OKW Dilemma - Update #29

[joolz1910]

What would you do?
We are a family of 5, 2 adults and 3 kids (12,8,5) going to WDW next October. We booked a 2 bed villa at OKW for 2 weeks but now the 1 bed villas will accomodate 5, so we can change our booking and save around...£850.

If I was booking today, I wouldn't hesitate to book a 1 bed. We booked a 2 bed when there was no choice for parties of 5! Since booking, we have convinced ourselves that the extra space will be a huge bonus.

So, do we save the money or enjoy the luxury of the extra space???

 

[jharrowell]

I can't be specific as I don't have kids, but the thought that came to me is if you'd be happy with a 1 bedroom normally and you can save £850 then go for it!

I mean OKW has the largest floorspace of any of the DVC resorts, I've been in a 1 bedroom and it was huge! Both the living room & kitchen were as big as my place here in the UK.

I think you'd have no problem with 5 people in there, especially considering you'll probably spend most of your time out in the parks.

 

[higgy66]

Personally if I could easily afford it I would definitely go for the space and extra bedroom. However, if it meant saving the extra would be hard graft and we'd have to go without other things then I would consider the 1 bed.

Having said that I would always spend my money on better accommodation rather than say better airline seats such as PE so I would always vote for more space.

 

[dixonsontour]

If your oldest 2 aged 12 and 8 are happy to share a bed (the bed settee) then i'd go for the 1 bed if that is now letting you book for 5 people. Your little one can have the sleeper chair.

£850 is $1386 - a huge saving.

The 1 beds at OKW are big and you will still get the kitchen, laundry room etc.

 

[dixonsontour]

I'm in the room is only to sleep in camp meaning I was more than happy in a studio at OKW for the 3 of us - would cost about £500 to upgrade to a 1 bed.

I'd rather put £500 to the next trip!

A 2 bed would give you 2 bathrooms though - not sure how many you have at home - if you are used to more than one you may be more comfortable in a 2 bed.

The saving will cover your spends though.

 

[fairytale]

Hiya Juliette.

We are a family of 6, DH & myself, DS10, DS9, DS6 and DD4.

We, unlike yourself, do not have the option of staying in one of the one Bed villa's due to our occupancy and have therefore stayed in the 2 Bed's for the past 2 years, however if I could stay in one of the one Bed's I would jump at the chance. I have even asked Disney direct if we could book a 1 Bed but to be honest, because of how the offer works with the Free Dining etc.. it would end up costings as much having to then add an extra person, plus they wouldnt allow it anyway.

Honestly, you will have more than enough space and lets be honest its only a place to lay your head In our 2 Bed last year we had 2 Queen Beds in one room, 1 Queen in an other room and a Sofa Bed in the lounge for more than half the holiday we all bunked in the one room in the 2 Queen Beds.

 

[joolz1910]

Thanks for your replies. I think £850 is a lot of money too - it would cover our spending money. I think it would be the 8 and 5 year old sharing and the 12 year old on the sleeper-chair. I would usually spend more on accommodation / space but is it worth £850 more? I'm just not sure.

I wouldn't want to compromise the enjoyment of the holiday by penny-pinching but it's a lot of pennies for an extra bedroom. Will we spend enough time in the villa? Will eldest DD end up sleeping in the living-room anyway if we have a 2 bed? Having never been before, it is so difficult to judge.

Decisions decisions....

 

[joolz1910]

Hiya Juliette.

We are a family of 6, DH & myself, DS10, DS9, DS6 and DD4.

We, unlike yourself, do not have the option of staying in one of the one Bed villa's due to our occupancy and have therefore stayed in the 2 Bed's for the past 2 years, however if I could stay in one of the one Bed's I would jump at the chance. I have even asked Disney direct if we could book a 1 Bed but to be honest, because of how the offer works with the Free Dining etc.. it would end up costings as much having to then add an extra person, plus they wouldnt allow it anyway.

Honestly, you will have more than enough space and lets be honest its only a place to lay your head In our 2 Bed last year we had 2 Queen Beds in one room, 1 Queen in an other room and a Sofa Bed in the lounge for more than half the holiday we all bunked in the one room in the 2 Queen Beds.

I'm starting to be swayed towards the 1 bed! Sounds like it would be OK. We are not a family who could cope with being in 1 hotel room with each other for 2 weeks but with two rooms....

 

[dixonsontour]

Have a look at the OKW villa pictures - there are some in the dvc section on the DIS.

There is also an OKW fact sheet on allears.

Bed sizes are referred to by their US name but the beds we had in the studio (what would be your bed 2) were 2 UK kingsized beds and I think the bed in a 1 bed is a UK super king size - 6ft.

 

[joolz1910]

Have a look at the OKW villa pictures - there are some in the dvc section on the DIS.

There is also an OKW fact sheet on allears.

Bed sizes are referred to by their US name but the beds we had in the studio (what would be your bed 2) were 2 UK kingsized beds and I think the bed in a 1 bed is a UK super king size - 6ft.

I've had a look at the floor plans. Does that mean that the sofa bed in the living-room would be a UK king size? It says it's a double. The budget-freak in me is already thinking what I could buy with £850 and planning on exhausting the kids every day so they are too tired to bicker lol.

 

[dixonsontour]

All ears says sofa bed in a 1 bed is queensize

US queensize is UK kingsize as far as I know. Hopefully someone who has slept on the bed settee can confirm.

My vote is for the 1 bed - the saving is huge!

 

[Floridian Princess]

All ears says sofa bed in a 1 bed is queensize

US queensize is UK kingsize as far as I know. Hopefully someone who has slept on the bed settee can confirm.

My vote is for the 1 bed - the saving is huge!

Hi we,family of 4 stayed at OKW last year in a one bedroom our 2 shared the sofa bed which I would say was only a uk queen so suitable for 2 children of 8 and 5.The living area is roomy and I agree that the 1 bedroom will be big enough now they have chair bed for your 12 year old.the villas are really nice and it is just brilliant having the kitchen,laundry room and 2 basins in the loo area,we are going next July as we had the best time last year and I am a GF kind of a girl!

 

[dishguy1977]

I would definitely go with the 1 bedroom as well. The rooms are very big and your kids would be quite comfortable with the "pull out sofa bed" and sleeper chair. The 2 bdrm would give you an extra bathroom but if I recall correctly the bathroom in the 1bdrm is divided up so someone could be getting showered with the door closed and others would still have access to the sink area.

 

[cornish pixie]

Hi we are off to OKW next year 4 of us 2 adults and our 2 girls who will be 16 and 15 at time of travel so not littleuns but we are going with a studio. As much as I would like to go for a 1 bedroom the amount of time we will spend in there compared to the amount of money it will cost us doesn't add up. We would rather have the extra money to spend or like a fellow poster said put it towards another trip makes much more sense when when you put it like that. Im sure whatever you do it will be right for you and you will have an amazing time I just can't believe that we are staying on Disney property with free dining
Have Fun
Cornish Pixie

 

[mackay_j]

Hi we are off to OKW next year 4 of us 2 adults and our 2 girls who will be 16 and 15 at time of travel so not littleuns but we are going with a studio. As much as I would like to go for a 1 bedroom the amount of time we will spend in there compared to the amount of money it will cost us doesn't add up. We would rather have the extra money to spend or like a fellow poster said put it towards another trip makes much more sense when when you put it like that. Im sure whatever you do it will be right for you and you will have an amazing time I just can't believe that we are staying on Disney property with free dining
Have Fun
Cornish Pixie

Snap- we are a family of 4 with two girls aged 19 and 15 when we go. I could not justify the 1 bed, as it would take the free dining saving away and we would be as well in the villa we usualy go too and eat out less. The money saved will cover spending money, or pay for an overnight in universal if we can afford it when the time comes- eldest at uni now (2nd year) and funds are slipping thro' our finger faster than we can fill them- so free dining really made this years trip possible so I can't throw that saving away.

I figured that as they are now older, they might stay on in the parks (together or killed on return) when my energy runs out so DH and I will go back to the room or go to the pool for a few hrs away time so that were are not on top of each other for the whole 14 days. - hope my plan works

 

[cornish pixie]

Snap- we are a family of 4 with two girls aged 19 and 15 when we go. I could not justify the 1 bed, as it would take the free dining saving away and we would be as well in the villa we usualy go too and eat out less. The money saved will cover spending money, or pay for an overnight in universal if we can afford it when the time comes- eldest at uni now (2nd year) and funds are slipping thro' our finger faster than we can fill them- so free dining really made this years trip possible so I can't throw that saving away.

I figured that as they are now older, they might stay on in the parks (together or killed on return) when my energy runs out so DH and I will go back to the room or go to the pool for a few hrs away time so that were are not on top of each other for the whole 14 days. - hope my plan works

when there grown up So to speak staying in the studio with the free dining like you said makes it such a great deal if it was just the 2 of us in a studio it wouldn't be such a saving equally if it was 4 of us in a 1 bedroom the saving goes down I think I've got that right !!!
Im sure your Plan will work all tips appreciated !!
Cornish Pixie

 

[robinb]

The 1-bedrooms at OKW are HUGE. I would save the money and allow your kids to fight over who will get the sleeper chair .

 

[crabbie1]

We have stayed in a studio with 3 and this year a one bedroom.The only reason we are having the one bedroom is that my mom is going and me and DB would like a bit of privacy occassionalyotherwise if it were 2 adults and 2 kids I would still book a studio.Have stayed in a savannah studio at AKL and a studio at SSR and OKW is the biggest. I would save your money and use it for spending. You will loose each other in a 2 bedroom and no doubt you will all gather in the lounge anyway and the kids can fall asleep watching the TV. Sofa bed is a bit bigger than a double so a queen. Let us know how you get on

 

[joolz1910]

me and DB would like a bit of privacy occassionaly

*sigh* we would all like a bit of 'privacy' on holiday but I doubt we will get any.

Thanks for all of your replies. I'm pretty sure we will go for the 1 bed and put the £850 towards spends. Will update once I've done it!

 

[orangetiggs]

This isvreally good, next year we wanna take mil so 3adults and thectins who will be 2 and didnt fancy the 2 bed price