OKW and baby questions, any advice?

[MelissathePooh]

I'll probably make this longer than it needs to be, sorry. Melissa and I are taking our three-month old baby boy to wdw in April. Originally, we planned to arrive on Sunday the 18th, and we booked a studio for wlv until the 24th. but the airfare was a lot better on Sat. the 17th, so we made the ticket for that day thinking we would add on a Sat. night. Woah, a studio at wlv was 43 points that night, so we got a room at carribean beach for the one night. Our Aunt and my mother-in-law were going to meet us, and they got a regular hotel room at the wilderness lodge (for comparision sake, this was a woods view room for Sat. 4/17 - Sat. 4/23 for $1488, including tax - the studio at wlv was 145).

At first we thought a studio would be adequate for just the two of us and the baby, because the baby sleeps in the room with us in a bassinet, so the pack and play could fit in the area in front of the sofa just fine in the studio. But then we realized that we could really use the dishwasher and washer and dryer. And even though our baby sitters, I mean Aunt and Mother, would be close at hand at the wilderness lodge, it would be really nice to have them close by. But there weren't any openings anymore for one or two bedrooms at wilderness lodge.

We were able to find an opening for a two bedroom at old key west. OK, that will be fine, they are roomy and the points are less. We booked the five days from Sunday-Friday for 150 points. OK that is great. But Sat. night the 17th was 100 points. Ouch. And the next Fri. and Sat. night the 23-24 were 73 points each. Yikes. So I knew that DVC sometimes offered cash discounts, and they were available at $510 each night, plus tax. Through the regular CRO phone number, a two bedrooms at OKW was available at OKW for each of the weekend nights for $496, including tax. So it was a lot better to go through CRO (about $5 per point that first night). So the three nights were about the same as our relatives were paying for the 7 nights at wilderness lodge. So that sounded pretty good. Because they were split up days, we had to make two separate reservations through CRO, one for April 17, one for April 23-24.

Now, here we get to some questions. Because two of the reservations were from regular disney hotel CRO, and the middle was from member services on points, we can't "link them up." They made a note of it in our reservation, but we can't guarentee it. I'm wondering if anyone has been in this sort of situation and how it turned out for you, and if there was any sort of advice you have.

I'm kind of wondering if we should just do the first night at a moderate or something like the carribean beach if we might have to move anyway, then do the five days and second weekend in old keywest - I guess I'm wondering if matching up one link like that might be easier than matching two. I can't decide if it would be easier to move from a different resort (and save a couple hundred bucks) or just from old key west. If we have to check out before 11 and check in after 4 that would be a while without a room - never been a problem before, but with the baby could be hard.

Second, does Old Key West do the thing where the first person there in the morning gets first choice on room avialability, then the second person, and so on?

If so, wouldn't it be the case that if we showed up at 6 or so we would be pretty much guarenteed to stay in the same room? Just show up as soon as they open and say "I'm first today, and I want room X?"

Another question. With the baby, we will mostly do magic kingdom. We are just planning on taking it slow, not really worried about seeing anything in particular, just hanging out. We will miss the boat from WLV to Magic Kingdom. We'll have one car though. We usually just always take wdw transportation. It seems to me that for MK it would be better to just take the bus than drive, because you'd still have to take the monorail if you drove. I'm wondering if people who usually drive agree with that or if they just drive to MK?

Also, any advice on strollers and babies and busses? Easier in the car despite the monorail ride?

Any general advice about old key west and babies? As I said, we are pretty laid back about disney trips anyway, and this is mostly just to hang out and see relatives, not to try to do anything in the park exactly.

One last thing, both my Aunt and mother in law are a little stair way impaired - will it be tough to get a first floor room at okw (we requested it) - and will that make it tougher to link up the three reservations?

Thanks for any advice,
DR

 

[bub]

I think you will love the space, the washer dryer, and the kitchen at OKW with the new baby. It will be nice for your relatives to be able to hang out together in the room. Also, the ease of getting from your car to your room is great at OKW, since we all know that the smaller the child, the more stuff they require.

In my experience, you should not have to move rooms. We did this once at the BWV, with a Sun. - Fri. on points, a weekend paid, and another Sun. - Fri. on points. We did have to stop by the desk and check in and out but we did not have to move. I think they will do all that they can to leave you in the same space - for one thing, it will be easier on housekeeping if you don't move. I understand that they cannot guarantee this, but it is unlikely that they will make you move at all. If you're not worried about the extra $$, I would vote for the whole stay at OKW - that would be most relaxing for you.

As for strollers and buses - lots of people make this work. I've done it with 2 umbrella strollers - I guess you will have a heavier stroller with such a little one, but I've seen people do this without a problem - you need one person with the baby, and one with the folded stroller. It is easier to take the bus to the MK from OKW - otherwise you need to go to the TTC and do the monorail. You are captive on the bus, which can be uncomfortable if your baby starts crying, but this will sound worse to you than to others, I am sure.

Hope you have a relaxing trip!

 

[adam185]

DR,

I can't really help you on the first part of your question (we are new DVC Members), but I can tell you my preferences for the 2nd. We took our 4 month old to WDW. We stayed on-property (WL) and always took the car, even to MK. In past trips with friends and strollers, it has been very difficult to fold and unfold a standard stroller and being that little, an umbrella stroller really won't do. This will also help the family, as you said, they tend to move slowly and have trouble with stairs. Since you are staying on property, you won't have to pay for parking and the car makes for a very convenient get-away. It is also easier to haul all of the things that you will have to haul. Furthermore. we tend to take the boat over to MK. This tends to be less crowded and easier to manuever the stroller.

Just my opinion.

T-45 hours til we leave for HHI!!!!

...Adam

 

[Disney Doll]

If you were going to change anything, I would stay at a moderate the first night, move to OKW the second night and then try and link the last two nights to the previous 5. I think it will be easier to make one link(week + weeknd#2) than 3 links (weekend night #1+week+weekend #2). I would call both Member Services and the hotel directly and explain your dilemma, so everyone has a clear understanding. They are usually pretty good about linking whenever possible, but they never guarantee that if you have more than 1 reservation that you will keep the same unit the whole time. DH and I are going in May to the BCV. For the first 2 nights, we have a 1BR unit, then SIL & BIL are joining us, so we go a 2BR for the last 3 nights. We are hoping to get a 1BR with a lock-off and then just gain access to the lock-off when the 2BR reservation starts, but that is not guaranteed.

If your older relatives have trouble with stairs, then either request a first floor unit or a building with an elevator(OKW has 3 buildings with elevators...they are the buildings numbered in the 60's if you look on the resort map and are nicely located close to the main check-in,restaurant,gift shop,pool area). Tell them it is for medical reasons...difficulty walking...and you should be fine.

Bus vs. car depends on how much "stuff" you lug. I am all for "travelling light", but that can be harder with a baby. If you can keep it to an umbrella stroller and a backpack, then by all means take the bus. It drops you off closer to the gate, and avoids that boat or monrail ride in with the masses. For some reason, as we are filing onto the monorail or bus at the TTC, I always feel like I should be "mooing".

PS-Check your PM box!!!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Building 64 is one of the buildings with elevators at OKW. It is the only building without its own parking area, which means a little longer walk to/from parking. Also, building 64 and 63 face the 7th hole of the golf course. This gives a great viwe, but you also get all the equipment for grooming the greens every morning at about 6:30am. It didn't really bother us, but we did hear it every day. If you've got a baby who is very sensitive to noise you might want to just ask for first floor.

 

[Lesley]

As far as babies, busses and strollers.....most strollers that are suitable for small babies aren't particularly bus friendly. When we took our older dd at 6mo we just carried her....using a baby sling ( I like my maya wrap....). Our 5yo used the stroller. If you don't have older kids its also one less thing to lug. We had just hit the point of not always having to take a stroller with us for the older kids...and I'm not keen on lugging it with us everywhere again. With the sling all you need is a bag big enough for your own stuff and a few diapers...and you're good to go. We do always carry a backpack if we'll be in the parks more than an hour or two.

We'll be taking our new one in May using the same system...4yo sister in the stroller (when and if she wants it), baby in the sling. With 2 adults (or more) its not really an issue to carry the baby.

We usually use WDW transportation....but especially to the MK. If you don't you still have to drive, then take a tram, then take the ferry or monorail.

I suggest that while baby is still young take the chance to do the things you like to do....once baby is bigger you'll have plenty of time to ride Dumbo repeatedly...in fact your toddler may insist upon it in a year or two!

 

[MelissathePooh]

Thanks everyone for all the good informaiton and advice. I think we've committed to sticking with the three reservations at old key west and hoping for the best. After all, even if we have to move it can't be that bad really.

Leslie - we have a Baby Bjorn and another carrier like that. Melissa has a sling somehwere as well. We were planning on using those some days, but I was thinking that some days a stroller might be nice too. Like one day we were going to eat at Tony's, and that is pretty much all we plan to do that day at a park - the stroller would be nice to have with the car carrier for Holden to sit at the restaurant. That sort of thing. I can see that something like the swing will be a good way to go. You know, I hadn't thought about doing things now because a toddler won't want to wait - good advice. So we'll probably just go with the flow and learn as we go. We are learning a lot from y'alls past experince - thanks! - and we'd love to hear any more good advices out there-

DR

 

[lenshanem]

I second the Baby Bjorn, no other baby carrier will do. After trying two other brands I bought the Bjorn and it is wonderful. I had a garage sale and it was the first thing to sell!

 

[jodifla]

With our son, who has been going to WDW since he was 5 months old, we drive everywhere but the MK, where we take the bus. Everyone is pretty amenable to strollers. I just would grab the baby and his backpack, while DH folded up the stroller. As long as there's more than one of you, it's not bad at all.

The thing about driving to the TTC is that you still have to fold up the stroller to ride the tram. If you have to do that, you might as well take the bus and go directly to the MK.

OKW has DVDs now, so bring your child's favorites (DS has been hooked on Baby Einstein since he was 6 weeks old!)

We also used the pack and play, and put it in the laundry room of the 2 bedroom unit. It just fits, and provides DS with his own room (and more importantly, us with our own room!)

Have a great trip!

 

[danicaw]

We took our 7 month old this last Jan/Feb and moved around more than I wanted to - I was worried how our DS would deal with it.
We started by spending the first night off Prop at the BW by Downtown Disney - we met family there. Then we all moved to OKW. We stayed in a 2-bedroom with my Mom in the 2nd bedroom.
This worked wonderfully. The large master bedroom has plenty of room and DS slept in the Pack-n-Play in there with us. We also liked that the laundry room was connected to the Master bedroom without making us go through the main area of the unit, for those laundry emergencies you sometimes have with little ones.
We were in a building with elevators...it was great to have that option since we sometimes had a stroller with us.
I was having back pain after a few days of changing and dressing him on the bed, so hubby created a changing station on top of the dryer. We had a nice thick changing pad with us that we set on top and the shelves in the laundry room were great for holding the wipes, diapers, etc. Plus dirty clothes could go right into the washer. Just keep a hand on your little guy as the dryer has no rails. This saved my back.
We took a full size stroller and a baby bjorn carrier. We used both every day. The carrier we used more once we got into the park, if he was awake we would carry him with that and just walk onto the rides, it worked well.
Most resturaunts let us just roll the stoller in by the table.
We loved the baby care centers. They are wonderful quite, clean, and friendly places to feed, diaper, sit or whatever. I didn't get to see the one at the Studios, but they are great.
We drove about half the time...meaning on our morning trip to the parks we would bus then after his afternoon nap in the room we would drive back.
He ended up taking one nap in his stoller and one back in the room each day. It worked out well.
After 5 days at OKW with all our DS's grandparents we said goodbye to them and moved to a studio VWL, I missed the space at OKW, but it worked fine.
And of course the little guy took all the moving in stride.
I hope some of this helps. Sounds like you do Disney the way we like to - laid back, it works well with baby.
Have a great time.