OK - learn me about OKW!

[vicki_c]

I was able to switch my Easter 2012 vacation to OKW this morning (1 BR). It is one of the few places we haven't stayed. I'm open to suggestions for anything because I know very little about it, except that the rooms are bigger and some of my friends love their large OKW verandahs!

I did not make any requests - wasn't quite prepared for that this morning. Should I request near Hospitality House? The CM said there was a lot of availability for 1 BRs. Are there elevators - not needed, but we often like a first floor room anyway (but no real verandah then), so if there aren't elevators I might request first floor. Hate schlepping the luggage upstairs.

We don't care about bus stop proximity since we have a car and rarely use the buses. At SSR, we usually stay in the Springs (pre new pool) and like being near the pool, Community Hall and the food.

Thanks in advance, OKW lovers!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

My favorite resort for many reasons!

I rarely make requests, and to date at OKW I've never been disapointed with the location nor the views. Your 1st floor will not have a balcony but it will have an enclosed patio. In June we had a 1st floor two bedroom and had views of the golf greens, it was very nice and we used the patio.

There are only 3 bldng. w/ elevator. I usually have a 2nd floor roomm but on occasion have gotten 3rd floor and yes, it's a pain to schlep the luggage & cooler up there but it's only twice so, not really a big deal.

We love taking the boat over to DTD, sometimes for dinner, ice cream after dinner, to go to the movies or just to walk around. If you get a villa by the quiet pools, they have bbq grills there that you can use. At night sometimes the kids swim at the main pool and we go to the Guirgling Suitcase and have Pina Coladas by the pool!

We play tennis, some of us golf and we all enjoy swimmimg and OKW provides all of the regular amenites. I prefer it to a more hotel type setting, I can park in front of the villa, I don't have to walk down a ton of long corridors. All of this, in a lush tropical setting, I love it and hope you will too!

Don't forget to try Olivia's key lime pie!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I was able to switch my Easter 2012 vacation to OKW this morning (1 BR). It is one of the few places we haven't stayed. I'm open to suggestions for anything because I know very little about it, except that the rooms are bigger and some of my friends love their large OKW verandahs!

I did not make any requests - wasn't quite prepared for that this morning. Should I request near Hospitality House? The CM said there was a lot of availability for 1 BRs. Are there elevators - not needed, but we often like a first floor room anyway (but no real verandah then), so if there aren't elevators I might request first floor. Hate schlepping the luggage upstairs.

We don't care about bus stop proximity since we have a car and rarely use the buses. At SSR, we usually stay in the Springs (pre new pool) and like being near the pool, Community Hall and the food.

Thanks in advance, OKW lovers!

Hospitality House is a seperate booking category, so if you are not booked in that category, you can't request it.
No elevators except in buildings 62, 63, and 64. If you request a first floor unit you WILL still have a balcony. OKW units all have a balcony even if they are on the ground floor.

 

[vakamalua]

OKW has been our home resort since IT WAS the Vacation Club (1995)!

We love it there for the big rooms, laid back ambiance and OLIVIA'S which is one of the best restaurants at WDW with great food and rarely crowded. It's our tradition that the first thing we do after leaving the airport is have lunch at Olivia's, even if we're not staying at OKW.

Since we always have a car and no small children, we usually request a building close to one of the smaller pools. Despite a bit of schlepping, we like the top floor for the views and occasional breeze.

Enjoy OKW!

 

[Disneypapa]

You're going to love OKW.

 

[Caren]

We've loved Old Key West's laid-back tropical atmosphere from our very first stay. Most of our points are at BLT, but OKW is "home" to us. It is, as you mentioned, roomier than other resorts. It also has a separate laundry room with full-sized washer and dryer and a jacuzzi tub so big that two little girls on a bus once informed us they had a swimming pool in their room.

When we have kids along, we take advantage of the the main pool and community hall area, which has a summer-camp atmosphere with something--dance lessons, games, crafts, movies--always going on. My nine-year-old nephew liked OKW better than he liked the theme parks and can't wait to go back again.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You'll be at OKW in a 1 BR just a couple weeks before us. We like the top floor, but I see you sometimes prefer the first floor. We did not request HH category-wanted a little more quiet and easier parking. We've stayed in several different areas, and no one is better than another, from what we've seen. I kind of like the Miller Road area-far enough from the HH to be fairly quiet, but it's a pretty short walk.

 

[kda]

We, too, grew to love OKW very quickly because of how relaxing and peaceful it is. We spend a lot of time on the very large balcony (with ceiling fan) reading. It's such a pleasure having the car so close to the front door! We always ask for "top floor" so no noisy neighbors are walking above us, and the top floor is the 2nd floor in most buildings. Some of the first floor balconies seem to have a lot of trees and shrubs around them and we prefer to have a more open balcony. (That said, we had one 2nd floor balcony that was totally surrounded by vegetation that was 4 feet deep. At first I was very disappointed, but it turned out to be 95 degrees the entire week in early May and we LOVED that it was so shaded and comfortable.)

In addition to taking the boat to DTD, we like to walk the path to SSR or the West Side. SSR has very tasty (and somewhat different) flat bread pizzas that we enjoy.
We usually eat at Olivia's several times each trip, no matter where we're staying. It's usually easy to get in without a reservation. The cheesy potatoes on the breakfast plates are wonderful!

If you don't stay within walking distance of the Hospitality House, it's very easy to use the bus system. Get on the first bus that comes and check to be sure they're stopping at the HH before leaving the resort. When you're ready to go back to your room, walk from the HH across the road to the first bus stop and get on the first bus that stops there. There's an "Internal" bus, but no need to wait for that one specifically.

Hope you have a fantastic trip!!!

 

[vicki_c]

Thanks everyone - I knew all the OKW lovers would show up! Now to digest all the info!

Our non-DVC member Brian Noble gave me some good advice too concerning the bathroom doors. I think he said buildings numbered under 30 have the arrangement where you have to enter the bedroom to get to the bathroom, but over 30 do not have that. I think I like the over 30 buildings for that reason alone!

 

[mdgpop]

Okw is great for relaxing and enjoying a bit of "Florida". We had a first floor 1 bedroom and it was perfect to just walk out the door and into the parking lot or sidewalk without stair climbing. The balcony is very large with full table and 4 chairs. Here is a pic showing part of the porch/balcony

 

[bbluvsdis]

We too are staying at OKW for the first time this year. We are staying in HH area. Can anyone tell me where the boat dock to DTD is? I don't see it on the map I have of the property. I am excited about staying at this resort that so many of you love so much.

 

[kda]

The boat dock is right by the HH where you check in and Olivia's. Just walk outside and a few steps to the boat dock.

Good point about the bathrooms. I have read that the first 30 buildings did not have another entry into the bathroom.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Okw is great for relaxing and enjoying a bit of "Florida". We had a first floor 1 bedroom and it was perfect to just walk out the door and into the parking lot or sidewalk without stair climbing. The balcony is very large with full table and 4 chairs. Here is a pic showing part of the porch/balcony

Great photo! What building was that? And did you get much noise from the villas above you?

 

[vakamalua]

Last time we stayed at OKW (March), we had a top floor where you could see a canal. We saw a BIG alligator sunning himself on far the bank of the canal. I guess someone called the front desk and a team of guys came over--it caused a small crowd to gather from the nearby pool. The guys looked at the gator, talked a bit on their walkie talkies, looked at it again and just left the gator to its tanning. Guess they didn't want to upset the non-human higher-ups (mouse, dog, etc.)

Just one more reason we enjoy a room with a view...

 

[csmommy]

Why would someone want the HH? Why wouldn't they?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Why would someone want the HH? Why wouldn't they?

Depending on who I travel with and length of stay determines if we ask for HH or not.

When we travel with younger kids (toddlers) and we plan to spend a lot of time at the main pool (with the slide )and eat at Olivia's or DTD, HH is perfect, everything is within "close" walking distance.

When I travel with my son (14) and his hoards of friends, they prefer the quiet pools, and I prefer the further away villas located at Turtle Pond. The boys and the adults enjoy walking, I usually cook and there are bbq grills by the quiet pools. The tennis courts are out there too!

All depends on what's important to you. However, when booking if all they had was HH, I'd take it in a heart beat.

 

[mdgpop]

Simba's Mom, we stayed in building 17 Miller's Rd area. The walk to HH was very short 3-4 minute walk. The bus stop was almost across the street and the quiet pool also close. I only heard foot steps once above us. It seemed so quiet at our building and felt like we were the only ones. We did see other people coming and going.

 

[5forDiz]

Help ! Refresh my memory please; yes I admit, I should know these things by now since OKW is our home...

~ operating hours for boat ? i seem to remember from 10am - 1130pm ? specifically, I'm wondering about the schedule after Sept. 15

~ Turtle Pond pool counter serve, open after Sept. 15 ?

~ is there a playground at Millers pool ?

Many thanks

 

[DisTito69]

Mother and I prefer the buildings in the south Its the place to be if you want to relax and prefer quiet. Turtle Pond is another good spot. I do not recommend Miller Road, just to close to the Highway etc.

Tito