OKW: Tell me all that we should do!

[Viki]

OK, it was confirmed today, DP and I are on our way to our very first stay at OKW. It's a short 5-night trip, during the Food and Wine festival and aside from sampling those wares and taking in the Halloween party, we don't want to do much in the parks.

I've looked at a few slides about OKW and it looks like there a few things to do at the resorts? What are they exactly? What do you recommend?

 

[Chuck S]

There are 4 pools with hot tubs, a sauna (inside the lighthouse) tennis courts, shuffleboard, boat & bike rentals If you ladies are golfers, the Lake Buena Vista course winds through OKW. Try a Sultry Seahorse at the Gurgling Suitcase. Mmmm.

You are connected by boat to Dtd, so you can stroll and shop to your hearts content, and enjoy many dining options. For lighter fare, Earl of Sandwich at DtD Marketplace is wonderful.

If you want something a little more athletic, there is a walking trail to DtD, it is about a mile. The entrance to the trail is located in the cul-de-sac near bldg 55. It parallels the waterway.

And it always great to just relax on your balcony with a cool drink or morning coffee

Have a great trip!!!

 

[Viki]

Thank you, Chuck, we're really excited about this trip; we love trying new resorts.

Did I read somewhere that there is a piano player and bar on property?

 

[Chuck S]

The bar is the Gurgling Suitcase, located behind Olivia's, near the boat dock. The Sultry Seahorse is one of the specialty drinks of OKW. I don't know about a piano player...I haven't seen one, but we usually don't spend a lot of time in the main pool area/restaurant/bar area. We almost always get a room in one of the farther buildings, since we usually have a car. What size unit are you staying in? I hope you can get a one bedroom. They are huge at OKW, and have a big in-room jacuzzi.

 

[Viki]

The bar is the Gurgling Suitcase, located behind Olivia's, near the boat dock. The Sultry Seahorse is one of the specialty drinks of OKW. I don't know about a piano player...I haven't seen one, but we usually don't spend a lot of time in the main pool area/restaurant/bar area. We almost always get a room in one of the farther buildings, since we usually have a car. What size unit are you staying in? I hope you can get a one bedroom. They are huge at OKW, and have a big in-room jacuzzi.

Unfortunately we are only staying in a studio - the impetus for this trip is that after booking our big extended family vacation for December we had 44 pts left over that we had to spend before April 2008. A studio at OKW easily accommodated this for only 40 pts (of course we have no idea of what to do with the other 4!). So, no 1-bedroom this time around. Still, it's only the two of us on this trip, we should be fine.

 

[paults]

Thank you, Chuck, we're really excited about this trip; we love trying new resorts.

Did I read somewhere that there is a piano player and bar on property?

I believe the piano player is Bob jackson and over at POR riverside. haven't seen him yet but heard its a lot of fun.
Or at the BW resort is Dueling Pianos 7 or 8 till 2 am.

 

[DeeCee735]

I have a studio booked for three nights in September with 2 of my cousins. Since it's just us ladies, and they are not "park" people, I have been thinking of things to do as well. This is what I am coming up with so far. One of my cousins is very into spa treatments, so possibly a day at SSR spa. I need to look more into it and see what they have to offer. We will also go see Cirque Du Soliel one night, and definitely plan to do Jellyrolls at the BW one night, that's alot of fun. Besides these things, we would like to resort hop a little and do some fine dining. When I'm there with DH we usually eat at moderate places, he's a burger kinda of guy. I look forward to trying Jiko, Flying Fish or California Grill or Yachtsman Steakhouse, as well as Big River Grille and Brewing Works - good beer
I already have too much on the itinerary - I'm going to have to cut it down!
Have fun planning and have an awesome vacation!

 

[Viki]

I believe the piano player is Bob jackson and over at POR riverside. haven't seen him yet but heard its a lot of fun.
Or at the BW resort is Dueling Pianos 7 or 8 till 2 am.

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Ah! That's it. Is there a connection/path between the two resorts? Can we walk?

 

[disneykidatheart]

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Ah! That's it. Is there a connection/path between the two resorts? Can we walk?

No. You cannot walk to Port Orleans Riverside. However, you may take a boat or bus to Downtown Disney and take either a boat or bus to Port Orleans Riverside. To get to Jellyrolls you will have to take a boat or bus to Downtown Disney and take a bus from there to Boardwalk.

 

[jemiaule]

We always enjoy renting boats and we did this on our last trip when we stayed at OKW. Cruising through the canals to POR was a lot of fun and it was neat to get a close peek at the Treehouse VIllas that are now CM housing.

We also did bike rentals on that trip. I am not a bike person at all but I really did enjoy it. OKW is so pretty and relaxing that it made that peddling part a bit more tolerable. Granted we did one of those surrey bikes and I made my husband do most of the peddling. Hehehehe

 

[JimC]

Second the boat rentals and the canal cruising. Also enjoy eating at Olivias out on the patio.

 

[Viki]

Oh, we love biking. We rented bikes on a trip to WL a few years back and had a terrific time biking over to FW.

On renting boats, can you dock them over at POR, get out, and enjoy the piano player, since you can't walk over and we won't have a car? Someone seemed to imply their waterways are connected?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Too bad you are only in a studio, because otherwise you could take advantage of the free DVD rentals at Hank's Rent and Return. There are also books etc in Papa's den. We love to just stroll around the resort too. It truly is a neighborhood.

 

[Viki]

This is all sounding really, really lovely. Thank you all.

And what, exactly, is in the Salty Seahorse? It sounds right up my alley!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

When you check in, you'll get a sheet titled "Hank's Happenings". It lists many activities at OKW, including things like bingo, vollyball tournaments, pool sports, paint your own umbrella, kids unbirthday parties, etc.

 

[OKWMom]

We really just enjoy the quiet atmosphere after a busy, noisy day in the parks. We have had really good luck with our rooms, and we have been able to see the higher Illuminations fireworks from our balcony each night.

 

[jiggerj]

There are 4 pools with hot tubs, a sauna (inside the lighthouse)

I never knew there was a sauna in the Lighthouse! Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

To answer your Sultry Seahorse question:

Sultry Seahorse - Amaretto, Creme de banana, pineapple juice, orange juice and a float of Cherry Brandy. - $7.75

And another tasty OKW drink:

Turtle Crawl - Coconut Rum, Spiced Rum, and White Rum, with pineapple, orange and Key lime juices. - $7.75

 

[Viki]

To answer your Sultry Seahorse question:

Sultry Seahorse - Amaretto, Creme de banana, pineapple juice, orange juice and a float of Cherry Brandy. - $7.75

And another tasty OKW drink:

Turtle Crawl - Coconut Rum, Spiced Rum, and White Rum, with pineapple, orange and Key lime juices. - $7.75

They're both, generally speaking, a bit too sweet for this gal, but in your honor and in the spirit of OKW I'll be sure to have at least one of each in your honor!!!