Second Guessing My Resort Decision

[justadreamaway77]

I was looking for a cheap Fall getaway for the family and I found flights for $10.50 RT/person. Looking to max out point values as well, I booked a studio for the four of us (Myself, DH, and 12 year old twins) at OKW (near hospitality house) for three nights. We have never stayed at OKW and want to but I'm worried about the two beds and no couch to relax on. We like the DVC rooms because they do have the living room area and do not feel so much like a hotel room. Am I over thinking this?! Do the studios at OKW feel like WDW basic hotel rooms? (We just bought another contract this spring to be able to normally do 1 bedrooms, my husband likes the small apartment feeling a lot!) I just don't want to spoil his feelings for OKW because once he doesn't like something, he rarely gives it a second chance!

 

[cvjw]

We bought points at OKW, and really tried to like it. We stayed there 3 separate times. Hated it each time. Sold the points. We hated how loud the studios were - the door opens outside and the buses use the parking lots as turn arounds. We also hated how long the bus rides were inside of OKW before you actually left the property for a park.

Maybe you will like it better. We are fine with any other DVC resort, including SSR.

 

[Marionnette]

I was looking for a cheap Fall getaway for the family and I found flights for $10.50 RT/person. Looking to max out point values as well, I booked a studio for the four of us (Myself, DH, and 12 year old twins) at OKW (near hospitality house) for three nights. We have never stayed at OKW and want to but I'm worried about the two beds and no couch to relax on. We like the DVC rooms because they do have the living room area and do not feel so much like a hotel room. Am I over thinking this?! Do the studios at OKW feel like WDW basic hotel rooms? (We just bought another contract this spring to be able to normally do 1 bedrooms, my husband likes the small apartment feeling a lot!) I just don't want to spoil his feelings for OKW because once he doesn't like something, he rarely gives it a second chance!

IMO, the OKW studios feel more like a motel room than the other DVC studios. However, for a short 3-night stay for the family, I don’t think it will be a problem unless you are unaccustomed to staying in a hotel room as a family.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've loved OKW since 1997 when we bought. 26 stays there so far. The OKW studio is large, lots of space. Two real beds are the best thing. Hate sleeping on those fold out beds. If the kids get tired of sitting on the bed, walk over to the Hospitality House and watch television in Papa's Den. If the Community Hall is open, the kids can play games and do activities. There is also a tennis court and maybe a basketball court. If you can rent a bike, rent a surrey bike for the four of you and ride around OKW. It's flat and you don't have to work as hard as you do at the BW. If it is still light outside, walk over to Disney Springs, then hop a bus back (the path isn't lit at night).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Honestly? It's going to seem like a hotel room. I love the OKW 1 and 2BR's. The studios though are are not my favorite for most of our travel circumstances. I think it's better for sleeping for 4 than other studios that have the queen bed and either a double or queen sleeper sofa though.

 

[bcuinohio]

I know it’s more points but the studios at the Poly are awesome. The second shower is so nice. Besides the QS bed, there is a QS pullout and a small Murphy bed. My 24 year old prefers the Murphy bed when we are there, .

We have stayed in an OKW studio a couple of times. We really liked the Turtle Pond area. I have two boys who would have been 15 and 19 at the time. We did fine in the studio. You are right about the lack of sitting space though.

 

[kboo]

If you go to any another studio, the sofa will be pulled out and there will be no couch to relax on unless you close it up every day. Granted my kids are younger, but didn't really bother with putting the couch back every morning because by the time we got back at night everyone was too tired to open the couch again. (And at least one of us was usually holding a sleeping kid.)

 

[justadreamaway77]

Our twins are 12 years old, they put the couch away each morning

 

[Tigger's ally]

I would head back to Saratoga if you want or feel like you need a couch, but the loss in space is why we wouldn't think about it. OKW studios just offer so much more space (our twin boys were about 6'0" at age 12 and grew to 6'5" and 6'3.5"). Plus, we prefer OKW's laid back style. Give me Jimmy B on the bus all day long! And Gurgling suitcase! I love gurgling late and walking home with a takeahomeadrink.

 

[Homemom]

We didn’t like it and moved to SSR. Hated having to haul luggage up the stairs as there were no elevators.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

I LOVE OKW--that being said, I think all DVC studios--except Poly--feel like a regular hotel room. It is what it is--studios are studios. Just let hubby know that straight up.

However, OKW has one of the best 1 bedrooms!! You won't regret staying in one of those.

 

[quandrea]

I’d pick SSR preferred room over OKW. They are beautifully refurbed and you get that living room feel.

 

[Pirate Granny]

You’re never looking at a parking lot from an OKW studio...I had a preferred SSR studio that looked at the bus stop/parking lot. Balconies are everything for me.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I was looking for a cheap Fall getaway for the family and I found flights for $10.50 RT/person. Looking to max out point values as well, I booked a studio for the four of us (Myself, DH, and 12 year old twins) at OKW (near hospitality house) for three nights. We have never stayed at OKW and want to but I'm worried about the two beds and no couch to relax on. We like the DVC rooms because they do have the living room area and do not feel so much like a hotel room. Am I over thinking this?! Do the studios at OKW feel like WDW basic hotel rooms? (We just bought another contract this spring to be able to normally do 1 bedrooms, my husband likes the small apartment feeling a lot!) I just don't want to spoil his feelings for OKW because once he doesn't like something, he rarely gives it a second chance!

You found flights for $10.50 ROUND TRIP?!

If you're second guessing your resort choice, look and see what else is available. The parks have shorter-than-normal hours, so you might be spending more time in the room relaxing than normal, and you know your family's style best. If nothing is available, it's only three nights at least.

Hopefully, your husband can give OKW another chance if he likes the resort well enough but not the room itself.

 

[justadreamaway77]

You found flights for $10.50 ROUND TRIP?!

If you're second guessing your resort choice, look and see what else is available. The parks have shorter-than-normal hours, so you might be spending more time in the room relaxing than normal, and you know your family's style best. If nothing is available, it's only three nights at least.

Hopefully, your husband can give OKW another chance if he likes the resort well enough but not the room itself.

Yep, they were $21 a person but had a promotion for buy one, friend flies free. Let's just cross our fingers the flight does not get cancelled! The funny thing is, as a family of four our R/T tix cost $42 for all of us but our one checked bag is costing $60! Wish I could just have bought a seat for our bag and strapped it in!

 

[abdgeek]

If you’ve always wanted to stay at OKW, I say go for it. While it’s not my go to resort, I have stayed there a couple of times and it was fine. The pros were the large studios. Yes, it would have been nice to have the sofa, but I just sat on the bed or in the chair and was ok. You’re only going to be there 3 days, so hopefully you will be able to deal with the room. If you don’t like it, you can cross it off your list. The con for me was the distance I had to walk to get to the lobby. The fact that your room is near the Hospitality House is a boon. I guess I know now why I was never able to get that location—all the people who own there get it.

 

[meekey7197]

OKW are our least favorite studios. My husband won't stay in one again. On top of what everyone else said, we felt like we were prepping food in the bathroom.

 

[justadreamaway77]

So I ended up putting in a waitlist for BCV last night and GOT IT this morning! We will definitely check OKW out another time, but for a quick visit with no car or bikes.....I feel better about booking Beach Club. We are heading down for Spring Break and staying in a 1 bedroom that week, thinking we might change to a couple of days at OKW. I feel 100% better about their 1 bedroom set up and we will be driving down so we can bring our bikes if we want.

 

[Wedgeout]

So I ended up putting in a waitlist for BCV last night and GOT IT this morning! We will definitely check OKW out another time, but for a quick visit with no car or bikes.....I feel better about booking Beach Club. We are heading down for Spring Break and staying in a 1 bedroom that week, thinking we might change to a couple of days at OKW. I feel 100% better about their 1 bedroom set up and we will be driving down so we can bring our bikes if we want.

Sounds like a great BCV booking. Pool time!!! Yes, one bedroom OKW are great. The studios in my opinion do have the space but feel more like a standard hotel room the way it’s designed. You go to the bathroom and say “oh there is a kitchenette,,cool”

 

[jimmytammy]

Our 1st stay at OKW was in a studio, and I wasn't a fan. Took me awhile to go back. Then once I stayed in a 1 bed, I became a big fan of OKW. Loved it ever since. So I will try to approach this from a love perspective of the place

2 true beds and not the less comfortable sleeper sofa. 3 nights, how long will you truly be in the room? Great pools, great area for kids at Hospitality House to play, and hang out. Very relaxing resort for wind down time at night