Advice from OKW Experts needed! Especially if you have stayed here with multiple families

[TTFNTigger]

We are heading to WDW in early June. We have three 1 bedroom villas and one studio booked to accommodate our large family. I have several questions to help prepare us for what to expect.

1. If I make the following requests, what is the likelihood we will get all three requests?

• a. Rooms close together - are there studios in the same buildings as one bedroom villas?
• b. We want to be close to the main pool. Should I request to be close to the Hospitality House or should I give them the building numbers (I think I have 10 that would be ok)?
• c. We have several in our party that can handle one flight of stairs, but a second flight might be difficult. With the above two request, will adding the request to have only bottom or second floor rooms be too much?

2. How time consuming are the bus routes to the various parks? We have park hoppers and I am trying to plan what order to do the parks in.


Thanks so much!

 

[disneynutz]

Hospitality House is a separate booking category and your reservation would say HH if you booked it. If you didn't your buildings won't be close to HH. I'm pretty sure that all of the elevator buildings are in the HH category.

Reference each reservation number to the other with the "traveling with" label.

We have found the buses to be as expected, 30 to 40 minutes depending on the park.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hospitality House is a separate booking category and your reservation would say HH if you booked it. If you didn't your buildings won't be close to HH. I'm pretty sure that all of the elevator buildings are in the HH category.

Reference each reservation number to the other with the "traveling with" label.

We have found the buses to be as expected, 30 to 40 minutes depending on the park.

Bill

The elevator buildings are not in the HH category.

 

[disneynutz]

The elevator buildings are not in the HH category.

Good to know, thanks, I thought that buildings 62, 63, and 64 had the elevators and that they were HH category buildings.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Good to know, thanks, I thought that buildings 62, 63, and 64 had the elevators and that they were HH category buildings.

Bill

Yes, those are the buildings with the elevators and are located close to HH even though not in that category. Buildings 11-14 and 23-26 are in the HH category. We were in 62 when we booked a non-HH 2BR a few years ago.

 

[Pirate Granny]

Your requests are numerous...all together (4 rooms would have to check out on the same day), they don't hold empty rooms for a night so 4 rooms can be together. All on first floor...less of a chance if you first put you want to be all together...close to main pool, even less of a chance all together in same building on the first floor. There are many buildings...and you have four rooms. A better option would've been a three bedroom grand villa...I would prioritise what is MOST important and then add a second option...I would never try three/four requests. Remember these are only requests, never a guarantee...you may all end up in different buildings at different ends of the complex...just the luck of the draw, and where the rooms are for people checking out the day you arrive.

 

[Dean]

We are heading to WDW in early June. We have three 1 bedroom villas and one studio booked to accommodate our large family. I have several questions to help prepare us for what to expect.

1. If I make the following requests, what is the likelihood we will get all three requests?

• a. Rooms close together - are there studios in the same buildings as one bedroom villas?
• b. We want to be close to the main pool. Should I request to be close to the Hospitality House or should I give them the building numbers (I think I have 10 that would be ok)?
• c. We have several in our party that can handle one flight of stairs, but a second flight might be difficult. With the above two request, will adding the request to have only bottom or second floor rooms be too much?

2. How time consuming are the bus routes to the various parks? We have park hoppers and I am trying to plan what order to do the parks in.


Thanks so much!

There's no way to guarantee ground floor or elevator unless you book HC villas though they're pretty good at honoring requests for medical reasons. Why not book a lock off 2 BR as a minimum, cheaper than doing them separately. I don't know your group or preferences but one might consider two 2BR rather than the current plans for significantly less points.

 

[TTFNTigger]

Thank you all for the responses.

I booked using the recent Disney Visa Rewards discount. Called the day it came out and the computers were having difficulties. The CM I spoke to earlier in the day told me she would call me back so I waited a couple of hours, but had the feeling I just needed to call again. So I did and was glad I did. There was no record in their system that I had called. Long story short the only thing available under the discount during the time frame we want to go were the 1 bedroom villas. That's why I booked so may different rooms. Would have preferred 2 two bedrooms. Checked at other resorts as well, but those options were at resorts undergoing refurbishment at the time we will be there. This is a once in a lifetime trip with the whole family, not going to risk being in a construction site.

I had inquired on the regular Resort thread about info for OKW and the vast layout and it was recommended that I make the request to be close to the Hospitality House. Then someone else recommended that I post my questions on this thread.

We all don't need to be on a ground floor, I'm just concerned if we all get put on the 3rd floor.

I know there is no guarantee for requests to be granted. I guess I'll request being close together and near a pool. If you say that chances are we won't all get on the first floor, chances are we won't all be on the 3rd floor either.

Thanks again. If you have any other advice on staying at OKW, I'd love to hear it. Only positive things though please. I've pretty much exhausted the possibility of staying at another on-property resort. This one fits our budget and room space needs.

 

[Mjkre]

I would request close together, but hope that the request gets you all in same area. If you have not pre-booked HH, you will not get it. But you could request Millers Road and ground floors for all. If there is a medical reason, request 62,63,64 which are also in the Millers Road section and close to HH. The buildings in that area are all within a short walk to HH (I think the farthest building in that area is about 10 mins). Also it has a quiet pool that you all could gather at. Turtle pond and South Point also have their own pools, but are a bit farther from HH. We love most of the quiet pools.

We stayed in a HH category room and our friends stayed about half way down Millers Road. It worked fine. But we are happy in the other areas too. Also, all park buses stop at HH on their way out of resort. So getting to HH is not an issue. To get back, if you don't feel like walking, walk across street to stop at Peninsular Rd. That's the first stop in the resort.

 

[T00dles]

I guess the map is a bit old...62, 63, 64 are HH too. But its a nice visual.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thank you all for the responses.

I booked using the recent Disney Visa Rewards discount. Called the day it came out and the computers were having difficulties. The CM I spoke to earlier in the day told me she would call me back so I waited a couple of hours, but had the feeling I just needed to call again. So I did and was glad I did. There was no record in their system that I had called. Long story short the only thing available under the discount during the time frame we want to go were the 1 bedroom villas. That's why I booked so may different rooms. Would have preferred 2 two bedrooms. Checked at other resorts as well, but those options were at resorts undergoing refurbishment at the time we will be there. This is a once in a lifetime trip with the whole family, not going to risk being in a construction site.

I had inquired on the regular Resort thread about info for OKW and the vast layout and it was recommended that I make the request to be close to the Hospitality House. Then someone else recommended that I post my questions on this thread.

We all don't need to be on a ground floor, I'm just concerned if we all get put on the 3rd floor.

I know there is no guarantee for requests to be granted. I guess I'll request being close together and near a pool. If you say that chances are we won't all get on the first floor, chances are we won't all be on the 3rd floor either.

Thanks again. If you have any other advice on staying at OKW, I'd love to hear it. Only positive things though please. I've pretty much exhausted the possibility of staying at another on-property resort. This one fits our budget and room space needs.

First, I'd ask if they could add "traveling with xxxxx" to each of the reservations. That should indicate you'd like to be close together. Then I'd add the lower floor and near pool requests. Since there are multiple pools no matter where you are placed you should not be too far from one of them.

 

[T00dles]

Not mine but still useful.
All of the following building descriptions are listed from right to left, as you face the building from the parking area.

Type A buildings are all 3 stories.
1st Floor- S,1,2,2,2,1,S
2nd Floor- S,1,2,2,2,1,S
3rd Floor- 2,2,2
Buildings 13,20,21,23,26,27,28,32,33,34,36,37,39,41,42,45,46 ,47,50,52,54,56 and 62 are all Type A.

Type B buildings are all 2 stories.
1st Floor- S,1,2,1,S
2nd Floor- S,1,2,1,S
Buildings 11,17,24,30,31,40,44 and 55 are all Type B.

Type C buildings are all 3 stories.
1st Floor- S,1,2,2,1,S
2nd Floor- S,1,GV,GV,1,S (#6322 is a HCA GV)
3rd Floor- GV, GV (upper floors)
Buildings 15,16 19,22,25,29,43,49,51,53 and 63 are all Type C.

Type D buildings are all 3 stories.
1st Floor- 2,1,S,S,1,1,S,S,1,2
2nd Floor- 2,1,S,S,1 1 S,S,1,2
3rd Floor- 1,S,S,1 1 S,S,1
Buildings 14,18,35 and 38 are all Type D.

Type E- #48 is a 3 story building.
1st Floor- S,1,2,2,2,GV (#4815 is a HCA GV)
2nd Floor- S,1,GV,GV,GV,GV(upper Floor)
3rd Floor- GV,GV,GV (upper floor of all)

Type E- #49 is a 3 story building.
1st Floor- S,1,2,2,2,1,S
2nd Floor- S,1,GV,GV,GV,1,S
3rd Floor- GV,GV,GV (upper floor of all)

Building 48 and 49 are the only Type E buildings and each has a variant configuration.

TypeF is a 3 story building.
1st Floor- S,1,2,2,1,S,1,S
2nd Floor- S,1,2,2,1,S,1,S
3rd Floor- S,1,2,2
Building 64 is the only Type F.

TypeG is a 2 story building.
1st Floor- S,1,2,2,2
2nd Floor- S,1,2,2,2
Building 12 is the only Type G.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Thanks again. If you have any other advice on staying at OKW, I'd love to hear it. Only positive things though please. I've pretty much exhausted the possibility of staying at another on-property resort. This one fits our budget and room space needs.

We love OKW it's one of our favorites, would never hesitate to stay there. If the units are spread out more than is comfortable for the mobility challenged members maybe you can all go in on a car that can be used to shuttle the outlying family members to whatever unit is acting as the hub/base. Parking is right outside your room at OKW so very convenient that way. You can still use the buses for park access to keep your group together for your touring plan. Hope it works out for all of you, and you have a great time.

 

[Dean]

Thank you all for the responses.

I booked using the recent Disney Visa Rewards discount. Called the day it came out and the computers were having difficulties. The CM I spoke to earlier in the day told me she would call me back so I waited a couple of hours, but had the feeling I just needed to call again. So I did and was glad I did. There was no record in their system that I had called. Long story short the only thing available under the discount during the time frame we want to go were the 1 bedroom villas. That's why I booked so may different rooms. Would have preferred 2 two bedrooms. Checked at other resorts as well, but those options were at resorts undergoing refurbishment at the time we will be there. This is a once in a lifetime trip with the whole family, not going to risk being in a construction site.

I had inquired on the regular Resort thread about info for OKW and the vast layout and it was recommended that I make the request to be close to the Hospitality House. Then someone else recommended that I post my questions on this thread.

We all don't need to be on a ground floor, I'm just concerned if we all get put on the 3rd floor.

I know there is no guarantee for requests to be granted. I guess I'll request being close together and near a pool. If you say that chances are we won't all get on the first floor, chances are we won't all be on the 3rd floor either.

Thanks again. If you have any other advice on staying at OKW, I'd love to hear it. Only positive things though please. I've pretty much exhausted the possibility of staying at another on-property resort. This one fits our budget and room space needs.

I"d request near each other and first floor for medical reasons as appropriate. I would talk to them about linking them, I'm not sure how this works on the cash reservations. I do wonder if renting wouldn't have been much cheaper and since the inventory is separate, it might or might not be available. I wouldn't do OKW without a car personally even if I only had one with a larger group for grocery runs and had to shuttle with multiple trips.

 

[Mjkre]

Btw, we have stayed in 18, 19, 23 and 35. 23 ("near HH" cat) was our favorite. But, we have never had a car. And one drawback of near HH is that there is no "quiet pool" to enjoy. Having that fall back option is nice...and those pools are often near empty bc everyone is at HH. FYI, OKW also has a community hall at the HH pool which your kids will enjoy if there are younger ones in your group. If you end up being spread out, just try to look at it positively as easy access to all the different pools at the resort (although everyone is of course free to always use all pools....but sometimes it's nice to have a room nearby). Have a great trip!

 

[jimmytammy]

I would definitely narrow down your requests to the 2 most important, as they say, no guarantee on any requests, but traveling with that many folks, you probably need to warn them ahead of time you will do your best to make it all work out. Once you arrive, you may be able to better navigate your way to get the couple needs met. Be very flexible in location, and it may work out. Good luck to you!

 

[TTFNTigger]

Thank you all! You have definitely settled my nerves about staying at OKW! This is our first trip with others and I have been put in charge of planning for the group since my family has been to WDW twice in the past 5 years and two families haven't been in more than 20 years (their kids have never been). Planning for 4 family groups is much more complicated than just 1!

When I booked the CM did link our rooms with "travelling with" and we will have multiple cars, as of right now only one family is flying in.

Now to figure out how to balance relaxation time with park time... Hahaha. My family is rope drop to close and park hop to another park if there's one still open. The other families not so much. It will all be good though!

Thanks again!

 

[Mjkre]

Re: resort vs park time: afternoons w kids at OKW is awesome. Cast members come out w tons of activities/pool games/dancing etc. my kids never wanted to miss it!

 

[Dean]

Thank you all! You have definitely settled my nerves about staying at OKW! This is our first trip with others and I have been put in charge of planning for the group since my family has been to WDW twice in the past 5 years and two families haven't been in more than 20 years (their kids have never been). Planning for 4 family groups is much more complicated than just 1!

When I booked the CM did link our rooms with "travelling with" and we will have multiple cars, as of right now only one family is flying in.

Now to figure out how to balance relaxation time with park time... Hahaha. My family is rope drop to close and park hop to another park if there's one still open. The other families not so much. It will all be good though!

Thanks again!

We travel yearly (most) for a week with family. We're usually 25-40 people with mid 30's to 40 being most common over the last few years. We are currently in Aruba and had some of those family were with us here including one couple who were with us our first family trip in 98 and essentially all since. The other couple that was here has only been with us once before (more distant family). We were discussing this very subject and how it worked/works including the planning for our first trip, IMO the one with the most risk. Before I finalized the first trip, I made a list of rules that should be fairly simple and self explanatory. I then discussed with each family so there would be no misunderstandings. The rules were something to the effect of no drama, you don't wait on me/nor me you, don't leave charges on the room, ETOH expectations and the most important, if you're not OK with the rules, DON'T GO. It worked great and we've had maybe 12-14 such trips, never had any drama and not had anyone who's bowed out of going if they could. I pay for the accommodations and plan the location and time. IMO Disney is the most risky trip, when people should be on their best behavior they're likely to be at their worst. Or put another way, crazy is crazy on steroids at Disney.

I feel that to be unclear of expectations and make assumptions is to be inconsiderate. For Disney we plan the trip, make dining reservations for options and tell everyone what we're doing and that they're welcome to either tag along or join us as appropriate. I try very hard not to put people in a situation that creates a financial burden or controls their vacation.

 

[Alice Sr.]

For Disney we plan the trip, make dining reservations for options and tell everyone what we're doing and that they're welcome to either tag along or join us as appropriate. I try very hard not to put people in a situation that creates a financial burden or controls their vacation.

So how do you handle the dining reservations? Do you make the resv for everyone in your trip and modify at the door if some can't or prefer not to participate? TIA (sorry for the high jack)