OKW v. Deluxe Resort

[dvcrfc]

I may have the opportunity to stay at OKW, as opposed to GF or Poly. I have a 4 year old and 8 year old. Is OKW too quiet and isolated with young kids? Is this a crazy question to be asking? We have never stayed at WDW in a DVC, although we stayed at HH for our first DVC experience this past June. Please - some advice from veterans!

 

[Deb & Bill]

The kids will love it. They can feed the ducks and bunnies that are around the place, plus play in the sand at the main pool. You can rent a surrey bike and ride around without having to go up and down hills. You might even be able to see the fireworks at Epcot or Disney Studios from your porch. Then you can take the kids to Downtown Disney on the boat from the Hospitality House.

 

[yasuern]

We stayed a OKW for the 1st time in July with 2 7y/o girls and they loved it ! OKW is the most beautiflul resort in WDW! We loved it so much we are currently in the process of buying a resale at OKW! So I guess I would say - STAY AT OKW!!!!!

 

[PKS44]

It depends on how long you are staying and on details involving you and your 4 and 8 year old...Close proximity to MK and monorail access may be very important for that age range...easy access to go back to your room for mid day breaks would make Poly and GF more attractive...the kitchen, the space and the serenity of OKW may be more important to you...only you know what you are looking for on this trip.

Paul

 

[Uncleromulus]

OKW has it all over the GF and Poly except for one thing--the pool. If the "pool experience" means anything to you and your kids, you may be happier at GF or Poly. The best thing I can say about the pool at OKW is that it has water. But then, so does your whirlpool bathtub when you fill it up. And the tub is more fun!!
OKW pool has no slides or lifeguards. Basically, it's a big bore. I've been in it twice since 1992-once to see what it was like, and once after a workout at the health club. All other times we pool hop to other resort pools..including GF and Poly!!
And I hasten to add--if the pool dosen't really matter, then by all means stay at OKW.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Proximity to the resorts and the monorail would also be big factors in such a decision. There's a big difference going to the Magic Kindom by OKW bus vs monorail at a Deluxe. I personally think the GF or Poly would be a nicer vacation experience with little ones. Proximity is an important factor to us. We can feed ducks at home.

 

[jcanary]

I think I would choose OKW. We have been going to OKW since my youngest was 6 and my oldest had been 12. the activities at OKW for the kids is great. the rooms are fabulous and having the large kitchen with modern appliances is a blessing. Even if you do not cook, having the refrig or being able to walk back to your room after being at the pool and grab a bite to eat is well worth it. My youngest will be going back next summer to celebrate her 16th birthday and bringing 3 friends and she has requested to stay at OKW. One of her other requests was an activity that she did 5 years ago, which was reverse painting, at the activity center at Hanks in OKW, where you took a cartoon cell and painted on the reverse side, she did a pic of Minnie. It still hangs in our Disney room at home. We have friends going down next week for the first time to OKW and she was amazed with the number of activities they had for kids. I believe she may had called ahead and got a listing of them, you will get one when you check in.
Can you tell we love OKW. We usually stay in the Turtle Pond area, we like that pool with the snack bar. We have an inground pool at home, maybe that's why the pools don't matter that much to our kids. We, my husband and I, have gone done by ourselves for both our 20th and 25th anniversary and stayed there. We have brought family down and they love it there. the wild life also adds alot to the atmosphere.
It's a tough decision, Poly is one of my favorites, but i would still take OKW because of the facilities you get for your money -
Just remember after staying here you will NEVER be able to stay in a regular hotel room again.
If you want any info feel free to email me.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Staying at OKW would be best if you had a car---. It helps a whole lot. And it does make it easier getting to the MK and Monorail area. And back again, too.

 

[DebbieB]

Will you be staying in a studio or 1 bedroom? If it's a 1 bedroom, I think the extra space is worth the difference in location. We always rent a car, it's easier to get around.

 

[Peggy Sue]

Actually, taking a car to the MK is the one thing we avoid. We always have a car and drive to all resorts and parks except the MK. Driving to the ticket and transportation center, taking the tram, then a monorail or boat is quite an ordeal vs getting on a bus at OKW with direct service to MK.

We love OKW, it's a beautiful, relaxing resort, and the rooms are very comfortable..just like being at "home"!

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[wdwsos]

Just wanted to add that the activities for young children at the OKW are probably (IMHO) the best on property. I had posted this in another thread, but rather than search for it, I'll just relist them here.

This past June, OKW offered:

--Fishin' Cruise, ages 5 and up. $18 for members, $20 for guests. Box lunch included.

--Tiny-tot Tea Party, ages 4 and under

--Open Crafts, all ages

--Volleyball Game, all ages

--Make Your Own Flubber, all ages

--Woodsie Fish (no description), all ages, $4 members, $5 guests

--Tie-dye T-shirts, all ages, $10 members, $12 guests

--Unbirthday Party, ages 5-10

--Pine Cone Bird Feeders, all ages

--Pool Games

--Family Scavenger Hunt, all ages

--Children's Hand Impressions, all ages, $10 members, $12 guests

--Disney Favorite Film, all ages

--Face Painting, all ages

--Monsters, Inc. Computer Game Tournament, ages 5-12

--Storybook Time, all ages (8pm, "Put on your pajamas and join us in Papa's Den to hear your favorite")

--Sandcastle Building, all ages

--Pinwheels, all ages, $4 members, $5 guests

--Goofy Bingo, all ages

Those not mentioning fees are free. Some require registration and have a limit to the number of guests allowed to participate. Times and days vary.

Dotti

 

[PamOKW]

I also wouldn't drive to MK. The OKW bus will drop you off right at the main entrance. You might want to drive if you wanted to visit MK area resorts, but not MK itself.

For some reason, many people get the misconception that OKW is located in a distant part of WDW. We've had several people post how shocked they were once they stayed at OKW. It is not very far from anything.

I also don't see the pool as a major problem. OKW doesn't have a slide but it does offer 4 pools, 2 with snack bar availability.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by Uncleromulus
...OKW pool has no slides or lifeguards. Basically, it's a big bore. I've been in it twice since 1992-once to see what it was like, and once after a workout at the health club. ..

Eeewww. Hope you showered after your workout before jumping in the pool...

 

[jbthi]

I vote for OKW. We own at BWV and BCV but have stayed at OKW 4 times. We never drive to any of the parks while there. We've always had good luck with the bus transportation.

When I asked our 2 1/2 yr. old GD her favorite thing about Disney, she replied the "school bus" at OKW.

 

[Mickmse2002]

We have three kids, now ages 12, 10, and 6 and have visited OKW three times in the last four years. They love it, in fact, it is their favorite place to stay 'cause the villas are so much larger than other resorts and definitely nicer than a hotel room.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Peggy Sue
Actually, taking a car to the MK is the one thing we avoid. We always have a car and drive to all resorts and parks except the MK. Driving to the ticket and transportation center, taking the tram, then a monorail or boat is quite an ordeal vs getting on a bus at OKW with direct service to MK.

Last May, we took the car to the TTC about 10:30am. I timed it, from our front door at OKW to the TTC, tram, monorail to MK front gate was 25 minutes. We took the bus a couple of nights before, we had to wait for the bus at Turtle Pond for at least 10 minutes, stopped at South Point, Miller Road, HH and then to MK, I didn't time it but no way it was less than 25 minutes. It was jam packed, everyone was going for Spectromagic & fireworks. After that, we took the car.

 

[Mickmse2002]

We always take a car to the MK as well. I very much like the convenience of sitting in my very own air conditioned car and not sitting next to really sweaty stinky people holding an overheated crying baby on the disney bus. I know the disney busses work for a lot of folks but call me spolied, I like to drive.

 

[sgtdisney]

I have a 5 year old and now a 6 month old.. We have been taking the 5 year old to OKW since he was 16 months old... He loves it there. We love the ability to have breakfast in the room, and the kitchen is very helpful. We took the 6 month old there last month.. I assume she liked it, she seemed happy.. It is nice to have the kids sleeping in one room, while you can unwind in another...

Seriously a vacation is what you make of it. OKW doesn't have the proximity to the MK or the ability to hop on a monorail and be at MK in minutes.. However it does have space to spare and is a very pretty resort that seems miles away from it all.. My son loved the pool, but he enjoys just about any pool, living in Illinois we don't swim very often...

 

[PamOKW]

car and not sitting next to really sweaty stinky people holding an overheated crying baby on the disney bus

So, you sit next to them on the tram and then the monorail or ferry boat? There was a lovely description on one of the boards about the bugs swarming on the ferry boats one recent night. I'll stick with the bus.

 

[DeeP]

With the GF and Poly you have a super location for convenience there is no doubt about that but with OKW you will have larger accomendations if you stay in a 1 BR or larger. However if it is a studio at OKW I would go for GF or Poly because a studio room is really not larger than a GF or Poly rm and with GF and Poly rms you get 2 queens and a twin sized daybed so the room really sleeps 5, you can always get a refrig and a coffee maker from housekeeping if you want and you will be in a much better location.
Is it possible to get a villa at WLV instead then you will have the best of both worlds!