Some OKW observations

[dianeschlicht]

Don't get the wrong idea from this post. I still LOVE my OKW home, but I do have a few concerns that are starting to bother me. Mostly they have to do with maintenance not keeping up. Sure, things get fixed, but it's HOW they get fixed that bothers me a bit. That and the fact that we keep losing little amenities like pot hohlders, place mats, napkins, colored towels, and now throw pillows. I really missed the throw pillows on the couches in the living room. I ended up having to get a bed pillow to use there.

The maintenance things that bothered me were the fact that they aren't keeping true to the theme when they replace things. Both rooms this trip had a mix of metals on the door levers and other hardware. One bathroom door had a brass escution and chrome lever. Another had brass on one side of the door and chrome on the other. A little thing, but it makes it look like an afterthought, and not a nice well kept up themed resort. The thing I was most bothered by was the blinds. I mourned the loss of the wood blinds a few years ago, but now the plastic blinds are starting to sag an need replacing. What are they replacing them with??? More plasic blinds, but of a different color!!! We had one panel in the living room that was green instead of tan (all the others were tan there), and two of the three in the bedroom were green with the others tan. It just looks shoddy done that way.

 

[Chuck S]

The unmatched door handles may have more to do with available supply than a lack of maintenance. Disney, no doubt, buys in fairly large quantities from the manufacturer.

If the manufacturer changes a product line, or if OKW ran out of knobs and "borrowed" some from another resort to fix the problem before getting in another large shipmemt of the correct color, that could explain the difference in handle colors. The blinds could also be a change by the supplier. If the manufacturer changed available colors, and OKW replaced only as needed to keep our dues lower, until the unit goes through a full rehab, that could also explain the color variation.

The colored towels faded so badly from the chemicals required to launder them, that their useful life was much shorter than white towels. While the fabric was still fine, the color was so badly faded that they needed replacing often.

The small things, like the napkins and place mats probably have more do to wih your fellow members and guests taking them as souvenirs than OKW wanting to "cheapen" the units. Eventually, the replacement costs of those items become prohibitive, even if 10% disappear over a month.

 

[Granny]

I agree with Chuck that most of the things you list as no longer there are most likely due to being stolen by guests.

To keep all the hardware or blinds the same they'd probably have to make a purchase similar to the one they did when building OKW and include it in a general refurbishment of the resort. It may well be in the plans but in the mean time they will "patch" the replacements with something they think is acceptable.

I agree that when they buy the hardware or blinds they should buy enough to handle replacements between refurbishments....especially if they are unique.

 

[disney54us]

We too love OKW, though we have added contracts at other DVC's, OKW is our first love. I notice our last stay there, going back to 05, 'little things' like the door knobs not matching (I thought this just bothered me, since the door hardware dept. in HD or Lowes is one of my fav's). But, no throw pillows on the couch, and green "wooden" plastic blinds. It is suppose to be our home away from home, so things, little or not do get noticed. Attention to detail, everything 1st quality and beautiful are what I remember when we toured and decided to purchase. As far as missing items, could it be a previous guest went home with it? yes but, its just to easy to always blame someone else. There is suppose to be a inventory of kitchen items, if they are missing it could be a pot holder was dirty, burned etc. and was removed from MK and not replaced (again, attention to detail). If I am in a room w/missing items I feel I have a right to request those items. My last visit I just sort of felt w/ all the new places being developed that OKW has been put on the back burner, which is a shame as I've said it will always be our first love.

 

[Beth]

Diane,

We were there last week, also - and I missed the throw pillows, as well.

And I did the same thing... went and got a bed pillow.

They're all gone... from the living area, and from the bedroom. What a shame...

Sorry to have missed your meet on Saturday - we couldn't work it in with our other plans for the day - hope you guys had a blast!

 

[tomandrobin]

My last visit I just sort of felt with all the new places being developed that OKW has been put on the back burner, which is a shame as I've said it will always be our first love.

I agree with what the others were saying about lack of availability of replacement parts. I'm sure that will be an on going problem with all of the resorts, unless after OKW there was some sort of standarization that was implemented.

Also, doesn't each resort has its own reserve fund for maintenance and repairs. The dues paid at BCV or SSR has no bearing with replacements costs or refurbishments at another resort. If that is true, the blame lies squarely on OKW HOA board and management. It would be good if these issues were brought up at the annual board meeting.

 

[Laurabearz]

The window blinds would bug me. If you need to replace one, and it has to be a different color, then by gosh change them all to match...

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

I've only been to OKW once which was this summer so I can't compare it to previous visits but I did snap this picture while I was there. It really bothered me to see this sign hanging there day after day like that. It looked terrible.

I know that they just recently put them up so it was a surprise to see it already falling down. I would hope that maintenance has fixed it by now.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Nothing worse than saggy blinds..
I hope my wife's blinds stay firm as the years pass.

MG

 

[lisaviolet]

Nothing worse than saggy blinds..
I hope my wife's blinds stay firm as the years pass.

MG

And best wishes on yours as well.

 

[spiceycat]

Diane what really is my problem is that AKV has a bunch of pillows on everything....

so why is DVC making a mistake again - if people are stealing the pillows?

just don't always belief anymore what DVC says....

 

[tomandrobin]

Diane what really is my problem is that AKV has a bunch of pillows on everything....

so why is DVC making a mistake again - if people are stealing the pillows?

just don't always belief anymore what DVC says....

Hopefully DVC bills "guest" if items are missing from the units after check-out. Of course, that means housekeeping has to complete a checklist of items after each cleaning. Fat chance that's going to happen!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Don't get the wrong idea from this post. I still LOVE my OKW home, but I do have a few concerns that are starting to bother me. Mostly they have to do with maintenance not keeping up. Sure, things get fixed, but it's HOW they get fixed that bothers me a bit. That and the fact that we keep losing little amenities like pot hohlders, place mats, napkins, colored towels, and now throw pillows. I really missed the throw pillows on the couches in the living room. I ended up having to get a bed pillow to use there.

The maintenance things that bothered me were the fact that they aren't keeping true to the theme when they replace things. Both rooms this trip had a mix of metals on the door levers and other hardware. One bathroom door had a brass escution and chrome lever. Another had brass on one side of the door and chrome on the other. A little thing, but it makes it look like an afterthought, and not a nice well kept up themed resort. The thing I was most bothered by was the blinds. I mourned the loss of the wood blinds a few years ago, but now the plastic blinds are starting to sag an need replacing. What are they replacing them with??? More plasic blinds, but of a different color!!! We had one panel in the living room that was green instead of tan (all the others were tan there), and two of the three in the bedroom were green with the others tan. It just looks shoddy done that way.

I honestly mean this as a compliment to you: We know DVC monitors these boards. When dianeschlicht expresses concerns about maintenance at OKW, please sit up and take notice.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm sorry Diane. I don't have anything to miss from the past, but we stayed at OKW in August for our first ever DVC trip and I must say that we were very unimpressed with it. Enough so that when the AP discount rates came out a few weeks ago for January we passed on staying there again & kept a cash ressie at VWL that will cost us about $400 more!! I told DH we could save $396 if we switched & he wrinkled his nose so we stayed put with what we had. I read good things about VWL too so we're hoping for a better experience!!

I know so many people love their OKW home and we were looking forward to staying there - but it didn't even feel up to moderate standards to us. Coronado Springs was much nicer when we stayed there a few years ago (except for the double bed vs queen size bed). I'm afraid the resort is really showing its age and if we'd been there on a regular cash ressie I'd have been really upset with what we got for our money.

We may have to stay there again someday to save points, but I don't think my heart will be in it unless they do a major overhaul on it first. Meanwhile, we want to try out all of the DVC resorts so this is working out just fine for now.

 

[RobDoc]

Not to disagree with Diane's comments about missing the "items" from the past (and we miss those pillows too) - DW does the same thing, grabbing a pillow from the bed - but - the pillows do represent a health challenge trying to keep them clean and sanitized and rather than absorb the expense to clean and/or replace them, the resort has chosen to do away with them. At least the linens can be thoroughly cleaned.

Part of the challenge at OKW is that members who have been staying there for years now (coming up on 15 years for us) know what was in those villas back in the early 90's. Silk flowers, placemats, "peach" towels, cloth napkins, bathroom scales, etc. - which were all part of the original ambiance of the villas - are no longer there. I suspect this is more due to the health issue than from guests taking souveneirs, but regardless these are mostly items never found in the newer DVC resorts - although I suspect there are also items originally found at VB, HH and BWV that are no longer there either.

As for the "aging" of the OKW resort, it has a similar renovation schedule as all other DVC resorts. While on any given day a guest may find some wear and tear at OKW, the same wear and tear may be found at ANY other DVC resort - including AKV (which has been open less than 5 months).

As for mismatched hardware and blinds, I agree - if the original stuff can no longer be matched, then replace all items with new.

 

[disney54us]

I agree with what the others were saying about lack of availability of replacement parts. I'm sure that will be an on going problem with all of the resorts, unless after OKW there was some sort of standarization that was implemented.

Also, doesn't each resort has its own reserve fund for maintenance and repairs. The dues paid at BCV or SSR has no bearing with replacements costs or refurbishments at another resort. If that is true, the blame lies squarely on OKW HOA board and management. It would be good if these issues were brought up at the annual board meeting.

Agree, they will face the same problems, I was always under the impression that they would have replacements available. Not just Disney but major hotels do the same they need to know that things will be available for wear and tear. Dis is big buying power in the industry, so I would think they would own every matching door knob in the country.

All Dvc's have there own reserve, and that is what we all pay maint. fees for, so there is no excuse for OKW not to have proper upkeep. When I made the comment about feeling OKW has been put on the back burner, I by not means meant to imply that I was blaming the other DVC's (I'm not doing one of those 'it's all those SSR people's fault'), seen to much of that back and forth on this forum. We are all DVC owners and we all deserve to get what we have paid and cont. to pay for. As I said, I have contracts at SSR and VB, I don't want any to go down hill. OKW being the oldest is showing wear and tear and big management is busy w/ new growth. Wake up call, for them, we expect that all DVC homes are kept and updated as needed.

I will miss my pillows on the couch, it's suppose to be home and I have those at my other home. Ten years ago, I remember thinking this is decorated nicer then mine So give me my pillows, make sure the door knobs and blinds coordinate and a earlier post stated the best advice. The boards are here for us to enjoy and vent sometimes, let's not depend that DVC monitors them b/c that won't do the job. OKW owners we need to start sending letters about our concerns and to the board.

May we all enjoy many years of the most beautiful places on earth

 

[3pirates]

I agree with those that say if they have to change one thing(like a blind or a cabinet knob), they need to change them all to be consistent....not doing so is silly.

About the niceties, I agree with those that say it may be a health issue. I will add another comment. We own a vacation rental property. We have had to adjust our ideas about what niceties we provide in our place just because of housekeeping issues. For instance, placemats, napkins and throw pillows. We had plenty of all of them when we started renting our property. Yes, they walk away. If they don't, it is a challenge to keep enough supply for housekeeping to switch them out when they get nasty, and even more of one to have them notice and do so appropriately. I'm sad saying this, but we have noticed that it is just more prudent to omit those types of things and not have to deal with the problems they present.

 

[disney54us]

Not to disagree with Diane's comments about missing the "items" from the past (and we miss those pillows too) - DW does the same thing, grabbing a pillow from the bed - but - the pillows do represent a health challenge trying to keep them clean and sanitized and rather than absorb the expense to clean and/or replace them, the resort has chosen to do away with them. At least the linens can be thoroughly cleaned.

Part of the challenge at OKW is that members who have been staying there for years now (coming up on 15 years for us) know what was in those villas back in the early 90's. Silk flowers, placemats, "peach" towels, cloth napkins, bathroom scales, etc. - which were all part of the original ambiance of the villas - are no longer there. I suspect this is more due to the health issue than from guests taking souveneirs, but regardless these are mostly items never found in the newer DVC resorts - although I suspect there are also items originally found at VB, HH and BWV that are no longer there either.

As for the "aging" of the OKW resort, it has a similar renovation schedule as all other DVC resorts. While on any given day a guest may find some wear and tear at OKW, the same wear and tear may be found at ANY other DVC resort - including AKV (which has been open less than 5 months).

As for mismatched hardware and blinds, I agree - if the original stuff can no longer be matched, then replace all items with new.

Please don't take this wrong, but if health reasons are the case, does that mean every DVC and WDW resort has no throw pillows? Poly conciege building had Euro covered pillows on there bed and daybed, someone else posted on this thread about AKV all the throw pillows. So health reasons, I don't think that is the reason. I think we need, to not focus on one think such as throw pillows. What Diane posted were concerns about OKW, she is not the only OKW owner to voice concerns. She is one who doesn't complain just to see her words on screen. So let's realize it's not just about the pillows
it's the bigger picture.

 

[DVCPAT]

the pillows do represent a health challenge trying to keep them clean and sanitized and rather than absorb the expense to clean and/or replace them, the resort has chosen to do away with them. At least the linens can be thoroughly cleaned.

I think it’s an expense issue. Disney seems to be less detail oriented and be more in the maximum profit mode. Disney accountants must have more influence these days, I’ve noticed a difference in employee attitude and park / resort maintenance.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Here's another photo that I took that was just outside our room at OKW in August. There haven't been any fires at OKW that I know of, although I suppose some one could have had a legit reason to break the glass without a fire. Now, the question becomes how quickly does the glass get fixed?