OKW refurb?

[Jess_S]

My parents are planning to take the family to WDW in May. We have decided to do DVC point rental and i was planning on Saratoga Springs.

My Mom now has her heart set on OKW. The problem is that I have read multiple reports suggesting that a major refurb is planned (and that the refurb is needed because the rooms are tired). According to the dis, there's some painting going on there now. Does anyone know if that will that be the extent of things? Were other sources just wrong about the refurb?

 

[BobNed]

There is a major refurb coming. Supposed to start later this year, but no one who knows it talking and those who are talking don't know. But it won't disrupt the resort. Disney will close a building or buildings to do the work, and the rest of the resort will operate normally.

The rooms may appear to be "tired", but that's the theme of the resort - Old Key West at the turn of the 20th century. They are not falling apart. Disney performs maintenance as needed. Hence the painting that's going on now. Normal routine maintenance. It is not part of the refurb.

 

[Jess_S]

Thanks very much. We encountered the no one talking issue you mentioned when we called Disney directly. We were told that there was no current plan to do anything more than the painting that is currently going on, which seemed weird to me since there were multiple sources reporting that OKW was scheduled for something more extensive. I'm glad to hear that the rooms still look good though. Even though I don't always give weight to online reviews, I saw enough reviews about room condition at the resort that I thought it was worth asking a more trusted source about it.

 

[BobNed]

This is what has been said officially. This first image was in the Spring 2017 issue of the DVC magazine:



And this was in the Summer 2017 issue:



Now the refurb was first announced last year to begin in the Spring of 2017. Rumor has it the original redesign wasn't accepted and they went back to the drawing board. We shall see what actually happens I guess.

 

[Deb & Bill]

They are probably trying to repurpose as much as possible like they did the last time.

 

[BobNed]

Gotta figure out a way to keep the alligator coffee table... and make everything else cheaper.

 

[Chuck S]

I hope redesigning the bathrooms doesn't mean removal of the large jetted tubs in the 1 bedroom and larger units.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I hope redesigning the bathrooms doesn't mean removal of the large jetted tubs in the 1 bedroom and larger units.

You know that's the first thing to go. They've been taking them out and replacing them with those stupid free standing tubs with the bubbles from the bottom of the tub. If they take one of the queen beds out of the studio and replace it with a sleeper sofa and murphy bed, that will really bother me. The only studios we book (occasionally) are OKW studios so we each can get a real bed.

 

[Chuck S]

I wonder if the jetted tub removal is because so many exposé shows about cleanliness? Remember when they took the real mugs and glasses out of the studios several years ago? I haven't used a bubble tub, I take it they aren't all that great?

I like the two queens in the studios, too. Better for multiple adult travelers. Though I do often splurge on a 1 bedroom, even when I travel solo. They left the queens in the last rehab, I hope they do again.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wonder if the jetted tub removal is because so many exposé shows about cleanliness? I haven't used a bubble tub, I take it they aren't all that great?

I like the two queens in the studios, too. They left the queens in the last rehab, I hope they do again.

Those bubble tubs have high sides, so they are hard to get into and hard to get out of. Plus the sides are not straight up and down so it makes it even harder to get in and out. They angle out. They'd be better off installing the tubs with doors on them for all the older owners at OKW.

 

[Chuck S]

Those bubble tubs have high sides, so they are hard to get into and hard to get out of. Plus the sides are not straight up and down so it makes it even harder to get in and out. They angle out. They'd be better off installing the tubs with doors on them for all the older owners at OKW.

LOL - works for me. I have days that one of those senior tubs would be nice.