Coming to you LIVE from OKW!

[WEDway2002]

Hello All!

Well, this is what I figure ... it's my turn to "give back" to the board that I love and that has given so much to me!
I've been lurking / posting for at least 8 years now and have gotten so much from all of you!
I think I'll just jot down some random thoughts / observations in sort of a "stream of consciousness" style so you don't have to slog through a whole bunch of prose. I'll give it to you "just the facts, ma'am" style ... here goes ...

A little background so you have a frame of reference:

We are ... me , DW (both music teachers), DD (16), DS (11).

Let us begin:

Arrived at OKW Sun (7/25) ... drove down from NY ... experience at front desk was great! Given a newly renovated room ... hard wood floors ... DW loved ... I hated ... dark wood headboard and various surfaces (DW loved ... I hated ... lol). Anyway ... my DW also loves to sit out on the deck with her coffee ... view was icky (I KNOW, I KNOW ... some just like to be there ... we like to very politely and nicely ask for a change ... VERY RARE). It was in building 40 and was like a tenement in brooklyn ... everyone's balcony on top of you overlooking a stagnant puddle posing as a pond.
Walked in and out ... went to front desk ... cast member could not have been nicer. Poof ... 3rd floor building 35 and loving it!

Dinner at WC ... skillet was great! BUT ... just not the same experience anymore ... ... hate the "canned" announcement for the pogo pony races. No more pledge at the end (not to go to Universal) ... no more certificate at the end (years ago DD actually got a coupon for a free ice cream) ... AND ... NO CLOTH NAPKINS TO WAVE OVER YOUR HEAD!!! Paper!
Grrrrrrrrrr ... well ... more sad than angry.
A cast member even told us last year that they are no longer allowed to make the tray tables sound like galloping horses because it annoyed people!

OH! Valet parking ... TWELVE BUCKS!!! I knew this going in but sheesh! Whole different feel with outside company at the helm ...
We were lucky because we get annual passes and use the Tables in Wonderland card ... if you use that card and present a dinner recent it's free. BUT ... I hope Disney takes back over and re-thinks this whole thing! ESPECIALLY for DVC members when at a DVC resort.

Sorry ... this is a bit more "wordy" than I intended!

MK ... wonderful as always ... can't wait to see the new Fantasyland.
OH!!! We learned this last year ... DS LOVES the shooting gallery in Frontierland ... first thing in the morning, all guns are loaded and ready to go ... FREE SHOOTIN' PARDNER!

Crystal Palace fun and yummy!

New spiel on the Wedway People Mover is fine ... still said, "Paging Tom Morrow ... "

Did food court in Contemporary ... good and fun with the touch screen ordering.

Went to EPCOT on Tuesday ... met up with my sister and her family ... nice time ... Soarin' is STILL a religious experience!

Weather has been HOT! Whoa baby! No rain to speak of except for yesterday for about 5 minutes! lol ... weird ...

Swam at night ... pool water is like hot bath water! Thought about dumping in buckets of ice ... not really ...

If you've gotten this far I'll let you rest your eyes ... I rambled more than I thought!

Spent yesterday with sister and family in the "other" "darker" park ... Universal ... oy vey ... ... but my DD had fun ... Harry Potter was also great for DW but INSANELY busy ... I'll talk more about that later ...

Well ... off to the Conch Flats pool for some much needed R and R! We're taking it easy today ...

Kim Possible tonight with sister and kids ... dinner in Germany ...

Talk to you guys soon ...

 

[SusieBea]

Ramble on, please! Oh, and good for you for not taking bldg. 40!

 

[Disney_Mama]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[WEDway2002]

Ramble on, please! Oh, and good for you for not taking bldg. 40!

Thanks, SusieBea!
I always feel bad being fussy ... never want to be a pain ... but ... I figure it can't hurt to politely ask. Location IS a big deal for us ...
Well ... off to the pool ... and maybe lunch from Good's to Go!

Dave

 

[VG9493]

Thank you for your report!! Heading to OKW in 2 weeks (also driving) and can't wait! Enjoy your trip

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, I didn't like building 40 either, and we had a studio there for a couple of nights. In fact, I've been disappointed in most of our Turtle pond stays. We much prefer SOuthPoint and Miller's Road.

 

[Checkers]

Thanks for sharing! We will be arriving a week from today and will be staying in a studio. Glad to hear others' opinion on location. Looking forward to more of your TR. Have a great vacation!

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

Hope you are enjoying dinner.....as I sit here enjoying my stoffers twice baked potato, you are probably enjoying schnitzel and a cool Spaten.....

I guess I will just sing to my potato.. Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit....sniffle...sniffle, I don't even have so much as a bottle of bud to go with my potato...sniffle sniffle



HAVE A GREAT TRIP

Alex

 

[Simba's Mom]

Ramble on, please! Oh, and good for you for not taking bldg. 40!

Gee, I sort of wished we hadn't either, and I'm jealous that you got moved to a nicer view. We were in Building 40, second floor, in May, and it was our least favorite villa in 8 stays at OKW. Yes, I remember that glorified puddle, and the road noise was quite audible, but the worst was that we saw no bunnies and only 2 ducks all week. More ducks and bunnies would have at leaszt helped a little.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

AND ... NO CLOTH NAPKINS TO WAVE OVER YOUR HEAD!!! Paper!

You must be joking! That's a deal stopper right there.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I guess I will just sing to my potato.. Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit....sniffle...sniffle, I don't even have so much as a bottle of bud to go with my potato...sniffle sniffle

Please... don't say any more.

 

[edk35]

Hello All!

Well, this is what I figure ... it's my turn to "give back" to the board that I love and that has given so much to me!
I've been lurking / posting for at least 8 years now and have gotten so much from all of you!
I think I'll just jot down some random thoughts / observations in sort of a "stream of consciousness" style so you don't have to slog through a whole bunch of prose. I'll give it to you "just the facts, ma'am" style ... here goes ...

A little background so you have a frame of reference:

We are ... me , DW (both music teachers), DD (16), DS (11).

Let us begin:

Arrived at OKW Sun (7/25) ... drove down from NY ... experience at front desk was great! Given a newly renovated room ... hard wood floors ... DW loved ... I hated ... dark wood headboard and various surfaces (DW loved ... I hated ... lol). Anyway ... my DW also loves to sit out on the deck with her coffee ... view was icky (I KNOW, I KNOW ... some just like to be there ... we like to very politely and nicely ask for a change ... VERY RARE). It was in building 40 and was like a tenement in brooklyn ... everyone's balcony on top of you overlooking a stagnant puddle posing as a pond.
Walked in and out ... went to front desk ... cast member could not have been nicer. Poof ... 3rd floor building 35 and loving it!

Dinner at WC ... skillet was great! BUT ... just not the same experience anymore ... ... hate the "canned" announcement for the pogo pony races. No more pledge at the end (not to go to Universal) ... no more certificate at the end (years ago DD actually got a coupon for a free ice cream) ... AND ... NO CLOTH NAPKINS TO WAVE OVER YOUR HEAD!!! Paper!
Grrrrrrrrrr ... well ... more sad than angry.
A cast member even told us last year that they are no longer allowed to make the tray tables sound like galloping horses because it annoyed people!

OH! Valet parking ... TWELVE BUCKS!!! I knew this going in but sheesh! Whole different feel with outside company at the helm ...
We were lucky because we get annual passes and use the Tables in Wonderland card ... if you use that card and present a dinner recent it's free. BUT ... I hope Disney takes back over and re-thinks this whole thing! ESPECIALLY for DVC members when at a DVC resort.

Sorry ... this is a bit more "wordy" than I intended!

MK ... wonderful as always ... can't wait to see the new Fantasyland.
OH!!! We learned this last year ... DS LOVES the shooting gallery in Frontierland ... first thing in the morning, all guns are loaded and ready to go ... FREE SHOOTIN' PARDNER!

Crystal Palace fun and yummy!

New spiel on the Wedway People Mover is fine ... still said, "Paging Tom Morrow ... "

Did food court in Contemporary ... good and fun with the touch screen ordering.

Went to EPCOT on Tuesday ... met up with my sister and her family ... nice time ... Soarin' is STILL a religious experience!

Weather has been HOT! Whoa baby! No rain to speak of except for yesterday for about 5 minutes! lol ... weird ...

Swam at night ... pool water is like hot bath water! Thought about dumping in buckets of ice ... not really ...

If you've gotten this far I'll let you rest your eyes ... I rambled more than I thought!

Spent yesterday with sister and family in the "other" "darker" park ... Universal ... oy vey ... ... but my DD had fun ... Harry Potter was also great for DW but INSANELY busy ... I'll talk more about that later ...

Well ... off to the Conch Flats pool for some much needed R and R! We're taking it easy today ...

Kim Possible tonight with sister and kids ... dinner in Germany ...

Talk to you guys soon ...

We probably passed you!!! We left Vero Beach heading to MD on Sunday the 25th. Thanks for sharing. We love OKW!!!!

 

[5forDiz]

Have a great trip Wedway & looking forward to reading more about it Good to know about building 40 ( we're OKW owners but were unaware of 40's 'issues' so thanks for the heads up ).

Hope you are enjoying dinner.....as I sit here enjoying my stoffers twice baked potato, you are probably enjoying schnitzel and a cool Spaten.....

I guess I will just sing to my potato.. Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit....sniffle...sniffle, I don't even have so much as a bottle of bud to go with my potato...sniffle sniffle

HAVE A GREAT TRIP
Alex

awwwwwww

 

[Cyndibear]

Thanks for your great report! Our first DVC stay was at OKW, Bldg 40. We were not impressed We have learned since then DH always asks where we are before our room keys are printed. Have a great time and enjoy your stay!!

Cyndi

 

[Chellymouse]

Sounds like you're having a great trip!

 

[SusieBea]

Thanks for your great report! Our first DVC stay was at OKW, Bldg 40. We were not impressed We have learned since then DH always asks where we are before our room keys are printed. Have a great time and enjoy your stay!!

Cyndi

We always do this. I'm seldom dissatisfied, but, if I am, sometimes something can be done about it. The Turtle Pond area is my very favorite at OKW, but don't stick me in bldgs. 39, 40, 41, or the left side of 38!

 

[joandegennaro]

Just wondering....what is the relocation fee for a studio? Had a wonderful room for 1st visit and would love to be in exact same location but I know that is very unlikely I have however requested within 4 buildings as to where I would like to stay so I should be close to the area we want to be in I hope. However am wondering about the fee if we just aren't happy.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

This will help my mornings!!

 

[rentayenta]

Pictures, pictures, pictures!!!

 

[katmittens]

We have stayed many times at OKW since it is our home resort and have always stayed in HH area. I know some don't like it but we do especially 23-26. Once we stayed in bldg 55 and it was ok. We will be back at OKW in June of 2011 so by then I hope HH is done being refurbished. We have not stayed at OKW in awhile and do miss it. I hope they are getting new mattresses with the refurb. That is why we started to stay at different DVC resorts. We have enjoyed VWL and AKV twice and now we will be at BWV in Oct, so the hard mattresses have given us a chance to try other resorts, which we do enjoy.