Just Back From OKW, First Visit

[jaygalterio]

Earlier this year my wife and I finally gave in and bought two DVC contracts. We had been hemming and hawing over it for years and just never got around to it. There were always excuses not to make the plunge (not enough money, other plans, etc.) But the resale changes made us decide that it was either now or never.

So we are now owners of two contracts, one at Boardwalk and one at Vero Beach.

We decided that it was a good idea to make a tester weekend trip, just to get a feel for how things really worked. This past weekend was that tester trip, a weekend at Old Key West in a 1 Bedroom.

The drive to Orlando was full of a lot of emotions... Anxiousness for all the good things. Worry that the weekend might prove that the purchase was a mistake. Etc.

I am happy to report that it turned out to be a glorious weekend. The Old Key West resort was everything we hoped it would be and thensome. The room was incredible and it looked and felt virtually brand new.

I took a video walk through of the entire place because I knew that in a few months we would not remember how it looked or how big it was. If any one is interested I will be happy to post the video for view.

- J

 

[castleri]

WELCOME HOME

Glad you enjoyed your first trip and that it more than met your expectations.
OKW was our first home resort and it still my favorite.
May you have many wonderful trips and lots of great memories.

 

[mdsd8700]

Congrats on your purchase and Welcome!!

So glad to hear that your weekend was great and you are happy with your DVC purchase. We purchased DVC last June and can't wait to try out all the resorts!

Now that you've got the DVC thing down pat it's time for you to plan another trip!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Welcome home!!! So glad you enjoyed our home! We LOVE OKW too!

 

[DizGirl20]

If any one is interested I will be happy to post the video for view.

- J

Sure, would love to see a remodeled room! Glad you had a good trip and wish you many more to come. We became members 2 years ago and haven't looked back. Unfortunately just keep looking at the resale boards for more points

PS: We ultimately decided to become DVC members because of our cash stay at OKW!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Congrats! and Welcome to the Club! OKW is our home resort and also iur favorite. We've stayed at all of the resorts except BLT & of course Hawaii, but I've found each resort has something wonderful to offer and it's fun trying each one!

Now that you have one under your belt it's time to plan the next trip!

 

[jaygalterio]

Diz, I will post a link as soon as I get the video uploaded to YouTube. Just want to watch it through a few more times to make sure there's nothing weird in the clip.

We already have our next trip booked: a Studio at Saratoga Springs for the first week of the Food & Wine Festival. I tried for Boardwalk, but everything was gone by the time I was making our reservation.

We also have two trips in the planning stages. A weekend plus a day at Bay Lake Towers to round out our January cruise on the Dream. Hopefully we can get a 1 Bedroom there with a Magic Kingdom view. If not, a Studio would be just fine.

The big trip is going to be two weeks at Boardwalk next year for the Food & Wine. Which leads me to a question. If you are going to do a two week stay, do you prefer to book the first seven days as soon as you can, to make sure you have the room? Then book the next seven days as soon as you can and try to link the trip?

Or do you prefer to wait until that second seven day point comes and make one long reservation? I know Food & Wine makes a big draw on the Boardwalk stock and since that is our home resort, I want to make sure we get our room there next year.

- J

 

[5forDiz]

So glad you enjoyed OKW !! Our family our OKW home & we can't wait to get back there soon to see it newly refurbished. What villa building did you stay in & that would be so nice to see video

 

[jaygalterio]

We were in #2524. First building on the right after going over the bridge from the Hospitality House. Second floor, the balcony was almost on the green for hole #5.

- J

 

[mouseaider]

I'm interested in seeing the video too !

We are staying at OKW for the first time this October and we are really looking forward to it so please do post the video.

 

[Chuck S]

Just a reminder that the OP will need to post a more times before the automated software will allow a link to be posted.

 

[tea pot]

Earlier this year my wife and I finally gave in and bought two DVC contracts. ..........
I took a video walk through of the entire place because I knew that in a few months we would not remember how it looked or how big it was. If any one is interested I will be happy to post the video for view.
- J

Welcome Home You'll love being a member of the DVC Family

Diz, I will post a link as soon as I get the video uploaded to YouTube.
- J

OKW and HH are the only DVC villas we haven't stayed in so I too would love to see the video.

Booking the Board Walk for Food and Wine
Don't wait... book as soon as you can... even if you have an 11 month booking time.
The Food and Wine festival is very very popular and fills up very fast.
This and the first week of December is the most popular time for DVC members to visit the world.

Enjoy your many future trips Home

 

[jekjones1558]

OP,
Be forewarned that the OKW 1 bedrooms are much larger than the 1 bedrooms at other DVCs. As another poster said, each resort has its particular advantages but OKW wins on size of units, for sure. And because we own at BWV also:

Welcome Home, Neighbor! ​

 

[TravelingJen24]

Glad to hear that you had a great time. We are so excited to stay at OKW in December. Hopefully it will still feel new.

 

[Liljam]

I just stayed at an OKV GV last week and loved it too! Welcome home! I hope you enjoy SSR as it's my home, but we ADORED OKV so much that we plan to go back there again one day! The funniest thing was that we were in 4824 and the balls from the course kept getting hit right over by our balcony so I would watch for them to land in the shrubs and tell the golfers where to find them. They'd hit the trees, the windows, the side of the building... Thankfully, they didn't hit us!

 

[dmoore22]

What about The Gurgling Suitcase!?!

 

[ree123]

Happy you loved it! Cant wait for our week at OKW next month! Excited to see your video

 

[jaygalterio]

I forgot about the posting delay, so the link will need to wait until I get my message count up higher. Just ran into that issue when I attempted to reply to a private message.

Thanks for all the well wishes, by the way. Like I mentioned in my first message, we had been on the fence about joining DVC for quite some time. Unfortunately the entry price was just always out of reach.

We really did not do much while we were at OKW though. It was really more of a mental vegetation weekend so we just loafed around the room most of it. Other than a walk around Downtown Disney and a movie on Saturday afternoon.

That might seem like a wasted weekend, but that was the original plan for us anyway. So much so that we stopped at Champions Gate (just off of I-4 before the Disney exits) and provisioned up at the Publix there. My intent was to get enough food so that I would not need to get back into the car again until Sunday afternoon. Which was exactly what happened.

- J

 

[BEASLYBOO]

That might seem like a wasted weekend, but that was the original plan for us anyway. - J

Sometimes, it's just nice to get away and do nothing. At home, the phone rings, there's always something that needs cleaning or someone who needs attention. We do non park long week-ends, like you, we go to the movies, DTD and also the outlet mall!

 

[Candy Orlando]

I love all the DVC resorts but OKW is home! I made a video of the new OKW! Enjoy!