First trip to OKW!

[LarryBoy]

I have just rented the points and reserved my first trip to the OKW resort. It will be just my 11 year old son and I in a Deluxe Studio near the Hospitality House. I have a couple of questions, plus I want to know everything you can tell me about the resort. Do they have refillable mugs, and where do you get them filled? How's the kitchenette in the studio, is it adequate for fixing our breakfast? How's the bus transportation to the parks? I've stayed at both POR resorts, is it similar? What else should I know? Tell me all the secrets and tricks of OKW! I'm so excited.

Thank you all!

 

[Checkers]

We love OKW (that's why we bought there)! The studios are very large and have 2 queen-size beds. It has a small microwave, small refrig., toaster, coffeemaker (with starter kit) and sink. It would depend on what type of breakfast you wanted to fix. There are small paper bowls and plastic utensils and if you plan on having cereal you should probably pack a few plastic ones that can be washed. Dish washing detergent is provided as well as a dish towel.

We love the boat to Downtown Disney! One of our favorite things to do while there and is especially fun after dark. The main pool (by the HH) is terrific and I'm sure your son will love it. Great that you were able to reserve the HH area. Very close to the bus and just about everything you will need. Olivia's is great for breakfast and lunch. It has been a long time since we were there for dinner so I can't say but it does get good reviews. We have always had good bus service. You also asked about the refillable mug. I'm not sure because we never get one but if my memory serves me correctly it is offered at the Gurgling Suitcase. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please. The GS is also good for sandwiches and takeout. Nice outside seating area, too.

I'm excited for you. Have a great time!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

The kitchenette is the same as most other resorts, fridge, coffe pot, coffe, sink, toaster, paper plates etc., paper towels. OKW has it's own little grocery store! If you plan on buying a few things there then make sure to bring a knife with you, in your suitcase. It's hard to cut cheeses and fruit with only plastic!

You can rent boats at the marina from Hanks Rentals and take a tour of the waterway yourselves. He also has bicycles, ping pong etc. Boarding the boat to DTD is great fun also as Checkers pointed out. You can play tennis, basketball... if so inclined. You will be near the main pool with the slide, there is Goods, Food to Go there for sandwiches and ice cream. There is also for Dad, the Gurgling Suitcase, if you want something stronger like a Pina Colada by the pool! There's also 2 arcades and another snack bar by one of the quiet pools (near #43)

We love Olivia's for dinner, it's casual and the food is good and reasonable! But you are also so close to DTD, restaurants abound, maybe your son would like to try T-Rex, the food is good and the portions huge, it's got a cool decor! After a waterpark day we like to go to the movies at the AMC theather in DTD, another plus staying at OKW, now they even have a dining theater there!

I hope you'll love OKW as much as we do, Have a great time!

 

[LarryBoy]

One good thing about driving down is that I can bring my own groceries. Especially dry goods, but I'll also have a small cooler. Breakfast will probably be cereal for me and microwaveable bacon for my son, and maybe some bagels for both of us. So I should bring my own bowls and plates? How about silverware?

 

[LauraLea]

One good thing about driving down is that I can bring my own groceries. Especially dry goods, but I'll also have a small cooler. Breakfast will probably be cereal for me and microwaveable bacon for my son, and maybe some bagels for both of us. So I should bring my own bowls and plates? How about silverware?

If you prefer "real" dishes and silverware over paper and plastic, bring your own since you are driving.

Laura

 

[RweTHEREyet]

One good thing about driving down is that I can bring my own groceries. Especially dry goods, but I'll also have a small cooler. Breakfast will probably be cereal for me and microwaveable bacon for my son, and maybe some bagels for both of us. So I should bring my own bowls and plates? How about silverware?

As mentioned before, they will have a supply of paper plates, bowls, plastic utensils in your villa, as well as ceramic coffee mugs, a can opener, corkscrew, paper towels, small bottle of dishwashing detergent, a dishtowel, and other things I am sure I am forgetting.

YOu can get additional paper products from Mousekeeping if you run out, but I usually prefer to take some of my own when in a studio. The glassware in the studios is "smallish" so we also take larger drinking glasses, usually plastic.

Have a wonderul time and enjoy the resort. It is one of our favorites.

 

[vandy]

LarryBoy: Love the name, your avatar and the super suction ears! You'll love OKW and there will be plenty to do. If not, DTD is a short boat ride away.

 

[mousefansmom]

One of our favorites as well...bring a large plastic with lid for by the pool, if you'd like to, but there is a supply of paper products as mentioned. If you are light breakfast eaters, the kitchenette will be fine.

Have fun!! Make sure to do the paddle boats, we always have fun with them.

 

[mlittig]

Here is a photo of the kitchenette in the Old Key West studio:

 

[mlittig]

4 weeks from tomorrow I will be at Old Key West again

 

[LarryBoy]

LarryBoy: Love the name, your avatar and the super suction ears! You'll love OKW and there will be plenty to do. If not, DTD is a short boat ride away.

Thanks, not many people know who that is anymore. What's funny is people think my name is Larry. It's actually Duane, LarryBoy is just my alias.

One of our favorites as well...bring a large plastic with lid for by the pool, if you'd like to, but there is a supply of paper products as mentioned. If you are light breakfast eaters, the kitchenette will be fine.

Have fun!! Make sure to do the paddle boats, we always have fun with them.

I always bring a case of bottled water. That's one of the biggest pluses of driving.

Here is a photo of the kitchenette in the Old Key West studio:

Thanks for the pic! I think that will be fine for the two of us.

I think we are really going to like OKW. The only thing I might miss is the food court of the moderates and values, but we will probably enjoy doing quick breakfast in the room and getting to the parks asap. The pool looks great too! How's the bus service? Is it comparable to the moderates nearby? Let the countdown commence!

 

[Woosterguy]

We were there for two weeks in Feb and found the bus service to be very good. Never had to wait more than 10 minutes to catch a bus to where we were going.

 

[Donna M]

We'll be there in 29 more days, I can't wait. We love OKW. I hope you do too!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

One thing we learned last trip was to only take the boat to Downtown Disney. The bus service was definitely spotty for that destination but super for everything else. Have an awesome trip!

 

[JerseyTink]

I think we are really going to like OKW.

If you do......Shhhhh, don't tell anyone. We are trying to keep it a secret.

I hope you enjoy your stay!!!!!

 

[LarryBoy]

Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.

 

[dgagnon519]

When we first stayed at OKW it was because it was all that was left and low points. Now it is our favorite resort after AKV. My kids love it. We love the rooms and how spaced out the buildings are. The kids loved going to the quiet pool as much as they did the pool with the sandcastle slide. We did buy the refillable mugs and the locations to refill them were convenient. Bus transportation was good except like the other writer wrote take the boat for DTD. We ate at Olivias for breakfast and dinner and both were great.

 

[phtktz3]

I just had my first DVC stay since we bought in October 2011 at OKW. I absolutely love this resort!!! I had no issues with the bus service at all......a little tip though....if you arrive before your room is ready and you take the bus to a park make sure you ask the CM at check in which bus stop to get off at when you return it occured to me as the bus was entering the resort that I had no idea what bus stop to get off at luckily there was a family on the bus in the building next to mine so I just got off when they did.

Also....beware of the gazillion bees that are all around the soda fountain. The place where you refill your mugs is at Good's to Go and the soda fountain is outside so the bees are crazy swarming around it.

 

[Mickeygolf]

Also....beware of the gazillion bees that are all around the soda fountain. The place where you refill your mugs is at Good's to Go and the soda fountain is outside so the bees are crazy swarming around it.

Don't worry about the bees too much they're not real. They are Disney animatronics put there to keep kids from drinking too much soda. It works great for my kids, scared to death of bees

The bus transportation has always been top notch for our family. We love the boatride to Downtown Disney as well. Take the time to take your son on one of the sprites (mini boats). The 30 minute rental will get you a ride all the way to Downtown Disney and back. It's a lot of fun. Enjoy your stay and don't tell anyone you had a great time!!!

 

[LarryBoy]

Loving all the great info! Keep it coming y'all! Does anybody know the rental rates on the water sprites?