OKW Pool/Slide Update

[BostonDisneyKid]

I called OKW this morning to find out when the pool will re-open and was told - "The pool is scheduled to re-open Friday Jan 7, 2005".

I am hoping this is accurate information as I will be heading back "home" next week. If anyone is there currently and can confirm this, please do so... Thanks!

 

[Macmonster]

We have not heard any rumors other than it is opening soon and my wife was told earlier this week that mid-January was the target. However, since we are leaving tomorrow I am sure it is opening then!!! Just our luck.

My have to go by and check it out before departing. Have a great trip!

 

[LindaBabe]

Checking in on Sunday - I hope you are right!

 

[PKK/MJK]

Well, who knows what the correct date is. We stopped and asked about this two days ago and were told the pool would open January 14th!!! Guess no one really knows!

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I just spoke with OKW this morning (1/7/05) and the main pool w/ new slide is now officially open!!!

 

[Tom Morrow]

Yeah!!!!!!

Thanks for the info Boston. We are flying out tomorrow morning and we have been holding our breath hoping it woruld be open. You rock!

 

[spiceycat]

pictures please.

 

[Kay7979]

Yea!! We are flying out tomorrow AM,too. The weather is supposed to be mid 70s to low 80s the whole week, so it should be pool weather after all. I had originally figured January would be in the mid 60s and we wouldn't be swimming anyway. This is great!!! Two days ago DH broke his front tooth and we were afraid it would ruin our trip, but he managed to get a temporary crown yesterday, so now we're back in vacation mode. This is our second stay at a DVC resort. We own other timesahares, but not DVC. I am looking forward to a great week at OKW.

 

[StitchGirl]

Wow! I'm at OKW right now-- checked in on Wednesday, and was told the pool/slide would not be open until next Friday (14th)-- I didn't pay much attention, but I do know there were guys still working on it this morning when I ran past it (around 10:30 AM)

We're heading out for dinner now-- I'll check and report back!!

 

[LibertyBelle]

I just spoke with OKW this morning (1/7/05) and the main pool w/ new slide is now officially open!!!

FYI, the Pool did not open yet. We still have no offical word on when it will open, but as of right now it still has the construction wall up.

 

[SueM in MN]

We were at BWV from 12/30-1/3 and made a visit to OKW on 1/2. We took a boat out and also peaked in the gaps of the construction wall. There was water in the pool and there wasn't anything we could see that was obviously incomplete on the pool or the slide area. But, there could have easily been something missing that we couldn't see from our vantage points. The sand was missing from the play area and there was landscaping to be done around the pool. We didn't see anyone working there (maybe they were on the "back" side where we couldn't see them from the front and we were too low to see from the water). The lack of people working made me think there is some piece of equipment/part that they are waiting for.
One funny (but sort of sad) incident I saw was a woman and a boy about 6 or 7 who were dressed in their swimsuits. They looked in at the pool and the woman said "This *****. It's a perfect day for swimming and THIS pool should be open. It *****." Then the boy repeated "Yeah, it *****. THIS pool should be open." THey went back and forth with the woman swearing and the boy repeating for about 5 minutes; the last I heard was her saying she was going to go to the front desk and DEMAND that they open the pool right away since she couldn't see any reason for it to be closed. Her "echo" repeated it and they were gone. I talked with another woman who had heard the whole exchange. She said it was made very clear to them on check in that the pool would be closed for their whole stay (I think thru 1/5).
I don't have any pictures, but it looks very nice. I am sorry for the OKW CMs since I'm sure they have been taking a lot of abuse over this.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Sorry if I got your hopes up...

I have been calling OKW day by day for the past week (cm suggested I do while there in Dec) and have been monitoring this for months. It was originally suppose to be open before my Dec. trip but was delayed because of the hurricanes. They assured me while there in Dec that it would be open for my Jan trip 1/12-20 as the re-open date was Jan 7, 2005.

I am praying it is open before 1/12 as there will be 4 very disappointed children if not since I told them it was open... Think I need some pixie dust!!!

 

[disneyri]

I know there are multiple threads going on but I just read this very nice description about the Jan 13 inspection. I am not trying to be annoying and repetitious but wanted BostonDisneyKid to see this since he is leaving tomorrow and can prepare his children that hopefully friday is the day, and not their arrival date!:

compliments of DBBN

We're at SSR now and toured the new slide at OKW compliments of the Project Engineer and he advises the board of health is scheduled to do an inspection on Thursday the 13th and if all goes well the slide should open shortly thereafter. Although he did not state a specific date I took his answer to mean the grand opening would be on Friday the 14th. There will be 2 lifeguards assigned duties at the pool. One will be positioned at the lifeguard station near the foot bridge watching towards the slide exit and the other positioned on the opposite side of the foot bridge.

They did work around the spa, replaced the netting at the foot bridge and other small progects while taking advantage of the pool closure. Construction on the slide is complete...water was flowing while we toured the site. It looked like cleanup was the only work left to perform. Tools and equipment were present at several locations and many of the lounge chairs were covered with mildew or possibly construction dust of some type.

I commented on what appeared to be the lack of adequate pool deck area and he acknowledged the issue had been discussed. I suggested the construction of a foot bridge to the slide from Penninsular Road opposite buildings 27 and 28. If built I thought it would encourage guests from buildings 23 through 29 to walk rather than drive to the Hospitality House thereby mitigating what is likely to be an even bigger parking problem than already exists. Maybe someday we'll see these improvements as well.

All in all it looked great and I'm happy to call OKW my home resort.

 

[wdwstar]

i just found this thread, so sorry for chimming in late .

we were there jan. 6th looking at the pool hoping it would have been opened because we added a few days onto our vacation and the stormalong bay ( i consider it the whole bc side of the pool) is closed and we wanted to stay at a resort that the main pool was opened, well the okw pool was still under construction and there was a group of well dressed men standing around looking at the pool and maybe deciding the opening date. i do know when the pool is done it will be a very cool pool for the kids, i think okw moved up on my list .

 

[DBBN]

I just noticed this thread as well.

Thanks disneyri for posting my update.