OKW slide latest rumor

[Nanajo1]

We always plan to pool hop but never get there. I do see the addition of the slide at OKW leading to an end of pool hopping. But the reason to add the slide is that they got so many complaints is just the typical ploy Disney uses when they want to change something and aren't sure of the fall out. Like stopping EE days and saying people wanted the characters to come to the resorts instead. Using the same reason when they stopped the characters coming to the resorts. When in doubt pretend you are servicing your customers!

 

[lenshanem]

They coudl build an ice staking rink at the sports complex.

Littel leaguse hockey and ice skating competions?!?
Sound sliek fun to me.

Back to the slide, we're also excited about it and won't mind staying there now. Really the only two things that caused me not to wnat to stay there was lack of a themed pool with slide for the kids since we spend lots of pool time typcially at WDW middays. (We can go to a plain ole' pool in our neighborhood during the summer.) And I'm still not crazy about the spread out condo liek feel. I like to be in the center of the action. My hubby is staying there in March. I think he and his Dad will enjoy it, though.

I wonder if with the addition of the slide and the lowest points of any of the WDW resorts if it will now becoem one of the most quick to fill?!?
Might really change things...?

 

[disgirl]

lenshanem: i was thinking the same thing. Will OKW get harder to book after the slide is installed? I guess we will have to wait and see, but it would not surprise me since so many do like the room sizes better at OKW.

 

[WDWMom]

I hope it does not get harder to book. OKW is our home resort and can get a room 2 months out when we want for last minute trips. Just keep posting how far it is from everything, it's spread out, and the old folks all stay there.

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
I agree totally with Melsmice. I'm sure OKW owners will be torn on this issue for a very long time, but I'm all for a slide, particularily if pool-hopping will be sharply curbed in the future. As I said, I became a Member with the knowledge that I could use other resort pools. If this perk were to be taken away, I'd feel slightly cheated. My kids love slides, and as Melsmice commented, I'm sure my future grandchildren will also. And I'm with Melsmice----I love going down the slides with my kids.

Just goes to prove that great minds think alike!

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by Nanajo1
We always plan to pool hop but never get there. I do see the addition of the slide at OKW leading to an end of pool hopping. But the reason to add the slide is that they got so many complaints is just the typical ploy Disney uses when they want to change something and aren't sure of the fall out. Like stopping EE days and saying people wanted the characters to come to the resorts instead. Using the same reason when they stopped the characters coming to the resorts. When in doubt pretend you are servicing your customers!

I agree that OKW getting a slide is just another step towards the eventual ending of pool hopping.
But I disagree that this is some kind of "ploy" on Disney's part. I see it as Disney doing something nice for the members and for the resort. The resort is receiving an enhancement and DVD is footing the installation cost. They do not have to do this. They can stop all pool hopping at anytime and are under no obligation at all to provide a slide to the OKW resort since there was not a slide there when the resort initially opened and the contracts were sold.
As far as it being done cheaply or just slapped up etc., come on....this is Disney. When do they ever do something that is not top notch quality especially to one of their resorts!
I am sure the new main pool area at OKW with a slide will be lovely and the resort and the value of the resort will increase not decrease!

 

[Granny]

I agree that OKW getting a slide is just another step towards the eventual ending of pool hopping.

Several people have made this comment, and I'm not sure I agree. I guess the key word is "eventual", for I don't see it in the near term.

Why does Disney allow DVC members to pool hop?

Only one reason...to use in the sales pitch for prospective members. My guess is that they will prohibit SSR pool hopping too, but not discontinue pool hopping in general. I see a pattern emerging with BCV and SSR...close the pools of new DVC resorts to existing members, but allow the new members access to the other pools. Makes for a pretty nice sales pitch, I think.

 

[Sammie]

I do think eventually pool hopping will be discontinued due to the crowds it makes at certain pools. I know this was a factor in closing SAB to pool hopping. With the addition of BCV it just could not handle the crowds from YC/BC/BCV and pool hoppers.

 

[BWVDee]

Granny,
If pool hopping is also eliminated for SSR, then as a DVC member I feel as though pool hopping should also then be eliminated at ALL the DVC resorts. To omit BCV and SSR from the pool hopping choices would then mean that OKW, BWV and WLV would be accessible to members from all 5 WDW resorts yet there would only be 3 resorts throwing available pools into the pot that guests from 5 different resorts can dip into!!! Not to be negative but........I think this has the real possiblity of causing a REAL problem!!!!

 

[PamOKW]

Pool hopping is not restricted to just DVC resorts. DVC members can use the pools at all the WDW resorts with the exception of Y&B and AKL.

I don't think pool hopping is that widely used but it is a nice "perk" to mention in a sales pitch. It's something that's nice to know is available but I bet the majority of DVC'ers rarely use it. I don't think DVC'ers overrun any of the non-DVC resorts so I tend to agree with Granny that they may keep it in place as a sales tool.

 

[lenshanem]

I could care less about the pool hopping no matter where it was. I'm not gonna go through the pain of packing up to go somewhere else to swim. We hardly even do the water parks for that matter. So to go over to say BWV to swim isn't gonna happen. JMHO

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by PamOKW
Pool hopping is not restricted to just DVC resorts. DVC members can use the pools at all the WDW resorts with the exception of Y&B and AKL.

I don't think pool hopping is that widely used but it is a nice "perk" to mention in a sales pitch. It's something that's nice to know is available but I bet the majority of DVC'ers rarely use it. I don't think DVC'ers overrun any of the non-DVC resorts so I tend to agree with Granny that they may keep it in place as a sales tool.

Well actually Disney did an extensive study, you know they love to do those things at Disney. Research they call it. And on average, certainly some days were less, other days were more pool hopping added 100 extra users to SAB.

I don't have the figures for other pools, but I would guess after SAB closed the BW is getting hit very hard at certain times as is WLVillas.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Granny
Several people have made this comment, and I'm not sure I agree. I guess the key word is "eventual", for I don't see it in the near term.

Why does Disney allow DVC members to pool hop?

Only one reason...to use in the sales pitch for prospective members. My guess is that they will prohibit SSR pool hopping too, but not discontinue pool hopping in general. I see a pattern emerging with BCV and SSR...close the pools of new DVC resorts to existing members, but allow the new members access to the other pools. Makes for a pretty nice sales pitch, I think.

I know it's been stated on this board that some were told there'd be no PH at SSR. I'm not convinced and if it is true, I think PH will end within a year of SSR opening. There's no reason to have PH if two of the best pools in DVC and in all of WDW, are close to PH. It simply becomes a hassle without a benefit from Disney's standpoint and would no longer be viable as a sales pitch either. They have the opportunity to plan for PH at SSR if they want the program to continue. Of course SSR could be included and the program may go on a few more years but there's no doubt in my mind that it's days are numbered.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Sammie
And on average, certainly some days were less, other days were more pool hopping added 100 extra users to SAB.

I don't have the figures for other pools, but I would guess after SAB closed the BW is getting hit very hard at certain times as is WLVillas.

I don't necessarily buy that. If anyone was hopping to SAB, the most likely candidates would be people staying at BWV. Walking distance.

As it stands now, BCV guests have zero reason to hop. (The "idle curiosity" factor would have to be negligible.) VWL and BWV guests would have LITTLE reason to hop. The only folks who merit any serious consideration would be those staying at OKW. Maybe I'm just being naive, but I just don't see hopping being that widespread given the geographic distance between OKW and any other worthwhile resort.

People know what they are getting when they book at OKW. If the pool was a sticking point, they'd choose another resort. Sure, some people probably do stay there for the low points and pool hop to some degree. But 100 per day? I'd be surprised if it was 10 per day.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by lenshanem
I could care less about the pool hopping no matter where it was. I'm not gonna go through the pain of packing up to go somewhere else to swim. We hardly even do the water parks for that matter. So to go over to say BWV to swim isn't gonna happen. JMHO

I agree with Shan (or whoever really posted that, as the spelling is much to perfect to actually be Shan ). We don't even like the effort required to go to TL or BB; packing up, lockers, changing, sand, showers, etc. - it's not worth it for a Resort/DVC pool.

 

[MiaSRN62]

People know what they are getting when they book at OKW. If the pool was a sticking point, they'd choose another resort. Sure, some people probably do stay there for the low points and pool hop to some degree

Well, I bought OKW because it was the ONLY DVC resort on WDW property offered to us ? Vero and HH were our other choices. The pool-hopping statement made to us by our sales rep made us feel this was something we could choose to do if the whim hit us. And, I can tell you, while staying at OKW we have pool-hopped (to the Poly). We didn't find it all that much of a hassle at all. We drive down from Philly, so we have our own car with us onsite. We had a very nice afternoon hanging at the Poly pool and my kids loved the volcano pool slide. Honestly, had OKW had a slide, I don't feel we would have driven over to the Poly. I also stayed at the BWV this past summer, not only to try a stay in another DVC resort but also my kids were attracted to the pool/slide and expressed a strong interest in staying there for that reason specifically. So, yes, people know what they're getting into when they book at OKW, but this is my "home" resort. It can be a little stressful waiting to see if I can get ressies at BCV, BWV or VWL at the 7 month window just so my kids can have a slide. And that alone (constantly/frequently booking at a non-home resort) can cause a debate here on the boards. Like I said.....I'll be happy to see a slide at OKW. Though we don't find it that much of a hassle, I'd much prefer to not have to pool hop.

 

[jodifla]

But I wonder how cost effective it would be to prevent pool hopping at all the Disney resorts. I mean, are they really going to police all the pools for resort id's, build the fences around each pool, etc.? That's a lot of money and manpower for relatively few pool hoppers at the other resorts like the Contempory, CSR, CBR, etc.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by jodifla
But I wonder how cost effective it would be to prevent pool hopping at all the Disney resorts. I mean, are they really going to police all the pools for resort id's, build the fences around each pool, etc.?

Keep in mind that the definition of Pool Hopping is the legitimate DVC benefit that allows DVC members to enjoy most WDW pools at most times.

But then there's Pool Trespassing, where people who are neither guests of the resort, nor DVC members, use a WDW resort's pool. These people could be locals or people staying off-site or even guests at other WDW resorts (who are not DVC members staying at a DVC resort on points).

For years, some folks on this board have been predicting the end of Pool Hopping. So far, it hasn't happened. But if it ever happens, there still won't be an added expense to prevent Pool Hopping. It will just mean that any DVC member who tries to ignore the rule change would be a Pool Trespasser too.

Disney already has to deal with Pool Trespassing. Yes, that means checking IDs. Pools already have fences and gates to prevent children from falling in. At Stormalong Bay, it's not uncommon to have the gates manned with CMs checking resort IDs. And it means having Security watch for people who going to the pool — but who aren't coming from their rooms.

 

[Sammie]

Why would the person who gave me the information benefit from lying about the number of people who were pool hopping at SAB.

The information came from the General Manager's office. I believe them. The majority of hoppers were driving over, checking in at the gate and letting security know they were there to use the pool and were DVC members. That makes it very easy to count them.

Also before it was stopped lifegaurds were requested to note the number of people requesting a wristband that were DVC, again easy to count.

If it was only 10 a day I really do not think they would have stopped it, as they received many complaints as this was the number one pool DVC members wanted to be able to hop too.

The numbers were large enough that with the addition of the BCV they knew they could not handle the YC/BC/BCV guests and hoppers too.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Sammie
Why would the person who gave me the information benefit from lying about the number of people who were pool hopping at SAB.

The information came from the General Manager's office. I believe them. The majority of hoppers were driving over, checking in at the gate and letting security know they were there to use the pool and were DVC members. That makes it very easy to count them.

Also before it was stopped lifegaurds were requested to note the number of people requesting a wristband that were DVC, again easy to count.

If it was only 10 a day I really do not think they would have stopped it, as they received many complaints as this was the number one pool DVC members wanted to be able to hop too.

The numbers were large enough that with the addition of the BCV they knew they could not handle the YC/BC/BCV guests and hoppers too.

Sammie, I too cannot believe it was an average of 100 a day or anywhere near close to it. It might have been 100 some days but not an average of that, no way. To get to an average of 100 a day, you'd have to have up to 200-300 some days. Yes I do believe DVC would have stopped PH for an average of 10 per day because the higher days would have been the busier ones anyway.