Ariel statue at BCV

[DisneyPhD]

One of my 2 year old DD favorite things at our 1st DVC stay at BCV was the Airel DVC Statue outiside the resort. Everytime she passed it she had say hi to it and stop and look.

Do other DVC resorts have similar statues? I look forward to cheacking each resort out, but love BCV so much I only want to stay there!

We had so much fun on our last trip (March 2003) that we decided to get more out of our new annual passes and get an extra trip to WDW this Aug for our 10th wedding aniversary. After considering staying at Poly or Con at AP rates, we decide we didn't want to stay anywhere that wasn't DVC. So we are borrowing all of our remaining points we can for 2003 and want to stay at BCV. We just loved it there, SAB is perfect for 2 year olds. However we are 2 points short and had to cut our trip by a day We could do more days at OKW, but aren't sure.

 

[JimC]

We have stayed at OKW and loved it. No pool can compare to SAB and OKW does not have a slide. OKW has the largest rooms and the resort has a very laid back feel to it -- spread out and relaxed. There is boat to Downtown Disney, buses to everywhere else.

We love the place and own at both.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I know the one your talking about - DH took a picture of me and our DDs in front of it. I don't recall seeing anything similar at the other onsite resorts. HH has a faux Tigger and Pooh topiary in front of the lodge that we take a family picture in front of when we go.

 

[goofy4dvc]

The Villas at Wilderness Lodge feature a topiary Mickey welcoming guests to the DVC villas.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Originally posted by JimC
We have stayed at OKW and loved it. No pool can compare to SAB and OKW does not have a slide. OKW has the largest rooms and the resort has a very laid back feel to it -- spread out and relaxed. There is boat to Downtown Disney, buses to everywhere else.

We love the place and own at both.

I did the math last night, we can stay for 7 days 6 nights at VWL or BCV and 10 days 9 nights at OKW (we have 126 points left, and can't borrow any more ) So we are strongly leaning towards OKW. How is the pool there, would it be good in any way for a 2 year old. I don't mind the lack of water silde, but I just loved the shallow sandy area at SAB. I am thinking the pool will be much more important in Aug, especailly if the parks are more crowded then we are used to. Another option is BWV standard veiw, but I don't think we can get in there. We have never been in summer so we are kinda nevous about that.

I am just in love with BCV right now and am dreaming about being back there.

 

[spiceycat]

there are 4 pools at OKW - the main pool has a child swimming pool - the others do not - they do not have the zero entry - but I think she would enjoy them. All the pools have playgrounds and picinic areas near by. Turtle pool has a eating place - not much (no hamburgers) - kept in mind that you can pool-hop - to bad that POFQ is closed - she would LOVE that pool - it was designed for her age group. the new pool at the Polyn and the GF are zero entry - so you could pool hop to them.

forgot - there are NO lifeguards at OKW - none!!!

 

[colleen costello]

We went last summer when BCV opened but couldn't stay more than 3 days because they were booked up. We moved over to OKW. I was in a funk because I tried the waitlist at BCV but there was no room available and we did have to move. OKW pleasantly surprised me. Very different, yet wonderful in its own way. Less busy. My kids love SAB, yet the also loved the OKW quiet pool because it was so quiet -- never crowded. There are steps into these pools so your little one could play there. The main pool has some statues of dolphins and some squirting fountains. My kids also enjoyed the playgrounds. We rent the bicycle-for-four when we are there and also take the ferry ride to Downtown Disney.

Moral of story? I fell in love with OKW and now prefer it even over Beach Club. The points are low and the rooms are huge. You might consider one or two nights at OKW to see if you like it, then head over to your favored BCV. This flexibility is part of what makes DVC so nice. I think OKW may work its way into your heart!

 

[Terry S]

We are also owners at BCV and fell in love with the place. Last October my husband and I took the boat from DTD over to OKW to check it out. We went to the front desk at OKW and asked to see a room. The rooms were very nice, but I really didn't like how spread out everything was at OKW. I would not reccommend staying there without a car. Someone mentioned that they visited during a rainy time and split a stay between BCV and OKW without a car. At BCV you can walk to several restaurants and to the BC lobby and store without having to go outside or at least have a covered walkway. At OKW, they had to get soaked to get the restaurant. Like I said, I thought OKW was nice, just too spread out unless you have a car.

 

[DisneyPhD]

hum, all really good points. We aren't renting a car, which means we won't have to pay more for extra days, but might make it harder at OKW. We already have the AP so extra days also don't cost more. I hadn't thought about trying to get a the start of the trip (and weekend) at OKW and then move to BCV. Right now we are on the wait list for BCV anyway and have ressises for VWL, but we don't plan on staying there since we will be there Jan 2004 (new points then!) My hubby doesn't want to move rooms, but I am open to the idea.

I might call to day and see if we can get standad veiw at BW, but I hear that fills up very fast.

All in all OKW is sounding better and better. After all we can pool hop and I don't know how much we will eat at the resort, outside of our room. 3 extra days is pretty cool, since it is summer my hubby teaches college and he is off, we have the time. Too bad pool hopping for SAB is closed. If we could do that just for one day my choice wouldn't be so hard.

Well it is a hard choice to make, but at least all the options are good ones!!!!

Thanks for the help from people who have been there.

 

[ktbugsmom]

One quick comment about OKW with a 2 year old in August. We went last August, and it rained (no poured) every day. So - going out to get food (we never cooked in the room except breakfast), we would get soaked. We would get caught at the main pool when the rain would start - then have to trudge back to our room in the rain. I didn't like that.

We were just at BCV in March - and my just turned 3 year old LOVED the "sand pool" there. Now don't get me wrong, she loved the sand play area at OKW, but when the rain would start, it was such a pain getting back to the room. At BCV, you can walk the whole way indoors - which is much easier and more pleasant - especially with a stroller and beach toys...

Just my 2 cents...maybe if we had had a room a bit closer to the Hospitality house, it would have been better. But we were about a 5-7 minute walk. Not bad when it wasn't raining... but did I mention it poured?!

 

[colleen costello]

We always have our minivan so any area of OKW is OK to us. Without a car it may feel more "remote." We actually love its location since we shop and eat offsite a lot and OKW is close to Crossings where they have Pizzeria Uno, Olive Garden and Perkins. My kids LOVE Perkins and we go there a lot. The kids' meals are from about $2.50 to $3.50 and include a drink and cookie for desert. How can you go wrong? We save so much here that we can splurge on some Disney meals.

We also like how casual OKW feels. Beach Club feels a bit "fancier." I just personally feel OKW is very "informal" and I really like that. When we arrive with our minivan full of pool toys and poptarts and 10,000 Nintendo games, I LOVE that we don't have to walk through a lobby! We never use room service so we don't miss it. That said, Beach Club does offer more action in the event of rain. But with our van, we can go anywhere on property. Last trip we had a terrible rainy morning and we spent a great time at the Wilderness Lodge. If you don't have a car, BCV is probably more convenient, but promise us here that at some point, you'll give OKW a try!

 

[gazeborob]

If you are only 2 points shy, why not put a post on the trade board and see if you can pick them up. I know it may be a little work for someone, but it might work out. I need 18 to finish a Christmas trip, and had no problem with it.

Rob

 

[JimC]

We don't rent a car at OKW, but we do request to be close to a bus stop. There is an internal bus or was when we were there last. Whatever you go with -- have fun!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Originally posted by gazeborob
If you are only 2 points shy, why not put a post on the trade board and see if you can pick them up. I know it may be a little work for someone, but it might work out. I need 18 to finish a Christmas trip, and had no problem with it.

Rob

I have thought about it, but I am still leaning towards OKW since we are on the wait list for BCV anyway. Kinda shy about renting points, never done that before and seems like a lot of work for 2 points! Our problem now is that when I went to change the ressies and they said I don't have enough points now because the left over points went towards our ressies in Jan for VWL! I think I am going to have to cancel those in other to get the extra nights at OKW!!!!!!


We won't have a car at OKW if we go there, but we stayed at all of the mod resorts and never had a car, so we are kind of used to that. I do have a rain cover for the stroller and boy did that help last trip in March.

Either way it is a win / win situation, we are going to WDW and staying at a great resort!

 

[donmil723]

Just something to consider--pool hopping without a car might be more difficult as busses do not go directly between resorts. You would need to go to someplace like DTD and catch a bus there for the resort you want to pool hop at.

Donna

 

[colleen costello]

You have the right attitude... WDW is a treat no matter where you stay.

More about OKW. I not only love WDW, but FLORIDA. I love the flowers and the green and even those little lizards that run everywhere. Old Key West really feels "Florida-y" to me. There's a lot of green space. The flowers are gorgeous but it's not just flower beds that looked "fussed over," but lush trees and bushes and branches that seem like they have been there forever. Only the Polynesian rivals it is terms of landscaping, I think. When we visit in the Spring, I kind of get sensory overload because I have been in winter back home. It's a beautiful place with so many small pleasures. Just walking to the pool is a treat because the paths and grounds are so nice. The main area where you check in, is small, but it has a real "homey" feel to it. WDW can be very overwhelming and I just love how relaxing OKW is.

No matter where you wind up, and for how many nights... I hope you have a wonderful time with your family!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Well colleen, your discription won me over. When I am in FLA I want to feel like I am there (or at least some place warm and tropicial.) I love the feel of BCV, but after looking at some pictures of OKW, that seems to fit also.

So I called member services and changed our ressies from VWL studio(we were wait listed for BCV anyway) for 6 nights 7 days to OKW for 9 nights 10 days. How cool is that? (we are borrowing every aviable point from next year so it has to be a studio!)

I must admit I am a little concerned about not having a car (maybe we will change our minds and rent, but hubby loves to not drive at all on our WDW vacations.)

The best news is these extra 3 nights won't cost much more, sense we already have AP and can eat some in the room!

I will miss SAB, but I think the extra time will make up for it, and OKW looks wonderful!!! We do plan to pool hop to GF and Poly once or twice, just take our suits with us when we do the mornig at MK.

Thanks so much for everyones help on this, it turned out to be a thread drift, but I really needed all the advice from the experts!!

 

[colleen costello]

You will have a ball and you can report back to us here! I think you'll do OK with the buses. They have it well planned out at OKW . EVERY bus loops through the resort and stops last at Hospitality House before heading off to "wherever." So if you want to travel "within" OKW, any bus will do -- and they literally appear every few minutes. There is also the boat ride to Downtown Disney as a travel option.

Nine days at OKW sounds like HEAVEN to me! Plan on a meal or two at Olivia's; we loved it. We also rented a bike for 4 and the kids loved that! We tried out a few of the pools and took the DD boat ride. We also order pizzas to the room and the kids think this is very cool (the 9- and 5-year old brains are interesting things). We were in a studio last summer and the size was fine -- the room is a funky shape with lots of floor space and the little kitchenette is perfect.

Have fun!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Both Olivias and Pizza in the room are things we talked over today and are planning on doing. Since we only have a studio most of the eating in the room will be easy foods or left overs (One pizza will last a few days with us, my DD could and can eat it for breakfeast!!)

We have never had a car at any WDW trip, and managed in the past, so while I can see how it would be more convenent, I think will won't know what we are missing. (and not driving really makes DH happy!)

Another things we are exciteda bout is while this will be our 8th WDW trip, (I think I may of lost track over the years) it will be our 1st to OKW and trying something new. OKW strike me as all that is good about Dixi Landings, but more so and more laid back then many of the Deluxe resorts.

Here to 3 trips to WDW in less then 9 months, all with a under 3 year old!!!!!! We are crazy, but in a good way!