OKW - Can't wait

[BigredNole]

We just booked OKW for 7-nights in December. We have wanted to try staying here but prices kept us out. A deal fell into our laps and we jumped on it. 8 days of Disney, 7 nights at OKW, 3 RT flights, and 1 night at an MCO hotel came to $1,200. How could I turn it down?

With that said, I had to start looking for information. There was no "official" OKW thread. I will be using the Search function to find posts about the resort. I am already preparing myself for the one thing I hate about being onsite and without a car: Disney Buses. I know the resort is large and buses will be "slow". Going in knowing that, it won't be much of a bother.

The things I need to start gathering info on:
1. What area/bldg to try to request
2. The park bus route
3. The internal bus route (DTD bus)
4. Whether to bring breakfast groceries or Uber. The beer/wine run alone will save me a ton.

That's about it for now. Have to see what else comes to mind.

 

[Hopefully]

Check out this link from the DVC Resorts Forum
https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-dvc-resource-center.3442066/#post-54308689

 

[BigredNole]

Thanks for the information. Lots of good info there. One bit of information that I have not found (yet) is with room towels. I know we do not get Mousekeeping until Day 4 of the trip. However, in a Studio we do not have a washer and dryer. I do not use a towel more than twice without it being washed and that is with my own towels. At a resort or hotel, I do not like to use them more than once.

My question is how do we replenish the towels with fresh ones? I do not plan on walking to a laundry facility to wash the resort's towels.

 

[SL6827]

That's an awesome deal. Congrats are in order!

 

[Amanda999]

Are you staying cash or on points? IIRC the housekeeping is different (if cash, then daily like non-DVC resorts).

 

[BigredNole]

Points.

 

[Chrelaine]

This one if informative, too. https://www.disboards.com/threads/okw-lovers-thread-part-2.3113113/

We loved OKW. It was our first stay.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks for the information. Lots of good info there. One bit of information that I have not found (yet) is with room towels. I know we do not get Mousekeeping until Day 4 of the trip. However, in a Studio we do not have a washer and dryer. I do not use a towel more than twice without it being washed and that is with my own towels. At a resort or hotel, I do not like to use them more than once.

My question is how do we replenish the towels with fresh ones? I do not plan on walking to a laundry facility to wash the resort's towels.

You either reuse your towels for four days or you pay for additional towels (a towel pack is $6 for four bath towels, two hand towels, four face cloths and a tub mat) or additional room cleaning.

 

[Kaytie]

You can pay for more frequent trash and towel service.
You could approach a housekeeper outside and ask for more towels.
There are free washers and dryers at the pools, so you can wash and dry your existing towels.

 

[Deb & Bill]

approach a housekeeper outside and ask for more towels.
There are free washers and dryers at the pools, so you can wash and dry your existing towels.

No free towels. It's a timeshare and points stays mean nothing is free for you.

 

[BigredNole]

Thanks for the info. I will pay the $6 for the extra towels most likely and plan a load of laundry. From what I read, the laundry facilities are complimentary for studio guests. Since I wake up at the crack of stupid, this should not be an issue. I will just go down and drop a load in early in the morning, do some work, and have fresh towels.

 

[sharadoc]

Do you have children? We like Turtle Pond, there's a quiet pool and basic QS there for meals and mug refills if you decide to do that. Bus stop is an easy walk and being in the middle of the resort, you are always the "middle" pick up or drop off. I recommend buildings 41-44 if you have a choice/request option. You don't have to use your room towels for the pool, there's towels at the pool for you to use.

We love it there - enjoy your trip, I am envious!

 

[BigredNole]

My DD is 11. She will want the main pool simply because of the games and activities they put on there. I'll eventually find out what section we want to be in. This will be the first trip in a long time without a kitchen. We are doing a lot of table meals on our trip in 11 days. This trip will be breakfast items in the room and QS meals the rest of the time. We can usually share a QS meal.

 

[steg]

Thanks for the information. Lots of good info there. One bit of information that I have not found (yet) is with room towels. I know we do not get Mousekeeping until Day 4 of the trip. However, in a Studio we do not have a washer and dryer. I do not use a towel more than twice without it being washed and that is with my own towels. At a resort or hotel, I do not like to use them more than once.

My question is how do we replenish the towels with fresh ones? I do not plan on walking to a laundry facility to wash the resort's towels.

I bring a couple up from the pool, not the nicest but they get the job done.

 

[steg]

@BigredNole You should also be the first drop off on DME if you're using it, every time we've stayed at SSR the order has always been OKW, SSR, Port Orleans

 

[BigredNole]

Right now we are planning on using DME from MCO. We are flying in the night before and will need to get it scheduled the next morning. I will have to find an early arriving flight to use. We would probably arrive back at MCO the next morning around 6:30AM. It use to be a lot easier to find flight arrival information. Not so much any more. I will get that part figured out because it should not be an issue.

 

[bffdisney]

I would stay close to the main building if possible! First and last bus stop if I remember correctly! Also you can take the bus or the boat to DTD

 

[2forMe]

Wow... Awesome deal... I cannot even get 3 plane tickets for that price. I am sure you will enjoy the resort... I like the theming.

 

[BigredNole]

Thanks. This is the first time flying since 2012. That was the last year we got great RT flight deals. I think we paid $49 each way. We were all still coming out of the recession then. These were all $78 each way on SWA. The only reason I could book any of it is that we received a bonus at work. Covered this trip and some of the expenses for the trip around the corner.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I would stay close to the main building if possible! First and last bus stop if I remember correctly! Also you can take the bus or the boat to DTD

Hospitality House is the last bus stop. Peninsula Road is the first. Villas near HH are a separate booking category - Bldg 11 thru 14 and 23 thru 26.