Give me your best tips for OKW! Please!!

[GADisneyDVC]

MY DH and I are going on an adults only trip to OKW for the first time. Let me in on your favorite spots, favorite things to do there and the best building to request (and why)! Any helpful hints will be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

[dianeschlicht]

What kinds of things do you like to do? Since it is a couple only trip, I would definitely stay in a 1 bedroom for the whirlpool tub in the bathroom and the big relaxing living room and balcony all to yourself.

There really are no bad areas of OKW, but if you are enamoured with specific views, your choices are woods, water, and golf course. Keep in mind that many buildings have all three of those at the same time!

If being near a pool and the accompanying hot tub is important to you, maybe request near a neighborhood or quiet pool. I say this because the main pool will be noisy with all the kids enjoying the castle water slide. Since anywhere on OKW property is a quick walk or busride away, there is no need to specify near the Hospitality area unless you plan to spend the majority of your time in the sidewalk bar, the restaurant, or the fitness center.

If it was me personally....I would request building 55 near the quiet pool there. It is a great spot with the best view of the canal, and very quiet. It's also the jumping off spot for the walkway to DTD, so that's handy as well. We enjoy that neighborhood pool a lot, and the bus stop is the second stop coming in, so fast for returning at night.

 

[GADisneyDVC]

Thanks for the great info. The quieter pool sounds great--esp. with the hot tub!! Does Bldg. 55 also have a walkway to SSR? Is it the same walkway to DTD?

Keep the tips coming!! Anything super romantic would be great. TIA!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the great info. The quieter pool sounds great--esp. with the hot tub!! Does Bldg. 55 also have a walkway to SSR? Is it the same walkway to DTD?

Keep the tips coming!! Anything super romantic would be great. TIA!

Yes, the walkway is one and the same. It is NOT something you want to do after dark though, because it is not lighted, and is next to the canal. Buses and boats also run to DTD from the Hospitality house, so those will be your best bet after dark. Oh, and that boat ride CAN be romantic. You can also rent watercraft at the HH to use on the canal. Sitting out on the big balcony of a 1 bedroom after dark sipping your favorite drink can be pretty nice as well...Of course, you may want to finish that up by both getting in that nice relaxing oversized whirlpool tub in the master bathroom! Strolling the grounds after dark is pretty nice too. Great picture spots at OKW.

 

[GADisneyDVC]

Great info-- thanks so much. I am getting so excited just thinking about being there. We have been planning this for forever!! I will definitely try for Bldg. 55. But I'll try not to be disappointed if we don't get it! We'll still be at WDW!! Does anyone else have any tips for us?

 

[las3888]

Just got back from OKW a week ago. We were in building 55. It is a great area. I would not want to stay in the buildings across from it though because it is by the road (there is golf course in between, but not enough).

We really enjoyed building 55. It was STEPS, and I mean like 20 (?) from the quiet pool. How nice. The pool was SUPER warm and folks we met said it was much warmer than the main pool. Probably the best pool experience as far as I know because although you get an occasional family (mine included) alot of the time it was truly quiet. Plus there is a nice hot-tub.

The one thing I would say with building 55 is to request an upper floor as the lower ones have alot of foliage and make the room dark. I often had the lights on during a bright sunny day. 2nd floor and above would be much nicer.

We have enjoyed eating al fresco at Olivia's. We did this b4 we had DS and found it on the romantic side. We then caught the boat to DD and had a nice evening there. That was nice and romantic!

We found our room to be ready at check-in early...around noon. This was on a Saturday though. Sunday would be harder. We were told there were alot of rooms open in alot of areas and we basically had our pick of where we wanted to be--at NOON!

If you can't get building 55, don't sweat it, there are many many nice areas in the resort. Very nice. Have a great time!

 

[GADisneyDVC]

Thanks for the great info so far guys! Anyone else have any OKW secrets?

 

[DVCconvert]

Thanks for the great info so far guys! Anyone else have any OKW secrets?

If you enjoy books-take a little while to look at some of the titles in Papa's Den (the lobby)

 

[dianeschlicht]

BTW, if you do get building 55 (or 45 or 46) a fishing pole would be a fun diversion too. I have often seen folks fishing on the canal btween builidngs 56 and 46. Also, we HAVE stayed across the road in 54 and 53, and they are nice too, but no canal to look at.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Don't forget to go down to Hank's Rent and Return and get a free movie or two. We often will do that as a way to unwind before bed. They have to be back by mid-morning, but there is a convenient drop box outside the building for their return, should you want to do that after hours.

The outdoor dining area at Olivia's is nice too.

 

[MiaSRN62]

This was on a Saturday though. Sunday would be harder.

We got into our room at 11:45 am on Sunday Aug 13. I was so suprised and we had our choice of several rooms. All I had requested were N/S and water view. I was offered #39 initially but I turned it down. I had never stayed in the area before and I was afraid I would be too close to the main road noise. I opted for #34 which the CM told me was not a water view, but rather a golf course view. I took it and was pleasently suprised it had views of both
This was our view :

I do second the opinion that we love #'s 45, 46 & 55. The canal views are so nice. We love renting a pontoon boat and sailing down the river to DD. We pack a picnic lunch and some drinks. Have a wonderful time.

 

[KyleRayner]

My home resort is OKW but I haven't stayed there yet. What's the commute like from Building #55 to the Hospitality House. I'm looking at the resort map from OurLaughingPlace.com and it looks far.

I was thinking of staying at OKW in October 2007. Everyone's saying such positive things about Building #55 but it looks so far from the Hospitality House. Is the map deceiving?

Anyone have any buildings they would recommend near the Hospitality House?

 

[MiaSRN62]

We stayed in #45 last year and it was around a 7 min walk...so I'm guessing maybe 10 min from #55 ?
We just stayed in #34 a few weeks ago, and that was about an 8-9 min walk.

 

[spiceycat]

things to do at OKW

do a morning walk around the resort. great exercise plus you get to see the resort!

get a viedo or DVD from hanks

rent a bike or boat

play a game

do you like tennis - several courts.

basketball - half court
volleyball

walk in the sand playground .....

see how many flowers are blossoming.....and which you know!

go visit the general store - even if you don't need anything.

do a workout in the gym.

get a massage.

have one meal at Olivia's.

see if you can find your picture!!!! okay as a new member you probably don't have a picture at Olivia.

visit the community hall and see what is happening.

when you check in get an activities list of things to do from the front desk - it should be on the back on your map - but sometimes (especially on Sundays) they run out.

relax!!!!

building 55 is around 7 to 10 minutes walking time to HH. but you can jump on any bus and get there. all the buses must stop at HH before leaving to go to the parks. to get back just walk over to the Pensicular road bus stop and wait for a bus. however I like to walk - it is not long and does your body good.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My home resort is OKW but I haven't stayed there yet. What's the commute like from Building #55 to the Hospitality House. I'm looking at the resort map from OurLaughingPlace.com and it looks far.

I was thinking of staying at OKW in October 2007. Everyone's saying such positive things about Building #55 but it looks so far from the Hospitality House. Is the map deceiving?

Anyone have any buildings they would recommend near the Hospitality House?

Not as bad as you might think, and if you can't or don't want to walk the 7-8 minutes it would take, you can always hit the bus stop and get on the first bus that comes along. ALL buses stop at HH before leaving the resort, so that is an option as well.
Here is a map: The light grey shaded areas are water and the darker shaded areas are golf course.

 

[GADisneyDVC]

Thanks for the map. That is great!!

 

[Mickey527]

I was in building 56 last week and it was great. I had a 1 bedroom (5621) on the 2nd floor and I looked out my living room window at the pool.
If I had been on the 1st floor I could have hopped the railing on my patio and gone right to the pool.
The pool was great and we went into it almost every night after 10 pm. We only had one other family there one night, the rest of the time we were alone.
One night my grandson was acting up at MGM and I took him home so his parents could enjoy the parks. I had the stroller filled with their stuff and the baby's so I couldn't carry the baby and the stuff and fold the stroller. You can't get on a bus with an open stroller.
I took a cab back to OKW ($5 +$2 tip) and walked from the main building back to building 56 with the stroller etc... It took me less than 10 minutes. I got to the South stop just as the bus that wouldn't let me take the stroller on pulled up. He was surprised to see me, I told him I run really fast.
I always ask for a building right near a quiet pool and have always been given a great room. I did have to wait till almost 4 sometimes before getting a room but I always get a great room. Peggie

 

[buzz5985]

I just stayed at OKW for the first time 8/20-8/25. We were in building 13, room 1314, a 2 BR. I had my 75 yo father with us. Our biggest complaint about the location of the building is no sidewalks. You had to walk through the parking lots, etc., cross the street with no cross walks to get to the buss stop. But that was our biggest complaint. I didn't realize the resort was so large. We did not have a car - so Building 13 was a great choice for us. We were very close to the Hospitality House, Main Pool, etc.

We scared a golfer. He came looking for his ball, and we told him to the right. He jumped a foot - he didn't see us on our balcony because of the foliage - good thing it was there - we would have been hit by he ball. LOL

We loved our room. Loved the pool. Wished the bus service was a little better - but you have to take the good with the bad.

Janis