Just back, my OKW thoughts

[Jeanieblue114]

We just got back from OKW.
It was a lovely resort. There were a few unexpected issues, but nothing that would necessarily keep me from staying again.

We had 2 studios and we were staying as cash paying with daily mousekeeping. We are not DVC members.
We were in rooms 1510 and 1515 on the first floor, relatively close to the Community House. The rooms were at opposite ends of the building but close enough to each other since we are all adults and no kids to worry about.

The rooms were very quiet with the exception of one night of noisy neighbors.

The check in staff was friendly and we were the only ones there. Our CM had a very heavy accent and I think I was the only person in our party who understood her, but we managed fine and she was very friendly. The only difficulty was getting some Disney dollars. That took about 20 min. and they still didn't find any one's.
There was a gentleman opening the lobby door who directed us to check-in. I told him I had a scooter waiting. He told me to go to the front desk. I wish he had told me to go to bell services so I could have been sitting in it during the check-in time (I just injured my foot before the trip). The bell service staff was very helpful. When the battery charger was the wrong size, they waited for Walker rentals and exchanged it while I sat in the beautiful lobby.
We had Good's to go for dinner one evening. It was pretty good and convenient. We also ate at Olivia's one day for lunch. It was very good, quiet, and our server was a hoot if you like a young guy who gets you what you need but also plays along with a little smartass attitude. We egged him on, so he was really playing with us. Olivia's was the only restaurant all week where the manager came over and asked us how things were.
The desserts here were the best that we had all week. The key lime tart is made fresh daily and delicious. The banana bread pudding sundae is also lovely. I would go back here even if I wasn't staying at the resort.

The beds were comfy, but I had no idea how HIGH they were. I am short and I have bruises on my legs from mounting up onto the beds. They were very difficult to climb into and out of.
We had a towel animal in the room when we got there but I think it had been there for a while. We couldn't figure out if it was a duck or a swan so we named her Dawn. (better than reversing it and naming her suck)
The patio/balconies were nice. We had a water fountain and golf course view. Our other room had a 'vegetation' view. The problem with the patios was that there is a huge 6 inch gap all around the outside edge of the flooring. The chair legs and table legs easily fall into it, so you have to be VERY careful or you will find yourself with a big ouch of a fall. I'm not sure why they don't have that filled in!
Our mousekeeping service could have been better. The towels were put on the counter in a big pile along with the soaps. The door mirror was covered in 'spray' the entire week and never wiped off. They cleaned up some things on our nightstand and ended up throwing away 2 partial packs of my medication that were in blister packs. The resort reimbursed me for the medication. They also tossed a basket of sheets and towels outside the door each morning and I had a scooter so it was sometimes difficult to navigate around the basket.
One day we slept in after the halloween party night and we had the do not disturb on the door. They hosed the door down that morning, sign and all, and startled us with the loud sound it made spraying on the door.
When we were checking out the last day, the door lock battery died while we were loading the car. It took multiple calls and 20 min. to get someone to let us into the room to get our last couple of things.
I left my phone charger in the room with all the confusion and the next day I called to get it. We were staying at a condo off property so I was able to go pick it up. But, it took several hours of calls and leaving messages with their lost and found and calling back to get it. On the final call, I was transferred to 6 different people. They had it right there, but it was difficult to find the chain of command to get it back.
Overall, yes, there were some irritations. But the resort is nice. It was very quiet where we were. The staff was helpful if you asked for what you wanted and the location was nice, especially if you have a car. It was also nice to have the little wet bar area. The frig was the largest mini-frig I have ever had in a hotel room. I would stay again, I wouldn't pay full price for this location though.

[wdwfan1]

I also think OKW is a lovely resort. We have never had high beds, and I am not tall either. Then again, we never stayed in the studios there. Maybe that makes a difference?

Sorry you had some "bumps in the road", but it sounds like you had a good trip anyway.

[Jeanieblue114]

I wonder why the beds would be different?

I had never heard anything about these high beds in all the reviews that I had read about OKW.

I was shocked when I walked in and saw them. Both of our studio rooms had them. They were just very thick mattresses...probably 16".
I'm about 5'1" and when I stood next to the bed, the height of it was just below chest level.
Maybe these rooms had new mattresses?

[DougK]

Looking forward to our first stay there October 27th for 2 nights, then off to the Contemporary for another 6 nights.

[stinkerbell2]

Jeanie,

How did you get your scooter? I think my grandma is going to need one for our Feb. trip...how much was it?