OKW Grand Villla in July - chances at 7 months?

[Tinkermom3]

Anyone have any idea if I would have a chance at getting a GV at OKW in July at 7 month window?

Trying to decide between this and 2 bdrm AKLV or maybe BCV. We may be taking friends who have never been to WDW. Our friends are an older couple who are like grandparents to our kids. I cannot decide where would be the best place to give them an awesome experience. There will be 7 of us (myself, DH and our 3 kids plus our 2 friends). I like the idea of the 2 bdrm at AKLV since it also has the sleeper chair and all of our kids could have their own bed. My boys are 14 and 12 and DD is 7. None of them want to sleep in the same bed. The GV would give us plenty of room. BCV are awesome due to location but we would be cramped with 7 of us. DECISIONS!!

What are the GV's like at OKW? I have seen photos but wanted to get your expert opinions. Are they clean, good location? The point value is amazing!

FYI- we plan on 4-5 nights at WDW and then 5 nights at Vero in a beach cottage (already booked).

Any thoughts appreciated!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, I think wherever you stay will be an awsome experience for them. I guess I'd try for the GV at 7 months, but I'd book something at your home resort NOW so you are sure you can have the dates covered if the GV isn't available.

 

[dallastxcpa]

If your friends are older the GV at OKW might be a little bit of a problem. Most of the GV's are on the second level with the second and third bedroom up on the third floor of the building. That means that whoever is in the upstair rooms would need to climb two flights of stairs after a long day in the parks.

We secured a GV at seven months for the second week in July last year. THe GV was beautiful and we loved sitting on the balcony and watching the afternoon rains.

AKV would be my decision. My mother loves AKV and with the extra bathroom.

 

[Tinkermom3]

If your friends are older the GV at OKW might be a little bit of a problem. Most of the GV's are on the second level with the second and third bedroom up on the third floor of the building. That means that whoever is in the upstair rooms would need to climb two flights of stairs after a long day in the parks.

We secured a GV at seven months for the second week in July last year. THe GV was beautiful and we loved sitting on the balcony and watching the afternoon rains.

AKV would be my decision. My mother loves AKV and with the extra bathroom.

THAT is an excellent point! Our friends are older and the wife recently had back surgery and is still having problems. Thanks for thinking of this!

 

[dianeschlicht]

When you say "older", what do you mean. I assumed someone about my age, and I too have back problems, but the stairs at OKW are low rise ones that don't seem to bother me much. On the other hand, a GV at SSR will have elevator access to both levels, so if you can swing it, you might be best off doing a GV there.

 

[Tinkermom3]

When you say "older", what do you mean. I assumed someone about my age, and I too have back problems, but the stairs at OKW are low rise ones that don't seem to bother me much. On the other hand, a GV at SSR will have elevator access to both levels, so if you can swing it, you might be best off doing a GV there.

Uh Oh, did I put my foot in my mouth? Our friends are in their 60's. It is not the age I worry about it is the back surgery. I just talked with them yesterday and the wife said she had trouble walking that morning. I hope that with time she improves. If there is elevator access to the GV then that would not be a problem. They can have the master on the main level.

 

[5forDiz]

Another option you might want to consider,Tinkermom, although not exactly a grand villa would be new Treehouse Villas at SSR which would give you 3 bedrooms (points are supposed to be equivalent to 2 bedroom villas at SSR).

All rooms of the Treehouse villas are entirely on one level and if I remember correctly configuration is one bedroom with king bed, one bedroom with queen bed, one bedroom with bunk bed and a pullout sofa and a pullout chair in living room and 2 bathrooms. There are exterior stairs to climb because THVs are raised above ground level; I seem to recall hearing 2 would be HA.

Best wishes on your planning

 

[dallastxcpa]

My mother is 65 and when we vacationed last year I was up in the middle of the night and she was too. I asked her if she was okay and she told me she was having trouble sleeping because her legs were cramping from all the walking in the parks and believe me we didn't "commando". So needless to say the next day we got her an ECV. She didn't want it at first, but after getting used to manuvering through the park she really enjoyed it and it seemed to help with the leg cramping.

Best of luck making your decision. There are so many wonderful DVC locations it makes it hard to decide.

 

[Hopefully]

I am nearly certain that the layout of the THV is a Queen (not a King) in 2 bedrooms and a bunk set in the 3rd. Also the pullout sofa and pull out chair.
The bathroom for the Master isd "ensuite", so the other 2 bedrooms and the living room would be sharing the second hall bath.
HTH

 

[dgaston]

When Kidani opens, the 2 br there will have 3 baths. And while the points are quite dear, the GV at Jambo House only are all on one floor and even offer a pool table.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Uh Oh, did I put my foot in my mouth? Our friends are in their 60's. It is not the age I worry about it is the back surgery. I just talked with them yesterday and the wife said she had trouble walking that morning. I hope that with time she improves. If there is elevator access to the GV then that would not be a problem. They can have the master on the main level.

No elevator access to the GVs at OKW unless you get one in building 63. That is also a HA building, so you would have to go through special services to get that. We are in our 60's and I have back problems (trying to avoid that surgery), but we don't have much trouble with the stairs. FYI, I think she will have a LOT more trouble with the parks than she will with getting into and out of the GV. I'd recommend renting an ECV for her to use. I had to do that a couple of times, and it saved the trip for me.

 

[Tikihula]

We were at OKW for a week in mid-November 2008. Our 2-bedroom villa was on the second floor with no elevator. I had been using a cane due to a bad hip and managed the one flight of stairs with no problem other than hanging onto the railing to help pull myself up. I walked every day in the parks and it was very painful. The last day we rented a wheelchair and whoa, did I wish I had done it from day one! What a difference it made.

Two weeks after we got back I had total right hip replacement surgery. I'm now recuperating and looking forward to a Disneyland trip in April and another family trip to WDW next November. I agree with Dianeschlicht's comment that your friend will have more problems with all the walking in the parks than climbing one or two flights of stairs at OKW. See if you can get one of the buildings that have elevators (62, 63, 64).

 

[Tinkermom3]

Thanks everyone! We decided on and are booked at AKLV in the new Kidani village in a 2 bedroom. Since it has the convertable sofa AND chair beds our kids each will get their own bed. I also like that it has the extra bath. Now here is hoping that they will actually have the animals on the Savannah there! Can't wait to see the new pool area.

dgaston- I looked at the photos of the AK GV and boy is that something! We do not have enough points for it but maybe someday we can splurge.

I have already thought about suggesting an ECV or wheelchair to our friends. We are waiting to hear from them if they are able to come. If not we may try to switch to BCV.

Can you tell we like to try the different resorts? We are not ones who like staying at the same resort every time. With so many great resorts sometimes it is hard to decide!