a couple of years ago. We hardly ever ride the buses and always have a rental car, but every now and then we think, lets just catch the bus and bam...we always remember why we avoid the buses like the plaque. It truely does not matter where you stay in Disney, the bus service is unreliable no matter what resort you stay at. You can't judge a resort by the bus service because the bus leave OKW then heads to a different resort. Most are not assigned to one resort anymore. We are heading to OKW next month and will have 2 rental cars between us. If the only thing we have to worry about are the buses, then we should be OK. As for crabby CMs, I've seen my share of them too....BTW, hubby is a former CM and we still call him grumpy.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Ok last post on this topic

*snip* One more thing - We requested a 1st floor room because of a pregnant wife and we had not clue there were not elevators. We ended up with a 3rd floor room and they never changed us during the week

Don't blame OKW for your failure to research the fact that only 3 buildings have elevators there. If you wife is pregnant, she must also be young enough to walk all day at the parks. How on earth did she manage to do that and not be able to climb the stairs at the end of the day?

There is something in your posts that is not being said. I'm not sure what it is, but I didn't read anything specific about OKW other than your impression of the attitude of the Conch Flats person you spoke with. You have said nothing about the room, the look of the resort etc. etc. You DO mention bus service, but not bus service that originated from the resort. Your complaints were about bus service TO the resort from other places. We KNOW not to take the bus to or from DTD....Always a big wait no matter WHICH resort you are going to. If we can't drive, we always take the boat. You don't say how long you waited to go from OKW TO DTD, but I'm guessing it wasn't long, since OKW has an internal bus that goes the loop at OKW and DTD.

If you have stayed this same time of year at any other DVC resort and had different experiences, then you can judge, but your report sounds like a vendetta with no real meat to it about the resort specifically.

 

[Muushka]

Ouch. Thread going bad....unsubscribing.......

 

[rapisano]

Ouch. Thread going bad....unsubscribing.......

Thread going way off topic I am out ghost rider the pattern is full

 

[zoomsharedisney]

Don't blame OKW for your failure to research the fact that only 3 buildings have elevators there. If you wife is pregnant, she must also be young enough to walk all day at the parks. How on earth did she manage to do that and not be able to climb the stairs at the end of the day?

There is something in your posts that is not being said. I'm not sure what it is, but I didn't read anything specific about OKW other than your impression of the attitude of the Conch Flats person you spoke with. You have said nothing about the room, the look of the resort etc. etc. You DO mention bus service, but not bus service that originated from the resort. Your complaints were about bus service TO the resort from other places. We KNOW not to take the bus to or from DTD....Always a big wait no matter WHICH resort you are going to. If we can't drive, we always take the boat. You don't say how long you waited to go from OKW TO DTD, but I'm guessing it wasn't long, since OKW has an internal bus that goes the loop at OKW and DTD.

If you have stayed this same time of year at any other DVC resort and had different experiences, then you can judge, but your report sounds like a vendetta with no real meat to it about the resort specifically.

I couldn't agree more! The OP still has yet to say specific problems with OKW. Diane and Chuck are both right on with what they are saying. I do agree that not every vacation is perfect and I really don't expect that everyone should believe that there vacations will be perfect. Problems happen and it's how you handle them that makes you the better person. I am curios as to who broke the 'fist fight' up that the OP mentioned? I am also curious as to what bus stop they were at?

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

To the OP, thank you for your report. I am a DVC member with OKW as my home resort. It is my favorite DVC, also. (My membername is kind of a dead giveaway,eh)?

I've stayed at OKW more times than I can count. Should have kept a running total, but never did.

Recently, I have been very disappointed in the lack of service and simple politeness on the part of the OKW staff at the concierge desk.

I spoke with the manager, and have written letters to the appropriate parties.

If we disregard the opinions of those members who have negative experiences, then we only do a disservice to DVC, in that it will continue a downhill slide without member feedback.

Again, thanks for your opinion and I hope your next experience at a DVC resort (and WDW overall) is much improved.

 

[Slakk]

I always find it amusing that most of the complaints arise during the busiest times of the year. Things don't always run as smooth when the parks are full and the resorts are full. Disney tries its best - and for some people that just isn't good enough. We do get 'spoiled' as DVC members and not everyone is proper when it comes to bus riding ettiquete, but it's still Disney and I love every moment that I am there!

We usually travel in January and decided to try June and had the worst experience at VWL. I am chalking it up to summer but the difference betwenn our two stay only 6 months apart was amazing.

OTOH we did a quick weekend at BCV after our VWL week and it was wonderful - I felt like I had finally been at me *home* I will give VWL another chance based on January but not for a few years.

 

[pcparamedics01]

Sorry, I just think you should give the resorts more of a chance then you have and are going to miss out on some amazing places. I will leave it at that.

I appreciate the appology Lori. It takes a better person to appologize! I am glad that you realize that. Take care!!!

 

[CarolA]

Ok last post on this topic

I was trying to be political here and could have let loose on the post but it is not the appropriate thing to do. No the friends do not own a time share and no I was not trying to impress them it's just very discouraging when you brag about how great things are and it turns out to be the opposite.

In addition I travel every week and stay in Marriott & Ritz Carlton resorts which are a hell of a lot nicer than any DVC resort. Believe me I am not a hotel snob by any means. I have stayed at other resorts and in our opinion this is the bottom of the barrel and we would never stay here again. Your opinion is yours and ours is ours. A lot os people love OKW and that's great, it's just not for us and I was warning those that have not stayed there yet.

The CM's again are not as friendly and if you read the post clearly about the disnet dollars I did not ask them to produce anything, I said the gift shop folks were nasty.

Yes everyone's standards are different but ours are not unreasonable by any means and there were many others that were complaining about the same thing.

Last but not least, be aware and do a lot of research before you choose any resort. One more thing - We requested a 1st floor room because of a pregnant wife and we had not clue there were not elevators. We ended up with a 3rd floor room and they never changed us during the week

When I saw this train wreck first posted I SWORE I was going to stay out, but this post thas me

Have you EVER stayed at ANY Disney resort before you bought DVC??? I ask because as frequent traveler who has stayed at the Ritz and other deluxe resorts even ONE stay at ANY Disney hotel (Value, Moderate, Deluxe, DVC) would have given you a clue. Disney service is NOT equal to the true Deluxes of this world. (And you are at a "home away from home" where Disney doesn't even advertise it as "deluxe") You aren't going to get "Ritz" service at the Grand Floridian. If that's your standard, you are doomed to be disappointed. (It's why I won't pay for Disney Deluxes any more, the only "deluxe" thing is the price IMHO)



I understand you didn't like the resort and weren't happy. I wonder if your expections were based in reality.

(And I wonder what you thought was going to happen here as you ride off into the sunset. If you have spent ANY time on this board you KNEW what was going to happen and your first post indicates you did know. I wouldn't have bothered to post, but that's just me!)

 

[Cruelladeville]

I can appreciate the feed back but it was not minor by any means. I am just being very polite in my post.

Please don't take this the wrong way but if you think traveling with a 3 year old, 2 year old, 1 year old and a pregnant wife being crushed on a bus, seeing a bus driver almost get his a$# beat, and an actual fist fight on a bus amongst adults which probably scarred some of the children for life MINOR than you need to re-evaluate yourself. Again my apologies

I would have owned Disney if me child was injured in the fight

Why is it disney's fault if adults acted poorly?? I agree that you have reasons to be upset, but your anger is misdirected. There is never any excuse to push a bus driver, your anger should be directed at the people engaging in a fist fight. You should not own Disney if your kid were injured, since Disney didn't begin the fight, some stupid guests did. If the situation on the bus was so bad, why didn't you get off, and wait for the next bus? The bus driver was guilty of trying to get everyone on the bus, but I can't see any reason why OKW was terrible because of stupid guests acting like two year olds. They should have been arrested!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thread going way off topic I am out ghost rider the pattern is full

 

[Sammie]

Uhh, the highest rated Disney resort (including the Grand Floridian) is three stars, OKW is two stars (and presumably SSR will be, too) since it lacks in-room dining and valet parking services. DVCs with in-room dining are 3 stars according to Mobil.

Actually the GF is 4 star.

 

[Chuck S]

Actually the GF is 4 star.

Not according to Mobil's website:


Mobil Travelguide - Lake Buena Vista Hotels

I was surprised, too.

 

[Slakk]

Not according to Mobil's website:


Mobil Travelguide - Lake Buena Vista Hotels

Which proves why those guides are worthless. To say CS is the same as GF is ludicrous

 

[dianeschlicht]

To the OP, thank you for your report. I am a DVC member with OKW as my home resort. It is my favorite DVC, also. (My membername is kind of a dead giveaway,eh)?

I've stayed at OKW more times than I can count. Should have kept a running total, but never did.

Recently, I have been very disappointed in the lack of service and simple politeness on the part of the OKW staff at the concierge desk.

I spoke with the manager, and have written letters to the appropriate parties.

If we disregard the opinions of those members who have negative experiences, then we only do a disservice to DVC, in that it will continue a downhill slide without member feedback.

Again, thanks for your opinion and I hope your next experience at a DVC resort (and WDW overall) is much improved.

Now THIS is a legitimate complaint, and I want to hear more. The OP didn't give a comparrison. Unlike you, DVC~OKW~96, we have not experienced poor service much at all. Once about 2 years ago, we had a cranky CM check us in, but I haven't seen him there since, so I assume he was given his walking papers, or decided the job wasn't for him. I didn't judge that one experience to make the whole resort bad. It was a blip on the radar of an otherwise fantastic trip.

 

[Cruelladeville]

...we always remember why we avoid the buses like the plaque..

plaque is plack, the stuff on your teeth. You meant plague, a disaster.

 

[Chuck S]

plaque is plack, the stuff on your teeth. You meant plague, a disaster.

Oh geez, Cruella, you remind me of my Mom (who I love dearly) but she even likes to "proofread" our local newspaper. People who always spell perfectly are just annoying to those of us that don't.

 

[douglas4315]

Ok everyone let's settle down a bit. I have said this numerous times but obviously there are people on this thread that have not clearly read what I wrote so I will say it again in capitals and add another line:

1) THE ISSUE IS NOT OKW, IT'S THE PERSONNEL THERE AS I HAVE STATED MANY TIMES BEFORE
2) I AM NOT TRYING TO GET OUT OF DVC, I ACTUALLY JUST ADDED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO SO WHOEVER MADE THE COMMENT, YOU NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE ASSUMTIONS AND YES I ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY.
3) I AM NOT BASHING THE RESORT, ACTUALLY I REALLY ENJOYED THE REORT AND IT'S AMENITIES. I WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS
4) WE DID NOT SPEND EVERY DAY AT PARKS, AND THE PERSON WHO MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT MY WIFE SPENDING ALL DAY IN PARKS AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO CLIMB STAIRS, SHE ONLY WENT TO PARKS ONE DAY SO YOU NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE MAKING ASSUMPTIONS.
5) CHUCK S - TO ANSWER YOU QUESTION ABOUT WHY BLAME OKW FOR THE FIGHT, WELL HERE IT IS:

The fight started at PI and it was a family trying to get on a very overcrowded bus. They should have never boarded but the idiot bus driver told them to even though many people on the bus were yelling at him not to let anyone on as people were being crushed already. At this point the fight broke out amongst 2 fathers of children (not drunken kids). So here is the answer - bus driver pushes the envelope to board more people becasue they are limited to buses. Reason they are limitied to buses is they had an capacity report from OKW. OKW sent them incorrect information therefore resulting in less buses. Seems to me pretty obvious that OKW played a part in this, wouldn't you. Listen I am not here to cause issues, it's strictly our opinion and you are all entitled to yours.

6) As far as the fight we did luck out as the person traveling with us is an NYPD detective and he assisted in breaking up the fight.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Oh geez, Cruella, you remind me of my Mom (who I love dearly) but she even likes to "proofread" our local newspaper. People who always spell perfectly are just annoying to those of us that don't.

32 years