OKW: Where to stay?

[Mark099]

Hi Gang,

We are SSR owners, but are planning to stay at OKW in October to save points. We are going for 12 nights and will need a 2BR villa. If we stay at SSR it will wipe out all are points until 2009. We can save 48 of our 2008 points by staying at OKW.

I realize that requests are often not honored because of the "room ready" policy, but it never hurts to ask, right?

I plan on making the reservation on Wednesday. Ideally, we want a non-smoking 2BR with a lock-off second BR. Can we request the second BR also have a bed and sofa bed (vs. 2 beds)?

Also, which area(s) in OKW do we want to stay and why?

 

[Kurby]

Hi Gang,

I realize that requests are often not honored because of the "room ready" policy, but it never hurts to ask, right?

what does "room ready" mean?

if you request a specific room that is booked can't they reserve you a room almost identical to it? maybe a floor up or down?

 

[KathyRN137]

Hi Gang,

We are SSR owners, but are planning to stay at OKW in October to save points.

That's what we did last year; the 2nd BR really gobbles up points!

I believe that unlike all the other DVC resorts, all the studio rooms at OKW have 2 queen beds. However, the rooms are larger so you do not feel cramped at all!

As far as room requests, again, that depends on your own personal preferences. As far as receiving those requests, I think it has a lot to do with your check-in date/time.

For example: Some people like to be close to the Hospitality House and main pool...Buildings 11-14 and 62-63 are the closest. Others like more peace and quiet...buildings 30-44 tend to have more traffic noise so you would want to avoid them. Only Buildings 62-64 have elevators.

If "view" is your primary concern, well, its hard to get a bad view at OKW! Water, golf course, or woods.

I have found that I had better luck with room requests at non-DVC resorts. I have had 2 DVC stays and was not able to get my location requests granted either time. I suppose that's because DVC guests vacation a little differently because of point requirements.

Last year, we arrived on a Monday evening, around 7pm and there was only one 2BR left...and it was not even close to where I requested. (It was still very nice, though we really could have used that elevator!)

Next year, I'm going back to traveling on a Saturday...more people check out and so more villas will be available (I hope).

Of course, sometimes not getting your request works out great! On our first stay at SSR, I requested the Springs section to be closer to the main pool. We checked in around 11pm on a Friday night. But, we wound up in Congress Park with a knockout view and a short walk to DD. It was so cold that week that we never went swimming afterall!

Go to the Resorts tab, above, and check out more info on the layout of the resort! Good luck, and have a fabulous time!

Kathy

 

[GGOOFY1]

Our personal favorite is buildings 23-26. It is the first bus stop at the end of a long day!

 

[blizzard]

Hi Gang,

We are SSR owners, but are planning to stay at OKW in October to save points. We are going for 12 nights and will need a 2BR villa. If we stay at SSR it will wipe out all are points until 2009. We can save 48 of our 2008 points by staying at OKW.

I realize that requests are often not honored because of the "room ready" policy, but it never hurts to ask, right?

I plan on making the reservation on Wednesday. Ideally, we want a non-smoking 2BR with a lock-off second BR. Can we request the second BR also have a bed and sofa bed (vs. 2 beds)?

Also, which area(s) in OKW do we want to stay and why?

If you request a lock-off 2BDRM (and it is available) that will be guaranteed. It will show on your reservation as 2BDRM Lock-off (as opposed to 2BDRM Dedicated). As others have mentioned, all studios and 2nd Bedrooms have 2 queen size beds. You will have a large living room anyway, so you likely won't need a sofa in the extra bedroom. If you have a lock-off, the 2nd bedroom will have a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, and bar sink. (a dedicated 2 bedroom has a 2nd vanity in this location and an extra closet where the outside door would be) Of course you will have all of those amenities in the main kitchen as well. With a lock-off, the door to the 2nd bedroom will be a double locking door (as opposed to a regular interior door)

We had a lock-off booked once, and for some reason they checked everyone into the studio room number, which was kind of confusing for us. Luckily, all the keys opened both doors, but anytime we had to give our room number, we had to give the studio number or it wasn't recognized by "the system".

We have stayed all over OKW, and never had a "bad" room. Some we liked better than others, for various reasons. The room we liked least, was because the trees and plants grew all the way up higher than the balcony, so we had no view other than "forest?". It can be difficult to tell where those rooms are by the map, since it looks like you should have a view. We always have a car, so don't worry too much about being close to the front, but for some, that's a necessity. If you have preschoolers with you, you may wish to be close to the main pool, as there is a kiddie pool there. The other pools are all regular pools, but have playgrounds next to them. I have always been surprised when we get there - in that a building that seems far away from everything really isn't that bad when you get there. (but again we have a car and do a lot of our own cooking, so don't worry too much about being close to the restaurant or main lobby)

We love OKW, and really haven't seriously considered staying anywhere else.

 

[Mark099]

We likely won't have a car for a lot of our stay, so we will rely on the bus service very heavily.

How is the bus service at OKW? If building 26 is the first stop, which is the 2nd, 3rd, ..., last?

How are/is the restaurants/food service?

 

[GGOOFY1]

The bus route is Peninsular Road, Turtle Road, South Point, Miller's Road and then the Hospitality House.

 

[Chuck S]

Unless it changed recently the route is Peninsular, South Point, Turtle Pond, Miller's Road, and then Hospitality. The busses make a left onto Turtle Pond after they loop through South Point.

As others have said, all studio have 2 Queen beds at OKW. One thing to note, if you have peple on the sofa sleeper in the living room, they will need to enter the Master Bedroom to access the restroom, unless you are in Bldgs 30 and higher. There was a design change during construction. Depending upon the demographics of your party it may or may not be a problem.

 

[Mark099]

Thanks for the info.

If anyone sleeps on the sofa bed it would be our 8 y.o. daughter so the bathroom use will not be a problem.

If available, is there any reason I wouldn't want to stay in buildings 26 or 27?

 

[Mark099]

I have now officially changed my reservation to a 2BR lock-off at OKW for 12 nights in October. I have requested buildings 23-27. Hopefully, a villa will be available upon check-in.

I have also wait listed two 5 night blocks at BWV and BCV. The close proximity to the Boardwalk and Epcot should significantly increase our dining options if we don't have a car.

 

[Chuck S]

I have also wait listed two 5 night blocks at BWV and BCV. The close proximity to the Boardwalk and Epcot should significantly increase our dining options if we don't have a car.

Well, yes it would. But remember that OKW is only a boat ride away from Downtown Disney, and there are lots of restaurants there.

 

[Mark099]

Well, yes it would. But remember that OKW is only a boat ride away from Downtown Disney, and there are lots of restaurants there.

Good point. How often does the boat leave for DTD?

 

[Chuck S]

Good point. How often does the boat leave for DTD?

Every 20 or 30 minutes.