OKW-No Car-Bus to the room!

[Barb]

Is this how it always is? This was my first trip to OKW without a car and using ME. I check in, get my room and I'm told I have to catch a bus to get there because my luggage won't be here for a while. I was shocked. They want me to hop on a bus, after traveling all day, dragging my way too big travel bag!?! Fortunately, a very understanding CM at bell services was able to get me a ride, after I asked if I could catch a ride over with my luggage. We've stayed at OKW before with a car, so we had no idea we're left to our own devices to get to our room. I have to say I was extremely disappointed and a letter to DVC guest services is going out shortly.

 

[simzac]

Sorry to hear about your situation, but I'm curious; how did you get around the rest of the week without a car?

 

[nzdisneymom]

We have always driven to WDW, but having stayed at OKW (and SSR), we've seen guests who arrive by Magical Express or other transportation being delivered to their rooms by bell services on the carts. I would suspect that depending on what time you arrive and how busy they are might impact the ability to get a timely ride to your building. But asking for assistance with your luggage (even your hand-carried luggage) is definitely within reasonable expectations.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That's a big change from the past! They have always been eager to take folks in the little service vehicles before. As for the bus though...If you didn't have a car, you have to take the bus everywhere anyway.

 

[Barb]

I work in retail, so I can't take an extended trip and I can't do weekends (company policy). I arrange my scedule so I can do a four day trip in the middle of the week. I work in the morning, fly out in the afternoon. Have two full days at the parks, then fly home early on day four. I have to work at night on day four. It's a bit hectic on the flyiing days, but it's so worth it to see the holidays in WDW. I thought about renting a car, but decided to go with ME instead.

My flight was on time. The ME bus left the terminal almost as soon as I got on the bus. And, I was the first stop on the bus route. I ended up being at the resort at 8:00 pm, instead of my predicted 9:00 pm. I was thrilled up until they told me I had to bus it to my room.

I found it funny (but not in a good way) that my luggage could get a ride to the room, but I couldn't. I'm just glad the CM saw I was a bit upset and found a bell person to cart me over. She did a good thing. She turned a not so nice situation into a good one.

 

[jbrowna]

I suppose I'm not the best person to respond, but I've never asked for nor gotten nor expected a ride to my room in any resort I've stayed at, Disney or not. In this case, I didn't know they were even allowed to take people on the pargos. Besides, I like to take my own luggage. I never use valet parking. The main reason is that I never know if a tip is appropriate, or how much to tip, etc. (I also don't like turning car keys over to someone I don't know, especially with a rental -- I mean, don't you sign an agreement that you'll be the only driver?) And I'm cheap!

So, I would have walked, or taken the bus, and not even thought that there was an alternative. I don't know enough to feel miffed -- if fact, I would have thought it was nice that the CM pointed out that I could have taken the bus -- and I'm not sure whether that's good or bad. Besides, what' so different about hopping on a bus or riding a pargo? Either way you get where you want to go. But, even after a long flight from the west coast I prefer walking -- stretches the legs. Then again, that's just me I guess! Perhaps I need to change my expectations; if I start expecting more then I can be more critical when my expectations aren't met . Makes for better forum postings!

 

[HFC1969]

Ok... its been awhile since we owned our DVC,,, but do I understand they no longer haul you and your luggage to your room on the golf cart????

 

[Mike©]

Ok... its been awhile since we owned our DVC,,, but do I understand they no longer haul you and your luggage to your room on the golf cart????

That's correct. Yet another reason why Disney resorts just aren't worth it anymore. It WAS about service and the priceing reflected that. Now it's just the price without the service. Soon they'll start charging for non-valet parking like Lowes at Universal.

 

[dwelty]

That's correct. Yet another reason why Disney resorts just aren't worth it anymore. It WAS about service and the priceing reflected that. Now it's just the price without the service. Soon they'll start charging for non-valet parking like Lowes at Universal.

This is not true. I just called the front desk at OKW. They still take people to their villa with the service carts. The person I spoke to said that during the busier check in times, sometimes the carts are all in use and the guest might have to wait awhile to get a ride. She thinks the person was told to catch the bus so that they would not have to wait. I think it is better to contact the source on this than to stew about it in endless posting. Hope this helps.

 

[HFC1969]

Thanks for the info...

We are in the research mode....again

 

[Dis13]

Just returned from an awesome trip home to OKW.

We arrived Sunday afternoon, left our day bag in the lockers and headed out for the day.

When we returned, I went to Bell Services to retrieve our Xmas tree. When I asked if they could deliver it, they offered us, and our boxes, bag and some groceries from Olivias a ride back to our room. We had to wait maybe 5 minutes for a bellman and cart.

On a side note, we did experience awful return service from Downtown Disney (as always!), so we decided to walk back. Along the way, two Disney CMs (not sure where they were from) were zipping along the walkway in golf carts and offered us a ride back, which we gladly excepted.

Any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[HFC1969]

We always walked to Downtown Disney or took the boat.. I remember the bus situation still to this day.

Did OKW ever get a bigger upgraded pool?

 

[HFC1969]

We always walked to Downtown Disney or took the boat.. I remember the bus situation still to this day.

Did OKW ever get a bigger upgraded pool?

 

[Mtnman44]

For those reading this thread that haven't been to WDW yet, IT GETS EVEN WORSE! They make you walk at the parks! This walking makes the resort walking look like a leisurely stroll to the mailbox!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Ok... its been awhile since we owned our DVC,,, but do I understand they no longer haul you and your luggage to your room on the golf cart????

No, that's not true. We just returned from OKW two weeks ago, and we saw folks getting transported to their rooms everyday on the carts.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We always walked to Downtown Disney or took the boat.. I remember the bus situation still to this day.

Did OKW ever get a bigger upgraded pool?

I didn't understand this statement and question in the first post and am not sure why it needed to be asked twice. What do you mean by "upgraded begger pool"???? The main pool seems to me to be about the same size as most of the other DVC main pools with the possible exception of Stormalong Bay. All the neighborhood pools make up for it too. OKW is the only DVC resort that has FOUR pools instead of one or two. I think SSR now has three also.

IF your comment was about bus service to and from DTD, then I have to agree that getting there on the bus is fine, but getting return buses can be hit or miss at best. The best solution for travel between DTD and OKW if you don't have a car is to take the boat or the foot path.

 

[shellbelle1971]

Did OKW ever get a bigger upgraded pool?

OKW's pools are the same size they've always been, but a sandcastle waterslide has been added at the main pool by the hospitality house. Is this what you were referring to?

 

[HFC1969]

OKW's pools are the same size they've always been, but a sandcastle waterslide has been added at the main pool by the hospitality house. Is this what you were referring to?

Thats it....

 

[LVSWL]

I don't really see what the big deal is I guess. We always drive, so we do have a car, but if they were offering to bring our bags later, then hopping a bus to go ahead and check out our room would not seem like such a big deal to me.

 

[Mike©]

This is not true. I just called the front desk at OKW. They still take people to their villa with the service carts. The person I spoke to said that during the busier check in times, sometimes the carts are all in use and the guest might have to wait awhile to get a ride. She thinks the person was told to catch the bus so that they would not have to wait. I think it is better to contact the source on this than to stew about it in endless posting. Hope this helps.

I'm just back from CBR and they are not taking guests to their rooms ( or not in the 5 days we were there ).