OKW--that Disney feel?

[ogorchock]

We're staying at OKW in a few weeks. We've been on wait lists for BCV and BLT but they haven't come through.

We were watching the video sent by Disney last night and my DD8 saw pics of Pop Century and I could tell she wanted to stay there. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge our first trip and we loved the Disney feel. Our second trip was a split stay. We started at SSR and it didn't feel like Disney. We spent the second 1/2 of the week at BWV and loved the boardwalk.

Now we're going to OKW. Convince me that it will seem like Disney to her!

 

[Granny]

Not really sure what you mean by the "Disney feel".

Old Key West is a beautiful resort. The rooms are by far the largest of all the DVC resorts (especially if you are in a 1BR or larger). It has a Key West theme, with light colors and lots of Jimmy Buffet music. It has a Community Hall and a nice main pool with slide.

I can't say why it would be less "Disneyish" than VWL or BWV. But I don't know why SSR would get that description either.

 

[disneynutz]

It's great to stay at all of the resorts. For a 8 year old if you say you love it, she will love it. Point out all of the resorts positive amenities, beauty, and other kids.

Bill

 

[MikeyNS]

I had the save reservations about our first stay at OKW. OKW was the only resort we hadn't stayed at and we decided to take the plunge as we were avoiding it for the same reasons (although we do LOVE SSR), and now we can't wait to go back.
It has such a laid back feel to it, and strolling by the boat dock and experiencing the community hall did it for us. Great resort, great rooms and great feel all over.

Just remember everyone has their personal preferences and tastes. We don't think we'll ever stay at the BCV again, although it seems like the majority of people like it..

 

[supersuperwendy]

And the rooms have been recently beautifully refurbished

 

[nilseks]

Yep, I have the same reservations/hesitations about our December stay. Really wanted to get into BWV but I'm guessing our waitlist won't come through.

I ended up looking at LOTS of photos of OKW online and the grounds really do look gorgeous. I keep telling myself that after a hectic day at the parks, it will be nice to return to this laid back atmosphere. I may not be buying into that 100% but I *KNOW* DH will appreciate the peace and quiet.

 

[tjkraz]

Everyone has their different views toward theming. To some, an environment which transports you to a location hundreds or thousands of miles away is the textbook definition of good theming. Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and most other Disney resorts accomplish that goal in spades.

If you're expecting 20' tall bowling pins or Buzz Lightyear statues, you will be disappointed with Old Key West.

 

[DizGirl20]

We bought into DVC because of our cash stay at OKW! We very much enjoyed the tropical theme, the ability to park our car right outside our building, the boat to DTD and the size of our villa. OKW and SSR are not as heavily themed and busy as some other locations, but I find them to be very relaxing at the end of a busy day spent in the theme parks. Show your DD8 some pictures of the sandcastle slide and pool. My girls went when they were 8 & 10 and we loved it there! Enjoy!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yep, I have the same reservations/hesitations about our December stay. Really wanted to get into BWV but I'm guessing our waitlist won't come through.

I ended up looking at LOTS of photos of OKW online and the grounds really do look gorgeous. I keep telling myself that after a hectic day at the parks, it will be nice to return to this laid back atmosphere. I may not be buying into that 100% but I *KNOW* DH will appreciate the peace and quiet.

Just remember that some of us fail to see what is so "Disneyish" about BWV or BCV either. Given the choice, I'd choose OKW every time.

FYI, for the OP... Kids LOVE the VERY DISNEY OKW pool slide!

 

[danimaroo]

We stayed at the Grand Floridian for our first weekend at Disney during our honeymoon, then moved over to OKW for a week. We had a beautiful room at GF, with a view of the lagoon and Epcot, the Wedding Pavilion and Poly. Our room at OKW was in a quiet area, with no view, but a one-bedroom with a big whirlpool tub.

I preferred OKW without a question. I loved the laidback vibe, that you could have quiet time when you needed it, the pools were great... It definitely has that Disney World feel.

We're going back in January and are trying out the Beach Club Villas, but I will say that if you are worried about OKW having the DW feel, you will be fine. I really really enjoyed our stay at OKW (and it's also my in-laws "home" for DVC, and they won't stay anywhere else but there!)

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you didn't like SSR, you probably won't like OKW either. They are similar in that they are spread out and look like communities instead of hotels.

I love OKW and that's all I have to say about that.

 

[disneynutz]

While OKW is a condo style resort like SSR, it has a more homey feel to it while SSR has a more open, spread out, resort feel to it.

They are both beautiful properties like all of the DVC resorts, just different.

Bill

 

[dmoore22]

When we finally joined DVC our youngest, out of 6 children, was just 8 years old. We had purchased a resale with OKW as our home resort. Our DD had no problem transitioning from our AS stays to OKW. As she grew older her moments of discovering of what is available at OKW also expanded. To paraphrase Walt Disney, OKW has something for kids from 6 to 60.

 

[nilseks]

Just remember that some of us fail to see what is so "Disneyish" about BWV or BCV either. Given the choice, I'd choose OKW every time.

FYI, for the OP... Kids LOVE the VERY DISNEY OKW pool slide!

Oh beleive me, I agree with you 100%. I don't see anything Disneyish about BWV. I just like it for the location and ease. We have reservations at Kouzzina, the guys like to hang out at ESPN, Epcot is our favorite park so we like the convenience of that...but I really do think DH is going to love being at OKW. Last time we stayed at POP, time before that was ASM...yeah, we're over that theming lol!

 

[jacesmommy]

My 7 year old absolutely LOVED OKW as well as SSR. The pools are amazing and he's a waterbug. He actually said he wouldn't want to stay at any of the Allstars again because of the pools and he loved the rooms!

 

[amypetecar]

I didn't think my kids would be impressed with OKW either, but they loved the pool and the sandcastle slide.

they couldn't get enough of the community hall. Who would have thought, we're at disney world with the greatest theme parks anywhere, and the kids couldn't get enough of the free air hockey, and coloring book pictures of disney princesses.

Also, the advantages to the room you'll have at OKW vs. a Pop Century room are too numerous to list.

chances are, everyone will enjoy their stay.

 

[MinnieGi]

Our kids now 11 & 7 have stayed at OKW several times and always enjoy it there. They like the sandcastle pool and the sandy area to play in as well as community hall. They, like us, like to spread out in a OKW one or two bedroom villa!!!! All that room is a wonderful thing!! Its fun to take the boat to DTD and its beautiful to walk around the OKW property.

Now my kids have enjoyed BWV, VWL, BLT, AKV also a bunch. Through DD's dance team they experienced the ALL-Stars for the first time this summer and that got a big thumbs down from both of them!! No slide, small crowded room, now kitchen, far walk to refillable mugs. Now some would say AS is very "Disneyish" but my kids are used to the DVC villas and they couldn't stand it there.

 

[deerislemaine]

We have kids 13, 11, and 4. We have stayed at OKW 3 times now, so our 11 year-old daughter was 8 the first time she stayed there. She loved it. She loved the pool, and she liked the extra space. We've also stayed at VWL, and she liked that too. However, she prefers the 1 BR at OKW to the 1BR at VWL because of the extra space. We tend to get a 2BR at OKW and have grandparents come too.

We stayed at the All-stars once and did not like it. That was one reason that we bought a resale DVC contract.

I agree with everyone else that your 8 year old will love it.

P.S. Dad (me) loves the extra space and the extra quite. I also like the ability to cook meals and eat together.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

My son (15), a DVC'r since age 2 1/2 stayed at the Pop and at the All Stars Music for 2 school functions, and the 1st thing he said upon returning home was, "Sure wasn't like staying at OKW!" He loves evey DVC resort, sure we all have preferences, but to us they all have that Disney feel and they all have something special to offer!

 

[JWG]

Our DD5 loves OKW. She's stayed at BWV once (11 mos.), OKW 2x (2.5, 3.5) and AKV once (4). In two weeks she'l be back at BWV and then BLT.

Her favorite is OKW (the "blue" hotel as she calls it). We're trying to get her jazzed about the clown pool at BWV because she's disappointed we're not going back to the blue hotel.

To be fair, outside of AKV - and she did really like the animals, she wouldn't know/remember any other Disney property. We'll see what she thinks after this trip.

OKW is one of our favorites if we have a car. If not, we prefer BWV and BLT.