OKW vs. All-StarMovie Resort

[dgaston]

This is for Mom B: Checked into Pop after OKW with NO problems on 1/12 for the weekend. We didn't really wait at all. I just don't have enough points for weekend stays at DVC.

 

[HockeyKat]

DH won't stay in value resorts so I can't speak to that.

We rented OKW points for our trip in January. We spent the first two nights in a king bed room at Carribbean Beach, the next 3 at OKW in a studio.

OKW won hands down, and we are buying into DVC after our stay there. Rooms are huge and have balconies, and the resort is very nice. A bit spread out compared to some of the deluxes, but by far better than the moderates and values.

Rent the points, esp. if you are trying to talk someone into buying. It will work, it worked for DH with me!!

-Kat

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm with the "go with OKW" crowd. Everyone pretty much mentioned the larger rooms/queen beds/balcony issue/cool new pool slide/sit down restaurant etc. Just wanted to add that even the bathrooms are larger in an OKW studio. OKW studios have the roomiest bathrooms of all the wdw DVC studios. We love this !

 

[Mom B]

Thanks, dgaston, I'm glad to hear it isn't always that way. I don't remember it being quite so unpleasant at the ASMovies when we stayed there a few years back. And I'm sure the marathon made a big difference. I think I'm just suffering from a little post-traumatic stress! Maybe I'll just avoid the weekends altogether and stick with weekdays for the next trip. Just hate to shorten the vacation up that much! Oh, well, there's a solution down the road somewhere, I'm sure. Glad you enjoyed your stay!

 

[spaddy]

Thank you for all the help. I know if I can get DH into DVC place to stay I can talk him into it. I wanted to buy before the minimum went up to 160 and I don't think I can get there before that. I know we can always buy resale but I don't like waiting.

One more trash/towel question. I have a 2 year old and I was wondering if there were places to put your trash if you wanted to throw it out yourself. Hopefully this will not be an issue too much longer.

Also, a relative is staying at the ASm and I was wondering how impossible it is to get between the 2 without a car?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thank you for all the help. I know if I can get DH into DVC place to stay I can talk him into it. I wanted to buy before the minimum went up to 160 and I don't think I can get there before that. I know we can always buy resale but I don't like waiting.

One more trash/towel question. I have a 2 year old and I was wondering if there were places to put your trash if you wanted to throw it out yourself. Hopefully this will not be an issue too much longer.

Also, a relative is staying at the ASm and I was wondering how impossible it is to get between the 2 without a car?

Trash bins are located behind the doors marked for it on the ground level of all OKW buildings. We often drop our trash there on our way out to the parks.

Getting between resorts without a car has always been, and will always be an issue. The only option is to transfer either at one of the parks or at DTD. If you are wanting to go between the two during park hours, that is likely the quickest way. If you are looking at evenings, then DTD is your only transfer spot unless you choose to take a cab.

 

[d-r]

OKW is so much better than the all stars it is amazing.

 

[Lady V]

well, the first place we ever stayed was ASM. the second was OKW. Personally, my kids loved both and probably loved ASM even more. I liked the luxury of OKW and the beauty and the chance to get away from the crazyness. But!! I also liked the way at ASM I felt like I never left the park because the huge decorations were everywhere!! Waking up to a giant BUZZ outside the window was awesome for my kids!! So, I think it depends on what you are wanting in your trip.

 

[MiaSRN62]

So, I think it depends on what you are wanting in your trip.

I agree...alot depends on personal taste. The AS's have much smaller rooms & beds/smaller bathroom/no balcony/no kitchenette, BUT, they do have very cute themeing (particularily for younger children) & affordable rates for alot of people. OKW, for us, has more of a low-key, relaxed neighborhood feel. We don't need the in-your-face, larger-than-life icons, though I can see why alot of people like them. We have stayed at POP/Movies/Music ourselves on weekend nights to save the higher DVC points. So, for us, the values are nice for a couple nights here and there, but if I'm staying for a week or more, our family prefers space and more amenities such as we get at OKW. We schedule more downtime now vs our vacations in the early years when the kids were little and everything was commando. So this means the resort and room itself have become more important to us. But if I'm scheduling a quickie weekend get-a-way, then POP works fine for us. Overall, I feel OKW is a better quality resort (I really don't think this can be denied), but for some this isn't necessarily important. They may want intensive themeing or cheaper prices etc and it's great that disney can deliver this.

 

[dumbo71]

A value over OKW no way.

Apparently DVC puts them on equal footing. I have a friend who was booked at All Stars and was bumped to SSR. No extra charge to them.

 

[rayelias]

I am a self-confessed resort snob, so keep that in mind.

What's the "real" difference between Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Home Away from Home Studios (DVC)? Really? Pretty much all the resorts have the same ammenities. Overall, the room sizes are the same. They have restaurants and pools (quality varies, but they're all pretty decent).

Other than DVC having a kitchenette and lack of daily mousekeeping, the only difference is the price and feel.

If you have small kids who like playing and fun and excitement, well Grand Floridian, OKW (for example) are probably not for you.

If you enjoy relaxing, quiet, or formal, you'd best stay away from All Stars or Pop.

IMHO, there is NO comparison between value and DVC. The comparison SHOULD be Deluxe and DVC, but realistically, I'd say DVC is more comparable (accommodation wise) to Moderate.

 

[spaddy]

Thanks everyone. I bought SSR yesterday. I guess I will be booking my own OKW vacation. (Or SSR)

I guess I never will stay at the All-Star Movie.

 

[MiaSRN62]

The comparison SHOULD be Deluxe and DVC, but realistically, I'd say DVC is more comparable (accommodation wise) to Moderate.

Obviously it's ok for you to feel this way, but I respectfully disagree rayelias. DVC studios are larger than moderates (I've stayed at POR and CBR and the studios we've had at OKW and BWV were larger. The bathroom in the OKW studio was larger overall than any of them). The DVC's have queen sized beds (like a deluxe--not mods which have doubles), and there are balconies at the DVC resorts (again, like the deluxe---not mods). The kitchenettes are an added plus.

While I agree, DVC resorts are in a niche all their own , I feel that they align more closely with a deluxe vs a mod overall. But everyone has their own opinions on this I'm sure.