OKW Grand Villa Questions

[rstackjd]

We just got home(to our real home) from our trip HOME to AKV - more on that later - wish we were still there.

But while we were there we took a little boat ride to OKW to have a look around. We are planning a GV trip for the whole family in August of next year. While we would love to do it at AKV, with banking and borrowing we can only do 5 nights with our points, while we could do 6 at OKW.

Some specific quetions - OKW is HUGE and appears to be very spread out - we'll have 8 adults and 4 children, all under 9 at the time of the trip, and one of them still in a stroller. How hard is it to get around OKW? How is the bus service?It looks like such a beautiful property that I'm sure we'd enjoy the resort and the pool and common areas, but getting around is a concern.

Second, since OKW is not our home resort, we can only book at the 7 month window. Looking at the "availabilty" thread on this site, it looks like getting a GV at OKW at the 7 month mark won't be an issue, but sinec that's all member reported, it's hard to say - so I'll ask the question this way - has any ever NOT been able to get a GV at OKW at the 7 month mark?

Any advice from OKW veterans will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You know that at OKW only three buildings have elevators (they are pretty much reserved for medical needs) and the rest have stairs, right?

If you are trying for weekday nights, it may be hard since everyone thinks like you. OKW GV is way fewer points, let's get it at 7 months out. Make sure you book your home resort at 11 months out (get a two bedroom and a studio for fewer points). Then at 7 months see what is available. If nothing is available, at least you'll have something at your home resort instead. Weekend nights often show up (lot more points and not the bargain as the rest of the week).

As for the availability thread, I wouldn't use that as concrete. It's only what some members on the DIS provide and that is hardly the majority of members.

 

[Chuck S]

And there only (I think) 27 GVs at OKW. Maybe a couple more, I don't know if the 27 includes the ones in bldgs 62, 63 & 64.

 

[RobDoc]

...
Some specific quetions - OKW is HUGE and appears to be very spread out - we'll have 8 adults and 4 children, all under 9 at the time of the trip, and one of them still in a stroller. How hard is it to get around OKW? How is the bus service?It looks like such a beautiful property that I'm sure we'd enjoy the resort and the pool and common areas, but getting around is a concern.

OKW is pretty easy to get around. Every bus stops at HH before leaving the resort for it's real destination and there is an "internal" bus that stops at HH before going to all of the other stops. It is a about a 15 minute walk from the furthest building back to HH and many buildings are within a 5 minute walk. The buses to the parks and DD run about every 20 minutes all day long - and are often more frequent than that.

Second, since OKW is not our home resort, we can only book at the 7 month window. Looking at the "availabilty" thread on this site, it looks like getting a GV at OKW at the 7 month mark won't be an issue, but sinec that's all member reported, it's hard to say - so I'll ask the question this way - has any ever NOT been able to get a GV at OKW at the 7 month mark?

Any advice from OKW veterans will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

There are a total of 27 GVs at OKW including those in buildings 62 - 64 with elevators. There is also one in Building 48 withground floor access to the first level of the GV. The other 23 all enter on the 2nd floor of their building. None of the GVs at OKW have elevator access to the 2nd floor of the GV. Weekends are usually very available much of the year within 7 months but weekdays can be more challenging, especially when owners at other resorts are all competing at 7 months for the few GVs not already reserved by OKW owners.

As already suggested, I'd make a reservation at your home resort 11 months ahead and then see what might be available at 7 months for OKW. You may find something available.

Here is a link to some information about OKW.

Good luck!

 

[melk]

We stayed at a GV at OKW with 5 adults and 5 children and no issues getting around the resort. We were within walking distance to the main pool and had no problems with the buses. Also, we booked 7 months out.

One more thing....we LOVED it!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We are OKW owners and for each of our GV stays, we have always booked 11 months to the day at 9 AM. I think the time of year you are trying to travel might make a difference. You can always waitlist, but I'd probably book a combination of 2 and 1 bedroom units at AKV and then try to change at 7 months to OKW GV. That way you will be assured of having SOMETHING, even if you can't get the GV. Just make sure you will be within your banking deadline so you can bank the points you might have left over after booking the OKW GV.

 

[magicaldisney]

I called at 6 months out and had to be put on the waitlist for the gv at OKW. I am kicking myself for not calling at the 7 month window. We have a gv at Kidani, but we would really like to get into OKW. My fingers are crossed, but my hopes are not high!