OKW experts - First time questions.

[A1A1]

DF and his wife will be using my points to stay at OKW in this summer. She has never been to WDW before, and they both need a relaxing trip. The will *not* have a rental car. These are the things that are important in room request:

Water View
Top Floor
Close to Main Building because they will not have a car
Quiet!

Where/what building should I request for them?

Can they do this without a car? DF's wife has some trouble walking far, so I thought close to the main buildingwould be better for getting boat to DD and for dining. Some of the posts have mentioned a lot of noise from busses or something else. Where is this noisy section? Is it (of course) near the main building?
Is there such a thing as a water view that also overlooks the golf ?course

 

[DebbieB]

What size room? Studio? Most of the top floor rooms are 2 bedrooms. Check Doc's room survey for ideas:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146435

Map:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.jpg

I would suggest 23 to 26 (25 is smoking), we stayed in 26 and it was close to the main building but far enough away to be quiet. We were on the 2nd floor (1 bedroom 2621, studio next door was 2620), but there was no 3rd floor above us since we were on the end. We were on the end closest to 25 and there was both a pond and golf course green view. The Pennisular bus stop was close but we didn't hear busses. You may also want to look at 11 to 14 or 15,16,62,63,64.

 

[wdwsos]

would suggest 23 to 26 (25 is smoking), we stayed in 26 and it was close to the main building but far enough away to be quiet. We were on the 2nd floor (1 bedroom 2621, studio next door was 2620), but there was no 3rd floor above us since we were on the end. We were on the end closest to 25 and there was both a pond and golf course green view. The Pennisular bus stop was close but we didn't hear busses. You may also want to look at 11 to 14 or 15,16,62,63,64. [/B]

We just came back two weeks ago from a stay in 2620. Building 26 is one of our favorites for the above reasons. The only slight disappointment was that the view from the balcony was mostly of trees (about two feet away, not in the distance) and of the windows of unit 2621. (LOL..if you were in that unit recently, I was the woman on the balcony with the book and the big mug of coffee.) I think that the rest of Building 26 has a wonderful view, however.

I think that most buildings at the OKW are fairly quiet, except those right up close to the road. If your friend's wife has trouble walking long distances, even being near any of the bus stops should work (assuming they don't luck out with a building close to the HH). The buses stop at HH on the way out of the resort. Top floor will eliminate the risk of noisy upstairs neighbors, but if she has trouble with stairs, remember that only buildings 62, 63 and 64 have elevators.

Hope they love it! I have friends staying at the BCV in August, and I can't wait for their reaction.

 

[DebbieB]

(LOL..if you were in that unit recently, I was the woman on the balcony with the book and the big mug of coffee.)

No, it was May 2000.

We were in building 28 in May 2001, second floor. Not a good view, mostly trees.

We were in building 31 last month, first floor. Great view of a pond and golf course to the right. Liked this room the best. Lots of ducks and birds . We had a rental car so distance to the main building and bus stop was not an issue.

 

[Tootsietoo]

Originally posted by DebbieB


No, it was May 2000.

We were in building 28 in May 2001, second floor. Not a good view, mostly trees.

We were in building 31 last month, first floor. Great view of a pond and golf course to the right. Liked this room the best. Lots of ducks and birds . We had a rental car so distance to the main building and bus stop was not an issue.

We will be staying at OKW in three weeks and requested building 31 (because I had read it was quiet). I had not planned on renting a car on this trip and am now having second thoughts. Exactly how long a walk would it be to HH?

 

[LindaDVC]

I wish they had a bridge over the canal from around building 28/29 rather than having to waol up the road and around the area to the main pool!

We hadn't had a problem in the past but the last trip my DM often didn't go for an evening dip in the pool after walking the parks all day. She is in her 80's. Dad on the other hand walks 4 miles everyday and was anxious for his evening swim.

A bridge would certainly shorten the walk-- however know a lot of members don't want to add ANY expenses.

Linda

 

[PADVCmember@OKW]

Take a look at Building 21. Golf course view, short walk to quiet pool and bus stop. Can see fireworks over tree line nightly. We loved it.

 

[PamOKW]

Anyone who doesn't want to walk up to the front area can hop on the buses. Double-check as you board that they'll be stopping at HH before leaving (most of them do). Coming back, you can walk over to the Peninsular Road stop (across the road from the back pool area) and board the bus there. Once again, double-check that they'll be making your stop.

FYI, most, if not all, studios have their balconies adjacent to the living room windows of the one-bedroom unit next door. Not usually a problem, except late at night the one-bedroom folks should keep the blinds closed for those sleeping on the couch and the studio folk could try and keep voices low when out on the balcony.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Tootsietoo


We will be staying at OKW in three weeks and requested building 31 (because I had read it was quiet). I had not planned on renting a car on this trip and am now having second thoughts. Exactly how long a walk would it be to HH?

I would say between 5 and 10 minutes depending on your pace, not that far unless you have a health problem. It's right around the corner from Peninsular Road. We were in 3111, 1 bedroom. It's a small building, only 2 floors. The bus stop is only a short walk away.

 

[eva]

wdwsos, building 26 is one our favorites too. We love that area. It is usually peaceful, close to HH, and right next to the bus stop. It doesn't hurt that Pennisular is the first stop either. We have found that if a bus that we were looking for had just pulled out that it was easy enough to walk over to the HH to pick it up.

Lindadvc, it is funny that you mentioned a bridge being built in that area. We thought about the same thing on our last trip. We were in building 47 and 48 our last trip and by the time that we got to those buildings we were wishing that there was a bridge that cut across there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You can catch any bus back over to the Hospitality House since that is the last stop for all the buses, except the internal bus which is also used to DTD. That bus starts and stops at the Hospitality House.

Personally, I like Bldg 62 and 63. 64 doesn't have it's own parking lot, so you have to park as close as you can. Sometimes its a bit far. But these three bldgs all have an elevator to make it easier to get to the lower level. 63 has a great view of the golf course and the green surrounded by water. 62 has a great water view with a partial view of the gold course.

Both 62 and 63 are located on the corner of Miller Rd and Peninsular Rd, just opposite of the Hospitality House.

 

[DeeP]

however know a lot of members don't want to add ANY expenses.

So true, even if it is to better the resort. Such a shame.

 

[LindaDVC]

One time my son was about to miss the MK bus.
I told the family to load and I would catch up at the HH.
Luckily by the timeDH's w/c was loaded my son arrived.

Funny thing was the bus got full and they skipped the Miller Rd and HH stops!
Luckily we were all on the same bus because I had all the tickets !

I assume they radioed and told the next bus to get the Miller Rd and HH folks but not sure what actually happened. The bus was standing room only!

Linda

 

[Regina]

Since your DF's wife has problems walking, maybe top floor should be reconsidered. Three flights of stairs may be too much for her.

 

[A1A1]

Thank you everyone! The room will be a studio. I actually didn't know there were three floors. I thought there were only two. I will look at a map somewhere to get an idea where all these buildings are located.

I remember reading here that there were some rooms or buildings that were either refurbished or new. Are these better buildings for that reason? How do they differ in decor?

 

[PamOKW]

So true, even if it is to better the resort. Such a shame.

Building a bridge has never been presented as an option. One drawback would be that it would limit boat access on the canal, unless it was built very high....and then it would be steep and/or require steps up.

I can see where walking in the heat mid-summer could be a problem. However, I've never gone that time of year and have never had a problem walking, even from South Point. I always have a rental car but I don't use it within the resort.

 

[spiceycat]

Disney has long say that no bridge will be built - the members did not even have the option to vote on it - Disney says when OKW was being built - no bridge period.

some of the building only have 2 floors - if the building does not have a Grand Villa then it is 2 floors. you need to see Doc's plan - I like the building 55 - close to a swimming pool pretty close to a bus stop and it is 2 floors. I also like 18 (but it is 3 floors) - again close to a quiet pool and a bus stop.

the buses do not start when the others left off - believe me this is one of my complaints and the reason I wanted each bus to start at a different stop - for some reasons WDW transportation thinks that would be too hard for the bus drivers and came up with stopping first at different weeks at different stops (alot of good that does - but anything was better than the old plan - miller road - hh - pensicular road - south point - then old turtle pond road - hh - then to the parks - constantly) - this was great if you were staying on miller road but if you were staying on turtle pond - bus transportation??? Oh well at least they are trying to listen!