BWV vs Old Key West

[Dano1182]

We are concidering staying at OKW this year. What is it like at night there?is there a decent place to get a drink? Resturant OK?
What else to do in the evening?

How is the pool area?

It will be Me DW and Kids are DD 12 and DS 15.

We really like the BWV area and I understand that they are very differnt locations.

Just looking for a change. We have stayed in every DVC except OKW.

We liked them all except Saratoga which we did not care for at all.
We enjoy how they are all unique .
any thoughts or tips ?

 

[ParrotBill]

We own DVC points at both of these places.

What is it like at night there?
Quiet, like a residential community except if you are close to a pool.

is there a decent place to get a drink?
Not really.

Resturant OK?
Just OK. Poor quick service also. We go to DTD for food.

What else to do in the evening?
Take the boat or bus to DTD, it's close by!

How is the pool area?
All 3 pools are fine. None are huge. Kids will enjoy slide at main pool. Main pool may be a bus ride or long walk away from you as the place is spread out.


Just looking for a change. We have stayed in every DVC except OKW.

We liked them all except Saratoga which we did not care for at all.
We enjoy how they are all unique .

What did you not like about Saratoga? To me OKW and Saratoga are much alike. Now that you've said that I am not sure you will like OKW. The main advantages of OKW:
- Quiet
- Large rooms
- Close to DTD

 

[RumpleMom]

We just returned from BLT which we loved. It is now our favorite, which surprised me because I don't care for the Contemporary.

Tied for second place is OKW and SSR.

Olivia's at OKW is very good. I don't have an opinion on the Gurgling Suitcase for drinks. Community Hall and activities for kids are very nice.

We like the SSR Turf Club and really enjoy the new Paddock pool. For both we love parking near our room.

We like taking the boat to DTD.

OKW is so very peaceful. Frequently, this is our first choice when bringing extended family using a 2 bedroom.

We dislike BWV and BCV because of the endless hallways. These two are our last choices. We don't like the parking situation at BWV.

But that's what is wonderful about DVC. Try them all and see what you like best.

 

[MouseMomx2]

We are concidering staying at OKW this year.
What is it like at night there?
As another poster said, it is very quiet at night. There is no entertainment although you can always visit Community Hall. The pools stay open fairly late.

is there a decent place to get a drink?
There is a small bar called the Gurgling Suitcase. It's a very friendly place and we often stop in for a drink.

Resturant OK?
Olivia's is the restaurant at OKW and, IMO, it is one of the hidden gems of WDW. The food is great and the service is prompt and friendly. It's definitely on our "must do" list each trip.

What else to do in the evening?
Again, there is not much to do in the evening at OKW. You can borrow movies and board games from Community Hall for use in your villa. CH and the pools stay open fairly late and they sometimes have outdoor movies. Aside from that it is a fairly quiet place.

How is the pool area?
The main pool is very nice. It has a sandcastle-themed slide and a lighthouse that houses a sauna. There are lots of chairs and they often have a DJ during the day. The main pool is right next to Community Hall and they do lots of pool games/activities throughout the day.

There are also several smaller quiet pools throughout the resort. They do not offer the activities/DJ nor do they have slides.

It will be Me DW and Kids are DD 12 and DS 15. We really like the BWV area and I understand that they are very differnt locations.

Very different. If you are looking for something like the BW then OKW might not be what you are looking for. It is much more laid back. That said, we love that it is that way and find it is a wonderful, welcoming haven after a day of rushing around in the parks. We always come home the most relaxed when we stay at OKW.

Just looking for a change. We have stayed in every DVC except OKW. We liked them all except Saratoga which we did not care for at all.

What was it that you didn't like about Saratoga Springs? It is very similar to OKW...both in atmosphere and layout (OKW has five internal bus stops and is very spread out, just like SSR)...so OKW might not be your cup of tea. I do think that each resort is worth a stay, however. We have stayed in all of the properties (except Aulani) and find something to love about each of them.

We enjoy how they are all unique .
any thoughts or tips ?

See answers above in red.

We own at both OKW and BWV and love each of them equally. They are very different but each has its own charm.

 

[georgeat]

There are four pools at OKW. The main pool, one on Millers Road, one near the South Point bus stop and the Turtle Pond pool with snack shop. If you like the night life and other amenities at BWV then OKW will be a disappointment. Not much of that at OKW. As PP said it is easy to get to Downtown Disney and do those things

 

[Dano1182]

I don't want to get in a SSR debate.But when we were there. We felt it was way too big and we did not like it felt more like we were staying at an aunt's condo then WDW.
The main pool was a zoo it was packed and extermley far from our room.
The small bar /resturant was not good Turf room?? .At the time they had a limited menu which i believe was simply them getting food from the quck serve resturant and charging a little more .

The walk to DTD disney took for ever and there was no quick way to do it/
And as silly as this may sound we did not like the brownish tinge to the pool. I know it is supposed to look like a lake at Saratoge but we did not like it.
Thats what is great about DVC I like the clown pool but not the one at SS.


Too be fair we stayed there several years ago.
I understand that they have made some upgrades so maybe it got better.?

 

[iluveeyore]

Our kids were teens when we first tried OKW, and they refuse to stay anywhere else - the one bedrooms are huge for them to lounge around, and the balcony is very large as well. The views are beautiful, palm trees, water or golf course. The proximity to DTD is awesome, nice boat ride or quick bus ride. Our kids favour the Turtle Pond Rd. pool - good size, hot tub and refill station when Turtle Shack is open. Also, close resort to most Parks, so never long bus ride. Buses are usually empty when coming back during the day to enjoy the resort. And being from Canada, the theming really 'feels' like Florida. Try it, you just might like it! If not, more availability for those of us who love it!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you didn't like SSR because it was spread out, you won't like OKW. That is what we like about SSR and OKW. They are not like hotels, more like communities.

BWV is our least favorite villa. Parking is awful there and we always drive. Parking is a breeze at OKW and SSR.

We didn't like all the action at BWV. We prefer the quietness of OKW, BCV, VWL, SSR to the BWV.

 

[LSchrow]

we loved SSR, but OKW is our least favorite. i think at least some of that has to do with our having a CP top floor villa at SSR, and a ground floor at OKW (the vehicle views, noise and smells bc of parking by OKW units, ant swarms in unit - HK was unable to get rid of them , so we had to buy and use lots of insect killer ourselves). SSR seemed much more friendly (we chatted frequently with other guests), and elegant.
OKW does have a lot going for it however, especially the large rooms (love the laundry room!), and olivia's.

you really need to try a resort for yourself tho, each person/family has different preferences and opinions. that said, BWV is our favorite after staying at almost all DVCs. we prefer fantastic views, and spend a lot of time at our resort (we don't get bored at BWVs - there is always the option of something quiet or active to do).

 

[marynvince]

We are going dec 28th-Jan13th, Vero Beach until the 31 and then OKW just for the 31st. Why you ask, becuase we were there 2 years ago and had a blast at the pool and bar by the pool. My wife insisted, and if she insisted, it must be fun. Bartender was outstanding!!

 

[Marine Mom]

We just returned from BLT which we loved. It is now our favorite, which surprised me because I don't care for the Contemporary.

Tied for second place is OKW and SSR.

Olivia's at OKW is very good. I don't have an opinion on the Gurgling Suitcase for drinks. Community Hall and activities for kids are very nice.

We like the SSR Turf Club and really enjoy the new Paddock pool. For both we love parking near our room.

We like taking the boat to DTD.

OKW is so very peaceful. Frequently, this is our first choice when bringing extended family using a 2 bedroom.

I Agree!!!!

 

[Brian Noble]

Gurgling suitcase is pretty small. There's a bit of an old-school neighborhood bar vibe in the few stools at the bar, but otherwise not much atmosphere. On the other hand, you can take the boat to DTD, where nightlife is more plentiful. (And, you are welcome to bring your Gurgling Suitcase beverage along with you on the boat.) When we are staying at OKW sans kids, this is what we generally do.

The easiest way to contrast OKW and BWV: OKW constantly whispers "Relax, this is the islands." It is very peaceful and a great escape. BWV is right in the middle of the action between the Boardwalk and the easy access to Epcot and Studios. The benefits of that are obvious, but it also makes it a little hard to "get away from it all" for me.

I did enjoy both a lot. OKW fits a bit better for family trips for me, while BWV is a bit better for an adult visit.

 

[Anal Annie]

OKW is kinda like Vero Beach - not much going on after 9:00. So if you're looking for anything on the late side you won't find much there. We just got back from our first stay at BWV. I wouldn't say it's our fav. resort BUT we did enjoy having late night dining options right there with ESPN & the River Grille place right there. We ate late a couple of nights down there. I DID miss having a place to get decent food at the pool once or twice but so we had to run out to the pizza place on the boardwalk. I think all pool bars should offer something besides a boxed sandwich. I mean, really. I think that was my biggest surprise there. Unless I was trying to scrimp & save on points I would pick any resort over OKW. JMHO.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We are concidering staying at OKW this year. What is it like at night there?is there a decent place to get a drink? Resturant OK?
I don't drink, but everyone we see there absolutely loves the Gurgling Suitcase...Very friendly. Olivias is good "down home" type food.
What else to do in the evening? Like most Disney resorts, there is movie night, camp fire night etc. Lots of kids activities, and fishing too.

How is the pool area?Which one? There are 4 pools and spas, and the main one has a great sandcastle slide as well as a SAUNA! That sauna is a hidden gem of OKW. It's in the light house.

It will be Me DW and Kids are DD 12 and DS 15.

We really like the BWV area and I understand that they are very differnt locations.

Just looking for a change. We have stayed in every DVC except OKW.

We liked them all except Saratoga which we did not care for at all.
We enjoy how they are all unique .
any thoughts or tips ?

The people who don't like OKW have never given it a proper chance. You have to experience OKW to the fullest to appreciate it. Think of it as a community, and it will make sense. FYI, I am NOT a fan of BWV.

 

[Cee]

I resisted staying at OKW for so long and don't really know why. When we finally did, we fell in love with it. What a beautiful, relaxing gem. Huge villas, gorgeous landscaping, and a welcome escape from the "Mouse".

Now, having said all that...we also love SSR. You don't. So take it for what it's worth and with a grain of salt.

Regardless, you are going to DISNEY! Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[AirGoofy]

We are concidering staying at OKW this year. What is it like at night there?is there a decent place to get a drink? Resturant OK?
What else to do in the evening?
How is the pool area?
It will be Me DW and Kids are DD 12 and DS 15.
We really like the BWV area and I understand that they are very differnt locations.
Just looking for a change. We have stayed in every DVC except OKW.
We liked them all except Saratoga which we did not care for at all.
We enjoy how they are all unique .
any thoughts or tips ?

We own at SSR, BWV, BLT.

I think SSR is closest to OKW. Not sure why you didn't like SSR. It is a big and sprad out resort, but with adding a second feature pool, I think it is a start there.

Anyway, back to OKW. I agree with other post about Olivia's. Great place to eat. Their community hall is by the feature pool which is fun, and they offer activities like other resorts. We liked the turtle pond area, with th private pool and shuffleboard. You have a nice boat ride from OKW to DTD for all sorts of activities.

It is a completely different experience than BWV. With BWV, you have the Boardwalk and all those activities with the two parks right there.