What did your kids think of OKW?

[eeyoresmom]

Finally decided on OKW 1 bedroom for our April trip ( 6 nights following a 2 night stay at BCV in a studio ). After reading how quiet and laid back OKW is, it just dawned on me that it may be boring for the kids (DD 11 and DS 10). We spend a lot of time at the resort so this is important. For those of you who have stayed with kids, what did they think of OKW? ( FWIW, they have stayed ay SSR and BWV and liked them both , for community hall at each, that neighbohood feel of SSR and all the people watching and snacking oppurtunity at BWV ) TIA:)

[Lenc324]

:confused3 How can any of the Disney Resort be boring for kids???? Most activities are geared for kids.

[skoi]

We had a short stay at OKW in 2005. The kids (dd 11, ds 7 then) loved it. They liked the slide and the pool. They liked the fact the bus stop was so close to the room. They liked the rooms (though they thought the decor could have been brighter).

When we were talking about our 2007 stay, they both wanted to stay at OKW, but I think we'll try BWV because we haven't been there yet.

We didn't go use the community hall because as I said, it was a short trip

Have a good trip.

[NYMomof4]

My kids (5,8,11,13) loved OKW for the slide and great pool! They also spent quite a bit of time in the community hall. The boys liked the basketball courts and tennis courts. They also had some great pool games when we were there, including a "cannonball contest."

The kids say that the waterslide is the best of the DVC slides :)

[Deb & Bill]

My son liked Community Hall and the game room. He said the game room was a bit small, but that Community Hall was real good. We all played darts and air hockey. They have an arts and crafts schedule, too.

[jaskemr]

We had a 2BR in June 2005 and it was perfect for us (4 daughters + DW)
We were close to main enterance/lobby/Olivia's.

It was our first time, so I can't compare it to other resorts.

Our youngest was 7 and she would get tired by 4-5pm, so we found Olivia's extremely convienient. We also were on the Disney Dining Plan, and Olivia's took it. We were there 8 nights, and ate at Oliva's 3 or 4 times. It was perfect for us.

Bus pickup was easy for us. Drop off, we were last, but we found if we got off the first stop, we could easily walk to our room way quicker than riding around OKW.

We went in June 2005, and it often rained at 3-5 PM, but even then we would opt to walk from the first stop as it was so close to Olivias, and other shelter. OKW - 2 thumbs up for us.

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

We own at VWL but we've almost always stayed at OKW because our two kids, ages 6 and 8, love it, love it love it. They like riding the bikes around, they like the pool, they like the slide MUCH better than the VWL slide (the steam on the VWL slide scares them).

We like VWL (that's why we bought) better, but we figure, heck, let's go where the kids like it the best at this age because their tastes will probably change.

It's really nice having the car right outside your door, too, because somebody's always leaving a MUST have stuffed animal in the backseat...

[bmalonef45]

Our kids, 7 and 3 at the time loved it. After seeing the big 1 bdrm room my sun was chanting OKW rocks! The pools are all nice, the game rooms are fun too.

[colleen costello]

My kids love Old Key West. They love the big rooms, the balconies, the super-warm pools (even on cool days) and they really like that the main pool has a slide now.

My kids love watching all the ducks and bunnies and the tiny lizards, too. We always save bread to feed the ducks. In spring there are always baby ducks.

We love all the hot tubs by the pool and the kids like the playgrounds by the pools too. We enjoy having lunch at the Turtle Pond Pool snack bar.

We love the general store and we like to get Mickey Head ice cream bars and hang out by the dock. The boat to Downtown Disney is fun.

This is a very nice place with a "community" feel. Hope you enjoy it. We are headed there in about 6 weeks for spring break and I can't wait!

[shellbelle1971]

I have kids aged 1 1/2, 3, 7, 8, 11 & 13 on our last trip to OKW. Here is what they each said they liked/didn't like about it:

13: I wish you would have let me stay later at DisneyQuest and take the boat home by myself. If you would let me do that it would be perfect. The rooms at OKW are the best because they're huge so you don't have to be with your parents 24/7, but the pool at SSR is better. The best plan is to stay at OKW and pool hop to SSR.

11: All the people who worked there were really nice, and it was good that there were pools located in different places so it was easy to find a pool close to you. My brother is wrong about the best plan, though. The best plan is to stay at OKW and pool hop to Coronado Springs because the jaguar waterslide is AWESOME! But you don't want to stay at Coronado Springs because the rooms there don't have a balcony, and the balconies at OKW are the best...(mom gives up typing while she finishes her monologue...)

8: I like the sofa bed. It's like a transformer! There was nothing I didn't like.

7: The sandcastle (waterslide) was cool!

3: I like sleeping in Grandma and Grandpa's room. (The kids took turns staying next door in the studio with G'ma & G'pa.)

18 month old (can't talk--mom's comments) Loved Turtle Krawl. OTOH It was really hard to get the big double stroller up stairs without an elevator. Next time I will definitely request either ground floor or an elevator building.

[La2kw]

We've stayed there many times with our kids- they've practically grown up there! They love it, especially the large rooms which give them plenty of space to spread out. It's still our favorite DVC resort, and we've stayed at all of them.

[MinnieGirl33]

Just got back from a week at OKW... kids swam, played basketball, ping pong, air hockey, darts (with adult supervision since under 16), tennis, volleyball & poolside bingo (DS9 won the "grand prize" for the day).

I'd say there was plenty to do!

[Lady V]

Finally decided on OKW 1 bedroom for our April trip ( 6 nights following a 2 night stay at BCV in a studio ). After reading how quiet and laid back OKW is, it just dawned on me that it may be boring for the kids (DD 11 and DS 10). We spend a lot of time at the resort so this is important. For those of you who have stayed with kids, what did they think of OKW? ( FWIW, they have stayed ay SSR and BWV and liked them both , for community hall at each, that neighbohood feel of SSR and all the people watching and snacking oppurtunity at BWV ) TIA:)

since you will be coming off of a stay at BCV I would make sure they get to use the pool at BCV plenty while you are there since you won't be able to pool hop back to it. I think this trip will be fun because you will get the best of both worlds!! have fun!! And BTW-we loved OKW!!:goodvibes

[mb168]

I don't think there will be any problems as you can see here. Our kids DD11, DS9, DD8, DD3 have been going there since before there was a "cool" slide and have loved it. We stay there every year in a 2BR for a week in June even though our main Home is BCV.

One side benefit, we save enough points from staying at OKW that we always do an extra trip in October for Food and Wine just DW and I and get a Studio at BCV (Stumbling distance from EPCOT). Sun-Fri at OKW is less points than Sun-Thur at BCV, 1 more day on less points, is it even an option for the kids???

We did stay the week our first year at BCV when DW was 8 months pregnant with DD3 and didn't do the parks that year. Just hung at the SAB, Boardwalk, DD, etc. They've mentioned going back to "that place with the big slide in the crows nest" but when I ask them every year if they want 4 nights in Disney staying at BCV or 5 nights in Disney staying at OKW (plus the side F&W trip :)) The extra day always wins!!!

[nzdisneymom]

Count my boys (ages 9 and 10) as OKW fans! We have stayed in buildings 13 and 26 - and both are near enough to the center of things that we used community hall and the pool quite a bit. Short walk, no waiting for buses to get to the main pool. Personally we are now requesting buildings 23 - 27 for our stays because of their location (with the understanding that they cannot be guaranteed).

I especially like the guys who work at Community Hall - they are funny, friendly and seem like they love their jobs. They'll play air hockey with a single-kid and help teach kids how to hold the pool cue when Mom can't explain it right (ok, I'm a lefty, ds is a righty).