OKW Trip Report - please don't get mad

[Tigger031266]

Just back from OKW, Over Thanksgiving. I have stayed in the BCV and BWV before and this was our first trip to OKW. I have to say that I was overall a little disppointed with OKW but it was entirely my expectations.

Let me start with the room was great (stayed in Studio building 48). Clean with nice golf course view and nice layout. The best thing is many people do not have nieghbors on 3 sides of the rooms. Makes it really quite. Grounds were awsome. Check in was flawless. Olivia's was just Ok. It was not busy with good service but I thought the food taste and quality was lacking. Community room was not as nice as BWV (better than BCV, which has none). It seems the community room people at BWV are much more friendly. Plus BWV has an air hockey table!! The arcade was weak at OKW as well. Essentially, I spent a lot of time driving to BW, Contemporary and other resorts because of OKW did not have many restaurants or activities. No beach and the pool was being refurbished. No character meals. The store and the restaurants were at least a 12-15 min walk. May as well drive to a nice store in DTD. The boat for DTD came every hours (or so the sign said, I never took it). thats really a long wait.

BCV and BWV are completely different types of resorts (compared to OKW). They are exciting and buried in the heart of WDW with walking distances to too many restaurants to eat at (EPCOT, the BW and all the hotels). OKW seemed to me, kind of like an old age home. It was quiet, way too quiet. It is entirely me but for those of you that maybe have not stayed there. Expect more of a relaxing, quiet vacation.

For those of you that love the place. I did not really mean you were old. You just have different vacation ideas than I have. When I go to WDW, I want to feel like I am in WDW. Otherwise, I may as stay outside of WDW. I am sure that I will return to OKW someday (when I turn 75 hehe - just kidding).

 

[DisneyDVClover]

My family pretty much agrees with that statement we love the hustle and bustle of BWV and OKW is just way to quiet and laid back for our taste but it is hard to argue with the point totals for the rooms. The pool is/was boring with no slide but they are rectifying that problem with the slide going in.

 

[jmminarik]

I'm guessing New Berlin, WI isn't a metropolitan area with 4 million or so peoples. Coming from the big city, a week where you can retreat Home to get away from the hectic mobs is a nice treat. It's all a matter of perspective.

-Joe

 

[Mary Anne]

I have to agree with Joe. I live in a big city, take trains and transportation into midtown every day. No way would I ever stay or eat at CR - heck if I want to eat with trains roaring by, I could do that every day in Grand Central Station. Yet, I know, people plan their trips around Chef Mickey eating.

We love the quiet of OKWest and usually try to stay there at least one trip each year.

 

[wdw4us2]

I'm not mad about your comments. That's what great about DVC, there are different resorts for all tastes.

We like quiet when we're at WDW, especially when we're trying to sleep. We find OKW among the most tranquil resorts in WDW.

As for the children's activities, our kids like the Community Hall there. We usually bring their bikes with us and they ride to Community Hall on their own (they're 10 & 13). They like the fact that the resort is not so crowded and they feel comfortable exploring on their own.

I'm glad you checked out the resort for yourself. Maybe you'll try it again in a few years.

 

[nydizfan]

Old age home???.. what time is bingo? I'm not mad, i just want to know if u can rent canes at check-in

 

[nem75]

I am 33 and just adore OKW. After staying there last year, I am so ready to go back. I also have 5 kids, so the quiet is very pleasant after the busy parks. The space was also perfect. To be able to relax in the same living room as four kids coloring at the table and the baby toddling around is priceless. I look forward to buying into this resort after I finish my pharmacy schooling. But I do see your point with wanting some hustle and bustle around if you are that type of person.

BTW I never felt like I was not in WDW while at OKW. I enjoyed the theming of the resort and I am a Floridian. So I really am only responding to give those who havent stayed there and are younger reassurance that it is a great place to stay. Love the ducks at our patio too.

Christy

 

[DVCajun]

OKW seemed to me, kind of like an old age home.

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, if only I were the tag fairy!! That's a tag made in heaven if I've ever seen one!!!

LOLOLOL!!!!

 

[JudithM]

No beach and the pool was being refurbished. No character meals. The store and the restaurants were at least a 12-15 min walk. May as well drive to a nice store in DTD. The boat for DTD came every hours (or so the sign said, I never took it). thats really a long wait.

If we all liked the same thing, the world would be awfully boring! Thank you for sharing your thoughts & observations with us.

The main pool is being refurbished & a new pool slide is being added. There are three smaller pool areas. Building 48 is in the Southpoint area, & the pool was around the corner from you.

As for getting back to the Hospitality House area, there is an internal bus. The DTD bus stops at the Hospitality House coming & going.

Last week the boat to DTD ran on the hour & on the half hour in the evening.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.................those are the exact reason why we own 500 pts at OKW!! We are staying at BWV in April but only 6 nights. My 2+ week stays are always at OKW...........where we can RELAX!!! My life if hectic enough............I want R & R!!!

 

[WOW]

Not mad here either, but OKW is our favorite. I do think it does matter where you live. We live in Bergen County, NJ and it is the most densely populated county in the country and we are 10 miles from Manhattan. Need I tell you that it is HECTIC here ALL of the time, so OKW is a real vacation for us...........Even our children who are now 25 and 26 prefer the quite and peace at OKW. We have tried all the others and do them for short periods, but OKW is our absolute favorite. That is why we own 600 points at OKW!!!!!

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Different strokes for different folks. I've stayed at many of the resorts on-site and have found that I tailor my trips according to where I am staying. If I stay at the Swan/Dolphin, I usually spend most of my time at Epcot or MGM. Staying at OKW is a very welcome break from all the crowds and the hustle and bustle of some of the other resorts.

I'm a Floridian also and love the theming of OKW. It's closer to me than Key West is and scratches my itch to travel to the real thing.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I have to say you worded your opinions that OKW wasn't for you very nicely. I don't see how anyone (including us, OKW lovers) could be mad. Now, 2 questions:
1. Do you remember your studio #?
2. Since you were there over Thanksgiving, did you have a Thanksgiving meal? If so, where? I'd love to know how OKW visitors handle Thanksgiving dinner. Go out? Olivia's? Eat in Villa (if so, where did you get your food)?

 

[Lesley]

We had the same first impression of OKW....but we've returned there several times (a couple times to save points and a couple other times because it was the only thing available on short notice...or a combination of the two)...and it has sort of grown on us. We also compared it to a retirement community after our first stay.

Personally I've found I like staying in the Turtle Pond area...though building 13 was a nice location too (right across from the check in, etc...). It definitely has its own feel and its not for everyone...or even where we'd want to stay every trip.

It definitely has a more "residential" feel than the other resorts...I think a long stay in a 1 or 2br would be amazing...like living at WDW!

 

[DisneyDVClover]

We had stayed in the Turtle pond area for 1 week in a 1 bdrm and in building 63 I believe for our second week in a 1 bedroom. The kids like the playground but didn't swim there because there was no slide they love to play on the slides. They also asked why tehre weren't more kids around for them to play with. I think we saw about 5 other families with kids while we were there it is just far to quiet and far to slow a pace for our family. We are a very busy family and love the always on the go lifestyle it is how we live our lives everyday and to slow down in our opinion sucks. If it isn't the kids at gymnastics and swimming and hockey it is myself or my wife out doing something so we are always on the go. We stay for 2 weeks at a time at Disney and we go commando every trip sun up to sun down at the parks and very few breaks and never a daytime stop to go to the resort. I am 35 and my wife is 32 we have 3children 8 3 and 2 years old and they are as much a go go go bunch as mom and dad are. I like the themeing of the property it just isn't up to our pace we like the hustle and bustle of BWV and the All Star resorts those are our families favourite places to stay when at WDW.

 

[Merilyn]

We joined OKW when it was the only DVC around. We love it there but like the others as well. We might agree with some that it is very quiet compared to most but it is HOME to us. Not all of us are old, just first to join and enjoy DVC for many years.

 

[castleri]

Always enjoy reading the OKW isn't for me threads and the replies. I'm just happy there are DVC members who won't be trying to get those rooms at OKW - gives those of us who really, really want to be there a better chance when it comes to making reservations. Especially love it at Christmas time in a GV after the crowds at the parks.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Appreciate your feelings and comments about OKW. We are not "old folks" and love OKW. I can honestly say I feel like I'm staying in WDW when I stay there too. Loved sitting on our balcony in November, sipping a wine cooler and being able to watch Illuminations (and even hear the music). How could we not feel like we were in WDW ? It feels every bit like WDW, just a more laid-back version. We don't require an in-your-face type of environment. OKW was nice after fighting the crowds at the parks all day. Also, the new slide at the main pool will add some more fun to the overall atmosphere of the resort. My kids can't wait.

 

[Cruise04]

I'm 35 and love OKW for a lot of the reasons that others put, it's a quiet place to relax. No hustle and bustle, less crowds (sometimes). My point of getting away on vacation is to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of things and that's why I like OKW. As well as why we decided to add on with Hilton Head - for those same reason. Very nice, quiet atmosphere where we can relax. Don't get me wrong though - we like BCV (we bought on to there as well) but there are times where a getaway like OKW is exactly what we want and need.

 

[TnRobin]

I fall somewhere in the middle. Sometimes I want a nice quiet vacation and a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the parks - then I stay at OKW. Other trips, I am in the mode to be "Right there." On these trips we stay at BWV.

That is why I love my DVC. I am not stuck at one resort.

Not only does DVC please different people, but it also please people who have changing needs.