OKW lovers thread !!!

[jodifla]

We are going to OKW in August and are very excited to be staying in a one bedroomed villa. My husband and I ( having bagged the main bedroom ) seem fine for storing our clothes etc. in the armoire. I'd just like to ask what kind of storage space there is for our teenagers who are sleeping on the sofa bed in the living area?

There's storage in the living room area. First, there's a closet when you first come in the door. Also, there's a bar area next to the sliding glass doors, and underneath there is storage also.

One bedrooms are great at OKW!

 

[ChrisMouse]

I have been missing OKW and decided it's long past time that I join this thread, since it's been "home" for three years now.

We have extra points this year because we "rented" some for a stay at GCV (that we subsequently had to cancel since our dates changed). We halfheartedly tried to plan our next trip to a different DVC resort due to the extra points, but we decided we just don't want to stay anywhere else.

I guess that qualifies me as an "OKW Lover".

With a winter storm of 6-12 inches on the way tonight and tomorrow, I'm sitting here imagining myself on my OKW balcony...or maybe in a lawn chair, watching my kids go down the waterslide.

Wish it wasn't ALWAYS so long between trips (no matter how many months pass)

 

[dmoore22]

OKW owner and lover here as well since 1996.....the only thing that's kept me away lately is the beds! They switched to new beds and they are just too hard for me. I didn't sleep at all on our last trip.

A cruel irony is that, since I've had back surgery, the OKW beds are the most comfortable for me. Perhaps we should suggest to member services the "Sleep Number" adjustable mattresses?

We are going to OKW in August and are very excited to be staying in a one bedroomed villa. My husband and I ( having bagged the main bedroom ) seem fine for storing our clothes etc. in the armoire. I'd just like to ask what kind of storage space there is for our teenagers who are sleeping on the sofa bed in the living area?

As long as you have teenagers there will never be enough storage space, especially if you have teenaged daughters like mine.

 

[La2kw]

A cruel irony is that, since I've had back surgery, the OKW beds are the most comfortable for me. Perhaps we should suggest to member services the "Sleep Number" adjustable mattresses?

I find the beds to be great. I prefer a firm mattress.

 

[efoote01]

Is anyone there now? We leave in a week for our ist stay @ OKW!

How is the pool & crowds?

 

[dmoore22]

I find the beds to be great. I prefer a firm mattress.

Is anyone there now? We leave in a week for our ist stay @ OKW!

How is the pool & crowds?

Only in spirit. Wish I was there NOW!!!!!

 

[kamikazecat]

I am so excited to be staying at OKW for 3 nights this summer. This is our first DVC stay. Our waitlist just came through today so we will be staying in the HH area in June. Did I mention that I am excited?

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Great news for you! Mind if I ask what you were waitlisted for? I'm thinking of a last-minute visit at end of June.

HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[kamikazecat]

Great news for you! Mind if I ask what you were waitlisted for? I'm thinking of a last-minute visit at end of June.

HAVE FUN!!!!

A studio in the Hospitality House area.

 

[dmoore22]

A studio in the Hospitality House area.

Awesome!! We have one for the end of May, beginning of June!!!! Plus we got one for Christmas using the 11 month window!!!

 

[pigletforever]

I am changing our reservation for SSR to OKW tomorrow. I will be booking a 2 room villa for end of Dec beginning of January. How are the buses? I like the fact that the rooms are bigger. Plus the reviews for OKW are much more positive. SSR has really mixed reviews. What does HH mean? We are doing cash vs points as we have not bought DVC....yet. What else should I know? Are there 2 room villas on the first floor? My youngest son has high functioning autism and is not a fan of stairs. But I don't need a handicap accessible villa just one on first floor. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[pickles]

I am changing our reservation for SSR to OKW tomorrow. I will be booking a 2 room villa for end of Dec beginning of January. How are the buses? I like the fact that the rooms are bigger. Plus the reviews for OKW are much more positive. SSR has really mixed reviews. What does HH mean? We are doing cash vs points as we have not bought DVC....yet. What else should I know? Are there 2 room villas on the first floor? My youngest son has high functioning autism and is not a fan of stairs. But I don't need a handicap accessible villa just one on first floor. Any help would be appreciated.

I own at OKW and certainly like it there. I had to use some developer points at SSR back in Oct. I was NOT an SSR fan at the time and in fact really never wanted to stay there. It looks so blah from the river.
I want to let you know..dont believe everything you read. I was very pleasantly surprised about SSR.
I really like the pool athmosphere. One of my best memories is laying on a chair there in the eve while the kids played in the pool and I watched tarzan on the blow up tv by the pool. It was just so peaveful and nice.
That trip i also stayed at my beloved OKW and one thing I learned is while I like the decor of OKW. If i am not in bdg 63/64 or right around there I do not care for OKW. I like being able to walk to the main pool. I like being able to see the golf course and some water.
SSR I stayed at a couple spots and they were all equally fine for me. I HATE trying to find your building at SSR. They REALLY need to put the numbers big and on the building so a person can see them while walking. The way they have them set you need to practically walk up to each dorrway to see what building you are at, and SSR can be confusing for that very reason. Also, whoever made SSR map was either drunk or had no clue how to make it so people could understand it!!
OKW is a similar set up, but their building numbers are more easily seen from the road as you are walking..lot less frustration especially at night when you arrive and are tired.
I guess what i am saying is. OKW now rates below SSR for us, so you may wish to keep your ressies..it isnt as bad a deal as you may think. Tho they both have great points. Oh, i do love OKW music better..in Margueritaville

 

[dianeschlicht]

I am changing our reservation for SSR to OKW tomorrow. I will be booking a 2 room villa for end of Dec beginning of January. How are the buses? I like the fact that the rooms are bigger. Plus the reviews for OKW are much more positive. SSR has really mixed reviews. What does HH mean? We are doing cash vs points as we have not bought DVC....yet. What else should I know? Are there 2 room villas on the first floor? My youngest son has high functioning autism and is not a fan of stairs. But I don't need a handicap accessible villa just one on first floor. Any help would be appreciated.

The buses are very good at OKW.

HH is Hospitality House area, but if you have anyone sleeping in the living room, you don't want that area, because there is no seperate door to the bathroom....you need to be in buildings 30 or higher to get the extra door to the bathroom, and HH buildings are 11-14 and 23-26.

There are 2 bedroom villas on all levels, and if you must have a first floor or elevator building, you'll need to request that at the time of booking. Be sure to say if it is medically necessary.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

OKW now rates below SSR for us, so you may wish to keep your ressies..it isnt as bad a deal as you may think. Tho they both have great points. Oh, i do love OKW music better..in Margueritaville

I've never thought that SSR was a bad place to stay (stayed there twice) but I will say that if you're the unlucky traveller who gets stuck in the Carousel area facing the street and guard gate, it's very disapointing. You're far from the bus stop, the pool, from the main pool, the restaurants etc. I didn't like the location at all, it's depressing quite frankly and there's no Disney/Saratoga feeling at all. I don't personally have to be by the main pool, but I do enjoy great views and for me OKW and their balconies are all about that. Sometimes you have no choice about location and the Carousel area makes it a deal breaker for me, so I only would stay at SSR if no other resort was available. OKW istill remains my favorite.

 

[loveswdw]

I've never thought that SSR was a bad place to stay (stayed there twice) but I will say that if you're the unlucky traveller who gets stuck in the Carousel area facing the street and guard gate, it's very disapointing. You're far from the bus stop, the pool, from the main pool, the restaurants etc. I didn't like the location at all, it's depressing quite frankly and there's no Disney/Saratoga feeling at all. I don't personally have to be by the main pool, but I do enjoy great views and for me OKW and their balconies are all about that. Sometimes you have no choice about location and the Carousel area makes it a deal breaker for me, so I only would stay at SSR if no other resort was available. OKW is still reamins my favorite.

We got stuck in Carousel on our stay at SSR. The villa was nice but the location was awful. The only redeeming factor was how close we were to the entrance/exit to SSR (we had a car). No pool, far walk to the main building, no view. It might not be as bad once they get the new feature pool at the Paddocks completed. But as for us, we will totally choose OKW over SSR any day. In fact, we'd probably stay at SSR only if it was the only resort available and then we'd still WL for something else.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Our first contract was at SSR and we loved the resort until we booked a 2 night stay in a studio and got Carousel. It was horrible. We had stayed at every other section and enjoyed each location. At Carousel, we were even too far from a pool to get some laundry done. There was not one redeeming factor to our room location there. Hated the location so much that after that stay I was so afraid of getting stuck there again, I sold our contract there. I did email DVC first and explained why. So glad they are adding the feature pool at the Paddocks. Hopefully that will add some "charm" to the Carousel section.

 

[dmoore22]

That trip i also stayed at my beloved OKW and one thing I learned is while I like the decor of OKW. If i am not in bdg 63/64 or right around there I do not care for OKW. I like being able to walk to the main pool. I like being able to see the golf course and some water.
SSR I stayed at a couple spots and they were all equally fine for me.
I guess what i am saying is. OKW now rates below SSR for us, so you may wish to keep your ressies..it isnt as bad a deal as you may think. Tho they both have great points. Oh, i do love OKW music better..in Margueritaville

We have stayed at SSR and actually found the same issues as this poster stated about OKW. SSR is a very nice resort but, depending upon the location of your room, convenient access to the main pool, water views, and/or golf course is, for lack of a better word, fickle. I would expect these issues are common at each of the DVC properties -- its all relative. We have been fortunate in that we have never had a room and location at OKW that failed to please. We certainly enjoy all the DVC properties but we most enjoy coming home to OKW.

 

[BelleChick]

Made reservations yesterday for a 2 bedroom at OKW! I have never stayed here before, but have always wanted to. Even as a kid, I thought it looked so pretty on the vacation planning videos. I did have to request a building with an elevator for my mom's medical reasons. Has anyone stayed in those buildings? I hear that they are one of the last bus stops...will it be hard to get my mom's EVC on from there? Will the bus be too full by that point?

 

[QTMichele]

It's been many months since I've posted, but wanted to drop by and let you know that we're officially book at OKW! We have a 2 bedroom unit and have requested the HH area. I'm very excited to be so close to "everything" since we have 3 kids (10, will be 7 and turning 2 on our first day at Disney!).

In my excitement, I want to ask a ton of questions, but don't know where to begin (and don't want to overwhelm you! lol). So, would you mind sharing little tid-bits about OKW, the HH area, must dos, etc.?

TIA!

 

[BelleChick]

In my excitement, I want to ask a ton of questions, but don't know where to begin (and don't want to overwhelm you! lol). So, would you mind sharing little tid-bits about OKW, the HH area, must dos, etc.?

TIA!

I second that! tid-bits would be great! Anyone?