Just Back - OKW was GREAT!

[new_yawka]

We just got back from a week at OKW (Me, my DW, DSs (4 and 1) in a 2BR and my DSis, her DH and DDs (9 and 7) in a 1BR).

We had a wonderful week (I'll post other info on the restarurant and resort board).

We were in Room 1324 (dedicated 2Br). My sister and her family were in 1325 (1Br).

I stayed in the orlando area the night before check in and got there at 7:45am to check in to OKW - (When I got there, I was told "there have already been a lot of checkins this morning"). I got my requests (I made the requests 3 months out - near hospitality house - Non-smoking).

I now love OKW (as I fully expected I would). The rooms are huge and well appointed (brand new appliances was a nice bonus - the fridge still had stickers on the shelves inside). 1324 had a great blend of quiet privacy (plenty of trees) with a great view (small pond with a fountain on the 8th hole of LBV golf course). Although you might think being so close to Hospitality House would make the area loud. This was clearly NOT the case. It was the best of both worlds...a 1 minute walk to hospitality house and the pools, along with the quiet solitude which makes OKW so charming.

As for the room itself, only a few minor problems -

- toilet in the Master Bath did not flush consistently well (had to wiat for it to refill and then re-flush all the time). We called and maintainance came up on our first day and replaced a bunch of parts. Sadly, the problem persisted (we left a short list of issues for the housekeeper on our last day). The dryer also took a bit long to dry a load (this might just be a difference of degree - no pun intended - it took 1hour15minutes to dry a load which would normally take 40 minutes in our dryer at home).

Truly minor problems which did not negatively affect our enjoyment of the beautiful room.

As an aside. The first night we had a PS at Olivias for 5:40. This was a wonderful way to start our vacation at OKW. The staff was friendly, the food was very good and the atmosphere is fun and relaxing. Seeing the pictures of all of the DVC families just brought a smile to my face! (The crab cakes and the lobster stuffed shrimp were really good).

Our last evening we ate at Good's Take out. We sat at a picnic table and enjoyed a cassual meal of cheeseburgers, hot dogs and fruit. It was very relaxing and the weather was ideal.

Other enjoyable things we took advantage of at OKW -

Main pool was wonderful - not too busy and the water was at a great temperature. My 4 year old loved being tossed up and grabbing the clouds.

My DS-4 and I took a watermouse to DTD. It was fun to drive right up to the lego sea monster - he loved it - it took 37 minuts and cost $25. not cheap, but well worth it.

The girgling suitcase makes a tasty pina colada

One word of warning. Although I had not tried it, my parents (who live in the area) ordered a pizza from Papa John's on the evening they were watching our boys. My father said that it was only somewhat worse than the pizza we had in the grand canyon 25 years ago (white bread with ketchup and american cheese). I think I'd make an alternate chaoice if faced with getting a pizza in the future.

OKW was only a portion of a magical vacation filled with great food (California Grill, Boma, Ohana, etc.) and fun (Harmony Barber Shop, SpectroMagic and Fantasmic). We look forward to many more magical vacations at OKW!!

 

[mrsdon]

Thanks for your report.
I go home for 3 days after the member cruise and I cant wait.

 

[ncligs]

Glad you had a good time at OKW.

 

[DeeP]

Thanks for the well written trip report. I also think the buildings close to the HH are wonderful, you have everything(store, restaurant, pool, pool bar, snack bar, etc.), a short walk away and yet when you return to your villa it is very quiet, I like Olivias a lot also, did they still have the conch chowder and the conch fritters on the menu? I love the conch chowder even in the hot FL temps!

 

[new_yawka]

I definitely remember seeing the conch chowder. I don't recall the fritters (although they may have been there).

One bonus...when DS ordered "Goofy's spaghetti and meatballs" it was served with mickey shaped pasta instead. He loved it! Really let him know he was "home" in Disney.

 

[DeeP]

The Conch fritters used to be served at the snack bar right next to the Gurgling Suitcase bar, but the last time I was there they did not have them so I was hoping they moved them into Olivias. The Gurgling Suitcase was great also, I had my first ever Mud Slide there on a recommendation from one of the very friendly bartenders and it is now my decadent drink when I don't care about such things as fat grams nor do I have to drive! LOL! Their mudslides are excellent!!!

 

[PamOKW]

One word of warning. Although I had not tried it, my parents (who live in the area) ordered a pizza from Papa John's on the evening they were watching our boys. My father said that it was only somewhat worse than the pizza we had in the grand canyon 25 years ago (white bread with ketchup and american cheese). I think I'd make an alternate chaoice if faced with getting a pizza in the future

New Yawka from New Jersey....I have yet to find any pizza at WDW that comes anywhere near to what we know as pizza here in the NY area. In fact, I have a hard time with almost all of the Italian food. More like Chef Boy-ar-Dee than anything else.

I had a chance to talk to the executive chef for Olivia's one time. He mentioned he was from NJ and that they were having a hard time hitting on what type of food to serve at Olivia's to bring people in. I suggested he start serving NY style Italian (i.e., real) Italian food at Olivia's.

 

[new_yawka]

I only wish that someplace would start serving good NY italian food/pizza in WDW. Reality is, there are very few of such places outside of the tri-state area.

I find Pizza Hut edible. It does not compare with NY pizza...it's a completely different taste experience, but at least it is edible.

As for the Chef Boyardee comment. I ate at Tony's (mostly because my sister and her daughters have severe food allergies and the chef was very good about preparing them food they could eat). As for my right off the menu food....BAD! No other way to say it. (amazingly I had eaten breakfast there as well, which was very good).

Fact is, you can't get good italian sauce in most main stream restaurants (I include Olive Garden and other similar retaurants in that over-generalization ).

Oh well, good pizza and bagels is one reason I'll continue to visit and not live in Florida

BTW - "new yawka" is by birth - born in queens and raised in Staten Island. Now living in Joisy

 

[dianeschlicht]

WE lived in NY for 4 years, and I have to agree there is nowhere like NY for Italian!!

Great trip report. It makes me VERY anxious for our next trip to start! About now is when I start thinking the 2-3 months will NEVER pass fast enough!

 

[Jollymon]

If you want to get your hands on the same conch fritters served at Olivias, you can get them online at:

http://www.epicurexpress.com/Conch-page-fritters.html

Make sure you get the pre-cooked variety and you let them thaw out completely before deep frying them. These are the same conch fritters you find up and down the Keys and in the world famous Tiki Bar in Islamorada. They are made locally in Miami by a client and good friend of mine and distributed throughout the US and the Caribbean by Sysco.

Enjoy...

Andrew

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Thanx for taking the time to give us that great report!
I am glad you had a good trip!

 

[DeeP]

If you want to get your hands on the same conch fritters served at Olivias, you can get them online at:

Andrew,
Thank you so much for the link!! I just ordered 2 large bags of precooked conch fritters, I think it will make a different and delicious appetizer offering for our Christmas Eve party!!! We will be returning from WDW just 2 days before Christmas Eve, so it will be extra special!!!!!!!

 

[Jollymon]

<<Thank you so much for the link!! I just ordered 2 large bags of precooked conch fritters, I think it will make a different and delicious appetizer offering for our Christmas Eve party!!! We will be returning from WDW just 2 days before Christmas Eve, so it will be extra special!!!!!!!
>>


Try out their Conch Chowder as well, it is superb. And if you are into Lobster, the Lobster Bisque is the incredible....it has chunks of lobster in it. We actually use it as a sauce (after thickening it a bit) over linguini.

Andrew

 

[colleen costello]

Great trip report! I personally stalked the Pizza Hut delivery man last summer at OKW. I chased him a bit before I got a hold of him and got the local phone number. My kids love Pizza Hut. The guy gave me coupons and phone numbers and we ordered a couple of times. The pizza was delivered quickly and was hot.

NewYawka, you are right on about the lack of GOOD pizza outside the NYC area. DH and I have lived in Indiana for over 15 years now, after being raised in NJ. We really miss pizza! The pizza in our mall, Luca, is the only New York style and it is not great -- but better than nothing! One time we had great pizza in a mall in Indianapolis, and the young man there told us he had just moved from Brooklyn.

Incidentally, at Boardwalk this summer we had wonderful Italian Ice, like I remember from when I was a kid in Bayonne. The young man who served us said it is made from a family recipe they bought from a little business in New Jersey. Sitting on the Boardwalk and watching the boats go by, eating a lemon Italian ice, I thought I had died and gone to Heaven -- or at least New Jersey!

 

[new_yawka]

Ok...I'm convinced, I'm going to have pizza today! - There are some benefits to being home

 

[Disney Doll]

OKW is our home resort and we are very happy every time we stay there. Glad you enjoyed!

 

[DeeP]

I agree, I am also from the NJ/NY area and I have never had a good pizza at WDW! Some post that they like the pizza at the boardwalk, food courts, etc., at WDW and I am constantly amazed!! I have found the WDW flatbreads at Cal Grill, Spoodles, Mama Melrose, etc to not be bad and just about the closest thing I have ever gotten to good Northeastern US pizza as you can get in FL. LOL!

 

[new_yawka]

Living in the NY-Metropolitan Area, Ijust make sure I get my fair share of pizza the 350 days I am NOT on vacation each year

As for the flatbread at CG. I didn't think of it as Pizza. The triple garlic, triple cheese bread was like a flat garlic bread. The bread is not really "crust-like" but it is very tasty....I'm getting hungry...again!

Disney Doll - I wish our points were at OKW. We are based at BWV, which will no doubt be great when our kids are older, but for now...OKW was perfect!

 

[RocknCoaster]

I am taking a "girl's" trip in Late January with my mom and sister and we were supposed to stay at the Beach Club villas. Since the AP rates came out today I couldn't get the BCV and decided on OKW since I got an unbelievable rate for a 1br.

The deal is, I have never even thought about staying there and want to know what its like from someone who has stayed there.

How is the transportation? Is there a certain building I should ask for that is closer to the bus or boat?

Are the rooms as nice as the pics make it look? Because it looks beautiful.

 

[new_yawka]

This is a beautiful and peaceful resort. It is the perfect place to relax after spending an exciting day in the parks or shopping, or etc.

Most of the buildings are close to bus transportation, although I liked being in the buildings near hospitality house (close to the main pool, Olivia's restaurant, the store, Hank's rentals, a bar - the "gurgling suticase").

The rooms are very nice and many of the rooms have been recently updated with brand new appliances. The whirlpool tubs are a great extra too!

Enjoy!