OKW Studios

[Sims]

We prefer the BCV studio to the OKW studio.
But as for the one or two bedroom, OKW is the best.

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'm just back from OKW. I decided to do a grand tour of Disney Studios...starting with VWL last labor day and ending with BCV in November. So far I like VWL the best & OKW the least...I felt like I was in a hotel room. I intend to give OKW another chance because the resort is beautiful...just the studio feels lacking...so it will definitely be a 1 bedroom on my next foray.

How do other people feel about the studios at Disney?

[KNWVIKING]

Wow,that's the first I've seen posted where OKW studios feel like a hotel room. OKW studios are the largest on property-maybe even off property. Even the shape is un-hotel like. All the other resorts- DVc and WDW are cookie cutter rectangles,as are every other hotel I've stayed at.

[DeeP]

I also feel like I am in hotel room when I am in OKW studios. The bedroom is just like a regular hotel room with the 2 beds and a small table and chair. The 1 BR units are very nice.

[DiznEeyore]

Hmmm... dh and I just returned from an OKW studio. We really liked it, and it didn't feel hotel-ish to us. We felt that the large windows, balcony, kitchenette & huge bath felt more studio apartment-ish. YMMV. ;)

[Doctor P]

I did not feel like I was in a hotel room in the OKW studio. Much roomier, not boxy, and had a kitchenette and nice balcony. It was much more like the small condos I have stayed in at other places.

[PamOKW]

I absolutely love the studios at OKW but I can see where the comparison of studios with a bed/sofa to one with 2 beds can lead to the hotel comparison. However, when it comes time to sleep, I sure do like that queen bed a LOT more than the foldout sofa. ;)

I also do not feel like I'm in a hotel room. It is much more like a studio apartment to me.

[Deb & Bill]

If I stay at an OKW studio, I adore the large bathroom. There is enough room to turn around in. And I enjoy sitting on the porch. Much larger than a hotel room like the Swan (which also has 2 queen beds) or the AKL (which also has 2 queen beds).

[doubletrouble_vb]

I will say I loved the room as long as I was facing the kitchenette & bath.

Perhaps DVC might consider changing some of the studios to replace one of the queen beds with either a riser bed or a sleeper sofa. Riser bed would be outstanding for people with kids. That...and a small dining table outside.

To me...the two queen beds just sucked up any additional space that the studio may have had. The overall feeling was bland compared to the other DVC's.

[Deb & Bill]

NO, NO, NO, NO. Keep the two queens. I own at OKW and prefer the two queens. That is one of the reasons I bought there. I hate to pull out that sleeper sofa unless I have lots of room, like in the one bedroom.

[Chuck S]

I like the two beds at OKW...leave us alone!!!! If you need that pull out sofa, go to another resort!!!! They're the reason I often get a studio instead of a one bedroom, I HATE those sofas.

[sgtdisney]

I agree on the two queens at OKW. Please keep the 2 queens!!! I really don't like sleeping on a fold out couch. If want you want a living room, get a one bedroom..

[Granny]

I would think the two queen beds would be pretty nice when the studio is the second bedroom of the 2BR layout.

I've got a question about OKW studios. My two DD's are too old to sleep with Mom & Dad (especially Dad) and absolutely refuse to sleep together. In our visit to a 1BR, there was room for an inflatable mattress in the living room area even with the sleeper bed pulled out.

My question is: is there room for a sleeper mattress in the OKW studio? We have a single mattress (not a queen). We'd like to stay in an OKW studio next year but can only do so if the girls can sleep apart.

[Chuck S]

I would say it would fit with some re-arranging of the table and chairs. It would mean someone would not have really easy access to the bathroom at night, I assume the mattress would be deflated for daytime access.

[nydizfan]

it might be tight , but I think there is room.............dave:smooth:

[KNWVIKING]

I would like OKW to offer some studios with a sofa rather then two queens. I think enough couples use studios and would like a bed and sofa to merit DVC giving it a try. What's the worst that could happen ??

[JudithM]

The subject of OKW studios - two beds vs. a bed & a sofa - comes up periodically at the annual meeting. It has something to do with what we were offered, the legal documents we signed, etc.

[Granny]

nydizfan & Chuck S....thanks for the feedback on the amount of room for an air mattress.

I figured it would be tight, but believe me if we can use it we will!

I looked at the layouts on the DVC site for the OKW studio and it looks very nice. I hope to be able to switch over to one next spring at the 7 month window. Can't hurt to try!

[KNWVIKING]

JudithM....

Was that a factual response to my post or a sarcastic response from someone who wants two beds to someone who would like a sofa option ? Wasn't quite sure how to interprete it.

[fkj2]

I think you're referring to a factual post. I've read several posts here at the boards that it's very difficult for DVC to alter, in any way, what was offered to potential buyers at the time they purchased.

I think legally they have to pretty much stick to "You get what you pay for" and that changing any terms of the buyer's original agreement is difficult.

[CarolMN]

I'm not JudithM, but I'm quite sure it was intended to be a factual response. From reading previous posts, my understanding is that DVC cannot change the room layouts after the fact because of the timeshare laws. The purchase documents/site offering papers describe what we bought. So no changes like sofas in OKW studios, or bedrooms with 2 Queens instead of a King in the 1 bedrooms, etc. UNLESS the resorts originally offered that and it was disclosed in the purchase documents. MAYBE changes like that could be made if every member agreed, but that isn't very likely.

I know I haven't explained this all that well - maybe some of the lawyers who post will see this and do a better job.

HTH.

[PamOKW]

I believe the other posters are correct that any change to OKW can't just be done arbitrarily by DVC. My understanding is that a change could only be made if a vote was taken by the members. I'm pretty sure this subject did come up in a survey several years ago and there was not sufficient interest by the members to make a change. I don't think I would like to see a split in the type of room because that would become just one more unknown when booking the studio. Also, it would make for some disappointing second bedrooms -- two fold-outs in the 2 bedroom.

(I'm not sure why you questioned Judith's response. It seems pretty straightforward.)

I can live with the foldout bed in a one-bedroom in exchange for the extra living space. I prefer having a real bed in the studio -- and there seem to be a fair amount of folks who agree.

[KNWVIKING]

I don't know the "legal-ese" of the papers I signed, but I've read posts from people who sound like they do. When the forbidden subject of "pool slide" is running its course, the legal eagles have commented that DVC can decide to put a slide in if they choose regardless of member wishes. DVC can also refuse a slide despite member wishes if they so choose. I also don't remember my studio having a tooster when I joiined,now it does. Timeshare laws don't prevent up-grading rooms. Just seems odd that if the OKW members decided they wanted a sofa option that DVC couldn't by law grant that request.

PAM: The reason I questioned her post was in the ugly slide debates,anti slide members tend to resort to quoting things like- if you wanted a slide,why buy OKW, or "you signed the papers,you got what you got" etc. Thats why I questioned her.

[PamOKW]

Changing the physical configuration of the villa is different than changing the amenities of the resort. What we actually purchased was a portion of the villa and that's probably why it can't be changed. Now, I have not heard this directly from a DVC representative but it would seem to make sense. They can change things like the decorative aspects (color of towels, number of potted plants, etc.) or add items like the toaster. I think there would be a legal problem if they removed the microwave from a studio or a stove from the bigger units. That's the same principle with changing the type of bedding. Switching a DVD for a VCR would most likely fall under "replacement with a similar item" type of clause.

I do think that if DVC members voted for a change it could be done. However, I think this is a real member-by-member vote...not just a poll of members. I'm not sure whether the power DVC/DVC holds to vote on behalf of members (like for the budgets) could be applied in this case. Maybe it could.

[AnnK]

I have seen this debated before and I have always wondered,
so now I am asking..........

How can anyone be certain that DVC cannot replace a queen bed with a queen pull-out sofa. Is it worded so that they cannot choose the type of bed that they offer? I would think that they had to offer similiar sleeping accomodations, and that they could not offer less bedding options, but how can anyone be sure that they cannot just say it is a queen sofa BED, and therefore is another queen in the room?:confused:

Please don't start the "if you wanted queen sofa you should have bought elsewhere" stuff, I don't stay at OKW, I am just curious as to if there is some documentation that disallows DVC to choose the "style" bedding.

[spiceycat]

about 5 years ago - DVC send out a survey to OKW members asking about the beds and the pools - the queen bed vs queen bed and sleeper sofa lost by even greater margin than the slide issue. the DVC members at OKW (on the whole) do not want the studios changed.

there is not enough room in any of the DVC studios for the sleeper sofa to be a queen - they are all double (full size). So if OKW got a sleeper sofa it would be a double sleeper sofa like the other DVC resorts - their statements says it would be 2 queens - so unless the majority of members vote to change this - it will be 2 queens. Live with it - sorry.

[Deb & Bill]

Let's change all the beds to bunk beds and squeeze a few more in each of the units while we're at it. Yeah, and that is sarcasm!

[KNWVIKING]

Deb & Bill...

I didn't need the disclaimer, your post was easy for me to interprete.

[PamOKW]

Actually, putting in a sleeper sofa would encourage cutting down on the number of people. The full size sofa is really most comfortable for one....but I bet you could squeeze three little kids into a queen size bed. :)

[SueM in MN]

I'm not a lawyer (and I don't play one on TV), but, to answer AnnK's question about where it says 2 queen beds at OKW, I think this is the part of the paperwork that applies:
On page 208, exhibit 7 of the Public Offering, on page 2 of the Purchase Agreement, it says:
"The Condominium units will have furniture, appliances, equipment and accent furnishings substantially similar to or of equal quality to those shown in the model and on the plans and specifications. Since the models and materials are for display purposes only, the DVD reserves the right to make substitutions of equal or better quality."

Some people have said that clause only applies to the quality of the furnishings and that Disney could substitute a smiliar quality sofa bed for one of the queen beds. But the models, floor plans and specifications were part of the offering. The ones used for selling OKW showed 2 queen beds, so to substitute a hide-a-bed would not be substituting something "substantially similar", especially if it was only full size. Another way to think about it is that the models all show a whirlpool tub in the master bath of 1 and 2 bedroom units. If the only issue was quality, they could substitute a regular tub of equal value for the whirlpool tub.

I think they would need to get a majority vote of the owners to change.

[JudithM]

My earlier post was meant to be factual - thank you to all who understood that :). I was not trying to be sarcastic or flippant in any way. KNWVIKING, thanks for explaining though why my comment might have been interpretated differently than what I intended to say. I know it is hard to "read/hear" someone's tone in writing.

From the DVC management CMs I have spoken to over the years, the comments above from other members are accurate. It is my understanding from a "legal" type DVC CM that the offering statement filed with each state would have to be amended/changed to reflect changing from two queen beds to a queen bed & a sofa. I don't want to know how costly this would be to the members.

[KNWVIKING]

Thank you for the explanation Judith, no offense ever was intended.

Silly question. How did Sim's thread get posted before the thread topic on page one of this thread ?

[Sims]

I've been wondering about that placement too.