OKW lovers thread !!!

[simmons_m]

... It's far to easy to get around OKW and there are a lot better views without the inconvenience of the buses and all the cars parking at the HH area.

Most OKW owners don't have any problem with getting around the resort.

Deb - Our first trip to OKW will be in December, what do you mean by "far to easy to get around"?
The map makes the resort look huge. Do you usually walk? Do you recommend renting a car?
The trip is primarily going to be a holiday light/resort hopping trip. We will be there 4 nights, with 2 days at the parks (HS (Osborne lights), Epcot, & MK), and breakfast planned at Boma one morning.
Thanks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Deb - Our first trip to OKW will be in December, what do you mean by "far too easy to get around"?
The map makes the resort look huge. Do you usually walk? Do you recommend renting a car?
The trip is primarily going to be a holiday light/resort hopping trip. We will be there 4 nights, with 2 days at the parks (HS (Osborne lights), Epcot, & MK), and breakfast planned at Boma one morning.
Thanks.

The Hospitality House is rather central to the resort. We've walked there many time from South Point and Turtle Pond. Our last stay was on Millers Road and we walked to the HH area from there as well. You can catch any bus and take it to the HH area. The Internal Bus will usually stop at the HH area first and then at the other bus stops. You can also get off at the Peninsular Road bus and walk across the bridge to the HH area easily.

We always have a car because we always drive. But we don't usually drive to the HH because it is hard to park there with all the guests checking in or out or people dining at Olivia's.

 

[SAT887]

Deb - Our first trip to OKW will be in December, what do you mean by "far to easy to get around"?
The map makes the resort look huge. Do you usually walk? Do you recommend renting a car?
The trip is primarily going to be a holiday light/resort hopping trip. We will be there 4 nights, with 2 days at the parks (HS (Osborne lights), Epcot, & MK), and breakfast planned at Boma one morning.
Thanks.

The resort is spread out, it's truly a home away from home setting. I have never felt like I was at a hotel at OKW. Reminds me of how condos are set up in other vacation areas. There is some walking if you want to go to the main pool or HH if you are not in that location. We have always had a car and never used the buses to get to HH on prior visits. Some people don't blink an eye at this some people seem to hate it. Personally I like the quiet pools.
We always rent a car in Disney. However, I am the type of person whether it takes me 25 min by car or 25 min by bus I will take the route that gives me the most control. Hehe control freak? Yes! I also like the freedom of the car because I can go to the grocery, target, walmart, whole foods, starbucks... Wherever I might want to get something else. To me, one of the perks of OKW is parking my car outside the door, having my husband turn the ac on and get the kids loaded and I'm running out with those final (well planned) essentials to a car that has the AC running.

My parents started at OKW back in 1993 (and bought!) , and for certain emotional reasons(my parents took my grandmother who was at the final stages of cancer) the buildings behind the Peninsular Bus stop hold lots of wonderful memories and we try to stay there. However, with that said we have stayed in a few locations in OKW and honestly, staying next to the HH or in the way back - I didn't mind either way. We've always gotten a great view and nice villa.

Since my mom handed DVC over to me we've done the past two years exclusively at OKW, this year we are going to get our feet wet and do one night at AKL Jambo and see if we would want to stay elsewhere

 

[simmons_m]

Thanks for the feedback.
I am leaning toward a rental car for the trip.

 

[chepic]

I am going to chime in too.

As an owner and going soooooooo many times over the years, we prefer not to stay over at the HH area. We love the Turtle pond area and pool. It is quieter, calmer, and lends itself to the relaxation factor.

I find that if you are a walker, than nothing is too far. From turtle pond it is only a 5-10 minutes stroll to the main pool. You can also just hop on any bus and be dropped off at the main desk since that is the last stop for all the parks before heading out of the resort. (please correct me if I am mistaken about this, Deb)

We drive from RI to Florida, so we always have a car and we use it for going to downtown disney.....can't stand the buses for that. That is my only issue with the buses.

Hope that helps,

cheryl

 

[Checkers]

I am going to chime in too.

As an owner and going soooooooo many times over the years, we prefer not to stay over at the HH area. We love the Turtle pond area and pool. It is quieter, calmer, and lends itself to the relaxation factor.

I find that if you are a walker, than nothing is too far. From turtle pond it is only a 5-10 minutes stroll to the main pool. You can also just hop on any bus and be dropped off at the main desk since that is the last stop for all the parks before heading out of the resort. (please correct me if I am mistaken about this, Deb)

We drive from RI to Florida, so we always have a car and we use it for going to downtown disney.....can't stand the buses for that. That is my only issue with the buses.

Hope that helps,

cheryl

We are owners as well and love the Turtle Pond area, too. We usually don't have a car but find that the boat to DTD is the best! We love it, especially after dark.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Another one who doesn't believe HH is the "best" area to stay. First of all, I hate that the rooms there don't have the second door into the bathroom. Secondly, I hate that the buses are often full in the morning before they even get to the HH stop. Thirdly....HH is not always the quietest place to be.

If I had to rank areas or buildings we like, I'd say 45 and 46 are our favorites. For GVs we like 15, and we prefer most of Miller's Road and South Point over Turtle Pond. I've had numerous villas in the Turtle Pond area, and haven't been totally happy with any of them. My least favorite building is 29....for obvious reasons.

 

[chepic]

We are owners as well and love the Turtle Pond area, too. We usually don't have a car but find that the boat to DTD is the best! We love it, especially after dark.

We do too, especially with the kids....and it is so much faster than the buses. UGGGGG.....can't say it enough....

My least favorite building is 29....for obvious reasons.

I agree....that building 29 really rotted!!!! No quiet night there!


Cheryl

 

[Queenie122]

Another one who doesn't believe HH is the "best" area to stay. First of all, I hate that the rooms there don't have the second door into the bathroom. Secondly, I hate that the buses are often full in the morning before they even get to the HH stop. Thirdly....HH is not always the quietest place to be.

If I had to rank areas or buildings we like, I'd say 45 and 46 are our favorites. For GVs we like 15, and we prefer most of Miller's Road and South Point over Turtle Pond. I've had numerous villas in the Turtle Pond area, and haven't been totally happy with any of them. My least favorite building is 29....for obvious reasons.

What's the obvious reason?!?!

I love hearing where people like to stay, it's really helping me figuring out where to request on my own upcoming trips!!

I just, I mean, just YESTERDAY, got my papers in the mail... I am officially a DVC owner... in OKW!!!!

SO this is really helpful

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I am going to chime in too.

As an owner and going soooooooo many times over the years, we prefer not to stay over at the HH area. We love the Turtle pond area and pool. It is quieter, calmer, and lends itself to the relaxation factor.

I find that if you are a walker, than nothing is too far. From turtle pond it is only a 5-10 minutes stroll to the main pool. cheryl

That's us in a nutshell!

My son and his pals are 15 now and the allure of the main pool is done! They prefer the quiet pool, though with 4-5 15 year old boys, maybe quiet isn't the right word at this point!

We use the OKW grills often and there is one right there by the Turtle Pond quiet pool. Grill, enjoy drinks & appetizers by the pool, it's our favorite area. We love building # 43, 42. Without the troop of teenagers we love #45 & 46. If we're fortunate to have a GV then it's #15 or # 43.

For years I never made building requests, and thankfully never landed in #29, I've alway been lucky. I hope i didin't just jinx myself.

Though HH is not for us I can see that parents traveling with little ones, wanting to use the main pool, having no car would benefit from being in HH villas!

 

[OKW Lover]

I've seen a couple of comments recently about building 29 but don't understand what the issue is. We were in 2922 just last week and had no problems.

 

[chepic]

Well to clear up the 29 thing...we were in the bottom floor closest to the road, studio in 29. Our view from the patio was 4 airconditioning units, the noice from the road with each passing bus caused my husband to crank up the tv, and the romance just wasn't present in that room for our romantic weekend away. And I will say it wasn't for lack of trying!!!! It also seemed "cramped" even for a studio.

I really do prefer the 30's and 40 buildings in the turtle pond area.

che

 

[OKW Lover]

Well to clear up the 29 thing...we were in the bottom floor closest to the road, studio in 29. Our view from the patio was 4 airconditioning units, the noice from the road with each passing bus caused my husband to crank up the tv, and the romance just wasn't present in that room for our romantic weekend away. And I will say it wasn't for lack of trying!!!! It also seemed "cramped" even for a studio.

I really do prefer the 30's and 40 buildings in the turtle pond area.

che

Now I understand. I've been in a similar room further down the road and it is annoying. Fortunately our unit was more to the center of building 29 and wasn't bothered at all by road noise.

 

[chepic]

Now I understand. I've been in a similar room further down the road and it is annoying. Fortunately our unit was more to the center of building 29 and wasn't bothered at all by road noise.

Friends of ours have been in 29 and 28 and loved their rooms. But for me that memory of the constant whoosh and braking is enough to turn me off.


che

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

We are owners as well and love the Turtle Pond area, too. We usually don't have a car but find that the boat to DTD is the best! We love it, especially after dark.

We've never taken the boat to DTD! Is there only one dock (stop) at DTD? We are going to Wolfgang Puck Dining Room (Upstairs) the day we check in. Is the dock near there? Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've never taken the boat to DTD! Is there only one dock (stop) at DTD? We are going to Wolfgang Puck Dining Room (Upstairs) the day we check in. Is the dock near there? Thanks!

The OKW boat stops at the Pleasure Island boat dock - kind of near the balloon launch.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

The OKW boat stops at the Pleasure Island boat dock - kind of near the balloon launch.

Thank you.

 

[slimplaw]

We are looking at changing to a grand villa for one of our trips. One of our party members will be using a scooter for the parks because of knee problems. I realize that these units have 2 floors. My question is, do you enter the grand villa from the first floor of the building or do you have to go to the 2nd floor level of the building with the villa actually being on floor 2 and 3 of the building?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are looking at changing to a grand villa for one of our trips. One of our party members will be using a scooter for the parks because of knee problems. I realize that these units have 2 floors. My question is, do you enter the grand villa from the first floor of the building or do you have to go to the 2nd floor level of the building with the villa actually being on floor 2 and 3 of the building?

The majority of grand villas are on the second and third floors. The master bedroom is on the first level of the grand villa, so your party member with the scooter will need to use that room or the living room sleepers if they can't go up the stairs. There are grand villas in the elevator buildings.

 

[slimplaw]

Thanks for the answer. It was exactly what I needed to know.