OKW food choices

[WDWDad]

How many of you think that OKW needs a refurbishment in the food/restaurant/bar area?

After our last trip I noticed how nice some other resorts have become in the past few years. POFQ and Carribean were both different and in MHO improved over our last visits there. The choices and presentation of the food was excellent. I love eating at Goods, I believe Olivia's is an excellent restaurant and particularly well suited to OKW. We do not visit there often because the menu just doesn't appeal to the whole family. I do not believe that the store offers enough in the way of prepared foods/ Deli type foods. The do a good job in the space provided but that space is the size a large walk in closet. The bar (Gurguling suitcase) is way to small. I get clausterphobic just looking in from outside. Personally, I would love to see a themed food area similiar to POFQ. Great choices and well done utilizing a minimum of serving space.

What about it? Does anyone else have a desire to see things change & improve, or are we as members resistant to change of any kind?

 

[Uncleromulus]

I don't believe a food court and a restaurant could exist side by side at OKW. IF they did a food court, I think Olivias would have to go.
And since we rarely eat at food courts, that'd be bad news for me.

I wonder tho--if this new slide at OKW will attract/keep more folks at the main pool than previously--will that inspire expansion of Goods or the Suitcase??

 

[lovesdisney]

I must admit that DH and I have stayed at OKW a number of times and each time DH says that OKW would be perfect if the bar area was larger/ like a real bar, but then OKW is not our home resort so I guess costs come into play here.

 

[patmcg]

I do not believe a new restaurant or any change to Olivia's is warranted. Speaking for my family and myself, we are perfectly satisfied with the selection of food at OKW.

There are plenty of restaurants around WDW if someone would like a change in atmosphere or menu.

I would be affraid that any change would make OKW more of an attraction to non-DVC memebers and spoil the "home" feeling that we now enjoy.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Let's remember OKW is a home away from home resort with units the size of many homes. There are no outside customers to OKW either like some of the other DVC areas so any attempt to have a larger bar or some kind of (god forbid) food court would not be warranted.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by WDWDad
I do not believe that the store offers enough in the way of prepared foods/ Deli type foods. The do a good job in the space provided but that space is the size a large walk in closet.

If the store is typical of your walk in closets, I'd hate to have to clean your house! Ok, the food area isn't exactly huge, but it's not designed to be a supermarket and they do carry the basics.

Having previously stated we don't consider WDW a food destination and since I enjoy cooking and don't always get to do so at home, I have no problems with the size or offerings of the food venues at OKW. I can see the slide attracting more families to the main pool, so the Suitcase could probably become too small for the larger gathering of people, but there is some room to work on that in the pool area...perhaps an extra stand. :

-Joe

 

[Chuck S]

I like Olivia's and Good's just as they are, and I have never visited the bar area. (Not that I never have alcohol, but I just don't partake very often).

One change I would lke to see, though I dont know how they'd accomplish it without carpeting Olivia's, would be to cut down on the overall "sound" echo when it is busy. I certainly understand that the tile is much easier and more cost efficient to clean. Maybe some different fabrics in the draperies or furnishings would help muffle the sound?

But overall, I am pleased with the menu & service at Olivia's & Good's and I don't think they need any sort of major rehab.

 

[beccasmom]

OKW is our home resort and we love it just the way it is. We often eat at Olivia's, though mostly for lunch. It is less expensive then, the menu offerings are varied, portions are more than adequate and we can often go with just a light snack for dinner if we eat late enough. I must admit that I do get a craving for pizza, but we head over to Animal Kingdom Lodge for that….their food court, Mara, has fantastic pizza (or we order from Pizza Hut). Between doing some light cooking in our "home", eating at Olivia's and eating at some of the park restaurants or other resorts, we hit a happy medium most of the time.

 

[spiceycat]

Olivia when it first opened was much smaller - so first they took the herb garden (I still miss it) - next they took most of the lounge area. Suitcases. Until that bar is completely full (which I have never seem) don't expect it to get bigger - most people take their drinks outside or to the pool with them....

Goody's does enough business that it will stay.

are the pictures back up in Olivia's and the community hall????

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by beccasmom
I must admit that I do get a craving for pizza, but we head over to Animal Kingdom Lodge for that….their food court, Mara, has fantastic pizza (or we order from Pizza Hut).

Are you implying Mara's pizza is like Pizza Hut's? If so, thanks for the warning.

Until you posted, I never realized I have never missed pizza while at OKW.

-Joe

 

[dianeschlicht]

We like Olivia's, and is a great inexpensive place to go when we don't want to cook in or don't have a fancier reservation. I think it is perfect for a home-away-from-home timeshare resort. It does get a bit busy at noon, so I think it could be a bit larger. The store area is about the same as at any other DVC resort in both selection and prce. We usually grocery shop on the way from the airport, so no need to worry about it unless we need to pick up extra milk or that late night Mickey Bar snack! I suspect the pool rehab will effect Gurgling Suitcase as well as the excersise and community rooms. I can see this whole area being reworked along with the pool. Olivia's was just done last year, so I doubt that will get another facelift so soon. No, the pictures are not up again. They have some out on the porch type room, but that is all.

 

[shelbyjosh]

Too bad they couldn't put another food venue (restaurant, food court, etc) where that useless deck is by the volleyball area. Nobody is ever down there when we check it out. To us that area is a waste of space. We don't particularly care for Olivia's. Good's works best for us. I personally like that little bar. I think it is small and cozy!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by shelbyjosh
Too bad they couldn't put another food venue (restaurant, food court, etc) where that useless deck is by the volleyball area. Nobody is ever down there when we check it out. To us that area is a waste of space. We don't particularly care for Olivia's. Good's works best for us. I personally like that little bar. I think it is small and cozy!

When was the last time you tried Olivia's? We didn't like it at first either, but the last few trips it has been great! very fresh food and much better preparation than earlier.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
When was the last time you tried Olivia's? We didn't like it at first either, but the last few trips it has been great! very fresh food and much better preparation than earlier.

I must admit, when the resort first opened, Olivia's was great, then it kind of hit a snag, but the last couple of years it has been wonderful again.

 

[colleen costello]

We love Olivia's and think it is just great that you can get a tableo n short notice. We usually have it as our "back up plan" when we are too lazy to go do a character meal or eat at another resort. We enjoy all three meals there.

I wish the selection at the pool snack bars was a bit better. These places are convenient for lunch, but only if there is something everyone wants to order in the first place!

 

[madcoco]

We love Olivia's and OKW the way it is as well, but what happened to the Key Lime Smoothies? The restaurant has come a long way. I did have the 1st subpar meal in quite a while there before the 4th. Ordered the Mahi Mahi over warm field greens. The greens were good but the fish was a very thin filet that was overcooked and could not be cut. Did not look like Mahi Mahi. Unusual as it was always good in the past. Oh well the Key Lime Tart made up for it.

 

[WDWDad]

" If the store is typical of your walk in closets, I'd hate to have to clean your house "



I was referring only to the portion of the store which is dedicated to food only.