OWK GV Question

[mjc2003]

I saw a youtube video tour of the GV's, but it's from 2008. Have they been updated at all? If so, anybody know what was changed?

Also, we have the possibility of staying in an OKW GV or AKV GV and I am tepnted to take OKW b/c of the points, for one, and because we love the BCV (not available when we want to go), and we feel like OKW has more the feel we enjoy. But, if anybody has stayed at both, any insights would be appreciated.

I can also do 2 2-BR's at AKV instead of a GV. Or a split stay, OKV/AKV.

Any insights to any changes to the OKW GVs would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nifferearly]

I'm staying in a GV at OKW for the first time over Memorial weekend! The GV's have been renovated. I've seen pictures - try allears.net. I like AKL, but I just love the laid back atmosphere at OKW. And you can't beat the points cost!

 

[mjc2003]

I'm staying in a GV at OKW for the first time over Memorial weekend! The GV's have been renovated. I've seen pictures - try allears.net. I like AKL, but I just love the laid back atmosphere at OKW. And you can't beat the points cost!

The problem is the GV at OKW is actually not available the whole time. BUT, I could get 2 2BR's (more room than the GV actually). But the 2 2BR's at OKW are basically the same exact points (6 more actually) than the 2 2BR's standard view at AKL.
I think we'd be fine with both. The more I think about it, the less practical the GV probably is since we need more room and several people traveling with us are from different sides of the family, so I don't want any awkward sleeping arrangements!

I keep hearing great things about OKW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you go with 2 2 bedroom villas, you can cancel on when some of the family drops out of the trip, too.

 

[mjc2003]

If you go with 2 2 bedroom villas, you can cancel on when some of the family drops out of the trip, too.

I agree....except in this case it's more b/c we need the space. We have about 30 people going with cash reservations already. We are going to bring some additional family that cannot afford to go; if they bail, we will give the room to one of the cash folks.

However, the MS rep said the same thing--GV's are great, but he relayed a story where just this week he had a lady staying in a GV with 11 people originally and was now down to 3.

 

[Donna M]

Make sure to say you are a Grand Gathering so your rooms will be together. I didn't realize they would do that for our group of 14. I thought it was for planning dinners and stuff.

We stayed in a GV at OKW this past Feb. We also had 2 studios. By getting the GV there was a very large space for all of us to gather but with the studios, some of them could go away! The extra space was great for sleeping arrangements since we had 4 families with 4 teenagers.

We spent a good deal of time on the large balcony. There is a table with 4 chairs, not sure how big the other place is.

Our unit was renovated. I thought the sleeper chair was very comfy to sit on, more so than the couches. My neices thought the sleeper chair and couch were comfortable to sleep on too. The kitchen seemed to be very well stocked, with items not found in the 2 bd units we have stayed in earlier.

A lot depends on how many people are in your group and who will sleep where; I only put one couple in a bedroom, maybe with their own kids if need be. The 2 bd has a large living room and balcony too.

So, you get more socializing space with the 3bd, but you get the extra bd with 2-2bd. Go with what works for you and have fun.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I saw a youtube video tour of the GV's, but it's from 2008. Have they been updated at all? If so, anybody know what was changed?

Also, we have the possibility of staying in an OKW GV or AKV GV and I am tepnted to take OKW b/c of the points, for one, and because we love the BCV (not available when we want to go), and we feel like OKW has more the feel we enjoy. But, if anybody has stayed at both, any insights would be appreciated.

I can also do 2 2-BR's at AKV instead of a GV. Or a split stay, OKV/AKV.

Any insights to any changes to the OKW GVs would be greatly appreciated.

We have stayed in GVs several times at OKW over the years. Our most recent GV stay was at the end of January. The update mostly changed the colors, the counters to stone, and the bed frames. They look very similar to the colors of the 2 bedroom units. The living room is a very pale yellow. Thankfully, the hardwood floors of the GV were not replaced, but they were refinished to match the darker color now in vogue. They also have added the same ugly sleeper chair to the living room that the 1&2 bedroom units have. Nice new fabric cushions on the wicker chairs too, and the dining chairs have been painted white.

 

[KPOP]

I also have the same decision to make - AKV or OKW GV's for my next trip. It'll be a split stay - thinking about staying at AKV for the 1st half, and then the OKW GV for the 2nd half. OKW mainly b/c of the points...BUT the Jambo house layout looks so cool, that I am considering spending the points!

 

[mjc2003]

I also have the same decision to make - AKV or OKW GV's for my next trip. It'll be a split stay - thinking about staying at AKV for the 1st half, and then the OKW GV for the 2nd half. OKW mainly b/c of the points...BUT the Jambo house layout looks so cool, that I am considering spending the points!

We ended up with the AKV GV (Kidani) b/c I hesitated, and when I called back the OKW GV was not available for all the days we needed. Some, but not all. I am actually a bit upset b/c the MS rep clearly had no clue what he was talking about--when I called, he confused the Jambo and Kidani GV's. He told me that Jambo was 2 stories and had less room, and no pool table. He said Kidani was 1 story, 200 sf bigger and had better balconies. BOTH WERE AVAILABLE--I trusted what he was saying b/c we've never been there and I had no reason not to believe what he was saying. Now, after some research, I see that he had them backwards. I would much prefer the Jambo GV (not saying the Kidani one won't be nice) after looking at pictures and reading reviews. After figuring out the mistake, I called back and suddenly the night we arrive the Jambo GV is booked.
Really frustrating. Again, for 4 nights it's not the end of the world, and clearly the Kidani GV is really nice.

I really wish now that I had booked OKW when I could have b/c it would work better for our large group. Thankfully I can still switch to OKW and book 2 2 BR's (more room than the AKV GV) for basically the same amount of points.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Donna M]

Aren't we fortunate to be in such situations!