OKW Refurb

[Rigby]

On the website it says the refurb is to begin in the spring. We're looking at booking for the last week of March. In your experience when they say spring for something like this does it usually start right at the beginning of the season? Just hoping that we miss it is all. Thanks!

 

[DenLo]

You never know, sometimes they start early and other times late. If there are delays in construction at another resort it can affect the construction for the next project. The same can be true if the finish quicker than planned at the other resort.

 

[dcibrando]

any rumors of the studios enabling 5 per room at OKW with a pull down bed? it certainly has the room

 

[Tiki Sean]

Didn't they do a room refurb 3 years ago?

 

[DenLo]

Didn't they do a room refurb 3 years ago?

It was done in 2010, which will be 7 years ago when the remodel starts. Under the new schedule announced in December 2016 at the annual meeting every 7 years either a soft goods or a hard goods or a complete overhaul (every 14 years) should occur at each resort.

 

[Tiki Sean]

I know they did something in 2013. Maybe they were painting the outside.

 

[Deb & Bill]

any rumors of the studios enabling 5 per room at OKW with a pull down bed? it certainly has the room

Nope, it really doesn't have a wall long enough for the murphy bed. They added the twin sized sleeper chair to the one bedroom already. The room is pretty much five sided and all the sides are short except for the wall the head of the two beds are on. They would have to come up with some completely different model to fit in at OKW.

They didn't add the murphy bed at Vero Beach which is a similar set up to OKW during that renovation they just completed.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just hope they don't do away with a ll the wonderful theming, like they did at BCV. I was watching a TV show today focused on the houses of Key West. So many things reminded me of the theming at Old Key West-the focus on metal roofs, the "gingerbread architecture" in the fences, the conch shells, etc. And what really amazed me was the wide wooden boards that reminded me of the green painted boards in the bathrooms at OKW. After what they did at BCV to reduce the unique theme, I'm concerned about that more than anything else.

 

[smidgy]

so does anyone have any idea if the main pool will be closed? or olivia's or the grab n go? we're thinking of late april./ early may

 

[Tarzan]

so does anyone have any idea if the main pool will be closed? or olivia's or the grab n go? we're thinking of late april./ early may

I received an email from Disney last week to say that the main pool will be closed during my vacation in February. I'd imagine they'll be finished by April.

 

[Jersey Dis]

Do they every do major changes like adding restaurants when doing these king of returns?

 

[cmarsh31]

I'm booked for Feb and haven't gotten *the* email yet, but on the website it says the Sandcastle pool will be closed Jan-Feb 2017. While we're not counting on pool weather in Feb, we were already on the fence... trying to make a decision with our traveling partners now.

 

[Rigby]

I'm booked for Feb and haven't gotten *the* email yet, but on the website it says the Sandcastle pool will be closed Jan-Feb 2017. While we're not counting on pool weather in Feb, we were already on the fence... trying to make a decision with our traveling partners now.

Now on the website it says the refurb is to begin summer 2017. I didn't see anything about pool closings. Is it the DVC members website you're referring to?

 

[Alice Sr.]

Oh shoot, we haven't stayed at OKW in years so booked a week in May after 4 nights in AKL. I thought we would be able to catch Pandora and chillax at OKW rather than BWV which is the usual. This is turning into a bit of a bust. Thanks for posting I will keep an eye out for updates and/or notices.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We're booked for January, and hopefully that's before any refurbishment begins. Are there jacuzzi/hot tubs at the neighborhood pools? That's all DH is concerned about since we'll be there Marathon weekend, and last year, boy did he need the jacuzzi/hot tub!

 

[cmarsh31]

Now on the website it says the refurb is to begin summer 2017. I didn't see anything about pool closings. Is it the DVC members website you're referring to?

No just looking at the regular WDW webpage as if to book OKW. It has the little orange caution "This Resort hotel is undergoing refurbishments. See Details" and when I click see details it pops up with the Pardon our Pixie dust notification.

 

[BillPA]

No just looking at the regular WDW webpage as if to book OKW. It has the little orange caution "This Resort hotel is undergoing refurbishments. See Details" and when I click see details it pops up with the Pardon our Pixie dust notification.

Please Pardon Our Pixie Dust

From early January through February 2017, the Sandcastle Pool at Disney’s Old Key West Resort will be closed for refurbishment. The pools at Old Turtle Pond, South Point and Miller’s Road will remain available for your enjoyment.

That was not there when I booked, and it was not the 2 weeks ago. Screwed again.
If we can book 11 months ahead, why can't DVD inform us at least 11 months ahead. I have 3 home resorts, I could have booked another location, my grand kids will be very disappointed, yet again.

 

[cmarsh31]

Please Pardon Our Pixie Dust

From early January through February 2017, the Sandcastle Pool at Disney’s Old Key West Resort will be closed for refurbishment. The pools at Old Turtle Pond, South Point and Miller’s Road will remain available for your enjoyment.

That was not there when I booked, and it was not the 2 weeks ago. Screwed again.
If we can book 11 months ahead, why can't DVD inform us at least 11 months ahead. I have 3 home resorts, I could have booked another location, my grand kids will be very disappointed, yet again.

Wow, I hyperlinked that somehow - totally accidentally. Yes, it popped up between Thursday and Saturday when I posted the pixie dust message. Sigh. We're in the process of deciding where we're switching to as well.

 

[MarBee]

We had planned on going MLK week with friends who are DVC members. They got the letter today saying the pool would be under refurbishment then. Any ideas, advice, etc for switching to another resort? (Nothing was open on the DVC site.)
Thanks!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We had planned on going MLK week with friends who are DVC members. They got the letter today saying the pool would be under refurbishment then. Any ideas, advice, etc for switching to another resort? (Nothing was open on the DVC site.)
Thanks!

There will be the other OKW pools available if you don't need the slide. That time of year can get difficult if the feature pool is very important because Disney does a lot of pool refurbs during the cooler months. Waitlisting sounds like the only option if there isn't availability elsewhere - SSR or AKV would be a pretty safe bet as both have multiple feature pools and they won't all be refurbed at the same time. AKV has one pool at Kidani and one at Jambo. SSR has features at the main Springs pool and also in the Paddock section and the Grandstand pool has a kids water play area.