Just back from OKW..observations...

[dianeschlicht]

We just returned from a quick week to OKW. Stayed in dedicated 2 bedroom 6430. When we checked in at 3:30, I asked for a first floor or elevator building for medical reasons, since I needed an electric cart this trip. Got the building 64 third floor, so there was an elevator. One BIG disadvantage to this building is that it does NOT have it's own parking lot! I never realized before that there were such buildings at OKW, but upon checking the map, I see there are a couple others that way too. We ended up parking across the way in the building 16 lot across the street. It wasn't really much of an issue, since we took the bus most of the time, but used the car for DTD and CDS nights. Also for dinner ressies at Artist Point.

A few negetive observations that were a bit of a disappointment to me. I have always been VERY positive about everything DVC, but did notice some "cost cutting" this trip. One of the things I think establishes quality of a room is the little things like lighting, quality of towels, cleanliness etc. The room was very clean and in good repair, but the lights had such low watage bulbs in this trip, it was a problem. We never could get enough light in the kitchen and living room area. Also lighting in the second bedroom was poor and also in the tub/sink room of the master. I am certain this cuts a great deal of cost, but is definately not what I consider quality.

Buses were GREAT this trip. We have never had much trouble with buses at OKW anyway, but they were much more numerous this trip than they are in January. The every 20 minute thing seemed to be in effect during the afternoon hours as well. I have noticed them to be less frequent at those times in January, but no problems in the afternoons at all this time. The longest we waited was 10 minutes, and that was when we came up to the bus stop just as the previous bus to Epcot was leaving. Because I had the electric cart this trip, the morning bus attendants from OKW kept track and let drivers know when a cart needed to be loaded. Bus drivers were Excpetionally helpful.

Cast members at OKW were great as usual! Lots of "Welcome Homes", and general friendliness and helpfulness. We were told we could have access to the room right at 4:00, but housekeeping was still vacuuming and putting in towels at that time. Wasn't a problem though, since we were leaving for the parks right away any way. When we returned, all was done and in order.

We did notice some cost cutting in the parks as well. I hope this is not a trend for Disney.

We didn't tour SSR, but did notice at least 1 or 2 buildings seem to be near completion. It is VERY close to DTD! I had thought it would have a little green space between, but it really doesn't.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

Interesting note on the lightbulb thing... I wonder if being down there during a time when they've had all that rain and gray clouds had anything to do with not getting enough sunshine and light into the unit???

Glad you had a good time and it's good to hear you were pleased with the bus service.

 

[PamOKW]

If it seemed like reduced wattage, I wonder whether they might have cut back the power for a conservation reason? As we know, the power grid has been under a little stress lately.

Thanks for the report. Glad to hear the buses were running well.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by mjstaceyuofm
Interesting note on the lightbulb thing... I wonder if being down there during a time when they've had all that rain and gray clouds had anything to do with not getting enough sunshine and light into the unit???

Glad you had a good time and it's good to hear you were pleased with the bus service.

No, definately a wattage problem. Even in the bright sunshine, the kitchen lights were too dim. Very hard for those of us with aging eyes to work at the counter.

 

[donald@home]

I know a woman who feels that the lighting in ALL hotel rooms are too dim so she travels with her own light bulbs!!! I guess that is one more thing we will need to pack when we travel to Disney.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
No, definately a wattage problem. Even in the bright sunshine, the kitchen lights were too dim. Very hard for those of us with aging eyes to work at the counter.

Come to think of it, the last few times we stayed at OKW I do remember it being way on the dim side in the unit we had in the evenings... That was 2 years ago. I can't imagine what it's like now that they've cut wattage down... You're probably right - it's a low-wattage bulb, energy-saving thing.

 

[jmminarik]

Well, if this is a cost cutting measure you'd think they'd go to compact flourescents. Given Disney's buying power and the sheer number of lamps needed combined with the savings in electricity it seems like a no brainer.

In May we found lots of cost cutting in the form of dirtier parks...not that they were filthy but they were certainly not up to the standards we expected of Disney. A coworker who went the week before said as the day went on the women rooms just got dirtier.

Oh well, so long as Michael gets his mult-million dollar bonuses.

-Joe

 

[DaveH]

Over the last few years I have noticed that the lights in the Disney hotels were a little darker. The DVC rooms were brighter than the rest. I have noticed little things in the parks and else where, where they are not cleaning up as fast as in the past. I mean a few years ago it was hard to find any kind of trash at all on Mainstreet, now after the park has been open a couple of hours you can see some litter you would not have seen before. On our first trip home to VWL, we had one lamp out and I called housekeeping and they fixed it. That got me looking around and in some lamps that could hold 2 or 3 bulbs there would only be one.

 

[KyBill]

Dianne
Thanks for your report and observations.
I was interested in two comments you made.
The first was regard to Bldg 64 and your using an ECV. I tried to get in the new bldgs with elevatiors. I use an ECV. At check-in they refused to give me a room on the upper floors because of the ECV. I found this strange since at BWV and HH we have always been on upper floors and used the elevators.
Regard the lighting. We have this problem just about everwhere. It especially frustrates me in the bath where the jacuzzi tub and small lavatory. Trying to shave with a 52 watt bulb is a bummer when at home I have a light bar with about 240 watts. Also I have problems with some of the 3 way lamps where the bulbs only work on the 50 setting. I usually call and have them changed.
On the positive side. The 1 BR and up at OKW is great if you use an ECV indoors. Lots of room.

 

[DisneyMeMa]

Thank you for the update Diane. You brightened my day and made me chuckle. Several years ago at one of the DVC resorts we had very thin towels. I said something to my DH about them. He responded for us just to go to the home store in DTD and get some Mickey towels. He thought overall it would save him $$s (no increase in dues for thicker towels.) I had visions of a linen closet stuffed with MM towels from all our WDW trips-our grandchildren were going to love it. We have not gotten thin towels since that trip! Sorry to hear you got the ones that needed to be "retired." Now that I don't need to take a non stick frying pan anymore, I should have room in our luggage for a few light bulbs - along with the salt and pepper shakers, etc. LOL.

 

[OneMoreTry]

We just stayed in a 2br in bldg 64 and used the parking lot next to the bldg. Not as close as right in front of the door, but not any inconvenience. (Much closer than the hotel-style DVC resorts.) Bldg 64 had great views and was the perfect distance from the HH. Towels were THICK and plush. (No vacuum -- called for one and they didn't bring it.) I would stay there again but would insist on the vacuum first thing if it wasn't there.

I agree the bulbs were dim, especially in the kitchen.

It would probably help if, ahem, EVERYONE TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS when they're not using them.

 

[GraceDVC]

We noticed the low-watt bulbs in the bathroom in BCV, but not in the OKW bathroom we had this past May. I think we'll plan on taking a couple of 100-watt bulbs with us in the future.

But the place where we noticed a definite lowering of light was in the already-dark Pirates of the Caribbean. It was dark at the beginning of the ride (as usual), but when the boats came down the plume and entered the wider waterway, you couldn't even see the ship on the right! Then the entire pirate village area was way too dark also. It detracted from the whole experience.
A cost-cutting measure for sure.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by GraceDVC
We noticed the low-watt bulbs in the bathroom in BCV, but not in the OKW bathroom we had this past May. I think we'll plan on taking a couple of 100-watt bulbs with us in the future.

But the place where we noticed a definite lowering of light was in the already-dark Pirates of the Caribbean. It was dark at the beginning of the ride (as usual), but when the boats came down the plume and entered the wider waterway, you couldn't even see the ship on the right! Then the entire pirate village area was way too dark also. It detracted from the whole experience.
A cost-cutting measure for sure.

We also commented on the darkness of POC! It was even so dark in the queu area, that I couldn't follow. We thought the queu area of HM was dangerously low on light as well.

 

[Muushka]

It is so funny that you have written about paper thin towels and dim bulbs. On our last trip to VWL the towels were so thin that I was able to hang one up on a hook-through the hole! They were so thread bare, it was sad. We stayed a night at Poly and their towels were nice and fluffy. Is it a DVC thing I wonder?

Yup, next time we will bring a honkin' 100 watter for the kitchen!

 

[Pig Pen]

Probably the darkest are the VWL rooms!

 

[WOW]

We were at OKW in a 2 bedroom in June and there definately was a lighting problem. We called and asked them to put in new light bulbs, but they didn't replace all of them and the condo was still very poorly lit. We happen to like things nice and bright so it really was a thing with us. We have been members since 1993 and never came across this before.

 

[JudithM]

We stayed in room 6432 at OKW Memorial Day weekend. I had requested a first floor room or elevator building for medical reasons. i am not supposed to do a lot of stairs. If worst came to worst, I would walk down the stairs - I loved the elevator building's location! I rented an ECV from off property. We really enjoyed building 64 even without its own separate parking lot. We used the lot next to the building or across the street. The sidewalks had plenty of handicapped access to get from the car to the building. We loved our view, too - golf course, water fountain, woods, ...

 

[OneMoreTry]

Before everyone starts putting 100 watt bulbs in the ceilings please make sure the fixtures are RATED for 100 watts and not 75. I don't want my dues to go up because a bldg burns down.

 

[june@imsarc.com]

I agree with you 100% Pig Pen!! The low lighting coupled with the dark colors are very hard on the eyes!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by JudithM
We stayed in room 6432 at OKW Memorial Day weekend. I had requested a first floor room or elevator building for medical reasons. i am not supposed to do a lot of stairs. If worst came to worst, I would walk down the stairs - I loved the elevator building's location! I rented an ECV from off property. We really enjoyed building 64 even without its own separate parking lot. We used the lot next to the building or across the street. The sidewalks had plenty of handicapped access to get from the car to the building. We loved our view, too - golf course, water fountain, woods, ...

Yes, I enjoyed watching the golfers in the evening. Some even talked to us when they saw us out on the balcony.