Photos: Faux wood flooring @ OKW

[Princess&CowboyMommy]

"vinyl with a wood grain design"

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Add me to the "not-a-fan" group.

 

[bookwormde]

It looks like they just did not think it through, with the "pickled" wood interior it is very "in your face" they should have gone with a pickled appearance or all the way to a contrasting wood like cherry or walnut. It just looks like they gave it no thought. There are some relativly nice synthetics but it does not appear that they picked one. I also hope they pick a commercial grade since the homeowner grade will not hold up. I am not sure why they went to the expense of pulling up the tile if could have easily stayed since the "rugs" was the ongoing issue. A nice area rug(s) is a must with this look also.

bookwormde

 

[Cee]

I think it looks good but certainly understand the noise issue. Maybe they figure most folks won't be wearing shoes inside the villa?

 

[Anal Annie]

It has to be an improvement over the old threadbare carpet we had when we stayed at OKW. I like the faux hardwood look but the problem here is that it doesn't match the old outdated whitewashed oak cabinets. They need to reface the cabinets to match then it will look fine. Hard flooring is always louder than carpet especially without any area rugs.

 

[Shadeaux]

It has to be an improvement over the old threadbare carpet we had when we stayed at OKW. I like the faux hardwood look but the problem here is that it doesn't match the old outdated whitewashed oak cabinets. They need to reface the cabinets to match then it will look fine. Hard flooring is always louder than carpet especially without any area rugs.

In our 20+ stays at OKW since 1994 we've yet to have a unit with threadbare carpet. As for the outdated cabinets....OKW is supposed to resemble turn of the century Key West. I would hope any renovations being done will keep to the original theme of the resort.

 

[hakepb]

I think a dark, "handscraped" floor would seem more apppropriate for a tropical type-theme. There are laminates with a "handscraped" indention pattern, but I do understand the potential housekeeping advantages of a vinly, and like a black car, darker hard surfaces can be more difficult to keep looking clean.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Oh no! I was so hoping they were going to use nice hardwood, but it looks like they went the cheap route with laminate. Laminate is always a LOT more noise producing than hardwood. This is definitely a step down in my book, and doesn't match the theme of OKW very well at all. It's WAY too dark to be "Key West" color. So what happened to the idea that we were getting flat screen TV's? Did it look like anything else had changed?

I was worried about the noise with this remodel, and it looks like I was right about that. Now everyone is going to want a top floor room! I suspect with the age of OKW, there isn't the proper insulation between floors to handle laminate noise.

Dang, and OKW has always been my favorite. I'll still hold off judgement until I experience it, but this does NOT look good so far.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The OKW Grand Villas have always had hardwood floors AFAIK, and I've never read any criticism over how the flooring fits the design of the room. Can't wait to see the finished product here.

The noise is a concern, though.

Tim, the floors of the GVs are real wood and the correct color for the OKW decor. That does not appear to be the case with this one.

 

[Chuck S]

Tim, the floors of the GVs are real wood and the correct color for the OKW decor. That does not appear to be the case with this one.

No doubt the GVs are scheduled for rehab as well...so I'm afraid you may need to amend your statement to say that the floors in the GVs were real wood...I mean, if they removed the tile from the one bedroom kitchens, there is no reason to think they won't remove the real wood from the GVs, too.

 

[dianeschlicht]

No doubt the GVs are scheduled for rehab as well...so I'm afraid you may need to amend your statement to say that the floors in the GVs were real wood...I mean, if they removed the tile from the one bedroom kitchens, there is no reason to think they won't remove the real wood from the GVs, too.

UGH!

 

[hakepb]

Oh no! I was so hoping they were going to use nice hardwood, but it looks like they went the cheap route with laminate. Laminate is always a LOT more noise producing than hardwood. This is definitely a step down in my book, and doesn't match the theme of OKW very well at all. It's WAY too dark to be "Key West" color. So what happened to the idea that we were getting flat screen TV's? Did it look like anything else had changed?

I was worried about the noise with this remodel, and it looks like I was right about that. Now everyone is going to want a top floor room! I suspect with the age of OKW, there isn't the proper insulation between floors to handle laminate noise.

Dang, and OKW has always been my favorite. I'll still hold off judgement until I experience it, but this does NOT look good so far.

In my personal experience with laminate at home, I first installed (pretty much the cheapest available $1/foot) laminate over a less than perfect sub floor, so I opted to get the more expensive "Quiet Walk" underlayment padding/moisture barrier, just to help with the height variations without having to properly lay another subfloor. After the install, I wound up most amazed that the really "cheap" sound you hear when walking on many laminates (that have the cheap white foam) vs wood does did not exist on my floor. I've since moved and installed (again, ~$1/ft) laminate in several more rooms, and will never use anything less that that good padding layer

However, this laminate talk is a bit OT because it appears DVC is using glued-down vinyl strips (the ones I've seen are often 6"x3' strips)

 

[Shadeaux]

Oh no! I was so hoping they were going to use nice hardwood, but it looks like they went the cheap route with laminate.

Can't remember where I heard it, but I've always been under the impression that due to some Florida timeshare law DVC can't make any major changes to furnishings or structure unless it's to something of higher quality than what was originally there. Anyone know if this is true?

 

[bumbershoot]

It's darker than I would have expected, but I like it.

Better than the hideous tile and carpet in that picture someone else posted! Makes me more excited to stay there...

Not to mention, it seems SO much cleaner. I never thought about no carpet in a hotel room until I stayed first floor at the Anabella near Disneyland Resort. At first it was a surprise, and then I was amazed at how much cleaner it seemed, smelled, and plain old WAS. Now carpet in a hotel room makes me all skeevey-feeling.

If noise is an issue, it should be reported before they go any further with the rehab. Did you contact the front desk?

I definitely agree with that! They need to KNOW that it's really loud, so they can put more soundproofing materials in.

Housekeeping may be able to service the rooms faster...which is what many people wanted. Like all things Disney...be careful what you wish for.

So true!

 

[Chuck S]

I'd like to see an artists rendering of what the room will look like after the rehab is completed. I can't believe Disney/DVC would go with something where the finished product would be totally unappealing, even though it certainly looks awful in mid-rehab.

 

[donald...really]

My thoughts (for what they're worth):

1 - This room has obviously not been completely renovated. I will hold judgement until I see pictures of the total renovation.

2 - Then I will hold judgement until I see the renovated rooms in person. The pictures never do the rooms justice and they always look better in person (remember the outcry when people saw pictures of the VWL model rooms).

3 - I am a fan of hard wood, so I am not opposed to this look. But what will make or break this is how cheap the vinyl looks. I won't be able to answer that until I see it in person.

4 - Noise could be an issue. If so, we will be requesting top floor. We usually request top floor as it is.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

So far I like the look, prefer it to the carpeting. I have to wait for the whole rehab to be done and expreince the new room to really determine if I will like it or not. Time will tell!

 

[Anal Annie]

In our 20+ stays at OKW since 1994 we've yet to have a unit with threadbare carpet.

Then you have been very lucky. The unit we were in had such a path worn across the carpet that was so bad it was gray - I couldn't tell what color the carpet was in that traffic area.

As for the outdated cabinets....OKW is supposed to resemble turn of the century Key West. I would hope any renovations being done will keep to the original theme of the resort.

Not an antique expert here but I really think the pickled wood or white washed oak look was very trendy in the 80's / early 90's and that is why it was used at OKW. I do not think that was a cabinet trend around the turn of the century anywhere on earth. Someone dreamed that up just like Harvest Gold and Avacado Green appliances and everyone at the time had to have it. The colors & patterns used in the fabrics may be south Florida but I think that's about it.


I think if they're keeping those cabinets they could've picked a better flooring choice to match better.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It looks like they just did not think it through, with the "pickled" wood interior it is very "in your face" they should have gone with a pickled appearance or all the way to a contrasting wood like cherry or walnut. It just looks like they gave it no thought. There are some relativly nice synthetics but it does not appear that they picked one. I also hope they pick a commercial grade since the homeowner grade will not hold up. I am not sure why they went to the expense of pulling up the tile if could have easily stayed since the "rugs" was the ongoing issue. A nice area rug(s) is a must with this look also.

bookwormde

I agree - there are lots of laminates that would fit the style but oak sure isn't the best. Refinishing cabinets is also hugely expensive. Is that part of the rehab? I don't recall reading that the cabinets themselves will be redone - just tops etc.

They definitely need to hear about sound proofing concerns before the full rehab starts!! Yikes!!! We really liked our first floor room when we were there and I'll be very interested to hear how this turns out. First floor may not be what I will hope for in the future.

Not an antique expert here but I really think the pickled wood or white washed oak look was very trendy in the 80's / early 90's and that is why it was used at OKW. I do not think that was a cabinet trend around the turn of the century anywhere on earth. Someone dreamed that up just like Harvest Gold and Avacado Green appliances and everyone at the time had to have it. The colors & patterns used in the fabrics may be south Florida but I think that's about it.

I was going to make the same comment. No expert either but from things I've seen of Key West around the turn of the century (Hemingway there etc.) I'd guess the cabinets were painted - and likely white. OKW gives me the impression of being the 80's/early 90's interpretation of that - not necessarily authentic.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Well.. If it were true hard wood floors it may look very nice.
It really depends on just how cheap & phony this "vinyl laminate" looks. I'm afraid it's just more cheapening of the Disney brand..

Another feather in Mr. Lewis' hat.

MG

 

[Chuck S]

Well.. If it were true hard wood floors it may look very nice.
It really depends on just how cheap & phony this "vinyl laminate" looks. I'm afraid it's just more cheapening of the Disney brand..

Another feather in Mr. Lewis' hat.

MG

As rehabs are paid for by Members, not Disney, why do you think Jim Lewis, or the Walt Disney Company, have anything to gain from choosing one product over another?