OKW -- What location do you prefer?

[TagsMissy]

OK so I am planning way over a year in advance but --- whatever

What area of OKW do you like to stay in? Where do not like staying? Are any areas in better shape than others? I am going to hopefully stay in a studio in 2011.

As an FYI chances are we will not have a car and there will be 2 adults and a 14 year old girl -- if that makes a difference.

Come on folks share the scoop!

And on a side note do you think I'll have issues getting a studio the last week of August for 3-4 nights at the 7-mos mark?

THANKS!

 

[ray27emily]

We have stayed in Bldg's 14,23,36,49,50

14 is close to the HH, but sometimes parking was tough

49,50 are real far away, but they are real quiet and a close enough walk to the turtle shack and pool.

36 was fine, it was close enough to a bus stop without being on a bus route

but 14 is our favorite, it is a short walk to the HH and pool without the parking hassles and we had a beautiful view over the water and gold course.

PS, we always try to get the first floor, saves having to move all our bags up and down the stairs

 

[SusieBea]

OK so I am planning way over a year in advance but --- whatever

What area of OKW do you like to stay in? Where do not like staying? Are any areas in better shape than others? I am going to hopefully stay in a studio in 2011.

As an FYI chances are we will not have a car and there will be 2 adults and a 14 year old girl -- if that makes a difference.

Come on folks share the scoop!

And on a side note do you think I'll have issues getting a studio the last week of August for 3-4 nights at the 7-mos mark?

THANKS!

First, I don't think you'll have any issue getting a studio at that time.

OKW is spread out but is totally walkable unless you have a disability. So you'll be fine anywhere in the resort without a car. Plus, you can take a bus from your local bus stop to the main pool area if that's better for you.

We prefer the Turtle Pond area. We like that village pool. South Point is alright, too. I'm not a fan of the "Hospitality" area because it can become congested and parking can then be an issue. And, I don't like Miller's Road - I can't exactly tell you why - the village pool there feels tight to me; I just don't like it.

We were there in mid-March and the exteriors of all the buildings were in very good shape. They are beginning interior rehabs soon. Don't know how far along they will be when you get there. It may be complete by then. We'll see.

OKW is our home resort and where we prefer to stay. I think you'll enjoy anywhere you are placed on the property. Oh, and we always try to get the top floor for the view. Just goes to show you that there are as many valid differing views as there are people who respond.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We've stayed in buildings 51,52,42,38,36,32,15, and 18. Our favorites were the last two I mentioned, in the Miller's Road area, but not out too far. They were close enough to the Hospitality House for a very short walk, but far enough away to be very quiet.

 

[TagsMissy]

Silly me I had forgotten about the rehabs Susie! Looks like I *may* have good timing and get a referbed room if my timing is right. Do you know when the referb is starting?

Haha if I am not careful I'll have my trip planned next week and go stir-crazy for months waiting to book!

 

[DebbieB]

I've stayed in 26, 28, 31, 37, 40, 43, 50. My favorites were 37 & 43 on Turtle Pond Road. They had great water views and were quiet. I always had a car, so distance to the HH was not an issue.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Silly me I had forgotten about the rehabs Susie! Looks like I *may* have good timing and get a referbed room if my timing is right. Do you know when the referb is starting?

Haha if I am not careful I'll have my trip planned next week and go stir-crazy for months waiting to book!

Rehabs should be done by then, and 7 months out for the end of August should NOT be a problem either. Just don't expect too much in the way of views from OKW studios. OKW is best experienced from the 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units.

Don't worry about being near HH either. There are some nice pros with that location, but some pretty big cons as well. Our preferences are South Point (buildings 55, 56, 45, and 46) and Miller's Road (buildings 15, 16, 18, 20). Unlike the previous poster, we aren't too fond of Turtle Pond area. We've never actually had a room there we have wanted to go back to. Steer clear of buildings 28 and 29...no view at all from those.

Don't worry about distance to HH either....ALL buses stop there on their way out of the resort, and even from the farthest reaches, the walk to HH is under 15 minutes. I've walked longer than that going from one end of Kidani to the other!

 

[TagsMissy]

15 minute walk, not too bad. It's sometimes hard to guage based on a printed map online as to how far things are... lol Disney needs to have distance marked

 

[ldo]

if there is a chance you will not have a car, then book the HH category, if avail. It guarantees a short distance to the main bldg, fast food, drink refills, main pool, etc. I booked HH with 3 young kids and no car a few summers ago and it was great. Your 14 yr old will want the main pool--this is where most kids/teens go.
However, if you don't get HH, we were in bldg 31 at the beginning of Turtle Pond and loved it last week. Easy 8-10 minute walk to main pool and 5 minute walk to Turtle pool, which also has snack bar, drink refills, hot tub and grills. It was a perfect location for us.

 

[TagsMissy]

if there is a chance you will not have a car, then book the HH category, if avail. It guarantees a short distance to the main bldg, fast food, drink refills, main pool, etc. I booked HH with 3 young kids and no car a few summers ago and it was great. Your 14 yr old will want the main pool--this is where most kids/teens go.
However, if you don't get HH, we were in bldg 31 at the beginning of Turtle Pond and loved it last week. Easy 8-10 minute walk to main pool and 5 minute walk to Turtle pool, which also has snack bar, drink refills, hot tub and grills. It was a perfect location for us.

HH is a booking category???

 

[cush1]

This is very helpful. We are planning our first trip to OKW.

 

[cccdisney]

I'm glad you started this thread. I'll be staying at OKW Nov 18-28th. I'm renting points from a friend and she will be making ressies on the 18th of this month (the 7 month mark) for a studio.

So if I understand this correctly, if I want to be near the HH (which I do), she needs to request this at booking? Can I also request a refurbished room also? Does anyone think any of the building will be done by then?

 

[dianeschlicht]

HH is a booking category???

Yes, you can only get HH if you specifically book it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm glad you started this thread. I'll be staying at OKW Nov 18-28th. I'm renting points from a friend and she will be making ressies on the 18th of this month (the 7 month mark) for a studio.

So if I understand this correctly, if I want to be near the HH (which I do), she needs to request this at booking? Can I also request a refurbished room also? Does anyone think any of the building will be done by then?

You can NOT request HH area. You must specifically book it. You can request a refurbished room, but since rehabs aren't starting until later in the year, your chances will be pretty slim by October. I'd say take what you get for now. Frankly, we rarely make any requests. The only locations I've been unhappy with were two in the Turtle Pond area and building 29.

 

[cccdisney]

You can NOT request HH area. You must specifically book it. You can request a refurbished room, but since rehabs aren't starting until later in the year, your chances will be pretty slim by October. I'd say take what you get for now. Frankly, we rarely make any requests. The only locations I've been unhappy with were two in the Turtle Pond area and building 29.

Thanks! That's very helpful! I'll make sure she specifically books a studio in the HH area. And I probably won't make any requests either - at least not yet. Maybe I'll change my mind closer to November if I hear that some of the buildings have finished being refurbished.

 

[TagsMissy]

Good to know about HH as I was not aware that you specifically booked that area. So most people without a vehicle would choose this area? Do you think it will be hard to get at 7mos by experience?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Good to know about HH as I was not aware that you specifically booked that area. So most people without a vehicle would choose this area? Do you think it will be hard to get at 7mos by experience?

I wouldn't say you need this area if you don't have a car. As I said earlier, all buses stop at HH before exiting, so if you don't want to walk a little, you can always jump on the first bus that comes along.

Also, there are issues for some people in the HH area. All of the buildings in that section are the variety that do not have the door into the bathroom from the laundry room. That means that if you have someone sleeping in the living room, they will have to go through the master bedroom to get to the bathroom.

 

[NEMO93]

We stay at the Old Turtle pond area. We like it because it has its own pool area and its quiet. There is a bus stop near by. We have rent cars to OKW and used the magical express. There are pro's and cons doing it that way.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We stay at the Old Turtle pond area. We like it because it has its own pool area and its quiet. There is a bus stop near by. We have rent cars to OKW and used the magical express. There are pro's and cons doing it that way.

Miller's Road and South Point also have their own pool, spa, and playgrounds as well.

 

[TagsMissy]

hahaha so many options!

I am getting excited and I know my trip is so far away