Upcoming OKW refurb?

[Deb & Bill]

Yes, too bad. We chose our dates just to sort of spread things out. Just moved our DS back up to college in Rochester, NY this week so our Sept. date is a month away from that. Then in mid-October we go back up there for parents weekend. Then in Nov. DH has a conference he has to go to then of course it's T-giving. Funny how time goes by so fast. Also, the points are cheaper in Sept than in Oct....once they announced MNSSHP dates and F&W dates for this year it seemed like a good plan - but now I'm sort of wishing we going the LAST week in Sept. so we wouldn't be hitting the opening weekend of F&W. Oh well. Live & learn. You know what they say about the best laid plans. This may the last F&W we do for awhile....

Funny how life gets in the way of vacations, right?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Maybe they'll resolve issues like this at OKW where they sprayed the finish on with the drawers in place. .

 

[Alice Sr.]

I was planning on booking for May, we have not stayed here in years and I was really looking forward to it. Having gone through 3 stays while BWV was being refurbed I am really leery of staying at another resort under construction. Four stays in a row is a bit much. I do think the impact would be lessened at OKW with the layout but grr just not sure what to do. I have AKL points and BWV points that I could check availability, we are still within the 7-11 month window so I'm sure I could get something. We are already staying at AKL for the 1st 3 days and that is booked, I was just waiting for the 7 month window to open up for OKW. Your opinions would be much appreciated. TIA

 

[Wakey]

Our first ever DVC stay after we joined was in summer of 2007 at OKW. The studio we had was in such sorry shape that I literally cried over "what have we done by buying DVC". I was so upset. We all were. We hated both the room and the location we were in. It was dirty & in poor condition - I was not a fan of the layout, there was dust on the lip of the ceramic tiles going around the bathroom, the freezer door in the fridge was broken, there were holes in the bedspreads, the outside steps were filthy as if they'd never ever, ever been swept or cleaned. The bus service was atrocious. We waited OVER 1 hour one night for a bus to MK. It was August. We were hot and miserable over our purchase. It was the only time I've ever cried over buying DVC.

We chalked it up to being newbies & vowed never to go back there. We were trying to scrimp on points and quicly figured out why it was so cheap to stay there. This was before the LAST refurb. We have not been back since because we had such bad memories of the first time. HOWEVER, DH and I are going there this Sept. for our 2nd try at it - again, to save on points we chose it for a quickie trip for just the 2 of us. It was originally for "only 4 nights" and we figured we could suck it up and try it again - then we added on 1 more night so now it's 5 nights. That's almost a week and I admit to being a little nervous about it. I knew it had been refurbed since we were there last - didn't realize it was due again. I'm just hoping that it's still better off than that first time we went but if it's due for refurb again it may be a repeat experience?! If it's bad again I seriously doubt we'll EVER try it again. Cheap points or not. We didn't buy DVC to stay at the equivalent of a Motel 8.

I went August and it was really nice, nothing like you describe. Insides could do with the refurb, but we're still in good shape.

 

[Wakey]

I was planning on booking for May, we have not stayed here in years and I was really looking forward to it. Having gone through 3 stays while BWV was being refurbed I am really leery of staying at another resort under construction. Four stays in a row is a bit much. I do think the impact would be lessened at OKW with the layout but grr just not sure what to do. I have AKL points and BWV points that I could check availability, we are still within the 7-11 month window so I'm sure I could get something. We are already staying at AKL for the 1st 3 days and that is booked, I was just waiting for the 7 month window to open up for OKW. Your opinions would be much appreciated. TIA

I assume they will close a block of a building when they start renovating a room in that block. If that is the case, then as long as the pool is open, I don't think you would be impacted.

 

[Wakey]

No, it's not bad at all. We were just there in March and our studio was perfect. We're also back there in September for five nights (50 points is great, right?). It's really early for a refurbishment since they did one in 2010. They must just be doing bathrooms and kitchens mainly since they did very little to them before. But who knows for now. Maybe they will show something at the annual meeting in December.

I read on another thread that someone had seen the plans and Disney had been asking for feedback. It sounded like a full refurb. He said some feedback was that it wasn't Key West enough, and it sounded like Vero Beach refurb.

 

[s.r.disney nut]

I would really like to see the quick service updated and enlarged. Something like SSR would be nice.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I would really like to see the quick service updated and enlarged. Something like SSR would be nice.

That would be a waste of my dues. It was never intended to be a food court since every unit has the ability to cook a simple meal or snack. It should just stay a place to pick up a snack at the pool. They would have to take space from Olivia's, Community Hall (which was already raided with the expansion of Goods to Go), the store or the bar area.

 

[smidgy]

not everyone can fly down,. I think a lot of people might appreciate a bit more of a food court tpe offerings

 

[Deb & Bill]

not everyone can fly down,. I think a lot of people might appreciate a bit more of a food court tpe offerings

What does flying have to do with it? OKW doesn't have a food court. Live with it. You get a kitchen or kitchenette.

 

[s.r.disney nut]

What does flying have to do with it? OKW doesn't have a food court. Live with it. You get a kitchen or kitchenette.

I won't get over it. We pay dues there also. And we would like to see a better quick service . All the newer DVC resorts have something better to offer, why not OKW? As our kids got older we cooked less in the unit and relied more on some quick service, especially our kids,all young adults now.They are more on their own when we vacation. Don't get me wrong, we still use the kitchen for some meals, just not as often. we would like more options when we stay there.

 

[smidgy]

oops! I meant to say the opposite: not everyone can drive down; some have to fly. (yikes, don't type when you're tired lol) when we used to be able to drive down, we could bring groceries, etc to use the kitchenette. bringing groceries isn't so easy on the plane, although we do manage a few things. and by the time you pay for garden grocer (or whatever service), you might as well just purchase a meal.
also, many people are one the dining plan and have QS credits to use.
I think there's plenty space for an extended quick service. it doesn' even have to be by the hospitality house or main pool. at CoronadSprings the quick service is no where near the feature pool.

 

[Deb & Bill]

oops! I meant to say the opposite: not everyone can drive down; some have to fly. (yikes, don't type when you're tired lol) when we used to be able to drive down, we could bring groceries, etc to use the kitchenette. bringing groceries isn't so easy on the plane, although we do manage a few things. and by the time you pay for garden grocer (or whatever service), you might as well just purchase a meal.
also, many people are one the dining plan and have QS credits to use.
I think there's plenty space for an extended quick service. it doesn' even have to be by the hospitality house or main pool. at CoronadSprings the quick service is no where near the feature pool.

So, tell me where you think they might put a larger QS at OKW? They no longer have the Commodore House to use. They took space from the Community Hall to expand Goods to Go. The exercise room is already small. The arcade is really small. Olivia's doesn't have the space to give up. Gurgling Suitcase is already pretty small. The store is not that big. Guests use Papa's Den to wait for arriving and departing DME and to wait for their room to be ready. Plus that area isn't that big either. They could put it at Turtle Pond pool, take away the tiny Turtle Shack, but it wouldn't be convenient to most OKW guests. Plus Turtle Shack has very limited hours. Neither the Southpoint or Millers Road pools have any space for this. Undoubtedly, they would want to share the kitchen with Olivia's or Gurgling Suitcase. I don't see anywhere to put it. A larger QS would need to be centrally located. I can't think of any resort where a QS isn't centrally located.

At Coronado Springs, the QS is near the main dining area.

 

[smidgy]

I guess I would expand the turtle shack, as well as the hours. I'm not sure of the logistics of expanded counter service at the deluxe resorts. there are quite a few deluxe resorts( that aren't DVC dedicated) that don't have much of a QS offering. many thought they sholdl have converted Kouizzinas to a QS. beach club market place has limited offerings.
the deluxe resorts have been expanding the QS offerings (mara at AKL, Capt. cooks at the poly contempo cafe at CR,etc)
a lot of people, esp those who have QS credits to use, would like to see QS expanded at many resorts.

 

[jlovesee]

I also would like to see the QS at OKW expanded, though I will be honest my husband is NOT a huge fan of OKW at all. We have stayed there three times and never really had a good room experience. I am glad they are renovating OKW rooms, as the showers have just been rather gross the last few times (mold in the seams, everything is old). I think a lot of old time OKW owners wear rose-colored glasses, its "home" to them, they don't like change in almost any way and don't see the issues, some of them GLARING that need to be fixed. Since OKW was the first resort we owned at (50 points) we have since then learned some aspects that we like to see in the resorts with own, and have since added on at BLT, WLV and Poly, which are resorts... interestingly enough with decent Quick Service. I come to vacation NOT to cook.

Jennifer

 

[bom_noite]

That would be a waste of my dues. It was never intended to be a food court since every unit has the ability to cook a simple meal or snack. It should just stay a place to pick up a snack at the pool. They would have to take space from Olivia's, Community Hall (which was already raided with the expansion of Goods to Go), the store or the bar area.

I have always loved Conch Flats - especially at night when the lights are on and people are moving about slowly.

While I love it, it is crushed for space:

• The Gurgling Suitcase is cramped to say the least.
• The Gift Shop probably needs expanded.
• The Gym needs expanded.
• Etc. / Etc.

I have thought for years they can expand by eliminating two under-utilized spaces: The Shuffleboard and Tennis Courts.

My thought was this: Build a new building (attached or detached) on this space and create a new expanded home for Olivia's, Gurgling Suitcase and a small SSR style QS area. Outdoor seating areas as well. There is a ton of land over there. The existing complex would approximately double in size.

The existing walk way would be named Front Street. A new street moving SSE (about 30% off of the existing complex) and fronting the new area would be Duval street. A Key West inspired fountain would be located at the intersection.

While we are doing this - why not make WDW fun again? On Duval Street the buildings would be two stories (see picture below). Why not include a few 2/3/4 Bedroom units which are used to upgrade guests on a lottery basis.

Olivia's could be renamed as "Olivia's on Duval." During Food and Wine and Flower and Garden bring in real Key West chef's to make great Key West inspired dishes. You have so much additional space include a Wine / Beer Tasting room which can run 3 or 4 days a week.

The "old" Olivia's would be used to expand the General Store. Once you do that you have plenty of space left to expand the Community Center, Gym, Game Room, etc. Add an Art Store if you like.

You would most likely need some additional parking (which is much needed now) - but what I see on Google Maps tells me this is doable also.

We love OKW and I do not think I am wearing Rose Colored glasses. I do see some of the issues. I feel if you did all of the above OKW could become a fun and unique spot within the grounds. It may become a destination spot and not a mystery or afterthought.

One mans dream.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Yeah, I'm old, Get off my lawn.