OKW Slide?

[lillasmom]

I'm here, but the pool is still boarded up. Any news about the slide?

 

[kathleena]

Ummmm - I'm not trying to be flip here - but ummmmmm - - aren't you in the best place for asking that question to OKW????

Let us know what you find out!

 

[Simba's Mom]

When I was at OKW a week ago, I asked several CMs, including in Gurgling Suitcase (that's where we get all the news!). Everyone said mid-January, nothing more specific.

 

[KBFinFan]

I was there this past week, and at check-in the CM said that mid-February was the new date. That seemed a little too far to me since it looks so close to being ready.

 

[lillasmom]

Ok, so I asked. I'm so bummed! They said they are trying to get it opened around the 15th of January, so no luck for us. Oh well, I guess we will have to play next time. We are in the Grand Villa close to the mail pool so it would have been great.

Happy new year everyone!

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I called this morning and spoke to someone at the front desk at OKW and was told 1/14/05 is the "official re-open date".

Keep in mind though they also told me last week (on 3 occasions) that the "offical re-opening is 1/7/05" and when I called on 1/7 they said "yes, the pool and slide are opening today" which it did not. Hopefully it will be the 14th as we arrive the 12th and depart on the 20th.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Which building are you in? I have a grande villa reserved for this summer, and would like to know if your villa is on the 2nd and 3rd floors?

 

[salvatorejrm]

We will be there on the 14th as well I hope it opens up. We thought it would be opened by now. More importantly I hope its warm enough to swim.

 

[spiceycat]

okay some where I read Jan 22 - I don't if on this boards or from DVC????

 

[kathleena]

Well - I really hope for everyone who is there and will be arriving that it opens soon! I'm sure you are eager to get on it (and if not you, your kids!)

 

[DBBN]

We're at SSR now and toured the new slide at OKW compliments of the Project Engineer and he advises the board of health is scheduled to do an inspection on Thursday the 13th and if all goes well the slide should open shortly thereafter. Although he did not state a specific date I took his answer to mean the grand opening would be on Friday the 14th. There will be 2 lifeguards assigned duties at the pool. One will be positioned at the lifeguard station near the foot bridge watching towards the slide exit and the other positioned on the opposite side of the foot bridge.

They did work around the spa, replaced the netting at the foot bridge and other small progects while taking advantage of the pool closure. Construction on the slide is complete...water was flowing while we toured the site. It looked like cleanup was the only work left to perform. Tools and equipment were present at several locations and many of the lounge chairs were covered with mildew or possibly construction dust of some type.

I commented on what appeared to be the lack of adequate pool deck area and he acknowledged the issue had been discussed. I suggested the construction of a foot bridge to the slide from Penninsular Road opposite buildings 27 and 28. If built I thought it would encourage guests from buildings 23 through 29 to walk rather than drive to the Hospitality House thereby mitigating what is likely to be an even bigger parking problem than already exists. Maybe someday we'll see these improvements as well.

All in all it looked great and I'm happy to call OKW my home resort.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thanks for the update DBBN!

 

[spiceycat]

so the pool isn't zero entry then?

 

[SueM in MN]

so the pool isn't zero entry then?

It would have had to be made much bigger to be zero entry.
For the maximum slope allowed by the ADA, a ramp (which is basically what a zero entry pool is) had to have at least 10 to 12 inches of length for every inch of height difference. That means a 36" deep pool would need almost 36 feet of ramp to get from ground level to the 36 inch deep water.

 

[DBBN]

so the pool isn't zero entry then?

No the pool is not zero entry. I specifically asked if the pool had changed other than the slide addition and the project engineer indicated no other changes.

In yesterdays post I forgot to mention the old pool and spa water heater has been replaced with a higher capacity more efficient model.