Not Wild About OKW

[dianeschlicht]

To each his own...OKW is our favorite spot because we LOVED the Florida themeing, large rooms, lovely views, and nice balcony.

 

[MiaSRN62]

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 just returned Thurs from OKW and loved every second of our stay there ! My kids adore the place.
Contrary to the above quote, we have had difficulty getting a villa at OKW in the Oct-Dec time frame especially. The reason I think it's less difficult though to get OKW/SSR is because there are just simply many more rooms at these larger resorts. It makes sense that the much smaller rooms are more difficult to get because they fill up quicker because they have 1/3-1/2 the amount of rooms. And btw, I could have stayed at any of the DVC resorts this summer----all had availability for our time period----we chose OKW. We don't feel isolated at all. Busses ran great the entire week----literally we timed it----17 minutes was the longest we ever waited and that was only 1-2 times. Usually it was less than that. We were able to see Illuminations from various areas around the resort during our stay as well. Got "welcome homes" from all the CM's. Just love the friendly neighborhood feel there. We rented a pontoon boat a couple times and took a relaxing ride down the Sassagoula River to DD. And we really love our huge balconies----all five of us could all sit outside and play UNO in the evening while having lemonade and cookies. Of course the OP and others are entitled to their opinions.....but for us, OKW is the only way to unwind and relax while in WDW.
Just had to give my humble opinion as well

 

[spiceycat]

some people don't like OKW. that is a fact. Others don't like BWV, still others don't like BCV, etc....

Disney does variety for a reason. No, two of its resorts are the same. It is designed to allow for different people taste.

don't worry if you don't like OKW. You aren't bashing.

now if you brought DVC and don't like any of the DVC resort - you have a BIG problem.

I don't happen to enjoy SSR - too fancy for my taste; and BWV - to much action - I feel on exhibit at this place (despite owning points here - it is a good place to rent).

everyone has different taste - otherwise the world will be a very boring place.

 

[Beca]

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!

Since I am the only one who mentioned a child....I am going out on a limb here to assume you are referring to my dd.

Let me clarify for you...she was not "complaining" (she was only 3)...but, after staying at VWL, BWV and BCV....and, after staying off-site at DL on MANY trips....we just couldn't convince her that we WERE on WDW property. Complaining, and not believing are two different things.

And, at WDW...we do take her opinion into consideration when we choose our resort...it is, after all a family vacation. But, as you said (and, I and many others)..to each his own.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Again....respect everyone's opinion.....even the kids. But my kids love the themeing at OKW. The big sand castle slide where you exit out of a Mickey head and hidden mickeys on the slide.......the mickey head silouhettes on the balcony rails.......it's themed after Key West and there are many interesting theming aspects of that area. Papa's Den in the lobby area was themed after Hemingways home---he lived in Key West for many years.
It's just not overstated like some other wdw resorts. Frankly, I don't see any of the DVC villas overly "mickey" themed. The VWL is a little different because it's connected to the WL which is heavily themed after the Northwest Pacific area. But some don't like that theme either. BWV/BCV are themed after the mid-Atlantic seaboard/Cape May area. I live very close to this area and vacation in Cape May often over the years---we're maybe 90+ min away from that area. So it doesn't pose as much of an attraction to us. Others feel that way about any of the various DVC themes. Each resort is themed very well, albeit very differently. There is something for everyone with DVC. But honestly, personally, I can say my kids would never be disappointed staying anywhere on disney property (though OKW is our fav). We're just happy to be in WDW
But that's just us. I respect others preferences.
PS: my niece (who has vacationed with us often with my bil and sil) ONLY wants to stay at the AS Movies ! Go figure.....she has stayed at BWV and OKW with us and always wants to go back to the Movies resort because "Woody is there" ! So go figure....she feels the Movie is the ONLY disney themed resort. She could leave the DVC resorts behind. She vacationed with us between the ages of 3-6. So....out of the mouths of babes

 

[John VN]

Other than our stays in the TREEHOUSES, OKW is the only DVC Resort on property that we actually feel that we are home while on vacation. Truly a Welcome Home experience.

This is not to bash the other resorts but as others have mentioned different strokes....

 

[pbharris4]

We stayed at OKW for the first time this year. I have been hesitant to try it because we own at BCV and VWL and we like being in the middle of everything, BUT after spending 6 days at BCV and doing everything..when we got to OKW we just loved it. (Well, except the hike up to the 3rd floor!) We were in Bldg. 14 as well. The room was soo spacious and loved the balcony as well. It was more relaxing. Of course, we missed SAB, but in July..ANY pool will do. I found it to be much quieter than BCV as well. But the beauty of DVC and the different resorts is that when you feel like a woodsy-type vacation you can go to VWL, when you feel like a beacy-type vacation you have BCV, when you want to lay back and relax you have OKW. We rarely ride the buses, but when we did they were inconsistent. I coudn't stay at OKW every year, but I couldn't stay at BCV every year either. You have to love the point value though!

 

[jennymouse]

We felt about the same way about OKW. We loved, loved, loved the large 1BR units and the landscaping, etc. was beautiful. We also liked the relaxed atmosphere. We had some mousekeeping issues and a guest services issue but that didn't scare me away.

I think the two things that bugged me the most was:

1) Carrying our stuff up the stairs. We could've gotten help but it was going to be a long wait.

2) We were in a unit across from the HH. At first I was happy because I knew it wasn't going to be a long walk or drive to the HH. But, I didn't like having to walk through the parking lots to get there. There were delivery trucks coming/going through there too (is that area to the left of HH a loading dock or something?) as well as some sort of construction work going on there in the parking lot. I don't know if it was pipes or what they were working on but they had a section of the parking lot dug up & blocked off and had a bunch of those orange cones in that area. Then the normal guest parking lot traffic. It just really killed the magic for me. It was the first time we've ever stayed in a WDW resort where I was afraid one of the kids would be run over whilst trying to get to the lobby or bus stop.

Gorgeous resort though!

 

[DVC Jen]

I personally appreciate hearing things that someone may have not liked about a resort. I feel it gives people thinking of staying there a more realistic expectation.

My family personally did not enjoy BCV at all. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with the resort.. we just didn't like the whole feel of the place.

We are die hard VWL lovers (and that is were we own).

Now with all this said.. we are going to try OKW for our next trip. And reading others honest opinions (pro and con) helps us know what we are getting into.. realistically.

 

[LIFERBABE]

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!

Op, thank you for posting. I also dont think it was bashing just your opinion. As one who chimes in on many of the SSR threads, I do recognize the difference between stating one's opinion and bashing.

We are most likely staying at OKW next trip (the only onsite DVC we have not tried yet) so I am reading everything.