First DVC reservation confirmed - dedicated vs lock off

[Jeffan1ca]

Booked our family's first trip to Disney as DVC members and will be staying at OKW in a 2 bedroom and a studio (9 of us going) in February 2006. The countdown begins. All that was available were dedicated 2 bedrooms. Do dedicated rooms come with 1 or 2 balconies? What are the pros and cons of each. BTW. We are all immediate family.

 

[dianeschlicht]

All OKW 1,2, and 3 bedroom villas have one very large balcony that is more like an outdoor room. There will be a table and 4 chairs out there as well as an overhead fan. The seperate studio will also have its own balcony that is at least as large as the little individual balcony at the other DVC resorts.
I'll see if I can find a floor plan to post.
Here is a photo of the outside of one of the OKW buildings showing the large balcony.

Here is the floor plan of a 2 bedroom.

And here is the studio:

 

[Granny]

We just got back from a stay in a dedicated 2BR. The balcony is large, and can be accessed from the living room and the master BR.

My children are teenagers so there aren't many pros or cons for us to get a dedicated vs lock off. We've had both and enjoyed both.

With the lock off, the second bedroom has a kitchenette and separate entrance and climate controls.

With the dedicated 2BR, the second bedroom has no kitchenette or outside entry, both of which are converted into more floor and/or closet space depending on the resort.

Some people with smaller children don't like the second bedroom in a lock off having a separate entrance that mischievous children might open and wander out.

For us, either one works fine.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Do all the other DVC resorts also have dedicated vs. lock-off, or is it just @ OKW?

 

[dianeschlicht]

BCV, SSR, and OKW all have both dedicated and lock-off 2 bedroom villas. BWV only has lock-offs. Sorry, but I can't remember if VWL has any dedicateds.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thank you Diane!

 

[Jeffan1ca]

Is there access to the bathroom, without having to walk through a bedroom, for guests staying on the sofa bed in the living room?

I was unable to get the 25% discount for the weekend days of our stay as there was none available ?????? I was told to keep calling back and checking. Can anyone explain this process? And when should I call? Vacaton date is Feb 2006.

Thanks Diane for the layouts.

 

[Disney Doll]

If you stay at OKW in a building numbered higher than 31, you will have a bathroom that will have 2 entrances, so no one has to walk through the MBR to get to the bathroom.