Just back from our free upgrade to OKW - mixed reviews...

[jfranklyn]

Hi - we just returned last night from 9 nights at OKW. We were one of the ones offered the free upgrade from the All Stars. We loved the studio room - nice beds (although they creaked alot), great bathroom size, and the kitchenette area was very handy. But we really didn't care for the setup at OKW at all. We were very far out (building 56) - possibly because we were a free upgrade? Who knows. We were very close to a bustop, which was great, but unfortunately at OKW that means almost CONSTANT bus noise. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why they setup the resort like that - where the busses have to turn around in the parking lots of the villas. It seemed to make no sense at all. Everyone at the resort was very friendly and helpful, but it just wasn't for us. I didn't like not being able to walk to the main pool or the hospitality house, and even trying to get out of the resort on the buses to get to the parks seemed to take such a long time.

 

[cjnix29]

I understand what you mean. OKW is NOT my favorite resort. We stayed there two years ago, renting points. I didn't like the layout either, although the room size was very nice. We had a real problem with cleanliness on our trip, glad you didn't have to worry about that!

 

[Pig Pen]

My parents say that OKW is their favorite, but they had their car. We stayed w/o a car and it seemed that we spent alot of time "on the road."

Otherwise, we loved everything else. BWV is my current favorite while DH loves WL.

 

[sue1013]

We stayed there a few years ago and were really looking forward to it. But it was not for us. With the parking right outside each building it felt like an apartment complex not a resort to us. Between the busses and cars there was always traffic noise. Maybe it was the location we were in but we didn't enjoy it.

 

[grgich]

I feel that way too, about the parking being right outside each building and it feeling like an apartment complex and not a resort. Which is the reason I've never considered most of the DVC properties. We stayed at Vistana, which is setup with the parking right outside of the building, and really did not like it. We gave it a try as it was very cheap, but... it was not the experience we like to have on vacation.

 

[DVC Mike]

I feel that way too, about the parking being right outside each building and it feeling like an apartment complex and not a resort. Which is the reason I've never considered most of the DVC properties. We stayed at Vistana, which is setup with the parking right outside of the building, and really did not like it. We gave it a try as it was very cheap, but... it was not the experience we like to have on vacation.

Only OKW and SSR are setup like that. The other four DVC resorts at WDW are attached to deluxe resorts and share the same amenities. This includes Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Villas at Animal Kingdom, BoardWalk Villas and Beach Club Villas.

Some like the townhome-like feel of OKW. It's quiet and serene and feels more like home and less like a hotel. Since I drive down to WDW, it's very convenient to be able to drive up and park right outside your room, and not in some distant parking lot.

 

[tasha99]

Maybe the location makes a big difference. I just got back from OKW (also got the upgrade) and I didn't hear buses at all. We weren't in one of those turn arounds, though.

I was in building 28, near the Peninsular bus stop. It was nice to be let off there since that's the first stop. We were close enough to the Hospitality House to walk to it, so we usually did that when taking a bus. Actually, sometimes we would see we'd just missed the bus at Peninsular, and we could walk to the Hospitality House and still catch it. Hmmm . . .the more I think about it, the more I'm realizing that being near both the first and last bus stops really had its perks.

Anyway, I LOVED having a 1 BR and would never get a regular room again when traveling with more than 2 people. I'm thinking I would like to do a split stay with Animal Kingdom Villas and Beach Club Villas in a couple years, but I would also go to OKW again. I prefer the "condo/apartment" feel of it to a hotel. Heck, I even usually turned down the maid service--we had one change of towels and one cleaning in a week even though they wanted to come in every day.