OKW Lovers Thread. Part 2

[River Country]

So this upcoming trip will be the second time i amstaying at OKW I love it there. Last time i was in building 29 which was ok but a little noisy as it was on penninsular rd

I now have Near HH booked so my question is are bldgs 62 63 and 64 considered ner HH? Or just that they have elevators but they seem pretty close to HH

Am i better off with 11 thru 14?

 

[Chuck S]

So this upcoming trip will be the second time i amstaying at OKW I love it there. Last time i was in building 29 which was ok but a little noisy as it was on penninsular rd

I now have Near HH booked so my question is are bldgs 62 63 and 64 considered ner HH? Or just that they have elevators but they seem pretty close to HH

Am i better off with 11 thru 14?

62, 63 and 64 are not normally part of the Near HH category, but are sometime used if the category is overbooked, or if there is maintenance going on in the regular near HH buildings. they are also often held/used for those with mobility issues.

Near HH is bldgs 11 to 14 and 23 to 26.

 

[fmer55]

Can someone please take pictures of the pool without the bridge. And all the other HH area. Goods.....Gurgling......We were there NYE just before the reno and are dying to see what is going on since we won't be back to WDW until October.

TIA if anyone has any

 

[fmer55]

Thank you That's exactly what I was looking for. I want to be somewhere close enough to walk over. This is DH second trip to Disney and first for him to OKW. I really think he will love this resort, but it's all about location with him!!

I hope he feels the same way about retirement! He's really only going to be semi retired... We currently live in NYC and are going to be moving the beginning of September to Dallas, Texas.. he will get a part-time job in January just to keep busy! I have this 15 day trip planned with lots of surprises and plenty of rest!!

Again thanks for the info! I'll add that to my spreadsheet and call and request that location and hope for the best!

~N

Turtle pond is not walking distance for me, I would try building 62, 63 or 64 for walking ability. You can also get on the bus at HH, if you are taking busses to the parks, and leave the resort immediately.

 

[myxdvz]

Here right now and loving it. 2nd stay at OKW. Last time we were in Bldg 28 near HH. Now we're at Bldg 35 right across the bus stop and about a 5 min walk to the pool.

I love OKW. Spacious and bright and airy. We have a car and it's our first time to drive down. I have taken the bus once and after taking a whole hour to get from MK back to hotel (15 min wait, 15 bus load/wait, 30 min drive) - we've decided to drive it the parks instead.

Dined at Olivia's last Tuesday and was given a "Family of the Day" certificate which my kids found cool. Swam at the main pool and Turtle Pond pool so far.

While I have points (BLT owner), this was an RCI trade so we're doing a full week which is solo relaxing. We've normally done split stays since I only have 170 points.

Crowds are less than we expected. We really only see them at the end of the day, after the fireworks. For the most part, it's been a great leisurely trip. Oh, except for that 4 hour wait for Ana/Elsa. We've had 3 trips in this PAP and it expires in June so we really have to do it this time. We hold have done it back in Nov/Dec when the wait was only 1-2 hours.

 

[hbsprite]

We will be staying in a studio at OKW for a week this August. We are from California and like to stay on California time, going to bed around 1AM and waking up around 9 or 10.

My wife is VERY sensitive to light and even a small amount of light coming in the room will wake her up.

All of the previous DVC resorts we have stayed at have blackout curtains that block all the light, just like a hotel room. Do the studios at OKW have blackout curtains? I recall seeing a photo of the doors that go out to the balcony and it looked like there was only a roller shade on it. I am concerned that it will still let a lot of light in and wake my wife up.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Chuck S]

We will be staying in a studio at OKW for a week this August. We are from California and like to stay on California time, going to bed around 1AM and waking up around 9 or 10.

My wife is VERY sensitive to light and even a small amount of light coming in the room will wake her up.

All of the previous DVC resorts we have stayed at have blackout curtains that block all the light, just like a hotel room. Do the studios at OKW have blackout curtains? I recall seeing a photo of the doors that go out to the balcony and it looked like there was only a roller shade on it. I am concerned that it will still let a lot of light in and wake my wife up.

Thanks in advance!

There will be some light coming in through the drop down shades from the balcony. Before the rehab, there was a blackout pull drape for the balcony doors, it was removed in the rehab. Maybe pack a roll of foil to cover the glass in the doors?

Old studio with blackout pull:

New studio without pull:

 

[Cottager]

We will be staying in a studio at OKW for a week this August. We are from California and like to stay on California time, going to bed around 1AM and waking up around 9 or 10.

My wife is VERY sensitive to light and even a small amount of light coming in the room will wake her up.

All of the previous DVC resorts we have stayed at have blackout curtains that block all the light, just like a hotel room. Do the studios at OKW have blackout curtains? I recall seeing a photo of the doors that go out to the balcony and it looked like there was only a roller shade on it. I am concerned that it will still let a lot of light in and wake my wife up.

Thanks in advance!

Would she consider trying a sleep mask? http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Essenti...G0CPZVH3N&s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1396794282&sr=1-1

 

[chocolateMinnie]

When we visit WDW we usually order groceries from Garden Grocer before we leave home (in the UK). This year we still intend to do this but also to order some cranberry juice (my ds has very specific requirements for this - typical teen) and they have this on the USA amazon site. Can I still have this shipped to OKW without issue and how long before should I order?
All suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[gray52]

When we visit WDW we usually order groceries from Garden Grocer before we leave home (in the UK). This year we still intend to do this but also to order some cranberry juice (my ds has very specific requirements for this - typical teen) and they have this on the USA amazon site. Can I still have this shipped to OKW without issue and how long before should I order? All suggestions greatly appreciated.

Have you tried We-Go-Shop? They will shop at any store you want... So if it's carried locally,you can have it on your list. They are very accommodating... Maybe they'll bring it in and keep it for you.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[nannette]

Turtle pond is not walking distance for me, I would try building 62, 63 or 64 for walking ability. You can also get on the bus at HH, if you are taking busses to the parks, and leave the resort immediately.

Thanks! Building 35 does look kind of far... but 62,63 and 64 are usually for people in need of elevators right?? Maybe i'll just request as close to HH as possible. We will have a car so we can drive, but since this is a celebratory trip there will be lots of celebrating so celebrating and driving don't go hand and hand... If you know what I mean!! We'll be spending a lot of time in DTD and the Gurgling Suitcase... I've been thinking about switching to Saratoga Springs... Ahhh I don't know what to do!!! Maybe the BLT wait list will come through and solve all my problems

Anyone have any thoughts?!?!

~N

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Have you tried We-Go-Shop? They will shop at any store you want... So if it's carried locally,you can have it on your list. They are very accommodating... Maybe they'll bring it in and keep it for you.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Thanks for the tip - I'll have a look at that

 

[tb1972]

My family owns DVC but my sister does not. If we're both staying at OKW studios, can we link our reservations?

Also I was unable to get HH category for the first time ever. We're OKW owners and always stay HH category. If my kids like to swim and we're not near the main pool, is Turtle Pond our best option?

 

[okw2012]

My family owns DVC but my sister does not. If we're both staying at OKW studios, can we link our reservations?

Also I was unable to get HH category for the first time ever. We're OKW owners and always stay HH category. If my kids like to swim and we're not near the main pool, is Turtle Pond our best option?

I vote for Turtle Pond!

I am not sure about linking the reservations, but if you can't I suggest you call the resort and mention it to front desk. They will do their best.

 

[Chuck S]

My family owns DVC but my sister does not. If we're both staying at OKW studios, can we link our reservations?

Also I was unable to get HH category for the first time ever. We're OKW owners and always stay HH category. If my kids like to swim and we're not near the main pool, is Turtle Pond our best option?

Are you using you points for both studios? If so, call member services and have them note "traveling with...." on both reservations. If you did not make both reservations, or if one is a points reservation and the other cash, call the appropriate booking entity (DVC or Cash reservations) and have "Traveling with....." noted on both.

 

[tigergrad]

Our first stay at OKW. We have a GV booked for 7 people- me, DH, DD, DSiL. DGS, DS, DS's GF. Looking for any info you're willing to share. Best villa location, dining, pools, bus transportation...

 

[chepic]

Our first stay at OKW. We have a GV booked for 7 people- me, DH, DD, DSiL. DGS, DS, DS's GF. Looking for any info you're willing to share. Best villa location, dining, pools, bus transportation...

Well, you will most certainly have enough room in the villa, that is for sure! The GV is huge. We have stayed in one a few times, with 12 people and there was still plenty of space.

Dining is only really available at Olivia's for sit down, great food. I recommend the conch fritters for certain. Turtle pond area has a snack shack.

Personally, love turtle pond for it's quietness with some extras versus the main pool with all the activity. Can't really comment on the 2 quiet pools since we have never really used them, only walked by them during morning walks.

Bus transports are fine, running every 20 minutes or so, and the boat to down-town is a nice change of pace.

Enjoy your stay!!!

Cheryl

 

[schrammalot]

Where is this OKW panoramic shot that everyone is talking about?! I can't find it!

 

[Disney_Mama]

Just booked an OKW stay for the end of August. Can't wait. This will be my second time staying there. Will just be me and DD14 unless DD18 can't find a job for the summer. We are staying in a studio. Have not stayed in a studio for years. Does the mini fridge have a freezer? Thanks

 

[Judyat]

Just stayed at an OKW studio. The freezer is small in the mini fridge but it does work OK.