1B at OKW or 1B at BWV?

[RLevy29]

It is not so much an issue of having your car in the park's parking lot as it is what you are going to do with your day or evening. If we are parking at an Epcot resort we are usually going to Epcot and then eat in one of the restaurants in Epcot, the BW or one of the resorts. They usually give you a 3 hour pass which since we are not swimming, it doesn't matter. We have never had anyone at the gates or in the parking lot say anything to us if we went over a little. At the Dolphin, they don't even check. I guess because they have huge parking lots. At Epcot it IS easier to come in the WS entrance because it is less crowded. We have eaten at the WL and the Poly and gone to the MK for an hour or two. To me this is just like parking at one of the casinos(We live near Atlantic City) having dinner, seeing a show, and then strolling on the BW.
Anyway, I feel like I've gotten off topic here. If you want the larger rooms and don't care about the commute, then OKW is for you. If you want to be able to walk to two parks and a you want a pool with a slide than BWV is for you.

 

[DeeP]

To me this is just like parking at one of the casinos(We live near Atlantic City) having dinner, seeing a show, and then strolling on the BW.

Or parking at the hospital, huh? LOL!

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by 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!!

By all means try OKW. Less points and larger accomodations. As far as being "out of the way", that is an illusion created by the imagineers. Everything is very close. When playing golf at LBV, I couldn't believe how close OKW is to CBR, POR, DD, etc.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by DeeP
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??????

Recent polls on using Disney transportation show the vast majority of people use buses. Trip times to and from OKW is only marginally longer than from other resorts, also as posted here. Some parks are closer to some resorts than others, but it is not significant, because some parks are farther away form some resorts than others. People need to understand that there are a lot of people who want to avoid paying for parking.

 

[giants fan]

With respect to previous beloved posters I am going to state that as someone who has stayed at both resorts I would ABSOLUTELY stay at BW.Despite the comments to the contrary that you may read, when we stayed at OKW I tried to get a one night stay at BW (besides our reservation) because I missed being in that resort. This is a sincerely held position. We do not rent a car and I would not run down any other resort.The negatives regarding room size, etc did not overcome the many positives of BWV. I don't know why someone has to create a negative view of a whole resort to promote theirs but I am glad to report my experience. Every Resort is wonderful but that is my answer to your posted question

 

[DeeP]

When playing golf at LBV, I couldn't believe how close OKW is to CBR, POR, DD, etc.

My point excately!

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by 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.

Have you checked the distance to nighttime entertainment and parks and restaurants (except Jiko and Boma) for those staying at AKL? Last I heard, that resort is also a Deluxe.

Transportation from OKW to the MK is the same (or faster) than from the Deluxe Resorts around Crescent Lake.

Depending on your definition of nighttime entertainment, those staying at OKW can get to DD much more easily than from any other resort (including "all the other deluxe resorts") , at least until SSR opens. Those staying at OKW can, with planning, easily get to the vast nighttime entertainment options of the Boardwalk by simply going to Epcot or MGM and walking or taking the Friendship Boat to that area. They can also take a bus or boat to DD- which has even more options for nighttime activities.

 

[DeeP]

Sorry Doc, I did eliminate AKL by mistake. However AKL is unique for a couple reasons: in that before it was opened, it and also WL at one point were not called "deluxe" resorts by Disney but instead intermediate or something like that. AKL is also unique due to the safari that surrounds the resort and is very much a HUGE part of the theming, it really can not be located very close to much--some of those animals take up a lot of space! LOL AKL offers it's guests all the same deluxe resort amenities and themed pool as the other deluxe resorts do.
By nighttime entertainment I meant the close location to the night shows at Epcot, MK and MGM, the electrical water parade, the boardwalk entertainment, mini golf at S&D, etc.--family entertainment, but you are right for adult nighttime entertainment at PI or shopping at DTD, OKW is much closer and more conveniently located.
I agree that transportation from the Epcot resorts to MK and even AK is the same as from OKW, but that is only for 2 parks not all 4.
"With planning" ALL areas of WDW are easily accesible from all their resorts. Disney transportation system and road system is second to none. However some resorts require less "planning" to get from point A to B, then others do.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by DeeP
By nighttime entertainment I meant the close location to the night shows at Epcot, MK and MGM, the electrical water parade, the boardwalk entertainment, mini golf at S&D, etc.--family entertainment, but you are right for adult nighttime entertainment at PI or shopping at DTD, OKW is much closer and more conveniently located.
I agree that transportation from the Epcot resorts to MK and even AK is the same as from OKW, but that is only for 2 parks not all 4.

So you've chosen to exclude Disney Quest and the theater complex from family entertainment also??

I guess it all depends on how we choose to define things. If we exclude the options that don't fit the point we wish to make, it's pretty easy to downplay one resort for another.

 

[DeeP]

In one of my earlier posts I know I said all the other deluxe and home away from home resorts were located much closer and more conveniently to the major parks then OKW was, with the exception of DTD/PI. I am not trying to eliminate any of DTD's many fine things to do and see there but usually DTD/PI is something families do not do as frequently as they go to a major park, see Illuminations, MK fireworks, Spectro, Fantasmic, etc during their vacation. Many people go to a major park daily while on vacation as opposed to one or two trips to DTD/PI. I personally love DTD & PI and go to both every trip but I spend a lot more of my vacation time at the 4 major parks then I do at the minor parks or DTD/PI.

 

[RobDoc]

As I already stated:

"I guess it all depends on how we choose to define things. If we exclude the options that don't fit the point we wish to make, it's pretty easy to downplay one resort for another."

 

[DeeP]

The point was answering the question of: with a short trip planned, which resort BWV or OKW would be closer/easier to parks, which pool was better and which had bigger rooms.

 

[RobDoc]

The actual quote from the OP is:

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? "

The question did not ask "which resort BWV or OKW would be closer/easier to parks, which pool was better". OP stated familiarity with BWV and merely asked for information about OKW.

If we choose to answer a question about OKW with a comparison to "other Deluxe Resorts" lets at least be complete with our comparison. Lets include all Deluxe Resorts in our comments instead of conveniently omitting one. Lets include all of DD in our comparison instead of just praising the nighttime options on the BW.

It's often difficult to respond to an honest question asking about a resort without interjecting our personal bias into our comments. It's too bad we sometimes feel the need to downplay one resort while praising another.

 

[Richyams]

It's often difficult to respond to an honest question asking about a resort without interjecting our personal bias into our comments. It's too bad we sometimes feel the need to downplay one resort while praising another

I agree completely....

 

[RLevy29]

Or parking at the hospital, huh? LOL!

Or parking at Jackson Ave. and taking a jitney!LOL

 

[RLevy29]

Originally posted by Webmaster Doc:

It's often difficult to respond to an honest question asking about a resort without interjecting our personal bias into our comments. It's too bad we sometimes feel the need to downplay one resort while praising another

Originally posted by Richyams

I agree completely....

Rich, you would never do this, would you?

 

[ColoradoDisneyFan]

Didn't realize I would create such an interesting thread!! Anyway, we will be happy staying at either place I'm sure. They both have a lot to offer and of course it is WDW no matter where we stay!! How could we go wrong staying at any DVC resort? I do feel comfortable about OKW's location. We are the kind of family that doesn't let a couple of miles here or there get in our way! And considering this is a last minute trip for Oct. we feel lucky to be able to get into a DVC property.

Thanks for the info everyone!

 

[JudyS]

I just want to say that I think having a car is an important factor at OKW. Disney's official transportation guide notes that OKW buses run less frequently than the buses to any of the other WDW resorts. So, if you won't have your own car, I'd go with BWV.

Otherwise, OKW is beautiful.

 

[Sammie]

OKW is closer to Magic Kingdom than BC and has much better transportation. No one at BW villas can say they enjoy sharing buses with the BC villas, YC, BC, and Swan and Dolphin. Even with OKW buses not running as often you will get there faster and get to sit down.

Same for Animal Kingdom.

Your walk from your room at BW can actually be much longer than OKW to the Bus Stops.

Certainly BW has the edge over OKW for closeness to Epcot and MGM, no arguement there.

Pool at BW is certainly the best, but it can get crowded with Pool Hoppers. If you stay at OKW you can always use the pool at BW if you wish to.

Space at OKW can't be argued, hands down OKW wins. Views at OKW are wonderful regardless of location, same can not be said for BW, as some are just OK.

Location to other recreation and entertainment is better at OKW.

Both are great resorts and there is no bad choice in either.

 

[DeDixie]

I don't want to join the debate -- whatever you enjoy is best for you.

I do want to tell you what we like about staying at the Boardwalk.

BWV:

Themed Pool w/ Great Slide
Free Fun and Games at Community Hall
Short Walk to Epcot
Reasonable walk to MGM -- done it in 12 minutes, not rushing
LOTS of Restaurantss within walking distance
Nightly Entertainment on Boardwalk
Hair wraps, Pin trading
Boat to MGM & Epcot, Beach/Yacht, Swan/Dolphin if you would rather not walk
Boardwalk Bakery, Ice Cream & Candy Store

I don't know about the rest of you, buy by the end of the day I am ready to go "home". We return to the room, change shoes, go to the bathroom, chill out - etc. Then we can go down on the boardwalk and get a drink, refill our mugs, get a treat to eat, watch the entertainment, pin trade, daughters can get their hair wraps, watch the fireworks, shop, sit and enjoy the people, rent a surrey bike -- or watch the crazy people who do rent them. LOL

We love waking up in the morning and going for a walk, getting a treat from the bakery, refilling our mugs. I love the fact that I can let my DD have some freedom. It is so close for them to walk to the store, arcade, lobby, candy store, bakery, etc. It gives them a little freedom and they are not walking past parking lots or across roads -- they are never very far from us, yet there is fun stuff for them to do.

We do not like to drive once we arrive at WDW, even in the summer when we have our car. We don't mind the busses, but we would rather not have to deal with them every day. Since we spend more time at MGM & Epcot, the BWV work best for us. We have some points at BC, and are currently adding more points at BWV.