Palm trees blocking balcony-OKW?

[Simba's Mom]

I just read the post from someone else, and it happened to us-the balcony of our room at OKW was so thickly surrounded by palm trees that our "view" was only of the immediate trees-we couldn't see any further. How many other people has this happened to? We were only at OKW for one night, so we were somewhat amused that our view would have been "golf course", as we requested, but mother nature got in the way. But next year we have a 2-BR reserved for a week, and it wouldn't be amusing if we could only see palm trees all week. So how common a problem is this? And if you've had this problem and reported it, how resposive were they at trimming the trees? BTW, otherwise we LOVED our visit to OKW and can't wait to return!

 

[DeeP]

I have had it happen to me at OKW but it was not palm trees it was bamboo plants and some other type of very wild bushes. I never thought of calling to see if they would trim the bushes I will have to remember that one. To be perfectly honest the noise from the ac unit was so annoying that I hardly used the balcony so I did not have a chance to be bothered by the bushes! I can see where Disney would trim the bushes if they are blocking your view but I doubt they will cut down any palm trees that might be blocking your view.

 

[~Magical Princess~]

Which building were you in? I know that there's a room in 62 that's blocked (room 6230) and our room "used" to be blocked in 23, 2332 - and I noticed that the room NEXT to our which would have been 2330 perhaps was TERRIBLY enclosed in trees. ALL sorts of different trees, palm trees, wild bush, etc.

When they came to "trim" - they MEGA trimmed! I mean they were yanking Palm Trees leave assortments from EVERYWHERE and literally "hacking" down the Bamboo Trees! I was SO impressed!!

You know what they say, squeaky wheel get's the oil. I called a couple of times to make sure they got the message we wanted the trees trimmed as we were there for just shy of two weeks!

I've heard before that people have encountered annoying trees, and only you as the guest can try and have something "done" about it!!!

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE VISITS!!!!!!

 

[Pa@okw95]

Some of the trees are there so you can have privacy. I have been a member there for years and the palm trees are there for the most part so you will have privacy. OKW is a laid back area where people want to relax . I hope all you non-members that use the place don't have them all cut down.

 

[sgtdisney]

We've been going for 10 years now and have had rooms on all three floors. I have never had a balcony view blocked yet. It may just be that they prune the trees/bushes at different times during the year? I have had the windows in the Master Bedroom, or Studio blocked a little once in a while. And one unit had the side windows in the Living Room a little covered though. It didn't really bother me though, as I like a little more seclusion in the bedrooms. I love palm trees, as we don't have them here, and don't mind looking out them either...

 

[DeeP]

I hope all you non-members that use the place don't have them all cut down.

I do not know who you are referring to but I am a DVC member; but you don't have much to worry about with me having the trees and bushes cut down because I rarely stay at OKW, it is my last choice of DVC resorts and I only stay there when I can not get into any other DVC resort.

 

[Regina]

I've stayed at OKW almost exclusively for 10 years, and I've never had a problem with this.

Part of the charm of OKW is the beautiful landscaping. It makes me very sad to hear that they hacked away at it at the whim of a guest.

 

[TrudyZ]

You never know what might be going on on DVC members' balconies--since us OKW folk are such a wild bunch--the trees may be stategically located and may serve a real purpose!!

Be careful what you wish for Magical Princess, you may get an eyeful now!!

Or perhaps there are some "sub- par" (and not in the good way) golfers on the course; and it's too keep us members from yelling words of encouragement (or spewing OJ out our nose) as we laugh uncontrollably watching one of those golfers wrap a 9 iron around a tree.

I second sgt Disney--give me palm trees!!

Trudy

PS---Magical Princess, I have found DVC CMs to be very responsive--multiple calls were probably not necessary.

 

[PamOKW]

I've only had a problem with the views from studios being obscured. I think this is because they have mostly been on the ends of the units and are being used to shield some of the a/c equipment etc. The foliage also helps to block errant golf balls if you are facing the golf course. Take a look sometime and see how many balls you see caught in the "pockets" of the palm tree bark.

On the other hand, my "view" from the BWV balcony was of a solid plank of wood. You could only "see" when you were standing up.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by TrudyZ
You never know what might be going on on DVC members' balconies--since us OKW folk are such a wild bunch--the trees may be stategically located and may serve a real purpose!!

Be careful what you wish for Magical Princess, you may get an eyeful now!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

We were in a studio in Building 37. It WAS on the end of the building. And I'm quite sure you don't have to worry about palm trees being chopped down. We live where there are alot of palm trees, and they'll accept alot of trimming and still live. And they grow so fast that DH said that if we got Building 37 again next year, the palm trees would be way above the balcony. And yes, maybe that's OKW's well-guarded secret to attracting the "romantic" crowd!

 

[Candace]

A couple of years ago in January, I was at OKW with two friends (not DVC). We were in a 2BR on the first floor since I had an injured knee at the time. Our balcony was totally blocked by the foliage. I would have preferred a view, especially since I had taken my friends to "my home". I just assumed we had to live with it, since it was *first* floor. It never occured to me to ask that the foliage be trimmed. The same thing happened at Hilton Head a few months ago, and this time it was not first floor. We were on the top floor in the Lodge, and our balcony view was totally obstructed by a massive live oak. It was okay! Those trees have been there for centuries, and they are gorgeous. It was too hot and humid to sit on the balcony in July anyway.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Part of the charm of OKW is the beautiful landscaping. It makes me very sad to hear that they hacked away at it at the whim of a guest.

While I totally agree with you, sad is not quite the word I would use to hack away at a trees.

It is not my intent to sound "*itchy" here, but, members paid for those trees, members pay for the maintenance of those trees, and I, as a member, wish they would leave them alone.
If you don't like flora, stay in a concrete treeless motel. Of couse, this is what I tell people when they move to the rural area I live in. If you are going to cut down the trees why didn't you just stay in the damn city?

I like the trees, I like the plants, I like the privacy and since I am a really wild woman, I need the privacy.

 

[RoutemanDan]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN


I like the trees, I like the plants, I like the privacy and since I am a really wild woman, I need the privacy.

<img src=http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/rmdans/cooleybrowrmd.gif>

 

[Mickey527]

I stayed in room 3815 last week, a one bedroom, and our balcony was totally blocked. I would never think of having the trees cut down, it made the balcony much more private.
Too bad I was there with my dad, it woul dhave been much more fun to have all that privacy with someone else. lol Peggie

 

[JudithM]

We enjoy the vegetation around OKW - to us it is part of the beauty & charm, & we have no intention of asking for any of it to be trimmed.

Peggie, LOL about your dad!!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN

I like the trees, I like the plants, I like the privacy and since I am a really wild woman, I need the privacy.

 

[Lucky4me]

Gail: ROTFLOL!!!

So YOU were the one who requested DVC to let the trees grow!

 

[Pa@okw95]

This is a true story: When I was non-member I stayed at OKW back in 94, there was palm tree being removed near where I was staying at OKW, when I returned a new one was being put into it's place with a giant claw like machine. This tree replacement was one of the reasons why I loved OKW. The palm trees afford us privacy. If you don't like the palm trees and other trees on our "home" then to the non-members who stay there I would suggest you try one of the other Disney resorts where there is less trees. I love trees, I love the music that is played by the pools, I love the pools without slides, I love the OKW property just the way it is. A paying guest is a guest in our home, nothing more, hardly someone that should be starting some kind of movement to have the palm trees cut back.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

So YOU were the one who requested DVC to let the trees grow!

LOL, yep it was me. I even feed them tree food each time I go.