OKW without a car

[downontheBW]

I wanted to do a quick trip to WDW before the end of the year so called MS today. Wow, we DVCers don't seem to get scared off easily -- just about everything is sold out. I could only find one option that would fit into our schedule, three nights in a studio at OKW. We've never stayed at OKW but I've wanted to try it out so this is a great opportunity.

I saw a recent post from Bob that the transportation was great but want to ask anyway. I was wondering if it was working better than usual because of the lower number of people at WDW at the end of September.

We've always rented a car at WDW but it usually sat in the parking lot for the entire trip. When staying at BWV, WL and PO we used Disney transportation all the time. I've heard that some have not been satisfied with the transportation at OKW. Will we need a car? We eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner so will want to either walk to Olivia's or the Marketplace or take the boat or bus if they are convenient. There is a boat to DD, right? We'll do church at the Poly on Sunday morning and probably only go to EPCOT/MGM for 1 day but will maybe go to Cirque du Soliel and Pleasure Island.

I remembered there were GPS walking directions from OWK to DD on this forum so found those (and thanks for taking the time to post that great information). How much of the way is light enough to walk at night?

I'm tempted to ask for one of the buildings near the walkway to DD (near bldg. 55) but it looks like quite a walk to Olivia's from there. Any suggestions would be appreciated!! Thanks.

 

[Pluto4President]

We just returned Monday from our first trip to OKW. It is gorgeous, but I personally would not stay there without a car. If you want a villa near the walkway to Downtown, it will be a hike to Olivia's. You can jump on a bus though. It seemed that the buses were always going through the reosrts roads. Personally, I found it very convenient to everything with a car. That's just me. I don't like to be dependent upon others for transportation.

 

[MinnieMe2]

We spent a few nites at OKW in July (home is VWL). We had a rental car, but outside of using it to go to Publix and to pick up DS and a friend at the airport, it sat in the parking lot. Bus/boat transport was fine. And on more than one occasion we got off the bus at HH and walked to our unit. Can't remember the exact number, but it probably took about 10 min. at a leisurely pace. We loved that walk. Things were well-lit and so pretty. And very quiet after the chaos at the parks. We've always been favorably impressed by Disney's transportation and have no issues at all with using it, and they certainly have very adequate busing at OKW...

 

[sumessefui]

We have have done OKW with and without a car. The bus transportation is fine to the parks, and DD is not too bad. If you will be going to other resorts it can take quite a while. It once took us an hour and forty minutes to go from OKW to PO. They are like maybe a half mile from each other? That was the worst. If you have PS at another resort a cab is a good bet and is not all that expensive. Many people complain about long walks to the HH, but it is at most 10-15 minutes Even with my bad knees I love to walk at OKW.

 

[GCM13]

We stayed at OKW in Aug. without a car. We didn't have any problems with transporation either. We were in building 23. We liked being close to the main pool and HH. I would recommend requesting a building that is near the HH. Have a great trip!

 

[RobDoc]

The DD walkway is unlit from building 55 to the Treehouse bridge. That is also the area where the walkway itself is narrowest. We have walked it at night and felt very safe.

I would suggest walking it a couple of times in daylight to familiarize your self with the unlit portion. If you have a full moon you should be fine, but on a moonless night the fooring can be unsure in the dark.

All buses stop at HH (Olivia's) before leaving the resort, so you can hop on any bus. Even then, the walk from South Point to Olivia's is no more than 10 minutes. We usually fly, have never rented a vehicle and enjoy using all forms of Disney transport from OKW. If we do drive, we park the car the 1st day and it sits until check-out.

Enjoy!
<img width="200" src="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/files/litehouse2.jpg">

 

[Disney Doll]

I have been at OKW with and without a car...I've had no problem either way. Sometimes there is a bit of a wait for the bus, but nothing that I would ever consider to be extreme. However,DH and I no longer do "commando" style touring, where we get up at 6AM and have every minute of the day planned. We tend to be more casual about it, so if we wait a few minutes for the bus, we just sit there and enjoy being in the Florida sunshine. Going from hotel to hotel is always less convenient, no matter where you stay. If we need to go from hotel to hotel and don't have a car, we usually take a cab. The ride is usually $10 or less, and much easier than taking a bus to a park and then another bus to the hotel or however you would have do it. It's vacation...I don't like to stress over things.If I were staying at OKW and wanted to get to the Poly for church, I'd go by cab.

 

[DebbieB]

The last 5 trips to WDW I rented a car through National and was able to get it for around $120 a week (Emerald Club with Entertainment Coupon). Subtracting what you would pay for airport transportation, it's not much more and nice to have the convenience. We use it for grocery shopping, going to the outlets, we eat a meal or two at Crossroads and most of our parks trips. It's especially nice at OKW because you can park right outside the door. It's really a personal preference - I don't mind driving because I am used to city driving and traffic (traffic there is nothing compared to the city at rush hour) and I hate crowded busses. Other people are the opposite, they don't like driving and would rather sit back (or stand) on a bus.

 

[Alice Sr.]

DebbieB, you took the words right out of my mouth.

I would get a quote on a car and compare that to a shuttle or whatever other option you're considering for transportation to WDW. I don't have a problem with taking a bus, but if I can have a car for $5.00-10.00 more per day I'm taking the car. In WDW I don't think it's so much of a money thing, as it is a personal preference.

Alice

 

[glindamood]

We purchased DVC in 1993 and OKW was all there was. When we lived in southern Ohio we drove down and had the van but after our grocery shopping, it just sat in the parking lot as we took the buses everywhere we went. Now that we live in northern Michigan and fly for our trips we rent a car for 24 hours for arrival day and pick one back up the night before we leave to get us back to the airport.

This is just what we do and it has always worked well for us.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I look at the car issue like this: How much is my vacation time worth per hour. I know what my employeer pays me per hour,why should my vacation time be worth less. Our first trip down we had a rental car but tried using just disney transport. Half way thru we started using the car. Add up just the time you stand waiting for a bus, multiply it times your hourly wage. Bet you could have rented a car for that figure. Now I realise standing at a bus stop isn't costing you actual $$$, but my idea of a vacation isn't waiting for crowded buses. Also at OKW,you park right at your door-no 1/4 mile walks thru the parking lots. As for WDW boats and the monorail, we enjoy them not because they get us from point A-to-B, but because the are relaxing and fun. The only problem we ever had was trying to remember which white Grand Am was ours.There are thousands of them in the parking lots.Write down the license plate #, you'll need it.

 

[downontheBW]

We've decided to rent a car. We will probably use Disney transportation mostly but will feel more comfortable having a car. We had flown to Chicago on Sept. 10th and were supposed to fly back to Rochester on Sept. 11. We were stuck in Chicago for an extra day until we could rent a car and drive back to Rochester (11 hours). So, as long as we already have a car, if we ever have to drive home from Florida we can.

Thanks again, it's terrific to get so many great recommendations so easily. 9 weeks to go -- can't wait!!

 

[KNWVIKING]

.. how reliable is the Rochester airport. Our son is a freshman at RIT this year and will be flying home at Thanksgiving & other occasions. Does the weather shut it down very often ?

 

[downontheBW]

KNWVIKING,

RIT, good school! It sure helps to be a DVC member and not have to pay for hotel rooms with kids in college, doesn't it? We're in the same situation.

The Rochester airport doesn't shut down that often. Sometimes there will be no flights for a half day or so, maybe longer in the worst situations. We usually don't plan vacations during the worst weather so we haven't had to deal with it. The good thing about the Rochester airport is that, once it reopens when the weather clears, I don't think the flights would be backed up too badly since it is not a hub airport. Just my opinion, though.