BWV and BCV owners...have you tried OKW?

[goofy4wdw2]

We own at BWV and have also stayed at BCV. We would like to eventually try all of the DVC resorts (we've also stayed at WL, not the villas). I know all of the OKW owners LOVE OKW...I'm just curious what BWV and BCV owners think of it and why. I think we're going to love it, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

 

[dan and scott]

We own at BW and I would love to have points there,but we are already maxed out with 5 add ons at the BW totaling 525 points. We've owned since 98 at the BW. We have done OKW several times in studios, 1&2 bedrooms which have made wonderful vacations. Other than BW , OKW is the only other on property DVC resort that appeals to us.


Scott

 

[Cruelladeville]

We own at BWV, and have stayed at all the DVC resorts, except HH, and we love OKW! As a matter of fact, we like it so much that we sold a BC contract so that we could buy OKW contract. We bought a 270 pt contract, then a 51 pt add-on. As a matter of fact, we almost like it better than BW in the summer months, when we especially enjoy peace and quiet. We like to watch the golfers and take leisurely walks, in between pool times and eating and going to the parks. If you ever get the chance to rent a grande villa there, you would find out that there is no better place anywhere at WDW

 

[Suzi Q]

We own at both BWV & BCV and have stayed at OKW a couple of times. We really love OKW and like to stay there when it's just the two of us and we want a more relaxed vacation. Wouldn't hesitate to add points there if we were going to add on.

 

[jekjones1558]

We own at both resorts. We stay at BWV when we want to be active in the parks and when we bring friends family who like being in the middle of the fun. We like OKW when we want a more laid back vacation. The parking and room size and reasonable GV rates were reasons for us to buy points there at OKW.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We own most of our points at BWV. We've stayed in a studio at OKW and loved it, and we are trying a 1 bedroom at OKW for 4 nights in June. We want to experience that resort with an eye to bringing the whole family there someday.

Bobbi

 

[gilld]

We haven't stayed at OKW yet though we plan on doing so. The reason we love BCV though is we like the Epcot dining.

 

[westjones]

We own at BCV and have stayed at all of the DVC resorts except SSR. We love the location of BCV and BWV. We also like the 'hotel' feel (being able to just walk to the pool from your room). BUT we love the larger rooms at OKW and my girls love having a queen bed to sleep on in the studios instead of the sofa sleeper. Also, I love the lower points (it means more nights at WDW!).

DJ

 

[Luvmyfam3]

We own at BW, but we've actually stayed more times at OKW than at BW!! But, the reason is because OKW is usually the only one available by the time I call! We do enjoy it there, but truthfully, it's a little quiet and spread out for us.... On the other hand, we LOVE the space of the rooms!!! We definitely enjoy staying there!! And we love the lower points!!!

 

[LisaS]

We stayed in a 1 BR at OKW at the end of January. We spent 2 days at VWL before moving over to OKW. We loved VWL so I was sad to leave there and as we drove over to our building at OKW I was disappointed because I felt like I was not at a Disney resort but rather in a small town. We don't usually rent a car while at WDW so I'm not used to seeing streets and sidewalks and such at WDW.

But then we entered our 1 BR villa and absolutely loved it. We stepped out on to the veranda and it was so peaceful -- we couldn't see any streets or cars or sidewalks from the veranda or from any of the windows inside the villa. From that point on, we were hooked! Even when we went back outside, the "town" feeling didn't bother us anymore.

I agree with what jekjones1558 said about staying at BWV when we want a more active vacation and OKW when we want a more relaxing trip. We loved having all that space! We ate breakfast out on the veranda a couple of days (it was a bit too chilly the other days) and fixed dinner in the villa two nights because we really enjoyed just hanging out there. Those 1 BR villas really feel like a vacation home. I could spend the whole winter in one of those quite happily!

 

[Beca]

We stayed in an OKW 2bdrm last April. We had added on points there because we thought the grand villas were such a bargain, and truthfully....the resort is as pretty as a postcard!!

However, we were disappointed when we actually stayed there. For us, the added room was not needed (there were 6 of us in the 2bdrm....it really seemed "too big" for our needs). We had a great view of the HH and pool (we were in building 27), but because there was no bridge over the lake, we had a LONG walk to the HH or pool. We felt like we had to take our car everywhere. We were also on a 1st floor room, which was nice (no stairs), but our patio was completely enclosed by vegetation...there was no view whatsoever.

One day, we were driving to a park, and our dd (she was 3) said, "Mommy, next time we come to WDW, can we stay at WDW?". I said, "Baby, we ARE staying at WDW." She thought for a minute and said, "Okay...next time we come to WDW, can we stay at the WDW we don't have to drive to?" Yikes!! I guess it runs in the family.

However...whenever we drive by the OKW water tower, she screams "Look Mom...it's the OKW watertower!!!" She's SOOO excited when she sees it. I usually say, "I know....would you like to stay there sometime?" She thinks for a minute and says, "No."

I think OKW is a beautiful resort, and the staff there is pretty much amazing. They also seem to have the best selection of DVC merchandise of any of the DVC resorts. We do love to "visit" there when we go to WDW, but after our first visit...we decided that the "hotel" resorts were more to our liking. But, that is not to knock the resort in any way....it is a very nice resort.



Beca

 

[jade1]

We felt like we had to take our car everywhere.

I think OKW is a beautiful resort, and the staff there is pretty much amazing.

we decided that the "hotel" resorts were more to our liking. But, that is not to knock the resort in any way....it is a very nice resort.



Beca

Kind of like us, its a nice option if everything is booked though.

 

[bavaria]

OKW owner here, so sorry if I'm not your target survey audience. I always assumed however that I would buy my first DVC points at BW.

But I too am a confirmed OKW lover. I stay in hotels for much/most of the year, so the 'condo' feel of OKW is a plus. I don't like having to pass valet, bellstaff, front desk, etc on my way back 'home' - I love coming 'home' at night and passing bunnies on the pathway up to my room.

I think that we all having different vacation patterns and needs, and OKW meets my needs when I need a relaxing stay. I will admit that I do want to stay at BW sometime in the future, but most likely when I bring older family members or those who have not been to WDW before.

Epcot is my favourite park, but I also like to hang out at Fort Wilderness and DTD; OKW is very close to both. I love walking to DTD from OKW.

The only thing which I find lacking at OKW is a better 'to go' counter (and with the recent news of Olivia's ending 'to go' that's an even bigger loss IMHO)

I suppose it's like Maui vs Honolulu.... both special in their own way.

 

[DebbieB]

I own at BWV but like staying at OKW occasionally. It's good for a relaxing vacation.

 

[byoung]

I own at BW but I do like to stay at OKW.

 

[magicmama]

I own at BVC and SSR. I like to stay at BVC when I want to do more at Epcot,etc. And it's just a great place to stay. The pool is fantastic! But... sometimes its better for us to have the two beds at OKW in the studio. And having more space is great! I like to stay at OKW for the one bedroom because of the lower points. I like both resorts for different reasons. OKW does seem a little more relaxed and BVC seems more busy in some ways.

Give OKW a try and see how you like it. If you like the hotel feel and a lot do close by within walking - BVC or BW may be a better choice. OKW will be a little more laid back but not far from DTD.

I'm glad there are so many different choices for DVC. There's something for everyone!

 

[MiaSRN62]

as we drove over to our building at OKW I was disappointed because I felt like I was not at a Disney resort but rather in a small town. We don't usually rent a car while at WDW so I'm not used to seeing streets and sidewalks and such at WDW

And this is exactly why we love OKW. It feels like a cozy disney neighborhood to us. We feel it offers charm and a different experience from the hotel-feel vacation. It's nice that DVC offers this option because we don't always like a hotel feel (though sometimes we do).

 

[szymcl]

I own at BWV and the only DVC resort that I have not stayed at is BC. I loved OKW for the room and the bright colors and I enjoy the walk to Downtown Disney. The new slide is great too! To make it perfect, it would have a drink station at the pool like Saratoga Springs where you can refill your mugs. I know that the refillable mugs shouldn't be a big deal in the villas where you can store lots of sodas in the fridge, but to me it is still part of the fun to buy the mugs, use them, and them use them at home and remember the magic. Otherwise OKW is great for a driving destination when you have your whole life packed in your van-you can unpack at your leisure with you car so close!

 

[docg]

I think each DVC resort offers something different. We own at BWV, BC and SSR. We have stayed at all except SSR coming up in Aug. Our OKW stay was much of a shock. This was pre Dis Boards. We had two small children and were very disappointed that we were on the third floor with no elevator. The evnings were very difficult with sleeping children in stroleers to make it up the stairs and to the rooms. I also found it difficult to carry all our luggage up the stairs. We were used to the resort/hotel type stays at BWV, VWL were we had lobbies and hallways. I can see in the future when our kids are older that OKW may be a relaxing place to visit. I also didn't like that OKW made me feel that I was in a Florida senior Citizen community. This was a flash back to make younger visits to my grand parents in Century Village. This is not to say that I hated OKW. I enjoyed our stay, liked watching the golfers from our patio, liked the communal areas (would probably like the pool even more since the renovation) and LOVED the size of the rooms and the point value. I hope no one takes offense to my opinions, but I think each family will be looking for a different experience. Good luck

 

[LisaS]

And this is exactly why we love OKW. It feels like a cozy disney neighborhood to us. We feel it offers charm and a different experience from the hotel-feel vacation. It's nice that DVC offers this option because we don't always like a hotel feel (though sometimes we do).

I can definitely see what you mean. As I said in my post, we were initially disappointed since we had only stayed in the hotel-style resorts up to that point, but then it started to grow on us. It was like living in a Disney village.