Best GV at OKW??

[sean-1966]

We are looking for a GV near the main building and main pool for our next trip. Is there a building I should request?? Need to keep the walking to a minimum for my step father.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Here is the map someone on the board did awhile back that shows which buildings have GVs in them. Be aware that requesting a building that has a handicapped GV may result in getting that, and they have roll-in showers, lower counters etc, so might be a bit more inconvenient unless you need those features as well. Also be aware that you are only as far away from the main pool and hospitality area as the nearest bus stop. All buses stop there before exiting the resort.

 

[OneMoreTry]

..... Be aware that requesting a building that has a handicapped GV may result in getting that, and they have roll-in showers, lower counters etc, so might be a bit more inconvenient unless you need those features as well. ......

I really, really don't want to get a HA GV, but I jumped through all the hoops to have it guaranteed. DMIL has Parkinson's and has a hard time with stairs. I'm afraid that on one of her bad days she wouldn't be able to climb and we'd have to carry her up. Not good.

How bad are the lower counters and roll-in showers? The only thing we absolutely need is ground floor or elevator access to the main floor of the villa, but I understand we can only get that with a HA villa.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I really, really don't want to get a HA GV, but I jumped through all the hoops to have it guaranteed. DMIL has Parkinson's and has a hard time with stairs. I'm afraid that on one of her bad days she wouldn't be able to climb and we'd have to carry her up. Not good.

How bad are the lower counters and roll-in showers? The only thing we absolutely need is ground floor or elevator access to the main floor of the villa, but I understand we can only get that with a HA villa.

Not necessarily so. We have needed ground floor or elevator access buildings on occation for medical reasons, and I have made the request just that way....Ground floor or elevator for medical reasons, and I have always gotten that request. They do fill medical requests before others, so when doing your request do NOT request any non-medical things like location or building, etc. Oops! In the case of a GV, that would mean you need to request an elevator building. That means building 63, since that is the only elevator building that has GVs. there is 1 HA GV there and 1 regular one. Building 48 also has a HA GV in it that is ground floor. ALL other GVs start on the second floor of the buildings. You need to communicate your concerns to MS as soon as you can.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Not necessarily so. We have needed ground floor or elevator access buildings on occation for medical reasons, and I have made the request just that way....Ground floor or elevator for medical reasons, and I have always gotten that request. They do fill medical requests before others, so when doing your request do NOT request any non-medical things like location or building, etc. Oops! In the case of a GV, that would mean you need to request an elevator building. That means building 63, since that is the only elevator building that has GVs. there is 1 HA GV there and 1 regular one. Building 48 also has a HA GV in it that is ground floor. ALL other GVs start on the second floor of the buildings. You need to communicate your concerns to MS as soon as you can.

I did communicate my concerns. I was told that in order to guarantee the walk-in access I had to guarantee a HA GV. MS had to then call the "HA-guaranteeing-department" (I can't remember what that's called) and then I was given the guaranteed status. If I can get a walk-in without all the other HA stuff I would be happy, but I'm reluctant to risk not guaranteeing the request.

 

[RobDoc]

There are two accessible GVs - one in Building 48 with walk-in access on the ground floor and one in Building 63 with elevator access. In addition, there is a second GV with elevator access in Building 63 which is not otherwise accessible - but does allow access to the main floor of the villa. All other GVs at OKW have the main floor on the second level of the building accessed only by 2 flights of stairs (18 steps).

All GVs at BWV and SSR have elevator access to the main floor of the GVs and SSR also has elevator access to the upper level of each GV.

 

[tigger2on]

Please do a room report after your trip!
We booked a guaranteed HA GV @ OKW for 6 days in May. Our 10 year old is in a wheelchair so there was NO WAY I was going to chance 3 other families asking for a HA room and being left high n' dry!
have fun!!

 

[OneMoreTry]

There are two accessible GVs - one in Building 48 with walk-in access on the ground floor and one in Building 63 with elevator access. In addition, there is a second GV with elevator access in Building 63 which is not otherwise accessible - but does allow access to the main floor of the villa. All other GVs at OKW have the main floor on the second level of the building accessed only by 2 flights of stairs (18 steps).

All GVs at BWV and SSR have elevator access to the main floor of the GVs and SSR also has elevator access to the upper level of each GV.

I'm in awe that you know the number of steps. When we get close to our trip I will see how DMIL is doing. She just started a new med last week and is walking a little better. If she continues to do well we may not need the walk-in access. Although, she tends to be up and down physically. (Of course, if we rent a motorized scooter for the week then we will need a way to get that into the villa..)

I will post after the trip regarding the HA villa.

 

[Towncrier]

It's been a long time since we stayed in the HA GV in building 48, but I did want to mention that the only HA bedroom is the master bedroom on the first floor of the villa. I don't know if this will impact your decision, but the remaining bedrooms are upstairs.

 

[RobDoc]

It's been a long time since we stayed in the HA GV in building 48, but I did want to mention that the only HA bedroom is the master bedroom on the first floor of the villa. I don't know if this will impact your decision, but the remaining bedrooms are upstairs.

... and that is true of all of the OKW GVs- the upper floor of the villa is NOT accessible at all. The 2nd and 3rd BRs are only accessed by stairs in all OKW GVs- even in buildings 48 and 63.

SSR does have elevator access to the upper floor BRs (as well as the main floor BR).

 

[OneMoreTry]

It's been a long time since we stayed in the HA GV in building 48, but I did want to mention that the only HA bedroom is the master bedroom on the first floor of the villa. I don't know if this will impact your decision, but the remaining bedrooms are upstairs.

Poor DMIL . She'll just be "stuck" on the first floor of an OKW Grand Villa. I guess there's worse that could happen to a person, though.

As far as SSR goes, I just can't see spending the extra points during high season when we are so in love with OKW. Especially when we can get the guaranteed access.

Thanks for the information. It's so great to have the DIS .