OKW Stay - 4 nights RM#4730 2BR Dedicated

[jaysue]

Our first stay at OKW as DVC members (rented in May), stayed in a 2BR dedicated (yes Rich the rooms are huge! ) - rm #4730 - Sun Nov 9-Thurs Nov 13

This was our first DVC members trip, and our first WDW trip with DS#2 (5 months old)

We drove in from Fort Lauderdale (parents condo) up to WDW on the Sunday morning - came up the Turnpike, across Osceloa Parkway and then off at 535 to 536 and then into WDW - easy and fast trip

Arrived around 12:30pm and went for room-ready for 2BR - only request was non smoking - asked if any ground floor (family of four packs a lot with a 5 month old!) and no only the one 2BR on the third floor was ready - had a quick with DW and we took the room so we could get the kids settled down

After hauling up all the packed stuff (exersaucer, stroller, 4yr old's stuff etc...), settled in for a bit, admired the room and the view to the golf course and DW was amazed at the size of the unit and loved the fact that since it was dedicated no separate entrance from the main door.

The room was in very good shape with only very minor issues here and there - essentially cosmetic - everything was working just peachy.

Loved the crisp welcome homes and the amazing groundskeeping groups at OKW that keep the place looking so beautfiul.

The bus service was timely and active - waited only about 10-12 minutes on average for our transportation.

For the first time, we followed the tour in the morning, back for a break then go to a different park in the afternoon - this worked great - I admit that I needed to adjust my expectations in terms of how long a retreat takes.

Easy access to the Winn-Dixie out on #535 and thanks all for the great grocery directions

We loved OKW, and DW was very impressed with our DVC purchase and the room size and resort - it helped validate the purchase decision (that I pushed for) in her mind

thanks
jaysue

P.S. A special thanks to all the members on this board that helped convince me and gave good advice on our DVC purchase and all the invaluable tips and tricks to an optimal DVC vacation experience.

 

[PamOKW]

So glad to hear your first trip home was a success! May it be the first of many.

 

[MJTinNH]

Glad you guys had a great trip home and wonderful experience with DVC! Thank you for the report!

 

[lenshanem]

Tahnsk for the report! Glad you had a great time!!!

 

[KANSAS]

i love my okw points. I can use them for 11 month window for OKW Grand villa. i use them at Beach club villa, at 7 month window, very easily

and I pay 10% less in annual dues at OKW, than BCV points annual dues
and 15% less in annual dues at OKW, than Boardwalk villa annual dues.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by KANSAS
i love my okw points. I can use them for 11 month window for OKW Grand villa. i use them at Beach club villa, at 7 month window, very easily

and I pay 10% less in annual dues at OKW, than BCV points annual dues
and 15% less in annual dues at OKW, than Boardwalk villa annual dues.

Your math is a little off, for 2003 the BWV dues are actually 17.8% higher than OKW or $0.62 more per pt which comes out to a whopping total of $186.00 more per year for a 300 pt contract or broken down monthly it is $15.50 more per month. And BCV dues are actually 13.8% higher than OKW or $0.48 more per pt which comes out to a whopping total of $144.00 more per year for a 300 pt contract or broken down monthly it is $12.00 more per month.
Of course the much more superior location and full deluxe resort amenities that BWV & BCV offers it's guests is at least 150% greater than what OKW offers it's guests, but who's counting!

 

[lenshanem]

Ya, but KANSAS said they still have been able to stay at other resorts so they are saving money and still getting to stay at my home resort!

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by lenshanem
Ya, but KANSAS said they still have been able to stay at other resorts so they are saving money and still getting to stay at my home resort!

They might have been able to stay at BCV and BWV in the past at 7 months but there is absolutely no guarantee that this will continue to be possible in the future. There is no gurantee that members will even be able to stay at other DVC resorts other than their home resort nor is there any guarantee that the 7 month booking for non DVC home resorts will always remain.
BWV of course is no longer a consideration since Kansas has stated very strongly that they will NEVER stay there again because of their feelings of the bus transportation. The fact that both BCV and BWV share the same buses, I guess has no bearing.
Personally, if $0.62 or $0.48 per point made a difference to me financially then I would think a DVC membership was too much of a financial burden to keep.
I would not trade my DVC home resort for OKW pts for all the tea in China, no matter what the difference in yearly dues.
Also just because there is a $0.62 or $0.48 difference in dues at the present time does not mean this will always remain the same either. The dues at BWV & BCV could rise even higher or they could also become lower than OKW, no one knows. For 2003, OKW had the highest % increase in dues out of all the DVC resorts, if this continues they very well could be a time when OKW dues are even or higher than the other DVC resorts. I sincerely doubt this will ever happen due to the fact that OKW provides less amenities and a much less desired location than the other WDW DVC resorts but again no one knows.

 

[lenshanem]

I would not trade my DVC home resort for OKW pts for all the tea in China, no matter what the difference in yearly dues.

Oh, I woudln't either. Because liek you say there is no guarantee. I don't like the OKW apartment feel and the lack of a theme pool. But, for now KANSAS is saving money AND enjoying other resorts!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Good to hear your 1st visit home was good!!