"Live" from OKW

[RobDoc]

We're back at OKW!

We arrived last night after a good flight and no-wait for DME, arriving at the resort about 9:10pm. There was no line at check-in and we bought a few items at Conch Flats before having Bell Services take us to our villa. The Bell Staff had already delivered our Owners Locker to the room, so it was waiting for us when we unlocked the door - GREAT service from both OL and the Bell Staff. We were able to travel really lightly this trip since we have lots of FL-winter clothes in our locker. We're in Building 29 this trip with a golf course view. Our villa is in great shape and everything is clean.

We got a late start this morning, but headed over to Epcot around 11:00am. I was surprised at how busy the park was today. We got FastPasses for Soarin at noon - the return time was 4:06! We then took a walk around WS, caught a performance of VoL followed by AA (the "new" ending is nice with a 911 tribute) and then walked back to Coral Reef for a 2:00 lunch reservation. We got window seating and both enjoyed the lobster soup and our entrees (salmon and mahi-mahi). The DDE discount (with automatic gratuity) came to $54 for the two of us.

I did go outside when the shuttle launch was scheduled, but the cloud cover over Epcot at that time obscured any view of the launch. If you have not seen a shuttle launch from WDW, it is a spectacular sight. We've been here for about 7 launches now - both during the day and at night - and all have been an inspiring sight. There are 12 more launches scheduled before NASA ends the shuttle program. About an hour after today's launch a thunderstorm moved near Canaveral which would have scrubbed the mission for today. It's great everything went off without a hitch!

After lunch, we had about an hour before our FastPass, so we rode SE (the update is very nice - especially the graphic screen in each vehicle with the occupant images! ) and then went back over to the Land and rode Living With the Land before using the FP at Soarin' .

We headed back to OKW and will have a quiet evening.

Tomorrow looks like a MK day, at least in the morning.

All is well!


We walked around

 

[magicaldisney]

Everything sounds wonderful, I'm jealous!! Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Always love your live reports! Thanks and glad you are off to a great start!

 

[sajetto]

I'm so jealous Doc! OKW is like heaven to us

 

[ccigliano]

Wish I was there too. Have a wonder trip.

 

[shellybelly72]

Have fun!
We will be there Wednesday!!!

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Stinks to be us!!! Hope you have a wonderful stay and a safe trip home to IN!

 

[pb4ugo]

Hiya, Doc!
We're arriving Sat p.m. - have ya noticed whether any of the units in the 41 - 44 loop at Turtle Pond have opened up? How about the pool - earlier than expected?

Are ya heading to HHI on the way home? We'll be at the Disney resort en route back to Jersey a week from Sat - can't wait!

Enjoy the rest of your vacation days and daze.

 

[wildernessDad]

Doc, hope the weather is holding out for you all there. I have seen that it has been very nice recently. Have a great time at the world!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Doc, which floor are you on in 29 and which end of the building. When we stayed there, we were on the far left side of the building, first floor under a GV, and it wasn't our favorite location.

 

[dcamdad]

So jealous right now. Even though we were just there over Christmas I find myself wanting to return every day.

 

[SandyCA]

Sounds like you are having a great time, I'm jealous.

I'll be going back in September, but that's seems like such a long time from now.

 

[RobDoc]

We had a nice evening and woke to a gentle rainstorm. The rain ended by about 9:00am, but the day has remained in the low 70's - cooler than expected. The weather front has now passed thru and the air quality has improved greatly with clear skies and much drier air now.

Diane, we are on the second floor, right end of Building 29 - next to a GV. Pretty quiet area.

We have been coming in February for many years now and can't recall a time in the past when the parks have been this busy at this time of the year.

Today we went to MK and found large crowds. LOTS of families with school aged children, middle school/high school cheerleading groups and a great number of large random school groups were in the park.

We did a few of our "usual" things, grabbed a sandwich at Columbia House and then rode the WDWRR back to Main Street to escape the crowds. Wait times for most standby lines was 40 - 70 minutes and FP distribution was running about 2 hours in the future by noon.

When we were here a month ago they were working on the 6th floor of the CR construction. While I did not get a real close view today from the bus, it appears that they have now started on the 8th floor - so the construction speed seems to have picked up a little again. I will get some photos before we return home - we have dinner planned at CA Grille next week, so I'll get some from the 15th floor observation deck at that time.

OKW seems to be pretty well occupied this week. The buses have been pretty efficient.

Until tomorrow ...

 

[RichieGraciemom]

We had a nice evening and woke to a gentle rainstorm. The rain ended by about 9:00am, but the day has remained in the low 70's - cooler than expected. The weather front has now passed thru and the air quality has improved greatly with clear skies and much drier air now.

Diane, we are on the second floor, right end of Building 29 - next to a GV. Pretty quiet area.

We have been coming in February for many years now and can't recall a time in the past when the parks have been this busy at this time of the year.

Today we went to MK and found large crowds. LOTS of families with school aged children, middle school/high school cheerleading groups and a great number of large random school groups were in the park.

We did a few of our "usual" things, grabbed a sandwich at Columbia House and then rode the WDWRR back to Main Street to escape the crowds. Wait times for most standby lines was 40 - 70 minutes and FP distribution was running about 2 hours in the future by noon.

When we were here a month ago they were working on the 6th floor of the CR construction. While I did not get a real close view today from the bus, it appears that they have now started on the 8th floor - so the construction speed seems to have picked up a little again. I will get some photos before we return home - we have dinner planned at CA Grille next week, so I'll get some from the 15th floor observation deck at that time.

OKW seems to be pretty well occupied this week. The buses have been pretty efficient.

Until tomorrow ...

leaving in a few hours for one week in disney. the cheerleaders leave on the tenth, hopefully it will quiet down, we picked this week hoping for that. heres to nice weather.

 

[iluvdisney]

Doc, we missed you by a week - Karen joined me in some RnR last week at OKW and we were down on Southpointe - it was very crowded at the parks til mid-week which took us by suprise. We did venture up in the Contemporary to get a good luck at the new wing they are building there and also went over to AKV to check on the progress - wow, that is really moving along.
Enjoy the rest of your trip and thanks for the updates!

 

[AKV707]

Thanks Doc for the reports. I hope that you are having a great time. I don't know if it is because OKW was our first DVC stay, but DW and I just love the place!

 

[jimmytammy]

Doc, I always enjoy your trip reports. And you know how to start a trip right, by seeing VOL and AA. Have a great time!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane, we are on the second floor, right end of Building 29 - next to a GV. Pretty quiet area.

That would be a MUCH better spot in building 29!