SSR or OKW.......save my marriage please!

[Jake & Crew]

Wow!

Thank you everyone for your posts.....am printing them out right now to share with my better half in the am ( I am up rather late this evening/morning!)

First, Rob ( DisDaydreamer) I am the K in Jake therefore I am Kate. The marriage will survive.....at least until the plane lands in Orlando

Don't want you to totally stress out, this is not our first visit ever, it is our first visit as DVC members! We toured WDW with my parents and siblings, their spouses, and my nieces last year....and Jim ( the J) and I went with the kids in 2006. We also went together before kids ( about 10 years ago ~ his first time!) and I went 3 times with my family growing up.

PassPorter is my book of choice and I TGM.

All that said I am more anxious about my two in-laws joining us then I was about traveling with 10 "extra" members of my family. The in-laws have never been to WDW ( hence DH's first trip at the age of 30). Even though he is 40 now he really wants to experience WDW with them This is where my anxiety comes in. He believes they will LOVE it like we do and they just might......but as we have more discussions about the trip with them I believe MIL has some preset notions that will be hard to dispell. I watched my SIL last year endure her first WDW and she never got it so I know the disease is real.

This means so much to Jim I am hoping for some Pixie Dust to overcome some of the clues I have heard from MIL as recently as yesterday when we were viewing the DVC video to show them the resorts.

"So how did they convince you to do this" Meaning DVC

" Oh that would be a nice place for us to stay we might find something for us to do there" while viewing the BWV section.

"Would I need sneakers for this place?" ( In almost 15 years with my DH have never seen MIL own a pair of sneakers....she has a killer high heel collection though)

When FIL commented on the fact that park tickets could be pricey ( so he heard) she inquired if as members we had to pay for passes.

She also thinks as members we will go to the front of the line.

Bottom line this is an amusement park to them and while my FIL is going to have fun with his grandchildren, I think MIL is going to endure the nonsense so she can go with us. The other grandparents raised the grandparents bar last year.

Back to the planning, we would do BWV all 8 nights if points were not an issue as is we are borrowing a few points from next year and we don't want to borrow any more. We are doing BWV for 4 nights ( someone posted was not worth moving for one night ~ which I agree, that was never the plan). It is where to go after BWV that is the question......think it will be a step down to the inlaws and do not want it to be a big step down.

My vote is and was OKW....so will run it by the boss and let you know what the verdict is.

Oh and Mickey's Apprentice I could not agree with you more ( that is what scares me!) Been thinking about how MIL perked up when she heard you get the groceries delivered right to your villa. (She is an excellent cook and even has her own cooking show on local cable). DH told her this was a vacation and I realized in that moment she would not be as excited at all the ADRs I had made as I was.........she gets feels about eating out the way I feel about cooking. We did build a lot of opt out time into our schedule and they love Universal's restuarants so we suggested if they wanted to rent a car they could, but we were staying on property.

How do they know about Universal you may ask.....a couple of years ago they spent a week in the Orlando area. They did not do any of Disney except DTD to buy the kids Minnie Mouse clocks. My horrified DH asked how they could spend a week in Orlando and not go to at least Epcot.

The reply.

"We're not interested in amusement parks.....they are for kids!"

 

[Sandy321]

Kate - best of luck to you!! I went with my parents, I printed out lots of stuff from TGM and Passporter, and made them a 3 ring binder, we went during Free dining so we stayed POR - and I cant begin to understand the stress I went thru!! DH was so ... kind? loving? understanding, we booked another trip!!

I did chuckle at your housekeeping question!! I so remember staying at another timeshare in another state where I did have to make sheets - at DVC - you dont get daily maid service, but the beds are made when you get there - its all clean and ready for you!! (but you do have to throw the covers up on your bed, and dd slept on the pull out couch, so we made her bed every morning, and pulled it out every night, maid service came on the 4th - well trash service, but it was easy for us to keep the area cleaned!)

Have fun planning, and keep asking/posting your questions!!

 

[mikesmom]

Oh and another possible suggestion if you can spare a few more points..

Have you thought of adding a couple more days to the end of the vacation without the in laws? We did a large family trip three years ago. We actually are the in laws - this was for hubby's grown kids and family who had never been. (He came to appreciate WDW later in life after marrying me) Well, they did have a great time, but their style of touring was definitely uber commando. After a few days of that we needed a couple of days "vacation" all by ourselves just to recover!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Oh and another possible suggestion if you can spare a few more points..

Have you thought of adding a couple more days to the end of the vacation without the in laws? We did a large family trip three years ago. We actually are the in laws - this was for hubby's grown kids and family who had never been. (He came to appreciate WDW later in life after marrying me) Well, they did have a great time, but their style of touring was definitely uber commando. After a few days of that we needed a couple of days "vacation" all by ourselves just to recover!

That is a good idea. It also made me think, do you think the inlaws might like a few days at Vero Beach? I really think our group would have liked that.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Oh and another possible suggestion if you can spare a few more points..

Have you thought of adding a couple more days to the end of the vacation without the in laws? We did a large family trip three years ago. We actually are the in laws - this was for hubby's grown kids and family who had never been. (He came to appreciate WDW later in life after marrying me) Well, they did have a great time, but their style of touring was definitely uber commando. After a few days of that we needed a couple of days "vacation" all by ourselves just to recover!

I totally agree with this! We learned the hard way to always leave ourselves at least one day after everyone else leaves. It gives us some time to enjoy the things WE want to without worrying about eveyone else.

 

[ssnelle]

I think your first priority is to find a resort that can accomodate your ENTIRE stay. You are wasting time on the wrong priority, in my opinion. We did what you are thinking of doing (trying to get the best of 2 resorts so splitting your time in half) and it was the biggest mistake we made!

You end up the first half of your trip thinking about the switch and packing and unpacking and never enjoy that first half. Then comes the night before you are switching and you need to pack everything up. Then the switching day you need to arrange to move everything downstairs through you or bellhop, check out by 10 am or so, put everything in storage, go about your day because you cannot check-in before 3, get your luggage switched from resort #1 to resort #2 by you or Disney (remember all these additional switching/tipping responsibilities), get back early from your day to get luggage to room and unpack, probably exhausted and a day sort of wasted, and now you realize half your vacation is over.

No I am not being over dramatic, this is exactly what we did and it was drag. Pick one resort this time for the entire stay and check-in and relax, for the entire stay!!!!! Have fun and save your worries for where you are going to eat and what park you are going to visit and save all that extra tipping $$$ for souveneirs for your kids and a little something for your inlaws to remember the trip by (THAT will save your marriage).

Maybe there are people out there who disagree with me, but I lived it and since have gone back three times and each time stayed at ONE place the entire time, and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

ENJOY, AND HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!

 

[ssnelle]

Please do not think of OKW as a step down...when we first bought into the DVC in 2004, we used it at first and then we needed to rent it for a couple of years for unavoidable reasons. I rented to many families and most requested OKW because of the spaciousness and comfort and said they would never stay anywhere else. My advise is to stay the whole time at OKW, you will also save many points and may not need to borrow as you had said before. Your inlaws will LOVE it, it is charming!!! Many of the benefits from BWV they can enjoy if they or all of you go over and stroll the Boardwalk on a lovely warm WEEKEND night, the piano bikes and jugglers are strolling, wonderful. Other than that, you will enjoy the OKW just as much or more and the rooms are almost TWICE the size, the kids can play hide and seek, really!!!

 

[vandy]

One thing about OKW to note, since you are traveling with 4 adults and two children, will privacy and access to the bathroom be a concern? Buildings 1-29 at OKW do not have access to a bathroom from the living area in the 2 BR units. If you have people sleeping on the sofa sleeper, they will need to enter a bedroom to use the bathroom. Buildings 30 and above have an access in the laundry room so it is similiar to the other DVC resort 2 br layouts. If privacy is not an issue, then you will be fine.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I personally think that the BWV/OKW is the PERFECT split stay. The location of BWV can't be beat. And the spaciousness of OKW after BWV is a sigh of relief and very relaxing before returning home.

If points are a concern, then the lower points at OKW can't be beat either. Are you staying in a standard view room at BWV? If not, wait-listing for one may save you some more points.

The kitchen and dining area alone at OKW is worth it. There will be more space to spread out there. The balcony is actually USEABLE and covered and if 2 people are out there, even more room inside.

" Oh that would be a nice place for us to stay we might find something for us to do there" while viewing the BWV section.

"Would I need sneakers for this place?" ( In almost 15 years with my DH have never seen MIL own a pair of sneakers....she has a killer high heel collection though)

When FIL commented on the fact that park tickets could be pricey ( so he heard) she inquired if as members we had to pay for passes.

She also thinks as members we will go to the front of the line.

Bottom line this is an amusement park to them and while my FIL is going to have fun with his grandchildren, I think MIL is going to endure the nonsense so she can go with us. The other grandparents raised the grandparents bar last year.

Back to the planning, we would do BWV all 8 nights if points were not an issue as is we are borrowing a few points from next year and we don't want to borrow any more. We are doing BWV for 4 nights ( someone posted was not worth moving for one night ~ which I agree, that was never the plan). It is where to go after BWV that is the question......think it will be a step down to the inlaws and do not want it to be a big step down.

My vote is and was OKW....so will run it by the boss and let you know what the verdict is.

Oh and Mickey's Apprentice I could not agree with you more ( that is what scares me!) Been thinking about how MIL perked up when she heard you get the groceries delivered right to your villa. (She is an excellent cook and even has her own cooking show on local cable). DH told her this was a vacation and I realized in that moment she would not be as excited at all the ADRs I had made as I was.........she gets feels about eating out the way I feel about cooking. We did build a lot of opt out time into our schedule and they love Universal's restuarants so we suggested if they wanted to rent a car they could, but we were staying on property.

How do they know about Universal you may ask.....a couple of years ago they spent a week in the Orlando area. They did not do any of Disney except DTD to buy the kids Minnie Mouse clocks. My horrified DH asked how they could spend a week in Orlando and not go to at least Epcot.

The reply.

"We're not interested in amusement parks.....they are for kids!"

Weeeelll, after reading about your in-law's, other than the bigger kitchen at OKW (for MIL to COOK ), they may be suited to BWV/SSR more. She can go to the spa and to DTD to go shopping instead of just parks. More of a high end condo feel (reading about her HIGH HEELS) versus laid back beach house feel of OKW.

Sure you can't pull off the whole trip at BWV in a standard view room?

Oh and another possible suggestion if you can spare a few more points..

Have you thought of adding a couple more days to the end of the vacation without the in laws? We did a large family trip three years ago. We actually are the in laws - this was for hubby's grown kids and family who had never been. (He came to appreciate WDW later in life after marrying me) Well, they did have a great time, but their style of touring was definitely uber commando. After a few days of that we needed a couple of days "vacation" all by ourselves just to recover!

We did this after our big family trip in 2004! It was the BEST decision ever.

 

[Jake & Crew]

Here's where we are:

Dh read the posts, we are going to try for OKW for the second half of the split, think the split may work best b/c we may need to shake things up a bit and the in-laws are ok with different hotels ( they have done tours of Italy which is a different hotel every night or two and there they have to be out at 7am not 10am.

Mulling it over and this may be a mistake, we think moving is best for this group. The points may not be that much more so maybe we will consider staying at BWV......but my gut is saying shaking it up is best.

Will call MS in the morning and let you know the results....it's up to fate!

Oh, and while we would love to stay an extra day or two that is not an option with Jim's job. Believe me I tried before we booked the original trip!

Thanks for all the great responses!!!

Kate

 

[La2kw]

I think your first priority is to find a resort that can accomodate your ENTIRE stay. You are wasting time on the wrong priority, in my opinion. We did what you are thinking of doing (trying to get the best of 2 resorts so splitting your time in half) and it was the biggest mistake we made!

You end up the first half of your trip thinking about the switch and packing and unpacking and never enjoy that first half. Then comes the night before you are switching and you need to pack everything up. Then the switching day you need to arrange to move everything downstairs through you or bellhop, check out by 10 am or so, put everything in storage, go about your day because you cannot check-in before 3, get your luggage switched from resort #1 to resort #2 by you or Disney (remember all these additional switching/tipping responsibilities), get back early from your day to get luggage to room and unpack, probably exhausted and a day sort of wasted, and now you realize half your vacation is over.

No I am not being over dramatic, this is exactly what we did and it was drag. Pick one resort this time for the entire stay and check-in and relax, for the entire stay!!!!! Have fun and save your worries for where you are going to eat and what park you are going to visit and save all that extra tipping $$$ for souveneirs for your kids and a little something for your inlaws to remember the trip by (THAT will save your marriage).

Maybe there are people out there who disagree with me, but I lived it and since have gone back three times and each time stayed at ONE place the entire time, and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

ENJOY, AND HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!

We prefer staying at one resort as well. It's no fun being "homeless" for a day when switching from one resort to another. I find switching resorts a waste of time.

 

[BroganMc]

Bottom line this is an amusement park to them and while my FIL is going to have fun with his grandchildren, I think MIL is going to endure the nonsense so she can go with us. The other grandparents raised the grandparents bar last year.

SNIP

How do they know about Universal you may ask.....a couple of years ago they spent a week in the Orlando area. They did not do any of Disney except DTD to buy the kids Minnie Mouse clocks. My horrified DH asked how they could spend a week in Orlando and not go to at least Epcot.

The reply.

"We're not interested in amusement parks.....they are for kids!"

My aunt is very similar in her thinking. To her Disney is one giant character-fest beneath anyone over the age of 12. My uncle is a long time Disney fanatic, but she won't budge. She says she prefers "cultural vacations" and constantly tells us she gets tired quickly and is too nervous to try a scooter or anything that might make touring easier.

We've tried getting them to join us just for a few days in the middle of our two week long holidays. Flower & Garden festival in EPCOT with afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian. Finally we gave up trying to convince them.

So we took their son this past NYE instead. He's a nightowl and was game to just explore. We wanted him to see Osborne lights. He fell in love with the whole place, called his parents on NYE and told them their ideas about Disney were all wrong. So now he's trying to convince them to accept one of our invitations.

Meanwhile I'd love for my dad to have the chance to share it all with his brother and dreading coming up with a tour plan for my aunt. At least I love the high tea at GF.

Try not to get your expectations raised too much. Some people just can't get past all the kid-friendly stuff to recognise Disney for what it is. They think we're nuts for going so often.

 

[DeniseY]

We are planning a last minute trip to Disney and are trying to decide between these two resorts as well. We always stay at Epcot Resorts because we like the proximity to so many dining options. We are not DVC owners so we called Disney directly and no surprise there is not a room to be had anywhere near Epcot or the MK for that matter. Not sure if renting points (which we have done and had a wonderful experience) would open up any availability but I am guessing not at this late date.

So my question is which is closer to DTD, OKW or SSR? Can you walk there from either resort or is the boat the only realistic option? If we stay at OKW, can you get to SSR via the boat or walk there if we wanted to go to the Spa?

Thanks!!

 

[La2kw]

We are planning a last minute trip to Disney and are trying to decide between these two resorts as well. We always stay at Epcot Resorts because we like the proximity to so many dining options. We are not DVC owners so we called Disney directly and no surprise there is not a room to be had anywhere near Epcot or the MK for that matter. Not sure if renting points (which we have done and had a wonderful experience) would open up any availability but I am guessing not at this late date.

So my question is which is closer to DTD, OKW or SSR? Can you walk there from either resort or is the boat the only realistic option? If we stay at OKW, can you get to SSR via the boat or walk there if we wanted to go to the Spa?

Thanks!!

SSR is closer to DD, but you can walk from OKW as well. We enjoy the walk, it's about 15-20 minutes. The DVC Ferry stops at both OKW and SSR as well as DD, so it's very easy to move between those three areas by boat or on foot.

 

[beccasmom]

I know I am biased, but my opinion is an "educated" one, since we've stayed at both resorts. I agree that the more folks you are staying with, the more importance space becomes. OKW is the clear choice here, IMHO.

Three of us (2 adults and one teen boy) recently stayed in an OKW one-bedroom for a very brief trip last month. We briefly considered a studio, but chose the larger quarters since our stay was brief and didn't require many points. We were glad for the extra space...it is nice to have someplace to retreat when a moment of peace/quiet is needed. SSR spaces are quite lovely, but much more compact. OKW is indeed the "oldest" DVC resort, but is lovely, laid-back and generally well-maintained. We have no complaints and think you will enjoy your stay there.

 

[Jake & Crew]

Became official Friday......4 days BWV and 4 OKW.

Not too worried about moving, that day is a leisurely one on our calendar, only ADT is LTT and there may be a Pirate & Princess Party that nigt so we are not even sure if we will keep the ressie. If in-laws rent a car to go to Universal (they like to dine there) that is the day the day they will probably go......time will tell!


Now we are working on how to explain the dining plan ( which they will at worst break even on and we will come ahead with the kids) will be hard sell if MIL plans on cooking!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Became official Friday......4 days BWV and 4 OKW.

Not too worried about moving, that day is a leisurely one on our calendar, only ADT is LTT and there may be a Pirate & Princess Party that nigt so we are not even sure if we will keep the ressie. If in-laws rent a car to go to Universal (they like to dine there) that is the day the day they will probably go......time will tell!


Now we are working on how to explain the dining plan ( which they will at worst break even on and we will come ahead with the kids) will be hard sell if MIL plans on cooking!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'll be anxious to hear your reviews when you get home from that trip! It will be interesting which turns your crank more....location or space!