OKW or Boardwalk?

[kdm0516]

Which would be better to stay at OKW in a studio or Boarwalk in a standard Studio? It will be 4 of us a 7 year old and 5 year old. the other option would be Animal Kingdom but thought it is farther away so the other 2 would be the better choice. I don't know that Bay Lake or Wilderness would be worth the extra money.
thank you
Krista

 

[sharadoc]

OKW is nice for a relaxing vacation - pool, activities in Community Hall, Downtown Disney for food and shopping. If you're going to be in parks all day then you'd probably want to stay at BW, or have you considered the Villas at Wilderness Lodge?

 

[puffkin]

I think AKL with kids your age would be the best choice.

 

[chalee94]

BW is nice for the short walk to epcot and the boardwalk activities. a short boat ride to the studios is also a benefit.

OKW studios have 2 queen beds instead of 1 queen and 1 pullout sofabed. point costs are slightly lower.

if your kids love animals, i'd put AKV-jambo house back in play. it's a long bus ride to the MK but there are not many resorts in the world with giraffes and zebras outside your door...

 

[MickeyNicki]

BW is our preference

 

[Belle & Ariel]

BWV is our home resort and we love it, but I think between the animals and the waterplay area at Kidani, AKL is the best choice for your kids. BWV does have the nightly performers and a close walk/boat ride to 2 parks.
I do not think the bus rides were noticeably longer than at BWV. The many stops within OKW and from BW to Beach/Yacht/Swan/Dolphin probably make the ride the same as the one from AKL to the parks.
I have never stayed at OKW, but I just don't think it offers the Disney experience for your kids.

 

[kdm0516]

So for the kids either AKL or BWV? Prices aren't too different. One posted that BWV is just 1 queen and a pull out, not sure I like that. Usually pull out's aren't all that comfortable.
But at AKL do I have to upgrade for the kids to see the animals? Really AKL wouldn't be too far out of the way??? With my kids ages I didn't think we would spend more than 1 day at Epcot but kind of like the idea of possibly seeing fireworks from the room.

I guess my decision maker is based on location and convienence, good for 7 and 5 year old and dining.
AKL or BWV??
Thanks so much everyone. I am just over my head with Disney. I have never been there even as a kid so this is all new to me. I'm used to hopping on a plane and sitting at an all-inclusive for 6 days

 

[DebbieB]

So for the kids either AKL or BWV? Prices aren't too different. One posted that BWV is just 1 queen and a pull out, not sure I like that. Usually pull out's aren't all that comfortable.
But at AKL do I have to upgrade for the kids to see the animals? Really AKL wouldn't be too far out of the way??? With my kids ages I didn't think we would spend more than 1 day at Epcot but kind of like the idea of possibly seeing fireworks from the room.

I guess my decision maker is based on location and convienence, good for 7 and 5 year old and dining.
AKL or BWV??
Thanks so much everyone. I am just over my head with Disney. I have never been there even as a kid so this is all new to me. I'm used to hopping on a plane and sitting at an all-inclusive for 6 days

OKW is the only DVC studios at WDW with 2 queen beds. All others would be a queen and a double sofabed. If you like animal kingdom, I would consider an AKL room with bunkbeds (they are not DVC).

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

Whatever you decide will be great - it's Disney

Don't worry about the pull-out bed --- they are actually very comfortable (based on experience at Saratoga Springs and BCV). At AKV, they are basically brand new and should be in great shape. We have a sofa bed at home that we use once in a while for sleep overs, etc. and it is bad, so I understand your worry. The ones at Disney are so much better. It is also really nice to fold that bed up for extra "play space" for the kids. (If you do end up in a DVC studio, note that storage for the bedding is incorporated into the sofa bed itself --- I called housekeeping in a fuss beacause there was no bedding, oops!)

Haven't stayed at BW, but as stated, we were at BCV (also on the boardwalk) in Feb. The location is really nice. We stayed at AKL a few years ago, and loved it. If you don't have a Savannah view, IMHO it would take away from the experience, but there are lots of viewing areas all over the resort. We toured a one-bedroom at Kidani at AKV and it was amazing! The decor is gorgeous!!! We're crossing are fingers for availability there for our Nov. trip. Have fun!

PS . . . re: Epcot . . . my kids are 6 and 9 (just turned). Epcot is their favorite park!!

 

[puffkin]

When we travel, we always get a 1 bedroom and my mom travels with us so she sleeps on the pullout couch or chair in the living room. She says they are really comfortable. We have stayed at pretty much all the DVC resorts and she has never had a problem with the pull outs.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

I like all both plus ak for young kids-just back Sun from akv and the buses were good. We had a stadard room, 1st floor near pool area, loved the location. The first night we stayed in Sav view room and saw lots of animals mostly in the am but we enjoyed roaming around the 2 resorts to see so many more. Also , really like having Mara for CS. BW has some things on BW at night, but no fast food anywhere. OKW has a small CS near the pool. The buses at OKW take 10-15 min to do the property lap. The buses at BW are the longest IMO o get anywhere because of the Many hotel stops.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Do take a look at my user name.

OKW is our favorite (and home) DVC resort. It's perfect for children as it's active and offers quiet all at the same time.

We stayed at the BWV with a then two year old and NEVER EVER AGAIN!!!!! Loud, noisy, hikes to the room... ugh. Let's not talk about the ugly pool area, ok?

OKW is far more of a resort, and far more relaxing than the BWV could ever be.

 

[rie'smom]

While we love BWV, with 4 people, I'd go with OKW because the rooms are larger.

 

[eeyoresmom]

I love Boardwalk, but the bus transportation is horrible!

 

[tinkgurl]

We love OKW. They rooms are so spacious! The resort is beautiful! And, the quiet pools are so nice and really are quiet!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would go with the Boardwalk because of their theme, location and atmosphere.

 

[2minny]

Our favorite is Boardwalk! We love the atmosphere, light and airy theme, rooms, boardwalk (added bonus to walk on the boardwalk), pool and easy walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We have never been to OKW, but visited AKL a few times...didn't care for it, seemed dark and dreary (just a personal opinion). Our last trip our budget gave a choice between AKL and BWI, AKL was less expensive, we paid more to stay at BWI, we just prefer it and all agree that's where we will stay next trip too!