Showers near the OKW pool?

[MaryAnnDVC]

Are there any, and what are they like? We're driving for the first time...should take about 24 hours, and we should arrive 9 AM-ish, ready for showers. Would that be weird to go and shower at pool bathrooms?? We've never done this before, but the thought of getting out of a car after 24 hours, and not getting into a room for a shower until 4 PM makes me . So, we're just kicking around ideas. I just may end up napping in the car until 4 PM.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You sure you don't want to stop somewhere and get a little sleep first? After driving for 24 hours, you may be way too tired to do anything, let alone go to a park.

Can't help you with the showers, I haven't used any at the pool for changing.

 

[bababear_50]

I had a chance to view them when I did my tour of dvc resorts in March. They are located close to the main pool area and I thought they were very clean and nicely decorated,,,,,,the shell tiles are a nice touch.
hope this helps

 

[RobDoc]

Yes, there are showers at the fitness center - next to the main pool. You will have a place to get cleaned up if your villa is not ready at arrival.

Have a great trip!

 

[bababear_50]

The chaise lounges beside the pool/playground area looked comfy cozy also.
Grab a quick nap and swim and you'll be ready to head to DTD.
Hugs Mel

 

[NARM Forever]

Just did the same thing last week. Arrived at 12.00 after a 24 hour journey and headed straight to the pool area. Enjoyed a well-earned shower (nice and clean shower area), the children went into the Games Room and DH and I enjoyed a beer/smoothie whilst we waited for our rooms. Great way to get into the laid-back OKW style.

Hope you enjoy your journey as much as we did (I81/I77/I26/I95) and your stay at OKW.

NARM

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Thanks!

This is our first time driving to WDW, and I have NO idea how we'll hold up. I can fall asleep in the car like a baby...DH, not so much (esp with me driving ). It's quite possible I'll lay down on one of those lounges and conk out. AFTER I shower!

 

[LoveMickey]

The showers are in the rest rooms. The Ladies room has 3. You'll have to obtain towels from the window near the fitness area, by showing him your room key or dvc card.

Showers are nice and clean as others have said.

 

[spiceycat]

this is an excellent idea - thanks for asking.

 

[CarolA]

Thanks!

This is our first time driving to WDW, and I have NO idea how we'll hold up. I can fall asleep in the car like a baby...DH, not so much (esp with me driving ). It's quite possible I'll lay down on one of those lounges and conk out. AFTER I shower!

And here's you BIG risk that either you are DH fall asleep like a baby while DRIVING. Studies have shown that droswy driving can be just as dangerous as driving drunk, but folks seem to think that "it won't happen to me" A few years ago there was a major accident near my home where several family members were killed. They were driving through the night to get to their son's football game at a local university.

(Pulling of flame proof suit since this generally gets me flamed!)

 

[Chuck S]

As CarolA noted, there can be hazards to driving through the night. I do occasionally drive through the night to WDW. If I feel really tired we do stop and get a room. I also find that stopping at the nicer rest areas (most of which are patrolled at night for safety) I can nap for a couple hours or so and feel quite refreshed to continue on our way. Also, stop about every hour at rest areas, whether you "need to" or not and get put of the car, walk around a few minutes. Grab some coffee or caffeine soft drink.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Last May we were able to get into our room at OKW by 11:30am. So you may just be able to get in your room early to grab a shower.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

DH and I are well aware of the hazards of sleepy driving. I drove with two of my kids to Virginia Beach last summer, and took a nap in a restaurant parking lot when I needed it, while they sat in the car and read. If we need to stop, we will stop. We will be starting after a night's sleep. I usually nap very easily in the car, and expect to wake up refreshed. If not, we will do what we have to do, including getting a hotel room. We've already discussed all of it. The "plan" is to drive through, taking 5 hour shifts, but we do not have nor want "a plan" as far as making reservations to stop at a particular hotel on the way at a certain time, which may not be beneficial timing for any reason. If we need to shorten our "shift"...no problem. Stop? No problem. Get a hotel room? No problem. IF that's what WE need.

I'd NEVER stop every hour! We will stop "as needed", for whatever reason. Heck, I regularly drive more than an hour to the kids' sports events. And if I stopped every hour on the other many trips I've made over the years, like the 3 1/2 - 4 hour trips to NJ/NY, I'd go nuts! No caffeine drinks either...we'd be stopping every HALF HOUR! Water's good for me.

But thanks for pointing that out! I assure you...this isn't a race. We will not be wearing diapers so we don't have to stop.

 

[spiceycat]

stopping every hour is not necessary for me either - but stopping every 4 to 6hours or when I need gas - is necessary - or I couldn't walk when i finally stopped.

 

[DVCconvert]

CarolA said:

(Pulling of flame proof suit since this generally gets me flamed!)

But only if their smoking while drinking from their refillable mugs bot in 1998!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

We went and had a GREAT time. The drive there and back wasn't bad, but flying sure beats driving. We left RI at 9:30 AM Saturday, and arrived at 7 AM Sunday, checked in at OKW and got a room right away! Not only that, but loved the location too, altho we never spend much time in the room. We showered, and got to the gates of EPCOT at 8:45 AM. Got back to the room at 5:00 PM, brushed teeth, in bed by 5:05, and asleep by 5:06, and slept through the night until 6:30 AM Monday.

Coming home, we left DtD this past Friday at 11:30 AM, and arrived home at 8 AM on Saturday. Not my favorite experience...the driving...but it was do-able. Definitely keeping a daily eye on flights for our next trip.

 

[MagikMom]

We used the showers there yesterday for the opposite reason. We had to check out at 11:00am but our flight wasn't until 5:40pm. We hung out at the pool and then showered in the pool bathroom. It has 3 shower stalls and a dressing area as well. Very clean. There was also a blowdryer which was a plus. If it were me though, I wouldn't drive straight through. I would pick a spot to stay over night to sleep. I'm also from N.E. and there is no way we could drive straight thru. It's not so much the falling asleep part but if we all had to be in a car together for 24 hours we would kill each other!!!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

The biggest problem with driving straight through was the aches and pains in my legs. I sat cross-legged for a while (DH was driving, of course), and when we got out of the car for a rest stop, I walked like I had just been riding a horse for hours.

But, DH, being the fun guy that he is, had the good sense to purchase some entertainment for the trip, by way of a 30 hour PHYSICS COURSE on CD. I must admit, the part I stayed awake for was fairly interesting, but amazingly enough, he only played about 4 hours of it. The rest of the time, we actually listened to music.

Good to know about the showers tho, for both purposes.

 

[Ksp]

Is OKW the only DVC to have showers located at the pool (or close by to the pool. . )??

 

[kespo]

I am so glad to find out there is showers near the pool area. We always drive from New Jersey to Disney. (stopping every 4 hours and sleeping in South Carolina ) When we arrive to OKW it is usually around noon. We have always been able to get a room early. But I always worry that our luck will run out. So showers by the pool with a pina colada sounds good to me.

I can feel the sun on my face right now!!!and.... Oh the smell of the pool at OKW......heaven.