OKW thoughts

[katiec]

As the "free dining" date quickly approaches I am looking to make our final decision about where to stay next sept.

My heart is set on YC, (had 2 nights at BCV last year & it was perfect) however I have to be slightly realistic about the costs as I couldn't live on beans for 18 months

Out of SSR/OKW I think I prefer the look of OKW, but would I regret not living on beans if I stayed there compared to YC?

I'd live to hear any reviews from people who've stayed there.

There will be just the 2 of us & we'll have a car.

Katie. X x

 

[Holstar]

I can't give you any reviews, but I can say that I've spent the last few months struggling to make the same decision!

My boyfriend and I are taking our three nieces next August and at first a One Bed at OKW seemed like the best option (free dining, discount etc). But, my heart has always been set on BC/YC.

We made the decision that rather than spending 14 nights in a One Bed at OKW we would spend 11 nights in a five person (pool view) room at YC. Based upon the price last year, with the discount and free dining, it worked our cheaper than OKW!

The girls won't want to spend a massive amount of time in the room, so we just don't see the point of doing a villa.

At the moment, Disney have quoted us £3888 for a five person room at YC, pool view, 11 nights with tickets for four adults and one child. Providing the dining plan offer is on (which Complete Orlando have confirmed it is!), we'll upgrade to deluxe dining plan for about £800-900 more. With flights, £2,400-3,000, it brings the final amount to around £7000-7500!

We priced up OKW last year when we were considering it, and for the same dates (roughly, give or take a week, but late August) it was £4774 for a villa for two weeks, park tickets and dining plan. Plus flights, its more or less the same price!

In all honesty, I don't know how the numbers work out with just two people. It may be cheaper for us because there's five of us... I just don't know!

And of course, all of this is guess work. Prices for OKW haven't been released yet, and we've not had the discounts or dining offers released. But.... it may be worth reviewing your numbers and figuring out whether it's worth sacrificing on space for your dream resort!


xxxx

 

[disneyholic family]

we've stayed in every resort on property except for SSR and i can say without any hesitation that we adore staying at OKW - especially if you have a car!!
at OKW, you can park right in front of your building!! very very convenient.

Much more convenient than the parking at YC.

if it were me and OKW came out to be less expensive, it would be a no brainer.
The OKW is a lovely place.

 

[katiec]

Thank you both very much

I am going to have to work the numbers

I think for a £500 difference it would be YC hands down, but any more than that probably OKW

YC is the only place (apart from AI) that we ever sat round a pool (& really enjoyed it) - we have had 2 stays on I-drive and couldn't bring ourselves to sit round the pool at either hotel

I do like that OKW is close to DTD - is it walkable (we are quite fit - in the exercise sense ) as we loved breakkie at EoS & would drive there from I-drive most mornings

And then if you throw in an upgrade to DxDDP then the (hopefully) discounts at OKW woukd cover the cost!!!

Aaarrggghhhh decisions decisions

Katie x

 

[Holstar]

A lot of people seem to really really love OKW, so it must be good. It's all down to you at the end of the day!

Putting money aside, you need to consider whether you would regret not staying at YC if that's where your heart is!

There won't be much of a difference in price... it could well be workable!

Do what you feel is best :

xxx

 

[pacman9a]

We stayed at OKW in 2009 and loved it, I don't think DTD is walkable from OKW although there is a boat service between the two which might make a change from the drive

 

[Elise79]

For 2 of you SSR might be the better option as the studios have the queen bed plus a sofa (OKW has 2 queens hence why families in studios prefer it) and SSR is a short walk to DTD.

You can walk during the day from OKW to DTD however it is a fair walk and at night the path is not lit.

 

[katiec]

A lot of people seem to really really love OKW, so it must be good. It's all down to you at the end of the day!

Putting money aside, you need to consider whether you would regret not staying at YC if that's where your heart is!

There won't be much of a difference in price... it could well be workable!

Do what you feel is best :

xxx

Yes -there are a lot of good reports about OKW.
My heart woud defiantely be at YC, but I might love OKW too
But no matter how much I love it DH has a far more sensible head & says "we could have 2 holidays" for the price etc- hence 2 I-drive stays

We stayed at OKW in 2009 and loved it, I don't think DTD is walkable from OKW although there is a boat service between the two which might make a change from the drive

Glad u enjoyed it - you seem to be in very good company!!

For 2 of you SSR might be the better option as the studios have the queen bed plus a sofa (OKW has 2 queens hence why families in studios prefer it) and SSR is a short walk to DTD.

You can walk during the day from OKW to DTD however it is a fair walk and at night the path is not lit.

Thanks for the spanner

Katie x

 

[Laurafoster]

If the price difference was a number you are happy with (without living on beans ) then i would go for YC no question.

I love the YC/BC/BCV and have stayed there on several occassions. YC is my favourite resort (although i am very biased as i got married there). I love the pool area and i love being in the Epcot resort area. We really enjoy being able to walk to the studios and to Epcot - i especially love being able to walk back after the fireworks and not have to wait for transportation. I love walking around the boardwalk too - especially at night so all of this makes the YC my favourite resort.

However if it was a big difference in price then i would probably go with OKW. I havent stayed there yet (will be staying there for the first time in a few weeks) but i have been there several times. The resort is beautiful! Its really tranquil and relaxing. Im really looking forward to my stay there.

SSR is also a lovely resort - we are now DVC members and it is my home resort so i have stayed a few times. Depending on where you are in the resort you can walk accross to DTD, or else its a nice boat ride over.

Good luck with your decision

 

[orangetiggs]

Love okw even with all the problems we had last year we are still going back there this year and are hoping for the same group of buildings. Its so relaxing and a boat trip to dtd is great.

The one downside was a small counter service but olivias was so nice, we ate lunch there a couple of times

 

[katiec]

If the price difference was a number you are happy with (without living on beans ) then i would go for YC no question.

My exact feelings

I love the YC/BC/BCV and have stayed there on several occassions. YC is my favourite resort (although i am very biased as i got married there). I love the pool area and i love being in the Epcot resort area. We really enjoy being able to walk to the studios and to Epcot - i especially love being able to walk back after the fireworks and not have to wait for transportation. I love walking around the boardwalk too - especially at night so all of this makes the YC my favourite resort.

However if it was a big difference in price then i would probably go with OKW. I havent stayed there yet (will be staying there for the first time in a few weeks) but i have been there several times. The resort is beautiful! Its really tranquil and relaxing. Im really looking forward to my stay there.

SSR is also a lovely resort - we are now DVC members and it is my home resort so i have stayed a few times. Depending on where you are in the resort you can walk accross to DTD, or else its a nice boat ride over.

Good luck with your decision

Thank you :good vibes We just loved that unexplainable feeling of just being around the YC/BC etc - our I-Drive hotels didn't really match up to it
I suppose this is what we are really looking for when we go back.
I have never known DH to sit round the pool quite happily for the afternoon as he did at the YC!

Love okw even with all the problems we had last year we are still going back there this year and are hoping for the same group of buildings. Its so relaxing and a boat trip to dtd is great.

The one downside was a small counter service but olivias was so nice, we ate lunch there a couple of times

sorry to hear you had problems
I hope your next trip is better.

A small counter service wouldn't bother us too much - we would have some snacks in the room as i HATE being hungry - makes me
The boat to DTD would be a real bonus as we loved just sitting outside Earl Of Sandwich watching the world go by :good vibes:good vibes


Katie x

 

[disneyholic family]

basically it comes down to numbers - if they have the 43% discount for OKW again this year, then i'm sure it will be MUCH cheaper than YC....
when they have the discount, OKW comes in at the price of the moderates and then you throw in free food - and well....no brainer..

but if they don't have the discount this year, then it will be closer to the YC price....
and the YC is definitely an upscale resort...
and the pool is second to none, that's for sure..

so for the same money, or only a slight difference, i would go with the YC, but if it's half the price, i would go with OKW....

by the way, i much prefer the YC to the BC.....i know they're basically the same except for decor, but i like the decor of the YC much better. Plus all the rooms have balconies at the YC, not true of the BC.

 

[jen_uk]

If I could afford it then I would go for YC over OKW every time! OKW is the only Disney property we disliked and I would never stay there again unless I had no choice. YC has a brilliant location, amazing pool, great dining options at the BW, walking distance to two parks etc. No contest for me!

 

[katiec]

basically it comes down to numbers - if they have the 43% discount for OKW again this year, then i'm sure it will be MUCH cheaper than YC....
when they have the discount, OKW comes in at the price of the moderates and then you throw in free food - and well....no brainer..

but if they don't have the discount this year, then it will be closer to the YC price....
and the YC is definitely an upscale resort...
and the pool is second to none, that's for sure..

so for the same money, or only a slight difference, i would go with the YC, but if it's half the price, i would go with OKW....

by the way, i much prefer the YC to the BC.....i know they're basically the same except for decor, but i like the decor of the YC much better. Plus all the rooms have balconies at the YC, not true of the BC.

If I could afford it then I would go for YC over OKW every time! OKW is the only Disney property we disliked and I would never stay there again unless I had no choice. YC has a brilliant location, amazing pool, great dining options at the BW, walking distance to two parks etc. No contest for me!

You 2 really are not helping !!!!

The YC is really what we (edited to say I!!!) want (& I am just about happy to spend £5k ), but if it's double OKW/SSR then I know DH will say we can have 2 holidays for the same price. Even I can see that makes sense & I'm the one with no sense

Jen - what didn't you like about about OKW?

Katie x

 

[jen_uk]

The aircon and internet didn't work in our room and despite numerous phone calls never got fixed. The resort is very spread out and I didn't like having to drive to the main area to use the refil mugs, at the BC and YC it's only a short walk to the main areas. The bus service wasn't very good, the food options are very limited and the pool is quite small.

 

[Elise79]

The pool at OKW is nowhere near as good as SAB - not somewhere we would spend hours.

Personally we found SAB too big however we stayed there with a 2 year old...had it just been DH & I it would not have been a problem!

 

[starrysky]

We stayed at OKW last year and we loved it. Very pretty resort and we liked being close to DTD as we were at POR and POFQ.

We had a studio room and while lovely we have booked a 1 bedroom for this years trip.

Location of our room was good but I agree that it is a large resort. The buses are frequent and go to the main area before heading to their destination. Though you are planning to have a car so location is not such an issue.

We looked at SSR and it was not somewhere we liked the look of.

The free DDP worked out great for us and we are glad that the offer was available for this years trip.

 

[katiec]

Thank you

DH is currently checking out the photos & is annoyed as we nearly went for the DVC SSR/OKW tour last year - would have solved lots of problems

Katie x x

 

[PudseyChancer]

We stayed at OKW last year and had a fantastic time, it is a fabulous location, totally in synch with a relaxing stay, despite being on site. It is a large resort but we were located right next to the Turtle Pond pool area so were able to get drinks refills there, I often walked down to Hospitality House just to take in the atmosphere/vibe of the place - it wasn't a particularly taxing walk.

Had a look round SSR when we bought into DVC, it was pleasant enough but I didn't really 'get' the theming, and wasn't overly keen on the outlook of DD - though I appreciate for some that might be a positive.

We're doing AKL and BCV this year, and chose BCV for SAB and its location so I appreciate the appeal to yourself - all I can say is we had a great time at OKW and would absolutely recommend it to everyone.

 

[dixonsontour]

We loved OKW and are booked again for this year.

It has a true tropical holiday feel.

Don't think i've ever seen a negative review by a UK visitor.

My thinking is the OKW/SSR deal wont be around for ever. Make the most of it whilst you can. For October this year a studio works out at £112 a night inc ddp - great value.

The studios are lovely - 2 of you will have lots of space.

We also enjoyed turtle pond pool area and will be requesting that area again.