Just Back 1/10-1/16

[Jonell]

We just returned from another great WDW vaction that was planned only 5 weeks in advance. We deceided to leave a day earlier than originally planned. I found a great price on a room outside of WDW for our first night. It was the Clarion Inn on Palm Parkway which is right near DTD. The price was $51.54 for the night and that included taxes. It was very clean and the rooms where nicely furnished with comfy beds. Included was also a buy one get one free breakfast buffet. Myself, DH, and DS10 ate breakfast there for 10.95. It's a great place for someone visiting WDW on a tight budget.

Our next day we checked into a 1 br at OKW. This was not my choice resort but with last minute DVC reservations it's either OKW or SSR. Our villa was the cleanest of any DVC villa I've stayed in. We even received our trash and towel service on the correct day and while we were at the parks which never happened at BWV. I loved the size of the room and being able to park right next to the villa. But I felt very isloated there. We love to enjoy the resort amenities but the temp was in the 50's and everything is outside at OKW. I missed the hotel style resorts like BCV and BWV. After the first day we gave up on the buses there and drove to the parks which is something we have never done. The bus service was HORRIBLE!!! Our first day there we sat at MK bus stop with rain blowing in on us and freezing for 45 mins waiting on a bus back to the resort. So, although OKW was nice it's not the resort for our family.

The parks were not as crowded as I thought they would be. There were tour groups but we didn't see any problems with them. The cheerleaders were a different story. There is absoultely no reason for them to be walking along on a main pathway in a park and break out in a cheer and a booty shaking dance routine. The chaperones should discourage this behavior.

In all it was a good vacation, I just wish the weather would have been warmer. Any questions please ask

 

[KJay]

Wow- deciding on a trip five weeks out must be really exciting! I usually have a good six months at least, so I can't even imagine how fun it would be to know I was leaving in just a few short weeks! I've never been in the colder weather. I want to experience that sometime. (I've also never had to deal with cheerleaders- but that's an experience I don't want!). You said OKW is not like a hotel style resort- what about it makes it not hotel-like?

 

[atisikitabasket]

We will be staying at the same Clarion for the first night before we check in also got good rate 51.00 after tax but last Feb we got it for no kidding 37.00 after tax I was hoping for the same but still got a great deal and we thought the room was really nice. We stayed in a place in TN while driving to Orlando cost 3 times as much you felt the wind thru the door and window the kids kept crying we ended checking out at 3 am and hitting the road it was so bad. Glad you got a good deal too!

 

[babygirlamg]

im using some of my tax return and bringing my daughter on a last minute trip....we are booking next week and leaving the 1st....so excited cant wait..i have been in the booking part of the website and some days it shows value resort as on option and the next day not....but mod resorts are there every day so thats the plan unless we get lucky the day i call and get a value.....

 

[Goofy4]

The cheerleaders were a different story.

Yep... Intoxicated college cheerleaders doing lifts at Japan... Texas State must be proud.

 

[kpmdjm]

are you still able to use fast pass's after the specified time?

 

[chip 'n dale rule]

We were there the same week and we used fast passes late several times.

 

[Jonell]

Wow- deciding on a trip five weeks out must be really exciting! I usually have a good six months at least, so I can't even imagine how fun it would be to know I was leaving in just a few short weeks! I've never been in the colder weather. I want to experience that sometime. (I've also never had to deal with cheerleaders- but that's an experience I don't want!). You said OKW is not like a hotel style resort- what about it makes it not hotel-like?

I consider a hotel-style resort one like AK Jambo house or BWV were there are inside corriddor and you can walk to the lobby. At OKW we had to drive or take an internal resort bus to the lobby area and to refill drink mugs ect..

 

[tinkerbell1984]

In all it was a good vacation, I just wish the weather would have been warmer. Any questions please ask

I've been watching the weather and I thought it's been pretty much in the mid 70's....Was it colder than that?

 

[Brian_WDW74]

"Just back" threads are a better fit for the Trip Reports board, so I've moved this one.

 

[Jonell]

I've been watching the weather and I thought it's been pretty much in the mid 70's....Was it colder than that?

The first 2 days was in the 70's there was a cold front that brought daytime temps down into the 50's