OKW- 1st Stay .. looking for INFO

[JWollman]

Hello!! We are staying at OKW for the first time in January. Our home is SSR.
We will be bringing our 20 month old. I have read alot of info on the pools and such.
Here are some of my Questions

1) Since we are going OFF Season... can we pool hop over to SSR??

2) How are the buses? Are we going to wait forever? We are requesting a one bedroom- preferably near a bus stop and playarea.

3) Do they supply pack and plays still at the resorts?

We wanted to try here because we heard these rooms are bigger and we wanted more room w/the toddler.

4) I heard there are no elevators.... how are the rooms on ground level-- do you know of the screens on the patio doors LOCK... after all- I am going with a toddler....

Thanks in advance to everyone!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Hello!! We are staying at OKW for the first time in January. Our home is SSR.
We will be bringing our 20 month old. I have read alot of info on the pools and such.
Here are some of my Questions

1) Since we are going OFF Season... can we pool hop over to SSR??
YES

2) How are the buses? Are we going to wait forever? We are requesting a one bedroom- preferably near a bus stop and playarea.

You shoud not have a problem with bus service; however, you can wait up to 20 minutes for one.

3) Do they supply pack and plays still at the resorts?

Yes

We wanted to try here because we heard these rooms are bigger and we wanted more room w/the toddler.

The rooms are great! Our favorite.

4) I heard there are no elevators.... how are the rooms on ground level-- do you know of the screens on the patio doors LOCK... after all- I am going with a toddler....

A few building have elevators for disabled guests. The patio doors have locks and your little should be safe (there's a fence around your veranda). Your toddler would love seeing the birds, ducks and bunnies by your veranda. They are quite interactive to watch.

Thanks in advance to everyone!

Enjoy your trip - you will love it.

 

[Melora]

We stay almost exclusively at the OKW.. I dont know about pool hopping since we never use the pool, but we have never had a problem with the buses at all. Even though there are a lot of stops within the resort, it goes quit quickly and I dont have a lot of patience for waiting.

We have always gotten the 2 bedroom and the pack and play is in the closet of the master bedroom.

Only the front building (62, 63?) have elevators but they are harder to get ressies in. We ask every time we stay and have gotten that buiding about half of the time.

I dont think they had screens on the doors going out to the patio.. but they were regular doors not sliding.

 

[iluveeyore]

We always stay at OKW, but my DH loves the exercise room at SSR, so we use the pool there while he works out. Ground floor rooms are fine, just request one that isn't handicapped accessible as I didn't care for all the bathroom rails, etc. for handicapped people (not trying to offend, just felt like a hospital bathroom). They are perfectly safe with the patio doors and balcony around the patio. The buses run often. We always request buildings 30-35 as they are near the Turtle Pond pool. If we want to get to the main pool and playground (Hospitality Hall), we just hop on a bus as they all stop there before they head out. I think it was building 34 & 35 that the bus stop is right outside of, so you don't have far to go with strollers, etc.
You'll love it there. More square footage in the 1 bedroom than at SSR too.

 

[spiceycat]

the patios/balconies are different at OKW than the other resorts.

you are surrounded by a rail - so your kid cannot get out that way.

in this picture - the rail behind them surrounds all the balconies.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=19546&sort=1&cat=545&page=2

here is another version of the rail
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6749&sort=1&cat=545&page=3

swimming - as a DVC member you can pool hop to all the WDW pools except AKL & BC/YC/BCV - can't pool hop there EVER.

and you aren't going on a holiday. from the dvc member site

'Pool Hopping Information for 2006

You and any Guests staying with you at Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Beach Club Villas or Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are permitted to use other Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney World Resort hotel pools (in addition to the pool at the Resort hotel at which you're staying) if they are not at capacity.

If the pool you are visiting reaches capacity, you may be asked to leave in order to accommodate Guests of that Resort hotel. Please check with a Host/Hostess at the Front Desk of the Resort hotel you wish to visit to find out about pool-access availability. You must present your current "Key to the World" card with your Disney Vacation Club "Member" designation on it to use other Resort hotel pools. Pool hopping is not available at Uzima Pool at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts or at the leisure pools of these two Resort hotels. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Resort hotel pools may become unavailable from time to time because of capacity limitations. Due to expected high occupancy, Disney Vacation Club Members may not "pool hop" during the following dates*:
May 26 - 29, 2006
July 1 - 8, 2006
September 1 - 4, 2006
November 20 - 26, 2006
December 17, 2006 - January 2, 2007
*Other restricted dates may be added based on projected pool capacity. '
so you can definitely go pool hop to your home resort SSR if you want too.

have a great time...

oh after you stay in a 1-bedroom at OKW - you might have a problem going back to a regular 1-bedroom at the other DVC resorts - it is that much larger....

 

[Sarah]

Thanks for all the great info on OKW! I will be going there for the first time as well in Oct. with my SiL and 4 little ones in tow, so I chose this resort because of toddler friendliness too.

I have a question about towels and blankets--since we are renting points from DVC member and not just regular guests if I need more towels is it a problem? (Truth be told sometimes I put them arond the crib rails so little one sleeps on and is not aware of surrounding chaos).

What is the charge if I'd like to add a day of housekeeping?

My other question has to do with how large this resort is--is everything walkable or will I be catching busses from point A to point B and will I catch on to this pretty quickly or am I doomed to sit on the corner and cry? :

Thanks!
Sarah

 

[cooper1204]

Hi - if you check out the DVC Planning section of the boards - you'll find a lot of useful info on OKW...we're going to OKW for the first time in 10 days (sooo excited) and I did feel a little intimidated about the size - but I've also stayed at CSR (which I've been told is comprable in size to OKW). Some people have also complained that CSR is "too big" but I didn't have any problems walking around there and really enjoyed the walks!

 

[Mickeyisme]

You may find that you don't need to pool hop since OKW has so many pools itself. When we stay (everytime we go), we take a quick cruise around the propery (via bus) to check out which pool is most secluded, then hop in. It's nice that the bus stops at the front...

Also, be sure to take the ferry to Downtown Disney at least once (loads by Olivia's). We take it everytime we head into the parks since Downtown has the bus hubs.

If you want a character breakfast that allows maximum one-on-one time, Olivia's has always been our favorite (it's Winnie The Pooh characters). We leave next week & have booked it again. When I asked if "there were any spots left " (my way of finding out how crowded since they won't tell you outright), they said there were "many, many spots open."

I know you'll enjoy it!

 

[JWollman]

Wow Thanks everyone for the great information!!!
I just booked our stay for January '07.

Thank for the info on the character breakfast- maybe my 20 month old would like something like that... I know my husband is a HUGE Pooh fan so that helps!

 

[dianeschlicht]

OOOPS, Bogus information above!!! OKW no longer has a character breakfast at Olivia's and hasn't for quite a few years.

No one mentioned the great sand play area near the main pool. That will be PERFECT for a 20 month old! Also, the buildings with elevators are 62, 63, and 64, but 63 is also a building with Gvs.

 

[spiceycat]

the only DVC resort with a character breakfast these days is BCV - BC has Goofy's beach blast.

Winnie the Pooh is at Crystal Palace in the MK.

 

[spiceycat]

I have a question about towels and blankets--since we are renting points from DVC member and not just regular guests if I need more towels is it a problem? (Truth be told sometimes I put them arond the crib rails so little one sleeps on and is not aware of surrounding chaos).

What is the charge if I'd like to add a day of housekeeping?

My other question has to do with how large this resort is--is everything walkable or will I be catching busses from point A to point B and will I catch on to this pretty quickly or am I doomed to sit on the corner and cry? :

Thanks!
Sarah

for extra towels there is a charge - towel package $6.00 4bath towels, 4 hand towels, 4 washclothes, 1 bath mat

for housekeeping
don't know what you have

studio - $25 per day requested
1-bedroom $ 30
2-bedroom $40

with 4 kids I would just take the bus. now you don't have to - nothing is more than 7 to 10 minutes away. but I think you can kept up with the kids better on the bus than walking...

all buses stop at HH before leaving. to get back to your room (if the internal bus doesn't come first) - walk over to Pennnisular road bus stop - it is the first stop that the bus makes and get back to your room that way (if needed)

I hope you got a 2-bedroom with 4 kids you are gonna need that space.

 

[Sarah]

Pat--

HA! You are so right, we definately have a 2 Bedroom villa. I know that Housekeeping will come once, on day 4 I believe? With 4 kids I should probably pay for the extra cleaning.

Thank you for the towel info. That seems reasonable enough. Will they also give me all this info at check-in?

I have actually chickened out a bit with the busses and rented a car. The gal at CRO was super friendly and thought it would be a good idea, which I had already been thinking, since the babes are 8,5,4,and 19 months.

I am actally stunned at what a great deal this is compared to 2 hotel rooms elsewhere without laundry and a fridge.

Any guesses as to the nearest Grocery?

Thanks!
Sarah

 

[castleri]

Pat--

HA! You are so right, we definately have a 2 Bedroom villa. I know that Housekeeping will come once, on day 4 I believe? With 4 kids I should probably pay for the extra cleaning.

Thank you for the towel info. That seems reasonable enough. Will they also give me all this info at check-in?

I have actually chickened out a bit with the busses and rented a car. The gal at CRO was super friendly and thought it would be a good idea, which I had already been thinking, since the babes are 8,5,4,and 19 months.

I am actally stunned at what a great deal this is compared to 2 hotel rooms elsewhere without laundry and a fridge.

Any guesses as to the nearest Grocery?

Thanks!
Sarah

If you rented through CRO I think you get mousekeeping every day- if you rented from a DVC member then you won't. You will get the cleaning/ trash towel days as indicated on the confirmation. The nearest grocery is probably Goodings but it is expensive- If you go out Hotel plaza to the end and turn left there is a WInn Dixie about 1/2- 3/4 mile down on the right. If you go out Hotel Plaza Blvd and take the right go under route 4 and take a left at the next light follow the road until you come to the outlets- take the first right past them and follow the road back to a Publix. These are basic instruction- ask at the OKW desk for more detailed ones. Have a great trip

 

[JWollman]

Sarah
I see you are from CT-- so are we- let me know how your trip goes-- especially with your little ones- our son will be 20 months when we travel down there.

 

[gopherit]

Ground floor at OKW is great with a baby, ESPECIALLY if you bring your own stroller. We took our (then 8 mos) dd and used one of those frames that snaps onto the bucket car seat thingy - that way, once we put her in her seat, we could snap off the stroller part to ride the bus without disturbing Her ROyal Highness. THen, we got off the bus, snapped on the stroller, and rolled her right on into the room! OUr boys were little at the time (ages 4 and 5) and it was so nice not having to worry about them managing stairs, etc, just being able to walk in/out (and also not worried about their little feet making noise for the folks that would have been below us, LOL.) We really liked it on the ground floor! In all cases at OKW we have gotten a villa by Turtle Pond, so I can't comment on other areas, but we have stayed enough times at Turtle Pond to say there's no bad room there, LOL! We have stayed in 4 of the buildings over there, in various rooms from studio to 2 br villa - it's all good. ANd the Turtle Pond pool is nice, too.

Can't figure out the Pooh B'fast post. I still remember going to that back in 1998... and then to the one over at AP in WL when it moved from Olivia's, around 1999. I really liked that latter one - not that there's anything wrong with Olivia's, but AP was just so cool! I wish more of the resorts would have a character meal like that - we like to spend a whole day just hanging out at the resort, and a character meal is even more fun when you're not rushing off to the parks. Oh well. If anyone has info to the contrary, speak up, we're OKW bound in just 2 weeks!

 

[Sarah]

Thanks for the grocery advice!

I will also check out info on the DVC board, as suggested. We are renting points, and it's a great deal! I hope that it goes well.

--JWollman--where in CT are you from? Leave me a PM and I'll tell you all abut travel with a little person!

Sarah

 

[SnowWitch]

We have never ventured to Disney during the early months of the year. However, we had to cancel our regular Dec visit because we will be waiting the arrival of a new baby. So we are considering OKW in late Feb. Will this be hard to book, we will have to look at either a 1-2 bedroom. Also what areas are best to request? We stayed in a studio just to get a look at the resort in June '05 over a weekend but have never really explored the resort. Being close to the main pool would be very nice. Also how are the parks this time of year and the weather?