question for OKW lovers

[dizney4us]

Hi there! DH and I have planned a 2 week winter escape for February. We have never stayed at OKW, but something about the large rooms and tropical theme seemed like a perfect place to stay for 2 weeks away from the New England winter. Am I right? Also, I requested a room close to Hospitality House, was that a good idea too? Will there be a nice view? Any info would be really helpful, thank you!

 

[MouseMomx2]

Hi there! DH and I have planned a 2 week winter escape for February. We have never stayed at OKW, but something about the large rooms and tropical theme seemed like a perfect place to stay for 2 weeks away from the New England winter. Am I right? Also, I requested a room close to Hospitality House, was that a good idea too? Will there be a nice view? Any info would be really helpful, thank you!

We love OKW and have been owners there since 1997. The tropical theme is very relaxing but understated. You'll hear calypso, steel drum and Jimmy Buffett music in the common areas, there are (of course) lots of palm trees, and the colors are tropical...but they don't hit you over the head with it, if you know what I mean.

As for location, we actually prefer to be far from the HH area. We find that it is just to crowded and busy up there...lots of check-in/out traffic, people parking there for the pool, Olivia's and the Mercantile, etc...and prefer to be in the Turtle Pond or South Point area where it is more relaxing. Something else to consider...the HH is the last bus stop in the resort (except for the DtD bus). This means that you are the last ones picked up before heading to the parks and the last ones dropped off when returning to the resort. Of course this is just our opinion. Others love the HH area. If you would rather be close to the main pool and the check-in/Olivia's/Mercantile area then the HH might be just what you'd like.

Have a great time. Hopefully you love OKW as much as we do!

 

[BabsBunny]

Dizney, I hope you don't mind me chiming in on your thread, but we are going with four teens next month. I requested HH so that the kids could be near the pool, basketball, transporation, etc. I thought those perks would override the fact that we won't have that extra door into the master bath. But now I'm doubting my choice again, and I'M SO CONFUSED!!!! lol.

I'll be curious to hear what are the pro's and con's to the other sections.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Dizney, I hope you don't mind me chiming in on your thread, but we are going with four teens next month. I requested HH so that the kids could be near the pool, basketball, transporation, etc. I thought those perks would override the fact that we won't have that extra door into the master bath. But now I'm doubting my choice again, and I'M SO CONFUSED!!!! lol.

I'll be curious to hear what are the pro's and con's to the other sections.

Just as an FYI...Did you book the HH area or did you request it? The HH area is a separate booking category. You book it when making your reservation, it's not something you can request.

That said, with 4 active teens the HH area might be perfect for you. I guess you have to weigh the pool/court area vs. the extra door and a more relaxing location. Lots of people love the HH area...it's just good to be aware that it is the busiest area of the resort.

 

[BabsBunny]

Thanks, MMX2. Yes, they did ask me if I wanted HH when I booked. When I think about it being in 90's and humid, I think being close to the activities is the right choice. Hopefully, DH will have a view of the golf course, and he'll be happy.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I think that sounds like a great February getaway! I just hope you can get back!!! We could barely get back to Philadelphia this past January do to major snow in the northeast!

 

[SusieBea]

I'm another one who prefers not to stay in the HH category. It's just too congested. Although I can understand why it would be desirable when traveling w/ 4 teens. Turtle Pond is our favorite area although there are a few buildings there with horrible views ( 39, 40, and 41 ). We also like the South Point area as our second choice. I suggest you request an area and request a golf course view.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41816374&postcount=2

 

[castleri]

If you are staying in a studio I would try for buildings 45 or 46 and maybe some of the ones on Miller's Road in the 20's . Some of the studios seem to have mostly overgrown vegetation as a view. We were in one in Building 13 and we overlooked the parking lot to building 14 and the end of that building. I am not complaining as I made the reservation with 1 days notice3 and was delighted to have any room but if I was going to be there for 2 weeks I think I would like one that overlooked the canal or one of the golf views. OKW is my favorite resort for every room type except studios when there are just 2 of us and even then I like the feel of the resort better than any other. Hope you have a great time.

 

[dmoore22]

The Hospitality House booking category includes buildings 23, 24, 25, & 26 near Peninsular just across the bridge. The Peninsular Road bus stop is the first stop to pick up and drop off guests. Those buildings are a leisurely walk to the Hospitality House, Olivia's, Community Hall, Main Pool, etc. Buildings 11, 12, 13, and 14 are those closest to the HH. We have stayed in building 14 several times and found it rather peaceful since it is set back from North Cove Road while still having the benefits of being close to HH, Conch Flats, etc. in addition to a combination water/golf course view. Those times we stayed in a studio. We normally catch the bus at HH going to the parks and, when we return, we disembark at the first stop, Peninsular, as it is a short walk to the HH and The Gurgling Suitcase.

 

[Boo :)]

Enjoy

We stayed in OKW for the first time last year and are going back next year. It's a nice break from 'Disney'. We stayed in 45 and although it's not close to the HH it's in walking distance.

 

[spiceycat]

south pointe building 55 or 56

then miller road - 18, 19, 20, 21 (although 19 -21 have the bus going behind your cars - so pull in close)

11-14 and 23-26 - were the HH building.

now don't like being to near the HH - traffic - OKW does not have alot of traffic but what it does it here.
secondly Disney has not build a safe cross walk from building 11-14 to HH - even the stop sign is iffy. many people just are not paying attention to pederians.(sp)

now on the other side there is a crosswalk - it is definitely a crosswalk and it is safe to cross - so building 23-26 are a little better for me because of that crosswalk.

 

[dizney4us]

Well thank you all so much for your thoughts. We are now thinking maybe HH is not what we want. I would like a nice golf course/water view if possible, so maybe I'll request the Turtle pond area. Do all the pools have the tropical music going, because I do like that idea. How long might it take to walk to HH from Turtle Pond? Thanks again!!

 

[SusieBea]

Well thank you all so much for your thoughts. We are now thinking maybe HH is not what we want. I would like a nice golf course/water view if possible, so maybe I'll request the Turtle pond area. Do all the pools have the tropical music going, because I do like that idea. How long might it take to walk to HH from Turtle Pond? Thanks again!!

Yes, I'm pretty sure they do, but it's subtle. It'll take you about 10 minutes to walk from the Turtle Pond area to the main pool.

 

[dmoore22]

. . . secondly Disney has not build a safe cross walk from building 11-14 to HH - even the stop sign is iffy. many people just are not paying attention to pederians.(sp)

We stayed in building 14 last Christmas and during the Star Wars Weekends at the end of May-beginning of June this year. We found the crosswalks to be well-defined and more than adequate from building 14 to HH.

That being said, we have never been disappointed in any area in OKW in which we have stayed except Building 38 in Turtle Pond. That location seemed too far from everything. We have never stayed in the Miller's Road area so we can't comment on that. However, when traffic was being detoured during construction about a year ago we walked to the Miller's Road bus stop (it was the last stop during that reno phase) from our room in Building 14 it was a convenient option when we had missed the bus earlier. All the villas or studios we have stayed in have had a water, a golf course, or a combination of the two views. Some of the studios (first floor) have had mature foliage around the balcony which actually afforded some privacy for us and our neighbor staying in the adjoining 1 BR/2 BR. One of the minor design glitches is the proximity of the studio balcony to the windows of the 1 BR villa living room. When we stayed in a studio in building 46 we had a very nice view of the Trumbo Canal and privacy when using the balcony. It was a nice walk to the Bus Stop and South Point Pool.

I think a view of the map may help you get your bearings upon the locations in the resort. The design of the accommodations is such that balcony's face a water or golf course view. There aren't any parking lot views. There are some that do have a side that may face the road while still facing water/golf course. I guess we are in the minority with our preference for the HH. So far we have never experienced the negatives reported by others.