Views on poolside disco at OKW

[vernon]

I was horrified to discover last weekend on checking in to OKW that every Saturday and Sunday afternoon there is a DJ playing VERY LOUD music around the main pool at OKW and trying to get all the people around the pool to indulge in "games and quizzes". While I can understand, to a degree, the desire to "lay on a little entertainment" around the pool I feel this idea in general is a little at odds with the general theme of OKW. I also found it very odd that they choose a VERY LOUD lady with a VERY broad NOOOOO JOISEY accent .Nothing against the people of New Jersey, but I'd have though a Carribean lilt or something along the lines of Jimmy Buffet would be a little more in keeping with the theme of the resort as opposed to the birdy song or agadoo do do which seemed to be her staple style.

As I struggled to make myself heard at Hanks rent and return ( a good 50 yards from the speakers) inquiring if this was the normal volume for this extravaganza (apparantly it was) I gave up and made my way to the quiet pool on Miller road ( where it was still possible to hear this abomination). Again I can understand, to a degree, if this is done once a week at a decibel level that makes it fun (if that's your bag) around the half of the pool where the speakers were, but doesn't intrude on people who don't wish to take advantage of this type of activity. We had taken up chairs as far as it was possible to be and it was impossible to hold a conversation sitting next to each other. IMHO consecutive days ( Saturday and Sunday) when , IMHO there is a good chance regular DVC visitors would prefer to use the pools as opposed to visiting the parks on their busiest days is poor planning (unless it's ruse designed to "encourage" DVC members to get into the parks and spend some money).

I'd appreciate any views of people who've been (un)fortunate enough to been caught up in this idea (maybe I'm just getting old LOL) but I REALLY didn't like either the idea or way it was implemented and I'd also appreciate the views of DVC members as to whether they like the idea or not. You don't need to read between the lines to see I'd like it removed ASAP or at least toned down massively from it's current style.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We were there last summer when they had the DJ at the main pool. He wasn't as loud as you say this female DJ was. We thought it was great. My 3 DD's had a blast and it appear that nobody was disapproving of the noise level.

This male DJ was not unbearable. He was very pleasant to listen to and kept his audience participating. He played a mix of music but mostly Carribean type music!!! That is what I enjoyed as I picked OKW as my "home" because of the theme being so different from where I live!

DH and I sat rather close to his speakers (about 30 ft.) and we held a conversation while watching our DD's participate in the water games.

Sorry it was a bad experience for you Vernon. Maybe it was just that DJ and hopefully when we go there in a few weeks, we will see the male DJ we had last summer!!

At least you were able to move to one of the quieter pools to enjoy some relaxation.

 

[joepoe]

I heard some man using a mike at the main pool while we were waiting to check in last year but it wasn't loud and obnoxious. He was trying to organize some games or whatever. We are quiet pool people anyway.

 

[donald@home]

I have not experienced this "entertainment" at OKW, but they do the same thing at VB and I HATE it. I am with you , but I think we are the only two. For some reason people seem to like it. At least at OKW, if you don't like it you have the choice to go to one of the quiter pools, but at VB there is only the one pool, so if you want to relax at the pool on the weekend anytime between (I think) noon and 5:00, you are out of luck. Unless you can relax with Y-M-C-A screaming at you from the loudspeakers and the DJ forcing everyone to wave their arms in the air.

I haven't been to Vero for about a year, so I don't know if they still do this. But I haven't heard anything about them stopping, so I think it still goes on.

 

[mitros]

Maybe we are the only three! I can't stand that type of "entertainment" which is why we never do pleasure island. You are right, the OKW theme is supposed to be more or less quiet. Maybe it's another attempt by disney to attract the "teen" crowd as with the thrill rides they are adding. And yes, I do realize that others like that sort of thing, but I think it's aimed at a specific crowd. Trying to get business from Universal?

 

[spiceycat]

maybe because OKW does not have a slide - it is the only way that they know to get all the kids in the main pool area - so the quiet pools are kinda of quiet - sorry if it don't work for you.

 

[Regina]

They've been doing this for a long time. My DS won a prize for singing Hakuna Matata once. I can't remember how old he was, but it was quite some time ago.

I remember the DJ's accent, very NY/NJ.

I don't remember the volume level. It seemed like everyone was having fun. I probably had a nice frozen drink nearby so my judgment may have been a bit "mellowed".

 

[PhillyKid83]

i understand that okw's theme is a quiet laid back atmosphere but you have to remember that the kids need some kind of entertainment by that pool....the arcade is the size of a bathroom and not all little kids can play sports like tennis and basketball....there is no slide at the pool and for many people that is what turns them alway from okw because their children love to go down the slide and have poolside fun...i know that my sister looks forward to the dj and the music and games because it gives her a chance to socialize with other children and play games being that she is only 9......and its not like it happens every night so its not that big of a deal.....i am a people person and i think this is a great idea because you get to meet some people that are also a part of the dvc family.....dont get me wrong im in my 20's and i love a nice quiet vacation too, because of the stresses of everyday life but, its disney im not gonna let a little 2 hours of music bother me...sorry if i seem rude...im not trying to be just givng a little insight on the way i look at it.

 

[Ian.Whiteley]

I'm with you Vernon. OKW is very much a 'laid back' enviroment and anything that spoils that is bad news. The thing that sets it apart is that it's a little quieter than other resorts and if you like a livelier enviroment then obviously you can choose somewhere like Boardwalk. Letting this sort of thing happens lessens the choice for DVC'ers, not widens it!!!

 

[lenshanem]

i ahven't been there to experience that, but it soudns liek fun. I bet my kids woudl liek that and I'd enjoy a littel carribbean music anyay laying out by the pool...

 

[tvwalsh]

Since we are retirement age and find any noise (music ) offensive, we were wondering if perhaps OKW could be turned into an assisted living home for the old and cranky!

Come on you guys, lighten up!

 

[Lesley]

"Since we are retirement age and find any noise (music ) offensive, we were wondering if perhaps OKW could be turned into an assisted living home for the old and cranky!"

Oh! I thought it already was! LOL (Just kidding folks! This was actually my dh's first impression of OKW....but it was a very mistaken impression)

Honestly, I don't know that I'd like to be at the main pool with this going on...just not my thing and I'm barely into my 30's....but, I guess there are other pools in which to swim. Hopefully the DJ isn't the person with the annoying eardrum piercing voice that I heard doing the Stars and Motorcars Parade at MGM one day.....that was pure torture, we fled to another part of the park!

Looking forward to (hopefully) a quiet afternoon at the OKW pool on Sunday!

 

[vernon]

Philly kid said

i understand that okw's theme is a quiet laid back atmosphere but you have to remember that the kids need some kind of entertainment by that pool

As I said I can see an argument for some kind of activity, but IMHO it should be done at a level that doesn't force everyone in the area to be "involved" whether they want it or not. The size and shape of the pool make it perfectly possible to give over one side of the pool to kids games and some music, without it overriding the whole area. As I said it was loud enough that I could hear it quite clearly in the Miller road pool that I would estimate is more than 200 yards away with buildings, bushes and trees to absorb and deflect the noise. Phillykid I don't think you're rude and I'm happy for your input, but I don't think that a bad DJ on an bad sound system playing awful music very loudly is what many people consider "Disney" entertainment, it was cheap, it was bad and most of the kids had done a runner to go play in the sand pit (very sensibly IMHO).

IMHO it's possible to entertain kids without deafening everyone else within 100 yards and it's possible to cater for a wider audience without excluding and alienating people. I'd be more than happy with a Bob Marley/Jimmy Buffet/Dennis Brown set (at slightly less than rock concert levels) but endless versions of YMCA, the birdy song and agadoo isn't entertainment, it's torture.

Lesley, I'd appreciate your opinion if this is still running next week. Maybe I got a bad day, but I don't see why I or anyone else should feel obliged to leave the pool area because of an "entertainment" that's laid on for our collective benefit if a large portion of us don't like it. I voiced my opinion at the rent n return and I voted with my feet. But IMHO, just voting with one's feet may not be enough to get the message across that a sizable proportion of the guests at OKW don't want this type of thing (if that is indeed the case). With Sunday being the main check in day, it is a day that many people "kill" a few hours around the pool, as the main pool is the one that's most convenient for the check in area (people not knowing their room numbers), to many people it will set the tone for their vacation.

Without anyone else to share my experience it's hard to gauge whether I'm just being a moany old killjoy (having come back from an Eminem concert yesterday I don't think that is generally the case with me, but we all have bad days ) , or if it really was as bad as I believe.

 

[KNWVIKING]

A slide ?????

 

[DeeP]

Load music at OKW pool ? What's next ??????

A slide ?????

LOL!!!

 

[DSNY FN]

This sounds like it could be quite fun I find OKW to be way to quiet and honestly I like it loud it is just way more fun. I love the volume and ora from the All Star Resorts so this sounds like that kind of stuff to me which will make Sat and Sunday at OKW alot more fun for my family and I thanks for the post now I can't wait to get to OKW. I was kinda dreading it for awhile I prefer the atmosphere of BW alot better lots of noise and activity going on there but we are bringing a large group with us so we opted for the larger rooms we have a group of 10 coming with us and we all love this type of atmosphere and fun woo hoo can't wait now