How many in group before you'd book OKW?

[disney-super-mom]

I was wondering how many people would have to be in your group before you'd book a more spacious 2 bedroom at OKW? (editing to make this more specific: What I mean is how many people would have to be in your group before you'd book a more spacious 2 bedroom at OKW instead of a 2 bedroom at one of the other onsite DVC resorts?) Some people have told me that if you have more than 4 people in your party, you should stay at OKW for the extra square footage. If you had 6 people in your party, would you stay at one of the DVC resorts that has less square footage in the 2 bedroom units, or would you want to book at OKW?

How many people does it take to make space more important than location?

I hope I'm not confusing everyone.

Thanks everyone!

 

[MrsNick]

I think that's a really personal decision, since only you know what you can live with.

Studios and 1 BR's sleep up to 4 people
2BR's sleep up to 8 people
GV's sleep up to 12 people.

That doesn't necessarily mean you'd WANT to sleep 8 in a 2 BR, since 4 people would be stuck on a sleeper sofa. Also, 2 of those would be sleeping in the Living Room, so no privacy for them, and you wouldn't feel comfortable puttering around having your morning coffee with them sleeping, plus it takes up the whole living room.

But, there are a lot of other factors. How many adults in your party, for example. If you have a party of adults only, then four people would be perfect in a 2BR. If you were a young couple with a toddler, a 1 BR would probably suffice. Will having 2 Bathrooms instead of 1 Bathroom make a huge difference in your morning routine?

There are lots of other things to consider, but I'm too lazy to list them all. You get the idea. But any stay in a DVC is a good thing, 2BR or not, lol.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Thanks for the response MrsNick, but I don't think I made my question clear enough, so I edited my intial question.

Sorry for the confusion - My fault.

 

[robinb]

Well ... I don't make my decision based on the size of the units in on resort v/s another. I usually make my decisions on location and number of points. I do book Grand Villas at OKW because I think it's fun to share a villa that is bigger than my house. I book at OKW over BWV because of the point values. ETA: We slept 7 people in our GV in January . 4 Adults and 3 kids. We *could* have legally fit in a 2 BR, but I wouldn't have wanted to try!

I think the only time the size of the unit *might* make a difference is if someone will be sleeping in the living room. My DH and I slept in the living room once and my sister and her DH slept in the living room once (both at OKW). I didn't like losing my living area to sleepers or my sleeping area over to people who want to hang out in the living room. Neither one worked for us and we probably won't sleep anyone other than our DD in the living room again.

 

[goofysk8]

Last year we splurged and got a 2 br. The kids (2) were thrilled to have their own bed and bathroom. It was also nice for us not to have to listen to our toilet flush at 2 am when thye got up to go. This year we are getting a 1 br and they will have to share the comfy sofa bed. Our 1 br is using 262 pts and a 2br would cost us 356. We only had to borrow 40some points for our 1br as we are there for 10 days. We really do get spoiled with a 2br.

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL! Loaded question, since we usually only book OKW, and often we are 3 in a 2 bedroom! We even had 2 in a 2 bedroom last trip for one night!

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think the only time the size of the unit *might* make a difference is if someone will be sleeping in the living room.

I think it's a personal decision for everyone. IN our case, we're a family of 5, and the extra room in an OKW 2 bedroom is very noticeable to us. We book 2 bedrooms often and noone sleeps in the living room because my kids don't like to sleep on the fold outs. So for our family, OKW is the preference due to the extra room it offers us. The larger balcony is a plus to us as well.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Family of 4. Always a 2BR (Ok except for our quickie SWW). We got spoiled early on - made the mistake of staying in a 2BR before a 1BR.

 

[colleen costello]

We do WDW every spring break with my parents, and as we are a group of 6 we get a 2-bedroom. We usually stay at OKW (we love it) but last year we decided to try the Wilderness Lodge. My family of 4 had stayed there before, but we had never gone all together and gotten a 2-bedroom. I did actually worry that we would feel "crowded" because we are used to the giant rooms at OKW. It turned out just fine! The rooms at the other DVC's are definitely smaller than OKW, but what you lose is simple footage, not amenities. There is still a counter bar, still a kitchen table, still full-size appliances. The bathrooms are just as nice. Really if I missed anything it was the laundry room, because the other DVC's just have the stacked washer and dryer in a closet and OKW has the whole room...

So, for my family of SIX, the smaller size unit was not an issue. If we were a group of eight, I might say otherwise. You can't beat OKW for the sheer size of the rooms, but staying at the Lodge was wonderful and the room met our needs.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Colleen,
I've stayed at the VWL before, but not a 2 bedroom. May I ask, what are the sizes of the balcony. Do you get 1 bigger one or 2 seperate small ones ?
Thanks

 

[crazywig]

we had this discussion before booking our sept '05 trip. we had 8 people, 3 adults, 2 teens, a 10yr old, 3yr and 1yr.

location won out over space. we booked at our home BWV. with all those kids we think being within walking distance to 2 parks was essential.

 

[colleen costello]

Mia, it may vary, but we had two small adjacent balconies each with a tiny table and 2 chairs. Our room was right above the walkway to the Villas (2212) and every night I said goodnight to the topiary DVC Mickey just below.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks for the reply Colleen ! The WL is a beautiful resort......I'd just miss the big balcony we get at OKW.....particularily when traveling with a group 5 or larger. But that's just us. I wish VWL would give you one larger balcony vs the two smaller ones. Maybe that's just me ?
Thanks again.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Maria, I have to agree about that balcony! We actually use the big OKW balcony as another room. It is especially nice if you have someone using the pull out. I can sneak into the kitchen for coffee, and eat my breakfast on the balcony without bothering anyone.

 

[bobbiwoz]

As grandparents, we're just beginning our family vacations with the youngsters. We have a VWL 2 bedroom booked in August for part of our immediate family- myself, DH, DS, DDiL and 3 youngsters, so 7, but only 4 adults. MK is the only park we'll visit as a group, so it's just fine.

I read so much about OKW's villas spaciousness, we've stayed there just in a studio, and so have nothing really to compare VWL's 2 bedroom to, but we have a "couple only" stay at OKW 1 bedroom in June. DH and I want to experience OKW before trying to "sell" the others, not for this trip, but for the future when the DGC are older.

I understand the concerns of people with 3 Dchildren, I suppose at some point, we could be forced to get a 2 bedroom just for them if our OKW experience doesn't seen to fit the bill. I like the way OKW looks, I think the lush greenery, golf course setting is beautiful. I hope we love the 1 bedroom experience there as much as most others do, and then I can just tell DS and family how great it is there, and that they shouldn't worry, it's a real Disney experience. I would even be willing to add some points to get a GV sometime if this June trip is what I hope it will be. Better not mention that to DH.

Bobbi

 

[WDWMom]

I personally would never stay anywhere other than OK if I had to stay in a 1 bedrm with 3 or more people. The other resorts just don't have space to move in and very little dinning space. With out family of 5 BVC and BW do not have space for the 5 of us to sit down and eat.

 

[Pa@okw95]

The answer is 3 assuming you have 2 that can sleep in the same bedroom if not then go to the grandvilla with 3, I had to with 5 at a grandvilla, but to answer your question it is 3 as a general rule.

 

[jade1]

OKW, then SSR are last on our list no matter how many of us are going. Its a great resort and a beautiful back up, its just sq feet mean nothing to us compared to location and amenities. We have a studio reserved for 4 of us at BWV BW View at Spring Break and a studio at VWL for next XMAS, right now if anyone on this board or MS called and was willing to trade a 2BR or 1 BR at OKW for either ressie (ignoring the obvious point difference) we would say no way. We have a 2BR at BCV for this summer and would not trade it for a OKW GV either.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I think the answer to your question depends on two things...

If people in your party would find sleeping on a sofa bed to be a problem then the answer would be 3. But since you are willing to compare the two then it must be a tripping over each other type question rather than a bed question.

I would pick OKW once you have someone sleeping on the sofa in the living room. I might also pick it for six adult sized people even if they were all staying in the bedrooms.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I was wondering how many people would have to be in your group before you'd book a more spacious 2 bedroom at OKW? .....Thanks everyone!

I've heard that most people avoid OKW unless they have at least 10 for a 1BR or 20 for a 2BR. That sounds about right to me.