Old Key West Questions

[Jannino]

OK - We are real close to buying into DVC and it looks like it's between OKW and SSR. We've stayed at SSR this past November in Congress Park, so I have a good feel for that resort. But we've nevfer stayed at OKW (we did stop by though). So I have a couple of questions about OKW I think might help us with our decision.

1) Does the OKW pool have a slide? If so, how long is it?

2) The map of OKW I have shows 4 bus stops? How does the bus run inside the resort?

3) In general, how is the bus service? For example, I've heard that if you are the last stop in SSR, sometimes you cannot get on the bus. Does this happen at OKW?

4) I understand many of the buildings at OKW have no elevators. How many and which buildings do have them?

5) How many floors are there at the OKW buildings (I'm tying to find out how many flights of stairs I might have to climb if I get a villa on the top floor in a building with no elevator).

6) When was the last renovation done at OKW?

7) Historically has there ever been an assessment at OKW?

 

[Chuck S]

1) Yes, I haven't used it, but I understad it is the fastest slide of any of the resorts.

2) There are 5 bus stops at OKW In order 1)Peninsular Road 2)South Point, 3) Old Turtle Pond Road 4) Millers Road 5) Hospitality House (Main Check-in)

There is an internal bus that that doubles as a Typhoon Lagoon/DtD bus. It stops first AND last at Hospitality House.

4) Only buildings 62, 63 & 64 have elevators, because of a change in ADA law between phase 2 and phase 3 of building.

5) Buildings vary from 2 to 3 stories. The stairs have a gentle 1/2 flight (10 step) rise, a landing, and another 1/2 flight.

6) Renovations are cyclitic, and parts of the resort are under rehab currently.

7) An assessment? You mean a special assessment because of a dues shortage for emergency repairs? No, no DVC resort has had a special assessment, but one was announced for Vero Beach, but was not needed (canceled) after the hurricanes. Actually, let me correct that - no assessment was actually announced, they said there was a possibility a special assessment may be necessary at Vero Beach, but it wasn't needed.

 

[OneMoreTry]

You have to try OKW.

 

[Jannino]

Chuck S - Thanks for the quick answers to my questions.

One More Try - Last November, we stayed at SSR but tried to "tour" OKW. We stopped by OKW around 9:00am, checked out the common areas and asked the check in staff if we could see a room. The resort staff was helpful, but they said none of the rooms were cleaned up and if we could come back between 2:00 to 4:00 we might be able to see a room. But our plans that day didn't allow us to go back. This is one of the reasons why I've been trying to gather as much info on OKW as I could since I'm not the tyoe of person who shells out large sums of money on something I've never seen. So I've been searching for every picture of OKW I could find. At this point I've narrowed down our choice to OKW as SSR, most likely purchasing via the resale route. The age of OKW concerns me (that's why I asked about any special assessments) but the point value and cost cannot be beat and OKW generally gets the best reviews. SSR is newer and the contract is longer (not a big issue for me), but it requires more points for usage and has a higher point cost to obtain.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...The resort staff was helpful, but they said none of the rooms were cleaned up and if we could come back between 2:00 to 4:00 we might be able to see a room. But our plans that day didn't allow us to go back. This is one of the reasons why I've been trying to gather as much info on OKW as I could since I'm not the tyoe of person who shells out large sums of money on something I've never seen. ....

Seeing one room is going to be the clincher for you? Pardon me, but that seems a little obsessive to me. JMO.

 

[Lyndylou]

We have stayed at both resorts and personally OKW wins -no competition. we feel the accomodation is much more airy and spacious. I appreciate maybe we didn't have a great room.well 2 BDR actually at SSR but was too dark and dismal for us. Staying at OKW for 6 weeks this summer Awoo Ahoo

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have stayed at both resorts and personally OKW wins -no competition. we feel the accomodation is much more airy and spacious. I appreciate maybe we didn't have a great room.well 2 BDR actually at SSR but was too dark and dismal for us. Staying at OKW for 6 weeks this summer Awoo Ahoo

6 weeks at OKW? WOWWWWW!! I envy you! Have a wonderful stay. We'll be there for a week in June.

 

[Chuck S]

The resort staff was helpful, but they said none of the rooms were cleaned up and if we could come back between 2:00 to 4:00 we might be able to see a room. But our plans that day didn't allow us to go back. This is one of the reasons why I've been trying to gather as much info on OKW as I could since I'm not the tyoe of person who shells out large sums of money on something I've never seen. So I've been searching for every picture of OKW I could find. At this point I've narrowed down our choice to OKW as SSR, most likely purchasing via the resale route. The age of OKW concerns me (that's why I asked about any special assessments) but the point value and cost cannot be beat and OKW generally gets the best reviews. SSR is newer and the contract is longer (not a big issue for me), but it requires more points for usage and has a higher point cost to obtain.

While I certainly understand wanting to see a room, be aware that at any given time, especially at larger resorts like OKW and SSR, that you may get a room near the end of its useful life, scheduled for rehabd, or get a pristine room that just finished a rehab. In general DVC does a good job keeping the rooms in good repair, but there will almost always be some signs of wear and tear evident in rooms that are under as much usage as the DVC resorts.

And we all know some guests are more "gentle" on the room than others. Wondering what the noise was once, I went out on our studio balcony and actually saw a kid, about 10 years old, and a full grown older woman jumping on the sofas in the 1 bedroom unit next to us.

 

[Anal Annie]

While I certainly understand wanting to see a room, be aware that at any given time, especially at larger resorts like OKW and SSR, that you may get a room near the end of its useful life, scheduled for rehabd, or get a pristine room that just finished a rehab.

We had a room last summer at OKW that was quite used. Although we haven't had a chance to stay there yet, because of this probability, I would suggest going with SSR as it is so much newer.
(DS loved the slide...but that was about the only thing he liked.)

 

[JimMIA]

One important difference -- room size

Studio - OKW 376 square feet with 2 queens; SSR 355 with one queen, one sofabed

1 BR - OKW 1016 sq ft; SSR 714

2 BR - OKW 1322 sq ft; SSR 1069* - OKW has two queens in second bedroom; some SSR's have two queens, others have one queen and a sofabed

3 BR - OKW 2265 sw ft; SSR 2113

* I got these dimensions from Allears, and they do not show a size for the SSR 2 BR, so I added the 1 BR + studio. That should be close. If you look at the DVC members site, you will see slightly different sizes for the villas, but the relative sizes will be about the same. OKW villas, with the exception of the studio, are somewhat larger than SSR.

The OKW 1 BR and up villas have a huge laundry room with fullsize washer and dryer. The laundry room is so big that some owners literally put their little guys in there in the Pack N Play! SSR has stacked washer/dryers.

 

[utahkennedys]

We bought OKW resale about 2.5 years ago. I toured all of the resorts I was interested in and OKW won hands down for us. At the time, my biggest dilemma was the extra 15 years SSR was offering, which is no longer an issue as I am adding those at OKW. We were 31 when we bought so this made a difference to me.

Here is why OKW won:
1. It had a tropical feel which we want on vacation. I am from Boston and if I want the more east coast feel, I'll head home instead.
2. We love the size of the rooms, the huge balconies, the pool area and the general feel of OKW
3. Less points per room at OKW
4. Although OKW is spread out, it still seems more intimate to me that SSR.

Don't get me wrong, SSR is a pretty resort, each person has their own taste. Each time I call for ressies it seems like SSR and OKW are available, but this last time, only SSR was and we had to waitlist for OKW which made me nervous but it worked out. My point -- buy where you want to stay and book before 7 months out. If that is SSR, great.

 

[Saratoga Souris]

Bought SSR 3 years ago and recently decided to add on. Decided to add on at OKW - I love this resort!

With SSR, the points would have been $2 less and I would have also recieved the developer points but I chose OKW anyway. I purchased from Disney so the contract is already "extended".

I think your questions have been anwered in the posts above but if you have any more, just keep asking!

 

[nunzia]

This may be obvious, but have you checked the Disney DVC website and seen the 360 degree room views?

 

[Jannino]

Nunzia - yes I did check the 360 tour website. All of that is great but does not compare to actually seeing the room. For example, I also looked at SSR via Disney's 360 tour, but the room had a different feel to it when I stayed there.

Deb & Bill - Generally I do not spend around $20K with actually looking into what I am paying for. Maybe you didn't look into OKW it as much as I have been and I know others have bought into DVC without actually seeing the resorts. But I'd hate to go through all that it takes to buy into DVC just to find out that I do not like the resort I just bought into without looking at it first. I do not think that is obsessive thinking at all, just smart business practice.

Thanks all for your responses. They've all been helpful.

 

[MamaKate]

One important difference -- room size

Studio - OKW 376 square feet with 2 queens; SSR 355 with one queen, one sofabed

This is the reason my son loves OKW. He actually gets to sleep in a bed . Whenever we stay anywhere else, he's always stuck with the sofa bed.

 

[MamaKate]

Deb & Bill - Generally I do not spend around $20K with actually looking into what I am paying for. Maybe you didn't look into OKW it as much as I have been and I know others have bought into DVC without actually seeing the resorts. But I'd hate to go through all that it takes to buy into DVC just to find out that I do not like the resort I just bought into without looking at it first. I do not think that is obsessive thinking at all, just smart business practice.

Thanks all for your responses. They've all been helpful.

That's the good thing about DVC. You don't have to stay at your home resort . I don't think there is major difference of a home resort advantage for either, since they are both so big.

I own at AKV but have stayed at AKV, OKW, SSR, BWV and VWL. Eventhough I love AKV, I love the freedom of being able to stay elsewhere.

So if you end up buying at OKW and ends up not being your style, you'll still be able to book at SSR.

 

[TiggerMan2007]

This is the reason my son loves OKW. He actually gets to sleep in a bed . Whenever we stay anywhere else, he's always stuck with the sofa bed.

MamaKate you should read this post: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1683213