Is AKL worth 3k more over OKW?

[Brian Noble]

they are more similar than they are different…

This is true pretty much of any WDW vacation I have ever taken. Each of the four options (AKV, OKW, Windsor Hills, Bonnet Creek) would have strengths and weaknesses. And price is one of those. If they all cost exactly the same, OR I have couch-cushion-money sufficient to pay for any of them, the decision might be easier.

But, the cost is not the same. and most couples in their late 20s/early 30s getting ready to get married do not have many thousands of dollars in couch-cushion-money. Of course, if the OP does, then aweseome!

For context: historically I've been able to rent e.g. a townhome at Windsor Hills, plus get a rental car and pay for theme park parking for something a little bit less than a single Moderate room costs.

 

[BostonEd]

The groom is paying for the room or rooms by himself

Holy crap. That does change things.

I like the Windsor Hills idea. In addition to a couple cars, people should know that with a group size like this, there still may be an uberlyft ride required now and then. The groom will probably still be ahead, financially.

 

[kathy884]

The groom is paying for the room or rooms by himself (I'm the future bride) and he wants to do whatever I want. I am usually frugal, but he did get me on the animal view part of the AKL . But I do see it as 3k extra that could go to honeymoon or just savings.

I'm guessing the big thing here is all being together and visiting and staying at a nice place vs. giving your quests super unique themed lodging . And if you are usually frugal, I'd reverse what I said before and do the less expensive OKW condo that would be perfectly lovely. IThe house offsite suggested would be considerably less expensive than OKW too if onsite Disney with the Disney transportation is not a must and you want to be even more frugal (and that comes out way cheaper even with rental cars, parking at parks, and ubers) From doing the math other times, I wouldn't be surprised if a Windsor Hills house with cars, parking, and ubers ends up being about 1/3rd the cost of OKW. The transportation to parks is a nice Disney onsite perk as well as early entry and earlier lightening lanes But it sounds like park time might be lay low too -- no usage perhaps of lightening lane and rope drop?? It's nice for sure, but there is a big premium for onsite Disney.

I'm on the other side of things, a new retiree vs. someone just starting out, but for our son's wedding we decided as some of our relatives would be hard pressed to afford to come to the wedding to put up our relatives from out of town (five rooms for 3 to five nights - 20 hotel nights in total) as we had a whole few days worth of activities. And lol I went with a perfectly nice suburban Best Western that was close to our home. It was mush more convenient for us with people coming over the the house a bunch and our driving some of the people around and way more friendly for my budget compared to the unique historic downtown property the newlyweds on their own dime were staying at the night before and the night after the wedding.

The newlyweds (on their own dime) stayed the night before and after the wedding at a much more expensive Union Station historical hotel downtown that was 10 minutes away from the wedding venue instead of 18 minutes away like the Best Western. They could have just stayed at their apartment too,

My brother from Idaho (He was just kidding me and he could easily afford to do whatever he wanted. I just decided I'd cover all the out of town relatives vs. not cover him because he is in good financial shape.) said to me how come we're not staying at Union Station too. I said you are welcome to stay there, but you get to pay not me, Also if you stay there 'm not picking you up from the airport and dropping you back off (less convenient for me), and I'm not going to be loaning you one of our cars for four days either, so you need to get a rental car too.

 

[zackiedawg]

If considering something like OKW - it's also worth looking into point rentals vs cash stay - often you can rent DVC points for a pretty fair discount over the cash rates for DVC properties. Something to keep in mind if you decide to go that route.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

How do these experiences compare to OKW?

I have never stayed at any of these three options, but I would imagine they are more similar than they are different…

Whereas, I would imagine AKV is more different than similar to OKW, WH, and BC.

OKW is the only DISNEY property, besides AKL. That makes a big difference in transportation, some costs, and feel compared to the others.

And I totally respectfully disagree w a pp who said OKW looks like 80s condos. It’s a gorgeous, whimsical, colorful, wooden, relaxed property right on a golf course, not at all like a typical crappy cement condo. If it was, I would never have stayed there because that’s the last thing I’d want when on my hard-earned vacation time at Disney. I will say we avoided it for years, drove through too see it but weren’t overly impressed. Until we stayed in two Studios and fell in love with it. This past Sept my family had two 1BR units. Hopefully one of these days we can score a 3BR unit. As I said before, my son, who’s your age and stayed at all the Disney properties listed in my signature, mentioned several times he really loved it there and it was now (just clarified w him) his second favorite of the Disney resorts. We all felt the same way and can’t wait for our next stay. A good friend of mine just checked into OKW today they’ve owned there since the 90s. They don’t even stay anywhere else, by choice.

Wyndham is right on the border of Disney property but not on Disney property and not owned by Disney. I have heard good reports of it, have directed people there, and took a tour once to see it in case we ever decided to stay there. It has a lazy river which is nice. A Disney friend stayed in the presidential suite and said it was awesome.

Windsor HIlls, have never been there, so can’t speak for it. When my son was playing college baseball and we stayed in the area for tournaments we got to see some of the various off site properties where the teams stayed and looked into booking them ourselves, to be closer to him (for the few times he could come out with us). We almost always wound up back at Disney except the time I had to take my elderly mother with us as well as DS’s girlfriend and we needed a bigger condo near where the team was. The condo was nice but, while it did have some unique features, it wasn’t at all Disney, the kids’ pool was nice but the adult pool horrible, the area was sketchy and not where we wanted to be, and we sometimes got lost trying to get around.

There was an incident in the news recently about Windsor HIlls you probably want to consider.

https://www.positivelyosceola.com/5...nt-exposure-incidents-at-kissimmee-resort-fl/

Honestly, I think you were on the right track originally, deciding between AKL and OKW. If your fiance has the money and doesn’t mind spending an extra $3K to experience the animals and beauty of AKL, then go for it. But if you decide to go the OKW route, don’t worry about really enjoying it. It sounds like you aren’t even going to be around the resort much, anyway, but it is a nice chill place to hang out when you are. Maybe a nice trip for the two of you some time to AKL is in order later when you can spend more time there. I’m like you and like to save money where I can.

Sharing some pictures of OKW



Hard to see, but note golfers on the course













Reception



Olivia’s famous Buttermilk Chicken (which was very good) and Sangria



I’d add more pictures but ten is the limit. Maybe look at more online.

The other thing I want to say (I left a Recreation link in my earlier post) is that there is a ton to do around the resort that your particular group may enjoy - basketball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, hammocks, pool table, surrey bikes and lots more. Will add the link again. It’s also not crawling with people, which we’ve found, especially lately, some of the other resorts are (though it likely depends when you go). Good luck with your decision.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/old-key-west-resort/recreation/

 

[VGCgroupie]

For a wedding AKV just feels more luxury. But only you know your finances and if spending 3k would put a strain on you, or if you would regret it.

I would love to host my wedding party at WDW, but I would never at OKW. Even at a 5k savings. But that is just me.

Unless you want to be surprised I would watch several resort tours of both places on you tube and see what you think.