OKW help needed, please

[TinkOhio]

I am hoping that some nice people here can give me advice for our upcoming stay at OKW. We just booked a one week stay and really know nothing about the place except that the pictures look very pretty!

We are not DVC owners and booked a one bedroom villa. I forgot to make any requests on the ressie, but I will be calling back to make sure that a request for non-smoking is added. Should we request a certain location or view? Can we do this if we aren't DVC owners? And are the parking lots close to the rooms?

Also, do you have favorite activities at this resort? We will be a group of four; my DH, DS16, DD9 and myself. Any tips for keeping our older teen occupied there are very appreciataed! We will be there during Easter and would love to know if there are any special activities planned!

How do the busses and the boat to DTD run? We will be renting a car if that helps. We will also be coming from the south on turnpike. Is there a fast/easy way to get to the OKW from there?

How does the housekeeping work? Do we clean the rooms ourselves?

Lastly, what supplies should we pack? Is there a coffee maker there? And do we bring our own coffee and hair dryer?

Any advice that you can give is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[jaysue]

I am hoping that some nice people here can give me advice for our upcoming stay at OKW. We just booked a one week stay and really know nothing about the place except that the pictures look very pretty!

We are not DVC owners and booked a one bedroom villa. I forgot to make any requests on the ressie, but I will be calling back to make sure that a request for non-smoking is added. Should we request a certain location or view? Can we do this if we aren't DVC owners? And are the parking lots close to the rooms?

Also, do you have favorite activities at this resort? We will be a group of four; my DH, DS16, DD9 and myself. Any tips for keeping our older teen occupied there are very appreciataed! We will be there during Easter and would love to know if there are any special activities planned!

How do the busses and the boat to DTD run? We will be renting a car if that helps. We will also be coming from the south on turnpike. Is there a fast/easy way to get to the OKW from there?

How does the housekeeping work? Do we clean the rooms ourselves?

Lastly, what supplies should we pack? Is there a coffee maker there? And do we bring our own coffee and hair dryer?

Any advice that you can give is greatly appreciated!!!

Parking spots are right in front of the buildings

Buildings 1-29 - you need to walk through the bedroom to get to the bathroom

Did you book through Disney or a TA or did you rent points? If you booked through Disney or a TA you have a cash stay and will have mousekeeping everyday - otherwise you have limited trash and towel service on day 4 and then a full cleaning on day 8

Cheers
jaysue

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you rented direct from an owner, that person will have to call and make requests for you. If you rented direct from Disney, you can call CRO and make those requests. If you did an Interval International exchange, you will need to make requests through their request process.

If non-smoking is the most important request, and especially if it is for medical reasons, you need that to be your request. As for location....most locations are good at OKW. The only building I'm not wild about is 29.

As stated above, if you are renting direct from Disney, you will get daily maid service. If you are renting through an II exchange or direct from a member (or direct exchange), you will get trash and towel service on the 4th day from check-in.

 

[mtdewhead]

When you check in you'll receive a packet that has all the activities for the week that are planned at Old Key West. There are special activties as well as bikes you can rent, a game room, boat rentals, the sauna (it's in the lighthouse), the hot tub, the great pool, or you can take the boat over to Downtown DisneyDisney Marketplace and wander around and shop. The boat usually leaves every 1/2 hour on the 1/2 hour.

I would suggest bringing ziploc baggies for leftovers, and you will need to bring your own coffee and filters (I buy the kind that is all in one). They give you a start up pack in the villa but it doesn't last long. If you want to do laundry you will need detergent (they give you one of those mini boxes to get you started, and they give you a couple of dishwasher soap blocks).

There are bus stops all over the resort and whenever you are ready to head out somewhere you just go there and wait for the bus. They each have a digital display on the front and sides and we've never waited more that 10 minutes on one. Sometimes 2 will come in a row for the same destination, but be patient, another one will come to your destination.

There are hair dryers (the little ones) I usually bring my big one (lots of hair).

The parking is right at each villa and very convenient, but the disney transportation is so good, we only use our car to run out to the grocery.

You'll love it!

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for all of the information!

Are there certain buildings/areas that you are fond of? And do you think that we shold request a location not too far from the main pool since we have waterslide loving kids? Or will every family wiht kids be making the same request, so we whould just use our rental car and go for a quiet location?

Thanks, again!

 

[bmalonef45]

You can request a room close to a certain area but they are not guaranteed requests. When you check in try to get there as early as you can to get the best room. Unfortunately you are going during a busy time so choice rooms will be at a premium. We have stayed at OKW twice and just really love the laid back atmosphere. The resort is the oldest DVC resort but is kept up really well. Put it this way it has incredible curb appeal. If you son plays golf there is a course that the resort is built on. You start at the club house which is at SSR. Lake Buena Vista is its name. Lots of fun. If not the rental boats are fun. We rented them and spent a couple hours in them going from OKW to DTD and over to POR & POFQ. We saw people fishing and just enjoying the area. The main pool is nice but the smaller ones are really relaxing. Just remember you are in WDW so there should always be something to do. ENJOY! One more thing. Most buildings do NOT have elevators so unless you like stairs try to get a room on the first floor.

 

[jaysue]

We do not mind stairs so we always request a top floor room (avoids any potential noise issues from above our room if people start ing for example)

Good luck on your location requests

You can always catch a bus to HH as well from within the property

Cheers
jaysue

 

[castleri]

You may want to request a building numbered 30 or above as that way you have an entrance to bathroom through the laundry room as well as the bedroom. It makes it better at night if someone sleeping in the living room and needs to use the bathroom. They don't have to cut through the master bedroom. My DS at 16 was a great fan of Disney Quest at DTD and spent quite a lot of time there as he did not care for the pool or even the parks at times. He used the bus system quite easily. Every bus stops at the hospitality house before heading out of the resort to its designated destination so no matter where your room is you can easily get to the main pool by hopping a bus. Many of the rooms are within a 5-10 minute walk there also.

 

[jdvm]

Advice from a long time Old Key West Owner: make sure you bring some candles and a bottle of champagne for the jacuzzi that's in the bathroom of one bedroom units.
John

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks for all of the tips!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for all of the information!

Are there certain buildings/areas that you are fond of? And do you think that we shold request a location not too far from the main pool since we have waterslide loving kids? Or will every family wiht kids be making the same request, so we whould just use our rental car and go for a quiet location?

Thanks, again!

Bear in mind that every OKW location is near a bus stop, and EVERY bus stops at the hospitality house just before exiting the resort, so you are always a quick walk to a bus stop away from the main pool. The other 3 quiet pools are nice as well, and each has a hot tub, play area, and laundry facility.

 

[Disney Doll]

We have owned at OKW for almost 10 years and love it, love it, love it!!!!!

It's a great resort. Condo style as opposed to hotel style. You can park in front of your building, which is nice and convenient. The units are quite large and very nice. You will have a full kitchen and laundry. They will have a coffee maker, the basic pots and pans. If you want a tea kettle, you have to call Housekeeping and they will bring you one. There will be dishes and silverware. You will get a small bottle of dish soap, a small box of dishwasher soap, a couple of packets of coffee and some sugar packets and a couple of teabags. You will get a couple of boxes of the Tide powder for the laundry room. As far as cleaning, it depends on how you booked. Other posters have already answered that, so I won't repeat. I will say that I really don't miss the daily maid service. As far as what I bring...Starbuck's coffee, coffee filters, extra teabags, extra sugar, fabric softener sheets, laundry tablets, salt & pepper. When we get there we usually go to the grocery store where we buy half & half, a small bottle of laundry soap (if I didn't bring a few of the tablets), whatever food and snacks we want for the room, a can of air freshener for the bathroom, water. We have recently found a very nice Winn Dixie grocery store...take a right out of the OKW entrance, take a right at the end of that road. You will see SSR and then the Marketpalce on your right. When you get to the stoplight at a fairly big intersection take a left. You will pass through the gate and be looking at "Crossings" shopping center. Take a left at the light and about 5 minutes down the road on the right hand side is the Winn Dixie. Basically it's right, right, left,left. It is very convenient to OKW and is a very nice, clean store with decent prices. There are also grocery items in the gift shop at OKW, but you pay through the nose for them! It's good in a pinch though if you run out of something.

The buildings numbered 1-29 and the last 3 buildings numbered in the 60's are closest to the main pool, but they do not have 2 entrances for the bathroom, so anyone needing to use the bathroom will have to walk through the master bedroom to get to it...not sure if that will be a problem for you, but we always have a friend sleeping on the couch and she prefers not to have to traipse through our bedroom when she has to use the facilities. If you get a building numbered higher than 30, the bathroom will have an entrance through the master bedroom and an entrance through the laundry room. The last 3 highest numbered buildings (numbered in the 60's) also have the 2entrances to the bathrooms but they are also handicapped-accessible buildings, so they go quickly. They have elevators to the higher floors. If stairs are a problem for anyone in your party, then request one of those and you will be close to the main pool, have an elevator to get to your 2nd or 3rd floor unit and have a bathroom with 2 entrances. Triple bonus!

As far as what we prefer...we prefer the Southpoint area. It's close to a bus stop and close to a quiet pool (no slide). It's close to the path you can take to walk to Saratoga Springs and then on to Downtown Disney. Our 2nd favorite area is Turtle Pond. Again, close to a bus stop and a quiet pool, plus nice golf course views over there.

In addition to being able to walk to Saratoga Springs and Downtown, there's a little boat that's docked at the main area that will take you to both those places...that's always fun, and you see the hotels from a different perspective. I suggest you take it at least once.

Bus service is fine. There are 4 bus stops total, including the main one. Every bus leaving the resort stops at the main stop last, so if you are located kind of far from the main area, you could always hop on any bus to get there. You can also drive your car to the main area. Truthfully though, it's not a long walk from anywhere in the resort to the main area...probably 10-15 minutes tops for a normal person walking at a leisurely pace, and it is a lovely resort to walk around.

As far as activities, when you check in they will give you a packet which contains a schedule of activities. We don't have children so I have never really partaken of any of the activities, but I have seen them in progress and the kids looked like they were having fun.

You will not regret staying at OKW...we have always had wonderful experiences.

Enjoy your vacation.

 

[TinkOhio]

Great facts and tips. Thanks so much!!

 

[kellyf2626]

As far as what we prefer...we prefer the Southpoint area. It's close to a bus stop and close to a quiet pool (no slide). It's close to the path you can take to walk to Saratoga Springs and then on to Downtown Disney. Our 2nd favorite area is Turtle Pond. Again, close to a bus stop and a quiet pool, plus nice golf course views over there.

What building numbers are considered "southpoint area". Sounds like a good place to be in!

 

[kjs1976]

WOW! These are some of the most thorough threads I've read on a resort! Thanks! We are in the same situation as TinkOhio and wanted to know some specifics. Now I only wish we were staying longer!

Question about Olivia's/Good to go: Do they have refillable mugs? One of my favorite things to do at the resort is my morning walk to get my coffee and Dh's b-fast. Also, is there quick service breakfast? This would be about all we would be needing from the resort meal wise.

Thanks, and keep the OKW-love comin'!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Refilllable mugs are not the best value at OKW. Only place to refill is at Goods to Go and it is only open part of the day. Have your quick breakfast and coffee in your villa. I'm not even sure they offer a quick breakfast at Goods to Go. Olivia's is a table service restaurant and they usually have a very nice breakfast.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Didn't there used to be a place to get food at the Turtle Pond (or whatever it is called) pool?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Didn't there used to be a place to get food at the Turtle Pond (or whatever it is called) pool?

The hours of the Turtle Shack are limited and not regular. Sometimes it is closed all day, especially during cooler months.

 

[kocar]

definitely read up on the resort activities on the sheet they give you at check in. The 1 BR has a full kitchen with all cooking utensils. look at stopping for your snack, water, drink, coffee items before checking in. We usually request a room near HH so we are closer to the main pool since there are two pools. Take the boat to DD, DWS and PI. They are supposed to be adding a boat dock and stop to a location near DWS and PI but not sure when. Your kids will both love DisneyQuest so definitely add that to the itinerary. My DD liked the special kids fishing trip they offered. She's 12.

I think the comedy club show at PI and some of the clubs might be appropriate for your kids. DH and I went last xmas and saw several families with their kids in tow earlier in the evening and at the comedy club. Not sure if the late night show at Adventurers club would be appropriate, but I think several of the dance and music clubs are Disney rated and not typical night life spots per my observations when we went.

Have fun! This is our favorite DVC resort.

 

[kda]

OKW is one of our favorites, too. Very mellow and relaxing and the 1 BR is huge, by most standards.

If you don't mind stairs, you may want to request a room on an upper floor if you like sunlight (there's a lot of wonderful bushes and trees, but some of the first floor locations feel "closed in" and shaded to us ---- just a matter of personal preference). The balcony is big and has a table with 4 chairs.

Rather than request a certain building #, try requesting a certain area, ie, Southpoint or near the Turtle Pond Pool. It's larger than the other quiet pools, but no slide or them to it. Just a nice pool. There are also grills, but I believe they need charcoal. You can request to be near the Hospitality House (where the main pool is), but I think you really want a building #30 or above, so the kids won't have to go through your bedroom to get to the bathroom. Or maybe that just doesn't matter to you.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!