OKW requests- any luck?

[3Z's]

Out of the last 7 trips to OKW, we have gotten what matched our request twice. My only request has generally been "near the Hospitality House." I can't believe that this would be hard to fulfill. We're talking not even close sometimes- like bldg 41 or even bldg 55. We don't go during peak season and usually book a studio. I am doing something wrong or is there just a dark cloud over my head??!! Anyone else have this problem or maybe advice to avoid this problem.

 

[DebbieB]

That's probably the most common request. I've stayed at OKW 4 times and here's what I got for a 1 bedroom:

2000 - requested 23 to 26, got 26
2001 - requested 23 to 26, got 28
2002 - requested Turtle Pond Road water view, got bldg 31 wv
2003 - requested Turtle Pond Road water view, got bldg 43 wv

So 3 out of 4 I got what I requested and one close. We always check-in on Saturday, which is a low check-in day (most members check-in Sunday for lower points).

 

[PamOKW]

Debbie's right. "Near the HH" was once mentioned in something from DVC (maybe VM) as being the most popular request and asking people to not be disappointed if it can't be met. I'm not sure how to get your request to stand out. You might mention that you have requested it "X" number of times and it's never been granted.

 

[JoEllen]

We have the same problem due to our usual late arrival from Seattle.

We're trying to solve that problem this year by staying at Vero the first two days and then an early check in at OKW!

 

[rbuzzotta]

We usually request near the HH also and top floor... BUT.........after this past summer, with nearly 2 weeks of very loud people above us...........my only request is TOP FLOOR!! Even if I have to walk and beg!!! LOL!! They may haved figured if I got one out of 2 I would be happy! Yes, I was.........at check in!! LOL!!

To stay 2 weeks with loud people above you is the pits........I wonder if they even ever left theri room.........Yes, I know I could have called and complain but we didn't!! (they left 2 or 3 days before the end of our time so our vacation ended peacefully!)

 

[MELSMICE]

I just e-mailed a request for the Turtle Pond area for our April trip. I'm not real optimistic because it's peak time & we check in on a Sunday, but I figured if I didn't ask I could be anywhere.

rbuzzotta - we always request 1st floor. Funny how everyone is so different. How do you "drag" your luggage up the stairs? We were told there are no elevators. Plus, my dad has a bad leg & they're usually with us so I would hate for him to have to walk those stairs all the time.

Last trip we requested 1st floor near the front. We got there & they had us on the 3rd floor who knows where. I explained the situation with my dad's leg & they finally moved us to 1st floor. I wasn't sure I would like the area because I wasn't familiar with the Turtle Pond area, but we loved it. We walked right out our door & the path led directly to the pool! I think it was building 42, hmmm could have been 46. Obviously I can't remember for sure.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by 3Z's
Out of the last 7 trips to OKW, we have gotten what matched our request twice. My only request has generally been "near the Hospitality House." I can't believe that this would be hard to fulfill. We're talking not even close sometimes- like bldg 41 or even bldg 55. We don't go during peak season and usually book a studio. I am doing something wrong or is there just a dark cloud over my head??!! Anyone else have this problem or maybe advice to avoid this problem.

Just curious....are you reserving right at the 11 month mark?

Supposedly, unless they're back to the "room ready" mode, the requests are filled in chronological order from when the reservation is made and the requests made.

I imagine the "near the HH" is the most common request at OKW, as others have noted. I think it's safe to say that someone is getting that location...and I'm hoping it's the people who asked first 11 months prior and not just those who show up and throw a fit at the check-in desk.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I don't see a whole lot of point in requesting this area specifically. In fact, I prefer away from that area, but the last two trips have gotten as close as building 64 and 29 (which I thought was a close access to HH). I think location within a building is probably more important than being close to HH. I think requesting too much is futile. I sure wouldn't want to be the room controller! It must be a nightmare!

 

[PamOKW]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
I don't see a whole lot of point in requesting this area specifically.

Ssssh! Don't give away the secret or we'll have more competition for the back areas.

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, Pam! If I had my drothers, I would always stay near the South Point area, but I really don't care where I am, because I like all the areas of OKW. They all have a special charm. I LOVE the views from the Miller's Road villas, and like being close to HH, but it isn't that big a deal. I have never stayed in the Turtle Pond area.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

We really lucked out this past trip to OKW.

We had no requests for our GV unit except that it be non-smoking. For our other 2 studios, the only request was that they be near the GV. We were all assigned building 63, directly across from the HH. The GV was handicap accessible (elevatored building).

For the second part of our trip, we moved to a 1 bedroom. Our only requests were non-smoking and first floor unit (WE HATE STAIRS). My aunt requested her 2 bedroom near us and also first floor. We were assigned building 62, second floor, next to one another. The elevator in that building negated the need for first floor, I guess.

So, we lucked out for our entire trip, even though we didn't request near HH. We wanted to take a chance and try other areas on the chance that we would like it just as much.

But the proximity to the HH was great because we had so many kids - 8 kids under 5yo during the first week and 7 kids between 2 and 15 yo during the second week.

I imagine that filling requests can be quite challenging like a giant jig saw puzzle. Not only do they have to figure out how each piece can fit on the board, there's a set amount of time in which each piece can stay in that space. They must use computers to help with some of this? I'm getting a headache just thinking about it!

 

[SimbaCub]

I have made one "location" request at OKW and it was granted to me, near the HH. I explained to MS and the front desk at check-in I had a "special needs child" in my group and her parents wanted a 2nd story room near the HH. The reason, she is fully mobile and a 2nd story room would slow her down if she managed to open the doors--her latest trick at home just prior to our trip. They wanted to be by the HH as they figured she would be likely to go there if she did manage to pull off a great escape. I brought her down there every morning so she would be familiar with her surroundings and she learned by the 2nd morning the HH was a fun place to visit. Other than that one trip, I only ask for non-smoking. I was pleased, as were her parents, that the one time I had something a little more specific they were able to work with my party. I have not stayed twice in/around the same area at OKW and have enjoyed all of my rooms/views. The family with the special needs child wants to go visit OKW again in another year or 2 as she enjoyed her first trip so much!!

SimbaCub
BCV May 04

 

[Towncrier]

I used to love the top floor rooms until my MIL threatened to make me carry her up the stairs. Last trip, I asked for a first floor room when we checked in. I love my MIL dearly, but I have a hard enough time hauling myself up those stairs at the end of a long day at WDW.

I guess we must be in the minority because we have never requested a specific building. And we've never been disappointed either.

 

[WDWMom]

Out of the past 10 trip we have always had our building request met, except once and then it was just me and DH so it did matter. We tried something new. We always ask for the same buildings and 3rd floor. We don't always get third floor but not that big of a deal really. Usually get 2nd.

We are not organizied enough to book 11 months out, sometimes only 3-4 months. Always go the same time of year - Magic season. Maybe we are just lucky; I never make a fuss at check. Usually we check in on Sat., but then it seems 1000 others are too because the HH is packed with luggage. Not sure if there is a secret to our success.

 

[dvc guy]

Always ask for top floor non smoking. The 1st I tell the CM when I check in is I don't need to be near the HH. I always seem to get my requests, some rooms with better views, but never had a bad room.

 

[JohnathanS]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
LOL, Pam! If I had my drothers, I would always stay near the South Point area, but I really don't care where I am, because I like all the areas of OKW. They all have a special charm. I LOVE the views from the Miller's Road villas, and like being close to HH, but it isn't that big a deal. I have never stayed in the Turtle Pond area.

I'm with you here! We love the South Point pool and trekked down to it as many times as we visited the HH. On our Dec. trip, I've requested the South Point area, but will be happy with whatever we get!!

I've now stayed at OKW 3 times since joining DVC in August, and each time we requested near the HH. We got it each time, staying twice in building 25 and once in 28. Not sure how we got so lucky, although it was kind of disappointing to stay in the same building again. We want to try them all!!

 

[jeanniec]

We have been going to OKW since 1994 and we have always gotten our requests when we made one. Didn't know we could to start. Perhaps because we are evil smokers and there aren't many of us left, so I guess maybe the smoking buildings get far fewer requests. We love the Turtle Pond area with the pool and the snack bar. Always ask for Building 41, 1st floor, which my husband needs because of his knee. Sometimes we do a studio, sometimes a 1 BR and always a 2 BR when we bring the kids and grandson with. So far, so good, altho I hope I am not jinxing our luck by posting this!

 

[Sabor]

We always ask near turtle pond and have gotten it every single time , About 12 - 14 times since 1998. Usually 41 or 42

When we go with inlaws we add smoking to the request and get teh same room in building (41?) every time (4x).