Need some inside tips for first stay at OKW

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I just booked a kind of last-minute trip (mid-Nov.) and the only 2-bedroom villas available were SSR and OKW. Previously, we didn't hate SSR, but it isn't at the top of our list! So, it's a 2-BR at OKW.. Anything to avoid/must do?
Thanks!

 

[moethorne]

We love the size of the rooms at OKW and the peacefulness. My kids love the water slide for some reason. Seems like all the others to me but they claim it's the best one. I personally love the boat to Disney Springs and my husband loves the golf views. There are few, maybe no elevators. I'm not sure you can request a lower floor but maybe something to think about. Years ago we rented the mini boats there and had a great time riding by grandma and granddad sitting on the porch of our room.

 

[beccasmom]

We love the 2-bedroom units at OKW because they are very spacious. Very comfortable.

Watercraft to Disney Springs is a nice perk; buses can get old after a while. Although there is no food court at OKW, there is a snack bar-type eatery near the pool and Olivia's is a full-service restaurant that serves all three meals (we love to breakfast there). There is a main pool and also 3 smaller "neighborhood" pools. Like SSR, you can park right outside your unit if you have a car. The resort is laid-back and relaxing. We enjoy coffee on the porch, watching the wildlife or the golfers.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Thanks! Does anyone have experience with the 3 handicapped-accessable buildings (ie: distance to walk to main bldg)?

 

[BobNed]

Thanks! Does anyone have experience with the 3 handicapped-accessable buildings (ie: distance to walk to main bldg)?

There are accessible villas in many buildings at OKW. I'm guessing you are referring to the 3 buildings that have elevators. Those buildings (62, 63, and 64) are all fairly close to Hospitality House. Building 64 is the only one with an elevator and accessible villas.

 

[Anal Annie]

We love the size of the rooms at OKW and the peacefulness. My kids love the water slide for some reason. Seems like all the others to me but they claim it's the best one. I personally love the boat to Disney Springs and my husband loves the golf views. There are few, maybe no elevators. I'm not sure you can request a lower floor but maybe something to think about. Years ago we rented the mini boats there and had a great time riding by grandma and granddad sitting on the porch of our room.

We haven't stayed there in a LONG time but I think it is the SMOOTHEST slide. The seams or rivets aren't as bad as some maybe?!

 

[carlbarry]

My kids love the water slide for some reason. Years ago we rented the mini boats there and had a great time riding by grandma and granddad sitting on the porch of our room.

1. As an adult water slide aficionado I also think the water slide there, even though not very long, is really neat.
2. No more mini boat rentals. This stopped maybe 3 years ago.

 

[Sur]

Learn the bus route and evaluate if getting off at one stop, and walking a short distance to your villa, is better than waiting until your actual stop 20 minutes later. We were at HH villas there and walked across the bridge to get back sooner.

 

[bit413]

We stayed with four adults/four kids in a 2 bedroom OKW villa. It was plenty spacious. We did a grocery run at the beginning of week and ate in the room a ton. It was very nice to be able to put the kids down and adults be able to hang out and talk. We stayed in an accessible unit near the main pool area. It was great. We would do it again no questions asked. There is another pool on property that has a pool bar attached. Many people like to stay in the further out buildings because it is more peaceful.

 

[illinidp]

If you can't get near the HH the Turtle Pond pool area is nice.

 

[seelyt2]

Learn the bus route and evaluate if getting off at one stop, and walking a short distance to your villa, is better than waiting until your actual stop 20 minutes later. We were at HH villas there and walked across the bridge to get back sooner.

I echo this, especially if using Disney transportation. Know the bus route as it takes a while to get around the resort and by the time the bus gets to you, you could be standing for every transport. This isn't much of an issue if you have your own transportation.

The resort is HUGE and so very spread out. Walking to the HH can be a hike.

 

[Nanajo1]

You can use any bus to get to the main pool,restaurant and store as all stop at HH and hop on a a returning bus to get back to you villa.

 

[Gracie09]

We

Thanks! Does anyone have experience with the 3 handicapped-accessable buildings (ie: distance to walk to main bldg)?

we stayed in building 62 last year. Very convenient. It was under a minute to hospitality house and that bus stop and on the way back the first stop was about a two minute walk. The rooms were huge. We would stay there again.

 

[nzdisneymom]

We love OKW and stay there more times than not any more. As others have mentioned, learning the bus route can help reduce your transportation time within the OKW property. Peninsular stop is the first stop coming in for most of the buses and just a short walk from the Hospitality House, so any time we were at the main area, we would just walk back for that bus stop.

Consider how you pack because with the exception of the mentioned buildings, there aren't elevators - and if you've packed super-heavy cases or in many separate bags and you have a 3rd floor room, you may wish you didn't by the time you get it all upstairs. We recently stayed at OKW before flying from Orlando so we knew we had four big suitcases about 50 lbs each - so we requested a ground floor. We usually prefer an upper because we enjoy a balcony more than a patio.

If you have a studio, the laundry is by the pool(s). Ice machines are by the bus stops. We like the studios if just two of us are going as there are two actual beds rather than a bed and a pull out.

If you dine at Olivia's, make sure to bring your DVC card for 10% off.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you need HCA, make sure MS knows that. First floor works out nicely in the buildings with no elevators.