Back from a month at OKW

ILoveMyDVC

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Aug 24, 2000
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It was lovely. Stayed in a 2 bed in building 33. Forgot how nice that building is all around. We had company (2 adults and 3 children for 10 days) and then I was alone for the rest of the month. I had to fly out to CA for 2 days to attend to my recently deceased brother's affairs and it was comforting to fly in and out of MCO and come back to OKW.

The guard that night had some wonderful words of wisdom and comfort that I will cherish forever.

I went down the slide for the first time and I have been a member since before it existed! Also, I bought and traded pins for my eBay purchased original DVC logo hat. It was a great conversation starter. I sat a bar for the first time (okay a few times but all firsts). Ate at the Plaza (finally) and Terralina by myself. Had Giddeon's cookies.

Walked around the Food & Wine Festival and with my DH and friends drank in every country - oh my - at the end it was just a sip of their something. I was a late bloomer at 38 for alcohol so this was indeed exciting. We swam until 2:00 a.m. - Mom didn't drink the World, she did passports and Kidscots and stayed with her children.

The first people I spoke with caught in a rain storm seeking shelter and the last at the hot tub (for hours) were all from Rhode Island. How does the Universe work like that???

Housekeeping was odd - the room only received 1 full cleaning but towels galore. Had a lamp with a bad button and ran out of dishwasher powder once but otherwise no issues. Thrash removal everyday which I like (especially when we were 7) even if not always convenient.

I don't want to get in trouble with the mods but mask compliance on the OKW busses was less than 100% (I have pictures) including one instance when a group of teenagers were singing at top volume sans masks. THAT driver pulled over after the first stop and made them mask up. Bus timing was exceptionally good. LYFT not so much after EPCOT fireworks. Lots of people; no drivers. I found it faster every time to walk from the Peninsular stop to building 33 then do the South Pt. loop to Turtle Pond on the bus.

The pools are busy but not too busy. Kudos to the CMs that entertain the children: They were fantastic. The parks were crazy busy. Lines were long and hot. HEA fireworks were jammed to the hilt. I was nervous packed in so tight and looked to get out of the crowds as quickly as possible. EPCOT was far more peaceful all around. AK was also packed like sardines as were the Studios.

I'm going back in 19 (HA! it's after midnight) 18 days! We are doing one day at Kilimanjaro CL at AK because OKW is not available. I have no idea what to expect. Since 1994 I only spend one night not at OKW.

My husband says I have to start telling people I am visiting FLA not WDW or they will think I am deficient in some way. I tell him I don't care what they think. I'm going to the Vacation Club!

Hope your Monday is peaceful and flies by unless you are in the parks!595129
 
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Sounds like you had a wonderful time!!!
I am sorry about your brother, but hope that the trip helped ease some of your pain 💕
 

It was lovely. Stayed in a 2 bed in building 33. Forgot how nice that building is all around. We had company (2 adults and 3 children for 10 days) and then I was alone for the rest of the month. I had to fly out to CA for 2 days to attend to my recently deceased brother's affairs and it was comforting to fly in and out of MCO and come back to OKW.

The guard that night had some wonderful words of wisdom and comfort that I will cherish forever.

I went down the slide for the first time and I have been a member since before it existed! Also, I bought and traded pins for my eBay purchased original DVC logo hat. It was a great conversation starter. I sat a bar for the first time (okay a few times but all firsts). Ate at the Plaza (finally) and Terralina by myself. Had Giddeon's cookies.

Walked around the Food & Wine Festival and with my DH and friends drank in every country - oh my - at the end it was just a sip of their something. I was a late bloomer at 38 for alcohol so this was indeed exciting. We swam until 2:00 a.m. - Mom didn't drink the World, she did passports and Kidscots and stayed with her children.

The first people I spoke with caught in a rain storm seeking shelter and the last at the hot tub (for hours) were all from Rhode Island. How does the Universe work like that???

Housekeeping was odd - the room only received 1 full cleaning but towels galore. Had a lamp with a bad button and ran out of dishwasher powder once but otherwise no issues. Thrash removal everyday which I like (especially when we were 7) even if not always convenient.

I don't want to get in trouble with the mods but mask compliance on the OKW busses was less than 100% (I have pictures) including one instance when a group of teenagers were singing at top volume sans masks. THAT driver pulled over after the first stop and made them mask up. Bus timing was exceptionally good. LYFT not so much after EPCOT fireworks. Lots of people; no drivers. I found it faster every time to walk from the Peninsular stop to building 33 then do the South Pt. loop to Turtle Pond on the bus.

The pools are busy but not too busy. Kudos to the CMs that entertain the children: They were fantastic. The parks were crazy busy. Lines were long and hot. HEA fireworks were jammed to the hilt. I was nervous packed in so tight and looked to get out of the crowds as quickly as possible. EPCOT was far more peaceful all around. AK was also packed like sardines as were the Studios.

I'm going back in 19 (HA! it's after midnight) 18 days! We are doing one day at Kilimanjaro CL at AK because OKW is not available. I have no idea what to expect. Since 1994 I only spend one night not at OKW.

My husband says I have to start telling people I am visiting FLA not WDW or they will think I am deficient in some way. I tell him I don't care what they think. I'm going to the Vacation Club!

Hope your Monday is peaceful and flies by unless you are in the parks!
You’re awesome 😍
 
Since you must have roughly 3 million points, how many days at year do you spent at disney?

Now and again one hears of people who's main plan is to spent three months during the winter at disney. Alas, we are the squeaking out two weeks from our 300 points group.

I'd love to be in the staying gobs of time group, but not so much in the paying for the points group.
 
Since you must have roughly 3 million points, how many days at year do you spent at disney?

Now and again one hears of people who's main plan is to spent three months during the winter at disney. Alas, we are the squeaking out two weeks from our 300 points group.

I'd love to be in the staying gobs of time group, but not so much in the paying for the points group.
Ha ha, hardly. I just hit 1200 and with that came lots of loaded points that had to be used including 520 that were allocated June 28 and had to be spent before Aug 1st. hence the month at July.
 
Thanks for sharing your month-long wrap-up! I am so sorry to hear about your brother… but also glad for you to be able to have joy and comfort in your happy place during that difficult time 🤗

What a fantastic trip!! I seriously laughed out loud at the end…
My husband says I have to start telling people I am visiting FLA not WDW or they will think I am deficient in some way. I tell him I don't care what they think. I'm going to the Vacation Club!
😂😂 This is soooo funny!! I have found myself switching back and forth btw FL & WDW depending if I have time for a Disney discussion right then or not (or if I know they have anti-Disney sentiments, for which I never have time! 😉)… Say, FL- they say “nice!” Say Disney- and the Q’s start… 🧐 One time, when I yet again said FL to someone, they looked at me quizzically, and my hubby quickly chimed in- “we own a timeshare there”… “ahhh, I see.” Afterwards, I told him I felt like we were trying to cover up a crime! 🤣
 
I would love to have an extended stay at OKW! To me it’s def the most “home” like. Checking in there in 9 days!! Thanks for sharing your trip. I love the okw slide, it’s one of my favorites 🤗
 
I would love to have an extended stay at OKW! To me it’s def the most “home” like. Checking in there in 9 days!! Thanks for sharing your trip. I love the okw slide, it’s one of my favorites 🤗
Checking back in - in 15 days but worried about COVID spread so not certain we won't change our minds.
 
Thanks for the summary. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Very sorry about your brother.
 
Thank you for the summary!!!

Sorry for the loss of your brother.

Sounds like an awesome trip. Is this a yearly trip? May I ask why you go during the summer months? We did that when the "kids' were home and in school. Now, unless we need/have to go someday with the grandchildren, staying away during the summer months.

We have been empty nesters for almost two years and starting to plan more and more time away (we help babysit the grandchildren). The most we have stayed away is almost 3 weeks but we do take multiple trips (a little shorter). Hoping to increase this.

How was the slide? :) I have yet to try it. I am tempted - maybe for our next stay here (in March).

Enjoy and stay safe!!!
 
Thank you for the summary!!!

Sorry for the loss of your brother.

Sounds like an awesome trip. Is this a yearly trip? May I ask why you go during the summer months? We did that when the "kids' were home and in school. Now, unless we need/have to go someday with the grandchildren, staying away during the summer months.

We have been empty nesters for almost two years and starting to plan more and more time away (we help babysit the grandchildren). The most we have stayed away is almost 3 weeks but we do take multiple trips (a little shorter). Hoping to increase this.

How was the slide? :) I have yet to try it. I am tempted - maybe for our next stay here (in March).

Enjoy and stay safe!!!
Thank you for your kind words. The family that travelled with us for 10 days consists of a teacher and 3 school aged children hence July to begin with and one of my new resale contracts came with 520 points expiring July 32st. Otherwise, I'd be a nut to leave the "Ocean State" for FLA in July. LOL

The slide was great but I was so busy holding on to my hat, I went right under the water. Whoosh Do the slide!

Henceforth when not going with said friends, we will be going in the cooler months. We already have a February and May trip planned.
 
Thank you for your kind words. The family that travelled with us for 10 days consists of a teacher and 3 school aged children hence July to begin with and one of my new resale contracts came with 520 points expiring July 32st. Otherwise, I'd be a nut to leave the "Ocean State" for FLA in July. LOL

The slide was great but I was so busy holding on to my hat, I went right under the water. Whoosh Do the slide!

Henceforth when not going with said friends, we will be going in the cooler months. We already have a February and May trip planned.


consists of a teacher and 3 school aged children hence July to begin with


And that is a perfect reason to go during the summer month :)

resale contracts came with 520 points expiring July 32st.

Double the reason :) and congratulations on your add-ons!!

I probably would have done the same thing going down the slide!!!

We also started booking (March through May) and October or November (might do December in the future again).

Thank you for sharing again!!!! Keep enjoying!
 
It was lovely. Stayed in a 2 bed in building 33. Forgot how nice that building is all around. We had company (2 adults and 3 children for 10 days) and then I was alone for the rest of the month. I had to fly out to CA for 2 days to attend to my recently deceased brother's affairs and it was comforting to fly in and out of MCO and come back to OKW.

The guard that night had some wonderful words of wisdom and comfort that I will cherish forever.

I went down the slide for the first time and I have been a member since before it existed! Also, I bought and traded pins for my eBay purchased original DVC logo hat. It was a great conversation starter. I sat a bar for the first time (okay a few times but all firsts). Ate at the Plaza (finally) and Terralina by myself. Had Giddeon's cookies.

Walked around the Food & Wine Festival and with my DH and friends drank in every country - oh my - at the end it was just a sip of their something. I was a late bloomer at 38 for alcohol so this was indeed exciting. We swam until 2:00 a.m. - Mom didn't drink the World, she did passports and Kidscots and stayed with her children.

The first people I spoke with caught in a rain storm seeking shelter and the last at the hot tub (for hours) were all from Rhode Island. How does the Universe work like that???

Housekeeping was odd - the room only received 1 full cleaning but towels galore. Had a lamp with a bad button and ran out of dishwasher powder once but otherwise no issues. Thrash removal everyday which I like (especially when we were 7) even if not always convenient.

I don't want to get in trouble with the mods but mask compliance on the OKW busses was less than 100% (I have pictures) including one instance when a group of teenagers were singing at top volume sans masks. THAT driver pulled over after the first stop and made them mask up. Bus timing was exceptionally good. LYFT not so much after EPCOT fireworks. Lots of people; no drivers. I found it faster every time to walk from the Peninsular stop to building 33 then do the South Pt. loop to Turtle Pond on the bus.

The pools are busy but not too busy. Kudos to the CMs that entertain the children: They were fantastic. The parks were crazy busy. Lines were long and hot. HEA fireworks were jammed to the hilt. I was nervous packed in so tight and looked to get out of the crowds as quickly as possible. EPCOT was far more peaceful all around. AK was also packed like sardines as were the Studios.

I'm going back in 19 (HA! it's after midnight) 18 days! We are doing one day at Kilimanjaro CL at AK because OKW is not available. I have no idea what to expect. Since 1994 I only spend one night not at OKW.

My husband says I have to start telling people I am visiting FLA not WDW or they will think I am deficient in some way. I tell him I don't care what they think. I'm going to the Vacation Club!

Hope your Monday is peaceful and flies by unless you are in the parks!View attachment 595129
I keep telling people folks are not wearing masks like they should ( I bet they are now), and that lines for rides are ridiculous. I get told I don't know what I'm talking about. People, NO RIDE is worth waiting in line 45 min. or longer, what's happening? LOL.
sounds like great fun. We live close to WDW now, but still enjoy staying on site from time to time.
 



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