OKW pool slide

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by tjkraz
Why did DVD choose to pay for it? There are probably a handful of reasons, all of which would point to one fact: they WANT a slide at OKW.

And if DVD wants a slide, it means that DVD management has a business justification for adding a slide to a sold-out resort — not because DVD wants be be nice, or because DVD is concerned that other DVC resorts might sometimes fill up before OKW, and not even because some OKW guest comment cards undoubtedly say, "gee, I wish there had been a slide at the pool."

DVD makes its money by selling timeshare ownership in the form of DVC points at new DVC resorts. Currently, that means DVD is making money by selling points at SSR.

My guess is that DVD management has concluded that they can sell more points more quickly if the Guides can tell potential customers, "You can stay at any DVC resort with your points, and they all have great pools with great water slides. And your points will go even further at Old Key West."

 

[DeeP]

My guess is that DVD management has concluded that they can sell more points more quickly if the Guides can tell potential customers, "You can stay at any DVC resort with your points, and they all have great pools with great water slides. And your points will go even further at Old Key West."

Yes but they did not need this gimmick to sell BWV, VWL or BCV why SSR?

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Originally posted by DeeP
Yes but they did not need this gimmick to sell BWV, VWL or BCV why SSR?

Less desirable location? High number of units planned for sale?

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by DeeP
The part I can not understand is why Disney would want or need to drive up interest in OKW.

There are probably a number of reasons, all of which we could never identify unless they were actually disclosed. But I suspect that one of the reasons on the list would be to address people just like yourself--those who do not own at OKW and also do not feel a desire to stay there.

I'm operating under the assumption that OKW owners would never agree to pay for the slide installation, but that's not to say that a large contingent of all 80,000+ DVC members wouldn't like to see the slide. If that's the case, this is almost a compromise: we pay for the install, you pay for the upkeep.

Sounds like this is probably going to justify the installation of full time lifeguards. Again, this could be something that has been overwhelmingly requested--or perhaps mandated at some DVC/DVD/WDW level.

With regard to pool hopping, I can very easily envision that perk going away. But in my mind, if they were really worried about the response of the OKW community, they would have discontinued pool hopping immediately, waited for the backlash to occur and then called for a vote. If the resort owners still turned it down, then so be it. If this were any other timeshare management / development company, that's exactly what would happen.

I'm personally going to stop short of commenting on the occupancy issue. I think that's still a debate that could ONLY be resolved with firm numbers from DVC itself. With 500+ rooms at OKW, a 95% occupancy rate means that there would be upward of 25 vacant rooms. So, I put ZERO credibility into the line of thinking that says: "Member Services told me there were PLEANTY of rooms available at OKW" means that demand for OKW is low. To me, 25-30 empty rooms is "pleanty", but a 95% occupancy level is very high.

I guess I'll just chalk it up to something that's being done for the good of the entire DVC community.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

tjkraz,
Where are you from in Ohio?

Speaking of pools, have you been to the big bear lodge? Wouldn't that kind of indoor waterpark be great at Disney? Or, wouldn't it be nice if it were on our DVC collection? Certainly family oriented.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by DeeP
Yes but they did not need this gimmick to sell BWV, VWL or BCV why SSR?

Perhaps, they wish they had been in a position to deliver such a pitch years ago. In fact, the survey taken several years ago may have been attempt to get the ball rolling on a slide for OKW

In any case, DVD is now funding a slide at OKW — though only its construction, not the far greater long-term staffing costs. I agree with tjkraz that DVD concluded that it was highly unlikely that a majority of members at OKW would want to fund the construction. So, DVD is now digging into its own pockets.

I don't think this is directly related to SSR in comparison to BWV, VWL or BCV.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Opps, the Ohio lodge is not big bear it's great bear at:
http://www.greatbearlodge.com/default.asp?bhcp=1
Now there's a resort pool. It should be on DVC's collection list. Great pool slide and much more.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by CaptainMidnight
Speaking of pools, have you been to the big bear lodge? Wouldn't that kind of indoor waterpark be great at Disney? Or, wouldn't it be nice if it were on our DVC collection?

Great Bear Lodge is a "great indoor water park"(near Cedar Point), but I doubt you would have many people that would come to Ohio for it.

 

[HookdonWDW]

I think that part of the reason that DVD has decided that it is time to add a slide to OKW has to do with how close OKW and SSR are to each other. If they didn't add the slide, they may have been hit by one of these scenarios:

1. Vast overcrowding at the SSR main pool because of traffic from OKW visitors.

2. Ill-will from those that are staying at OKW if pool hopping were eliminated at SSR without providing an alternate slide at OKW.

4. More than concern about perceptions from DVC members who may or may not care about whether the pool has a slide, they may be trying to cater to those who are booking cash reservations through CRO. Those people may find the lack of a slide to be a detraction when they are picking a property to make their reservations. Since this could have a direct effect on DVD's bottom line, it stands to reason that they would want to remedy this situation. And if they can just pick up the building costs and shuffle most of the maint. costs to DVCers, all the better for the bottom line.

3. It may boost the way OKW is seen by those who are trading into DVC through II. Since most of the weeks that are made available through II are at OKW, those trading in may perceive it as only being able to get accomodations at the resort with the least number of ammenities (NOTE: This is not MY opinion, just what I think others may perceive... I don't really care about the slide ... I think that OKW has many other things that make it an attractive resort ).

These are just some random thoughts of mine. I haven't done any case studies, polls or analysing of people's past posts on the slide issue .

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by CaptainMidnight
tjkraz,
Where are you from in Ohio?

Speaking of pools, have you been to the big bear lodge? Wouldn't that kind of indoor waterpark be great at Disney? Or, wouldn't it be nice if it were on our DVC collection? Certainly family oriented.

Toledo, OH.

You know, we've never been there, but this winter I may give it a look. My son loves the water, and it's going to be a FEW more months before we're in the pool again.

If you have any comments you'd like to share PLEASE feel free to PM me. I'd love to hear more about it.

 

[PamOKW]

I think someone else posted this on one of the recent threads about the slide and it's why I suspected that Disney would go ahead and add the slide if they wanted to -- OKW, in Disney's eyes, is not just a DVC resort. It is a Walt Disney World Resort. They want to use the availability of slides at the resorts as a selling point for the resorts. I think they may have already said something similar in advertising that would lead people to expect a slide at every resort. It's possible that they've already heard from people who booked OKW as a WDW resort and were disappointed there was no slide. Disney still controls the DVC resorts and will do whatever they feel is to Disney's benefit. Hopefully, the decisions will also be in the best interest of the DVC members.

It's funny how the $.02-$.04 it will cost OKW folks is brushed off by non-OKW owners but BWV folks on the transporation discussion were for the most part not willing to even entertain the thought of paying additional dues of a similar amount to improve their bus service. It's not a huge sum of money but it is bothersome to pay more for things that you do not think are necessary. I'm sure people who are satisfied with the bus service at BWV would not want to pay more for added service they don't feel they need or want. But that's DVC, we all pay for things we don't want/use, it's just that we all use different things. I use the bus -- not the slide. Another family may never take the bus but wants the slide. It all evens out.

 

[robinb]

I see another advantage to having the pool slide. IIRC, there are currently no lifeguards at OKW. Once you have a slide, you really need lifeguards. Yes, I watch my 4 year old very carefully when she's in the water. I'm in there with her. BUT, I feel a lot safer when there is a lifeguard around to keep an eye on things too. If my $5-$10 per year in additional dues pays for a more lifeguards, I think that's a very good value.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by robinb
BUT, I feel a lot safer when there is a lifeguard around to keep an eye on things too.

Yes, the lifeguard who enforces the safe use of the water slide may also be able to glance toward other parts on the pool. And that lifeguard will be able assist in emergencies that are brought to his or her attention.

However, having a lifeguard attending the OKW slide doesn't mean that the OKW pool will be a guarded pool. In fact, given the interesting shape of the OKW pool, it's likely that the lifeguard will only have visibility to part of the pool, regardless of where the slide is located. And if the OKW slide has its own "splash pool" at the bottom (since the existing pool was not designed for a slide), the lifeguard may not even be at the main pool, only somewhere near it.

Yes, the OKW pool area should be safer when a lifeguard is present — but only if people don't get a false sense of security.

(I'm not suggesting that robinb will have a false sense of security. I'm sure robinb will continue to watch the 4-year-old carefully.)

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by PamOKW
it's why I suspected that Disney would go ahead and add the slide if they wanted to

Huh?

Hopefully, the decisions will also be in the best interest of the DVC members.

It is. Certainly when the broader audience of all DVC owners is considered.
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=476692

It's funny how the $.02-$.04 it will cost OKW folks is brushed off by non-OKW owners but BWV folks on the transporation discussion

I voted for $.05 increase for improved bus service for BWV. It's certainly an improvement I'd be willing to pay for. I don't believe that poll was for BWV owners only, but I could be wrong.

 

[lenshanem]

I really don't understand why so many are complaining about it. OKW already has the lowest dues, this will only cause the dues to raise very slightly, really unnoticeable if you are paying by the month. This will improve OKW, it will look better for resales, too I would think. Now it will have a fun pool, plus the largest rooms with the lowest points! And like soemoen mentioned earlier, I think having lifeguards added is a plus. I would hate to think soemoen drowned cause a few complained loud enough cause they didn't want their dues raised a few cents!!!

We already know DVc does listen to our few voices off thsi board, look at the price "reduction" on the homecoming for AP holders, look at the ruckus we caused with the PS time frame montsh back. I will be severely bummed and disappointed if they choose not to build the slide cause a few owners whined. They are improving the resort, for goodness sake. You will still ahve quiet pools. I think they needed to make thsi move. The values and OKW are now the only resorts without a slide. Do you wnat OKW to be compared to All-Stars in amneties?!?

 

[paults]

It's funny how the $.02-$.04 it will cost OKW folks is brushed off by non-OKW owners but BWV folks on the transporation discussion were for the most part not willing to even entertain the thought of paying additional dues of a similar amount to improve their bus service. It's not a huge sum of money but it is bothersome to pay more for things that you do not think are necessary. I'm sure people who are satisfied with the bus service at BWV would not want to pay more for added service they don't feel they need or want. But that's DVC, we all pay for things we don't want/use, it's just that we all use different things. I use the bus -- not the slide. Another family may never take the bus but wants the slide. It all evens out.

I was wondering when BWV would be brought into this.


Sorry but paying for the slide at OKW benefits only OKW. Paying for bus improvements at BWV benefits 6 other resorts not just BWV, therefore all these resorts should pay. BUT I still say that's a disney issue not DVC. HI all

 

[Richyams]

Who cares about the dues??? I don't want that noisy thing there. I appreciate Conch Flats the way it is, a nice, peaceful place to relax.

Its just too bad that Disney constantly gives in to whiners.

 

[paults]

Is that how the food and WHINE festival got started. By a batch of winers.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by paults
Is that how the food and WHINE festival got started. By a batch of winers.

 

[PamOKW]

But, in the end, adding a bus will be very similar to the slide issue. If Disney adds a bus, the cost will be added to the DVC dues. The other resorts will also be charged their share but it will be an increase to the transportation budget one way or another. If BWV and BCV want a bus that just services those two resorts, the cost of running the bus will be the same but it will be split by the two resorts instead of the others that now share that cost. I'd assume you'd want to keep the same 15-20 minute wait and not just have hourly service?

The slide is being added at Disney's expense because they see some reason to do so. However, the cost of that slide will be paid for by DVC dues. It is not a benefit to only OKW owners but to every DVC owner who has expressed a desire for a slide at that resort and for Disney in marketing the resort as a hotel property.