grand villas

[jlieblaw]

We are planning vacation for 10 of us; 7 adults and 3 kids. We would like at least 3 bedrooms. I've noticed that the okw grand villa requires considerably less points. Why is this and is okw as nice as ssr? The other option we are looking at is to do a 2br villas and then get 2 studios. Can anyone give me an opinion on the grand villas and whether they are worth the extra points? We would actually save some points by doing the 2br villa and 2 studios.

Thanks

 

[ccw]

Stayed at a GV at OKW in November. There were 6 women in our group and the GV was awesome! Very nicely appointed and HUGE! ALso four bathrooms! (The second downstairs bath did not have a tub but did have a great shower)... But for a group of 10, you might be happier with the privacy afforded by separate villas/studios. Depends on your group. Just keep in mind that if you rent separate accommodations they may not end up being right next to each other.

 

[debbie in Seattle]

Don't own, but walked through the GV at SS-boy was it nice and huge! Call member services and talk to them-I was going to rent a one bedroom and a studio for an upcoming trip and the gal at member svs. told me to get a lock off 2 bedroom (I think that's what it's called)-less points used and the rooms are side by side and not spread all over the resort.

 

[CarolMN]

When are you planning to visit?

Unless you own at OKW, you may not be able to reserve a GV for the time you want to visit. The OKW GVs are very popular (lower point cost and they are quite nice) - the weekday nights often book up before the 7 month window even opens. Some times of the year are easier to book than others.

Best wishes -

 

[tara98]

We are thinking of visiting with my family of 12 within the next couple of years and were also thinking of a GV. BUT.... as much as I love my family, I don't think I could go a whole week without some sort of privacy so when we are ready to book, we too will probably go with a 2 BR and a couple of studios. I figure with the 2 BR we will still have a gathering place if we needed it, but when it's time to go to bed, we will all have much needed privacy.

 

[uicbear]

I am in the process of planning a trip for my family which will include 12 (3 families). For the reasons of space, actual sleeping surfaces, some sense of privacy and point saving, we are going with 2 2BR and a 1BR. Now, we are banking and borrowing to do this, but I think this will really give my family the most relaxing experience of DVC. One day we might look into a grand villa but maybe with a smaller group.

 

[jlieblaw]

Thanks for the replies. We will be going middle to late September. The biggest advantage to the gv is that everyone can sit together for a meal but if we do 2 2br units we would all have a bedroom. We plan to eat most dinners out, just do light lunches and breakfast in the room. We have never stayed at okw. I was very surprised at the point difference in okw gv vs. ssr. What is the pool like at okw? We stayed at ssr last Sept. and loved the pool, with the zero entry since my toddler likes to take things slowly when getting used to the pool.

 

[kda]

The OKW rooms are all much bigger than any of the other DVC properties on site. The decor is very comfortable, casual, tropical, light colors. SSR is very lovely, and seems more elegant and formal to me. Depends on your taste. I'd take either in a heartbeat.

We stay at OKW all the time, due to the lower points, but enjoyed our stay at SSR. Because OKW is much larger, the kitchen / living room area there seems very spacious to me. The DR table seats 4 and the big round table on the patio seats 4 and is just outside the DR area. There's also a couch and loveseat in the living room, with a large coffee table. And an additional comfortable chair with a foot rest. Everyone wouldn't be sitting at the table together, but I think there's lots of room for everyone to be together for a meal, if they are flexible with seating.

For privacy's sake, you might like 2 2-BRs, and request that they be near each other. That way, 2 couples could get the King bed with the humongous bath, and there would be 2 bedrooms with 2 queen beds.
The rooms in the buildings built first do NOT have a doorway from the hall and laundry room in to the bath, so anyone sleeping on the sofa has to go through the master bedroom.

Good luck with your decision --- sounds like a fun trip!

 

[anniet]

Well......define "privacy".

We spent a week with my family in a GV at OKW in October. For me there was plenty of privacy, but for dh, not enough. Each room has it's own bathroom and once you shut the door to your room, it's almost as if you are in your own resort guest room. But you also have the kitchen/dining/living area available. Where you said there are 7 adults, I'm thinking one adult may have to sleep on the sofa in the living room. We had one adult who spent one night on the sofa in the GV and it wasn't an issue, but he had to catch the ME bus early the next morning anyway. I would think if there were an adult for the entire time on the sofa, it might be more of an issue.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have had OKW GV stays with up to 12 people. While there was a privacy issue for one family (too many for one bedroom, so they had to overlap into the living room), everyone had a bed, and the dining room table accommodated 8 easily and 10 if we crowded. There is also a table and chairs for 4 in the living room of an OKW GV, and the table and 4 chairs on the balcony can also be utilized.

The point difference has nothing to do with the size, style or furnishings of an OKW GV, but everything to do with the fact that the points were established here early as the first DVC resort. You will note the higher point values needed for ALL of the DVC resorts that came afterward. That just makes us all the happier for having purchased OKW!