trip review

[katyjeka]

Our family just returned for okw, room 2825, 1 bedroom. When planning our trip i read this board faithfully, so i feel i owe back. I must say that we have been going every December for 6 years. This was our first time at okw. The resort was beautiful and our room was very big. The pool area was ok, however, we did notice some neglect(chipped, dirty tile)Our room was in good shape with new washer/dryer. The sofabed was not fit for adults, so plan on only children on it. The buses ran regularly, however it is a verrry long ride to any park, but epcot. It isn't the ride over, it's the amount of stops it takes to get out of the resort. We encountered both excellent and rude cast members at both the resort and parks. This was a big change from our previous trips. I know noone wants to hear the negative, but for the first time in years, we saw alot that disappointed us, for example, rude cast members, dirty bathrooms(yes) and dirty costumes. Our trip was not bad, we left with alot of great memories, and the kids had a wonderful time. To all the cast members in Canada, way to go. Our daughters are still talking about the friends they made there. To the castmember who sang songs to us while we waited for the parade,Sharon, you truly are talented and the kids still talk about you, not the parade, Thanks. I hoped I didn't offend to many people, I just wanted to give our opinion. We stayed from Dec. 8th to Dec. 17th, with previous stays at Wilderness Lodge and Poly. Thanks

 

[SimplyMagical]

Katyjeka:

Thanks for the trip report - sounds like you had a nice time. This is not the first time I have seen something posted recently regarding the cleanliness of the restrooms. I have also noticed on our last several trips that the restrooms are not kept up the way they were in the past. I have seen them dirty with garbage bins overflowing. I started noticing this on our trips after 9/11. Maybe people need to start making some complaints to Disney management, if they already haven't. Obviously they are cutting staff in the restrooms - not a good thing. People don't want to have to use a restroom that is dirty - and certainly don't expect to, with Disney standards.

 

[BeckyV]

You are right about the bathrooms. When we were there, we noticed the same thing. Quite a change from previous years. Good idea about complaining.

 

[Lexxiefern]

Thanks for the report!

So would you stay at OKW again? I am going for the first time to OKW in a couple weeks.

 

[perdidobay]

Thanks for posting the good and the bad..I want the truth. And I hope Disney is reading these boards.and taking notes, too.
I'm glad you had a good time

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks for the report----glad u enjoyed OKW. We love it there. I agree about the sofa bed though---same goes with the BWV sofa bed. I just don't find them very comfy either. Not sure how the VWL, SS or BCV's sofa beds are, as we've never stayed at these resorts ? Wish they would replace them with something more "usable" for adults. I agree that they're really best for kid's use as they don't seem to mind those things.
Sorry about the rudeness you encountered in the parks. I haven't really experienced too much of that except one time back in 2000. We wanted to go to Tony's restaurant in the MK JUST for desserts. There were 5 of us. We were walk-in's and it was about 3:30 pm (just after the parade). In front of everyone in the restaurant lobby (and there were only about 2-3 parties waiting) they turned us away and told us we could get desserts at the Main Street Bakery. I can't tell you how "unwelcomed" we felt. I was really craving the bananas foster there and knew I couldn't get that at the Bakery. I had planned to write a letter to Guest Relations but never got around to it.
I will agree with you on the bathrooms though.....they have really gone downhill quite a bit. It's a shame.
Thanks for the report !

 

[katyjeka]

My husband and I both thought okw was beautiful, just a little to removed from the things we like to do. The boat ride to downtown disney is nice, and the surrey bikes are a blast. We rented a canopy boat and water mice, both were also alot of fun. To answer your question as to weather we would stay there again, Im going against the board, sorry, and say no. I feel the previous places we've stayed were so much more convenient and I missed the overall lack of theming. Please don't let this ruin your trip for I don't recall ever reading a bad report of okw, so it was probably just a problem with our family. I just felt for the first time ever, that we spent nine days at a amusement park, nothing more. I miss the magic we felt on all of our previous visits when we never had a doubt that we were at the greatest place in the world. I don't blame this on okw though, we missed all the wonderful attitudes we used to see in the parks, restaurants, etc. I guess we just picked the wrong nine days to go. Please enjoy your trip, and don't let one opinion but any doubt into what you've planned, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Thanks for reading.

 

[jaysue]

Welcome to the DIS! Thanks for posting - do you plan to write to WDW directly about the restroom situation?

thanks
jaysue

 

[SimplyMagical]

I think everyone who has encountered dirty restrooms recently should write to Disney. This will let them know that guests have seen a decline in the restroom facilities over the past year or two. The more people who write the better. This will let them know that people have noticed a difference and that they need to address the problem.

 

[jaysue]

Here is a link to pictures of WDW bathrooms



http://www.cassworld.ca/bathrooms.htm

 

[MiaSRN62]

just a little to removed from the things we like to do. The boat ride to downtown disney is nice, and the surrey bikes are a blast. We rented a canopy boat and water mice, both were also alot of fun. To answer your question as to weather we would stay there again, Im going against the board, sorry, and say no. I feel the previous places we've stayed were so much more convenient and I missed the overall lack of theming. Please don't let this ruin your trip

I believe most everyone here understands that not everyone will enjoy a certain resort as much as someone else might. Some prefer the serence oasis of OKW, while others lean towards being right in the middle of the action such as with BWV and BCV. It's nice to know that the DVC offers something perfect for everyone. Thanks again for the report.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by katyjeka
My husband and I both thought okw was beautiful, just a little to removed from the things we like to do. The boat ride to downtown disney is nice, and the surrey bikes are a blast. We rented a canopy boat and water mice, both were also alot of fun. To answer your question as to weather we would stay there again, Im going against the board, sorry, and say no. I feel the previous places we've stayed were so much more convenient and I missed the overall lack of theming. Please don't let this ruin your trip for I don't recall ever reading a bad report of okw, so it was probably just a problem with our family. I just felt for the first time ever, that we spent nine days at a amusement park, nothing more. I miss the magic we felt on all of our previous visits when we never had a doubt that we were at the greatest place in the world. I don't blame this on okw though, we missed all the wonderful attitudes we used to see in the parks, restaurants, etc. I guess we just picked the wrong nine days to go. Please enjoy your trip, and don't let one opinion but any doubt into what you've planned, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Thanks for reading.

Please do not feel as though you are "going against the board". There are many posters on this board with many very different opinions/likes/dislikes, etc., believe me!! WDW is full of many wonderful resorts but none of them are for everyone and neither are DVC resorts.
Just from the sheer popularity of BWV, BCV and VWL you can see that many people also prefer the more convenient and in the action/more themed resorts. That is what is so great about WDW and DVC there is something for everyone.
I have also noticed a decline in the cleaning of the bathrooms during my last 2 trips in Sept and Nov. Both times it was bathrooms in Epcot/WS and both times it was during big events: Pin Event - Sept; Food & Wine Festival-Nov. I am returning to WDW next month so I will be paying extra attention to the bathrooms. I have not noticed any rude CMs at all and I have stayed at BCV and BWV for the past 2 trips and both were very magical resorts!
Please don't let one less than magical trip discourage you. It is time to plan the next trip and this time stay at either a MK or Epcot resort so you will be surrounded by the magic and pixie dust 24/7 !!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Please don't let one less than magical trip discourage you. It is time to plan the next trip and this time stay at either a MK or Epcot resort so you will be surrounded by the magic and pixie dust 24/7 !!!!

Well I agreed with your entire post right up until this statement Deep ! LOL !
I feel OKW is just as "magical" a resort. I think, rather, the OP had a feeling of let-down due to the CM's attitudes and the bathrooms etc, more so than anything with OKW. I don't think OKW made her trip "less magical". I mean, she could stay at BWV or BCV next year and still encounter rudeness and dirty facilities etc while staying there. I don't think the resort can change that. I have been dismayed lately at the amount of trash on the ground walking down Main Street. The CM's used to never let a piece of trash sit for more than 15 minutes......now they just let it lay there until the end of the night. Now that's a let-down ! I just think the OP wanted to have easier access to the parks (though I feel she did enjoy the quick access to DD at OKW), thus BWV or BCV. But I most certainly believe ALL the WDW resorts and DVC resorts are "magical" !

 

[DeeP]

I was responding to the OP comments that they would most likely not stay at OKW again because they felt it was not conventiently located, was too far removed and they missed the theming that they have experienced at the other resorts that they have stayed in. From what I got from the post, it appeared that the rude CMs, dirty bathrooms AND the location and lack of theming all contributed to the OP's feeling a lack of magic that they have felt at other WDW resorts they have stayed at during previous WDW trips. If my take on this is incorrect, please accept my apologies.
I agree that anyplace on WDW property is magical compared to being at home dealing with reality! I just think some places are more magical than others. The ability to see Cinderella's Castle, the monorail, Spaceship Earth, World Showcase, Illuminations etc from your room/balcony is pretty high up there on the magical scale!

 

[jsjohnso]

Augh! I've never participated in any discussion board in my life before this, and you guys have got me hooked before we've even made reservations!

We're getting making plans to stay at OKW with our then 4 yo. It's the off-the-beaten track aspect of OKW that attracted me because I think he's going to be overstimulated as it is and it would be nice to take a break from WDW (is it sacriligious to say this here?) Of course it 's just my Mom's instinct, I have no idea how he'll react to any of it.

Just out of curiosity though, which other places did you mean when mentioned "previous places" in

"I feel the previous places we've stayed were so much more convenient and I missed the overall lack of theming."

Thanks!
Judy

 

[MiaSRN62]

I agree that anyplace on WDW property is magical compared to being at home dealing with reality! I just think some places are more magical than others. The ability to see Cinderella's Castle, the monorail, Spaceship Earth, World Showcase, Illuminations etc from your room/balcony is pretty high up there on the magical scale!

I think I was zoning in on this part of the OP's quote, that you also put in your post Deep :

I just felt for the first time ever, that we spent nine days at a amusement park, nothing more. I miss the magic we felt on all of our previous visits when we never had a doubt that we were at the greatest place in the world. I don't blame this on okw though,

The OP most def states OKW had nothing to do with missing the magic in her own words.

But, ok...as long as you agree that "anyplace" on WDW property is magical, then we're cool on that point Deep
Actually, you can see Illuminations and the DD fireworks from various points at OKW---I know we could during our last stay there. Besides, there are many rooms at VWL, BWV. BCV etc where you can't see some of the landmarks you mentioned. So, really it depends on which room you get. I do agree you have a better chance of seeing certain landmarks from certain DVC resorts (i.e. BWV) vs others, but I got mainly a view of a parking lot from my BWV room this past summer. Granted, now that I know this I'll be more specific in what I request for future stays there. In regards to just the DVC resorts, I know many others have had dumpster views", "roadway views" etc from various resorts so it's not a slam-dunk that you will get a terrific view from any of the DVC resorts.

Just out of curiosity though, which other places did you mean when mentioned "previous places" in

JSJohnso, I believe the OP mentioned previous stays at the Poly and WL. These are both MK resorts and especially with the Poly you get a great view of the MK and the monorail. The WL is really a beautiful resort and the themeing is the best of any resort on property imo, so can't argue with her there. It's a boat ride away from the MK though you really can't see the MK due to all the wooded areas surrounding the resort (perhaps from certain rooms you can but during our 3 stays there over the years we never could see the castle or anything). We could see the MK fireworks from our room though when we stayed in the main building/courtyard view. Also, the Electric Water Pagent floats right by the WL, as well as the Poly, Contemp, GF and Ft Wilderness shore lines.
Enjoy your upcoming stay at OKW JSJohnso......you'll love the peacefulness of the resort (as well as the magic !). We just made our ressies there a little while ago for a Nov '04 stay. We can't wait to get back ! We requested a water/woods view. Looking forward to reading more posts from you too