UGH! Would you change your ressie?

[lenshanem]

Curious...
After our experience at OKW recently,
Trip report
I'm wondering if I should try to change our April spring break ressie to another resort (possibly having to get put on a waitlist)?

Would you give OKW another chance (slide should be open then for the kids) or change the ressie?

If we stay at OKW in a studio we can get a full seven nights, if we try another like possibly VWL we would only be able to stay six nights.

So I guess we'd be losing one night if we switch.

(And regardless where we go we'll have to still worry about getting a studio with no tub.)

Thanks for any opinions!

 

[EmptyNester]

Hi Shan -

I would give OKW another try. We love it there - sorry your experience was less than magical Maybe putting "NOT-handicapped accessible" in your room requests would help?

BTW - Loved your trip report (and costumes!), glad you had such a great time, despite the room!

- Sharon

 

[MrsM]

I say give it another chance. We have stayed there several times and have always had a pleasant experience.

 

[Scoootch]

Defenitly give it one more try. I sincerely hope it was just an off time and that next time will be much better

 

[Doug7856]

I would give it another chance, but maybe you could consider waitlisting for a BWV standard view. It probably is not available now, but if you can accept OKW, what harm would there be in waitlisting for BWV standard view. I think the points are similar so you probably would not have to shorten your trip. Just a thought!

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks Sharon.

Doug, that is a good idea....

 

[Disneyaholic]

Sorry your first experience a OKW was not the best, but do give it another try. OKW is easy to fall in love with!

 

[JimC]

Give it another try. OKW is a great resort. I suspect that some of your troubles were lingering storm related issues.

 

[Coach Rick]

In August I had booked 2 studios, and a 2 br. for 11 of us. I had requested one studio to be on the first floor for my mom but they gave them a second floor room. I had rented a scooter for mom, and I know we weren't going to be able to carry it up and down every day to charge it. The front desk said we could leave it there plugged in. Mom did not want to make a big deal about it, so she said she would try it, and we would keep the scooter in hospitality center. When we moved them in it was very warm in that studio, so I turned the A/C on, but it didn't seem to work, and after about an hour the ceiling started dripping, so we called the front desk, and maint. came right away and fixed that. After going up once it was obvious mom would not be able to do the stairs over and over, so we called the front desk again and they moved them the next morning, which took time out of our day, but anything to make moms first stay magical. The second room was great, and they did try really hard to keep us all together. We were all just a building away from each other. Bottom line, you can get a bad room here and there, but I believe that is true of anyplace you stay. In a resort that size it's bound to happen once in a while. I would stay there again despite the mishaps we had. My vote - Worth a second try.

 

[JoEllen]

I would give OKW another try. But, if you are going to have another late arrival, I would suggest staying off-site or at a moderate and check in early the next day.

This has become the standard for us since most West Coast flights arrive late. We had problems getting our request met when we checked in late so we started staying at All Stars our first night. Not a big deal for us.

Good Luck!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I had a hard time voting, because it depends on several factors, mostly surrounding the issue of 2 beds vs. 1. If I'm staying in a studio, OKW is my last choice, mostly because a studio means I'm going solo and only need one bed. I really like having the couch to sit on at other resorts, feels more like an apartment than a glorified hotel room that way. However, for a 1 BR or larger, I'd definitely recommend giving OKW another chance-we've always had the best experiences there-CMs, villa sizes, restfulness, etc. Do you need 2 beds? Then give OKW another chance-HA rooms, IMHO, can really make things VERY inconvenient. Next time, just be sure you don't get one.

 

[Pinnie]

I voted with the "give it another chance" crowd. I had a crummy experience at check-in at OKW once with a surly CM, but I gave them another chance and had a super CM the next time and never regretted going back!

pinnie

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our first stay in OKW was so great, I could only vote, "Give it another try!"

We know that all of our stays at OKW couldn't be as perfect as last weekend was for us, and so, if we think about it too much, we could also be second guessing our next stay there. However, we're going with it, and my vote for you would be to try again, too!

Bobbi

 

[Lisa F]

I'm in the minority but I have never felt "the magic" at OKW either and I would change my reservation if I could to one of the other DVC resorts. In my mind, you just can't beat the theming, amenities and location of BWV, BCV and VWL and the couple of times I have stayed at OKW, I sorely missed them. I would probably spend a night offsite for 6 nights at one of my favorites over 7 nights at OKW. Of course, if nothing else is available, staying at OKW is better than either not going or staying at anywhere but other deluxes in the locations I prefer (which sort of negates the purpose of owning DVC anyway) but I would never choose to stay there unless I had to.

 

[AmyBeth68]

We have stayed at OKW four times now...and each time was wonderful! The past two times were with our children and they did enjoy their stay, the new pool will be fantastic. I have to say that a poor location, like the one you described in your trip report, can really make a big difference. My in-laws have owned DVC at OKW since the very beginning, and the only time they did not have a magical trip was when they were located nearly EXACTLY where you were!!! So, I would say give it another try, the odds are very slim that you would end up in the same building.

Good Luck!

 

[megrod74]

I voted to keep the OKW ressie, because I think the problems you had were not terrible. Definitely tell them you need a tub for the little ones for the next time.
But, we stayed at OKW a few weeks ago and our room had a strange smell too - I described it as a "beach house smell". I guess it was musty. Spraying room deodorizer did not seem to help. FYI, this was our first DVC stay.
I like that OKW seems to be equidistant to everything and the CMs were really nice.

 

[WDWJWEB1]

lenshanem
I guess I'm in the minority. I think you should go to the VWL. Not because OKW is not a good resort or anything, but from reading your thread I got the impression that maybe the "condo" style at OKW might be the problem? Maybe you felt detached from the "Magic?" I know we like the "hotel" feel from the resorts over the "condo" style. DW and I are worried about staying at SSR for that very reason. We'll keep us informed and let us know what you decide.

Great post by the way
Whatever you decide we'll send some Pixie Dust your way.

 

[PKK/MJK]

I voted to give OKW another try. On one of our OKW stays, we were moved from a wonderful two-bedroom lockoff to a handicapped two bedroom because of a massive water leak. The handicapped units are wonderful--IF you have special needs. For those who don't ,it can be a difficult environment. We had a lot of other problems on that trip too so I can definitely understand your frustration. Ever since, I've made sure to include "not a handicapped unit'' on my room requests when I make my reservation. That's worked so far--and we've never had another bad experience.. I agree with the others who've suggested that if you must arrive late, stay off-property and check in early the next AM. You'll have a much better chance of getting what you want. If you don't need to be close to the HH, check out bldgs 45 and 46. They overlook Trumbo Canal so you can watch the boats go back and forth. It is a very peaceful area and soooo beautiful--lots of trees, ducks. (I don't think there are any handicapped units in these bldgs but I'm not sure). Good luck on your decision.

 

[jaysue]

Hi Shan - long time between my postings lately - I have been off learning lots of new things so have not had much time for the borads

My advice is that you should stay where you want to and like the most - for you guys that would be VWL if I recall correctly

I would chalk your OKW stay to being unlucky combined with being there after some major hurricane hits as well

Unfortunate that hubby had to go to work that day and as a result you did not get your first choices down at OKW

DW and I have had similar conversations - we always drop the night if we have to or drop room categories and go for her favourites - BCV or BWV - for her the location is the primary driver and the pools not too far behind. When I have suggested we could stay at OKW in a higher room category (for example 1BR as opposed to Studio or 2BR to 1BR) and/or for an extra night, it has not been sufficient cause to convince her to drop the location/pools combo and go to OKW.

I have nothing against OKW - I just like being at DisneyWorld - as such I have been happy at All Stars Movies and a BWV Grand Villa but for DW, it comes down to location, location, location

If OKW was all that was available, we would book there and then try to waitlist out. This just goes to show that OKW is perfectly fine for us but not our #1 choice

Cheers
jaysue

 

[WDWLVR]

I would give OKW another chance. We tried it for the first time in May of this year. We didn't fall in love with the place, but like it. I would definately call MS and tell them you have some specific requests and I'm sure they will do their best to meet them.

Good luck!