OWK experts

[SnowWitch]

We stayed in studio for 2 nights several years ago when we were just touring Sea World so we have never toured from OKW. Our dd was a newborn so we just didn't get out and explore the resort. I just booked a studio today. We leave in 15 days!!!! I realize we probably will be eating CS the whole trip since we are going during free dining. What are our options at the resort? Selection? Any off property choices that are close?

Buses? Are they pretty reliable? I requested buildings 23-27. Bus stop right there and pretty close to the main building.

The girls are almost 2 and 3, any activities that are age appropriate?

Any tips are welcome. Thanks!! Home resort is BWV's, I am a little nervous about transportation. Thoughts.

 

[OKWMom]

The CS at OKW is Goods to Go which doesn't have much in the way of selection. If you will have a car, it is a quick drive to POFQ and their food court has a good bit more to choose from. We have eaten it there, but when DD was too fussy to sit through a meal, I have gotten it to go. They'll cover it and put it in paper bags to make it easier to transport back to the room. You'll have to ask a CM for the to go condiments, and sometimes I had to ask more than one before they could find them, but it works fairly well most days.

We have also done Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD. We have driven and we have taken the boat from the OKW dock.

 

[SnowWitch]

How long is the boat ride to Downtown, I had totally forgotten about that. My biggest concern is being there during free dining and not having much in the way of selection to choose from due to free dining crowds. We have never went offsite to eat but I am really considering it this trip.

 

[Chuck S]

You can request Bldgs 23 to 27, but you'll likely be in 27, if you get your request, because 11 to 14 and 23 to 26 are now part of a "guaranteed" booking category, like Boardwalk View. The new category is the "Near Hospitality House category.

As far as dining options at OKW, there is a snack bar (Goods to Go) near the main pool with burgers, salads and sandwiches. Some are pre-made.

There is also the Turtle Shack. It is all pre-packaged salads and sandwiches. It is a seasonal, no grill, sack bar in the Turtle Pond pool area. It may not be open during your visit, or have limited hours.

The table service restaurant, Olivia's is also good, and you could probably get in there without too much trouble, as most folks at OKW won't have free dining.

There is a boat connecting OKW to Downtown Disney, where you can pick up a sandwich at Earl of Sandwich. Very yummy. This place is ALWAYS busy, though.

As far as offsite, there are quite a few options, but some are a bit of a drive down in to Kissimmee. Perkin's is close by, over in the Crossroads center. There is an Italian place there (Uno pizzeria, I think) a Red Lobster, etc. Those three seem pretty stable. Some other chains have come and gone. So what else may be in the center, I don't know. We like Bob Evans, down in Kissimmee, reasonably priced, decent food. Nothin' fancy.

 

[Chuck S]

How long is the boat ride to Downtown, I had totally forgotten about that. My biggest concern is being there during free dining and not having much in the way of selection to choose from due to free dining crowds. We have never went offsite to eat but I am really considering it this trip.

Boat ride is about 15 to 20 minutes. It stops at SSR both ways, and drops you near the Rainforest Cafe and Cap't Jack's in DtD. I leaves the OKW dock every 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how many boats they are running.

We also occasionally drive over to Pop Century, they have a really nice food court,there, but it will be crowded duriing Free Dining, I'm sure.

 

[5forDiz]

We love OKW ( it's our home ) !! The buildings you mention are convenient but I noticed the ages of your little ones and perhaps you may want to consider requesting 11 - 13 which are closest to Conch Flats which is location of main pool / sand pail playground area, general store, community hall where you will find daily activities for kids, Goods counter serve & Olivia's for table service meals and bus stop and dock for boat to DTD ( building 14 is convenient too but could be a bit less quiet because main access road into OKW is adjacent ).

It is any easy walk from 11 -14 across small parking area to all these things.

Buildings on Turtle Pond Road may be good too; you'd have bus stop & a quiet pool there as well and The Turtle Shack for snacks & small arcade area & bbq grills & picnic table pavillion.

Check out the OKW resort map on this site to get a better idea of things.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.htm


We really enjoy Olivia's for onsite table service at OKW .

We second pp's on Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD and Earl of Sandwich too ( for most onsite counter & table serve locations you can find menus on allears.net )
Saratoga Springs Resort has nice counter serve dining at Artist Palette ( not sure if or when OKW boat may stop at SSR - - ah yes it does, thank you Chuck S for clearing that up ! ).
Also, you can take bus over to BoardWalk Resort (we like ESPN Club & Spoodles) fun entertainers there in the early evening and carnival games that your children may enjoy and also many other places to dine walking around Crescent Lake ( at BC/YC, Swan, Dolphin ).

If you have a car and are interested in offsite but nearby alternatives there is Buffalo Wild Wings ( you can look up their menu online ) at The Crossings shopping center which is directly across from Hotel Plaza Blvd. gate ( pass DTD and follow road onto Hotel Plaza Blvd. & cross route 535 ) and Fudrucker's looked just about ready to open when we were at WDW in July. Also if you make a right turn onto route 535 and follow it under I4 shortly down road on left is Little Lake Bryan plaza with Bahama Breeze restaurant which we enjoy.

As far as theme parks go AK - very good ribs & rotisserie chicken at Flame Tree BBQ, Epcot - Sunshine Season's Foodcourt ( salmon entree & other interesting choices ) & La Cantina at Mexico pavillion ( adjacent to World Showcase lake ).

Have a great time

 

[SnowWitch]

I had read on the DVC member site about the preferred location and asked when I booked. The very nice young lady said 11-14 were thre preferred locations. Oh well, I can hope.

I just booked Olivias and I got Boma for dinner but nothing else I asked about was available but I am so not shocked. I was actually shocked to get Boma at all. I anticipate eating offsite some, we have never done this but I can only ahndle so much Disney CS. And the girls can only eat so many chicken nuggets.

How are the buses to the parks? We are driving down so we can drive to the parks but have never done this. What has been your experiences with the bus system?

I have looked at pics on Deb's site. And as I mentioned in my earlier post when we had a very short weekend stay our 1st DD was only 2 months old so I didn't even go to the pool, do they have a water play area? On Deb's site I can see giant sand buckets but I can't tell anything else. Thanks!

 

[OKWMom]

I had read on the DVC member site about the preferred location and asked when I booked. The very nice young lady said 11-14 were thre preferred locations. Oh well, I can hope.

I just booked Olivias and I got Boma for dinner but nothing else I asked about was available but I am so not shocked. I was actually shocked to get Boma at all. I anticipate eating offsite some, we have never done this but I can only ahndle so much Disney CS. And the girls can only eat so many chicken nuggets.

How are the buses to the parks? We are driving down so we can drive to the parks but have never done this. What has been your experiences with the bus system?

I have looked at pics on Deb's site. And as I mentioned in my earlier post when we had a very short weekend stay our 1st DD was only 2 months old so I didn't even go to the pool, do they have a water play area? On Deb's site I can see giant sand buckets but I can't tell anything else. Thanks!

Do you mean a playground? If so, there is a swing set, sliding board, etc in an area just off the pool area. The themed slide is really cute, and my daughter loved it. It can get really crowded and when it is packed, she was just as happy in the quiet pools.

Lots of folks are very happy with the bus service at OKW. I haven't been one of them however. My daughter has autism and can grow very impatient while waiting on the bus. We tend to drive to the parks and I can consistently make better time than the bus to every park except the MK. But I still drive there because my daughter considers the monorail to be her first ride of the day and doesn't mind waiting on it.

As for the other offsite options, there is a Chili's in the Crossroads area mentioned by the PPS. Also, at the 535 intersection mentioned above, if you turn left, there is a Macaroni Grill and a Joe's Crab Shak just down the road. Also, we have ordered from a delivery pizza place whose menu is more than just pizza. My half-timers is acting up right now and I'm not certain about their name, but I think it is Giordano's. It is really popular among Dissers and I know someone can correct me if I'm wrong. They have a website so you can download the menu prior to your trip.

 

[Chuck S]

There was a small childrens play pool near the main pool only. I don;t know if it is still there or not, I haven't stayed in the main pool area since they added the slide a few years ago.

The 3 quiet pools all have sandy play areas, hot tubs and BBQ grills (charcoal required), but no kiddie pools. If you are in a studio, the laundry rooms are also located by each pool.

I have found the bus service no better or worse than other Disney resorts. Driving will be faster, though. We always take the bus to the MK, so we don't have to transfer at the TTC to monorail or boat...but then again, we use the handicap parking for a wheelchair, and it is awful at MK, that's why we use the bus.

 

[SnowWitch]

Thanks ChuckS!! My next question was about laundry. We have never stayed in a studio.

 

[Chuck S]

Thanks ChuckS!! My next question was about laundry. We have never stayed in a studio.

Occasionally they may have a regular home washer in the laundry room, if one of the commercial washers is out for repair.

Usually, they have the standard laundromat type with the coin slot. But they are free, just push the coin slot in to start the washer...no coins.

There should be two washers per laundry room, and four dryers. You will need to supply laundry soap. Wash cycle is about 25 minutes from the time you push the coin slot in.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I've used the laundry when staying in a studio. It was in a building next to the pool area in the back, possibly building numbers in the 40's???

 

[bookwormde]

If you end up near south point there is a small play area by the quiet pool.

Also if you boat to DTD you can then boat to POR/POFQ if you want to check the CS there out that way but figure 2 hrs TT round trip.


bookwormde

 

[maciec]

If you end up with a car and go off site for dining there is a great pizza place in the Crossroads Shopping center called Flippers (they also deliver). Also in Crossroads there is Chevy's, and McDonald's. Out on 535 there is also Bahama Breeze, and Lonestar.

By the way, we just came back from OKW and had a blast. I ended up renting a minivan for our trip through Priceline and got a great deal. I was very happy to have a car because it did rain and it allowed us to go off property and do a little exploring.