Factual List of Home Resort Pros and Cons

[dvc_john]

what were these?!?!

Original buyers at OKW received free theme park passes for length of stay. This perk ended Dec 31, 1999, and was good only at MK, EPCOT, and MGM. And you had to be staying at OKW, on OKW points. They stopped the perk for new buyers (in about 1994 I think) even though OKW wasn't sold out yet.

 

[SueM in MN]

Comparing OKW to SSR
Here's a link to the DIS page about OKW. It includes a link to a resort map, and pages about rooms, dining, transportation and recreation.
And a link to the same type of information for SSR.

Things that are the same at OKW and SSR:

• both have a number of separate buildings that are not connected to the building where you check in
• both have parking in front of the building you will be staying in
• both have walking paths to DD
• both have main pools with slides
• both have bus transportation to get to all parks and have multiple bus stops.
• both are located on waterways that lead to DD
• both have boat service to DD
• both have studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and Grand Villas.
• both have fitness centers (although SSR's is larger).
• both have bell service
• you enter your villa from each from an outdoor hall
• rooms are situated at both to not overlook parking lots
• neither has room service
• both have washers and dryers in 1 bedroom and larger units and free laundry for studios located by the pools
• both have "General Stores"
• both have kind of a pastel color scheme (at least light colors).
  OKW has tones of peach, cream, yellow, pink, green and blue, with light wood.
  SSR has soft shades of seafoam green, sand, cream and pale yellow with dark wood furnishings.
• both are DVC and have limited maid service for DVC members staying on points. You can purchase extra maid service at both, if you wish. At both, people who are not staying on points have the same daily maid service as at deluxe resorts.

Things that are different:

• OKW buildings are 2 to 3 stories, and there are less villas per building. Each individual building at SSR is taller and larger = more units per building.
• Each building at OKW has a parking area in front of that building, so parking is closer (exception is building 64, where you park in the lot across the street or for the next building down).
• SSR has several buildings clustered around a large parking lot shared by that group of buildings.
• All the SSR buildings have elevators. Only the 3 newest OKW buildings do.
• OKW studios have 2 queen size beds. SSR studios have one queen bed and one double size sleeper sofa. (Someone else will have to answer whether or not any SSR studios have 2 beds like at OKW).
• OKW individual villas are larger than the comparable villa at SSR.
  SSR studio = 355 sq ft; one bedroom = 714 sq ft; 2 bedroom = 1075 sq ft; grand villa = 2,133 sq ft
  OKW studio = 390 sq ft; one bedroom = 942 sq ft; 2 bedroom = 1395 sq ft; grand villa = 2,375 sq ft
• Villas at OKW have windows on more than one side because of the way the buildings were planned with irregular shapes. SSR units are more uniformly rectangular and have windows only on the side opposite from where you enter your villa.
• SSR villas have balconies that are long and narrow, with 2 chairs and a small end table.
• OKW units have porches that are more square. They have ceiling fans and the one bedroom and larger units have 4 chairs and a table large enough to use for dining on the porch.
• Bottom level villas at SSR have a patio. Bottom level villas at OKW have the same sort of porch with railings as the higher level units (the only difference is if you look out of a higher level porch, the ground is farther away).
• OKW has a full service restaurant (Olivias) and a snack bar. SSR has a restaurant with counter service and pre-packaged food (like salads, etc).
• SSR has a bar overlooking and right by the pool. OKW has a bar close to, but not overlooking the pool.
• SSR has some rooms with DD views.
• OKW has full size appliances and the refrigerator has an ice maker. SSR has slightly smaller, apartment size appliances and no ice maker.
• OKW washer and dryer are full size and are in an actual laundry room. SSR has smaller, stacked washer and dryer in a closet right in the living area.
• OKW has a "beachy" feel. SSR has more of an outdoor, country theme.
• SSR's main pool has a zero entry (there is sort of a gradual ramp to enter the pool).
  NOTE for people with disabilities: you can walk or roll right into the pool with zero entry, but the deepest part of the pool is only 3 feet 6 inches. We found that too shallow to take our DD who is disabled into the pool.
  Both resorts have some "bump steps" for transferring into the pool from a wheelchair.
• SSR has a full spa.
• SSR has a children's wet play area by the main pool (a sort of splash fountain area). OKW has a children's wading pool and a sand area for playing by the main pool.
• SSR is still under construction.

[/QUOTE]

 

[PinotFan]

One other difference between OKW and SSR that I noticed on our first trip home (SSR) last week is that when arriving by boat from DTD, OKW has a nice view of the pool, recreation area and Hospitality House while SSR has a rather mundane view of the back of the main buildings.

 

[vjhom]

I have been researching all about DVC the past week to educate myself before we brought into DVC and came across this site http://allearsnet.com/acc/bcvss.htm. It goes into detail about history, transportation, meals options, lots of pictures, room details, entertainment, and lots more.

Want to thank everyone for all your advice. It has helped me narrow down my search for the ideal home resort.

Can't wait to get my points.

Cheers!

 

[JimC]

vjhom, Welcome to our little community on the DIS! We look forward to welcoming you home in the near future.

Another site that has a DVC analysis is:

http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html#dvc

 

[vjhom]

 

[JimC]

Thought I might bump this thread up. It has a lot of information about the various resorts and is maybe our collective best effort at providing a comprehensive resort review with many of us contributing material.

Enjoy

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Wow, nobody's really posted about HHI:

Pros
Points are cheaper on resale market
MF's are 3rd lowest, and if you buy resale, you get to factor in the prior year's tax credit, which puts the dues in-line with OKW
11 month booking priority for Summer and Spring Break
(Also not crowded like WDW during Spring Break)
Located on its own island
Close to shopping and restaurants
Plenty of onsite activities
Not on ocean, so not as windy
Beach house with beach access and shuttle
Bigger rooms

Cons
Not on WDW property/Can't book WDW until 7 months
Not on beach
No onsite tennis courts
Saturday points are outrageous (3x's)

So far we have been very pleased with HHI. We've used our 11 month advantage to twice book studios and will be calling in a few weeks to book next Spring Break. We just returned from Spring Break and it was a nice getaway and met several multi-HHI Spring Breakers. And even though we can't book WDW until 7 months out, we've been able to book BCV (twice) and VWL too.

 

[Dean]

Wow, nobody's really posted about HHI:

Because it's not really a DVC resort, LOL.

 

[RobDoc]

Wow, nobody's really posted about HHI:

Because it's not really a DVC resort, LOL.

Perhaps you'd care to explain that statement?

Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort is DEFINITELY a DVC Resort. I'm amazed that anyone could have missed the announcement over 10 years ago and all of the discussion regarding the resort since.

For those that have missed the information or have the misguided opinion that Marriott has the only timeshare at HH, here is some information about the DVC HH resort.

Enjoy!

 

[rinkwide]

Apropos to resurrect this thread, what with it being Easter and all.

 

[Dean]

Perhaps you'd care to explain that statement?

Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort is DEFINITELY a DVC Resort. I'm amazed that anyone could have missed the announcement over 10 years ago and all of the discussion regarding the resort since.

For those that have missed the information or have the misguided opinion that Marriott has the only timeshare at HH, here is some information about the DVC HH resort.

Enjoy!

Sorry if I upset you, I was only joking.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Ironically, we bought into HHI site unseen, for in large part as a way "to buy into the system". And we also figured that at least we'll have an option in case we wanted to alternate summers b/n WDW and HHI.

We didn't realize how much we'd love the resort until after spending a relaxing Spring Break at HHI last week. So now it appears that we'll make that an annual trek.

Yeah, it's not on the ocean, but I don't consider that a bad thing since there is still the beach house. I'll take the spread out resort over the monster Marriott towers anyday....

 

[Caskbill]

Sorry if I upset you, I was only joking.

While your comment may have been a joke, it may not have been understood by everyone.

Keep in mind that the DVC-Operations board is intended to present factual information to new users who are looking for information about DVC and how the program runs. Any statement presented which is false, even if meant as a joke, can be misleading to someone not familiar with DVC.

 

[rinkwide]

Keep in mind that the DVC-Operations board is intended to present factual information to new users who are looking for information about DVC and how the program runs. Any statement presented which is false, even if meant as a joke, can be misleading to someone not familiar with DVC.

Yeah, what he said.

 

[gppnj]

I guess one point to make is that one person's strength is another person's disadvantage.

People have cited VWL's theming as a strength, and I agree with that wholeheartedly. However, some people don't like that theme, so the theming is a megative factor.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I guess one point to make is that one person's strength is another person's disadvantage.

Boy, that's for sure! Some people find the lack of valet parking and room service to be a disadvantage of OKW. Well, DH eats alot of room service on his many business trips, so he feels like he's at work if he gets room service (some people would think this is wierd, I know). Also, we don't like valet parking-somehow letting a stranger get into our car feels wrong. We like to know where it's parked. There's a good example of one person's disadvantage (no valet parking, no room service) being someone else's strength.

 

[Dean]

While your comment may have been a joke, it may not have been understood by everyone.

Keep in mind that the DVC-Operations board is intended to present factual information to new users who are looking for information about DVC and how the program runs. Any statement presented which is false, even if meant as a joke, can be misleading to someone not familiar with DVC.

Since I apologized already, I don't see the need again. But there are nicer resorts in better locations on HH than the DVC resort there, IMO. They are not as flexible as DVC and DVC HH is a very nice resort as well. For anyone who disagrees, that's cool as well.

 

[JPC]

I agree that factual information is a priority.

Dean is one of several individuals whose posts I search for. If anyone is new, I recommend that they read his posts.

Everyone has those moments where their sense of humor bombs. I speak from experience.

Mr. Skilling in his Enron trial is experiencing that quite often. Not a good place for that to happen. See, it happens to everyone.

My 2 cents. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz....

 

[RobDoc]

Since I apologized already, I don't see the need again. But there are nicer resorts in better locations on HH than the DVC resort there, IMO. They are not as flexible as DVC and DVC HH is a very nice resort as well. For anyone who disagrees, that's cool as well.

Cool. Abosulutely no reason for anyone to feel the need apologize again ... and again ... and again. This was not the first instance of similar comments about Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. (HH opened in March, 1996 for those that missed the announcement.)

.... , but that's still no reason to suggest that HH is not a DVC resort. (Apology or not- "joking" or not.) Marriott (or any of the other "locations" you mention) isn't any big deal IMO either, but I'd never suggest it's not a Marriott resort- especially on a Marriott forum (I'd never even post that on this forum and expect any respect from the post.). If you want to incorrectly post that the DVC resort is not a DVC resort on the Marriott board, go ahead - but expect to be challenged on a DVC forum.

While your opinion is just that, there is no need to besmirch the DVC resort at HH. Many consider it to be far superior to the Marriott's or any other timeshare option located nearby. The beach location is not as important to many as it is to some and the Disney resort has many great options not readily available at Marriott. To each his own.

The VAST MAJORITY of occupancy options at HH are not on the beach and the DVC resort sure has a wonderful location on it's own island and yet still has a beach facility. Marriott has no resorts on an island located in Broad Creek location. To each his own.

We've been going to HH for over 25 years now (mostly at Sea Pines, until 1996) and have never stayed on the beach. We have totally enjoyed having condos near the Sea Pines Tennis facility, in Harbour Town, near the Lawton Stables and at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and yet have always been able to enjoy the wonderful beaches at HH even though we have been located 50 yards to 2 miles from the beach.

To each his own.