Are you an OKW VET?

[Friar Tuck]

I could use your opinion.

WDW vet about to stay on property at OKW for the first time (Sept 24) for a week!

My question is basically how to make a room request and what requests to make.

There will be 3 adults and an 8 month old in a 2 bedroom. We don't need H.A.

The requests I know I'll make are non-smoking, upper floor (less noise) and walking distance to the the kiddie pool (8 month old will spend a lot of time at OKW with an adult so I suspect the kiddie pool will get a workout ).

Is it better to request an area or specific building? If specific building(s) can you make any suggestions?

How should the request be made? Best to call OKW direct?

Should I request a refurbished unit? Very important for the Marriotts I've been staying at.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions

Friar Tuck

 

[Cruelladeville]

OKW doesn't work that way! You can ask for the moon, but you will get whatever they decide to give you! At OKW everywhere is quiet. Remember that you will walk up those 3 floors with that baby, there are no elevators, except for handicapped people. When you request, it's best to request non-smoking and a floor, and nothing else. This is a very large resort, and there are 3 pools, but you are going to walk a bit to get to the pool. Buildings 11-14 are right across the road from the main pool, but it's not very quiet there. Bldg. 48-55 are very quiet, and near a pool, but it's not a kiddie pool, although there is a playground there.

Do NOT call the resort directly! They do things differently than Marriott. OKW is larger than either Grande Vista or Cypress Harbour, and much busier at check-in. If you are adding to your requests, call MS, and ask them to add it to your reservations.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Requests should be made at the time the reservation is made, and should be very general and few in number. We usually request non smoking for medical reasons and leave it at that. In more than 20 stays, we have never had a bad unit. If being near the wading pool is your goal, you would be limited, since it is near the Hospitality House, and only buildings 11-14 are across the street there. All buses going to the parks stop at Hospitality House, so any unit is a quick bus ride away. The quietest buildings will be farthest from the main road (squeeky bus brakes). There are 4 pools on site, and each has a play area, albeit small. The main pool area has a sand and wading pool area, but I don't believe there a swings at that one.

Do you know if you are in a dedicated 2 bedroom or a lock off? If you are reserved for a lock off unit, it will be on the outside ends of a building and those COULD be near a roadway, which would have a bit more noise. If you are in a dedicated 2 bedroom, you will be toward the center of the building, and should be quieter unless you are on the 1st floor under a GV.

 

[Caskbill]

Since you're checking in next week, there's a good chance your villa has already been assigned. But Sunday is the biggest check-in day so there may be several buildings changing guests that day, thus giving you some opportunities to choose.

Keep in mind September is a busy time for DVC due to the low points. The resort will either be at or very near 100% capacity. Since DVC members don't all check-in/check-out on the same dates (as many other TS's do), it all depends on how many 2-B/R units are being vacated, and if some of those are lockoff's, they might be reserved by separate parties checking into 1-B/R's and Studios, thus will not be available as a 2-B/R unit. That could limit the available 2-B/R's even more.

Your best bet is to choose the single most important request and try for that. Anything else you might get is gravy. Good Luck.