How much space?

[mommary]

I recently made a reservation for a two bedroom villa at Wilderness lodge for May 06, 4nights. VWL is my home resort.
We will be 8 (6 adults, 2 children ages 3,6). Two of the couples have one child each.
Will we be comfortable in the villas or should I try to book three bedrooms at OKW when my 7 month window comes up?
I love the convenience to the MK but really want to be comfortable with such a large group.
Any advice is always appreciated.

 

[Candace]

You need to consider the sleeping arrangements. If these children are not siblings, will they be comfortable sleeping together? Also, someone will be on the pull out in the living room, so one child will not be in the room with their parents. I assume you will have the master bedroom if the points are yours? (I know I would want the master). I guess I am saying that it would be too crowded for me especially since the second bedroom will have 1 bed/1 pullout and the common living areas are fairly small and especially so, if you have to use the pullout. Getting a 3 bedroom GV at 7 months at OKW may be tough also. Have you considered 3 studios? Or at least adding another studio to your 2BR at Wilderness Lodge?

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

I love VWL but personally I'd switch to OKW just for the extra room. With that many people, you won't be crowded in the OKW 2-bdr since the living room is huge and the deck's are a WAY bigger also. Everyone can spread out and even be able to enjoy a little privacy.

VWL, BWV, SSR, and BCV are all very nice but the 2 bedroom's really do "feel" like three hotel rooms side by side. At OKW, you feel like you're really somewhere special. JMHO

 

[mommary]

The children are not siblings but they are cousins.
How does it work with adding a studio? Can they be connected?
This is why I love this site, I find out so much information on it.
Just for the record I am a new DVC member and I am only beginning to learn the ropes.
Thanks

 

[Pa@okw95]

I recently made a reservation for a two bedroom villa at Wilderness lodge for May 06, 4nights. VWL is my home resort.
We will be 8 (6 adults, 2 children ages 3,6). Two of the couples have one child each.
Will we be comfortable in the villas or should I try to book three bedrooms at OKW when my 7 month window comes up?
I love the convenience to the MK but really want to be comfortable with such a large group.
Any advice is always appreciated.

I would go with the grand villa at 7 months out. You should not have any trouble getting it. That way each family will have their own bedroom and bath. It is the only way to go rather than stuffing 8 people into a 2 bedroom. With the grand villa you will have 5 beds to use-also a big difference.

 

[Laurajean1014]

OKW will give you much more space. I'd go OKW, if it was me.

 

[mikesmom]

It does sound a little tight. i would try for the GV at OKW, but it could be difficult at 7 months. SSR might also have a GV available at that time frame.

If you can't get those, the suggestion of adding a studio is good. They can't guarantee that they will connnect (as a matter of fact, I don't believe that's possible) but they will try and get you close by. We have done that very thing and had family members just a couple of doors down on the same floor. As a matter of fact, if you have enough points, you might want to make that ressie now to cover yourself, and then try and switch to the GV at the 7 month window.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, that configuration of people means that either 4 adults share the 2nd BR with the 2 kids on the pullout or one of the kids is sleeping in a room with adults who are not his/her parents.

I'd get a studio or try for the GV. That way each family can have their own bedroom.

 

[Dean]

It would be tight no matter the make up of the group. Regardless, you should try to get a dedicated 2 BR if you haven't already. If it were I, I'd get the extra studio which you can book now since you obviously have VWL points. Then at 7 months out you can change over if you want. The points for the GV at OKW and a 2 BR + studio at WL are almost identical. The issues that should likely be your most important variables are:

• The chance part of the group might not go. You could just cancel the studio if needed.
• Will you have a car, if not, stick with VWL.
• How much do you expect to eat in the room. If most meals, OKW would be your best chocie. If you're only going to do light things in the room and eat out otherwise, VWL might be best.
• Which parks will you spend the majority of your time at. If it's MK, that gives VWL a heads up. If it's Epcot or MGM, consider BCV or BWV with the same principles as above.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The children are not siblings but they are cousins.
How does it work with adding a studio? Can they be connected?
This is why I love this site, I find out so much information on it.
Just for the record I am a new DVC member and I am only beginning to learn the ropes.
Thanks

Studios only connect to a one bedroom to make a two bedroom. None of them connect to a two bedroom villa. You could ask that they are close together. And VWL are smaller, so even if they weren't real close to each other, they wouldn't be that far apart.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Dean has an excellent suggestion. Booking the 2 bedroom plus studio now at VWL and then trying to switch to an OKW GV at the 7 month window would be your best choice. You can't guarantee that the studio and 2 bedroom will be really close together, but you should be able to request them on the same floor. I would say the OKW GV is by far the most comfortable accommodation for the make up of your group. That way each family group has their own space, and that can be very essential on a group trip like that. When we have taken mixed family groups, it has always been wise to have personal space for each family.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Dean states :How much do you expect to eat in the room. If most meals, OKW would be your best chocie. If you're only going to do light things in the room and eat out otherwise, VWL might be best.

Respectfully, Dean, I agreed with everything you stated in your post except the above quote ? We've stayed at OKW, VWL and BWV and I never ate any more or less meals in the villa at any of them ? Not quite sure why OKW is considered best for eating meals in the room ? Actually, with the car right outside our villa door there, we find it MUCH easier to drive around to other resorts for meals (O'Hana's at the Poly and Boma at the AKL are regular stops for us), as well as the options of Olivia's restaurant and Goods To Go right on the resort. Not to mention, all the restaurants of DD are a boat or bus ride away. We really don't eat that many meals in our OKW room. Not meaning to be argumentative or anything, but I guess you just lost me on this point.

 

[mbb]

.........

Not quite sure why OKW is considered best for eating meals in the room ? .....

Maybe the full size dining table..we could seat 6 adults at the table at OKW. It was tight - for four adults- around the banquette table at BCV, and two had to eat at the counter.


JMHO, YMMV!

 

[Dean]

Respectfully, Dean, I agreed with everything you stated in your post except the above quote ? We've stayed at OKW, VWL and BWV and I never ate any more or less meals in the villa at any of them ? Not quite sure why OKW is considered best for eating meals in the room ? Actually, with the car right outside our villa door there, we find it MUCH easier to drive around to other resorts for meals (O'Hana's at the Poly and Boma at the AKL are regular stops for us), as well as the options of Olivia's restaurant and Goods To Go right on the resort. Not to mention, all the restaurants of DD are a boat or bus ride away. We really don't eat that many meals in our OKW room. Not meaning to be argumentative or anything, but I guess you just lost me on this point.

It's a fair question and you're not being argumentative at all. As mbb said, it's the size and functionality of the kitchen that applies to the idea. Some families may or may not eat more in some places than others. I actually think people would be a little less likely to eat out staying at OKW than VWL due to the relative isolation and accessibility of the BBQ grills, but that wasn't really my thinking with the above post. And as you point out, it will vary greatly by family. But there's no right or wrong and these aren't the only choices. SSR also has GV but will be a lot more points than OKW. Actually a 2 BR plus a studio at OKW may be an even better choice for many. It's less points, gives you the cancellation flexibility, gives you more sleeping room and still the full kitchen. Or even just the 2 BR by itself may work for this group at OKW.

All of the factors have to be put together. If you plan to have a car AND eat in a lot AND are pretty certain everyone will go AND don't think you'll get on each others nerves, an OKW GV will be the best by far for many people.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Dean says :I actually think people would be a little less likely to eat out staying at OKW than VWL due to the relative isolation and accessibility of the BBQ grills, but that wasn't really my thinking with the above post.

Agreed about the larger kitchen/table and bbq grills, but isolation ? Don't feel OKW is much more isolated than WL though. Both require a resort boat ride to get to either 1)MK @WL or 2) DD @ OKW and a bus ride to get everywhere else. Both have full service restaurants (WL has 2) and both have quick food options. And, as I previously stated, because one's car is so conveniently located to the room at OKW, I feel it makes eating out even more enticing/convenient. It does for us. It's so easy to dine at the different resorts when you're not relying on wdw transportation. But you're right, there's no right or wrong way. Families will do what works best for them.
Totally agree with everything else you said. Thanks for the explanation Dean.

 

[JudithM]

We stayed in a dedicated two-bedroom unit at OKW last spring. We were four adults & three children (all siblings - 17yo boy, 13 yo girl & 9 yo boy). Husband & I got the master bedroom - I wouldn't give up the king bed, jacuzzi, etc.! I originally thought mom & dad & the two brothers would have the bedroom with sister on the sofa. Well, so much for thinking ! Dad snores, so he got the sofa. There is an extra closet in the second bedroom of a dedicated unit. Maybe the two children in the OP's group could make a little bedroom in the closet.

We ate more meals in the unit than my husband & I usually do. We had everyone around the dining room table at one time - it was fine for us. We enjoyed the space of a two-bedroom unit at OKW. I cannot imagine all of us in a smaller two-bedroom unit.

 

[mommary]

Thanks for all your replies! From what I'm reading I don't think I would want an extra studio that does not connect at the VWL and be separate from the rest of my family. We would probably eat breakfast in but most other meals out. And because of the ages of the children I would say that the MK is the park we would most likely visit during our stay. When I made the reservation with Disney they suggested calling in each day indivually to get the 3 bedroom villas at my 7 month mark. If I did this do I cancel my existing reservation at VWL or do I cancel once I know that I have something at OKW?

 

[Dean]

Agreed about the larger kitchen/table and bbq grills, but isolation ? Don't feel OKW is much more isolated than WL though. Both require a resort boat ride to get to either 1)MK @WL or 2) DD @ OKW and a bus ride to get everywhere else. Both have full service restaurants (WL has 2) and both have quick food options. And, as I previously stated, because one's car is so conveniently located to the room at OKW, I feel it makes eating out even more enticing/convenient. It does for us. It's so easy to dine at the different resorts when you're not relying on wdw transportation. But you're right, there's no right or wrong way. Families will do what works best for them.
Totally agree with everything else you said. Thanks for the explanation Dean.

My approach is more like yours but I always have a car and don't mind using it. It seems a large percentage of people who visit DVC, even with a car, don't approach it that way. But I'd disagree that both resorts are comparable in terms of restaurant options or in terms of getting other nearby restaurants if not using a car. While I like Olivias, it is not comparable to either of the WL restaurants IMO. And many locations at OKW require you to walk fairly long distances or take a bus or car to get to Olivia's or use the boat service. Plus the boat service for OKW is a bit more erratic and limited IMO. But it does depend in part of WHERE you want to go. For MK, it would be different that EPCOT, MGM, AK or other resort in those ares.

But the point to this thread was the kitchen makeup is much better (1, 2 or 3 BR) at OKW than any other DVC with the exception of the other GV units or VB Beach House.

 

[MiaSRN62]

While I like Olivias, it is not comparable to either of the WL restaurants IMO. And many locations at OKW require you to walk fairly long distances or take a bus or car to get to Olivia's or use the boat service. Plus the boat service for OKW is a bit more erratic and limited IMO.

I agree with you about everything---the kitchen make-up.....possibly more walking at OKW depending on the building location etc. But I do feel Olivia's is on par with Whispering Canyon Cafe. In fact, we like the more varied menu options at Olivia's vs a pretty meat-oriented fare at WC. Now Artist Point (at WL)....that is a lovely restaurant, albeit, more pricey as well.
We'll just agree to disagree on a couple points Dean. I'm sure everyone sees it in their own way and makes it work accordingly. Though we love the WL/VWL I do agree the OP (having 6 adults) will be more comfortable, villa size-wise at OKW.

 

[MrsM]

We stayed in a 2BR at VWL last December with 8 people - it was my DH & I, our 4 children (14, 4, 3, 1) and my in-laws. It was cozy, but not too bad since our kids are little. My in-laws got the master bedroom since we didn't want to make them sleep with the kids. DH & I shared the second bedroom with 3 of the kids, and the 14 year old slept on the pullout sofa.

We considered OKW, but we really appreciated being so close to the MK and the Christmas decorations at VWL. For as much time as we spent in the room, it was not uncomforably crowded.