just a couple of things you should know about okw

[Daphne]

hi,
we just got back from a 8 nite stay at a 2 br at a okw
just know we are not okw owners we just called and made resies. We found that there is a definite differences in the way you are treated if you rent or own. Besides the fact we get maid service everyday we found out other prefences. we had a problem with the air conditioner. about the 2nd nite in the middle of the nite the air turned off. When we called in the morning they asked if we were owners? we said no and said ok we will send someone. well my husband thought he fixed the problem and called them back and told them not to come. when I got back to room it was still hot. So I called the maintance man came and he asked if we were owners we said no!
So he said what was happening is that there are 3 sensors in the room.one near each door. If the door is opened for less than a minute or more the sensors turn the air off. But it doesn;t turn it back on. So if we keep the door open to long like when we are bringing stuff in the room it turns the ac off. Now if you are a renter they will come in and over ride the sensor so the air won;t turn off. If you are a owner they don';t because according to them it was voted on by the owners to have the sensors to keep the yearly maintance cost down. So they do less stuff that would cost them more like bring you clean towels and linens and let you keep it cold in the room if your a owner. I think that is so unfair to the owners. We went through so many towels! also we asked to see a 3 bedroon and they came and got us right away. they say they want to rent to the people that come to the resort to spend time in the resort and be toghether. I love okw but given those difference in how they treat renters and owners I think I will just keep renting

 

[vicki_c]

In all my DVC stays, I have never been asked if I was an owner or not. And I never had anyone not come from maintenance when I called, for whatever reason, although there have not been many times that I ever needed to call.

As for the linens, that is part of the reduced housekeeping schedule that owners agree to when we buy.

I have never felt that I was treated any differently at any resort because I was a DVC owner.

And by the way, most of the newer resorts work with that same kind of sensor for the AC - DVC or not - that is Disney's resorts' choice, AFAIK, not DVC's. Many owners know how to override it ourselves - we pass the override instructions around here on the DIS boards, in fact - I keep a set in my Owner's Locker.

So I guess I'm trying to say that I don't really believe that what you were told is exactly true or correct in a number of areas.

 

[disneynutz]

It has been reported by several people that Disney has different policies for owners and cash guests. I wish that it wasn't true, but from a business stand point I guess I can't blame them. Who are you going to take better care of, the member who has to use their points or lose them or the cash guest who may not return if not treated well?

Bill

 

[Skrutti]

And cash guests helps lower the annual dues. And they pay for the service. I rather have lower dues than the higher service that paying guests recieve to be comparable to Disneys deluxe resorts.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I stayed as a paying guest in a 2 bedroom at BCV. My DCuzs all drink tea and not coffee. When I called to get them tea bags, I were asked if we were members, and I told them the reservation was through Disney, not on points, and since it was so, we got enough tea bags and more delivered to the room. That's the only time I was ever asked that question. I just did the calling for my DCuzs because I knew they would get tea bags. They weren't so sure.

Bobbi

 

[Brian Noble]

In all my DVC stays, I have never been asked if I was an owner or not. And I never had anyone not come from maintenance when I called, for whatever reason, although there have not been many times that I ever needed to call.

Me either.

Well, okay, I have been...at Olivia's, where there is a Member discount. But, that's about it. When dealing with the front desk, calling housekeeping, or calling maintenance, never once has anyone asked.

There are some minor tangible differences---extra housekeeping services, extra towels, extra toiletries, and extra coffee/tee are all a fee-for-service proposition for point-based stays, but not when you rent from Disney. On the other hand, you *are* paying for those services in an increased room rate vs. what an owner pays.

 

[mckryan]

I think the OPs message should state that she was a cash guest vs. a renter. Renting implies that you rented points from another DVC member. If that were the case, you would not be receiving housekeeping services every day.

When I have had a maintenance issue, someone has always come as soon as possible to fix it. I had an A/C that stopped working at OKW, and by the time we got back to the room (2-3 hours later) it was fixed. I've never been asked if I was an owner or a cash guest when I've called with a room issue.

 

[TisBit]

I have never been asked if I was an owner or a cash guest....and for the record they could easily see this in their systems. Maybe the question is sometimes posed when someone is asking why they didn't get daily housekeeping, etc in order to explain how the membership works.

Owners are entitled to daily housekeeping, if they are willing to pay for the service. Cash guests do pay for the service in their nightly costs so it isn't a benefit they get that someone else doesn't. As far as AC over ride, this has been done for owners countless times in the past without a word from Maintenance. As for the sensors, they are not limited to DVC villa's so there is no difference there.

I am not surprised they jumped at the chance to let you tour a 3 bedroom villa, this is a good way to try to convince you to buy into DVC and would be foolish not to.

 

[DebbieB]

I prefer the limited housekeeping. I don't need housekeeping everyday and it keeps my dues cost down. The way it's setup, if a member does want it, they just pay individually. That's fair to all the membership. As far as a cash guest, you are paying for it through your room rate whether you want it or not. Don't kid yourself and think it's "free".

 

[keishashadow]

the only time I had an issue was trip to BCV when the room obviously needed to be fumigated (which it was after jumping thru hoops the next day).

Mgr was MIA, desk clerk told me if i had booked thru CRO they could try to give us another room 'somewhere' on site; however; DVC was totally booked and we'd have to wait until the next day..

After I contacted DVC and WDW corporate offices upon my return home, I was told the information I was given was incorrect.

My point is, don't make the mistake that I did & think you have to be 'nice' & satisfied with the 1st answer you get if you have a concern when encountering issues concerning your DVC room or service.

 

[wdrl]

And cash guests helps lower the annual dues.

This is partly true, but not completely true. If the cash guest's villa comes from the 60-day breakage inventory, then yes, the revenue from that booking is applied to the resort's maintenance fees. For example, in 2010 AKV's MF was reduced by $0.1012 per point because of villas in the DVC inventory that were not booked within 60 days of check-in.

However, there are many villas that are booked for cash through CRO that the DCV membership is not entitled to a share of the revenue. These are the villas for which Disney owns the points. At each resort, Disney owns points that it has reacquired through the ROFR or foreclosure processes. In addition, master declaration for each resort specifies that Disney cannot sell more than 98% of a resort's total points. Disney rents these villas and does not share the revenue with the DVC.

 

[Chuck S]

If I have an AC problem at OKW and get told "no" because members voted for it, I will ask when and where, as I am an owner, and the only thing we've "voted" on was a poll about building the pool slide, and the OKW members voted against the slide.

To be fair, the OKW members voted against funding the building of the slide, Disney then funded it as is their right under the POS. Members do have to pay maintenance and lifeguard.


So, if you are being told members are treated differently, other than the housekeeping we all agreed to, I be getting the name of the CM making such a claim and call DVC Member Satisfaction.

To the OP, for the $1500+ you paid more than I would pay as an owner using points for that 8 night 2 bedroom stay, I'm glad you got fresh towels and sheets.

 

[TinklednPants]

I've never had a problem either getting the AC bypassed for me or getting extra towels, coffee and tea for the room (free) and they are well aware I'm staying on points.

 

[snackyx]

And by the way, most of the newer resorts work with that same kind of sensor for the AC - DVC or not - that is Disney's resorts' choice, AFAIK, not DVC's. Many owners know how to override it ourselves - we pass the override instructions around here on the DIS boards, in fact - I keep a set in my Owner's Locker.

Can someone post or point me to the A/C override instructions for OKW? Thanks in advance.

 

[BeesKnees]

I prefer the limited housekeeping. I don't need housekeeping everyday and it keeps my dues cost down. The way it's setup, if a member does want it, they just pay individually. That's fair to all the membership. As far as a cash guest, you are paying for it through your room rate whether you want it or not. Don't kid yourself and think it's "free".

Agreed. In fact, unless we are staying more than 7 days we have no need of housekeeping at all. We are clean people by nature and we can wash our own towels. After 7 days it would be time for fresh linens and a good cleaning.

 

[Disneyaunt4]

Can someone post or point me to the A/C override instructions for OKW? Thanks in advance.

I would also like this information please.

 

[Sammie]

In order for the air conditioning to work properly, irregardless of the bypass, keep the doors closed. Even leaving the balcony door open will mess with it. It also makes it sweat; then you have water dripping from the vents.

 

[TiaMaria]

Oh poor, poor me! I don't have to scour the message boards for PIN codes for the next 48 years! Poor me!

I'm quite happy with every aspect of my membership, thank you!

 

[Shadeaux]

Can someone please explain to me why you'd need to override the AC? We've been staying at OKW since '94...the AC has always worked just fine. What am I missing???

 

[Simba's Mom]

In fairness to OKW, it's not just non-DVC owners for whom they'll show villas sometimes. We were DVC owners, but had never stayed in a 2 BR. When we asked the front desk to see a 2 BR for a possible future visit, they came and got us and took us to tour a 2 BR villa.