Just back from OKW..observations...

[CK1]

Originally posted by DaveH
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.

O.k., THAT'S scary! I can just see my 3 yr old sticking a finger in there... Note to self -- check all the lamps when I check in!

There are some awesome long-life fluorescents and miser lights that crank out the lumens for relatively low cost / wattage. I always pack a night light or two for our 2 br villa to help the kids... guess I'd better add a bulb or two of those! And I agree about the not going TOO high on the watts -- stay below 75 or even 60 watts to keep it safe.

 

[nezy]

Who at Disney thinks of these things-

The following was overheard at a recent Disney Bottom line Meeting:

"Ok, If we change all of the 100 watt bulbs to 60 Watt's we will save xxx dollars by year's end"!!??
"Sounds good to me"
"Yeah great idea-and if we retire room towels after 1,000 washes instead of 500, think of all that we can save on towels"

 

[Dancind]

I thought I was the only one who really can't see much in some of the attractions. Although I love HM, I am resigned to the fact that I miss about 1/3 of the special effects because I am so night blind. Diana

 

[Granny]

Diane...I know you had some concerns to make sure you got a room that was accessible for you for this trip....glad to hear that the room assignment worked out.

As for the light bulbs, I've experienced less than bright lighting at virtually every hotel I stay at (and unfortunately, that's a bunch). I can't say that I remember the lighting at VWL being particularly dimmer this year than last. Seemed about the same, but I wasn't paying much attention to it.

Thanks for the report!

 

[Regina]

Maybe I'm missing it, but I don't see where the OP said anything negative about the towels.

I'm glad that you had a good time, despite the "mood" lighting.

I think the bus service at OKW has been great. Thanks for confirming this.

 

[DVC-Don]

Just in last night from 14 days at OKW in a 2 bedroom, building 56. Wonderful stay, but I also have 2 problems. Dim lighting and what an awful king size mattress! We were having trouble sleeping by the end and were looking forward to coming home to a nice sleep!

It was hard to read by those lights in the evening, one of my favorite ways to end a day.


Oh, one more thing. On full cleaning days (2 of them) it did not appear that Mousekeeping vaccumed the carpets at all.

 

[CK1]

You may laugh, but a mtg wherein the "powers that be" decide they can save money by cutting back on light bulb wattage is TOTALLY believable.

I work for a very large Fortune 100 corporation -- our site alone has 2000+ employees. Believe it or not, about 3 yrs ago on big "cost-cutting" measure, the suggestion was made (and carried out!) to turn off the lights in all the company food vending machines. Yes, those little bulbs that illuminate your candy bar of choice. Out. That's biiiiiiig savings for ya.

When they have you sit in these supposed "brainstorming for dollars" mtgs, trust me, these type ideas (and many many more) DO emerge!

 

[dianeschlicht]

You are right, I did NOT say anything negetive about the towels, only the lights. I usually leave the dimable lights in the kitchen on at the very lowest setting so I don't have to disturb anyone when I get up to make the coffee. This trip, the highest setting was not much brighter than the lowes one used to be. They also seem to have done away with the 3 way bulbs in the bedside lamps in the master. At least the lights above the sink in the shower room seemed to be normal brightness, so doing makeup was still all right.

I have to agree with the poster who commented about the comfort (or lack of it) on the King bed. We have ALWAYS thought the beds were awful! I usually wake up early with a horrible backache, but I sleep on a Select Comfort sleep number bed at home, so I blamed that instead of the mattress at OKW.

 

[Shadeaux]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
They also seem to have done away with the 3 way bulbs in the bedside lamps in the master. At least the lights above the sink in the shower room seemed to be normal brightness, so doing makeup was still all right.

In June, we were in a 2br in building 18. The bedside lamps, the floor lamps in the bedroom and living room and the lamp on the table in the living room all had 3 way bulbs. The floor lamp in the living room burned out while we were there; maintenance replaced it with another 3 way bulb. I wonder if someone replaced the ones in your unit with the wrong bulbs?

 

[Dancind]

I think I read something on the boards once about missing bulbs, and the engineer that came to replace them commented that they get stolen. Wonder if that's why they've gone to bulbs that noone would want to take home. Diane, we had the bed discussion on another thread. It's a frustration that the DVC beds are not nearly as nice as beds at some off-site resorts we've stayed at. The queen size bed in the BCV studio is much worse. (I have a Select Comfort too). Did you try calling for the foam mattress pads? Diana

 

[dianeschlicht]

). Did you try calling for the foam mattress pads?

Ah! I didn't know about those! I will do that next time. Hopefully I will be in better health that trip!

 

[fkj2]

I wasn't aware that the king beds weren't comfortable and that there are foam mattress pads for them. What about the queen beds?

 

[Dancind]

I think the foam mattress pads are meant for the situations when one of the kids is sleeping on the floor. The one they brought us at BCV was just big enough to go under a sleeping bag. I haven't heard that many people on the boards complain about the mattresses at DVC, but we do. We find them uncomfortable, the queen even more so than the king. I'm sure it's a preference thing, some people like firm mattresses. Diana

 

[waltskids]

We also noticed the lighting at VWL. I ended up taking the lamp shades off the lights in the bathroom, just so I could get more light for the mirror.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"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. "***

Okay, first the placemats, now the bulbs. Come'on people, put them back, and leave the unused TP,tissues and paper towels.


While nothing is FREE, Disney's power supply is their own. Basically money moves from one pocket to the next. Disney generates their power from burning their trash: a very economical way to do things. And since our dues pay all operating expenses, in effect their cost cutting measures are just saving us money. That being said, I'm more then willing to pay an extra buck or two a year to bump the bulbs up about 25 watts each. When I turn on a light, I like to see.

 

[manning]

I always pack a night light or two for our 2 br villa to help the kids.

Be sure you use one of those night lights in the same room the jaccuzzi is in. I came out of the bathroom one night and didn't see the step and tripped into the tub. Got one heck of a bruise on the leg. Lucky I have strong bones.

 

[manning]

Okay, first the placemats, now the bulbs. Come'on people, put them back, and leave the unused TP,tissues and paper towels

You can keep the TP !! Sand paper is softer!!!!

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by manning
You can keep the TP !! Sand paper is softer!!!!

Isn't that the truth!!!! Where do they get that stuff?? I swear the worse Motel 6 has to have softer TP than the WDW resorts do!

 

[BriarRose59]

Okay, next time I go I guess I'll pack a few rolls of Charmin Ultra!

 

[nezy]

CK1-Re the meetings , I have NO DOUBT that this does happen, and probably DID happen.

What Have I been missing? I always thought the beds were so comfortable-that tells you how terrible mine is. I have been saying to DH, "We have to get a Select Comfort bed". Now I know I really MUST get a Select Comfort, but it will spoil me for my tripsback "home" to the DVC!