OKW pool slide

[Werner Weiss]

 

[PamOKW]

DVC never did have to get member approval. Here's the paragraph concerning "Expansion of Recreational Facilities"

Recreational Facilities maybe expanded or added without the consent of the purchasers or the association. Maintenance costs may increase as a result of the expansion or addition of recreational facilities causing an increase in annual dues. (All of this is in caps in the POS). It goes on to say, "DVD reserves the right to add recreational facilities to the Condominium or other DVC Resorts, if any, without the consent of the Club Members, the Owners at that DVC Resort, or the managing entity of the DVC Resort, provided that all costs of construction of such additional recreational facilities shall be borne exclusively by DVD. All costs of maintenance, repair and replacement of any such additional recreational facilities will be borne by the Owners at that DVC Resort and shall be assessed to these Owners as a part of their Annual Dues subject to the limitation in the increase of the Condominium Operating Budget to no more than one hundred fifteen percent (115%) of the previous year's budget, as more particularly described in paragraph 20 below and in paragraph 5.2 of the Membership Agreement.

 

[tjkraz]

Thanks for posting that, Pam.

One thing strikes me as curious. Although DVC can expand the facilities at their own cost, without approval of the resort owners, why would they choose to make this move without first putting it to a vote of OKW owners? Wouldn't they want to try and pay for the expansion via member dues before deciding to absorb 100% of the costs themselves?

 

[PamOKW]

It may be a case of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The last time they brought it up for discussion they received negative feedback. Disney wants the slide. I think they've wanted the slide since the first survey and were probably surprised to be turned down. The cost of a new survey and then going ahead and doing it anyway probably would end up costing more than just going ahead and paying to put the slide in. I find it curious that this isn't a big announcement to the general DVC population, or at least to OKW owners. I would hope to see something "official" on this within the next week or two.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Regarding the photo that I posted around an hour ago, I hope it was obvious that it was nothing more than a little fun with Adobe Photoshop.

 

[PamOKW]

Sorry, Werner. I was chuckling silently....I recognized the Vero mini-slide right off. While they're making changes, something like that would also be nice for OKW.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by PamOKW
I recognized the Vero mini-slide right off.

Actually, that's the pirate ship slide at Marriott's Horizons in Orlando "magically" moved to the feature pool at OKW.

 

[WDWDaisy]

I was a the meeting yesterday and found was not that happy they are doing this. The first thing I started to think about was the cost to mantain this thing. Well after the meeting I went and talked to one of the 'Disney People' in the Finance Dept for DVC anf found out the the increase in dues should only be .03 - .04 per point. I find that this might be a little low of an est. for the cost to put lifegaurds at the main pool and the increased cost for the Liablilty Insurance. I think this will put OKW more in line with the other DVC's for dues.

I wonder how this is going effect the relaxed felling of the main pool? I just think this is not the right thing to do.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I always found it hard to "relax" the few times I did the main pool--what with footballs, baseballs and frisbees flying thru the air.
Hopefully lifeguards will curb this sort of behavior.
Probably no coincidence that this news comes as SSR opens.
Pool hopping has always been an "issue" and with the slide and lifeguards, pool hopping should pretty much be curtailed.
So I'm glad to see this!!

 

[PamOKW]

An increase of $.03-$.04 per point is in line with what they estimated in the past for adding a pool.

You got me Werner. I guess after midnight all those pirate ship slides start to look alike. At least I knew it wasn't the one from SAB!

Daisy, did they give any detail on what was going to be involved in putting in the slide i.e., show any plans? Was there anything else mentioned at the meeting that we might find of interest?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Daisy, did they give any detail on what was going to be involved in putting in the slide i.e., show any plans? Was there anything else mentioned at the meeting that we might find of interest?

I was wondering this too. I hope it doesn't mean things will be closed when we are down in October, because the 5 kids ranging in age from 7-17 will be unhappy about a torn up pool.

 

[DisneyMim]

When I told my kids last night about this their reaction was "Good now maybe the quiet pools will be a lot quieter!". This just shows that not everyone has a slide on the top of one's list. My kids have always preferred to swim laps and play catch and hubby and I never allow them to play when there are other people around. Personally I saw this coming for years, and as for what the owners want?? IMHO Disney does what Disney wants to do, surveys and such have always been to me just "lip service" for members and guests. They like us to believe they listen, but in the end it's always what's best for Disney.

 

[PamOKW]

DisneyMim I agree that Disney can spin things anyway they like to suit what they feel is best. Our ownership is based a lot on the faith that Disney will do what's best -- especially since we have very little way to argue a point with them. The towel survey was just a way to make members think it was their decision. The questions were engineered to come out in favor of their plan.

 

[KNWVIKING]

..... I was sure this thread would have been locked long ago.

Here's something to consider as to the "why" DVC is building a slide:

I don't think it will be too long before DVC starts to offer time limit extensions to current contracts that expire in 2042. I would bet that DVC believes a slide will entice or encourage members to spring for the extension - maybe not with theirselves in mind but for their children or grandchildren. I personally am glad to see a slide go in but the reality is that I may never use it when I stay at OKW. However, in the future I think my grandkids would love to have a slide. I'm not interested in purchasing an extension for myself- DW & I will be 83 in 2042- but maybe our sons would be interested in paying for the extension if their kids love the pool area. Just a thought.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by PamOKW
DVC never did have to get member approval. Here's the paragraph concerning "Expansion of Recreational Facilities"

Recreational Facilities maybe expanded or added without the consent of the purchasers or the association. Maintenance costs may increase as a result of the expansion or addition of recreational facilities causing an increase in annual dues. (All of this is in caps in the POS). It goes on to say, "DVD reserves the right to add recreational facilities to the Condominium or other DVC Resorts, if any, without the consent of the Club Members, the Owners at that DVC Resort, or the managing entity of the DVC Resort, provided that all costs of construction of such additional recreational facilities shall be borne exclusively by DVD. All costs of maintenance, repair and replacement of any such additional recreational facilities will be borne by the Owners at that DVC Resort and shall be assessed to these Owners as a part of their Annual Dues subject to the limitation in the increase of the Condominium Operating Budget to no more than one hundred fifteen percent (115%) of the previous year's budget, as more particularly described in paragraph 20 below and in paragraph 5.2 of the Membership Agreement.

Well that is certainly NOT what many OKW members have been saying around here for years!!!!!!! Many OKW members have repeatedly said for years that if the members said no and voted no then there would never be a slide!! Surprise!

 

[Beth]

So it's only <i>OKW</i> owners that have a misunderstanding of DVC's POS?!?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by DeeP
Well that is certainly NOT what many OKW members have been saying around here for years!!!!!!! Many OKW members have repeatedly said for years that if the members said no and voted no then there would never be a slide!! Surprise!

It was not a vote. It was an opinion survey that DVC sent to a portion of the OKW owners. Sometimes, it was mistakenly called a vote -- especially by those who claimed this "vote" showed that OKW owners are somehow old and cheap and unfair to owners at other DVC resorts.

I don't recall that, "many OKW members have repeatedly said for years that if the members said no and voted no then there would never be a slide."

However, I recall many cases where DVC's survey was correctly cited as evidence that the majority of surveyed OKW owners didn't really want a slide -- with the resulting change to the atmosphere at the main pool and added maintenance costs.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by Beth
So it's only <i>OKW</i> owners that have a misunderstanding of DVC's POS?!?

I don't think there was ever any misunderstanding. OKW owners just got a totally false sense of security from the pool poll and just used that to gloat, well now those same people are eating their words. I can't wait until the dues go up, that should make for some very entertaining reading! LOL!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by DeeP
I can't wait until the dues go up, that should make for some very entertaining reading!

Yes. There will be plenty of OKW owners who will be unhappy to see their dues go up for somthing they don't want, and that was not a part of the resort when they bought in.

I'm not sure I understand your point or why you take pleasure in seeing DVC reach into the wallets of OKW owners for something that the majority (according to the controlled survey a few years ago) do not want.

 

[CK1]

Disney knows --
It's always easier to ask forgiveness than permission.


As for what this will due to OKW dues, I have a hardtime being "horrified" that their dues will elevate (especially only 3-4cents per pt). For the Disney-located resorts, I can't fathom the differences in dues anyway. They should be normalized, to some degree. If you own OKW for the purpose of cheap dues (and then use those pts to stay elsewhere!) then essentially, you are taking advantage of what the BWV and BCV etc. owners have "upkept" with their higher dues. Maybe that's bassackwards logic... commentary welcome.

Someone noted that now perhaps the "quiet pool will be quiet". I think that could definitely happen. If the slide goes in at the main pool, you'll see families with slide-hungry kids and the more "rowdies" migrate to that area, and that would leave your other pool areas (like T Pond pool) much quieter. For those who don't like a ruckus, I would think this could have some distinct advantages for you. In keeping with the Old Key West theming... Don't worry... be happy. (I guess that might be more Jamaican than OKW... but you get the idea!)