OKW the Good and the Bad ?

[goofydad621]

Wondering if any of you OKW vets and can point out the good andthe bad about OKW.

Right now we are having a split stay on our next Vaca in Sept/Oct 5 nights Poly and 5 nights AKL and I am thinking of dropping the AKL and booking 5 nights 1 bedroom AKL with my discount code it is only $200 more and we have always wanted to try a DVC resort. So what info should I have before switching?

Is it a long walk to the main pool area?
What building should I request?
Thanks for the help

Dave goofydad Dionne

 

[Chuck S]

Wondering if any of you OKW vets and can point out the good andthe bad about OKW.

Right now we are having a split stay on our next Vaca in Sept/Oct 5 nights Poly and 5 nights AKL and I am thinking of dropping the AKL and booking 5 nights 1 bedroom AKL with my discount code it is only $200 more and we have always wanted to try a DVC resort. So what info should I have before switching?

Is it a long walk to the main pool area?
What building should I request?
Thanks for the help

Dave goofydad Dionne

It can be a somewhat long walk to the main check-in area, but you can hop on any bus if you wish. Check-in area is the last stop on the circuit. To get back, walk across the bridge and take any bus to South Point or turtle Pond.

A one bedroom at OKW will give you King sized bed in the master suite and a queen sized sofa sleeper in the living room.

Depending upon your families comfort level, buildings 29 and below have one entrance to the bathroom, through the master suite, which may cut down on your privacy. Buildings 30 and over had a design change, with a second entrance added to the bathroom through the laundry room.

You'll have a full-sized washer and dryer in the unit, as well as a full kitchen. If you are booking cash through CRO, even with a discount, you will receive daily maid service..if you are booking through DVC member points, you will receive trash and towel service on day 4, no full cleaning unless staying 8 nights or longer.

The OKW rooms are the most spacious of any DVC resort so far. You'll have a lovely balcony off the dining room to enjoy your morning coffee and/or breakfast, weather permitting.

There is one main pool and 3 quiet pool throughout the resort, each with a sandy play area for the kids and hot tubs. OKW has 5 bus stop within the resort. A small sauna is located inside the lighthouse in the main pool area. Exercise room, restaurant, resort store and snack bar are also located in the general area of the main pool.

OKW is connected by boat to SSR and Downtown Disney.

There are no elevators at OKW, except in Bldgs 62, 63 & 64. I usually try to not stay in those to leave them open for floks that need elevator access for medical reasons.

 

[monami7]

We just got back from there in Dec. We loved it! We love the boat ride to DTD. The quiet pools are great after a day in the parks, very relaxing. We had a split stay and were at southpoint for 1 part and the building across from the main building/pool/restaurant for the other part. we liked both for different reasons.
Personally if you have points that you want to use I would do it. It is a very nice resort.

 

[Granny]

I guess the question is...what do you consider "bad"?

I don't think there is anything particularly bad about any DVC resort. They have different approaches to accommodations, transportation, room views, on-site amenities, etc, but every one of them is first class as far as I've seen.

Tell us more specifically you would consider bad, and we can probably give you a better answer than generalizations.

Otherwise, you'll be left with comments like mine that OKW is a beautiful, condo-style DVC resort with plush landscaping and many water/golf course views. All room locations are good, unless there is something about a room location that you consider bad. With the bus transport, you can easily maneuver around the resort.

Enjoy!

 

[Sammie]

I agree with Granny, bad is very subjective. We like all the DVC resorts for different reasons, they are all top notch.

However they are very different. Some people really dislike outside entrances, so if that bothers you then that would be a bad for OKW.

It is a beautiful peaceful resort with some of the most lush landscaping at Disney. It is the nearest thing to being in the Keys without the drive. Rooms are the largest of all DVC resorts.

As Chuck said you can catch an internal bus to the main pool if you don't want to walk.

 

[elijahpep]

We loved staying at OKW. It is a beautiful resort.

Only a couple of things stood out to us, as things, we personally didn't enjoy.
We were in BLDG 28. The bus rides were long to get off the resort and there aren't any elevators to help haul luggage if you on an upper floor.

Other than those things, it was a great stay but those things mentioned above were not deal breakers. You will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation with your family at OKW!

~DW

 

[jdvm]

If at all possible, get at least a one bedroom unit so you can really see what all of the talk is about. Yes, Old Key West is great--we've been members there since 1992--but it's really the 1,2 and 3 bedroom units that make you REALLY appreciate it.
Good luck
John

 

[goofydad621]

Thanks everyone I will post more later when I get home, If we do this I am going to get a 1 bedroom otherwise it is not worth it for me. AAhhh a king bed for me and my wife
That makes it worth while all by itself.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks everyone I will post more later when I get home, If we do this I am going to get a 1 bedroom otherwise it is not worth it for me. AAhhh a king bed for me and my wife
That makes it worth while all by itself.

A very wise decision! In my mind, a studio (yes, even at OKW) is still a glorified hotel room. To see what it is really all about, you need to stay in a 1 bedroom or larger.

We love the views from most of the villas at OKW. Buildings 28 and 29 would be the exception to that and especially if you are on the first floor. The bus service at OKW is generally VERY good. There are 3 neighborhood pools plus the main theme pool, and each pool has a hot tub and play area attached to it as well as a seperate laundry and restrooms. We actually prefer the neighborhood pools to the main one, because they tend to be quieter and less busy when we go for our hot tub visits.

 

[spiceycat]

parking can be a problem in building 11 thru 14 - the closest to the HH. because they are the closest.

so I won't recommend them.

building 63 had no parking lot, building 16 has a tiny one.

also don't like to stay in building that the bus turns around at.

I like a quiet pool close by - but also do studios and the pools are where the laundry mats are located.

here is a map.

It would request non-smoking, close to HH, water view.

you can have smoking or non-smoking

close to HH, bus stop, pool

views are - water, golf or woods.

the first two are the most important.

don't ask for a particular building - because that building might be filled before you arrive.

ask for the view and what you want to be near.