SAB at OKW

[manning]

The General manager of the Beach Club put out a teaser on the taped interview. I sure upper management approved it.

He indicated he would like to see a SAB type pool at OKW. He said it would have to be voted on by OKW members.

He also said most of the SAB pool hoppers came from OKW.

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by manning
He also said most of the SAB pool hoppers came from OKW.

How could he possibly know that? The one time I hopped (from BWV), no one checked my ID.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by manning
He indicated he would like to see a SAB type pool at OKW. He said it would have to be voted on by OKW members.

DVC members don't vote. That's not how DVC is set up.

Given that OKW is a fully sold resort, I don't see the business rationale for Disney to consider an "SAB type" pool.

 

[wdwsos]

Originally posted by Jimbo
How could he possibly know that? The one time I hopped (from BWV), no one checked my ID.

Even if your ID was checked, I'd bet they weren't deciphering the resort codes and keeping a list. I saw the interview and thought that was a bit of a strange comment myself.

Interesting interview. Maybe he didn't realize that OKW members didn't like the idea of a slide when surveyed a few years ago - imagine the reaction to a SAB type pool?

I liked that the GM gave credit to the OKW CM's for teaching his new employees all about "hospitality." He was highly complimentary of the OKW staff.

 

[manning]

Members can vote if the dues increase exceeds 15%. I don't think building a pool like SAB is cheap.

 

[Cris]

he just simplely said he would like to see that!! Only his thoughts, nothing more.

 

[DeeP]

NO WAY would OKW members ever vote for a dues increase in order to build a pool like SAB, let alone a 15% increase. Goodness gracious that would bring the current OKW dues up from $3.20 to $3.68!!!!!!!!!! For members owning 500 pts that would be an increase of $240.00 a year or $20.00 a month!!!!
As far as the comment on which DVC resort has the most pool hoppers to SAB or other DVC pools, maybe it is just from the CMs checking ids that state with a code the resort that the guest is staying at, probably when asked which DVC resort the CMs were seeing the most DVC members using their pool hopping priviledges from, the CMs said OKW. The CMs are very aware which number code represents which resort. The reason I know this is because a friend lost her room key at MGM, she went to guest services and thank goodness it was there since it also had room charging priviledges on it. The CM wanted to see ID and asked one question which was: which resort are you staying at. Once my friend showed her ID the CM said: "Well, I know it is you because of you photo ID and I can see you are staying at BWV from your resort key".
I know when I have met DVC members that are pool hopping at BWV and at SAB, all but once they were people staying at OKW. This is a small number of people that I met compared to the number of IDs a CMs checks in the course of a day for pool hopping. I am sure Disney is not just saying this to have something to say! This came up recently on a thread here on this board and OKW members said that they never pool hopped but the # of DVC members that read this board compared to the total # of DVC members that really exist is two totally different things.

 

[manning]

I'm inclined to believe this was said as a test balloon to get a reaction. Could be wrong, Have been many times in the past. Coming from a big corporate back ground, I know there are things you don't say unless it is cleared.

 

[PamOKW]

Well, since OKW is also the largest DVC resort it wouldn't be a stretch to say the most members are from OKW (even if they hop while staying at BWV).

As Werner mentions -- they can pretty much get through (or block) anything they really want. Having a SAB pool at OKW might be a selling point for DI folks. Tell them they can "hop" over to that pool.

 

[PKS44]

When I first read this I thought manning was just trying to stir up trouble by making up such a ridiculous idea...then I listened to the interview and sure enough..he said it....I think it was pretty lame of an answer about capacity....SAB which was already very popular gets an added potential 1000 BCV guests and to fix that they are going to stop those pesky poolhoppers! How many people can that possibly be? 100? 200? Assuming only half of BCV guests choose to swim in SAB that is a net addition of 300 people to SAB on a given day...but hey they have built them their own pool (LOL!) I can see why they stopped poolhopping, but I don't think that is going to be enough during busy seasons to satisfy guests...I predict rope drop at SAB will become a competitive sport...

Paul

 

[Mouse Ears]

One thing that would have helped slow the traffic at SAB would have been a bit nicer pool at the new BCVs. The pool looks nice, but not exciting enough to entice the family segment to stay nearby. That might have done more good than eliminating the pool-hopping OKW DVCers (at least on a daily basis).

M.E.

 

[vernon]

While I'd be massively suprised if Disney went to the expense of building a pool quite as extensive as SAB, I do think a "themed pool " is a possibility, either at OKW or at DI. I agree with Pam's comment that it could be used as a selling point for DI, although the biggest selling point would be to have it on DI as OKW is already "sold inventory"
I agree it's unlikely to be an "unautherised" comment so some type of corporate "softening up" does seem possible. Given the proximity of the two developments a "shared facility would be a possibility, that way the costs could be shared between the owners of the two different DVC developments, that idea makes the most sense to me.

I'll be keeping a close eye on future surveys that mention pool redevelopment LOL, I do think OKW could use another pool, or enlarging some of it's current pools.

 

[CarolA]

I don't that this was a "trail balloon". It was bought up by Pete first so unless Pete was prepped???

As for most of the pool hoppers coming from OKW, I would almost guantee that is true. First I have watched the cars coming and going and second doesn't OKW have the largest number of units.

 

[sgtpet]

OKW would benefit greatly to having an improved pool area. Maybe not a SAB but at least a slide.

 

[nydizfan]

I would love to see something done with the OKW pool. It needs to be upgraded/improved. Its kind of boring compared with the other resort pools......dave

 

[dianeschlicht]

I too think it was just a teaser. I wonder just how many people are disattisfied with the OKW pools? I NEVER even go to the main pool. I LOVE the quiet pools, although I steer clear of Turtle Pond because of the many kids that seem to hang out there.

 

[erikthewise]

Since when are DVC members expected to pay for capital costs through their annual dues?! This is not maintenance or upgrading or renovation we're talking about, this is a major new construction project. If Disney wants to build SABII at OKW, that is a capital project and they should just build it.

If members *want* to finance it through their annual dues, I suppose that would be OK, but that doesn't seem likely to happen. I cannot believe that legalities forbid other methods of financing.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by erikthewise
If Disney wants to build SABII at OKW, that is a capital project and they should just build it.

The Walt Disney Company doesn't "want" to invest its own capital in OKW. It's a completed, sold-out timeshare resort. The cost of operating OKW until 2042 (including maintenance and enhancements) now comes out of the OKW operating and reserve budgets -- which are funded through OKW member dues.

 

[DeeP]

Well, since OKW is also the largest DVC resort it wouldn't be a stretch to say the most members are from OKW (even if they hop while staying at BWV).

If they were staying at BWV but were OKW members their room key would still be keyed with BWV code not OKW code since that would be the resort they were staying at, so therefore the CM checking IDs would assume they were pool hopping from BWV to SAB not from OKW.

 

[crisi]

They don't need to check everyone's ID in order to say most people came from OKW. They'd use statistical sampling methodology. Maybe check 30 people a day a couple times a month at different times of year. Get a good mix of days of week and times of day. You'd get a pretty accurate estimate - and unless it was close, be able to say "most" with a lot of certainty.