First OKW stay, good and bad

[Ron from Michigan]

We just returned 2 weeks ago from our first OKW stay and we loved it. We were in a 2 bd villa 3010# and loved it. We really enjoyed OKW. We just hopped on any bus when we wanted to go to the front of the property. The buses were really good on this trip never waited more than 10 minutes. The boat to DD was great. That is one of the things we always enjoyed about Port Orleans. We will be staying at OKW again in the future.

 

[mgb123]

My family will be staying at OKW for the first time, next week, and I am wondering if the pool slide is to dangerous for my 4 year old daughter? According to the OP, the pool slide will pull you under at the end! Is this true. My daughter loves the slide at Wilderness Lodge and at Beach Club, but they did not pull her under at the end! Anyone have any info. Would we be able to walk over to SSR and use there slide?

 

[La2kw]

My family will be staying at OKW for the first time, next week, and I am wondering if the pool slide is to dangerous for my 4 year old daughter? According to the OP, the pool slide will pull you under at the end! Is this true. My daughter loves the slide at Wilderness Lodge and at Beach Club, but they did not pull her under at the end! Anyone have any info. Would we be able to walk over to SSR and use there slide?

Hundreds of children have used that slide over the years, including my own. If it was that dangerous, we would have heard about it by now. No need to over react.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

My family will be staying at OKW for the first time, next week, and I am wondering if the pool slide is to dangerous for my 4 year old daughter? According to the OP, the pool slide will pull you under at the end! Is this true. My daughter loves the slide at Wilderness Lodge and at Beach Club, but they did not pull her under at the end! Anyone have any info. Would we be able to walk over to SSR and use there slide?

My 3 year old nephew, we could not tear him away from the slide! Up and down, up and down! He cried when we told him it was time to head home for dinner, he did however sleep like a log at night! Wore him out!

 

[JimMIA]

We were in the back (building 51), which was too far for the children (10 and 9) to walk to the Hospitality House. When they wanted to go to the arcade I put them on the bus and asked the driver to make sure they got out at the main building. They couldn't figure out how to get a bus home, and got lost trying to walk, so they called my and I drove up and brought them home. At BWV there is no problem with the kids going to the Arcade on their own; at OKW, it's a problem.

I don't see this as a problem with OKW.

Nor is it a problem with your kids. They are simply too young to be turned loose without supervision in a strange setting. If you had to request the bus driver make sure they got off in the right place, how could you possibly expect a 9 & 10 y/o to find their way back?

Thank goodness they had the good sense to call you and they got home safely!

 

[JimMIA]

I'm also wondering why you thought enough of the bed problem to photograph it and include it in your post, but apparently didn't think it was serious enough to report to management so it could be rectified.

It's kind of hard to figure out what your real interest is... maybe ?

 

[mgb123]

Hundreds of children have used that slide over the years, including my own. If it was that dangerous, we would have heard about it by now. No need to over react.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was over reacting, just didn't know if it was age appropriate for a 4 year old. But obviously it is, if a 3 year old couldn't get enough of it , and I am VERY happy to hear that! Thanks for the info!

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

My thoughts exactly JimMIA. I am still trying to comprehend the original statement...

 

[dcamdad]

I don't see this as a problem with OKW.

Nor is it a problem with your kids. They are simply too young to be turned loose without supervision in a strange setting. If you had to request the bus driver make sure they got off in the right place, how could you possibly expect a 9 & 10 y/o to find their way back?

Thank goodness they had the good sense to call you and they got home safely!

Thank you JimMIA, I've been biting my lip for two days now trying to figure out how to respond. As a parent of 4 with my youngest now 10, there is no way I would even think about turning her loose in any place on her own, not even WDW. To expect strangers who work for WDW to basically "babysit" your kids is poor judgement in my book.

 

[IAMaGR8DISMOM]

I like RCharnay's previous post describing OKW as dreamy!! I totally agree with that description. Our family loves this resort

 

[Mississippian]

I don't see this as a problem with OKW.

Nor is it a problem with your kids. They are simply too young to be turned loose without supervision in a strange setting. If you had to request the bus driver make sure they got off in the right place, how could you possibly expect a 9 & 10 y/o to find their way back?

Thank goodness they had the good sense to call you and they got home safely!

They both have cell phones for a reason. When I was growing up, from the time I was 7 I had the run of my home town. On Saturdays I would walk the half-mile or so to town and buy ice cream, comic books or go to the picture show. The notion that a mature 10- and 9-year-old need an adult with them at all times is ridiculous.

With that said, at BWV the game room is right there. There is no way the kids can get lost between the game room and the room, and it is easy for parents to drop by to check on them. You can't do that at OKW.

 

[dianeschlicht]

They both have cell phones for a reason. When I was growing up, from the time I was 7 I had the run of my home town. On Saturdays I would walk the half-mile or so to town and buy ice cream, comic books or go to the picture show. The notion that a mature 10- and 9-year-old need an adult with them at all times is ridiculous.

With that said, at BWV the game room is right there. There is no way the kids can get lost between the game room and the room, and it is easy for parents to drop by to check on them. You can't do that at OKW.

Sorry, but if they got lost going to the game room at OKW, then perhaps they are NOT mature enough to be running around on their own. You were in building 51, I believe. That is VERY close to the South Point bus stop. Hopefully you told them South Point is the stop they needed. Did you also tell them they had to walk to Peninsular Road if they wanted to take the bus back? Usually it is much easier to walk than to wait for a bus back to that area. South Point is our favorite area, and it only takes about 8 minutes to walk from there to HH or from HH back.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Another vote for OKW !

It was the first DVC we stayed at in 2004. Previously we were fans of Port Orleans and we were nervous that OKW wouldn't have enough action...there was no food court !!

It only took minutes before we fell in love. The spacious two-bedrooms (as an aside i am not a fan of OKW studios), the lovely grounds, the peaceful quiet pools...even our kids love it.

Now...we have spent the last five years trying all the other DVC's. Have found favourites in many of them for many reasons...but we are headed back to OKW next March for the nice big two-bedrooms and the peaceful Southpoint area.

 

[gracelrm]

We own at VWL and have stayed at BCV, BWV, HH, VB and at OKW in Oct. 08. At every resort there are things we like and things we dislike, but to be quite honest we have enjoyed all of our stays at all resorts. We loved the size of the rooms at OKW, parking at the door, and the main pool area and the quiet pool area as well. We were in South Pointe and thought the location was fine. I have found over the years that when we allow ample time for WDW transportation we are pleased with the service; however, when we are slow to get ready or running later than intended - we tend to be displeased with the service. So in retrospect, I feel like our satisfaction with transportation is more a result of our own doing than with theirs. I think in all our trips to WDW there have only been a few unnecessarily long waits/trips. We've also learned over the years what bus rides tend to have too many stops at too many resorts - therefore we hop in our car and drive. I know some people that drive to every resort instead of using the bus, that's fine if that's what they want. I, for one, like to leave the driving to WDW in most cases and just sit back and enjoy the ride. I guess my point is "it is what you make it".

 

[5forDiz]

Thank you JimMIA, I've been biting my lip for two days now trying to figure out how to respond. As a parent of 4 with my youngest now 10, there is no way I would even think about turning her loose in any place on her own, not even WDW. To expect strangers who work for WDW to basically "babysit" your kids is poor judgement in my book.

Yep, I'm with you & JimMIA on this (I'd feel same if it was another resort too)

 

[Saratoga Souris]

Interesting

I go to Olivia's each trip.... even if I am NOT staying at OKW

The spread-out nature of the resort, makes it my FAVOURITE!

I don't understand the "poor location" comment

 

[La2kw]

I don't understand the "poor location" comment

Since the OP seems to prefer BWV over OKW, I think they are of the opinion that since you have a short walk to the back entrance of Epcot, that makes it a superior location to OKW.

I disagree because even though you may have a short walk to the back entrance of Epcot, you still have to walk a very long distance to get to the front of Epcot or to the entrance to the studios. You also can take the boats, but those are frustratingly slow, IMO. Everywhere else, you have to take a bus that often shares with 6 other resorts. I guess those 5 bus stops are somehow superior to the 5 at OKW.

 

[Mississippian]

Since the OP seems to prefer BWV over OKW, I think they are of the opinion that since you have a short walk to the back entrance of Epcot, that makes it a superior location to OKW.

I disagree because even though you may have a short walk to the back entrance of Epcot, you still have to walk a very long distance to get to the front of Epcot or to the entrance to the studios. You also can take the boats, but those are frustratingly slow, IMO. Everywhere else, you have to take a bus that often shares with 6 other resorts. I guess those 5 bus stops are somehow superior to the 5 at OKW.

First of all, I didn't slam OKW in my review. I had a number of highly complimentary things to say, and said OKW was an excellent value. BUT, the transportation issue was a problem for me, particularly since we were only staying three nights. I said I would consider OKW for a stay of at least five nights, but didn't find it acceptable for a short stay.

I really think it depends on what one wants to do at WDW. I like the "back" area of EPCOT, since I will go there just to eat. It's roughly the same distance to a World Showcare restaurnt from the BWV as it is from the bus let-off point, so every minute spent waiting for and getting to or from EPCOT on a bus is time lost.

Obviously the walking-distance advantage isn't important to lots of people. But I'm not going to lie and say that something that is important to me is "no problem" and great. It was a little bit of a problem, that's all. I've now tried a "spread out" resort and just have a stronger-than-ever preference for a resort with quick access to at least two parks. Live and learn.

 

[Disneymom2266]

You have to remember anytime you go at peak season, you are not going to get your choice of where in the resort you want to stay. I would think the grand villas would be in a different location from the other accomodations, therefore maybe a bit of a walk from the HH. I have heard people complain even about SS how spread out it is. Try it again during off season, and you might have your pick of location. We had a fabulous stay at OKW every time we`ve been there. As long as the beds are clean, you cant expect that there might not be a stain on the sofa every now and then.

 

[LadybugMomma]

We love OKW and have never had a problem with the buses. That fact that the buses are dedicated to OKW is great. We travel during off peak times so the buses are hardly ever crowded. I can't imagine going at peak times and having the buses full