BWI vs. OKW info please!!!

[miste76]

I've always wanted to stay at BWI and this year - I finally get to do it!!! We have stayed at OKW (our home resort) for the past 12 years or so and as nice as it is... it seems so far away from everything.

I'm wondering - besides the great location, great pool, bigger exercise room, great food & drink locations... is there anything that I may be missing - I just want to be prepared. We're staying in a one bedroom - will they have a hot tub in the room as they do at OKW, washers/dryer in the room? What about room location - we have a preferred view (I think this is what it's called - I didn't make the reservation.) what will I be looking at with this view?

Is there anything else that I should be aware of before we get there?
Is there any place that I can see pictures of a one bedroom? I've seen the standard room on the disney web site... but that doesn't show the bathroom, kitchen, other rooms...
Any info is appreciated!!!

 

[Scoootch]

Okay....for starters, I believe you are talking about the BWV's (Boardwalk villas - DVC) not the BWI (Boardwalk Inn - regular hotel portion). Unless you mean you booked a suite at the BWI?

Asuming you mean the BWV's though...you are correct as to the ammenities a 1bdrm villa will have. . . . King bed in the master bdrm,jacuzzi tub and stand up shower, you will have in room w/d but instead of a separate laundry room like at OKW, you will have a stackable w/d in a closet. You'll notice the 1bdrms at the DVC's other than OKW are a bit smaller. You'll still have a full kitchen - laid out differently and 2 chairs at the counter/bar and another kitchen table for 2. You'll have the pull out sofa in the living room and you'll still have a balcony, maybe 2 smaller ones though as oppossed to 1 large one. As for prefferred view...it means you'll have either pool view or garden view as oppossed to a view of either the BW ...which you have to book special or the parking lot.

Hop over to the DVC board and ask for pics There will be plenty of people who will show you some of their own I'm sure or you can go to allears.net and click on BWV's to see pics too. HTH's

 

[Fenceman]

OKW is more of a Florida vacation home and BWV is more of a hotel. OKW rooms are much bigger but I still liked the BWV. At BWV you may have to walk a long way to get to your rooms. There is a lot of action on the boardwalk with rest., shops, and a carnival atmosphere.

You will like it, but it is different.

 

[spiceycat]

no ice maker in the refrigerator - you have to walk to the ice machine....

no onsite restuarant - the restuarants are on the BW - not IN the BWV....
you do get very, very good room service.

you will probably get a main pool view (where most of the preferred views are) and I learned to hate the silly Clown!!!

the livingroom and kitchen are much, much smaller than OKW - so is the balcony.... you can still eat outside - but make sure it is stuff you can handle without a table. You can definitely have a drink on the balcony.

the whirlpool tub is for ONE person only. not the big one at OKW.

there is only one set of elevators for this resort. It can be a very long walk to the elevators - if you can handle the stairs use them - it will save lots of time. You must come back by the elevators - most of the stairs won't open even with a key. the only exception (I found) is the one near the parking deck - it did open with a key. Now all of them have a place for the key - but even with a key the door did not open - except that one.

there is one that lets you out close to the bw and boats.

It only has 2 swimming pools - the main pool and one quiet pool - there is another one in the Inn part but that is kinda of far away.

there community hall is much better - more for the kids to do and more free stuff.

 

[miste76]

You are correct... I meant BWV, not BWI. But I guess I never realized they were two separate places. Are the BWV's not right on the BW?
The walking isn't really a problem. When you say that there's no onsite restaurant, does that mean the BWV's are seperate from the BW? I guess I just imagined that I would walk out of the hotel and be on the boardwalk, please tell me that I'm not confused!!!

Thanks for all of your help so far!!!

 

[Scoootch]

Yes, technically, they are separate. They are both right next to each other and both on 1 big boardwalk. If you are facing them (standing on the boardwalk itself) the BWI is on the left and the BWV's are on the right. They're 2 separate resorts connected to each other -- I believe they may share a lobby though (it's in the middle). As mentioned...you'd have to go out to the BW itself to get to the resturants...you can't get to them from inside the hotel or inside the villas. But you can walk out of the hotel/villas and be on the BW...you just have to already be on the BW to get to the resturants

HTH's!

 

[miste76]

Oh - No... this means that I have to walk all the way to the other end of the BW to get to the ESPN club? What will I do? HEHE just kidding... I like the ESPN Zone so much... that I'd walk all the way around the lagoon to get there!!!

Thanks again for the info!

 

[thelobstershanty]

miste,
Have you ever been to the Yacht Club & Beach Club resorts? The Boardwalk Inn and Boardwalk Villas are set up exactly the same way. Yes, they are technically 2 resorts and yes, you must exit the part of the building that houses the guest rooms to the boardwalk level part of the resort (a elevator ride away) to get to a very large selection of sit down restaurants, fast food options, and several package goods stores; not to mention the 2 theme parks a walk or boat ride away. This is a very, very nice location, that appeals to many, many WDW vacationeers. These resorts, are very often, the most sought after resorts on WDW property. Have a good trip!

 

[miste76]

Thanks for the encouragement... I've been wanting to stay here for at least 5 years now. Who would have thought that I would get the opportunity to stay here before I'm even done with school (finances will be much different in 18 months for me.) I'm so excited and you guys have just confirmed that this vacation will be better than the rest (if that's even possible!!!)

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

If you want a great breakfast on the boardwalk please try Spoodles. All their selections are great, but their breakfast pizza/flat bread is WONDERFUL!!!!!!
It's a really nice and quiet way to start your Disney day.

 

[DebbieB]

no ice maker in the refrigerator - you have to walk to the ice machine....

no onsite restuarant - the restuarants are on the BW - not IN the BWV....
you do get very, very good room service.

There are ice trays in the freezer, we never go to the ice machine.

The restaurants on the Boardwalk are closer to the rooms than Olivia's at OKW (from most buildings). Either place you have to go outside to get to a restaurant (only a big deal if it's raining).