Pics of OKW Studio

[DaveH]

In last night's chat my DW CrazyBoutDisney promised I would post these pic. These pics were taken during our first trip home in the last week of Nov 2001.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm glad your wife gave you the push. All three sets are very nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

You know what struck me? The other day I was looking at pictures taken from our first stay in an OKW one-bedroom in January 1994. I bet you couldn't see a difference between those picutres and the ones you just posted (except for the artificial trees they used to have). So, anyone who is concerned about Disney being able to keep things up to par...so far they've been doing an excellent job.

 

[DaveH]

Pam we were concerned before we went because we knew they were 10 years old and I remember seeing the Poly before they refurbished them. DVCReg reassured us they OKW was great. She was right. We bought at VWL and could not get what we wanted at the time so we went to OKW. I would recommend it to anyone. We do have ressies at VWL for Dec 1-8 for DISCon. I would like to try BWV. Only time will tell.

 

[Gearjammin101]

I'm so glad you posted these pictures. Yours are much better than what I see on the sites. I really can get a feel of how the room is laid out. I love how BIG OKW is but let me ask you one more question? Is OKW basically a golf resort because we are not into golf. Also, what is it close too? And on more thing, could you exlplain to me something someone told me once. In Dec. '00 when we were there we were talking to a couple from Jersey (who by the way love DVC) and she said that if you own in say VWL you can not stay in WL resort or something to that effect. Do you know what she means? Ugh, I can't wait for my package to arrive. How long does it usually take? I requested it through Disney's site last Sunday, 2/3.

Thanks again for the pictures, they are beautiful!!!
April

 

[PamOKW]

OKW is laid out around the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course but you certainly don't have to be a golfer to enjoy it! The open areas attract a lot of birds and wildlife and they are a lot of fun to watch. You also can watch the golfers as they go by. But, the course is not extremely busy that they are any kind of annoyance....just fun.

OKW is "next door" to the original PO resort and the DI. It is really pretty centrally located. By car, it's about 5 minutes to DD (there is a boat and a bus from OKW) or Typhoon Lagoon. It's less than 10 minutes to Epcot, MGM or BWV. Less than 15 minutes to MK. It's a little further to AK or BB since they are on the other side of WDW. Where do you usually stay? I'll try to give you some reference points to locate OKW. I bet you've gone by it without even realizing it.

When a hotel adds a DVC section, DVC members can no longer use their points to pay to stay in the hotel. They can, however, use the points to stay in the DVC section. This actually makes the most sense because DVC villas are larger than regular rooms and would require fewer points to stay. So, you can't stay at WL on points but you can stay VWL.

Things are very busy at DVC right now since they just started selling BCV. This may delay your package arrival a bit. I'm not sure how long it will take but would suspect about 2 weeks.

 

[DaveH]

April we were at OKW for 1 night in each room. The studio was our first night then we went to VWL and spent the last night at OKW in a 1 bedroom. The transportation from OKW is Bus except there is a boat inaddition to the bus to Downtown Disney. The rooms at OKW are larger. I found them to be a little more like home than the VWL but they feel like home too not like a hotel room. We only stayed in a 1 bedroom at VWL. The transportation from VWL is bus except to the MK which is a boat. I have been to WDW may times most of them at the All Stars. I had very few problems over the years with the busses. I have had some bad experiences with them but not that many. I beleive OKW is closests to DS/MGM and EPCOT. Someone will correct me if I am wrong. As for using points. You can use points at any DVC resort. Your home resort you can get ressies 11 months out. All others start at 7 months. That said there are times it is harder to get ressies less than 7 months out. The timing is different than the regular resorts. It has more to do with point costs and what is going on at WDW. One of the busiest(sp?) times for DVC is the couple weeks after Thanksgiving. The parks are not very crowded, the point levels are low and the Christmas decorations and events are going on. We have ressies at VWL our home resort for Dec 1 - 8 in a studio. I asked for info about BWV for that week to get an idea if we could there once. I was told the BWV studios for that week were reserved already. They do a wait list also in case someone cancels thier ressie. I hope to get on the wait list and maybe someone will get ressies at BCV and open the BWV. There were rooms at BWV but they were 1 bedroom thus more points. I know this is long but I hope this helps.

 

[RAMWDWFAN]

Thanks Dave!

As was stated earlier by April, your pictures are fantastic. I'm going home in less than three weeks and will stay in an OKW studio for the first time. Seeing how nice they are is really making me excited!

 

[Gearjammin101]

Thanks guys for your info. PamOKW, we usually stay at WL. We love the lodge and the quiet and the closeness to MK. We always go down the first week of Dec. Have been since I was about 9 years old w/ my mom and now w/ DH. I would like to try Sept sometime though. I was even thinking of this year. I haven't made ressies yet because I'm SERIOUSLY thinking of DVC. Waiting on the package and in the meantime trying to talk DH into it as well. When I show him how much it costs compared to 40 years he won't be able to argue. It's like $58,000+ not counting inflation just for the room alone. Now the next thing I'm trying to figure out is the maint. fees. I'm looking at about 150 pts. to start w/ or maybe 200 if I go resale. The only places I'm looking at is OKW or (was looking) at VWL but I know VWL is not an option now w/out going resale, right? Besides, from what I see, I like OKW's pictures. How is the atmosphere compared to the WL? The only other places I've stayed is PO. I liked it o.k. The room we had wasn't that great compared to what I've seen since. But, really liked the atmosphere of WL. Laid back. Just felt like you fit in. That's why I was asking about the golf thing. thanx for clarifying. O.K. I've wrote enough.

April

 

[RAMWDWFAN]

Thanks Dave!

As was stated earlier by April, your pictures are fantastic. I'm going home in less than three weeks and will stay in an OKW studio for the first time. Seeing how nice they are is really making me excited!

 

[downontheBW]

Dave, Thanks for posting the pictures! All three sets are great - we stayed in an OKW studio in December this is bringing back some great memories. What a beautiful resort!

April, If you really like WL and the MK area, maybe you should look around for a VWL resale. We own BWV and love the location. Other than location, the main difference in the resorts is the setup: hotel-style (BWV, VWL, BCV) where the rooms are off interior hallways and to get to your car you need to go through the main part of the resort vs. apartment-style (OKW, HHI) were there are multiple smaller buildings, the door to your room is an exterior door and you can park right near your building.

 

[treloarf]

I didn't see any chairs on the patio - are they there somewhere??? Or are there no chairs? It looks a little small for a table too, of course, we stayed in a 1-bedroom last year. The studio is really going to seem small, but we're there for 4 days & only had 50 pts. left.

 

[DaveH]

bump

 

[newt1912]

The photos show 2 beds in the studio. Are there studios which have 1 bed and 1 sofa bed? Are there studios which have 2 beds? If both setups exist, what do you ask for when making ressies? Are there more of 1 setup than the other? I am just confused because I thought the normal studio setup was 1 bed and 1 sofabed. I don't understand why a studio would have 2 beds - it would give less "walk around" room? Correct? Am I not understanding something?

Thanks for helping me out.

 

[KyBill]

All the studios at OKW have two queen beds. The patio has two plastic resin chairs.

 

[newt1912]

Originally posted by KyBill
All the studios at OKW have two queen beds. .

I am a new DVC member and did not see an OKW model. I am shocked that all studios at OKW have 2 beds! I guess there are those members that like 2 beds but I feel it gives the feel of a hotel room.

 

[WorknFires]

I'm homesick...............

Beautiful pics!
Cheryl

 

[Landof10000lakes]

This photos are the best I've seen for OKW. Thank you for taking the time to post them!

 

[DVC1996]

I am one of those members who prefers staying at OKW in a studio because of the two queen sized beds. I feel this is a more comfortable set-up when there are 4 persons staying in a studio.

Harriet ( formerly HarrietSLP@aol.com)
DVC '96
Next Trip: DVC Anniversary Cruise 4/7-4/11
Grand Floridian 4/11

 

[PKK/MJK]

I agree with DVC1996. If you have four people staying in the studio, it is much easier and more comfortable to have the second queen sized bed. I have stayed in studios at both OKW and BWV and haven't had problems moving around in either of them. The OKW studios are more square-shaped and accommodate the second bed with no problem. Also,the OKW bathroom is much bigger. BWV studios are more rectangular. If only two people stay in the studio, perhaps the sofa would be more appealling. Personally, I don't mind relaxing and watching TV from the bed but "to each his own." DVC gives us lots of wonderful choices.

 

[newt1912]

Wow, I just looked at the room layout for the OKW Studio in my Guidebook and I can see what all of you OKW lovers mean by the size/layout of the room. Even with the 2 beds, the room does appear roomy because of the unusual design/shape and the placement of the kitchenette area, etc.

I will be in WDW the week following Easter, actually arriving Easter Saturday til Friday. What do you think my chances would be of getting to view an actual studio if I went over to OKW to look around the resort. Do you think it will be at 100% occupancy?