1B at OKW or 1B at BWV?

[ColoradoDisneyFan]

Need help again!! We got part of our waitlist for late Oct. We got three nights (out of five) at either OKW or BWV, both 1B. We have not stayed in either one before. But I am very familiar with BWV and the area but I know very little about OKW. Since this is a short trip would OKW be too out of the way? Are the rooms larger at OKW? How is the pool there? Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[spiceycat]

OKW has much larger rooms - you will definitely notice it

OKW is also cheaper pointwise (so you can make more trips)

OKW if you drive your car to the front gate at Epcot it is very close less than 2 miles. So talking about 5 minute trip. MK is maybe 10 min, Studio is 7 minutes, AK is 15 to 20 minutes (lot more lights)

now you can't walk to any of the parks from OKW - but you can walk to DD/PI or boat or bus.

 

[new_yawka]

If you like the boardwalk area and being able to role out of bed and walk to the international gateway at EPCOT, BWV is great. It also gives a few more of the conveniences of a true hotel, including more restaurants right near by (ESPN, Flying Fish, Spoodles....etc.). If the points aren't a significant issue, BWV miht be better for a short trip. The main swimming pool (Luna Park) also has a very nice water slide.

OKW is also a wonderfule resort. It is perfect for a relaxing vacation. it is quieter (meaning the outside atmosphere) and has the benefit of parking your car outside your room (whereas, at Boardwalk, you valet park your car).

Both are great resorts and you will no doubt want to do each at some point...figure out which one best meets your needs for this vacation.

Either way, it'll be great!

 

[KyBill]

We are owners and big fans of OKW and the 1 BR. OKW is over 1000 sq ft vs. a little over 700 for BWV. OKW is not "too far" from anything. We always have a car and like parking right outside our villa
All that said, I think it depends on what you want to do when you are at DW in late October. If you are planning on going to the W & F festival for a couple of days, then by all means stay at BWV. We will be there in October and also November for the W & F festival and will be staying at OKW because we like the large villa's and the ability to get to our car. Also I am handicapped and use an ECV and OKW is much more accomodative. We drive over to BW and valet park, enjoy the W & F at Epcot and eat at some of the restaurants at BW and Epcot. The car also gets us to California Grill and Jiko at the AKL. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The pool at BWV is much more popular-has a slide, while the one at OKW doesn't. I'd pick BWV, DH would pick OKW. The way we see it, it depends on your emphasis in the phrase "Walt Disney World Vacation". For me, the Disney addict, I want WDW, so I prefer BWV. DH prefers the "Vacation" aspect, relaxing, so he prefers OKW. His reaction when he walked through BWV the first time was "I don't ever want to stay here-it's too busy". Me? I'm staying at BWV solo in December because I see the convenience to the parks. At least that's how we choose.

 

[DeeP]

OKW definitely has a much larger 1 br villa. It is beautiful, I love it.
OKW is approx the same distance from parks, restaurants, and nighttime entertainment, other than DTD/PI, as all the value and moderate resorts are. If you have ever stayed at a value or moderate resort, transportation from them to the parks, be it Disney transportation or personal car, will be the same at OKW. Getting to parks, restaurants and nighttime entertainment is definitely not as easily accessable or as conveninet from OKW as it is from all the other deluxe resorts at WDW.

 

[vernon]

You don't mention the size of your group. If there are four of you and the kids are older than toddlers, I would go for OKW because of the extra room in the living room ( particularly noticable when the sofabed is in it's "bed mode" )and extra closet space. .
Access to the parks, with the exceeption of Epcot, is not going to be much different time wise. BWV does have the easier access to restaurants/clubs if that's a factor. OKW doesn't have the slides, but still has some nice pool areas and usually they aren't as busy as the lunar park at BWV.

 

[Richyams]

Its actually pretty simple.

BWV=cramped
OKW=comfort

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, Richyams!

I do have to agree with OKW though. I find the bus to be no problem at all, and if you have a car, it is so convenient to get to the other resorts and not have to rely on the bus for those trips. Resort to resort travel is the only real inconvenience. I just love the size and comfort of the OKW units. The small kitchens and baths and lack of a real laundry room in the BWV units bothers me. I think it is the best of both worlds....I am in a vacation HOME at WDW!

 

[DeeP]

I am in a vacation HOME at WDW!

Not quite, you are in a vacation timeshare CONDO located in the OUTER areas of WDW, just like the moderate and value resorts are. You won't have the same amenities or themed pool with a water slide like the moderate resorts do but you do have a bigger and nicer room and of course the much tooted parking at the door at OKW, but the location is the same for all of them, OKW, value and moderate resorts--outskirts of WDW.

 

[Richyams]

Human frailty is a wonderous thing. The rationalizations that can be construed to help from deepening the pain of a wounded phsyche is amazing. Here is a good example:

OKW, value and moderate resorts--outskirts of WDW.

Umm, I thought WDW included Downtown Disney, The marketplace and Typhoon Lagoon, if I am right, it seems that OKW is smack in the middle of things.

You can try and try to rationalize the last mile to your room with anything you like. I hope it helps.

 

[DeeP]

Umm, I thought WDW included Downtown Disney, The marketplace and Typhoon Lagoon, if I am right, it seems that OKW is smack in the middle of things.

OOPs, excuse me, it should say:
OKW, value and moderate resorts all located on the outskirts of WDW major parks. The 4 major parks, you know those pesky little things that are the MAIN attractions at WDW.
LMAO!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by DeeP
OOPs, excuse me, it should say:
OKW, value and moderate resorts all located on the outskirts of WDW major parks. The 4 major parks, you know those pesky little things that are the MAIN attractions at WDW.
LMAO!

You can LYAO all you want, but I will be living in luxury at OKW that is unheard of in any HOTEL type unit. To compare OKW to Carribian Beach or the other moderates is absurd!

 

[RLevy29]

I have never thought of any of the value or moderate resorts on the outskirts of WDW. They are on the property. AKL which is a Deluxe resort is not real close to the parks either. Yes, OKW is more condo than hotel property but it is certainly not way out of the way. VWL, BWV, BCV, FWC, OKW, and soon to be SSR are Home Away from Home resorts that have (or will have) amenities (or non-amenities) to appeal to everybody. That is the beauty of DVC.

 

[DeeP]

To compare OKW to Carribian Beach or the other moderates is absurd!

Don't get yourself all in a tither, I am pointing out the location of the resorts as being the same, the resort amenities offered as being more at the moderate resorts vs OKW since they have themed pools with slides, and CSR has quite a few more amenities similiar to the deluxe resorts. I also stated very clearly that OKW has much nicer and bigger rooms and that wonderful , not be forgotten parking in the parking lots located in front of every building! To compare the location of the moderate and value resorts compared to OKW or to compare the amenities offered to the guests at OKW vs the value and moderate resorts is not absurd at all!

 

[sgtdisney]

Isn't OKW about a mile or so from Epcot? I wouldn't call that on the outskirts..

One other point. Many people live in Condo's.. That is their home. Not many people I know have a home in a hotel.

 

[RLevy29]

To ColoradoDisneyFan:
I am sorry, I did not answer your questions. If you have a car, OKW is not far from any of the attractions. I can't say how the bus transportation is because we never used it there. I'm sure others can help you with this. There are four pools and none have slides so if that is an important feature, you may want to go with BWV. Either resort you can't go wrong!

 

[DeeP]

Since this is a short trip would OKW be too out of the way? Are the rooms larger at OKW? How is the pool there? Thanks in advance for any help!!

This was the OP, the poster was asking for a comparison of BWV and OKW in regards to these issues. When comparing the 2, BWV is located as close to 2 Major parks as you can get, in comparison OKW is definitely located much farther away and not nearly as convenient. In comparison to all the other deluxe resorts and home away from home resorts, OKW is again located much farther away from the 4 major parks, restaurants, etc, is less convenient etc and is in a location where the travel mode, time, etc is approx the same as what is found in the moderate and value resorts. No place in WDW is a long distance away from anywhere else but when comparing location of resorts close to or next to the major parks all the other deluxe resorts and home away from home resorts are much closer since they are right next to parks and the value, moderate and OKW are on the outskirts.
Yes, with a car it is at most 10 min ride to any park from OKW and the moderate and value resorts but it is still not as convenient or as easy as being located right next to major parks. If the deluxe resorts and the home away from home resorts are not super conveniently located to the major parks and are not easier to gain access to the parks vs having your car in the park's parking lot, then how come sooooooo many people park at the Epcot or MK resorts and go to the parks from these resorts??????

 

[Richyams]

Thank you for proving my point once again.

Some people feel the location of BWV is worth dealing with the tiny rooms, high dues, high point schedule and 1.2 mile walks to your room.

Some don't.

 

[DeeP]

[/QUOTE]

Thank you for proving my point once again.

You did not prove anything, once again.

Some people feel the location of BWV is worth dealing with the tiny rooms, high dues, high point schedule and 1.2 mile walks to your room. Some don't.

Once again, how people "feel" was NOT the orginal question. The orginal questions was asking for a comparison in the distance from BWV and OKW to the parks, etc.