was just about to book OKW......then

[dalt01]

i started hearing mumblings and crumblings about threadbare rugs, beat up furniture, musty moldy smells, dirt, and really old beat up tvs.......can anyone verify these charges???????????????????

 

[alldiz]

they are renovating the rooms.....request a newly renovated room.
Happy planning
Kerri

 

[dalt01]

they are renovating the rooms.....request a newly renovated room.
Happy planning
Kerri

unfortunatly we all know the policy on requests.......would hate to get there and be told "there are no renovated rooms available".

 

[Chuck S]

Do you honestly believe that Disney would allow one of their properties (it does rent for cash, too, you know) to deteriorate to that point? We stayed at OKW in January, and the room was fine...not like brand new, but fine.

The dishwasher obviously had less that stellar care, as the door seemed to be "sprung", but it worked fine.

If you honestly would not be happy unless you received a newly rehabbed room, then DVC in general is likely not for you, as EVERY resort has rooms that are undergoing rehab, and some that need rehad, at any given time.

 

[El&Asmom]

We were there in Jan of '08 and really loved the place. I didn't like the style of the kitchen cabinets, and the tvs are old, but other than that we loved the room layouts. We don't go to Disney to watch tv, and I'm not decorating my own kitchen with those cabinets, so it didn't matter to us. The rest of the room was in fine shape.
I say go for it. It is such a relaxing resort.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

i started hearing mumblings and crumblings about threadbare rugs, beat up furniture, musty moldy smells, dirt, and really old beat up tvs.......can anyone verify these charges???????????????????

I heard the same mumblings about BWV before it's rehab yet when I stayed there I had a beautiful villa. OKW is getting flat screen TV's this spring but the ones currently on-site work just fine. The last 2 times I stayed at OKW in 2009 both 2 BR's had new couches and bedspreads. I've never experienced any villa representative of your description but if you're concerned, you should probably book elsewhere!

 

[Deb & Bill]

That's just the OKW owners trying to keep you out of their resort. We do it all the time. OKW is Disney's Best Kept Secret and we're keeping it secret.

 

[dmoore22]

i started hearing mumblings and crumblings about threadbare rugs, beat up furniture, musty moldy smells, dirt, and really old beat up tvs.......can anyone verify these charges???????????????????

We spent two weeks at OKW this past Christmas. The room was pristine and fresh. The mattresses felt brand new. We've stayed at OKW at least once a year since 2003 and twice a year since 2006. Never had any negatives. Once one of my kids broke a glass. We called the front desk to report the mishap. They replaced the glass. They also noticed what we would have considered a minor paint scrape on the coffee table and brought in a new one without us asking. Now, if I could get that kind of service in my own home. Oops, I guess that's why my DW has a honey do list.

 

[dsanner106]

No, I would not believe the grumblings, I have stayed 3 times recently and never had any issues like the ones mentioned. You will find negative comments on the best rooms in the world if you read all the stuff folks post, particulary expensive rooms like those at Disney.

Drew

 

[Anal Annie]

i started hearing mumblings and crumblings about threadbare rugs, beat up furniture, musty moldy smells, dirt, and really old beat up tvs.......can anyone verify these charges???????????????????

This was our experience back in 2007. We will wait for them to be done with all of the refurbs before we return there. Everybody keeps saying we just had dumb bad luck but I'll still wait.

 

[karrit2000]

I have to say that personally I've had a few not so great rooms over the years at OKW. The rooms are not all rehabed at once so while you hear of someone getting a room that seems brand new there are others who would equate their experience at the same time to be in a room like a rundown has been hotel. Some of the CM's are great at making sure everything is as it should be so that you have a great experience. But to too many others it is just a job. I've been in rooms that were obviously only given a quick spruce up between guests as evidenced by the food encrusted on the table & the sticky drink stains on the nightstand. Dirty Glasses & Coffee mugs in the cabinets. Trash under the couch or beds. Torn seat cushions & falling apart window blinds. Nevermind the items missing from the posted list of what should be in the Villas upon your arrival. At times we've had issues with mousekeeping over requests for extra blankets &/or pillows. And I can't tell you how many times I've checked in to find no pen or notepad by the phone. These aren't issues exclusive to OKW. Sometimes you get a great room other times it's a dud. That's just the luck of the draw unfortunately. One time we even had a room that was flooded due to the power-washing of the accessways and that was on the third floor. If you expect to get the pristine room every time you visit you will be sorely disappointed with your membership.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

I stayed there in December and had absolutely no problems with the maintenance of the resort. Everything was very well maintained.

It did "feel" like it was about time for a refurb. It's hard to articulate. I guess stuff is just looking old and dated. Not from a "the rugs are falling apart and nothing works" point of view... more like from a "decor" stand point... like it was last year's fashion and it needed to buy some new clothes to be brought into the current style.

Overall the resort was in excellent condition. The decor just needs a breath of fresh air. Feel free to stay there, you will be very happy.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

It did "feel" like it was about time for a refurb. It's hard to articulate. I guess stuff is just looking old and dated. Not from a "the rugs are falling apart and nothing works" point of view... more like from a "decor" stand point... like it was last year's fashion and it needed to buy some new clothes to be brought into the current style.

Overall the resort was in excellent condition. The decor just needs a breath of fresh air.

I know that every resort has wear and tear but I don't find OKW's decor dated, I like the faded beach wood, the pastel colors, I like the kitchen cabinets, yes I want refurbishement but I don't want them to change the decor/OKW concept. If I wanted different decor I would have bought at AKV (too Dark) BLT (too modern) WLV (I vacation in a log cabin in TN, don't want it for Disney). I love the OKW vibe and theme and even with a full refurbishement I hope it stays true to it's original successful concept. I bought where I wanted to stay and I encourage others to do likewise, then maybe I'll be able to get into OKW at the 4 1/2 month mark! Hey, for those that don't like OKW or had a less than wonderful stay, it's O.K. , you can stay elsewhere.

 

[Inkmahm]

I currently have AKV and VWL booked for our week in December but I'm checking RCI every day to see if I can use my inlaws RCI points to get into OKW instead. If we use our DVC points then my choice is to keep what we have at the resorts that we own. But if we can switch to using rci points, I'm perfectly willing to try OKW since someone else will be paying for the room for a change! I have no doubt it will be fine and may even be a place that I'd like to stay at again in the future.

 

[tjkraz]

The average villa lies somewhere between this...

No, I would not believe the grumblings, I have stayed 3 times recently and never had any issues like the ones mentioned. You will find negative comments on the best rooms in the world if you read all the stuff folks post, particulary expensive rooms like those at Disney.

..and this...

This was our experience back in 2007. We will wait for them to be done with all of the refurbs before we return there. Everybody keeps saying we just had dumb bad luck but I'll still wait.

OKW isn't getting a refurb because things are in prime condition. But this one publicly-known refurb is just part of the steps Disney takes to maintain its rooms.

A newly-refurbished room could be badly-abused and look rundown a month later. Meanwhile a room that is in terrible condition one day could be scheduled for carpet and a coat of paint the following week. This is true of every resort--DVC or non-DVC.

Overall Chuck offers the best advice. If you think that all of the DVC villas are in pristine condition, or that you'll be able to spend the next 40 years hopping from rehabbed room to rehabbed room, you're probably in for a rude awakening.

If you honestly would not be happy unless you received a newly rehabbed room, then DVC in general is likely not for you, as EVERY resort has rooms that are undergoing rehab, and some that need rehad, at any given time.

 

[Shadeaux]

I know that every resort has wear and tear but I don't find OKW's decor dated, I like the faded beach wood, the pastel colors, I like the kitchen cabinets, yes I want refurbishement but I don't want them to change the decor/OKW concept. If I wanted different decor I would have bought at AKV (too Dark) BLT (too modern) WLV (I vacation in a log cabin in TN, don't want it for Disney). I love the OKW vibe and theme and even with a full refurbishement I hope it stays true to it's original successful concept. I bought where I wanted to stay and I encourage others to do likewise, then maybe I'll be able to get into OKW at the 4 1/2 month mark! Hey, for those that don't like OKW or had a less than wonderful stay, it's O.K. , you can stay elsewhere.

Finally, someone who feels the same way I do about OKW! I love the decor, the colors, the mismatched furniture, the ceramic countertops and just about everything else. This is why we purchased in '94 and why we've not stayed at another DVC resort since then. If things change too much with this refurbishment, I'm going to be extremely disappointed. I like OKW just the way it is, even with the "beat up tvs." (What the heck is a "beat up tv' anyway????)

 

[dmoore22]

I know that every resort has wear and tear but I don't find OKW's decor dated, I like the faded beach wood, the pastel colors, I like the kitchen cabinets, yes I want refurbishement but I don't want them to change the decor/OKW concept. If I wanted different decor I would have bought at AKV (too Dark) BLT (too modern) WLV (I vacation in a log cabin in TN, don't want it for Disney). I love the OKW vibe and theme and even with a full refurbishement I hope it stays true to it's original successful concept. I bought where I wanted to stay and I encourage others to do likewise, then maybe I'll be able to get into OKW at the 4 1/2 month mark! Hey, for those that don't like OKW or had a less than wonderful stay, it's O.K. , you can stay elsewhere.

Ditto!!

 

[dalt01]

If you honestly would not be happy unless you received a newly rehabbed room, then DVC in general is likely not for you

I heard the same mumblings about BWV before it's rehab if you're concerned, you should probably book elsewhere!

If you expect to get the pristine room every time you visit you will be sorely disappointed

it's O.K. , you can stay elsewhere.

spend the next 40 years hopping from rehabbed room to rehabbed room, you're probably in for a rude awakening.

Ditto!!

i must say i am very suprised at the comments with the kind of money that you folks spend on your memberships i would think that you would indeed expect pristine conditions everytime you walk into a room. i am one of those "cash" customers that was mentioned and i would expect nothing less. and that is not snobbish. i would expect cleanliness and good smells and dry carpets and clean linens and the proper untensils and such from a motel 6.

 

[dalt01]

I like OKW just the way it is, even with the "beat up tvs." (What the heck is a "beat up tv' anyway????)

...................................

 

[Chuck S]

i must say i am very suprised at the comments with the kind of money that you folks spend on your memberships i would think that you would indeed expect pristine conditions everytime you walk into a room. i am one of those "cash" customers that was mentioned and i would expect nothing less. and that is not snobbish. i would expect cleanliness and good smells and dry carpets and clean linens and the proper untensils and such from a motel 6.

But there is normal wear and tear in a Timeshare, especially one with the high occupancy rates of DVC. It is just the way timeshares work, including DVC. A regular hotel can rehab whenever it wishesm if it want to go into debt and borrow money to do so, it may. In a timeshare, the rehabs are funded by the membership, and the management company is 1)limited in the amount that they raise dues annually and 2)has a fiduciary responsibility to its owners to manage costs. Restrictions a hotel does not operate under. If a hotel want to rehab, they simply raise nightly rates.