OKW lovers thread !!!

[dmoore22]

Looking forward to our first visit to OKW in a little over 2 weeks! We are new DVC owners (BWV), but had already rented these points just before we bought. We are coming in to run in our first 1/2 marathon, the Wine and Dine. Tell me, is there an area I should request considering our tired legs? It is a host resort for the race. We are staying for 3 nights, so looking forward to trying Olivia's and hanging by the pool a lot. Is there anywhere online with a map of the resort? Would love to see how it is laid out including the boat to DTD. That seems like something we'll do.

 

[glaserjm]

Reading your post took me back to the days before we were even aware that DVC existed. My DW had been asking to go to WDW and I was resistant. We had been to DL numerous times as we have friends and family that live in S California. My mindset was that WDW was like DL but on the Atlantic side. I finally succumbed. We made reservations for AS Music including our ultimate park hoppers. When our documentation arrived it included a small booklet with information about the resorts and their features. What caught my eye was the pictures of OKW. Based on those pictures OKW became my fantasy destination. However I knew that it could never happen. Being an educator with six kids, having worked my way up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty, I felt OKW would just continue to be a fantasy until, perhaps, we became empty nesters'. While staying at ASM we did see the signs for Disney Vacation Club but never really pursued it. We loved our stay at ASM and I discovered that WDW is not the east coast version of DL. I was hooked. I realized we would have to begin saving for our next trip if we ever decided to go again.

Fast forward a year. We suffered one of the normal traumas of life when a member of our family passed away. Then one of my uncles came down with vascular dementia. I can still hear my aunt saying, "We saved for all those years to enjoy our time when we retired and now we can't do anything." I decided we needed some therapy. I bit the bullet and took the whole family for a return trip to WDW and ASM. That picture of OKW still haunted me. While on one of the resort shuttles I overheard a guest talking about the DVC tour and the number of points he could have purchased with the money he had spent taking his family to WDW over the past 10 years. He said the tour was worth it just for the discount coupons and free meal tickets he received for his family. We took the tour and were sold. It was then we decided to use our retirement savings to purchase DVC. The bad news was that OKW was sold out, BW was almost sold out, and BCV would be opening soon but was being offered at a premium price point. Somehow we found out about DVC resales. We found an OKW resale and add-on that met our needs without breaking the bank. And we still had never seen OKW in person. I was not disappointed in the least bit. OKW exceeded what I imagined it would be like. The cast members, the guests, the ambiance, in my opinion, can't be beat. All of the DVC resorts are very, very nice but when we are at OKW we feel like we are at home. I always look forward to receiving that HOME!!!!!

Thanks dmoore22, I also see you're a fellow STL-er! Glad to see we're well represented at OKW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Looking forward to our first visit to OKW in a little over 2 weeks! We are new DVC owners (BWV), but had already rented these points just before we bought. We are coming in to run in our first 1/2 marathon, the Wine and Dine. Tell me, is there an area I should request considering our tired legs? It is a host resort for the race. We are staying for 3 nights, so looking forward to trying Olivia's and hanging by the pool a lot. Is there anywhere online with a map of the resort? Would love to see how it is laid out including the boat to DTD. That seems like something we'll do.

If you are headed to the Hospitality House from your area, just hop any bus and it should stop at the HH last. Then walk over to Peninsular Road bus stop and take a bus back to your area.

But post running, a nice easy walk might actually feel good to stretch out your muscles.

 

[Twende]

Our first meal for our December trip is at Olivia's. It is great to hear so many good reviews.

That suitcase place sounds like a fun time too!

This will be the family's first stay at OKW, our home resort is BCV but we wanted to try something new this time. I stayed there a few years back with my parents but the rest of the family has never been. We are planning a great trip. I just hope the December weather cooperates with us so we can do some swimming and hot tubbing!

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Relaxed atmosphere....Good food........Houston we have a problem..
I can't squeeze any more vacations into the year....
Thanks for the tips guys, this should be fun.

 

[jngwright]

Due to a late breaking development, one of the members of our party will be in a wheelchair for our trip. We have a standard studio reserved for them and called to add this new information to the reservation. Do you know where they may put them? ( I know that requests aren't guaranteed, etc..) I am just wondering if anyone has had experience with adding this info to a reservation and how it played out

 

[dianeschlicht]

Due to a late breaking development, one of the members of our party will be in a wheelchair for our trip. We have a standard studio reserved for them and called to add this new information to the reservation. Do you know where they may put them? ( I know that requests aren't guaranteed, etc..) I am just wondering if anyone has had experience with adding this info to a reservation and how it played out

What do you mean by "standard studio"? All studios at OKW are considered deluxe. If you called to say they need wheelchair access, they will either be given a handicapped accessible room or at the very least a first floor or elevator building room. HA rooms are guaranteed.

 

[jngwright]

What do you mean by "standard studio"? All studios at OKW are considered deluxe. If you called to say they need wheelchair access, they will either be given a handicapped accessible room or at the very least a first floor or elevator building room. HA rooms are guaranteed.

Excuse my use of incorrect terminology. This is our first stay at OKW as DVC owners so I am not an expert (yet). It is a Deluxe Studio, not HH. Thank you for answering my question.

 

[dmoore22]

Excuse my use of incorrect terminology. This is our first stay at OKW as DVC owners so I am not an expert (yet). It is a Deluxe Studio, not HH. Thank you for answering my question.

If you scroll up to my post with the map you will see which buildings are designated handicapped accessible (outlined in red) and the elevator buildings (#63 and #64).

 

[dmoore22]

Thanks dmoore22, I also see you're a fellow STL-er! Glad to see we're well represented at OKW.

 

[jngwright]

If you scroll up to my post with the map you will see which buildings are designated handicapped accessible (outlined in red) and the elevator buildings (#63 and #64).

Thank you That is what I was looking for!

 

[mlittig]

Oh by they way how is Olivia's????? We have a couple breakfast ressies there. Any reviews of any meal they serve?

We ate at Olivia's last April and it was so outstanding that I ate there when I went in August I had the prime rib both times and it melted in my mouth The Olivia's potatoes are amazing and so is the sauce it has

 

[dmoore22]

We ate at Olivia's last April and it was so outstanding that I ate there when I went in August I had the prime rib both times and it melted in my mouth The Olivia's potatoes are amazing and so is the sauce it has

We have never been disappointed with the food or service at Olivia's other than the removal of the Conch Fritters from the menu. I blame that on JIm Lewis.

Seriously, when we're at Olivia's, and OKW, we feel like we are all part of the family. In a matter of a couple of weeks we'll be hearing HOME!!! The rest of life is just an inconvenience we have to tolerate between visits to our OKW home.

 

[brianheather]

Hello OKW Lovers,... In November we will be staying at OKW for the first time. I have heard good and bad things from people. We have always stayed at BWV and AKV... Please sell me on OKW. It looks huge.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hello OKW Lovers,... In November we will be staying at OKW for the first time. I have heard good and bad things from people. We have always stayed at BWV and AKV... Please sell me on OKW. It looks huge.

Read the thread and ask questions once you are through.

 

[Dan Stephens]

Can I take the OKW boat directly to either Saratoga Springs or Port Orleans, or do I have to take it to DTD to transfer to a boat for those resorts? Any estimate on the length of time it takes from OKW to DTD by boat? Also, what is the distance approximately for the walking path from OKW to SSR? Is there a walking path from OKW to POR? Thanks!

 

[edk35]

Can I take the OKW boat directly to either Saratoga Springs or Port Orleans, or do I have to take it to DTD to transfer to a boat for those resorts? Any estimate on the length of time it takes from OKW to DTD by boat? Also, what is the distance approximately for the walking path from OKW to SSR? Is there a walking path from OKW to POR? Thanks!

Unless it has changed again..... you can't go from OKW to SSR. Maybe it changes throughout the year but last Jan.....we had to take a different boat to OKW. Used to....you would stop at SSR on the way to DTD and stop at SSR on the way back to OKW. Not sure that you can actually walk to SSR from OKW. You can walk both ways to DTD from SSR though.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That's correct about the boat. You can walk from OKW to SSR and DTD, but I don't believe you can walk from OKW to POR.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Hello OKW Lovers,... In November we will be staying at OKW for the first time. I have heard good and bad things from people. We have always stayed at BWV and AKV... Please sell me on OKW. It looks huge.

Most of us on this thread LOVE OKW. Is there some specific concern you have that was not covered in other posts? The size is a plus in my book instead of a negative.

 

[krisnchris]

I can do online check-in tomorrow!!! Soooooo excited to be exploring OKW soon!!! Can't wait!!!