OKW without a car??

[pixiedustfairy]

Heading to OKW in May. Looking at the size of resort I started thinking maybe we should rent a car. Being a party of 6, I looked at the pricing for minivans Any advice from OKW pros on staying there without( or with) a car would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[saintstickets]

Heading to OKW in May. Looking at the size of resort I started thinking maybe we should rent a car. Being a party of 6, I looked at the pricing for minivans Any advice from OKW pros on staying there without( or with) a car would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

We have stayed at OKW twice and had a car both times. On the first trip, we did not get back in the vehicle one single time after we arrived. On the second trip, we used the car one time to go to the grocery store for breakfast food and snacks to have in the room. You could probably get everything we purchased on site, have it delivered or get a taxi. Unless you plan on going to places other than WDW, I would not hesitate to stay on site without a vehicle. The bus system to/from the parks at OKW is one of the best and we rarely waited more than 5-10 minutes for a bus. I'm sure others have different opinions.

 

[snackyx]

We have stayed at OKW about 45 times (we joined DVC in 1991) and all but one trip has had a rental car. The introduction of Magical Express has certainly made transport to/from the airport much easier, but we just prefer the freedom of being able to move around quicker. Trips to get groceries can be a real hassle with no car, especially if you deceide to go back for more...beer and wine? We use the car to get to Boardwalk (Flying Fish, ESPN every trip), which is not an easy trip just using Disney buses. We dine at Shula's Steakhouse at the Dolphin Hotel every trip, and drive there using the valet (free with dinner)--getting to the Dolphin from OKW with no car is an odyssey. It really is a matter of personal preference, but we deceided a long time ago that the price of the rental was worth the flexibility. (Full disclosure: my wife and daughter make a trip to the preminum outlet mall and the Mall at Millenia an absolute MUST every trip.)

 

[Dean]

Heading to OKW in May. Looking at the size of resort I started thinking maybe we should rent a car. Being a party of 6, I looked at the pricing for minivans Any advice from OKW pros on staying there without( or with) a car would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

I think OKW is workable without a car but just barely unless all you're doing is the room and parks. For 6, I'd get a car but I'd wouldn't pay a lot more for one that will seat 6 people. That will give you access to grocery stores, etc. That's esp true if you do not have a "near HH" category booked.

 

[iluveeyore]

We just stayed at Christmas with 15 of us - only rented a car to share for two of us to go and get all the groceries for our two kitchens. We love having someone else drive us around on a bus, or taking the boat to Downtown Disney - never see the point of stressing over directions for driving when we're at a Disney resort! Besides that, we would hate having to park a car at one of the parks and take a parking shuttle or ferry back to find a car - closer to the bus stops!

 

[paeskie]

We had good experiences using the buses while staying at OKW, and we used the ferry to go to Downtown Disney several times. Our kids felt it actually enhanced the Disney experience to use the Disney transportation on that trip!

 

[snackyx]

Besides that, we would hate having to park a car at one of the parks and take a parking shuttle or ferry back to find a car - closer to the bus stops!

In all the trips we made to OKW with a car, we NEVER used the car to get to the parks--that would be counterintutitive. The WDW buses are the best at getting you from the resort to the parks with a minimal amount of hassle.

If your agenda is going to be spending most days at the parks, the need for a car decreases.

 

[Dean]

In all the trips we made to OKW with a car, we NEVER used the car to get to the parks--that would be counterintutitive. The WDW buses are the best at getting you from the resort to the parks with a minimal amount of hassle.

If your agenda is going to be spending most days at the parks, the need for a car decreases.

We find a car far better for all options except MK due to the ability of the buses to go straight to the park rather than TTC or if we are changing resorts which we normally do not do. I estimate it saves us around 45-60 min per day compared to using the buses and gives us other options such as a quick run by the grocery store on the way to or from a given option or to eat off site. However, given ME and the bus option, it is an expense and option where one should weigh pros and cons.

 

[lizanne]

We always had a care with us, we drive from PA and have been members since 1992.

You don't say if there are children in your party, but I found it invaluable to have a car especially in the summer months when the afternoons can be very hot and very crowded. You probably would have to deal with the heat in May, but it is a long day for younger kids. We would get to the parks early and be able to leave to drive back to OKW so the kids could be out of the sun or take a nap in the afternoon, then drive to a park/dinner later. I think this would have taken a great deal of time traveling back and forth on Disney Transportation.

All adults may not be an issue.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

We have stayed there with and without a car. We rent one. Go grocery shopping and if we are lucky maybe use it one other time. We are going in may also. We are a family of 5. We are not planning on getting a car this time. To much hassle. I will order groceries online. It is pretty easy to get a room request near a bus stop and all buses stop at HH anyway before leaving the resort.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We always have a rental car at OKW (this time we'll actually have our own car next week), but we only use it for going to the grocery or any other off-site visits and visits to the other resorts for dinner reservations. It is just way too much trouble to take the car to the parks, and much faster to take the buses. The only park that MIGHT be quicker by car than bus from OKW is AK. The AK bus stops at Blizzard Beach, so that makes it take a bit longer. Of course, I think BB is closed right now!

 

[henderkm]

We stayed at OKW from Dec. 18-23, 2010 without a car. Since renting a car has become more costly, we weighed what we would gain by having a car and decided against it.

I was concerned about the size of the resort, but we were lucky enough to have a room in building 18, which was fairly close to HH.

We were close to a bus stop and very rarely visited HH. We very seldom had to wait for a bus for more than 10 minutes. Waiting for an OKW bus at the parks to go back to the resort is a whole different story.

Bell services brought our luggage to our resort and we called them to pick it up when we were ready to leave. We had groceries delivery so bell services also brought them to our room.

We had 4 adults and 1 toddler. If we had wanted to return to the resort in the middle of the day, renting a car would have been the way to go. We stayed in the parks all day so not having a car was not a hardship on us.

 

[alldiz]

Do they have rooms available in the HH area?

Don't need a car....so close to everything.
Kerri

 

[dianeschlicht]

Do they have rooms available in the HH area?

Don't need a car....so close to everything.
Kerri

It's really no different than staying anywhere else at OKW. No matter where you are, you are never that far from a bus stop, and all buses stop at HH before exiting the resort.

 

[Mjkre]

We stayed at OKW without a car recently. We were in the HH area. We had groceries delivered. Love the magical express. If it was just me, I might rent a car. But me plus 3 kids and 5 suitcases....magical express and no car is the way to go. You check in your luggage at curbside check in at the airport and don't see it again until it is placed in your room by bell services. Reverse on the way home. Not having to deal with the luggage to me is worth not having a car. That is the main reason we pay extra to stay on site vs. off. Now, if ME would take my luggage without me, I would consider getting a car someday...

 

[nolanboys]

Stayed at OKW twice and never had a car. We would need a car for 6 as well, and I know how expensive that is. I wouldn't spend the money on it. We used ME, busses to the parks, Garden Grocer to driver food, beer and wine, and a taxi once for more wine. Way cheaper that way.

 

[pixiedustfairy]

Thanks everybody. I think we'll be good to go with ME and grocery delivery. I just didn't want to split the party at the airport with a smaller rental and some ME. Are there walkways to get around the resort?? Also which grocery service is the best for delivery?? Would like one that could deliver to bell services as don't want to waste "Disney time" waiting in the room.Also do they deliver wine, beer, suntan lotion etc??

 

[nolanboys]

Thanks everybody. I think we'll be good to go with ME and grocery delivery. I just didn't want to split the party at the airport with a smaller rental and some ME. Are there walkways to get around the resort?? Also which grocery service is the best for delivery?? Would like one that could deliver to bell services as don't want to waste "Disney time" waiting in the room.Also do they deliver wine, beer, suntan lotion etc??

We used Garden Grocer and gave them a delivery window. They were prompt and we had no complaints. Although they do not list alcohol, you can use their special request section and they will fill it. We also shipped a box down before we left with cereal, snacks, and suntan lotion. By buying it on sale, it was cheaper even with the shipping charge. You just ship it to the resort and it is ready for you at check in. We were a little far from HH, but it was less than a 10 minute walk. You could also hop on any bus, and then the last stop was always HH. The resort is so pretty, we atually enjoyed the walk.

 

[etpinge]

Are there walkways to get around the resort??

We stayed once close to the HH. Everyday was a simple walk to the main pool and concessions.

If you can stay close to the HH, life is very easy. Make the request.

Otherwise, it is a large property but the sidewalks are wide and easy to navigate. The Disney buses are reliable and pick up all the villas before visiting the main desk before leaving for the parks.

The resort is beautiful and very laid back.

 

[PHILCT]

I love OKW, and it is my favorite place to be if I have a car, because you can park closer to your door, just like being in a condo.

You don't have to use a car there, the buses and the boat to Downtown Disney will get you around fine.

When I travel in large groups of 6 or more, we do like the minivan over the bus, as it is a nice way to travel without anyone not getting a seat on the Disney bus, and a place to leave our jackets and extra towels/change of clothing and other belongings, especially if we go to the water parks. It is very helpful in going to dine at OTHER Disney resorts. It is nice to be able to go out to get GOOD coffee off-site, or to grab snacks that are less inexpensive off property. If we do get the Minivan, we still send a couple of adults directly to the resort via Magic Express, as there is never enough room for like 7 people and all their luggage in the smaller less expensive Minivans.

But if you wished you could have a car for just like one or two days, use the Alamo or National Car Rental Care Center on property, and they will pick you up to get your car and drop you off after you return your car, they will even drop you off at a different on property location if say you want to go eat at a different Resort that day. We have done this for grocery shopping, dining out off property, and heading to the the International Drive area.