Is OKW due for a Re-hab?

[Kim&Chris]

We just got back from a week at OKW. We stayed in a studio unit. As much as I HATE to say it, our room was in pretty poor shape. It was just a little too dirty at check-in (which has nothing to do with a re-hab, but was an issue nontheless), so I ended up doing some re-cleaning. It took me almost an hour to clean up all the hair left behind by the previous tenants. ICK.

But what really bothered me was the condition of the furniture and the condition of the bathroom. The furniture (mostly the beds and table) was badly nicked and chipped. The bathroom had mold around the bathtub, and the tiles on the wall were badly chipped and appeared to be peeling. I also counted a few holes in the molding at the floor.

In the years we've been staying at OKW, I really can't ever remember any re-habs being done, so I'm guessing the lack of upkeep is in preparation for a badly needed refurbishment.

Do any of you have any info you can share?

 

[tjkraz]

I can't imagine there will ever be wholesale refurbishments of the sort being carried out at the Contemporary or Poly. They can't afford to rotate the entire resort through a refurbishment in 12-18 months time and still meet their commitments to members.

I'm quite certain that over the 15-year history of OKW each room has seen maintenance sufficient to rectify the types of problems that you describe. On a regular basis, carpeting is replaced, walls are painted, tiling is replaced or re-grouted, appliances and furniture is replaced.

I'd suggest sending a message to the resort and DVC to inform them that they need to get room ### on their maintenance calendar. The things you described shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 days to repair / replace if they choose to address it all at once.

 

[RobDoc]

All of the DVC resorts use a continuous rehab schedule. As Tim suggested, it would be a good idea to let the resort know of any issues with your room. Since DVC holds ownership in 2-4% of each resort, they use that ownership to replace rooms taken out of service for rehab/renovation. There is a regular schedule for rehab of the rooms (carpeting, paint, appliances) beyond routine maintenance of the villas.

At any given time, a guest may experience a villa scheduled for rehab in the near future, but reporting any concerns is always a good idea.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The first time we stayed in a GV at OKW about 9 years ago, our unit was looking a bit on the shabby side. The hard woood floors especially looked tough. I mentioned it, and was told that the building we were in was scheduled for rehab the next week. So, I guess if you are the unlucky ones to get the unit just before it goes into rehab, you might experience some of what you had difficulty with. Our last 3 trips, we have been in what seemed to be very newly refurbed rooms with fresh paint, freshly grouted tile, and even new bedspreads.

 

[Disney Doll]

I call while I am there to let them know about maintenance issues.

 

[Debbie H]

We send my parents down to OKW every year for a week. They came back this time really disappointed. They said service was horrible, the housekeeping staff could not understand that they needed wash cloths (which they had none of), not floor mats (which they had plenty of). They were told "call office" so my dad did. Unfortunately, not knowing who to call, he called the front office. No one returned his call. He went down a day or so later and was told " Oh, we ignore those calls, you need to call housekeeping". They also said staff was not very friendly, as far as waving etc. We noticed that in June and August when we were down.

It's a real shame that something a lot of us have spent a lot of money on has suddenly gotten so bad.

 

[mbhoxsie]

We send my parents down to OKW every year for a week. They came back this time really disappointed. They said service was horrible, the housekeeping staff could not understand that they needed wash cloths (which they had none of), not floor mats (which they had plenty of). They were told "call office" so my dad did. Unfortunately, not knowing who to call, he called the front office. No one returned his call. He went down a day or so later and was told " Oh, we ignore those calls, you need to call housekeeping". They also said staff was not very friendly, as far as waving etc. We noticed that in June and August when we were down.

It's a real shame that something a lot of us have spent a lot of money on has suddenly gotten so bad.

We stayed at OKW for the first time in August, and the room seemed fairly well maintained...

We had to call mousekeeping a few times for bed rails for the DK's.. Didn't have too many problems there... What did suprise me though is that OKW and SSR share mousekeeping services.... While I know they do that to keep costs down, maybe the staff is getting over taxed?

 

[bengalfreak]

If you go to allearsnet and check the room reports. Almost every review in the last six months gets great ratings. In fact, the only bad rating (5 out of 10) in the last six months was from someone that was honked off because the food court was too far away from their room so it took a bus ride to get their soda mugs refilled. You must have just gotten an unlucky draw for a room or a lazy mousekeeper.

 

[byoung]

OKW is a great resort.

 

[MiaSRN62]

They also said staff was not very friendly, as far as waving etc. We noticed that in June and August when we were down.

We were there Aug 13-17 this year and felt the CM's were great. Got LOTS of "welcome homes"....once was even during a rain storm. The CM stepped out of the guard booth and "mouthed" welcome home to us (we had our windows up). Our servers at Olivia's were very friendly. Can't complain one bit about that.
Our room was in great condition except for the mattress in the pull-out sofa which I emailed MS about. I got a response, thanking me for letting them know and saying they would forward it to the correct dept.

 

[Debbie H]

By the way, they had 2 love seats, no sofa in their one bedroom. Would not have believed it but they have pictures!

We were less than pleased when we were down in August. The rug was so dirty we could not walk on it without shoes or else we would have black feet. Could not have them cleaned because we had a 20 month old and a 4 week old with us. Dryer leaked some oily fluid all over the tub. I did let them know about it and hopefully they corrected it.

We joined in early 92 and we have had many, many trips down there. We spend ALOT of time at OKW and we do love it. It is not the same as it was though, and everyone has a different experience. It seems every couple of years or so this happens and then it straightens out.