Not Wild About OKW

[cooper1204]

First, let me start out by saying that it is NOT my intention to bash OKW - but my family and I just returned from a week's stay and I have to say that I left feeling very disappointed. This was our first time staying at the resort, and while the staff was friendly and the rooms were decent, I just felt so isolated at the resort (even though we were in building 14 and close to the hospitality house). Unlike some of the other resorts - I also missed being able to step outside my room to see and get a sense of the entire resort. Also, I have no problems walking, but this place was too spread out to actually enjoy it. I also don't feel the need to go overboard with theming, but the other thing that bothered me was that I just didn't feel like I was staying at Disney while here...I have enjoyed staying at some of the moderate resorts more than this one, and do not think we will choose to stay here again...the buses were also very inconsistent....but at the end of the day, all of this is just my humble opinion!

 

[thelionqueen]

Everyone has their opinion. The reasons you stated that you didn't like OKW are the Exact reasons I love it. Disney has something for everyone, that's for sure!!!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Just goes to show that one of the great things about DVC is it's diversity.

I don't think you were bashing. Everyone has different tastes. Some of the tings you mentioned are exactly the things that we love about OKW. We love being able to park in front of our villa & love feeling like we are really "home" not just at a hotel. BCV & VWL hold no appeal for us at all. But that is us.

Hope you had an otherwise enjoyable trip!

 

[kcdisneymom]

I would have to agree.
Sometimes you want the "hotel" atmosphere and perks and sometimes you want the "resort" atmosphere and perks.

 

[Dean]

Sorry you didn't enjoy it, not everyone likes the same thing. It's OK not to like something even if someone else loves it. This is not OKW bashing IMO.

 

[Granny]

I agree that this was not a bash of OKW.

A bash would be: "Some would hve to be crazy to want to stay in this out of the way, old folks resort".

Now that's a bash.

The OP's comments were in the "not my cup of tea" line. It will still engender a lot of defensive comments and could lead to an escalation.

I have never understood the need to "defend" a resorts charm or appeal. I read comments that people don't like resorts that we really like, and I just figure they have different tastes. As long as we're happy there, why would we care if other people are?

 

[Simba's Mom]

First, let me start out by saying that it is NOT my intention to bash OKW - but my family and I just returned from a week's stay and I have to say that I left feeling very disappointed. This was our first time staying at the resort, and while the staff was friendly and the rooms were decent, I just felt so isolated at the resort (even though we were in building 14 and close to the hospitality house). Unlike some of the other resorts - I also missed being able to step outside my room to see and get a sense of the entire resort. Also, I have no problems walking, but this place was too spread out to actually enjoy it. I also don't feel the need to go overboard with theming, but the other thing that bothered me was that I just didn't feel like I was staying at Disney while here...I have enjoyed staying at some of the moderate resorts more than this one, and do not think we will choose to stay here again...the buses were also very inconsistent....but at the end of the day, all of this is just my humble opinion!

I can understand your comments. Different strokes for different folks. But I hope you had a good time on your vacation-you WERE at WDW!

 

[HUFF590]

I dont feel like the ops statement was bashing either, very well done sounded like OKW was just not your cup of tea, like others those are the reasons we like it too. Hope WDW was fun and you had a good time .

 

[byoung]

Thanks for your opion, for us it's my second best after BWV.

 

[rigsby25]

I like it when I step out on the balcony, and I can't see 12 other families stepping out on their balconies. Its been a long time since I've stayed at OKW because of availability issues, but I remember the balconies as being more "private".

 

[profdsny]

I don't consider it a 'bash' either, but after lugging a case of water two blocks from the parking lot to our room at the Wilderness Villas last month, I'm sure glad the OKW is our home resort.

 

[mbhoxsie]

Having just stayed at OKW for the first time, I can certainly understand your opinion...

BWV is our home resort, and we got used to being in the middle of the action... At OKW, we definately felt "out of the loop" per se... However, that was exactly what we were looking for on this trip... We didn't have a lot of points this year, and were only planning on going to the parks for one day.. So OKW worked out perfectly... We spent most of the time hanging out by the main pool and having the kids do crafts with Eddie in the Community Hall..

We ended up having a great time, but it almost felt more like we were at VB or HHI rather than being onsite..

 

[Buckalew11]

I just can't wait to find out for myself!!!!

 

[Tigger031266]

I am with you, the place is boring. A reason why BW, BC and WL are sold out and OKW and SSR are always available. I realize there is diversity but there just are not enough people that like to be isolated. I know I know they are big resorts but they also have way cheap points. Could make them almost free and I would not stay there. At least SSR has DTD, OKW has nothing.



Sorry, I meant to say OKW is great. Lots of privacy, huge rooms, cheap points.... It is beautiful and a golf course resort. The best thing about OKW is you can drive your car right up to the rooms. Totally convenent, a short boat ride to DTD and completely beautiful.

 

[Beca]

Well, while I think OKW is "charming", like you...there was no convincing my 3yr old dd that we WERE at WDW when we were staying at OKW. OKW will never be my choice of resorts, but I do think it is an absolutely beautiful resort..I love the colors and the mickey head cutouts on the balcony.

However, we are just hotel-style people.



Beca

 

[ccw]

Except for one night at Caribbean Beach, our first three trips to DisneyWorld involved stays at (1) the FAIRWAY VILLAS, (2) Disney Townhouses(?), and (3) the BUNGALOWS?CLUB SUITES...all three of which had virtually no Mickey Mouse theming and were, as many of you know, the properties which used to be where SSR is now. Maybe I love OKW (and own DVC there) because I remember how much fun my children had on those trips and how thrilled we were as parents because we had space to spread out, rest, relax and get AWAY from the park madness. It is great that Disney offers different settings and styles for people with varying preferences in how to spend their time AND their money.

Funny but I cannot imagine ever hearing one of my children complain that they didn't feel like they were in Disney based on where we stayed. Besides, the rule in our house on most issues is "the one who does the PAYING does the SAYING," so, as long as my children are not the ones footing the bill, we will usually be staying at OKW! As others have said, to get or not get the "right" feel about a resort is nothing any of us should take personally...just enjoy the freedom of choice if you have it!

 

[Pootle]

... Funny but I cannot imagine ever hearing one of my children complain that they didn't feel like they were in Disney based on where we stayed. Besides, the rule in our house on most issues is "the one who does the PAYING does the SAYING," so, as long as my children are not the ones footing the bill, we will usually be staying at OKW! As others have said, to get or not get the "right" feel about a resort is nothing any of us should take personally...just enjoy the freedom of choice if you have it!

I agree with every word above

 

[MemereMouse]

We've stayed at them all, HH and VB included, and my very favorite is OKW. Something about the big rooms, balcony and full laundry room that appeals to me for a week's stay. After being in the parks all day, it is very nice to come back to the serenity and beauty of OKW. I really feel like we're in DW and enjoy the CMs, the Mickey cutouts and the whole theming of OKW. Love it, love it, love it!!!

 

[Dean]

I hinted at it above but now that time has gone by, I want to say it specifically. If this were a SSR issue, many would have been complaining about resort bashing by now. OKW is our favorite but it is not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Since my favorite place in WDW is VWL and FW area, I must admit that I really don't see a huge difference regarding Disney themeing in any of the resorts. The All Stars and Pop to me look like you're definitely at WDW, but the others have charms that are unique to the type of resort that they are.

Was OKW all that was available for your stay?

Since it's OKW that we're talking about, I want to mention that one thing that I especially enjoyed there was the boat to DTD. It was such a pleasant, relaxing ride, that I think I could do it just for fun, and not just a utilitarian way of going someplace. (Yes, I do that at VWL, take the boat to Contemporary, to FW, walk around FW and then go back to VWL.) We were there in June during Alberto, and many days had torrential downpours for much of the day and so I didn't walk or bike-ride, or rent the little speedboats as I had planned. But OKW and it's wonderful 1 bedroom won a piece of my heart and more surprisingly DH's as well.

Bobbi