OKW - More than just cheap points?

[rutgers1]

I am a new DVC owner. Actually, have owned for a year but won't be taking my first trip until August. Like many of you, I have read this board religiously since buying and peer at the blue book frequently.

When I look through the book at the various resorts, my first thought is, "They ALL look great!" From there, I start thinking about what makes each one special. For most, they are really close to something that would be considered a "destination." Even the much maligned SSR has the spa, golf course, and is a walk to Downtown Disney. So, with that said, what does OKW offer that the others do not? It is the one resort that I am not penciling in for a future visit, unless I am short on points. The other one is Wilderness Lodge, which I didn't enjoy all that much when I stayed as a regular guest.

 

[Chuck S]

OKWs rooms are the largest in the DVC system, and the studios have 2 queen beds, instead of a bed & sleeper sofa.

You can walk to DtD, there is a path from building 55, it is about 9/10ths of a mile. There is a lovely boat ride to DtD, and the tropical ambiance that just screams "FLORIDA." And the balconies of the 1 bedroom and larger units have a table and 4 chairs, so you can actually enjoy dining on your balcony.

The reason it has lower points is that OKW was the first DVC resort, and once the total number of points were set for the resort, they couldn't be changed. OKW was an experiment for Disney. If it hadn't been a financial success, we wouldn't have the DVC we have today.

Did you know the name of the resort changed, prior to being OKW, it was The Disney Vacation Club Resort, and is still listed that way in legal documents and deeds.

 

[bookwormde]

OKW has a feel and a look all its own. By far the most “relaxing” and has that Florida island feel. Some do not like the “spread out” feel but for me that is a big part of the charm. Don’t get me wrong I like the other DVC resort and am doing AKV before and BCV after my OKW stay but OKW is still special.

And yes the deeds do say Disney Vacation Club, but then again my membership card say member since 1994 (not).

bookwormde

 

[wdwnut]

Each resort has its own appeal. Old Key West has a very relaxing,laid-back atmosphere. The pace seems to be a bit slower. It can be a nice break away from all the hustle and bustle of the parks and some of the other resorts. While I love to be in the middle of things (I own at BWV), I also enjoy OKW. We just split our 5/6-5/12 stay between OKW and BCV.

 

[iloveokw]

All of the above and after a long hot day in the parks you pull up to your unit and walk in (might have some stairs), but no loooonnnnggg hallways. It is also so easy to take in your luggage and groceries. The porches for the one bedroom and larger are wonderful to have breakfast on or just to relax. They also have the best castmembers in Hanks Rent and Return. Wouldn't stay anywhere else (except Vero and HH where we also belong).



PS I probably should haven't have said all of the above because I don't want it to get too popular LOL

 

[Deb & Bill]

Plus, the refrigerator in the one bedroom or larger is the only one with an ice maker in the freezer compartment. The washer and dryer are full sized and not stackable like the others and located in a real laundry room not a closet. The jacuzzi tub will fit two adults if you are so inclined. You can park right outside your villa instead of in a parking lot near or not so near by. The living room has not only a sleeper sofa (queen sized like all the one bedrooms and larger) but a love seat and a chair for extra seating.

The kitchen is large and has an island and is not just a galley style kitchen with little room for walking around. In addition, the shower is pretty much bigger than all the others, too.

But there are only three buildings with elevators and they are pretty much reserved for those needing an elevator for medical reasons.

 

[DVC Mike]

Old Key West has a very relaxing,laid-back atmosphere. The pace seems to be a bit slower. It can be a nice break away from all the hustle and bustle of the parks and some of the other resorts.

It looks relaxing to me.

http://i235.*************************************20090310_0187.jpg

 

[hockeyprincess]

I love OKW and probably would be pretty hard pressed to try any other DVC resort. I have tried, and come oh-so-close to reserving at another resort, but I absolutely LOVE it so much I just can't imagine staying anywhere else. All of the reasons stated above and more are the reasons, and the lower points are just a big bonus in my book. When I look at BCV/BLT/AKV heck anywhere besides OKW and the points it would take....I just can't make the reservation.

Tropical, relaxed, lush landscaping, great pool, love the balconies, big kitchen, jacuzzi tub, did I mention the balconies? And Buffett music on the busses on the way back home, from anywhere. Just doesn't get any better than that to me, unless you're actually IN Key West!

That being said, I'm pretty much the vacation planner extraordinare in our house, so my husband gets on the plane when I tell him and we arrive and he knows where we're going.....BUT he's a "hotel" feel kinda guy. He likes to wander the halls (since they are inside) in the wee hours of the morning and see what "treasures" he can find to show me and the kids the next day. He needs very little sleep and usually is up way past me and the children. So OKW is a little spread out for him but I absolutely love it, and the no-halls-non-hotel feel of it.

 

[La2kw]

OKW is the original, and as mentioned has the largest rooms, the largest balconies, the largest appliances, the largest spa tub, and so on. It doesn't have a spa, but you can still get a massage and have a decent workout. It's not within walking distance of a park like BCV is to World Showcase, or BLT will be to MK, but it has some of the best bus service around. When they say "Welcome Home" at OKW, it actually makes sense since the resort looks like a neighborhood. Driving up to a hotel like the BC and hearing "Welcome Home" just doesn't have the same effect on me. We love visiting Key West, and OKW has a definite Key West theme going on.

 

[kaffinito]

It looks relaxing to me.

http://i235.*************************************20090310_0187.jpg

Best photo I have ever seen of OKW! Looks absolutely gorgeous. (I'm really going to have to add on there)

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Beautiful photo DVCMike!

 

[Silver Queen]

We just stayed at OKW last month for the first time. Our home resort is Saratoga and we love that too. We are not big hotel type resort people, but we will be trying all of the other resorts in the future (Kidani is August and VWL in October). I think we like to save our big hotel experiences for when we are traveling in cities and it's really not important for us to be right next to a park. I guess the bottom line is there are different choices to suit different tastes. We hope to enjoy and appreciate all of them.

 

[dianeschlicht]

No matter which other resort we have stayed at, we always end up saying "but it's no OKW"! We LOVE OKW! Love that we can park right outside our door, love the size of the units....love the views...love the intimate feel... What's NOT to love about OKW?

Also, it's the ONLY DVC with full sized appliances in both the kitchen and the laundry room. No little apartment sized stuff here!

 

[rutgers1]

Can you rent those mini speed boats like at some of the resorts?

 

[dudelydude]

Let me preface the following by saying that OKW is in my top 2 or 3 favorites, but someone really opened my eyes to something that I didn't think about. After years of vacationing in hotel-style "common corridor accomodations" (say that 10x quickly), I have had to re-think the idea of owning at a townhome style DVC. I know that most of the pp's would say I am crazy, but part of vacationing is actually feeling like you are on vacation and if you have lived in a townhome all your life, it may feel like you never left home. You cannot get speed boats there, but the canal boat trips are fabulous.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Can you rent those mini speed boats like at some of the resorts?

Yes, and pontoons and surrey bikes, regular bikes, etc etc. and you can fish.

 

[dianeschlicht]

And...you can have views like this!

...and this

 

[Coach81]

OKW was our first visit as owners (own at SSR), the one bedroom was HUGE, and it absolutely won us over and helped us realize what a great investment we'd made in our family with our DVC. We love OKW!!!

 

[jodifla]

Hmm...what does OKW have?

Big balconies that you can sit out on and have a meal! Or several drinks.

Huge room sizes...relaxing color scheme.

Easy to park right by your unit.

A great pool slide.

 

[VG9493]

We have been DVC members since 1992 when OKW was the only DVC resort. It is by far my favorite. The atmosphere is like no other, so relaxing. The rooms are by far the biggest offered. We stay in a Grand Villa there every year (there are 7 of us) and everyone loves having their own space. When we are using our points on Disney property OKW is always our first choice.