OKW Lovers Thread. Part 2

[Chuck S]

We are taking our 5 children in August for our first ever Disney trip!! We will have a 2br villa at OKW (this was actually a better rate for us than a value or moderate because we would have to get 2 rooms due to fam of 7 and still would not have a king bed...turned out to be a better price for us with the %off room discount...) is there anything I need to know about the resort? Any tips/advice? Should I request a certain building? (One closest to the pool, park, etc and ground floor or elevator?) thanks in advance for helping a newbie

There was a design change during construction. Access to the master bathroom (for those sleeping in the living room) is through the master bedroom in building 11 to 29. Buildings 30 and above have an additional bathroom entrance through the laundry room. Depending upon your family dynamics and privacy levels, this may be a consideration for you.

 

[mrsgoose8]

Liking building 18 so far!! But I'm wondering, are all the rooms like this where they show light on the windows? There is no thick curtain to completely block the light? Or Is that just because we have a ground floor or something? I really like the room and resort otherwise but that night be a deal breaker did us on future trips snide my kids are early birds and awake already despite the fact they should be asleep right now

 

[Chuck S]

Are you in a studio or a larger unit? The studios used to have a heavy drape to pull across the patio doors, but they were removed in the rehab a couple of years ago and replaced with those Roman blinds. I liked the drape much better, too. The front windows for the studio should have blinds AND drapes, unless that changed recently.

In the one bedrooms, I think there was always just Venetian type wooden blinds in the living room, but there should be heavy drapes in the master bedroom.

 

[lovegrumpy]

We had a great stay here for the first time. Buliding 32. Loved the location,only a few things that bothered me but got over it.

 

[chepic]

Anyone had any luck with switching from a 1 to 2 bedroom in the middle of your stay without having to move rooms.......you know.....just open the door and add on the studio? We have friends that will be joining us for the last few days of our stay. I don't want to have to book a 2 bedroom for our entire stay and I don't particularly want to move. Was wondering if anyone had luck with this kind of request? I'm assuming it is not as easy as I think.

We've stayed at OKW 3 times now and LOVE IT!

We were very lucky a few years ago with that situation. I let member services know when we booked that on the Wed of our stay, we would be adding on the studio. I think we were lucky, because I would imagine it all depends on how busy the resort is. Good luck and some pixie dust your way.

Cheryl

 

[pas130]

We are taking our 5 children in August for our first ever Disney trip!! We will have a 2br villa at OKW (this was actually a better rate for us than a value or moderate because we would have to get 2 rooms due to fam of 7 and still would not have a king bed...turned out to be a better price for us with the %off room discount...) is there anything I need to know about the resort? Any tips/advice? Should I request a certain building? (One closest to the pool, park, etc and ground floor or elevator?) thanks in advance for helping a newbie

Us too, we had two wl cl rooms but we want space!! And as my DH says a kitchen trumps CL. Our kids are 13,9,8,7,5 so I'm stalking this thread trying to figure what location to request. We are driving so I love that the parking there looks easy peasy. Thank-you to this wonderful thread!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Us too, we had two wl cl rooms but we want space!! And as my DH says a kitchen trumps CL. Our kids are 13,9,8,7,5 so I'm stalking this thread trying to figure what location to request. We are driving so I love that the parking there looks easy peasy. Thank-you to this wonderful thread!

We were in building 45 2 years ago, and LOVED it!! It was right at the bus stop, right at the pool, and a quick easy walk to HH. Plus it has a great canal view. It was great to sit on the balcony in the mornings and watch the boats going to and from DTD, and the ducks frequently play in the canal as well

 

[pas130]

We were in building 45 2 years ago, and LOVED it!! It was right at the bus stop, right at the pool, and a quick easy walk to HH. Plus it has a great canal view. It was great to sit on the balcony in the mornings and watch the boats going to and from DTD, and the ducks frequently play in the canal as well

Saweeet! Time for me to stalk the OKW map again

for your reply!

 

[Chuck S]

Us too, we had two wl cl rooms but we want space!! And as my DH says a kitchen trumps CL. Our kids are 13,9,8,7,5 so I'm stalking this thread trying to figure what location to request. We are driving so I love that the parking there looks easy peasy. Thank-you to this wonderful thread!

For easy parking, do NOT book the near Hospitality House room category. !/2 the buildings in that category (11 to 14) can have parking problems because of their proximity to the main check-in and dining areas for the resort. Then again, the other half of that category (23 to 26) has good parking, but since you have a car, there is really no need to beclose to the hospitality area.

Also some of the 60s buildings have some limited parking. My favorite area when I drive is buildings 30 to 35, 45, 46 and 55.

 

[pas130]

For easy parking, do NOT book the near Hospitality House room category. !/2 the buildings in that category (11 to 14) can have parking problems because of their proximity to the main check-in and dining areas for the resort. Then again, the other half of that category (23 to 26) has good parking, but since you have a car, there is really no need to beclose to the hospitality area.

Also some of the 60s buildings have some limited parking. My favorite area when I drive is buildings 30 to 35, 45, 46 and 55.

It sounds like around building 45 is a winner

 

[PrincessMommy09]

Remind me about online check in and requests. Can you request an area? We were in the peninsular road area last time, and I liked the quick walk to hospitality house. Would it be possible to request first floor, peninsular road, or what would my request look like for that area? I think my request last time was first floor, canal view (or water view??). We laughed because technically there was a view of the canal if you walked out the front door and looked past the parking lot and across the street.

 

[Disneyplanners]

We are headed to Old Key West this August and I have a few questions. We are interested in renting bikes this trip, and I was wondering if we would be able to rent bikes and ride on the path to Saratoga to have a meal at Turf Club or Artists Palette? I saw a new thread today about the path to Saratoga, and someone said that the walk was only 15 minutes or so. I thought I had read that it was more like 25 minutes to walk. Are there two walking paths to Saratoga?

I have also read that there are a lot of activities for kids at OKW (scavenger hunts, etc). Is there a site or thread to find out more details about these activities, like a copy of the community hall schedule?

Last question for now ... I know it's been asked a thousand times, but where should we request? There will be myself, DH, DS11 and DS8. We have a studio, non HH reserved and would like to avoid any higher chances of getting a HA room. We will not have a car, and we typically use the main pool a lot, but also enjoy the quiet pools sometimes. I will also be needing the laundry facilities since we will be in a studio.

Thank you for any help!!

 

[Chuck S]

We are headed to Old Key West this August and I have a few questions. We are interested in renting bikes this trip, and I was wondering if we would be able to rent bikes and ride on the path to Saratoga to have a meal at Turf Club or Artists Palette? I saw a new thread today about the path to Saratoga, and someone said that the walk was only 15 minutes or so. I thought I had read that it was more like 25 minutes to walk. Are there two walking paths to Saratoga? I have also read that there are a lot of activities for kids at OKW (scavenger hunts, etc). Is there a site or thread to find out more details about these activities, like a copy of the community hall schedule? Last question for now ... I know it's been asked a thousand times, but where should we request? There will be myself, DH, DS11 and DS8. We have a studio, non HH reserved and would like to avoid any higher chances of getting a HA room. We will not have a car, and we typically use the main pool a lot, but also enjoy the quiet pools sometimes. I will also be needing the laundry facilities since we will be in a studio. Thank you for any help!!

Well I like bldgs 30 to 35, 45,46 & 55. If you request 2nd or 3rd floor, you should not get an HA unit, as OKW does not have elevators in most bldgs, all HA units are on the 1st floor, except for bldgs 62, 63 & 64 - those 3 bldgs have elevators.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Remind me about online check in and requests. Can you request an area? We were in the peninsular road area last time, and I liked the quick walk to hospitality house. Would it be possible to request first floor, peninsular road, or what would my request look like for that area? I think my request last time was first floor, canal view (or water view??). We laughed because technically there was a view of the canal if you walked out the front door and looked past the parking lot and across the street.

Just done my online checkin and only got the option of choosing two requests so not sure how people request their buildings although I'm sure some people will know more than me as we usually just take pot luck. Really wanted to make three requests so much dithering and family vote to choose which two to go with Sorry should have said that it was possible to request first floor and peninsular road.

 

[PrincessMommy09]

Just done my online checkin and only got the option of choosing two requests so not sure how people request their buildings although I'm sure some people will know more than me as we usually just take pot luck. Really wanted to make three requests so much dithering and family vote to choose which two to go with Sorry should have said that it was possible to request first floor and peninsular road.

Thanks!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

Are the only elevator buildings 62, 63 and 64?

Thinking we'll request an Elevator building and want to know for sure.

Thanks!

 

[momof2minnies]

Remind me about online check in and requests. Can you request an area? We were in the peninsular road area last time, and I liked the quick walk to hospitality house. Would it be possible to request first floor, peninsular road, or what would my request look like for that area? I think my request last time was first floor, canal view (or water view??). We laughed because technically there was a view of the canal if you walked out the front door and looked past the parking lot and across the street.

Well... I have been to OKW several times and request Pennisular Road area on points and ALWAYS get there to be told we are in South Point- ALWAYS. So every time we wait while they change it. This time a real nice CM gave me her card and said next time we come down contact her directly- wow really nice!!!

Linda

 

[Chuck S]

Are the only elevator buildings 62, 63 and 64?

Thinking we'll request an Elevator building and want to know for sure.

Thanks!

Yes, that is because these 3 buildings were built a couple of years after the rest of the resort, in the area of the original sales center. There were changes to the ADA, which earlier did not require full and complete access when OKW originally opened. The stairs are really good stairs, though. a 1/2 flight, landing, and another half flight for each story. The elevator buildings are often held for those with mobility issues that do not require a full wheelchair modified unit.

 

[anett]

Do all rooms at OKW face the greens/water/pool or do some/most face parking lots too? One of our stays at Saratoga got us a beautiful parking lot view

 

[OKW Lover]

Do all rooms at OKW face the greens/water/pool or do some/most face parking lots too? One of our stays at Saratoga got us a beautiful parking lot view

I can't think of any room that only views the parking lots. They all (including studios) run all the way from front to back of the units. Some windows will face the front, but there will be a window facing the back as well.