At OKW now, first stay and loving it

[RCharnay]

After staying at Boardwalk and being able to walk to two parks, how is it staying at a resort where you can't walk to anything? We own at Beach Club and prefer to stay there but I would like to try some of the other DVC resorts eventually but have concerns that it won't be as fun if you can't walk to anything. What are your thoughts?

We walk to DTD from OKW each trip and love the proximity. Not a park but...

 

[Meggysmum]

We have just returned from OKW and I must say I was disappointed.

We checked in at 8am and left for the parks, at 6pm they were still unable to find us a 1-bed unit. At first they suggested we went and had dinner and came back, errr-no! I wanted to get unpacked and have an early night as we had done several late nights.

Eventually they put is in block 52, seemed nice and quiet but then realised that the buses use the parking area to turn around in so it was noisy until late in the night since the parks were open until 1am! When we went to make up the beds we had one dirty sheet to make up the sofa beds and no blankets or pillows, phone housekeeping. 3 phone calls and 2 hours later we eventually managed to get some linen, by this time it was 11pm! Stagnant pond outside the balcony was not very picturesque but at least we could just about see through the overgrown trees.

We were so far from HH that we ended up taking the car up there if we wanted a snack or a coffee as it would be cold before we got back to the room!

The room itself was absolutely lovely, I thought the decor was perfect, not fussy and twee like SSR, more clean lines and I adored the flooring. The spacious bathrrom with the seperate sink and bath worked well for us too.

I also didnt like the fact that most of the resort is golf course so unlike SSR there aren't nice places to wander around and sit.

Overall our stay was ok but I will stay somewhere else next time!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have just returned from OKW and I must say I was disappointed.

We checked in at 8am and left for the parks, at 6pm they were still unable to find us a 1-bed unit. At first they suggested we went and had dinner and came back, errr-no! I wanted to get unpacked and have an early night as we had done several late nights.

Eventually they put is in block 52, seemed nice and quiet but then realised that the buses use the parking area to turn around in so it was noisy until late in the night since the parks were open until 1am! When we went to make up the beds we had one dirty sheet to make up the sofa beds and no blankets or pillows, phone housekeeping. 3 phone calls and 2 hours later we eventually managed to get some linen, by this time it was 11pm! Stagnant pond outside the balcony was not very picturesque but at least we could just about see through the overgrown trees.

We were so far from HH that we ended up taking the car up there if we wanted a snack or a coffee as it would be cold before we got back to the room!

The room itself was absolutely lovely, I thought the decor was perfect, not fussy and twee like SSR, more clean lines and I adored the flooring. The spacious bathrrom with the seperate sink and bath worked well for us too.

I also didnt like the fact that most of the resort is golf course so unlike SSR there aren't nice places to wander around and sit.

Overall our stay was ok but I will stay somewhere else next time!

Interesting perspective...We LOVE building 52! Love that it's so close to the bus stop, and have never had an issue with bus noise at all there. Plus, we love that it's only about a 5-6 minute walk to HH if we don't think we can wait for a bus. Remember that all buses stop at HH last, so any bus will get you there. If you are in a hurry, the walk really isn't as bad as it looks. I know I've done it many times from that area in around 5 minutes. I've actually spent more time walking the long hallways of AKV to get to the lobby than I have walking from South Point to HH at OKW!

 

[Meggysmum]

Interesting perspective...We LOVE building 52! Love that it's so close to the bus stop, and have never had an issue with bus noise at all there. Plus, we love that it's only about a 5-6 minute walk to HH if we don't think we can wait for a bus. Remember that all buses stop at HH last, so any bus will get you there. If you are in a hurry, the walk really isn't as bad as it looks. I know I've done it many times from that area in around 5 minutes. I've actually spent more time walking the long hallways of AKV to get to the lobby than I have walking from South Point to HH at OKW!

I think the weather being cold made the walk less appealing. Hubby and I walked it a few times but I much preferred my walks around SSR when I wanted to refill. I think the bus noise was a problem due to the parks all being open so late over the holidays so there was lots of late night traffic. The noise was fine in the bedroom but was loud for those sleeping in the lounge area.

I dreaded going to SSR in October but I was really impressed with it and will definitely book again whereas I was looking forward to OKW and left disappointed. However it wouldn't do if we all liked the same things or we would all be fighting over the same room!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

You are right, the resort amenities do determine if you like or dislike a resort! I love to walk and personally we don't do refillable mugs, we use our kitchen fridge and coffee pot and fill it with exactly the brands we like. One of my favorite things to do in the am at OKW is to brew a pot of Gevalia French roast coffee (avail in grocery stores now) and enjoy the first few cups all to myself on the balcony, reading or just enjoying the quiet till the rest of the brood gets up! I fell in love with DVC, OKW, the OKW kitchen, the OKW master bedroom and that lovely balcony and though I enjoy my stays at SSR, BWV and Kidani, I still favor OKW!

And if OKW wasn't for you, then try each and every resort till you find the one you like best!

 

[Meggysmum]

And if OKW wasn't for you, then try each and every resort till you find the one you like best!

That's what I am trying to do! Unfortunately no trans-atlantic trip for me until 2014 when hopefully we can try AK and BC or BW.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

That's what I am trying to do! Unfortunately no trans-atlantic trip for me until 2014 when hopefully we can try AK and BC or BW.

The airlines prices are through the roof, I can' get a flight home to France that's under $1400 per ticket for this summer! It's insanity!