Back from first member trip

[IleneF]

Okay it was only one night in an OKW studio prior to cruising but it was great
to hear "welcome home" at the hospitality house! Here are just a few comments.
We were a bit dissappointed in the studio accomodations at OKW. After all the talk online about how large the rooms were we found our studio to be incredibly small and laid out weirdly.I hope all the studios aren't as small. We actually stayed at ASMu when we came back from the cruise and agree that room was bigger than our OKW studio! We had a ground level studio and there was no tub only a shower stall. I think it was a handicap access room. I was warned about the large peep holes in the door so they were not a problem. Really we were there so short a time nothing was a problem but just some observations.
OKW in general is a beautiful resort. VERY spread out, I was glad I requested
to be close to the hospitality house. I really liked the community hall and planned activities idea. The main pool is really nice. Olivias had a good
breakfast for us. My dh and I walked around the grounds in the morning and
they are really beautiful but have the feel of a condo complex in FL and not a
disney hotel/resort.
I would easily stay at OKW again but not in a studio next time.

 

[Towncrier]

Welcome Home!

You really don't get the full impact of the size of DVC accommodations until you've experienced one of the 1, 2, or 3 bedroom suites. We have only stayed in a studio once (at BCV during the grand opening this past July). While we were not disappointed with the room, it was definitely a studio and not a suite. I will be staying in a studio again in December because I cannot justify using the points for a 1-BR for just myself (even though I would love the extra room and the full size kitchen). It won't be a Grand Villa, but I am glad that studios are a choice for the times when you just need a small room for a WDW stay.

 

[Disney Doll]

I agree that the studio is basically a regular hotel room with the addition of the little kitchenette. Once you stay in a 1BR or bigger, you'll never want to go back to a studio again!

 

[DebbieB]

After all the talk online about how large the rooms were we found our studio to be incredibly small and laid out weirdly.I hope all the studios aren't as small. We actually stayed at ASMu when we came back from the cruise and agree that room was bigger than our OKW studio!

Smaller than All Star? According to wdwig, an All Star room is 260 square feet, an OKW studio is 376 square feet. OKW has queen beds and All Star has doubles, so it make make it seem smaller. I'm not sure if they count the porch at OKW in the square footage.

 

[DeeP]

The only room that is really significantly larger at OKW than the other DVCs is the 1 BR. The studio and the GV are not really that much larger. And the configuration of the furniture in the OKW studio does make it feel much smaller than the studios in the other DVC resorts because of the 2 beds and the layout of the room. The layout of the room is just like walking into a reg hotel room with the kitchenette in a small dimly lit hallway. Also the 2 queen beds take up the majority of the room and make the room feel small. The bathroom in the OLW studio is a nice size but has the disadvantage of not having the sink, mirror, hair dryer outside the tub/toilet area which makes it harder for 2 people to get ready.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I have stayed in OKW studios several times, and I would take them any day over the AllStars, where I have stayed many times also. At AllStars, I hate the first day/night trying to find your room while pulling your luggage behind you, having to walk the length of the building, up the elevator and then possibly the length of the building again if you are located at the far end.

I have never had an OKW studio with only a shower stall. The normal bathroom is HUGE compared to the AllStars. I also love having the microwave and the small fridge to use, definitely saves money and is a convenience.

Our first trip was a 1-night stay also, I was not as overwhelmed/impressed as I had hoped to be. I can tell you that once you have some stays that last several days, you will definitely notice a difference to AllStars, and a definite improvement, in my opinion.

Hope your next stay leaves a more favorable impression.

 

[Chuck S]

If you only had a shower stall, then yes, you had a w/c accessible room, you problaby also had 2 peepholes in the door, the lower one for wheelchair users. Personally we've had 3 people in an OKW studio, and we were not uncomfortable - and I prefer OKWs 2 queen beds to the bed & pull out at other DVC resorts - it may make the room feel a little smaller, but at least everyone can sleep comfortably. Of course, we stay in a 1-bdrm whenever we can. We usually wind up doing one trip a year in a studio and one in a 1 bdrm, that way we have enough points for weekends and we don't have to go through the hassle of moving in the middle of a trip.

 

[IleneF]

"an All Star room is 260 square feet, an OKW studio is 376 square feet. OKW has queen beds and All Star has doubles, so it make make it seem smaller. I'm not sure if they count the porch at OKW in the square footage."
I'm guessing they count that huge bathroom in the footage though and I would much rather have had room space than bathroom space. I didn't remember the double vs queens, yes that would make a difference in the feel of the room size. Nevertheless, it was not comfortable for us. I bought only 150 points figuring studios would do it for us but now I'm not so sure and a little nervous. In February I go home to BCV, my home resort, hopefully that will feel a little better having a couch to lounge on and take up less space during the day.

 

[colleen costello]

IleneF, we stayed at BCV this summer for 3 nights then moved to OKW for 4 more. I liked them both, and it is true they each have plusses and minuses. We had extra points since it's our first year, so by staying in a studio we got an "extra" vacation. Both resorts and both rooms were lovely. Since you and dh are just 2, however, you might like BCV a bit better. The room is a long rectangle, and there is space when you first enter where you can store "stuff." Then there is the nice queen bed. Past the bed is the couch and coffee table, near the doors to the patio. So it does seem like there is a little sitting area. If you and your hubby aren't using the couch as a bed, it'll be really nice. I had my 2 children with us and making up the bed at night bugged me. The room felt crowded with the couch opened up and to open the couch we had to move the table. Yuk. For this reason I welcomed the 2 big beds at OKW. But BCV is simply gorgeous. Bright, sparkling-new, just so pretty. You have a lovely private room yet you are so close to so much FUN -- you can walk to Swan, Dolphin, Boardwalk, and Epcot, plus all the action right at Yacht and Beach. It's a very special place.

If the layout of OKW freaked you out, have no fear -- the studio at BCV (or Boardwalk or Wilderness Lodge for that matter) will probably do you just fine!

See you at WDW!

 

[IleneF]

Thanks for your post. I feel a bit better. Please don't think it is just me and hubby though...Oh NO! I will have dd and her best friend, both 16yo's with us, same as this past time. My dad and mom will be in a studio next door to ours. I've treated them as they never would be able to stay at BCV if they had to pay regular prices. That is the really nice thing about DVC..you get to share the fun!