New clubhouse, no mention of OKW slide...

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
One, I am not whining. Two, the DJ is not playing constantly.
Screaming from the slide would be a pretty constant thing.
Do I think that Disney would build or allow an eyesore to be built?
Ah, yes. Think Swalphin, think All Stars, think Pop Century, the new budget resorts look like the Partridge Family Bus run amok.
I am acutely aware that they don't need our permission to do anything. I am also under the impression we can have an opinon without being called whiners.

Gail,
My post was not directed to you in anyway. I would never call you a whiner. You are definitly one person who looks over the situation fairly from all angles and then says what you have to say in no uncertain terms but are definitly NOT a whiner.
I do think that any potential problems a slide at OKW may bring are being way overblown and exaggerated though.
I have been in many WDW pools with slides and really can not say that I have ever noticed constant screaming at any of the pools. I happen to like the DJ at OKW but I also find this much louder than any noise generated from a pool slide.
I also think the value resorts are quite unusual and garish at times but the point is all the large icons fit in with the theming just like a slide at OKW will fit in with the theming. I really doubt Disney would design the same kind of slide for OKW as they would for say Pop Century.
As for "asking permission", it was the comment that "Disney has a lot of nerve" that I found rather ridiculous and was commenting on.
In regards to a slide bothering guests tennis games, I think that is really grasping for straws. The tennis courts are separated from the pool area and they are mostly used during early AM or evening hours not during mid day when the temps and the sun is the hottest, which will be prime time for the slide usuage. I can not think of a single time I have seen anyone playing on the tennis courts at any WDW resort during mid day when the temps are in the high 80-90's with humidity at 100%, but you do see many people in the pools at this time.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by Werner Weiss
Friendly suggestion to BWVDee: Calling those with a differing opinion "whiners" is unlikely to win them over to your position.

In fact, the people you call "whiners" bought at a DVC resort without a slide. They didn't want a slide then, and they don't want it now. They don't see it as an improvement to the OKW feature pool, and, yes, they're disappointed that they'll have to pay year after year for something they don't want. They expected DVC to continue to provide the OKW experience and cost structure for which they made a long-term commitment. Expressing that point of view does not make them "whiners."

It's also clear that some OKW owners want a slide. And some don't have strong feelings either way. But the folks who don't want a slide really have the strongest case.

It would be very different if the issue were the removal of the slide at BWV. There are undoubtedly some BWV owners who would love to see the clown slide removed, resulting in a more peaceful and "classy" pool, as well as lower dues. But the slide was part of the resort when the DVC memberships were sold. Again, owners would legitimately expect the BWV experience for which they made a long-term commitment.

If you go back and re read the thread, I am NOT the one who orginally threw the term "whiners" into this discussion.
Why is it all right for the OKW members that DO want a slide to be called "whiners" and not right for the OKW members that do NOT want a slide???

 

[lenshanem]

people who don't own points at OKW, and actually have expressed a strong dislike for the resort have every right to express their delight in the slide being installed. Why do you care?

Yep, I own at BCV.
Yep, I was excited to hear about the slide at OKW.
If they don't build it then we'll continue to probbaly not stay there unless it is the only option available or we are short points, unless until our kids are older, but then we'll want the slide agagin for our grandkids.
So no big deal to us, I was just excited to hear it cause it made the resort seem more appealing to my family and added another option for us.

And those OKW owners who did wnat the slide, but don't get it will still possibly pool hop to those DVc resorst that have slides and that dues by thsoe resort owners paid for. Thsi will probbaly effect SSR mailnly. I imagine their pool will get pretty crowded. Course, they coudl go further and make SSr an excpetion like BCV. Then it woudl really eb really unfair to BWV and VWL.

The slide probbaly seemed like a good solution to ending pool hopping and not leaving anyone out.

 

[MELSMICE]

As with all things, you can't please everyone. Some owners want a slide, some owners don't.

As far as a poll, I'm assuming it was taken a while ago. I never received anything & it looks like some of the others have not either. As the years have progressed some of the owners have changed.

Personally, I would love to see a slide. I really enjoy going down it with my DD's (& they're 14, 11 & 11 now).

As far as dues being raised. I realized when I bought in that dues would not stay the same but only go higher as time goes on. That's just the way things work.

For those of you that say you bought in 1992, wasn't this the only DVC resort available at the time? You make it sound as though one of the selling points was no slide when you didn't have another choice.

As far as obnoxious, screaming kids, don't lump all of them into one group. My kids aren't perfect, but they know how to behave.

The thing is, if there is a slide at one of the pools, guests do have the option to swim at another pool.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by MELSMICE
For those of you that say you bought in 1992, wasn't this the only DVC resort available at the time? You make it sound as though one of the selling points was no slide when you didn't have another choice.

Yes OKW was the only Disney Vacation Club at the time I bought in 1992. And the look and feel of the resort was one of the bigger selling points to me. I can honestly say that BWV was the first DVC built, I would not have purchased it. Nothing against the resort or those who love it. It is just not for me.

 

[BWVDee]

And those OKW owners who did wnat the slide, but don't get it will still possibly pool hop to those DVc resorst that have slides and that dues by thsoe resort owners paid for. Thsi will probbaly effect SSR mailnly. I imagine their pool will get pretty crowded. Course, they coudl go further and make SSr an excpetion like BCV. Then it woudl really eb really unfair to BWV and VWL

I agree.
And must add that I doubt they will eliminate pool hopping from SSR but leave BWV and VWL in the mix--I think this would cause quite an uproar from the members at these resorts -- and justly so. I think once SSR opens all pool hopping will be stopped.
Personally I could not care less whether they stop pool hopping or not or whether they build a slide at OKW or not.
What I can not for the life of me is understand why some are opposed to a resort enhancement and immediately take a negative view of this enhancement. The new OKW pool might be absolutely gorgeous, something to even rival SAB and everyone might just love it!

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by sgtdisney
I can honestly say that BWV was the first DVC built, I would not have purchased it. Nothing against the resort or those who love it. It is just not for me.

Just curious.....
If OKW did not exist but all the other DVC resorts did and were excatly like they presently are, would you have purchased a DVC membership?

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by BWVDee
What I can not for the life of me is understand why some are opposed to a resort enhancement and immediately take a negative view of this enhancement. The new OKW pool might be absolutely gorgeous, something to even rival SAB and everyone might just love it!

You are right, it may be a wonderful addition. It may do wonders for the OKW members. It may make the points worth more on a trade out. It just would have been nice to have had all this explained to ALL the OKW membership. Nothing has been presented. People I know who own at OKW had no idea about this slide until I told them because they don't frequent here and couldn't attend the meeting. Presenting all these points to the membership and allowing the members to decide up front would have been the most appropriate thing though in my opinion.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by BWVDee
Just curious.....
If OKW did not exist but all the other DVC resorts did and were excatly like they presently are, would you have purchased a DVC membership?

Quite possibly no. If VWL was priced as it was when I bought, I may have considered it. I spent years before DVC visiting WDW and staying in the townhouses and treehouses. I like the larger condo style rooms. Being super close to any park has never been all that important to me. The look and feel of the resort and the actual rooms were a big selling point.

Also, in 12 years, I have never stayed in another DVC resort when I was at Disney World. Never had a desire to. I don't pool hop either.

 

[jodifla]

I'm an OKW owner, and look forward to the possibility of a pool. There are three other pools at the resort for the "quiet pool" experience.

Also, not sure about the argument about the tennis court noise. As it stands now, the playground and the kiddie pool are right next to the courts. Do kids in the kiddie pool and playground not make any noise?

And while DS, 2, is too young for slides, DH and I (40somethings) LOVE them. We promise not to scream, though. (Too much, anyway...)

 

[jodifla]

Re: previous post, I meant to type pool slide.

 

[BWVDee]

sgt,
Thanks for your quick response. I can certainly understand and do respect your opinions and preferences. I also have my definite preferences among WDW resorts but I must say I also do enjoy staying for a few days at various resorts. WDW resorts are an vacation experience all by themselves, I love WDW resorts; DVC and non DVC!
I can understand your feelings regarding the lack of any offical information about the change to those who have invested major money into the resort. But in regards to the actual addition of a slide and the pool enhancement with life guards, it appears as though this is completly within Disney's rights and there is not much that can be done. Although I know many seemed surprised by the fact that Disney has this right with no member input, I am really not.
Although I do not own any pts at OKW, as a DVC owner I also do not like the way this whole non release of information to members is being handled. And it has certainly further opened my eyes to how Disney regards their DVC owners. However I still think the enhancement of the main pool is a very positive thing for OKW.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Because this has been such a lively thread, could someone please do a poll on this board as to whether or not a slide is wanted @ OKW?

I would do it myself but am a newbie and spend most of my time trying to figure out all the acronyms. I'll have to move onto "Polls 101" when I get everything else mastered.

Anyway, back to the poll...I think it should only be OKW owners that enter their opinion (the honor system). I know it will be a small percentage compared to all the owners that don't use this board but it might be interesting to see if the slide really is unwanted or perhaps if there has been a new trend in people buying resales @ OKW.

Thank you to anyone brave enough to take it on!

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by calypso*a*go-go
Because this has been such a lively thread, could someone please do a poll on this board as to whether or not a slide is wanted @ OKW?

PamOKW did set up a poll a month or two ago. Here is the link.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread...ghlight=\\ pool \\ slide \\ poll&pagenumber=1

At least at that time, comparing the people who owned at OKW, the majority were happy with the pool as is. Of course this is a very unscientific polling. It would have been interesting to have seen the opinions of the OKW membership though.

 

[OneMoreTry]

In 20 years, all our kids will be grown. Granted, there will be grandkids, but I think many more people will see the advantages of OKW. Add that to the lower points and I believe as the DVC demographic changes, so will the popularity of the various resorts.

I don't care if they put a slide at OKW or not. I have points there. Either way is fine for me. But if they do it, I hope they do it tastefully. (Unlike that horrible brown lump at the Polynesian or the scary Clown at BWV.)

By the way:
Anyone who minds the screams of kids having fun should stop going to WDW!

IMHO of course

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Scoootch
My kids don't rule the world - but this is our FAMILY vacation and they deserve to enjoy just as much as we do. And we are always either in the water with them or completely within earshot so the slide being a babysitter is just not an issue for us. And as for "are they paying for it?" No , but I am. And my dh and I bought into DVC knowing we'd want for them to enjoy it as much as we do. And as for what the majority wants -- how can you know that? You certainly don't speak for me - and I'm sure the majority of OKW owners are not on the DIS.

They did do a poll and the majority of those polled voted against the slide.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by BWVDee
Gail,
My post was not directed to you in anyway. I would never call you a whiner. You are definitly one person who looks over the situation fairly from all angles and then says what you have to say in no uncertain terms but are definitly NOT a whiner.
I do think that any potential problems a slide at OKW may bring are being way overblown and exaggerated though.
I have been in many WDW pools with slides and really can not say that I have ever noticed constant screaming at any of the pools. I happen to like the DJ at OKW but I also find this much louder than any noise generated from a pool slide.
I also think the value resorts are quite unusual and garish at times but the point is all the large icons fit in with the theming just like a slide at OKW will fit in with the theming. I really doubt Disney would design the same kind of slide for OKW as they would for say Pop Century.
As for "asking permission", it was the comment that "Disney has a lot of nerve" that I found rather ridiculous and was commenting on.
In regards to a slide bothering guests tennis games, I think that is really grasping for straws. The tennis courts are separated from the pool area and they are mostly used during early AM or evening hours not during mid day when the temps and the sun is the hottest, which will be prime time for the slide usuage. I can not think of a single time I have seen anyone playing on the tennis courts at any WDW resort during mid day when the temps are in the high 80-90's with humidity at 100%, but you do see many people in the pools at this time.

No, it is not grasping at straws re: tennis and you have not been there with Dee and I (unfortunately). He plays mid day. And, the pools is not all that separated from tennis courts. Take a peek from the tennis courts sometime. It is there and sound does travel. I think if you played tennis, and I am assuming you don't, you would understand a bit better.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by BWVDee
Just curious.....
If OKW did not exist but all the other DVC resorts did and were excatly like they presently are, would you have purchased a DVC membership?

Nope, I would not have. I don't like hotels.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by jodifla
I'm an OKW owner, and look forward to the possibility of a pool. There are three other pools at the resort for the "quiet pool" experience.

Also, not sure about the argument about the tennis court noise. As it stands now, the playground and the kiddie pool are right next to the courts. Do kids in the kiddie pool and playground not make any noise?

And while DS, 2, is too young for slides, DH and I (40somethings) LOVE them. We promise not to scream, though. (Too much, anyway...)

Yes, there is a lot of noise from the kiddie pool and the playground (nothing like going for a point and have some child scream bloody murder cause he/she has to leave the play area).
My point was there will be more noise when the slide is installed.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by OneMoreTry
In 20 years, all our kids will be grown. Granted, there will be grandkids, but I think many more people will see the advantages of OKW. Add that to the lower points and I believe as the DVC demographic changes, so will the popularity of the various resorts.

I don't care if they put a slide at OKW or not. I have points there. Either way is fine for me. But if they do it, I hope they do it tastefully. (Unlike that horrible brown lump at the Polynesian or the scary Clown at BWV.)

By the way:
Anyone who minds the screams of kids having fun should stop going to WDW!

IMHO of course

I don't think anyone has said they mind the screams of kids, it was stated that it is a distraction when playing tennis. People who play tennis are members too and should they not have the right to play without noise? Or, because they are doing something you don't care about make it less a matter?

Rather nervy stating that if someone does not like something they should not go to WDW. There are many things I don't like in life, should I stop living?