Empty Nesters

[Lasrnw]

I thank you all so much for all your great responses and ideas! Our son, the college freshman, thinks it's pretty funny we can't wait to go without him!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We were almost empty nesters by the time we purchased 9 years ago. We LOVE OKW! BTW, our "kids" do too. You will find the buildings seem to be quiet because the units are so seperated. Units do not even share stairs here. Olivia's is a great little place to eat when you don't have anything special planned. That's kind of how we use it. We love some of the Epcot World showcase restaurants too. Our favorite on site restaurants are Mitsokoshi Tepannyaki, Akershus, and Rose and Crown and Garden Grill at Epcot. In the other parks, we like Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom and Brown Derby in MGM. For a special evening meal, we like Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge and OHana at the Polynesian. You don't say what time of year you are traveling. If it is during the winter or school times, there will be less kids in general. Our favorite time of year to go to OKW is October to early December and January to February. We love the neighborhood pool areas late in the evening for hot tub use. Of course, with the huge whirlpool in your room, you hardly need to go down to the hot tub at all!

 

[spiceycat]

I think the new slide will become quiet popular - but even then - the main pool at OKW is NOT surrounded by villas.

so even then it will still be fine.

I like the back area - Building 55. It is near a pool and a bus stop.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We enjoy a friendly game of miniature golf.

My personal favorite place is VWL and we walked to FW and back after eating lunch there and visiting the animals. We've never ever had a bad "empty nesters" visit.

Bobbi

 

[Disney Doll]

I would have to agree that OKW seems to be the most laid back reosrt of all the DVCs. It gives the feel of being off the beaten path (even though it really isn't) by virtue of its layout.

We like to walk around the reosrt itself. You can walk or take the boat to DTD. We laso enjoy walking through the WS in Epcot at night...it's a completley different park at night than it is during the day. We enjoy mini-golf. We enjoy Ohanas for dinner. We also enjoy sitting at the sushi bar at the California Grill for dinner. I think one of the best parts of being "child free" in WDW is that you don't have ot run in 50 different direcions because the kids want to see everything. You cna really stroll, and see the little details. If there is a huge crowd rushing toward the exit at the end of the evening, you can sit on a bench and watch them go by.

The Adventurers Club is a fun place at PI for adults. We also enjoy the Comedy Warehouse. We liek strolling along in the Marketplace as well. Mini-golf is fun, as are the water parks. Strolling the Boardwalk is noce. Wings at the ESPN Club are always good. And we have to get a burger at Beaches and Cream in the Beach Club at least once while we are there!

 

[rocketriter]

Give yourselves a romantic date at the Brown Derby in MGM. Order the Cobb Salad (it originated at the Brown Derby in Hollywood and it's different--and better--than the modern version) and end with the grapefruit cake. In between, hold hands and sip very dry martinis, and pretend that Clark Gable is sitting in the next booth over.

 

[goodcook5]

ssr quiet pool has no slide and last time we were there no kids at all! The ssr main pool has all the kiddie things. There is a hot tub and chairs on the walkway to sit and watch the boats. We went there when my parents kept the kids for a couple days. We did coral reef restaurant (great food and watch people scuba in the large aquariums of the epcot living seas exhibit). Have fun

 

[skelooch]

I bought DVC after my wife passed away 3 years ago, as a gift from her to our grandchildren. I take each of my 2 DS and their families at lease once a year, usually separate trips and I go a couple of times solo. While I love going with the kids, I find it extremely relaxing to go by myself.
I have 2 solo trips planned for Memorial Day and Labor Day can't wait.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We're also Empty Nesters. Our first visit to OKW was a college graduation vacation. DS received his contract for his first job while at OKW, got home, packed, and moved out the next day. We love to go up to the area by Good's to Go, outside Olivia's, in the evening. Like our own little "Mallory Square". We sit there (in the rocking chairs if they're available) with an adult beverage and watch the sunset. I can only think of 2 resturaunts we've been to that we're glad there's just the 2 of us (for financial reasons!)-Jiko's and Artist Point, both of which we enjoyed.

 

[Halle]

Jelly Rolls, a sing along piano bar at the Boardwalk is a must for DH and me. It is a lot of fun. Enjoy!!

 

[Lasrnw]

You are so funny!!

 

[WolfpackFan]

Regarding being an empty nester, enjoy it while you can. Once they graduate from college, they have a tendency to migrate back home . And planned short term nestings have a tendency to turn into long term stays (like years). I speak from experience .

 

[Pa@okw95]

Regarding being an empty nester, enjoy it while you can. Once they graduate from college, they have a tendency to migrate back home . And planned short term nestings have a tendency to turn into long term stays (like years). I speak from experience .

You hit the nail right on the head. We have gone through that 3 times in the last 6 years. They have away of flying back to the nest. Like you said, enjoy it while you can, right now, we have one that flew back for a couple of months stay that was 10 months ago.

 

[WolfpackFan]

What's funny is they always have very logical reasons for moving back home. DD25 works as a Teacher Assistant which doesn't make very much money. So she moved home to save money. Of course she had money to buy a new car though . Now three years later, she is trying to get into graduate school so she can get her teaching license to be a teacher. Of course during graduate school she is going to continue to live at home. Doesn't seem to bother her at all.

 

[MdmMim]

We were empty nesters when we joined DVC. Our little chicks have not moved back home. However, they do catch up with us at our Disney home! This caused us to add on! Even DS (28) has caught the Disney bug! It's such a joy to be with them at WDW. They use all the amenities that I don't--pool, gym, etc. It does my heart good!