Some Still Photos of OKW Refurb Studio

[kapeman]

Any info on what, if any, changes or updates were made in the bath/shower rooms?

 

[Chuck S]

Any info on what, if any, changes or updates were made in the bath/shower rooms?

Only fresh eggshell paint on the walls, as far as I can tell. The floor and walls tiles are the orignal. And the wall around the bathtub is still the deep coral colored material. There is a new white fabric shower curtain with a white plastic liner.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Exactly! It doesn't feel as welcoming and "homey." Might as well be a Residence Inn or any other suite chain.

Funny, but that's exactly what your pictures looked like to me too. I'll still reserve judgement until we stay in one, but you'd better believe my opinions will be voiced to MS. I hate that DVC has pretty much gone the "no theme" route at OKW. Maybe the imagineers were so busy theming AKV and BLT, they left OKW rehab to the flunkies!

 

[vandy]

We are at OKW now and notice a different smell as we enter the room. I can only attribute it to the new fake wood flooring, either the florring itself or the adhesive. It is similiar to odors I smell around new construction. You get used to it while in the unit, but it is definately noticable as you walk in. Also, my daughters complain that the lack of carpeting in the living area means all sounds are echoed and are louder in their bedroom than when it was carpeted.

I agree that the rehab is maybe 50%. The cabinets are the same, the bathrooms look the same and our unit has a less than average paint job in it (some outlets and switch plates with paint splotches on them, hangers in closets have them as well). The granite tops in the kitchen are nice, but they tried to match the color with the cabinets. I think I would have preferred a darker contrast. Besides, is granite really an Old Key West decorating theme?

One thing I really miss is in the 2br dedicated units there was always an internet outlet by the buffet in the dining area. That has now been removed and the only internet in the family area is in the corner behind the table.

I still love OKW for the size of rooms and what it can provide for my family and is one of our top choices to stay at, but the rehab is just a little bit of a disappointment.

 

[Chuck S]

One thing I really miss is in the 2br dedicated units there was always an internet outlet by the buffet in the dining area. That has now been removed and the only internet in the family area is in the corner behind the table.

I still wonder if they are preparing to take the resort totally wireless? They've made the wired connections so inconvenient for no apparent reason.

But they'd need to install a router for every room, if they plan to continue billing non-DVC guests, and have each router passworded somehow so the cash guests don't piggyback on someone elses free DVC, or a DVCer doesn't accidently connect to a non-DVC room and get them charged for service they are not using.

Staying in a studio, we also noticed more noise from the one bedroom unit next door, I assume partly because there is no carpet in the living room area.

The new colors and designs are "just OK", they could have done much better in keeping with the theme for the same or even less $$$.

 

[Shadeaux]

Funny, but that's exactly what your pictures looked like to me too. I'll still reserve judgement until we stay in one, but you'd better believe my opinions will be voiced to MS. I hate that DVC has pretty much gone the "no theme" route at OKW. Maybe the imagineers were so busy theming AKV and BLT, they left OKW rehab to the flunkies!

After seeing the video and pictures of the rehab, I voiced my opinion on the member website. I got a call less than a week later. The lady I spoke with said she hadn't seen any of the changes, but would forward my comments and complaints to the appropriate department. She did say that since the rehabs were already going on there wasn't anything that would be changed this time.

I wish everyone who is disappointed with the changes would let MS know. If nobody says anything, they'll claim members love the changes and were the ones who requested the changes.

 

[vandy]

But they'd need to install a router for every room, if they plan to continue billing non-DVC guests, and have each router passworded somehow so the cash guests don't piggyback on someone elses free DVC, or a DVCer doesn't accidently connect to a non-DVC room and get them charged for service they are not using.

When we at AKV last week we were told we could catch their wireless signal at a few locations and to log on all we needed to type in was the number at the bottom of our room keycard. Maybe they could still do wireless and that number at login will designate those who are staying at the resort that are DVC members and those who are not and need to pay?

 

[Chuck S]

When we at AKV last week we were told we could catch their wireless signal at a few locations and to log on all we needed to type in was the number at the bottom of our room keycard. Maybe they could still do wireless and that number at login will designate those who are staying at the resort that are DVC members and those who are not and need to pay?

I hadn't thought of that. That is a possibility. If they are taking the resort wireless, I hope they do so soon. In the meantime, I hope everyone packs a wireless router. There is no way to sit at the table and use a netbook/notebook without one. THey really should have made the wireless conversion BEFORE sealing the HSIA outlets. They didn't seem to think this rehab through very well.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

I have never come across the small TV stand where the TV is on top whenever we have stayed there. It has always been the big armior with the doors that open. Did not like the one in your picture. I agree with everyone else about the colors. I think Disney has to hear from more disgruntled people though.

 

[Chuck S]

I have never come across the small TV stand where the TV is on top whenever we have stayed there. It has always been the big armior with the doors that open. Did not like the one in your picture.

They replaced the large cabinet in the studios when they added the DVD players, so they have been that shorter type for a couple of years. The cabinets were not built to accommodate the players.

I agree with everyone else about the colors. I think Disney has to hear from more disgruntled people though.

I think it is best to wait and send them an email or letter after you have stayed in a room yourself, so you can relate your dislike on a more personal level. Nothing will change for this rehab, it is already underway.

 

[dianeschlicht]

After seeing the video and pictures of the rehab, I voiced my opinion on the member website. I got a call less than a week later. The lady I spoke with said she hadn't seen any of the changes, but would forward my comments and complaints to the appropriate department. She did say that since the rehabs were already going on there wasn't anything that would be changed this time.

I wish everyone who is disappointed with the changes would let MS know. If nobody says anything, they'll claim members love the changes and were the ones who requested the changes.

I agree, and I for one have no shyness at all about voicing how I feel. I hope others will "get involved" too. I know there isn't anything to be done about it now, but letting them know we want our theme is a good thing.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I hadn't thought of that. That is a possibility. If they are taking the resort wireless, I hope they do so soon. In the meantime, I hope everyone packs a wireless router. There is no way to sit at the table and use a netbook/notebook without one. THey really should have made the wireless conversion BEFORE sealing the HSIA outlets. They didn't seem to think this rehab through very well.

Chuck, we noticed the router behind the corner table in the living room at OKW in March too. We were still able to use the one by the dining room hutch area though too yet. We did plug our wireless router into the one behind the corner table though. We find the whole Disney internet to be woefully slow though anyway. We often gave up and connected to our cell phones instead. We both have Blackberry's that can act as servers for our laptops.

 

[Chuck S]

I did send an email, with my specific disappointments, including what seemed a lack of early 20th century Key West theme/colors. And the increased noise in the studios from the lack of living area carpet in the one bedrooms. I also included some good things, like re-using the existing furniture and painting/recovering it. It is well built furniture, and full replacement would have been more expensive with likely lesser quality.

I received a phone call the next day and the CM gave the normal "thank you for contacting us with your concerns, and I will pass them onto the resort."

I told her that I knew nothing would change with this rehab, but to please keep these thoughts in mind for the future.

You know, we've seen several posts this past year or so saying OKW is/was "dated" which I'm fairly sure contributed to the mindset to modernisize the look. But, while the granite counters are nice, I wonder how many people we'll see posting about the "dated" look when granite falls out of vogue, or blue/blue walls become tiresome in a couple years? I think the new look will become "dated" much more quickly than the original OKW decor.

 

[Chuck S]

Chuck, we noticed the router behind the corner table in the living room at OKW in March too. We were still able to use the one by the dining room hutch area though too yet. We did plug our wireless router into the one behind the corner table though. We find the whole Disney internet to be woefully slow though anyway. We often gave up and connected to our cell phones instead. We both have Blackberry's that can act as servers for our laptops.

That hutch outlet was so convenient for setting up a wireless router, or even using a cabled connection at the table. I'm sorry to see them plug those connections without a wireless system in place. Especially when there really is no reason to do so.

 

[Shadeaux]

That hutch outlet was so convenient for setting up a wireless router, or even using a cabled connection at the table. I'm sorry to see them plug those connections without a wireless system in place. Especially when there really is no reason to do so.

Has anyone been given an explanation as to why they're plugging these outlets? There had to be some expense involved when they were added (I'm assuming our dues paid for it), so why make them useless now? We'd much rather sit at the table to use our laptops rather than over on the sofa. I brought a wireless router in November, but for some reason my husband's work laptop would not connect; he ended up using the wired connection at the table. Hmm, now that I think about it, it might be a good thing if he's limited to where he can plug in....he might not work as much during our vacations!

 

[kapeman]

Has anyone been given an explanation as to why they're plugging these outlets? There had to be some expense involved when they were added (I'm assuming our dues paid for it), so why make them useless now? We'd much rather sit at the table to use our laptops rather than over on the sofa.

I don't really see the point in it either unless they want to reduce the number of switch connections and therefore remove some network hardware.

 

[Tara]

I don't really see the point in it either unless they want to reduce the number of switch connections and therefore remove some network hardware.

It could also be to reduce the ease of use for more than one person. As more people have laptops, I'm sure they're seeing an increase in bandwidth use. If it were an all-paid system, they could just up the fee a bit to pay for more traffic, but with DVC members getting internet for free, that won't work. So, disable convenient connections and you'll likely reduce the amount of traffic.

It does seem strange to me, though. Was the outlet behind the bedside table always there or was it added in the renovation?

 

[snackyx]

Have the walls of the main living room been repainted/changed colors? What rooms have been repainted blue (we typically stay in a 2 bedroom)?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Have the walls of the main living room been repainted/changed colors? What rooms have been repainted blue (we typically stay in a 2 bedroom)?

The blue was in the 2nd bedroom. The living room was painted yellow.

 

[tea pot]

Thanks for the Pictures.
Do you know if they are Refurb the whole resort?