OKW Owners

[BlakeNJ]

When was the last rehab (major or minor) at OKW? We are looking into a purchase and I have never seen the resort but it seems lovely and very popular. Would you say the rooms look "dated" being it is the first DVC? Our draw to OKW is it's remoteness. Is this the right assumption???

All opinions welcome! Thanks everyone!!

 

[utahkennedys]

We bought at OKW last year after visiting in person on a trip. I absolutely loved it! It has the tropical, beach-type theme I loved. On this trip, we did not see the interiors of the rooms, and I was a little concerned the rooms would be dated given the pictures I had seen. On our first trip in a 2BR villa we were totally wowed! We loved it! It seemed very "vacation-y" to me. Our villa was in pristine condition (building #24) and it was not in need of rehab. Last week we visited OKW while we stayed at HGVC and I really, really missed it. HGVC was absolutely not up to the same standard inside or out...

I do think some people prefer the decor of SSR since it is more modern with granite, etc, but when I visited the models I really preferred the laid-back, casual, tropical feel to OKW.

There is no real rush to buy, so if you can swing it, take a visit of the DVC properties first and get a feel for which one you like. It's a big chunk of $ to buy site unseen I think, and you'll either love OKW or not.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm thinking the last major OKW rehab was 3 to 4 years ago, most of the sofas were replaced with the new style and the major appliances and carpeting were replaced. DVDs replaced VCRs and there are new TVs.

 

[BlakeNJ]

Good to hear. Sounds like they maintain the resorts really well. Thanks for your input!

 

[GADisneyDVC]

Hi there, I recently returned from my first stay at OKW--my home is SSR. I did not fall in love with it but much prefer SSR. I have seen the villas at BWV-loved them, and the ones at VWL-beautiful. OKW just is not the style that my DH and I love. But we sure love DVC--the best purchase we have made in a long time. We just won't be fighting to get a reservation at OKW.

 

[kangaroodle]

We just won't be fighting to get a reservation at OKW. [/QUOTE]


Good! That leaves more rooms for the rest of us who love the BIG rooms at OKW!!

 

[PamOKW]

They are constantly "rolling" through the resorts keeping things as fresh as possible. As mentioned, it's only been a few years since they did a major overhaul of new appliances and furniture.

I wouldn't say the draw of OKW is the remoteness -- I would say it's the fact that you are in the middle of everything at WDW but feel as if you escape "home" to a luxury golf resort. I really love the fact that I can sit out on my balcony in the early morning and watch all kinds of native wildlife -- birds and animals roam the golf course. But I can also hop a boat and be to DD in less than 15 minutes (or hop in my car and be there in 5).

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have to agree with Pam that things are constantly being "renewed". Almost every trip we see one area or another being painted at OKW.

As for the "dated" feel....It's theme is OLD Key West....meaning Key West of the early 20th century. If you have seen photos of the real thing, you will know why OKW has that "lived in" look to the furnishings. The colors might seem like 80's retro for some, but to me it just looks like "Florida". I live in the frozen north, so when I go to Florida, I want it to look and feel like Florida. I think Disney does a marvelous job of themeing all their resorts. SSR has that upstate NY resort feel, and BWV has a boardwalk atmosphere that is a bit cosmopolitan. Wilderness Lodge looks like the great northwest, and is possibly the DVC resort that best carries out their theme.

I for one, am glad we have choices on theme, but I mostly am glad that OKW has such spacious accommodations and is my "home"!

 

[bcvillastwo]

Our home DVC resort is BCV and last spring we spent a few days at SSR just to see what it was like. We are retiring in January so we have a nice trip to the World planned for February 2007. So, with that in mind we wanted to see the rooms at OKW to see the rooms ror ourselves. Well, as always we called OKW and they said to come on over and they would "try" to let us see a 1 bdrm. We went, the folks at OKW came through and we were given a nice tour of the resort and we got to see a 1 bdrm and a studio.

Wow, as advertised the 1 bdrm was considerably bigger than the 1 bdrms at the other DVC resorts we've stayed in over the years (BCV, BWV, WLV, SSR, and HHI). It was a 1st floor unit and I loved the outside deck sitting area, the decor was very nice, and I could easily see that there was more than enough room for a family of 5.

The one concern that we've always had about OKW is that its not right next to EPCOT and its not a boat ride away from MGM. However, with that said we will be spending 5 nights at OKW this February along with time at BCV, WLV, and Fort Wilderness on two weekends. Perhaps we will be OKW converts by that time, who knows.

 

[married@wdw]

Disney keeps all the DVC resorts on a constant rehab. They just go building by building, fixing what needs to be fixed and occassionally doing bigger replacements -- like all the VCRs to DVD players, replacing TVs, changing out bedding. My favorite change is the pull-outs at OKW -- I have no idea what the new ones are called, but they are SOOOO much more comfortable than the old ones! And the sandcastle slide added to the pool brought the pool area up to the standards of the other DVCs.

So to answer your question -- OKW definitely doesn't feel dated. I can't wait to get back "home" in November!!!