Official Upgrade to OKW thread!

[Ellasgirls]

I know there are a bunch of us that got the magical upgrade today and I would love to find out how many of us chose OKW and why? Also, anyone that has questions/pictures of OKW would be greatly appreciated and oggled at obssesively(sorry can't spell tonight).

I'll go first: We upgraded from POP Aug 26-Sept 1 and moved to OKW 1 bedroom. Hopefully my family won't be disappointed at not playing in the bowling pin pool everyday . I figured it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for my family to stay in a deluxe resort. It would have cost us $4000 to stay instead of the $1400 we spent! Can't wait to see who else will be staying with us!

 

[tasha99]

I got the same upgrade and chose OKW 1BR Villa. I chose it because I remember OKW being the "recommended" DVC Villa on Mousesavers (bigger rooms.) I'm pretty about this!!!! What an awesome upgrade, especially for FREE (my favorite! )

 

[megnsamsgracie]

Hey Hey Hey... please share the info on this?? How on earth did you guys get upgrades? No offense... we have 2 rooms at ASMo but I would LOVE a place at OKW, it looks sooo nice! Oh yeah, we are doing free dining at the end of Sept

 

[nanadeb]

We got the email yesterday afternoon. I decided on OKW after looking at the info and slideshows on the DIS. I called right away and got a one bedroom.
When I checked my reservation on line, not only was my OKW villa on it, but they had given me a refund of the extra person charge for my adult daughter!!
I really like the look of OKW. We own 2 timeshares in Virginia and 1 in Tennessee, so I don't think we will be buying into the DVC right now.
For those of you with others in your someone on another thread was part of a Grand Gathering and was the only one of the three room reservations to get an email. She called and asked if there was any way they could upgrade all of them. After a 10 minute wait, the CM got approval for it and now they will all be together.
So if you have others in your party who did not get the email, try asking the CM when you call. You may get lucky!

 

[mom2jacob]

I did the upgrade for a 1br @ OKW We will be there Sept 1-9.


After looking at both resorts just think OKW will be better fit for us plus Bigger rooms

 

[MiaSRN62]

You will love the OKW 1 bedroom---it's huge ! But just know that you won't get 2 "traditional" beds. You'll get a king size bed in the master bedroom and and fold out queen size sofa bed in the living room. So, as long as members in your party don't mind the fold-out, you'll be fine.
What you get in return : full kitchen, big balcony, jacuzzi tub, washer/dryer and lots of space ! It's a very laid-back, relaxing resort.
I'll post my pics later because right now my online photo storage site is experiencing a technical problem.

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

Who did the email come from? What did it say exactly? I had an email yesterday from Disney Destinations but I deleted it???? OH NOOOOOOO!!

 

[tasha99]

Who did the email come from? What did it say exactly? I had an email yesterday from Disney Destinations but I deleted it???? OH NOOOOOOO!!

My reservation had the offer attached to it--I got the email, but the cast member could see it in the system too. Call and see if you can get your offer retrieved! Crossing fingers for you . . . .

 

[M2DD's]

We upgraded yesterday afternoon(after I also most had a heart attack )from allstar sports to a 1 brd villa at OKW we are staying for 13 nites. It would have cost us 7000$ to stay if we had to pay OOP. I wasn't sure which one to pick but I live in the midwest so I thought OKW would look more like an island. Our wdw vacation is the only time we get to see palm tree's. Now that all I have had time to think I'm worried about bus transpo,CS locations,bus stops,refillable mugs. But I'm sure I'll get over that all. I guess I'm just used to the value resorts. I wonder since it is a free upgrade they will put is the farthest away building?
Laura

 

[MiaSRN62]

Ellasgirls asks : anyone that has questions/pictures of OKW would be greatly appreciated and oggled at obssesively

Ok....thought I'd share a few pics with you from some of our recent stays at OKW :


The walkway to the lobby/check-in area :

Papa's Den (which is the sitting area off to the side of the lobby check-in)

The marina :

The boardwalk area (this is where you can find Goods To Go food stand as well) :

The entry way :

Nice roomy bathroom :

The larger sofa is your fold-out bed :

Your master bedroom (king bed) :

Your roomy balcony (our whole family of 5 can sit out there comfortably) :

Your kitchen :

My dd checking out the jacuzzi :

One of the 5 bus stops throughout the resort :

Hope these helped to give u all an idea of what to expect at OKW.

 

[mom2jacob]

Can you do room request like you can at the other resort. I forgot to ask her when I had them upgrade us. Like we need to have a bed railing and if we can get close to a pool or something?

I guess I can call back at a later time. I was just so excited about the upgrade I forgot about room requests.

 

[MiaSRN62]

M2DD's says :Now that all I have had time to think I'm worried about bus transpo,CS locations,bus stops,refillable mugs.

The bus transportation is fine. I'm not sure why so many fret about this ? Have you heard something ? We usually have waits of 10-20 min and that's about average with most of the other wdw resorts we've stayed at (all the values, POR, CBR, Contemp, BWV, WL, BC).

The only CS location at OKW is Goods To Go which is on the boardwalk area down from Olivia's. They are open 7:30 am to 10 pm. You also will have a frig in your room which you would not had you stayed in POP (unless you rented it extra).
Menus for Goods to Go :
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_gtg.htm

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_gtgb.htm
also, there is pizza delivery, but not sure if you can use that with DDP ? I've never done the DDP so you'll have to check :
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/men_sasp.htm

OKW does have refillable mugs---they can be refilled at the two snack stands (Goods To Go and Turtle Shack). Turltle Shack is not always open during non-busy times though, so you'll have to check on that location.
Hope this all helps to set your mind at ease.

Yes...you can put in requests. If you want to be close to the "main" pool, request "close to Hospitality House". There are 4 other pools through the resort though. Only the main pool has the slide though.

 

[MiaSRN62]

And, yes, you can request bed railings.............

 

[Ellasgirls]

The bus transportation is fine. I'm not sure why so many fret about this ? Have you heard something ? We usually have waits of 10-20 min and that's about average with most of the other wdw resorts we've stayed at (all the values, POR, CBR, Contemp, BWV, WL, BC).

The only CS location at OKW is Goods To Go which is on the boardwalk area down from Olivia's. They are open 7:30 am to 10 pm. You also will have a frig in your room which you would not had you stayed in POP (unless you rented it extra).
Menus for Goods to Go :
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_gtg.htm

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_gtgb.htm
also, there is pizza delivery, but not sure if you can use that with DDP ? I've never done the DDP so you'll have to check :
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/men_sasp.htm

OKW does have refillable mugs---they can be refilled at the two snack stands (Goods To Go and Turtle Shack). Turltle Shack is not always open during non-busy times though, so you'll have to check on that location.
Hope this all helps to set your mind at ease.

Yes...you can put in requests. If you want to be close to the "main" pool, request "close to Hospitality House". There are 4 other pools through the resort though. Only the main pool has the slide though.

Thank you so much...you have been very helpful. I am getting more and more excited about this upgrade. It sounds very nice...

 

[MiaSRN62]

Glad to be of some help Ellasgirls....
Also, wanted to add, that even though Goods To Go is a CS eatery, it is outdoors with only outdoor seating available. Here's a pic :
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/okw22.jpg (it's near the main pool).

Also, should you get an upper floor room (OKW is 2 and 3 stories high depending on the building and no elevators). There are only 3 buildings that have elevators (62, 63 and 64). They do have Bell Service for move in and move out day so noone has to drag luggage up and down stairs. If noone is at the Bell desk when you pass by, request it at check-in. OKW Bell Hops are happy to do this. They are located at the entrance to the walkway which leads to the lobby : http://www.pbase.com/image/30152469
If steps are an issue for anyone in your party, you should request either ground floor or elevator building.

 

[brymolmom]

I also got the OKW upgrade - I was in ASMu with 2 other families for a grand gathering - we all got upgraded to a 1 BR at OKW - I am SO excited. I've never gotten any other offers from Disney - I'm glad I did now.

It was such a can't beat deal we decided to add a night onto the end of our trip. Now we have 8 nights.

Can I ask a couple more OKW questions:
Can anyone tell me what the pools are like - I read there's a children's pool...is that the same one as the slide pool? Do they let kids on the slide? Is there a height requirement? Is there a zero depth entry pool or splash area? If so- can you tell me what it is near so I can ask for a room near it?

If you have a ground room floor...do you have a patio area similar to the balconies on the upper floors?

Are there towels available at the pools there?

Thanks!

 

[r5moores]

?? for you guys...We're all of your trips in aug/ sept range. I am going in July and also had a disney dest email I deleted. Thought it was a dup of the dvc dvd offer I had gotten the day before.

 

[Ellasgirls]

Mine was for Aug 26-Sept 1. I would call Disney and they can see (from other posts) if you have this offer linked to your reservation. Hope this helps! I ALMOST deleted this one and I ALMOST didn't even call because I thought it was a marketing gimmick making us listen to a "time share" presentation! Good thing I called and while on hold with them I was on this board reading others posts regarding the same thing!

 

[MiaSRN62]

brymolmom asks :Can anyone tell me what the pools are like - I read there's a children's pool...is that the same one as the slide pool? Do they let kids on the slide? Is there a height requirement? Is there a zero depth entry pool or splash area? If so- can you tell me what it is near so I can ask for a room near it?

If you have a ground room floor...do you have a patio area similar to the balconies on the upper floors?

Are there towels available at the pools there?

The main pool is the one with the big sand castle slide---Not sure a child 3 or under would be good on this one ?
There is a kiddie pool (not zero depth---I think only SSR has zero depth as far as the DVC resorts go).
Here are some pics of the children's area :
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/okw44.jpg
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/okw45.jpg

This site has alot of good pics of OKW in general as well :
http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=eo070126bb

The kiddie pool is off to the side of the main pool. You would have to request "close to Hospitality House" to be close. The Turtle pond pool has a second snack stand and game room for kids.
There are towels near the pools. If you have a ground floor, you get a patio as well (it has the fence around it like the upper balconies do). The best views from balconies are with the 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas. The studios are on the ends/corners of all the buildings and slightly indented (they are sort of on the sides of the buildings where the bushes/trees tend to be). This is why I said the ground floor "studios" don't always have the best view because they are often somewhat obstructed by the lush vegetation.
Hope this helps.

 

[REL1203]

I too got a 1Br Villa upgrade at OKW. DW and I couldnt be more happy about it (well, they could have sent us to the Poly, that would have made me happier). Can you see any of the fireworks shows from thw OKW?