No car ot OKW

[magicaldisney]

Can you get by without a car at OKW. I know, I know you can get by anywhere without a car because of Disney's transportation, but is it feasible?We just stopped in for a visit last year and it seems sooooo big and spread out.

OKW vets, what are your honest thoughts?

[Chuck S]

While we usually have a car, since we drive from TX (I just priced airfare $700 r/t for two), when rates were cheaper we've flown and been without a car.

It fine without a car. The bus transportation is about the same as at all WDW resorts. And you can hop on any bus to take to the Hospitality area, then board the internal bus, or take a short walk across the bridge to the Peninsular Rd stop and catch any bus to return to your villa.

There is also boat transportation to DtD.

[castleri]

We usually have a rental car but often it just sits there the whole week. The only time we really use it is to get groceries, go to the outlet malls or an offsite restaurant and to get back to the airport. We do not use it at all for anything on the Disney property except the water parks if we go there and even that we sometimes do by bus. This next trip we are going to Tampa area first and will drop the car at the Dolphin once at OKW. Some people report using it to get to other resorts but even that we usually plan to take a bus from a park or DTD if we have ADRs. We just allow the time in our planning to do it that way. Wherever you are at OKW you can just hop a bus if you want to get to the HH as it is the last stop on the way out of the resort and then walk across to the Peninsular stop to get back to wherever you started. Actually most areas are not more than a 5-10 minute walk to the main pool and HH anyway.

[eva]

We usually have a rental car but often it just sits there the whole week. The only time we really use it is to get groceries, go to the outlet malls or an offsite restaurant and to get back to the airport. We do not use it at all for anything on the Disney property except the water parks if we go there and even that we sometimes do by bus. This next trip we are going to Tampa area first and will drop the car at the Dolphin once at OKW. Some people report using it to get to other resorts but even that we usually plan to take a bus from a park or DTD if we have ADRs. We just allow the time in our planning to do it that way. Wherever you are at OKW you can just hop a bus if you want to get to the HH as it is the last stop on the way out of the resort and then walk across to the Peninsular stop to get back to wherever you started. Actually most areas are not more than a 5-10 minute walk to the main pool and HH anyway.

Totally agree here! We normally drive from IL and the car usually just sits in the lot the entire time. We only use it for groceries the first day and occasionally for a waterpark or dinner at places like Jiko. But we've had trips were it doesn't move the entire trip.

[La2kw]

OKW has great bus service. You can definitely get by with no car.

[ldo]

OKW now has "near Hosp. House" booking category---we went carless last summer at SSR--it was great--but only b/c we lucked out and got Grandstand. So, I was VERY happy that OKW now has HH category---we are going again this summer carless and got HH for our stay.

[chalee94]

i drove down in dec and left my car parked out front all week.

if you're a type-a personality and can't stand waiting for 10-15 mins for a bus, then you need a car. if you can relax and aren't in a big hurry, it's nice to leave the driving (or boating) to the disney folks.

[magicaldisney]

OKW now has "near Hosp. House" booking category---we went carless last summer at SSR--it was great--but only b/c we lucked out and got Grandstand. So, I was VERY happy that OKW now has HH category---we are going again this summer carless and got HH for our stay.

That is very good news. Does this require a different number of points as, for example, the Boardwalk view does at the BWV?

[I Dream of Disney]

Thanks for all the information. Our first trip to OKW will be President's week.
We normally do not rent a car, so it's great to hear that you can get around
fine without one! Thanks again!:flower3:

[Chuck S]

The Near Hospitality booking is new. There is no difference in points.

[magicaldisney]

The Near Hospitality booking is new. There is no difference in points.

Do you think this will become a hot commodity?

[magicaldisney]

Actually most areas are not more than a 5-10 minute walk to the main pool and HH anyway.

This is exactly what I was wondering. It sure seems like it would be a further distance than that, but 5 -10 minutes isn't bad.

[Chuck S]

Do you think this will become a hot commodity?


Perhaps, at least for first time OKW visitors. There are other advantages to different parts of the resort.

For instance, bldgs 30 and above (which start in the Turtle Pond area) have 2 entrances to the master bathroom in one bedroom and larger units. In Bldgs 29 and below, the only entrance to the bathroom is through the master bedroom.

The walking path to DtD is accessed near bldg 55.

It just depends upon what you are looking for.

[dianeschlicht]

First of all, no matter WHICH bus stop we are near at OKW, our rental car sits in the parking lot unless we want to go visit a restaurant at one of the other resorts. For park travel, we always take Disney transportation. It's faster, easier, and OKW has great bus service.

As for Hospitality House. While there are some aspects of that catagory that are nice, there are also some negetive aspects to it. For example: anyone who is planning to have someone sleep on the pull out in the living room will necessarily also have them traipsing through the master bedroom to get to the bathroom. These are all units that do NOT have the extra door to the bathroom through the laundry. Also, if you are not able or eager to do much walking at all and you happen to get the units directly across from HH (11-14), you could be either staying on the bus to the bitter end when coming back into the resort, or getting off at Penninsular Road and walking back. Frankly, I have never seen any real advantage to the HH area. We have stayed in buildings 13 and 14, and while they were convenient to the last bus stop, they also required the extra walking at the return end. I usually have very little reason to go to HH once I am checked in unless I need something from the store, or am planning on dining at Olivia's. For those things, any bus gets me there quickly from any of the outer reaches of the resort, or I can choose to walk. Frankly, I much prefer the buildings over number 30 where there is the extra door to the bathroom. I find that to FAR outweigh the convenience of the being near HH. I live with that little issue the whole trip, where I might only need to get to HH a couple of times in a trip.

[ldo]

We have 3 kids and plan to use the main pool, Community Hall and restaurants a lot with no car. If I had a car or my kids were not using pool and Community Hall multiple times during the stay, I would not care. And, yes, for those who know about it--I think it will be very popular--but I only found out about it on disboards. MS did not suggest it--I specifically asked for it.

[DebbieB]

You can get by without a car but I always rent a car. I like to go to the outlets and grocery store. I personally can't stand the busses.

[castleri]

Do you think this will become a hot commodity?

I hope so

The irony is that I just made a reservation for March 11 and 12 and the CM said that will be a dedicated 2 BR near the HH. I said but I didn't ask for that and he answered "that is all that is available". When I called about another reservation for my daughter I mentioned to the CM that I didn't really need the oneto be by the HH and would prefer to be in the south point area especially building 55 or Turtle Pond. She again said that my near the HH was all that was available so I said okay I'll see what happens when we check in. I would not mind any of the buildings 11-13 but don't want 14 if I can avoid it and the ones in the 20's are not that close to a quiet pool which we prefer. There is probably someone out there who would love to trade with me. She did say she would make a request for the areas I mentioned but that it is just a request. When it comes right down to it I will be happy to be there and the room will be fine no matter where it is- We are bringing friends on this trip and I really wanted to be close to one of the neighborhood pools for those nice evening dips.

[nisiemouse]

The only time we had trouble without a car was when we had an early flight and could not get Bell Services to answer the phone. After about 20 minutes trying to get someone on the phone we had to take them up ourselves which was not easy. I don't know what we would have done if we had been much further away. It was frustrating to get to the HH and be told "they were in the back room". We ran into someone staying at SSR at the airport and they had arranged for bell services the night before which I had not thought of but will remember in the future.

[magicaldisney]

I would not mind any of the buildings 11-13 but don't want 14 if I can avoid it

Since I'm not completely familiar with Old Key West, please explain any problems with building 14.

[buzz5985]

We stayed in Building 13 without a car our last trip. Had Garden Grocer deliver our snacks/food/beer. We liked being close to the pool. My father 76 disliked that there were no sidewalks/cross walks between these buildings and the HH. So we were crossing a parking lot, over an island, into the street, where the buses come out.

But - we requested that area for this coming summer since my sister is joining us and we will have several children 11, 11, 9, 2 and thought it would be better to be closer to the pool. But we are driving this year, so we will have a car and I guess it doesn't matter.

Janis

[dianeschlicht]

Since I'm not completely familiar with Old Key West, please explain any problems with building 14.

There is no problem with building 14. We have stayed there and really liked it. The only problem with ANY of the HH area buildings is that they are too far from a quiet pool. We NEVER go to the main pool...we are old and prefer quiet.;) Our preference is to be as far from HH as possible. The other issue with all of the HH buildings is that they do not have the extra door into the bathroom, so living room guests must go through the master bedroom to get to the bathroom.

[Chuck S]

I've stayed in bldg 14, and it was fine, my only objection was that the parking can be "not so great" as OKW really needs a larger parking area for the Hospitality area. People will tend to park in the lot for Bldgs 11 to 14 when the HH lot is full. And it does fill up. I do prefer Old Turtle Pond or the buildings on the canal rather than right in the HH areas, though.