I need a location request for OKW please!

[Leigha]

I know you can only request but I like to try to get as good a room location as possible. We'll have a two bedroom and I'd like a nice water view, not necessarily river or canal. I see many compliments on the Turtle area and was thinking about building 43 which seems to be backed by a pond or lake and it is in the middle of the pool and bus stop. It is also in the process of being redone (from what I've read) which is also high on my list of things to think about. The Passporter, however, lists it as a place to avoid due to its remoteness, traffic noise and inconvient bus stops. It looks to be quite a distance from the main area. How far of a walk would it be? Are there bridges over the waterways? My next location might be 12 which appears to have a water view and is close to the main area. From what I've read though, the main area is the last bus stop and can sometimes be crowded in the mornings. I have two teenage daughters and a mother with back trouble for this July trip to consider. Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

Truthfully, one location is pretty much the same as any other at OKW. If you want to be close to the Hospitality area (main pool, restaurant, etc.) that is a separate guaranteed booking category now, although it is the same number of points.

Is you mother able to climb stairs? There are only 3 bldgs with elevators at OKW, 62, 63 & 64. Or you'll need to request a first floor unit.

There are sidewalks along the roadways, and the only bridge that crosses over to the hospitality area includes a sidewalk and Peninsular rd. There are no separate pedestrian walkways over the canal.

While the main pool is the only one with a slide, all pools at OKW have a hot tub in the vicinity, and you'll also have a large hot tub in the master suite.

The furthest walk from within the resort to the hospitality area is about 15 minutes at a leisurely pace. Or you can hop on any bus to get to the hospitality area. There is only one return bus (internal) and it can be a wait, as it also serves Downtown Disney and Typhoon Lagoon. But you can also cross the bridge to the Peninsular Road bus stop, and catch any bus back to your room.

 

[Leigha]

On good days she is fine but if she starts to be in pain, it will all go downhill! I know the bottom floor has no stairs and the upper floors mean you don't have to lug up your luggage but you have a better view. Do you all think that makes much of a difference? The water view request would be for her - she would love that!

 

[dianeschlicht]

On good days she is fine but if she starts to be in pain, it will all go downhill! I know the bottom floor has no stairs and the upper floors mean you don't have to lug up your luggage but you have a better view. Do you all think that makes much of a difference? The water view request would be for her - she would love that!

Well, the upper floors will mean you have to lug your luggage unless you use bell services. There WILL be stairs to climb though too. That being said, if you are on the 2nd or 3rd level of a building, the stairs are relatively low rise ones, and not difficult even for my DH and his badly arthritic knees.

You mentioned building 43. Since that is a building with 2 GV's in it, your chance of getting a 1st floor 2 bedroom UNDER a GV is good, and that could be bad for noise. That building has 2 dedicated 2 bedrooms and 2-2 bedroom lock off units on the first floor and only 2 lock off units on the second floor. All the rest of the building is taken up by the GVs. So, with 4 possible 1st floor units and only 2 possible 2nd floor units, you are more likely to have a noisy GV above you.

Buildings 30 and 31 were rehabed last May. Not sure about 43. I do know they were working on 50-52 last November.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I know you can only request but I like to try to get as good a room location as possible. We'll have a two bedroom and I'd like a nice water view, not necessarily river or canal. I see many compliments on the Turtle area and was thinking about building 43 which seems to be backed by a pond or lake and it is in the middle of the pool and bus stop. It is also in the process of being redone (from what I've read) which is also high on my list of things to think about. The Passporter, however, lists it as a place to avoid due to its remoteness, traffic noise and inconvient bus stops. It looks to be quite a distance from the main area. How far of a walk would it be? Are there bridges over the waterways? My next location might be 12 which appears to have a water view and is close to the main area. From what I've read though, the main area is the last bus stop and can sometimes be crowded in the mornings. I have two teenage daughters and a mother with back trouble for this July trip to consider. Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated! Thanks!

Although I'm nornally a Passporter fan, I don't agree with alot of their "rooms to avoid/request". For instance, they say to avoid buildings 30-44, and although I haven't been in #43, I've had several in that area and loved them (my favorite building so far is #42).

 

[jakenjess]

We stayed in building 42 our last trip, and we loved the location. It is a bit of a walk to the main building, but you can grab a bus if you want. I don't find we need to go to the main building often anyway. The quiet pool is wonderful, really large and not crowded at all. We were just steps away from the pool and a very short walk to the bus stop. Bus service was fantastic. I love the serenity of OKW. We've also stayed in the South Point area and loved that too.

 

[Chuck S]

Although I'm nornally a Passporter fan, I don't agree with alot of their "rooms to avoid/request". For instance, they say to avoid buildings 30-44, and although I haven't been in #43, I've had several in that area and loved them (my favorite building so far is #42).

I wonder what their reasons were for saying to avoid the area? It is our favorite part of the resort.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wonder what their reasons were for saying to avoid the area? It is our favorite part of the resort.

Well, I think it just goes to show how everyone has differnt things that make a place "perfect" or "less than perfect". It just goes to show that whomever wrote that review in passporter had different criterai than sojme others do. I love the Southpoint area, but others only focus on how far that is from the HH.

 

[Chuck S]

Well, I think it just goes to show how everyone has differnt things that make a place "perfect" or "less than perfect". It just goes to show that whomever wrote that review in passporter had different criterai than sojme others do. I love the Southpoint area, but others only focus on how far that is from the HH.

Southpoint is nice, too. I don't care for the buildings where the bus turnaround is, though. I'm always afraid the trunk of my car is going to get clipped. But, bldg 55 can't be beat for view and quiet solitude.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Southpoint is nice, too. I don't care for the buildings where the bus turnaround is, though. I'm always afraid the trunk of my car is going to get clipped. But, bldg 55 can't be beat for view and quiet solitude.

LOL, yes, we stayed in those buildings once, and I did think about that! We never heard the buses though. I think building 55 is one of the best, right along with 45 and 46!

 

[Leigha]

Thanks for all the great and especially informative answers! They listed their reasons for not wanting those buildings due to their remoteness, traffic noise and inconvient bus stops. I do realize it is just their opinion so I wanted to know what regular visitors think because I knew that would be more important! I don't think we'll need to go to the main area much. Can't I just get the refillable mug refilled at the snack bar at the pool if we were lucky enough to get that building? I assume it closes at 5:00 pm or so but that would be drinks by the pool if we needed it during the hottest part of the day, right?! Hom many minutes walk would the main area be from building 43? It is in the process of being painted and all isn't it? I'm pretty sure I read that. Has anyone stayed at building 12? That looks like plan B. What is its layout? Thanks again!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for all the great and especially informative answers! They listed their reasons for not wanting those buildings due to their remoteness, traffic noise and inconvient bus stops. I do realize it is just their opinion so I wanted to know what regular visitors think because I knew that would be more important! I don't think we'll need to go to the main area much. Can't I just get the refillable mug refilled at the snack bar at the pool if we were lucky enough to get that building? I assume it closes at 5:00 pm or so but that would be drinks by the pool if we needed it during the hottest part of the day, right?! Hom many minutes walk would the main area be from building 43? It is in the process of being painted and all isn't it? I'm pretty sure I read that. Has anyone stayed at building 12? That looks like plan B. What is its layout? Thanks again!

Just remember that you are only as far as a bus stop from the front desk, because all buses stop at the Hospitality House before leaving the resort. Also, the pool snack bar at Turtle Pond is not always open. usually only during th busiest times of the season.