Just back BWV and OKW 4-17 to 24th

[alldiz]

Hi,
Just back from my 1st time at BWV and OKW and all I can say is WOW
Check in to BWV at 11....room not ready but it is at 2. So we walked around checked out the place and had some lunch.

We had a room #5087(I think). AWESOME LOCATION....Overlooking the villa pool....very short walk to the lobby and main pool. View of TOT....I loved this location quiet and close to everything. Room in great condition everything working perfectly. Had glasses and mugs in the room. Mousekeeping brought some extra blankets and toilet paper right away. I have to say we LOVED BWV and are seriously thinking of adding on there.

Let me just say IMO the BW has the BEST pool for kids and parents who don't want to chase them.
We were lucky to get the table next to the pool by the slide every day.
From there.....I could watch her walk up the stairs and come down the slide without ever leaving my view. Really fun slide.

My thoughts....We loved BWV and because of the pool situation and having so much to do gives this place a real edge to me.
OH....we rented a Surrey bike.....Why do I do this to myself.....There are 2 hills to try and bike up.....lets just say we pushed the bike over the hill by the Swan/Dolphin

Final note: We loved the BWV....1st time in a studio and it was great. IMO the BW felt the most upscale of any of the other resorts I have stayed at. We will definately be back.

OKW 4-20-24th....1BR room 1315.
Mom and DD go to BWV pool and then MGM while I go checkin to OKW, I will meet them at Brown Derby at 1.
I get to OKW about 11....Room ready .....I am assigned a 1st floor which I try to change. Nothing else available in HH area. After the CM tells me that most people would "die" to have this location, and I looked at the map to see how close we really were....I decided to give it a shot.

Wow building 13 is literally right across the street from the main buildings.
Really awesome location....I think this room is the closest we have been to
"everything" at any resort.
OK....I go to the room....THESE ROOMS ARE HUGE. I knew they were big....but seeing is believing. Room in great condition....huge balcony.
Bedroom big....door in the BR to go on balcony...NICE TOUCH.
I get to the bathroom OH NO.....I got the handicapped room Totally disappointed, I didn't want to lose my great location and I had to get to MGM...so I kept it....but every time I showered....what a downer. I missed my beautiful glass shower. The shower needed to be grouted, so it added to the yuck factor. Got me thinking also about handicapped people.....the shower did not seem big enough to be sitting on the chair to wash without the shower curtain touching you. Yuck.

Moving on.....while the bathroom was a dissapointment....OKW was awesome.
I really liked the main area. Everything is right there....ferry, lobby, store, Olivia's, goods to go....Everything....very convenient.
We went to the park only 1 day of our stay there. We did not want to leave it was sooo relaxing. Olivia's was really fabulous. I can't say enough about the place.....really really good. We wound up eating there 3x.

Final thoughts: OKW is beautiful.....CM's so nice....great room ,great location,(definately will want HH area). I will definately return to OKW we really loved it.
Thanks for reading.....any questions just ask
Kerri

 

[AKV707]

Thanks for the great report. We love OKW as well. And we will definitely get to BWV on a future trip. Glad to hear that you had a great experience.

 

[jakenjess]

Sounds like you had a great trip! I love both BWV and OKW, BWV for being in the middle of the action and then OKW for complete relaxation. You certainly got the best of both worlds! Thanks for sharing!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Thanks for a great trip report! Your description of the resorts makes me want to be there right now! Once, at the Marriott they gave me the handicapped room, my clothes hung on the floor and then there was the shower. It wasn't a deal breaker, as you said, moving on.

I often hear bad reviews about Olivia's but honestly, I've never had a bad meal there. We always eat at Olivia's the 1st night of our stay, it's a family tradition. (Have you tried the breakfast potatoes?, Yum!)

We'll be at OKW in 41 more days! Thanks Again!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm glad to read that you had a great time!
Bobbi

 

[alldiz]

Thanks for the great report. We love OKW as well. And we will definitely get to BWV on a future trip. Glad to hear that you had a great experience.

Yes you will love BWV....plan your meals around there....it is so nice not to leave the area and have so many great restaurants within walking distance.

Sounds like you had a great trip! I love both BWV and OKW, BWV for being in the middle of the action and then OKW for complete relaxation. You certainly got the best of both worlds! Thanks for sharing!

It was a perfect mix.....I'm hoping to get a few nights there in Oct before WLV....crazy to plan the next one....I just got back and I'm planning the next

Thanks for a great trip report! Your description of the resorts makes me want to be there right now! Once, at the Marriott they gave me the handicapped room, my clothes hung on the floor and then there was the shower. It wasn't a deal breaker, as you said, moving on.

I often hear bad reviews about Olivia's but honestly, I've never had a bad meal there. We always eat at Olivia's the 1st night of our stay, it's a family tradition. (Have you tried the breakfast potatoes?, Yum!)
Yes....It was a real bummer....my feet were swinging off the toilet seat

Didn't try the Bkfst potatoes ate there 2x for lunch and once for dinner.
They had a member special that week. Buttemilk chicken over mashed potatoes(real) w/ gravy......VERY GOOD.

I also had the Pasta w/ shrimp and chicken with it another day.
I have to tell you the Pasta and Chicken dish were AWESOME.
Also this restaurant was the only one including Brown Derby, Narcosee's, Flying Fish that the food came out HOT. I mean steaming wait a minute so you don't burn yourself....that is what I call fresh.
For some reason at most of the WDW restaurants your lucky to get your food hot...even though they have people just bringing your food....not the waiter.
We'll be at OKW in 41 more days! Thanks Again!

Oh....have a great trip....the place is really special. Great vibe.

I'm glad to read that you had a great time!
Bobbi

Thanks
Kerri

Beaslyboo....I somehow put my answer in your response...sorry.

 

[jakenjess]

It was a perfect mix.....I'm hoping to get a few nights there in Oct before WLV....crazy to plan the next one....I just got back and I'm planning the next

Sounds like a true DIS-er to me! I'm ALWAYS planning the next trip!

 

[Laxmom]

Thanks, OP. We are heading to OKW for our first DVC stay in July. DH is a little apprehensive about staying in a 1 bedroom with teens. I keep telling him it will be just fine. I need to show him your report!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We love OKW too, but differ with you on BWV. To each his own, I guess. We have stayed in building 13 too, and the only negative we had there was that the parking lot got used by people checking in at HH, and it was often difficult to find a parking place. LOVE the fact that you can have one member of the party out waiting for the bus, and when they see the bus come into the resort, a quick call to the room alerts the rest of the group, and 10 minutes later, you can be at the bus stop getting on your desired bus without hardly a wait!

 

[jekjones1558]

BWV and OKW are our 2 favorites also. Glad that your vacation was magical!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks alldiz for the TR
Glad u had a great trip. We have stayed at OKW often and BWV once. BWV does have a more "upscale" feel to it, and that is one reason we prefer OKW. We love the relaxing/slower pace of OKW, but both resorts are good.

The comment about the shower is one I have heard repeatedly for the last couple years or more on these boards. Honestly, it's one of the reasons, as OKW owners, we chose to not extend for the extra 15 years. We are just leary that being an older resort, it will not hold up well down the line. I also own an offsite resort which is about the same age as OKW/BWV. It just recently got a major rehab (new furniture/carpets/counters/flat screen TV's/bedspreads etc). I feel when any resort starts getting up in age as these two are, some more detailed attention needs to be given to them. On average, over many stays at OKW, we have not encountered many problems. One trip (Aug 2006), the sofa bed in our 2 bedroom villa was sadly in need of replacement. It was building 34. The bed was so lumpy and uncomfortable----my dd ended up just sleeping directly on the couch and chose not to pull out the mattress. When the mattress was pulled out----all the legs didn't even touch the floor. It was like the frame was bent. We purposely left it open when we checked out so housekeeping would see it.
Other than the sofa bed, the unit was in good shape and clean. I pesonally, would love to see the master bathroom shower stall replaced/updated in all units. They are kind of 80's looking ? I would love a nice tiled stall---with a tropical theme/color, over the one piece pink basic stall they have now.

We also have enjoyed all our meals at Olivia's. I just miss that you can't get take-out anymore from them (and this was the second reason we chose not to extend our contract....also miss that Pooh character breakfast....all reasons we thought long and hard on our decision). They should extend the hours of Goods To Go to closing at midnight at this resort too. Other DVC resorts have more convenient food options and this is something we miss at OKW but we've come to using takeout restaurants that deliver directly to your OKW door. My only feeling is that I should be able to get this service at OKW---shouldn't have to look offsite for it.

 

[alldiz]

Thanks alldiz for the TR
Glad u had a great trip. We have stayed at OKW often and BWV once. BWV does have a more "upscale" feel to it, and that is one reason we prefer OKW. We love the relaxing/slower pace of OKW, but both resorts are good.

The comment about the shower is one I have heard repeatedly for the last couple years or more on these boards. Honestly, it's one of the reasons, as OKW owners, we chose to not extend for the extra 15 years. We are just leary that being an older resort, it will not hold up well down the line. I also own an offsite resort which is about the same age as OKW/BWV. It just recently got a major rehab (new furniture/carpets/counters/flat screen TV's/bedspreads etc). I feel when any resort starts getting up in age as these two are, some more detailed attention needs to be given to them. On average, over many stays at OKW, we have not encountered many problems. One trip (Aug 2006), the sofa bed in our 2 bedroom villa was sadly in need of replacement. It was building 34. The bed was so lumpy and uncomfortable----my dd ended up just sleeping directly on the couch and chose not to pull out the mattress. When the mattress was pulled out----all the legs didn't even touch the floor. It was like the frame was bent. We purposely left it open when we checked out so housekeeping would see it.
Other than the sofa bed, the unit was in good shape and clean. I pesonally, would love to see the master bathroom shower stall replaced/updated in all units. They are kind of 80's looking ? I would love a nice tiled stall---with a tropical theme/color, over the one piece pink basic stall they have now.

We also have enjoyed all our meals at Olivia's. I just miss that you can't get take-out anymore from them (and this was the second reason we chose not to extend our contract....also miss that Pooh character breakfast....all reasons we thought long and hard on our decision). They should extend the hours of Goods To Go to closing at midnight at this resort too. Other DVC resorts have more convenient food options and this is something we miss at OKW but we've come to using takeout restaurants that deliver directly to your OKW door. My only feeling is that I should be able to get this service at OKW---shouldn't have to look offsite for it.

I thought my shower was "yucky" because I had a handicap room.....Are all the rooms like that....does OKW NOT have the glass shower normally?

Yes Goods to go would be great to close at midnight....I was impressed with it though.....it is small but they seem to cook food to order....unless I visited at a non busy time.
I hope that DVC continues to try to please existing guests.....and stop looking for new ones.
With that said.....I love OKW and I am very happy with my DVC purchase
Kerri

 

[jekjones1558]

I thought my shower was "yucky" because I had a handicap room.....Are all the rooms like that....does OKW NOT have the glass shower normally?

Yes, non-handicapped rooms do have a shower stall with a glass door. I actually don't mind the OKW one made out of some type of solid material rather than tiles. It is less grout to accumulate mildew.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I thought my shower was "yucky" because I had a handicap room

Oh....I thought the "yuck" was due to the fact that the shower needed to be grouted.....I've also read reports on the DIS about mold/mildew at OKW (but to be fair...at other resorts as well).

The master bathroom shower stall at OKW in a non-H/A room looks like this :

 

[alldiz]

Oh....I thought the "yuck" was due to the fact that the shower needed to be grouted.....I've also read reports on the DIS about mold/mildew at OKW (but to be fair...at other resorts as well).

The master bathroom shower stall at OKW in a non-H/A room looks like this :

Thanks....that looks real nice.....the "yuck" was a combo of not having the beautiful shower....combined with a HA shower that needed grouting

I just kept the shower curtain closed when I wasn't in it
Thanks
Kerri

 

[Laxmom]

I think Florida hotels and resorts in general have a problem with mold due to the high humidity. We have stayed at some really great hotels, perfect in most aspects, but there is usually a speck or two of mold in the grout.