OKW Impressions (very long). UPDATE on page 3 with view photo!

[dianeschlicht]

So glad you enjoyed our "home", Granny! Too bad you didn't realize that the internal bus was the DTD bus. Also, ANY bus stops at HH last. Since you were trying to get to Turtle Pond, the wak would be quite a ways from building 17, but the walk to the Peninsular Road bus stop would be quick, and any bus would take you to Turtle Pond from there.

The bathroom comments were interesting to me. We have not stayed in the villas at VWL yet (I live in my own Wilderness Lodge ), but I am quite sure they are the same arrangement as the other DVC resorts, and I didn't care for the door arrangement between the tub/toilet area and the sink/dressing area. We just love our big tub at OKW!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Thanks for the wonderful report.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Thanks for the report.

I agree that the bathrooms at OKW are not as well-planned as those at the other resorts. Including lack of walk-in closets.

I've had the same experience at every check-in at OKW. The CM indicates "MY ROOM" isn't ready, but that I could select from several others that are. IN fact, all my check-ins at WDW have indicated a specific room had previously been assigned to me, although at BCV and BWV I wasn't given the option to choose another room.

I will always spend the first night off-site unless I arrive REAL early. Both for room selection and best use of points. I don't have enough points to use for a room when I check in late at night.

Regarding "quiet." My idea of quiet and out-of-the-way means lack of hordes. Not so much lack of actual decibels from any and all causes.

 

[Towncrier]

Loved your trip report. It looks like you checked in a day or two after we left OKW.

As for the master bathroom situation, since you were in one of the lower numbered buildings, you experienced the "early" layout of OKW. Buildings 30 and above have a separate entrance (off the laundry room) into the master bathroom's shower and toilet.

 

[Granny]

As for the master bathroom situation, since you were in one of the lower numbered buildings, you experienced the "early" layout of OKW. Buildings 30 and above have a separate entrance (off the laundry room) into the master bathroom's shower and toilet.

Thank you...I do appreciate the clarification. I tried really hard not to come off as an "OKW Expert" based on one trip!

OneMoreTry...yes, my comments about "quiet" were somewhat tongue-in-cheek. It really was very serene aside from the moments I described.

dianeschlicht....sounds like there is more than one layout for the bathrooms at OKW. Again, it wasn't really an issue but DW would have liked to be able to do her hair and makeup away from the shower and commode...but still have the main sink area at her disposal.

Maistre G...you know, we did get a small WL fix by having a little snack at Roaring Fork and eating it on the tables outside.

 

[ErinC]

Granny, great report! We are going to try out OKW one of these days. Okay, lets get to the important info..... What did your kids think of the OKW pool and slide in comparison to the other DVC resorts? We are going to try a one day stay at BWV when we return from our cruise, so I'll probably get at least one crack at the "creepy clown slide!" My kids think it looks "cool".

 

[Granny]

Granny, great report! We are going to try out OKW one of these days. Okay, lets get to the important info..... What did your kids think of the OKW pool and slide in comparison to the other DVC resorts? We are going to try a one day stay at BWV when we return from our cruise, so I'll probably get at least one crack at the "creepy clown slide!" My kids think it looks "cool".

Erin...my girls are teenagers, and generally prefer the quiet pools these days. However, they did spend quite a bit of time one afternoon at the main pool and gave the slide two thumbs up!! They liked it much better than that little slide thing at WL, but a split vote comparing it to BWV (older daughter hates the scary clown). Strangely enough, my girls never took a shining to SAB so I guess that puts the OKW slide at the top of one DVC list and in second place for the other! As a tiebreaker, I don't think it's in the same league as Keister Koaster, but it is very nice and perfectly tied into the OKW theming.

 

[Tagrel]

Tagrel...if you go, you will need a couple of memory sticks for that camera of yours! It is large and beautfully landscaped. Someone with an eye for photography like you would have a field day there!

Its funny, because its true! Turn me loose in OKW, and I'll be snapping away all day!

 

[SueOKW]

So nice to read about OKW. I've been in that building - although we are always on the 1st floor because my oldest is a kid on wheels. (maybe someday i'll get ask for a top floor in an elevator building!)

Anyway - your post made me yearn for my next trip!!!!!! thanks so much for the well written review!
sue

 

[jarestel]

Thanks for the well written report, Granny. Very nicely done!

We're VWL fans as well, but OKW has become our 2nd favorite resort. But as you point out, no matter where we stay, we always end up at WL for boating, dining, or just to stop by so we can get our WL "fix" also.

 

[Holly]

Thanks for the report, Granny.

I'm so excited for my stay at OKW in December.

 

[DisneyDuo]

Thanks for the report, Granny.

We're staying at OKW for the first time in January - also due to points issues (a long and sad story). But we're looking forward to experiencing a new resort (as much as we love our BCV).

Lin

 

[MiaSRN62]

Granny,
Thanks for the very well thought-out, organized TR ! Glad you enjoyed OKW--we'll be there in less than 20 days !

sounds like there is more than one layout for the bathrooms at OKW.

In 5 stays there, we've never been given a building under number 30, so I guess I'll have to wait and see what it is you were referring to. We stayed last year in bldg 62 (had 2 doors to the main shower/toilet area). Also we could watch Illuminations from our balcony. I'm thinking you probably couldn't see the fireworks because of the direction your balcony faced.

with a few times having waits of less than five minutes, but more than a couple times having waits exceeding 40 minutes for a bus to our destination.

As for the 40 min waits Whoah ! We never waited longer than 5-15 min the entire week we stayed last November. Hope it's not bad when we get there on Aug 5. Sorry you experienced some delays !
Thanks again !

 

[SoCalKDG]

The bigger concern was the room assignment procedure. For my reservation (and it’s the only one I can talk to), they clearly had pre-assigned my room. But then they offered “room ready” if I wanted to get into a room right away. If the rooms are pre-assigned, then that means that if I had accepted a “room ready” accommodation, they would have to “unassign” someone else’s room to give me that (since the resort was fully booked according to the CM).

Its possible that not all the rooms were preassigned(either due to it not being 100% capacity or some people not making requests). Thus if you wanted a "room ready" room you just need to wait for the previous people to check out and for it to be cleaned. Thus no displacement of someone else.

 

[MJTinNH]

Great report Granny. It's nice to hear an opinion from a fellow "Hotel" feel DVCer. I have only visited this resort when friends were staying, but I agree it has beautiful landscaping. They also happened to be in a Grand Villa; although at the time I did not know the difference!

I have to ask your opinion on one thing if I may. Would you think that anyone without their own car would still enjoy the OKW experience? I have been in the habit on the last 5 trips of not renting a car. That is one of my vacation perks (not having to drive). Honestly I do not want to start a debate about this issue. Granny is familiar with the BWV experience and I always value his opinion.

Glad you had a wonderful vacation.

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

We only used our car once on this past trip but it wasn't necessary. There were a couple of times we had added legs to our transportation because we dined at another resort and had to make our way back home. This would not be unique to OKW though. We were there July 2-9 and we only had one bus wait that made it to 20 mins. On the other hand, we waited for a BCV bus at MK for 35 minutes

Glad you enjoyed OKW, Granny

 

[Laurajean1014]

I enjoyed your hotel report. We are avid OKW, so it's nice to get an "outsiders" opinion.

We've stayed at BWV (one bedroom) and it did not have a walk-in closet??? Is this at VWL?

I'm glad you liked the jacuzzi and the washing arrangements.... I always thought BWV had a poor layout for that.

 

[BCV23]

Two weeks...how wonderful!

I really enjoyed reading your report, Granny. Thanks for all the details.

 

[Granny]

I have to ask your opinion on one thing if I may. Would you think that anyone without their own car would still enjoy the OKW experience? I have been in the habit on the last 5 trips of not renting a car. That is one of my vacation perks (not having to drive). Honestly I do not want to start a debate about this issue. Granny is familiar with the BWV experience and I always value his opinion.

Glad you had a wonderful vacation.

Mary Jane...I wouldn't hesitate to stay at OKW without a car. For whatever reason, we just caught a bad timing a couple of times. Hopefully, I did mention that we had several times when our wait was less than 10 minutes. In general, I consider 20-25 minutes to be acceptable to wait for a bus.

One time, we were running late for a PS at Rainforest Cafe at DAK, so I did drive over there that evening. That's the only time we drove to a park, and all in all I'd say that our OKW bus experience and BWV bus experience were very similar. The only difference at BWV is, of course, that we could get to two parks without any Disney transportation.


Also, with any luck, I'm posting a picture of the 6th green at LBV, the bridge at Peninsular Road and the lighthouse by the pool. This was the view from our balcony at 1722.

<img src = "http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/40020399_2bbb/5db7/__sr_/1d77.jpg?ph7I71CBch0pHXah" width= 550>

 

[Mike]

Wow - great view! Thanks for the picture