SAB at OKW

[CaptainMidnight]

I would like to see an SAB II or better pool at the new DVC resort with enough capacity to allow a great deal of pool hopping for whomever DVC members would like to use it. It would be a nice draw to the new resort, and close enough to OKW that should they choose to use it, perhaps a nice boat ride would take them right to it.

It would also be great with me if the SAB at BC was expanded with additional pool area and water activites and pool hopping for all DVC members reinstated there, and while we're at it, pool hopping allowed at the Animal Kingdom Resort.

It would also be fine with me that a special pool be built just for local DVC members to be able to use for a small fee, without having to use points at a DVC resort. Maybe you could use points, and get two pool visits per point when you wanted to use just drop by WDW and use the pool along with your annual pass visit. I'm not familiar, does entrance to the waterparks come with an annual pass?

I hear the BCV pool isn't terrible, and possibly twice as big as the BWV quiet pool. That should help provide a nice safety value to crowding at SAB, as well as allow some wonderful swimming at those very, very special times at night (after SAB will be closed). I'm very grateful that DVC pools are open 24 hours (as long as your quiet) i have some very special memories of swimming at 1:00am with my two year old son at BWV. I look forward to many more of those.

 

[KNWVIKING]

... I'm not sure who your refering to -maybe me??- but I can see where some BWV owners-especially now that SAB is off limits- would like to see OKW get a "better" pool. Apperently nobody pool hops to OKW but OKW'ers make up the largest pool hopping group, (lets just assume this assumption is correct). Is it fair to BWV guests to have a crowded pool,no chairs,long slide line,etc because 35% of OKW guests,(according to the unofficial survey, who would like a slide at OKW are hopping to BWV. The beauty of pool hopping was that it gave us a chance to experience other pools. Right now BCV owners have the greatest advantage. They get SAB and all the others. OKW gets everybody except SAB. Whats BWV or VWL get- each other and OKW,which nobody hops to anyway. So maybe BWV owners feel it's only fair that OKW upgrade to something they would like to try or at least keep OKW guests at home.

BTW, my home is OKW,added at VWL and BCV.

 

[PamOKW]

I don't think that many OKW folks do/will hop to BWV. I don't think they even hopped to SAB all that much. It's just too much of a hassle. The slide is the main attraction at BWV. It doesn't have the bells & whistles of SAB. If folks want a slide, they can hop to many other pools around WDW. It is easy to walk over from BWV to SAB and I think that's where the greatest actual number of users came from.

I think BWV should not be too concerned until you see what happens. Recently, a neighboring town spent two years worrying about the horrific impact opening their beaches to the public would create. Guess what? There has been virtually no impact. A lot of grief for nothing. The same will probably be true of the pool hopping concern.

Dean -- I forget the actual survey results. Surprisingly, the informal survey we did here came out with similar results that most folks don't feel that strongly about changing the OKW pools.

 

[PKS44]

I'm not sure who spruce is upset with, could be me...but I have always felt this OKW "should" do this or "should" do that is counterproductive and ultimately leads to the end of poolhopping faster. I will say that anyone who stays or will stay at OKW can have an opinion on the pool, but the only opinions that should count are the owners. Spruce summarizes what that opinion is very well...They like it the way it is...the changes some would prefer would alter the resort in a negative way.

I will say for the umpteenth time of reading that sort of opinion that I still don't get it...I understand the desire to preserve the OKW atmosphere, I just don't get how changing one acre of it from what is essentially a Quiet pool into a pool with some interactive features will transform the other hundreds of acres of the property in any way whatsoever. But I don't have to stay there and I don't have to get it. No one, even an OKW owner, has to stay there. On July 4th it is worth celebrating that DVC means freedom, too! Cool.

Paul

 

[Regina]

PLEASE, LET'S NOT TURN EVERY TOPIC INTO A "MY POOL/RESORT IS BETTER THAN YOUR'S" ARGUMENT.

Come on folks, it's time to move on.

 

[fkj2]

We all know DVC has continually evolved the various resorts as they have been built, gleaning info on members' uses and desires as time goes by. I'm not necessarily opposed to investigating a themed pool that may be constructed at OKW. I personally don't swim that often while there (I prefer an afternoon nap on my break from the parks) but I can see the attraction having used SA B once. It is an inconveience to get over there though and frankly, I think it's too crowded to enjoy, knowing it's the primary pool for BCV and YC/BC.

While it may cost those of us OKWers a few extra $$$, it would be an investment, perhaps one of questionable value unless it could benefit owners who might become interested in selling their points at some time in the future and that may help attract a buyer.

 

[nydizfan]

I want a new pool.... maybe a SAB equivolent..thats all ... thanks...dave

 

[DeeP]

I'm not sure who your refering to -maybe me??- but I can see where

I'm not sure who spruce is upset with, could be me...but I have always

I am sure Spruce is referring to me. How he was able to do a search when this function is disabled is quite a feat in itself though!
In the comments I made on this thread I never said BWV pool was better than OKW pool. I may think that but I did not post that. I was just responding to the orginal thread regarding whether a pool similiar to SAB would be built at OKW.
I certainly have read many, many more posts from certain posters on these boards who have a long standing history of "stirring things up" much more than I do. I have merely just pointed out all of BWV excellent qualities when it has been unjustly attacked with a bunch of repetitive untruths. I have never started a DVC resort war, I have merely responded to insulting, untrue statements made by others.
There are many posts that hold no value to some and great value to others, the great thing about "discussion" boards is if you do not want to read what someone else is contributing to the "discussion" just skip it. Viola--simple.
I have been contacted by quite a few posters on this board in regards to how they disliked how others constantly "stir things up" and were glad I posted a rebuttal and the truth to the repetitive untruths that we see over and over again. I never had to ask others for their feelings, they voluntarily contacted me.

Moderator....feel free to deleate parts or all of this post if I crossed the line.

 

[AnnK]

Wow, I can't believe the GM at BC would want to change the pool at OKW. What is he thinking, wouldn't that change the laid back atmosphere of the resort? I just don't think the bunnies would stand for it!!!!
Just kidding! Continue on with your resort war.......

 

[spruce]

I am sure Spruce is referring to me. How he was able to do a search when this function is disabled is quite a feat in itself though!

I just used the search function and it seems to be working.

I apologize for going off topic and hope no one was offended. This back and forth is counterproductive. I'll not play anymore.

For those new here, remember these boards are filled with great information and many opinions, I've been coming here for 4 years and enjoy my time spent here. I've learned a lot and hopefully I've helped a lot. Which is the point of these boards I think. I've also taken what I could use and left the rest. Live and let live......spruce

 

[Disney Adventurer]

OK I'll jump in on this one. I'm not totally familiar with how the funding and capital expenditures go at a DVC resort but I'm pretty sure that rooms that are not spoken for through points are rented out through central reservations. Someone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong (heck what am I thinking, if I'm wrong I'm sure more than one will jump in). So OKW would have an occupancy rate just as any resort. Even though it is fully funded and completely sold, if the occupancy rate is only (making up a number here) 70%. That means Disney is missing out on renting 30% of the rooms. This is hard, cold cash in there pocket. Is it possible Disney could be looking to change the pool (not saying for better or worse) to increase the occupancy rate and thus increase profits. Even if Disney funded the project themselves, it may pay for itself through a higher occupancy rate. I'm just trying to look at this through Disney's eyes. Let's face it, Disney is in business to make money, so there will have to be a motivating factor for Disney to even consider such an undertaking.

 

[DeeP]

Good to see the search function back up and running, it has been giving an error message for at least the past 2 days stating that the search function was disabled by the administrator. I only realized this when I read someone say they did a search on my posts and I then tried to do a search on my posts and received this message.

 

[erikthewise]

A good point. However one might argue that increased occupancy at OKW would come almost entirely at the expense of other Disney resorts, and mostly from other DVC resorts.

A central question is: why would BCV GM be raising this issue unless Disney wants an improved pool at OKW? It could be he was just expressing his personal opinion about what would happen in the best of all possible worlds. I don't think that's as impossible as some seem to. But it's more interesting to speculate (as others have) that this is something that WDW, Inc would like to see happen.

If they want it a lot, they ought to be willing to make the investment. If they just want it a little, they would no doubt be willing to sit on their hands and see if OKW members will pay for it. Perhaps not likely, but worth a roll of the dice.

 

[PamOKW]

DisneyAdventurer -- I'm not sure either of the specifics of how it would work, but I agree that it would be in Disney's interest to be sure that all DVC's are maintained at the same level as other WDW resorts. Depending upon the desire for a pool change they might share the funding of the pool or spread its cost out over a very long period of time. I don't think they would do something adamantly opposed by the members but they would take an opening if they wanted something to happen.

 

[DeeP]

A good point. However one might argue that increased occupancy at OKW would come almost entirely at the expense of other Disney resorts, and mostly from other DVC resorts.

If a pool comparable to SAB was built at OKW and pool hopping was allowed for members/guests staying at the other DVC resorts then this would not neccesarily be an increased occupancy at OKW at the expense of the other DVC resorts. Guests would still be able to stay at other DVC resorts and pool hop to the new SAB like pool at OKW. It would probably increase occupancy at OKW but most likely this would not be at the expense of the other DVC resorts, it might actually help with getting reservations at some of the other DVC resorts that are hard to get into.
No one knows if this will even happen and if it does no word has been said about whether OKW members or Disney would pay for this type of pool. Maybe Disney intends to fund the building of the pool and then the maintenence of the pool and the cost of lifeguards etc., would be funded by OKW dues. Who knows?? This should be interesting to see what happens and if such a pool does get built it will just be another benefit for all DVC members!!!

 

[JSjoquist]

Stay with me on this one. Some of you may think I'm nuts, but this makes sense to me, and in my little world, thats all that matters anyway, right ??

I think it will be interesting to see what comes of "River Country". Isn't it currently closed?? This would drive those people to other pools, leading to over crowding. Could this be another reason why SAB has been restricted to only Yacht & Beach Club and BCV use for now??

One of the things I have heard is that River Country will re-open as a themed pool for the camp ground instead of a dedicated water park. This would eliminate a lot of the people who "forget" the pool hop policy, and draw more people to that pool. Not to mention how many DVC members would go to a new & improved River Country if it is a resort pool vs a water park.

That would be a perfect time to move on to improving/expanding the OKW pool. That would give a whole lot of people more choices in which pool to go to, and MAY evenly distribute pool attendance levels to a point where Disney feels they can drop the SAB restrictions.

I know I'm not addressing the financing end of this project, I just haven't seen anyone talking about this from a "use" side. Many people feel SAB is the best themed pool on the property. More quality themed pools remove the problems they have had with crowds at SAB and give more options to those people wanting to go swimming that day at something more than a regular pool.

Just another side of this discussion, and yes, I do tend to see the glass half full.

 

[manning]

Maybe Dean can help out on this. I believe DVC holds a 3% interest in each villa. They rent those out on a cash basis. I don't know if they keep that for themselves or what.

The other 97% is owned by the membership and I think any unused inventory is rented out on a cash basis and the money is put into the operation of the villas. This helps keep the dues down. Per the charter it is a nonprofit organization. If there is a contractual agreement with Disney to charge a fee for handling the cash reservations, I don't know.

 

[Dean]

I've seen various numbers thrown around for DVC ownership from 2-4% but believe 4% is the targer number DVC has aimed at for them to own. Remember that DVC does not get that money if rented and actually doesn't even get dues paid on those points. How much is rented vs used for emergencies, maint and the like; I don't really know. Personally, I can't see this happening but would like to.

 

[Caskbill]

Since OKW is 100% sold, that means that theoretically it will always be at capacity. Units available for rent then only include the (estimated) 4% that DVC owns themselves, and all units made available because members used their points somewhere else outside of DVC resorts. These would include Disney Cruise Lines, Concierge collection, etc.

However, the monies collected on rental of those available units is not available to DVC to do with as they please. If a member uses his points to take a cruise, DVC then needs to rent the DVC unit made available and use that money to pay for the cruise. That money does not become available for other items, such as making changes to a pool.

Earlier it was posted that perhaps OKW averaged 70% DVC occupancy. I don't have any figures, but this doesn't seem logical. If all the units are sold, and on average 30% are not used then that would mean the average member is spending 30% of their points outside of DVC, or simply losing them. I don't think this is happening. In 9 years of membership I have only spent points outside of DVC once. (Paris). So just to cover my average it would mean someone else has to spend 60% of their annual points outside of DVC.

Remember using points at a different DVC resort is not the same. Using OKW points at BCV or BWV etc doesn't take those points out of the system and make the OKW unit available for rental. The BWV or BCV owner still has those points and could use them at OKW, or HH, or VB etc. So rental income only becomes available when members (at whatever home resort) use points outside the system entirely. But that income as stated does not become available to DVC but must cover the costs associated with the use of those points by the member.

Therefore any pool changes (I refuse to call it improvements) would have to come at a cost to members. As for myself, I will never vote for any changes. If you really feel OKW needs a slide, then please sell your OKW points and go buy BCV points, or BWV points. You knew what OKW was when you purchased there at the time.

Personally I'd be happier if DVC just suspended all pool hopping entirely. I wonder how many members would NOT have purchased if pool hopping was never a perk in the first place. I doubt that that single perk was a make or break decision for purchasing DVC.

 

[PamOKW]

I wonder how many members would NOT have purchased if pool hopping was never a perk in the first place.[/B]

I didn't even know it was. I'm not sure if it had started in 1993 or not. I know I read about it in a VM and thought it was a neat perk....one I have yet to use.