Just Back From OKW, First Visit

[carolinadj]

Congrats on your new ownership & welcome to the DVC family!

 

[jaygalterio]

Candy,

I have to say that your video is pretty close to what I shot. I did notice some minor differences in the room layouts. For example, we had an actual laundry room. The door to it was in the hallway leading from the entrance to the bedroom. I also noticed a few minor decorating differences: different lamps, an extra rug. Nothing earth shattering.

My trip report wasn't much of a report though. Not a whole bunch to write about I guess.

We drove over on Friday afternoon in the middle of some torrential rain. Luckily that passed fairly quickly. We stopped at Champions Gate (Exit 58 off of I-4) and went to the Publix Supermarket there to stock up. I like stopping at this one for any last minute forgotten items because it is usually less hectic and less touristy (i.e. prices are more reasonable and the food doesn't scream "cooking in your room").

We took I-4 the rest of the way to OKW and managed not to get lost during the drive from the highway to the hotel. I know that doesn't sound like much to celebrate, but trust me for us its a big deal.

Check in at OKW was quick and effortless. Lobby was mostly empty. Our front desk clerk was *way* too happy. So happy that I was actually wondering if there was something in her water. It was nice even if it was a little scary.

We found our villa no problem too. But I seem to have some weird luck at Disney these days. We walked up to the door to find it propped open by the security latch. No one was inside the room luckily.

(For reference we stayed at Port Orleans this past Christmas and came back to the room on Christmas Eve to find our door open this way too. Again we were lucky to find no one in the room and all our stuff still there. We hadn't been planning to return to the room that night. This particular experience could have ended quite differently if we got back after midnight like we originally had planned.)

Moved all our stuff inside. Unpacked the groceries and pretty much vegged the entire weekend. I was tired. Wife wasn't feeling well. So the down time was much needed. Cooked dinner in the room and watched television. All stuff we could have done at home, but it just felt more relaxing to be "away."

On Saturday we got up late. Had breakfast in the room. Then took an empty ferryboat over to Downtown Disney. Shopped at the big store then did our usual stop at the Basin store to resupply. Had a late lunch at Raglan Road (calamari, steak salad and shepard's pie). Then a movie. If you go to the theater, you have to try the automated soda machines, almost as good as an old time soda jerk. Had a Raspberry Sprite.

Took the ferry back to OKW and vegged some more before cooking dinner. I must have been tired too because I fell asleep during the Britcoms.

Sunday was just more of the same with less eating.

- J

 

[Chuck S]

Jay, you likely had the new lamps in your room, I noticed that Cindy's video had the original OKW (pre-rehab) lamps. But some laundry rooms (in bldg 30 & higher) open into the master bath & the hallway, in bldgs 29 and lower, the laundry room only opens into the hall. Other than the 2nd door, the laundry rooms are the same, one just seems more like a short hallway because the way the second door opens. This was a design change during construction to allow those people who may be sleeping in the living room area to access the bathroom without going through the master bedroom.

 

[Candy Orlando]

They did change the lamps and added an area rug soon after I made this video. The laundry room had two doors in this villa.

 

[LauraLea]

J,

for your food and wine reservation, i would call for the 1st 7 nights at the 11 month window and then call back every day to add a night. No linking will be required. We use to have to do this with every reservation during busy times. MS would keep the reservation "open" until we were done booking all the nights we wanted.

laura

 

[jaygalterio]

The laundry room change does make sense. One of the first things I noticed was how inconvienient it would have been if we did have guests. Having to trek through the bedroom to get to the bathroom would have gotten annoying quick.

Thanks for the tip Laura. I did not even think to add the additional days one at a time. I had been planning to make the first seven day reservation then wait seven days and make the next one. A day at a time will probably make it easier to get the full reservation that we want.

Call me lazy but I want to be able to roll right out of the room and straight into the Food & Wine. Having to drive back to Port Orleans last year got pretty tiresome. Particularly after the D-D-D Show we went to.

- J

 

[castleri]

The laundry room change does make sense. One of the first things I noticed was how inconvienient it would have been if we did have guests. Having to trek through the bedroom to get to the bathroom would have gotten annoying quick.

Thanks for the tip Laura. I did not even think to add the additional days one at a time. I had been planning to make the first seven day reservation then wait seven days and make the next one. A day at a time will probably make it easier to get the full reservation that we want.

Call me lazy but I want to be able to roll right out of the room and straight into the Food & Wine. Having to drive back to Port Orleans last year got pretty tiresome. Particularly after the D-D-D Show we went to.

- J[/QUote

You really don't need to call each day - just call on day 6 and add some more days and then add the last ones a couple of days later. They cannot book that room until the 11 month point from your original check out date so as long as you call before that you should be okay and can do the reservation in maximum of 3 calls. I think they just keep adding to your original reservation number so they don't have to be linked but am not 100% sure about that.

 

[jaygalterio]

I am such a planner that I may just end up calling each day and add a day each time. I am not too worried about getting the week nights, but those Friday and Saturday night reservations have me more than a bit anxious.

- J

 

[jaygalterio]

I apologize for the delay but I have finally uploaded the walk thru video to YouTube. I had been thinking about putting a better soundtrack in but decided to just go KISS (keep it simple stupid).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJsHjVCcjZM

- J

 

[dmoore22]

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

My DW and I can totally relate to your feelings when we finally decide to become DVC members. That was almost 10 years ago and we have no regrets, other than wishing we had made the decision sooner. WELCOME HOME!!