First Visit to OKW

[cindy18]

We've stayed at other DVC resorts before but we just decided to spend a few nights in OKW for the first time in a few weeks. Can anyone give me some helpful tips? Should we rent a car or rely on the buses? If we don't have a car, what's the best way to handle food -- grocery delivery or restaurants? When we stayed in SSR, we had a car and walked to Downtown Disney and otherwise drove everywhere. It seems like you can't walk to anywhere from OKW, so I'm just trying to figure out the best way to get around. We're only going to be down for a few days, so I wasn't sure a car was worth it. Any advice would be REALLY appreciated.

 

[glindamood]

We have been staying at OKW since '93 - it is our home resort and we love it there. We have never had issues taking the buses wherever we wanted to go. When we lived in Ohio we drove so we had a car and could get to the store. You do have the option of ordering in your groceries - we have used we go shop in the past and I would use them again. We have a ressie for 3 nights in October and I am going to ship a box (cereal, bagels, coffee, snack type stuff) and will just get milk there since we are doing the DxDDP. Have a great time!!

 

[DVCconvert]

the buses are fine for going to the parks, but I would (and always have) rented a car. It makes it so easy to go to publix or winn dixie (we cook in our villa often). You also then also have the option of going off site for a dinner or other sightseeing. Some people will rent a car for just a day, or 2 during which they'll do their shopping.

HTH

 

[5forDiz]

You are correct in that there really isn't much you could walk to outside of OKW resort property, the exception being there is a walking path to Downtown Disney but it isn't what I would call a short walk ( definitely do-able but I'd allow at least 20 minutes ) and since it's not a lighted path do not recommend after dark. There is boat service from OKW dock to Downtown Dis and then once there, take boat or walk to SSR or take boat to Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter and also, at Downtown east side are buses to any of the other Disney resorts.

We always have car at WDW so never used the shopping services but many here seem to like We Go Shop and Garden Grocer. You'll find a limited amount of grocery items at OKW's 'general store/gift shop' you may find the items they carry to be enough of what you need for couple of days stay.

We love our OKW home, it's such a beautiful, relaxing oasis, perfect when you want to get away from all the other Disney action.

 

[gretchen265]

We stayed at OKW for the first time last Nov, and found the buses very reliable. There is nothing within walking distance for our crew, but the boat ride to DD is very relaxing. We order through GG and have had good experiences with them. Enjoy!

 

[ddoconnell]

We always order our groceries thru wegoshop.com...and we drive down just about every time! It is my way of saving time and getting to enjoy all of my WDW time! OKW is one of the best resorts, but all food stores (other than the general store) are a car or bus ride away...

 

[cindy18]

Thanks for all this information and help! How regularly do the boats to DD and the buses run? Is there a place to find out the schedules, or do I have to wait until we get down to OKW to check?

 

[iloveokw]

Don't miss the boat ride to Downtown Disney....it runs every 20 minutes...hours of operation change with the season, I think. Enjoy your porch....one of our favorite ways to relax. We always rent a car, we eat in our room alot and have many offsite favorites.

 

[cindy18]

Our plan is to spend our first afternoon enjoying the resort and then take the boat to DD for dinner and shopping (!!) and then spend the next day at Epcot until we drop from exhaustion and crawl back to OKW for a simple dinner in our kitchen. It's a short visit, but it sounds like a perfect little escape, especially since it's sleeting outside my window today! I think, based on what people are saying, that we can manage with Disney transportation and skip the rental car, right?

 

[CocosMeme]

I know I am jumping in here, but I am calling on Monday morning for a 7 month reservation at OKW and need to ask where to request a room. We own at AKV and love it but are staying there for a family trip in May and thought we would try someting different for the FW festival. We visited OKW when there in Nov. and liked the atmosphere. We will be adult only (both early 60's) and are looking for quiet, pretty view (water/woods), quiet pool. We will have a car so not worried about being far from the HH. We like to sit on our balcony have a peaceful coffee/wine moment in mornings and evenings. SO different than the family group trips!!! Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lost boy]

Yes, for a few days I think you can get by without a car. The boats are reliable to DTD and I think the epcot buses are very reliable. The rooms are large the balconies great and the overall feel of the resort is laid back and relaxing, I wish I was there now, have fun.

 

[pixiedust23]

I would def skip the car. You can take the buses to the park and the boat to DTD. Anywhere at the resort is def walkable and with all the yummy eating it will be good to get some exercise in!

 

[5forDiz]

I know I am jumping in here, but I am calling on Monday morning for a 7 month reservation at OKW and need to ask where to request a room. We own at AKV and love it but are staying there for a family trip in May and thought we would try someting different for the FW festival. We visited OKW when there in Nov. and liked the atmosphere. We will be adult only (both early 60's) and are looking for quiet, pretty view (water/woods), quiet pool. We will have a car so not worried about being far from the HH. We like to sit on our balcony have a peaceful coffee/wine moment in mornings and evenings. SO different than the family group trips!!! Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

We like 45 & 46 for its canal view. Ask for upper floor if you don't mind climbing stairs because sometimes first level villa balconies can have views blocked by lots of foliage. For quiet pool areas we do like Turtle Pond because it has small snack shack and we also like that the picnic tables have some overhead cover but South Point area is very nice too and iirc 55 has a nice canal view too. We have not stayed in Miller's area and have not used that quiet pool on any of our trips but many people post here that they like this location because depending upon building it's a pretty quick walk to HH area, but most locations in OKW are really no more than a 10 minute walk to HH area and all buses will stop at HH last before exiting resort property so you can always hop on one if you don't want to walk or use your car.

Take a look at this link below for OKW map to get a better idea on locations; I'd just want to mention too that we prefer the buildings that are more 'straight lined' in design such as 45, 46, etc. instead of those that are ' U ' shaped (such as 35, 38, 18, 14)


http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.htm

 

[Laurajeremy]

Tried to find on map but where is the boat to DD? I know we will be doing this quite often so might want to be closer to that?

 

[MsRem]

Hospitality House area. We stayed in building 45 in Feb. We were always walking to the HH to take the bus, pool (even though there was one closer to us), food, boat. Carted two kids with us. Its not a bad walk at all.

 

[5forDiz]

Tried to find on map but where is the boat to DD? I know we will be doing this quite often so might want to be closer to that?

At Hospitality House area just below where you see letters H and R indicated on the map is where boat launch is located ( the waterway goes from there behind buildings 45 and 46, past 55 & South Point pool area continuing on to DD )

Hope that helps