Choosing between OKWV and WLV...help!!!

[Good Deeds]

Looking to rent a 2 bedroom villa at either WL or OKW last week in Jan 2005? Both sound great...hard to choose? Can anyone help with pros and cons etc...Also what are the chances of getting a discount for the villas during value season...

Thanks for the help!!

 

[CarolMN]

I'll start it off.

OKW: Villas (1 and 2 bedrooms) are significantly larger than those at VWL.
OKW: Park right outside your door.
OKW: Bus service to the parks.
OKW: Walk or boat to DD


VWL: Boat to MK
VWL: Walk/Bike/Boat to Ft Wilderness
VWL: Access to amenities of WL, incl restaurants (room service) & health club
VWL: Valet parking available for a fee.

Good news - no mtater which you end up choosing, you will not be disappointed.

Best wishes - have a wonderful time!

P.S. OKW is getting a slide at the main pool. It should be done by the end of this year.

 

[Scoootch]

If you're looking to rent the points for your stay from a DVC member, I'd start posting over on the DVC RENT/TRADE board here on the dis as members tend to reserve at 11mos at their home resorts and 7mos at non-home resorts and you are already within the 7mos mark. Esp. if you're looking to stay at VWL as it is the smallest of the DVC resorts. Both resorts are wonderful and have their pluses and minus' - very different theming. OKW 2bdrms are huge though and personnally, I'd go there. You can also park right in front of your villa if you'll have a car -- but I'm a little biased as it's my home resort If you'll be spending alot of time at MK, VWL may be a nicer choice though because of it's location.

As for discounts thru CRO, sometimes they have them and sometimes not -- as with all the discount codes though, you won't know what's offered until a couple months before your check in date. Renting points can be significantly less expensive and you may have a better shot at getting your ressie if you rent far enough in advance to get the ressie booked but it does take a great deal of trust on both parties as you are not booking directly thru Disney.

 

[Simba's Mom]

A few other things that may matter-at VWL, you have inside halls. At OKW-outside entrances. We split our stay once between these two resorts, and found that the main thing making OKW much quieter for us was this no hall thing. However, VWL has access to a much more magnificient lobby (as Samantha Brown says, it really is "jaw-dropping") and from the 4th floor of the lodge, you get a lovely view of the nightly EWP. But at OKW, we stood on the bridge and saw the fireworks from Epcot (the choice may matter if you have kids-we didn't). Personally we much prefer OKW, partially due to the friendliness of the CMs we encountered at both places. The ones we encountered at VWL seemed to have a "we're the beautiful VWL and you're just so lucky to stay here so we don't have to be nice" attitude. But I admit that not everyone has the same experience.

 

[Good Deeds]

Wow...everyone has been so helpful with information. Thanks so much..It really sounds like regardless which we choose...we will have a great time....

What about the pools...my girls are big swimmers...any thoughts...what about swimming in Jan???

Thanks again!!

 

[Scoootch]

The pools at both are nice -- VWL has their own quiet pool and a hot tub and then you can also use the main pool over at the WL itself which has a waterslide and kiddie pool as well as 2 more hot tubs.

OKW has 4 pools, the main pool by HH has a kiddie pool,hot tub, sauna (it's in the lighthouse) and kids playground and tiny little beach area. They will be shutting down the main pool in Sept. to install the new pool slide which is suppossed to be complete by the end of the year so it may be open for your trip in Jan.

The other 3 "neighborhood" pools are all very nice, each has a hot tub and playground near it as well as BBQ grills and the turtle Shack pool in the Old Turtle pond area has a pool much like the main pool - it has a limited pool bar/snack bar (open seasonally though so the snack bar may not be open),larger playground,and even another little game room.

The southpoint pool is my favorite though -- it's right on the lake and so pretty

All the pools in WDW are heated in winter so enjoy!

 

[Good Deeds]

I've read such GREAT info on both resorts....it's so hard as everyone has there own favorite...I was telling my DH about the two choices and he wonderes about the
"Disney Feeling" You know ...It's the reason one stays "on-site" rather than "off-site" {Mickey and friends wake up calls, Mouse shaped pizza, Mickey soap etc in the bathrooms}
I'll call it the "Magic factor" for lack of anything better... You can just "feel it" when you stay on-site...

My MIL wanted to book off-site because she has never stayed on-site...and doesn't understand the difference...now lodging is up to me and the "Magic Factor" needs to be BIG so she gets it!!!

I love the idea that both resorts are laid back and peaceful, but do you still get the "on-site" disney feel at both??

Hope I'm making sense.

For those who have stayed at both places..any thoughts???

 

[Scoootch]

You definetly get the Magic factor at both lol

You get all those things you mentioned at both, the mickey soaps & shampoos, wake up calls - OKW to some feels more out of the way as it isn't directly in view or walking distance to any of the parks (with the exception of DTD - OKW has a walking path to DTD and also there's a boat you can take to DTD). But it makes up for that with the fact that the villas are MUCH larger and feels more like a condo than a hotel. VWL on the other hand has the boat to MK.

It's a tough choice but you really cannot go wrong with either one.

 

[Good Deeds]

Thanks again for the response..

Are you in Vero Beach now???

Hope you are having a Grand Time!!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!

 

[Scoootch]

LOL. Thanks for the happy b-day to my ds

No, we're home now I just haven't erased the VB countdown yet. It was a few wks ago. I'll have to get around to changing that.

Have a great weekend!

 

[TwingleMum]

This is JMHO but I'd give the edge to VWL. I think it has a much bigger WOW!!! factor than OKW. And yes I have stayed at both and I own DVC (not at either property). I would suggest you think about where you will be spending the majority of your stay. Which park? MK -I'd stay at VWl. DTD- OKW But if EPCOT and MGM is where you will be spending the most time I'd consider BWV or BCV. They both are terrific resorts. The BWV have all the excitement of the boardwalk area. Great for strolling around . BCV have the best pool on property SAB (IMHO). You can walk/boat to EPCOT or MGM from either resort and they're both beautiful. Good Luck with your decision.