OKW- without a car?

[palmtreegirl]

On our last trip we took the bus over to OKW to check it out for future stays. We asked what stop was for the hospitality center and the bus driver said the last so we took the tour around OKW waiting for it. WOW that resort seemed huge! Very pretty though.

My ? is have you been there without your own car, what if you get put in a building towards the back? Is it too much of a pain to rely on the bus system?

The break in points for stays there has us considering it for an upcoming second short trip. PLus the 2 beds in the studio would be great for the kids. The size the place was our only concern.

TIA!

 

[dsmith]

We've stayed there several times, never with a car. My family is very laid back so waiting for a bus doesn't bother us. If you're a "Type-A" person you might want your own car. We prefer a building in the South Point neighborhood way in the back and I've found that it's faster to walk to the Hospitality House than wait for a bus. I almost always take a bus because they all stop at the front before leaving the resort and it is a long walk, especially if you've got something to carry. When leaving the Hospitality House I take the short walk to the Peninsular Road bus stop and ride back to South Point, again on any bus.

 

[chunkygal]

We like it without a car. There are lots of bus stops and frequent buses. You can get on any bus to get around. We like staying back by the quiet pool.
D Quigley

 

[PADVCmember@OKW]

We have done it both ways but usually with a car. Although when we have the car, we do not use it to go to and from the parks.

During our October stay (for the Funai Golf Classic) we did not have a car and had to use various means of transportation daily. Slowed us down when time was an issue.

We are planning on going back this October and decided that we will rent a car.

 

[Cobra B.]

Although it is a lot of fun to ride the bus, it can also take a while. Especially if you are coming from somewhere that is not a direct route and requires a change of buses, i.e. Marketplace. Besides, you can leave the car behind sometimes.

 

[BWVDee]

I have stayed at OKW both with and without a car and I find it much more convenient to have a car at this resort. If you do not have a car and are someone that will use the main pool, restaurant, pool bar, store, etc., a lot; requesting a villa close to HH will be a big help.

 

[Dean]

OKW is my favorite resort and I'd never do it without a car.

 

[disneycrazed139]

I think OKW is similar in size to CBR. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I've never stayed at OKW but when staying at CBR--which is also a sprawling resort, we happily wait for the bus. It brings a little anticipation for the day ahead and gives us a chance to sit and just chat with each other. Never bothered me not having a car.

 

[OneMoreTry]

We did it and it wasn't bad. If you're in a hurry just use a cab.

Hey, that's a poem.

Last time we used our car most of the time, though.

 

[FredS]

We've stayed there several times, both with and without a car. Almost never used the car to go to the parks however!

 

[PamOKW]

I've never found the walk from anywhere to be a problem. You can also hop any bus to get around the resort if you decide not to keep walking.

You learn little tricks -- for instance, if you get off or on at Peninsular, you are cutting off time and are dropped off basically "behind" the main pool/entertainment area. It's just a quick walk back over the bridge. This is also a good place to pick up the bus if you are coming back from that area and want to get to South Point or Old Turtle Pond.

Someone mentioned CBR -- actually getting the buses at OKW is much simpler since there is almost always a stop right near your door -- no walking across big parking lots like at CBR. I don't think the walks are as far as from most CBR rooms to the Port Royale either. Looking at a map of the resort you see a lot of land because of the golf course. The roads and units are all no more than a 10 minute walk from the main area.

I've always had a car but never used it to get around the resort or to go to the parks. Just never felt any real need.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We drive down when we stay at OKW but most of the time we just park the car & use the busses to get to the parks. The only times we use our car, is to go to the water parks (because we have towels and snacks etc), and to visit other WDW resorts for meals. Using the busses from any resort to get to another resort can be a hassle.
Overall, we find the bus system at OKW very good. There are 5 bus stops throughout the resort so you are never too far from any one of them and they generally run every 10-20 min. As Pam mentioned, the walks aren't bad at all. I don't find them any different than walks at other resorts. Have a nice trip

 

[Pa@okw95]

It is less than a half a mile from the farthest point at OKW to the HH. With any luck on your reservation you will be a lot clloser. All the buses make their last stop at the HH anyway. You are never far away from a bus stop. The negative about OKW is it was designed for people with autos, and it is a big plus having your car right out in front of your unit, so you can drive anywhere. The big negative at OKW and a lot of the DVC resorts is the bus service but most people don't seem to care about spending up to one hour on or waiting for a bus. I do!!

 

[RumpleMom]

Even when we have a car, we don't use it to go to the parks. We would rather get on an air conditoned bus, than take a tram to our hot car. Also the boat to DTD is very pleasant, then we take a bus back to OKW because the stop is convenient to PI for a late night return.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Bus transportation to and from the parks and OKW is wonderful. Not sure why PaOKW waits an hour or more, but we never have. Most times it is less than 10 minutes unless you are waiting to come back from a park in the middle of the afternoon. We find the buses don't run as often then, because there isn't as much demand.

As far as walking from the farthest point to HH, we usually start walking and if a bus comes when we are near the bus stop, we hop it. If not, it is only the equivalent of a couple of city blocks to HH. It's a vacation, chill out and enjoy.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Dianeschlicht--I said on or waiting for bus not just waiting. My last experience was from AK-from the time I started waiting at AK until I got off was about 50 minutes and I got off early at OKW rather than ride around the lot. You seem to rate the buses based on waiting time only. I rate the buses first, then the waiting time, then how long it takes to get to whereever you are going-like I said before using those 3 ratings-I call them an insult. I have been through too much with busses at OKW to ever change my mind about that. First they are regular buses, then you can wait up to 30 minutes when they are on time(that is from the time they arrive and leave the bus station, and the final total time of arrival-I never mention because it does not effect me but the way they stuff people on the bus is another turn off. They do not do that to me because I don't give them a chance.