OLCC River Island

[gjw007]

Thanks for following up, Gary. Unfortunately for us, we check in this coming Saturday and it's doubtful there will be any policy revisions by then.

I'm happy that you mentioned to the lifeguard staff that the rental price is high, particularly when spread over a week's stay. Maybe they'll revisit their pricing at some point. I did notice that there was not a large number of tubes in your earlier photographs, so I suspect the cost may be deterring at least some rentals. Have you ever seen the river "brimming" with tubes? I may underestimate the willingness of families to overspend when at the peak of "vacation madness."

Cindy

Cindy;

Stop by and say hello. Tony will be around as well. As I noted, there has been some revisions (specifically the time change from 5 PM to 7 PM) and the lifeguard told me there have been other complaints about charge. During the weekend, the lazy river has been busy but not so much during the weekday. This needs to be taken in with the fact that I have left during the morning on most days (today I left at 11:00 AM, a little later than I have been leaving), so my view not be representative of all that is happening. I don't know that the price is scaring people away but again, I don't know.

 

[BocaBum99]

I called the splash shack today and they told me that you cannot bring your own flotation devices for the lazy river. They told me that there is a capacity limit of 350 tubes and that's how many they have.

Splash Lagoon and the other pools allow you to bring your own flotation device whether or not it is from Walmart or pic 'n save. Brand or quality doesn't matter. That's at your own risk.

The purpose of the rental fees for the lazy river are for profit. Plain and simple. Every other lazy river in all of timesharing provides free tubes (as far as I can tell).

 

[timetraveler]

well if that's the case Boca.....look's like I'll need to dip into our banana split fund....to cover the tube rentals.

 

[timetraveler]

Again, well stated.

Just be patient, as Gary stated there will be revisions, in the meantime have fun and be safe.

No doubt. It's a huge undertaking, a first for OL. There will undoubtedly be several revisions. I'm sure that's why they have gone ahead with a "soft opening". To work out some kinks. But none the less.....I have my sunblock and water wings packed. :whoopie:

 

[Carl D]

Every other lazy river in all of timesharing provides free tubes (as far as I can tell).

The lazy river at Stormalong Bay (Disney's Beach Club Villas) also charges for tubes. Can't remember how much.

 

[elaine]

SEE THru tubes are VERY important

regardless of whether they charge $1 or $5---having uniform see thru tubes are very important to safety. Having only OLCC tubes also controls capacity. For ex--At Great Wolf Lodges and other places, they only allow see thru tubes in wave pools.
There are downings each year in pools/water parks of kids who got caught UNDER a tube and died with people less than 5 feet away from them.

I won't get into the price debate---but I am glad that they are doing see thru tubes---I bet it might even be required to get liabilty insurance.

 

[gjw007]

Re: SEE THru tubes are VERY important

regardless of whether they charge $1 or $5---having uniform see thru tubes are very important to safety. Having only OLCC tubes also controls capacity. For ex--At Great Wolf Lodges and other places, they only allow see thru tubes in wave pools.
There are downings each year in pools/water parks of kids who got caught UNDER a tube and died with people less than 5 feet away from them.

I won't get into the price debate---but I am glad that they are doing see thru tubes---I bet it might even be required to get liabilty insurance.

Elaine;

I agree with you on this. I came to the same conclusion after talking with the lifeguard that the see-through tubes and limiting the number are important safety control steps. It seemed a reasonable precaution to me. But along with this, I think there should be a reasonable price. Whether it currently is or not is a matter of perspective. You are right that there is an inherent safety issue in pools/water parks. Last summer, a friend of mine and his kids joined me at 6 Flags. In the wave pool there were various floatation devices. My friend's kids had never been to a pool before and were staying in the shallow water (up to my knees and I'm about 5'10") but when the wave machine started, it sent one of the floatation devices, a rubber boat with no bottom, over my friend's kids. Needless to say, that put a stop to our being in the pool.

 

[mikey0531]

Are any of the other pools heated at OLCC?

Thanks,
Debi

 

[JLB]

Yes, all but the Olympic pool. I took our pool thermomter on our last visit, a January one, and Mr. Bum went to Wal Mart and got one this week, I believe.

Maybe he will report on late-May pool temps.

Are any of the other pools heated at OLCC?

Thanks,
Debi

 

[BocaBum99]

Yes, all but the Olympic pool. I took our pool thermomter on our last visit, a January one, and Mr. Bum went to Wal Mart and got one this week, I believe.

Maybe he will report on late-May pool temps.

I bought the thermometer, but I bought the wrong kind. I thought I would save money, but it isn't responsive enough. So, the reading is bogus.

My family was at River Island today. The water seemed cooler than it was at Splash Lagoon.

Also, I asked the person working the Splash shack about the pricing of the tubes. I made a suggestion that they should have a weekly rate for the tubes like they do for miniature golf. She said that there were a ton of requests for that option and since they were only open for a week that they would be reviewing their policies for update. My guess is that they will offer a full week usage for between $30-40/unit. Funny thing is if they do that, they will probably make more money.

 

[BocaBum99]

I forgot to mention that all this talk of cabanas made me interested in finding out the attraction of this feature. So, I booked one for tomorrow. If anyone is at OLCC tomorrow, stop by the Apple Cabana. Mr. and Mrs. BocaBum and the 3 little Bums will be there.

Evidently, the refrigerator comes stocked with drinks. That's cool. But, the internet access isn't set up yet and even when it is, there is a charge for it.

I'll be there with my computer using my GSM modem.

 

[mikey0531]

Actually, January temps are what I'm interested in JLB. What was your temp in January?

Thanks!

 

[umbluegray]

Here are some pictures of the River Island area. This in not a very sophisticated webpage so it might be slow to load. Here is the link.

Gary, thanks for the pics.

I'm guessing River Island will be open in full when we arrive.

Of course, we won't be there until early May 07.

 

[JLB]

No two pools were the same. The Olympic pool was 69°. The others were from 83° to 87°. The hottubs were 104°-ish.

FWIW, I had requested that information from OL. They said they would get it from the pool maintenance people and get back to me, which they are normally good at, but they didn't.

The pool at the resort we stayed at the following week was 92°, because that's what the owners there like. It was very nice and each evening after grilled shrimp from the BarB I went from it to the hot tub, sitting there looking at the stars. Very nice and relaxing.

We have the same schedule of resorts next time too.

Actually, January temps are what I'm interested in JLB. What was your temp in January?

Thanks!

 

[JLB]

That seems awkward. If they only allow 350 tubes, I can see most or all of them going to weekly rentals. Then could no one else use tubes the entire week, or would there be times that someone with a weekly rental would show up and not get one because the tubes were also rented on a daily basis?

Also, I asked the person working the Splash shack about the pricing of the tubes. I made a suggestion that they should have a weekly rate for the tubes like they do for miniature golf. She said that there were a ton of requests for that option and since they were only open for a week that they would be reviewing their policies for update. My guess is that they will offer a full week usage for between $30-40/unit. Funny thing is if they do that, they will probably make more money.

 

[mikey0531]

92 degrees sounds like my cup of tea. What resort was it?

Thanks
Debi

 

[JLB]

Just a quiet little place with 26 units. Very few units go for exchanges in January.

Use my email.

92 degrees sounds like my cup of tea. What resort was it?

Thanks
Debi

 

[gjw007]

The lazy river at Stormalong Bay (Disney's Beach Club Villas) also charges for tubes. Can't remember how much.

I went over to Stormalong Bay. They are the same tubes as used at River Island but are clear rather than blue (there are some of a solid color as well). The cost is $3 per hour or $10 per day.

 

[rickandcindy23]

River Island sounds great! I wish I wasn't so allergic to the sun!

Rick would just love it. Perhaps I should grab one of those last-minute trips in October for 7,500 RCI points.

 

[BocaBum99]

Okay, I am writing this message from the Apple Cabana at OLCC River Island. I am drinking a strawberry margarita and my friend gjw007 who is drinking a tequila sunrise.

Our consensus is the cabanas are a winner and will be very useful when the resort is very busy. We have bananas, oranges, apples, crackers, cookies, sodas, water, telephone, tv, and 2 FREE TUBES.

All they need is a fan and it will be perfect for the busy summer months.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Boca, is the cabana fully shaded? Do you have full view of River Island? They need to add that fan for me because I have these hot flashes that you wouldn't believe. :annoyed:

River Island does sound nice, I have to admit. The heat would be a killer for sure, at this time of year. Have fun!

Yep, I am going to grab one of those 7,500 point exchanges.

 

[timetraveler]

Okay, I am writing this message from the Apple Cabana at OLCC River Island. I am drinking a strawberry margarita and my friend gjw007 who is drinking a tequila sunrise.

Our consensus is the cabanas are a winner and will be very useful when the resort is very busy. We have bananas, oranges, apples, crackers, cookies, sodas, water, telephone, tv, and 2 FREE TUBES.

All they need is a fan and it will be perfect for the busy summer months.

Ditto on the fan. That frozen beverage sure sounds wonderful. Tell Gary, hello for me.

Thanks for all the new updates Boca, and I hope your families are having a great time. I'm pretty much packed and ready to go. :whoopie:

 

[riu girl]

Thanks so much for all the info. on RI. It sounds amazing. I really hope OLCC goes with a weekly rate for the tubes. Weather pending, I can see us in the lazy river every day.

 

[Carl D]

Okay, I am writing this message from the Apple Cabana at OLCC River Island. I am drinking a strawberry margarita and my friend gjw007 who is drinking a tequila sunrise.

Our consensus is the cabanas are a winner and will be very useful when the resort is very busy. We have bananas, oranges, apples, crackers, cookies, sodas, water, telephone, tv, and 2 FREE TUBES.

All they need is a fan and it will be perfect for the busy summer months.

These sound a bit more plush than I'm picturing.
Too bad they don't come with a harem.

By chance do you have camera? If so, can you post a pic?

 

[Vodo]

I think Gary included a cabana photo in his earlier website link. It looks pretty nice. Could maybe be a little more spacious, and the aforementioned fan would be a good thing. Boca mentioned that it included four "lounge" chairs, but the picture shows only four standard chairs. I wonder if there are actually four loungers adjacent to the cabana or whether my interpretation of "lounge" chair is off track? I assume there's cable or satellite on the television? Does the $89 rate apply to only weekends or would it also apply to the upcoming Monday holiday? We have some family joining us now and my nephew is not much of a pool lounger; he might however kick back in a cabana for a few hours while the rest of us "play."

Cindy