Disney`s Old Key West Resort

[Miss Marty]

Today, We went over to Disney`s Old Key West Resort
To Check In for the Upcoming Week 2-11 to 2-18, 2006

Took over 5 hours to get checked in
What a nightmare...

Will post more after we move in Sunday Morning
We have decided to stay at HGVC (for tonight)

 

[cindi]

Today, We went over to Disney`s Old Key West Resort
To Check In for the Upcoming Week 2-11 to 2-18, 2006

Took over 5 hours to get checked in
What a nightmare...

Will post more after we move in Sunday Morning
We have decided to stay at HGVC (for tonight)

FIVE HOURS??!!!

 

[gmarine]

Today, We went over to Disney`s Old Key West Resort
To Check In for the Upcoming Week 2-11 to 2-18, 2006

Took over 5 hours to get checked in
What a nightmare...

Will post more after we move in Sunday Morning
We have decided to stay at HGVC (for tonight)

Why? What took so long?

 

[riverdees05]

How long would it take during the busy season? What a way to start off a vacation. Makes one think twice about trying to get a Disney resort at WDW.

 

[happybaby]

Marty

Actual 5 hours to get checked in or 5 hours moving your stuff from HGVC to Old Key West.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Today, We went over to Disney`s Old Key West Resort
To Check In for the Upcoming Week 2-11 to 2-18, 2006

Took over 5 hours to get checked in
What a nightmare...

Will post more after we move in Sunday Morning
We have decided to stay at HGVC (for tonight)

FIVE HOURS?!?!?!? I have had over 20 stays at OKW, and the longest it has ever taken was about 30 minutes on New Year's Eve afternoon. What took so long? I have seen some long lines at check-in, but nothing like that in the 9 years we have been members.

 

[Carl D]

I'm also waiting to hear the 5 hour saga...

 

[Dean]

Today, We went over to Disney`s Old Key West Resort
To Check In for the Upcoming Week 2-11 to 2-18, 2006

Took over 5 hours to get checked in
What a nightmare...

Will post more after we move in Sunday Morning
We have decided to stay at HGVC (for tonight)

Marty, I'm betting either one of two things happened. Either there was an issue with your II stay, possibly due to the $95 fee, OR you checked in early and couldn't get into your unit until after 4 pm. But like the rest, I'm certainly curious.

 

[Miss Marty]

Dirty Units and Ants


When we arrived at Disney Vacation Club
Old Key West on a Saturday Afternoon

Our Units was not ready..

We had a reservation for a Two Bedroom Unit
And had requested a second floor end unit

The Front Desk Person was very nice and went ahead
and did all the paperwork - Took the credit card print

Gave us our package and told us which building we would
be in.. She gave us a number to call back later and told us
we would get our room number later when the room was ready

Our first mistake was to drive by the Building (56)
It was at the back of the resort - between a bus stop & pool
The one end unit sucks in all the bus fumes
The other end unit has a playground and pool

We had requested a building away from the bus stop and pool
So we knew we didn`t want to be in this area (if possible)
Plus when we rode around OKW last week - it was the one building
that we joked and said - we would not want to stay in..

So we went back and explained to the front desk person
We really didn`t need to be close to the bus or pool
and we were re-assigned to Building 21

Millers Road facing the Golf Course (6) with a beautiful view

The Interior looked nice and did not have any odors so we started
to move our luggage/stuff up to the second floor & just as I sat on
the edge of the sofa - the sofa moved some & I noticed dirt & stuff

Under the sleep sofa and love seat - it appeared that
no one had vacuumed this area of the carpet in years..

We called and complained and then
We went back to the Front Desk and asked for a Manager

We had to wait but finally a Manager (Young Guy) came out to help

We were then assigned a unit in another Building - When we arrived
There was a "Do Not Disturb Sign" and the Card Keys would not work

Back to the Front Desk again

They started to re assign us back to same unit in Building 21
We told them that the carpet in that unit was Dirty

Then we were assigned to Building 46 - 2nd floor - River View
This 2 Bedroom unit was clean inside but as you opened the door
to go out to the patio - I just missed stepping on huge ant hills
Ants were everywhere No way were we putting up with Ants again

(We had Ghost Ants at Disney`s Villas at Wilderness Lodge 5th Floor)

So back to the Front Desk again

 

[gmarine]

When we arrived at Disney Vacation Club
Old Key West on Saturday Afternoon

We had a reservation for a Two Bedroom Unit
We had requested a second floor end unit
Our Units was not ready..

The Front Desk Person went ahead and did all the paperwork
Giving us our package and telling us which building we would
be in.. She gave us a number to call back later and told us
we would get our room number when we checked in later

Our first mistake was to drive by the Building (56)
It was at the back of the resort - between a bus stop & pool
The one end unit sucks in all the bus fumes
The other end unit has a playground and pool

We had requested a building away from the bus stop and pool
So we knew we didn`t want to be in this area (if possible)
Plus when we rode around OKW last week - it was the one building
that we joked and said - we would not want to stay in..

So we went back and explained to the front desk person
We really didn`t need to be close to the bus or pool
and we were re-assigned to Building 21

Millers Road facing the Golf Course (6) with a beautiful view

The Interior looked nice and did not have any odors so we started
to move our luggage/stuff up to the second floor & just as I sat on
the edge of the sofa - the sofa moved some & I noticed dirt & stuff

Under the sleep sofa and love seat - it appeared that
no one had vacuumed this area of the carpet in years..

We called and complained and then
We went back to the Front Desk and asked for a Manager

We had to wait but finally a Manager (Young Guy) came out to help

We were then assigned a unit in another Building - When we arrived
There was a "Do Not Disturb Sign" and the Card Keys would not work

Back to the Front Desk again

They started to re assign us back to same unit in Building 21
We told them that the carpet in that unit was Dirty

Then we were assigned to Building 46 - 2nd floor - River View
This 2 Bedroom unit was clean inside but as you opened the door
to go out to the patio - I just missed stepping on huge ant hills
Ants were everywhere No way were we putting up with Ants again

(We had Ghost Ants at Disney`s Villas at Wilderness Lodge 5th Floor)

So back to the Front Desk again

Sounds like you were a little too particular about unit location.

Then they accommodate you and you complain about it not being clean enough UNDER the sofa?

Then they assign you another unit and the carpet wasnt clean enough?

Then another unit and there were ants on the patio? Outside? This is unusual? There are ants in Florida. Nothing you can do about that except not go to Florida.

No offense, but IMO, this isnt a problem with OKW. This is you not being happy no matter what unit they give you. Dirt UNDER the couch?

 

[Miss Marty]

Cont..

Yes, we expect any timeshare we stay in to be clean!

 

[Dean]

Yes, we expect any timeshare we stay in to be clean!

It's reasonable to expect the unit to be clean and for exchangers to be put at the bottom of the request list. Frankly, I like building 56 but then we usually grill out, and it doesn't get nearly as much bus action as about 25% of the units do, but I can see the concern. Sorry you had a bad experience at checkin.

 

[Miss Marty]

After hours & hours of trying to get a (clean) unit
We were able to get something nice & acceptable

It is not perfect.. but comfortable
Not as nice as HGVC or Marriotts

The Clean Up People that work in the Timeshare
and Hotel Industries - just do a quick hit & miss

Disney OKW is very dated and reminds me of
something from the 1950`s - Blond Furniture
Furnishing should be on The Antique Road Show
The Keno Brothers would love this furniture

We had a new Air Cond - Furnace Filter Replaced

We asked for a cleaner coffee pot and they sent us
a Brand New Sunbeam 12 Cup Coffee Maker (today)

Benefits:
Full Size Washer and Dryer in Private Laundry Room
Full Size Spacious Room
Parking Right outside the unit

Dean: We do not Grill and would prefer
not to be near a Bar - B - Q Grill...

I personally would have liked to stay at:
Disney Vacation Club at Sarasoga Springs
but only Old Key West was available when
I booked this - It is an II Exchange

We are Disney Vacation Club Owners....

 

[Miss Marty]

Its not us me....

While we were waiting to get checked-in
Others were complaining too

One Middle Age Women next to us
told the front desk person that
She had just went up to see her unit
and she lefted all the paperwork inside
She could not bare to me in that unit
and wanted to cancel her reservation

She had to wash her hands with her bottle water
She felt the unit was so dirty and thought it had fleas
and/or something in and around the windows/doors

She mentioned she had just checked out of the
Hilton Grand Vacation Club on I - Drive Tuscany
As I looked over at her - I knew OKW was not for her..

Another Guy with Gold and a Cell Phone
was complaining too.. Keep holding the cell phone
out to the Front Desk Lady - He was not happy either

I really feel sorry for the Front Desk Staff
If only the Timeshare units were better maintained & guests took
better care of the T/S unit`s - Their job would be so much easier


Q: Why does Disney charge so much for Internet & Telephone Calls...
Wireless is $9.95 for 24 hours and $.75 per phone call (local & 800)
Disney Members get a discount on phone calls... Big Deal...

 

[Miss Marty]

gmarine

We found change/candy/food/plastic/dvd tapes/and junk under the sofa
It was so dirty looking it looked like baby po caked on the carpet..

House Keeping does not even empty the
Ice Makers - Ice smells after sitting

The Dishwashers in some OKW units
even had dirty dishes still in them

After staying at HGVC both Sea World & Tuscany International Drive
for 8 weeks over the past years - I have never seen an Ant or Bug...

 

[shagnut]

Knowing how picky (not a bad thing) I know I will like Sheraton Broadway at Myrtle Beach. It got a big Marty approval!! shaggy

 

[Miss Marty]

shaggy

Sheraton Broadway Plantation is so nice
I would even buy a SBP MB Unit Resale....

 

[Dean]

Q: Why does Disney charge so much for Internet & Telephone Calls...
Wireless is $9.95 for 24 hours and $.75 per phone call (local & 800)
Disney Members get a discount on phone calls... Big Deal...

They contract out the high speed internet. The price is not inconsistent with many high end resorts such as Hyatt. One of my resorts charges $18 per day.

 

[Carl D]

No, DVC certainly isn't perfect. In fact, it only has a 95% satisfaction rating.
Marty, perhaps you are in the 5% that are not happy with DVC. I have read many of your posts over the past couple years about your DVC stays. You have ripped Wilderness Lodge, Hilton Head, and now Old Key West.
Bad luck on your part? Maybe, but I have never just had a couch "move" when I sat on it.

I just can't figure out why everyone of your DVC stays are complete disasters?

 

[Miss Marty]

Q: Hot Water Heater

Since we will be using the Jacuzzi
Dishwasher and Washing Machine

Do you have an unlimited hot water supply
Or.. Do the units have a Hot Water Heater

 

[timeos2]

Not surprised

Perhaps Marty has also seen beyond the surface. I'm afraid that if you look too close what he is reporting is all too easy to find. It's not just DVC either.. I have found similar "sloppy" housekeeping during our last three Fairfield resort stays. Once is a fluke - twice might be a coincidence. Three times (and three different resorts) is a bad pattern. All were 5* or Gold Crown resorts but that didn't make the floors any cleaner or the ants any more enjoyable.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Old Key West has some problems.

I would not want to stay again in any unit near the bus routes, especially Unit #4520, which was right next to a three-way stop, though the river was nice that ran behind the unit.

We just stayed there last week, actually for five days, and my husband could not sleep the first night, he is a firefighter and a very light sleeper, so they moved us to 5420, I think that was the number. The noise was better, the room was pretty clean. I thought it was okay for a hotel room, which is what a studio is, after all. But I also know how few points it takes for a studio and what the maintenance fees are. It is definitely worth what a DVC owner pays for the studio for those M-Th stays.

You are right, Marti, Marriott and the Hilton SeaWorld are a step up from Disney, though it is fun to stay on Disney property. We didn't take advantage of any of the transportation because we like having a car, but I liked those extra magic hours at MK. We stayed until closing that night.

 

[Carl D]

You are right, Marti, Marriott and the Hilton SeaWorld are a step up from Disney

Oh brother...

 

[Carl D]

Perhaps Marty has also seen beyond the surface. I'm afraid that if you look too close what he is reporting is all too easy to find. It's not just DVC either.. I have found similar "sloppy" housekeeping during our last three Fairfield resort stays. Once is a fluke - twice might be a coincidence. Three times (and three different resorts) is a bad pattern. All were 5* or Gold Crown resorts but that didn't make the floors any cleaner or the ants any more enjoyable.

I agree that you can always find housekeeping issues... hotel, timeshare, DVC, CP, Marriott, other...

I think housekeeping always has room for improvement. I ought to know, as I sleep in hotels an average of 170 nights/year.

 

[Miss Marty]

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