just back!!!....some random obsevations...

[gmboy95]

Just returned from our two week extravaganza, and i thought i would share some random observations.

- The drive down from Massachusetts was surprisingly easy both ways, and would definetly consider doing it again.

- Really enjoyed my stay at OKW. The family feel is very nice, and having your car just a few feet away should never be underrated.

- Did not like the fact that there was no couch in my studio. When you want to chill out in the room and have a beer it would be nice to have a couch to sit on.

- We also spent a night at BW, and I must say that this will definetly be our preffered spot for awhile. I just really enjoyed the closeness to many different activities as well as the closeness to EPCOT. The boardwalk has one of the nicest atmospheres around. (fun.fun.fun)....plus they have couches in the studios.

- The free valet parking is an absolute godsend on a 94 degree day.

- golfing is not much fun on a 94 degree day.

- Animal kingdom bites the big one on a 94 degree day!

- the staff at the DVC resorts are exceptional as far as i was concerned. they made me feel like membership meant something, and they go a long way to making you feel like they want you yo have a good time.

- First one to find an ice machine at the boardwalk in under 5 minutes will be considered at the genius level as far as i am concerned.

- The room quality at VWL is simply outstanding. We went over and asked to check out the models, and where graciously aloowed to...seeing as how we bought in sight unseen....needless to say we where suitably impressed with the entire WL.

well i must say it was another successful disney excursion, and we will look forward to our stay in May at the VWL, and maybe at the Boardwalk in August next year.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Glad you enjoyed your stay in the studios, but just wait until you stay in a 1,2,or 3 bedroom unit! You will be blown away!

 

[BillM]

Sounds like a great trip. We stay at OKW but always in a 1 BR. If I had to stay in a studio I would prefer the lay out at BWV or WLV as there are only the two of us.
However in the 1 BR, OKW wins hands down for size and comfort. BWV wins for location.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Glad you liked OKW. That's our preferred resort! However, a one-bedroom is a must!

I found the ice machine at BWV but couldn't find my room after going in the pool! What a hike! And the corridors go on for miles. Oh well, different likes for different folks.

We love AK in the morning (when the real animals run wild)!!!

 

[mouseclick1]

Glad you had a good time! I have to agree with you on AK in 95 degree weather! That was the temp during our August trip last year, and my son was begging to go back to the resort at 9:45 AM because he was too hot! I think we lasted until 10:00...

 

[mickey7861]

Isn't every day at AK a 94 degree day..............sure seems that way.
Glad you had a good trip. We also do the drive down from SE Mass. I HATE to fly so we drive often, it's not bad at all. We just came back 8/4. DH loved OKW for all that extra room and I loved VWL, such a great theme. Valet parking is a must here too, that parking lot is a mile away, and it's uphill !

 

[Paul in CT]

I enjoyed your review. We were at both BWV and VWL for three nights each from 8/10 to 8/16. I definitely agree with you about AK at 94 degrees, but you forgot to mention the 100% humidity to get the >100F heat index.

We had the LAST room on the 2nd floor from the lobby (#2001). It was a great view of the BW and right over the DVC sales office, but a hike from the lobby. The good news was that the exit stairs were right outside our door so it was a quick walk to both pools and the walkway to MGM.

If you liked the studio, you will love the 1 BR! Our home resort is OKW. The one BR's there are even better, but BW does have a good location since you can walk to both EPCOT and MGM. I still missed having my car right outside the door, but the closeness of the two parks helped to make up for it.

BTW, I'm in CT now, but I grew up in Brockton. How is the old "Shoe City"?

 

[LindaDVC]

I agree that I wish that OKW studio had the couch like the rest of the DVCs.
I also noted you are from Brockton which is my hometown.

Linda

 

[teri]

Hey, I wish that the OKW studios had one of those nice chair-and-a-halfs like they have at the Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim. It was very comfy, in a room that was smaller than an OKW studio. Besides, it folds out to a sleeper, so you could fit 5 adults and one child in there....
then teri runs and ducks for cover!!!

 

[PKS44]

Animal Kingdom bites the big one at any temperature-

what a disappointing effort...and now that I see the architectural effort expended at Tokyo DisneySea it makes me even sadder/madder at what a scaled back architectural dud AK is...

oh well we still have the other 3 parks and 2 water parks and DD all those great resorts!

 

[vernon]

Glad things worked out well for you.

Have to agree on the ice machine run PARTULARLY when the first one you do find is out of order

I prefer golf at 94 to golf at 49 in the rain

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, Teri! Are you sure you want to start that one again? I certainly hope they don't do away with the 2 queen beds in a studio (which would also be the 2nd bedroom of a 2 bedroom). It would greatly change our sleeping options, but a nice twin sized pull out chair would be nice!

 

[rbuzzotta]

Glad you all had a wonderful time!! Nice to hear that I am not the only crazy one that doesn't mind the drive from Boston!!!

Here's to 41 more years of wonderful vacations!!

 

[nickglover]

sometimes a guy just has to have a sofa, a beer, and (hopefully) an NFL football game!

 

[dvcdudes]

I know your drive from Boston is a bit further than mine from NY but I kind of look foward to the drive down.
I get myself books on tape from the library and listen while I drive. It's kind of like part of my vacation now. I look foward to the next book and my next trip.
The fact that you have your own car is a big plus too. I have a conversion van with a TV, VCR, & Nintendo 64, it has a back seat that becomes a bed too. We pack a cooler and snacks and it's like being in your own livingroom. Now I just need a robot to drive for me.
The drive home is a bit of a different story. I'm depressed leaving WDW and it's tough driving home but we stop overnight and break it up into two days so it's not so bad.

 

[MinnieMe2]

I know what you mean about the drive from MA. We've driven down three or four times, and tho it was fun to fly for a change this year, I kinda missed the ride. We usually take three days, I get books on tape (to drown out the fights in the backseat), and it's enjoyable. Next summer we hope to drive down again, but you never know how things'll turn out...

 

[normr]

OKW only has the 2 queens in the studio, if you want the couch, then you have to stay elsewhere, I think most all the OKW like the queen beds.

But I don't stay in a studio, only one-bedrooms and now we're graduating to the 2 bedroom.

 

[LindaDVC]

Personally I'd prefer the bed and couch arrangement at OKW>

My parents often join us so we get larger accomindations anyway.
They still live in Brockton MA and prefer to fly!
We are more than half way there down here in NC!
However even from here a long drive!
We headed to Florida 3 times in the last year for our cruise, Vero, and OKW trips.
The HH trip seems short incomparison!

Linda

 

[normr]

No matter how much you might prefer one bed and a couch at OKW, it's not going to happen, it was sold with the 2 bed layout only, if you want the bed and couch, then stay at one of the 2 other DVC resorts at WDW

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with Normr. The 2 bed arrangement is what we purchased, and we need 2 beds in the second bedroom to make it viable. It is one of the reasons I really don't want to spend extra points to stay at BWV, because someone in the second bedroom will have to sleep on a pull out.