Super First Trip Home: OKW 8/8 - 8/13

[Patty3]

Glad you had such a great time. We plan on going next year at around the same time you were there, how bad were the crowds?

 

[WOW]

So nice to hear such good things about OKW.

We bought in 1993 when it was called the Vacation Club and the buses were nick named "The Geriatric Busses" because it seemed that a lot of older people were buying--to vacation with their children and grandchildren. Well, so much for that!!!!!!!! Now it has become so popular and there are soooo many members.

We have stayed at other DVC resorts and they were very nice, but OKW still remains our absolute favorite. We are fortunate enough to be able to visit our home several times each year and even more fortunate that we have been able to share OKW and WDW with our friends and family.

Love our OKW home away from home.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Glad to hear your trip was awesome. We were there the same time as you and as always...........enjoyed it temendously (with the exception of the 'tiny elephants' above us!!).

 

[sandieb]

Thanks for your report...I am looking forward to giving OKW a try. Sandie

 

[ceejay13]

Great report! We were in a similar situation 4 years ago. We had bought into the BWV and couldn't get in, so our 1st stay was in an OKW 2 bdr. It was incredible. Don't get me wrong, I do love my BWV but we are returning to OKW in 4 weeks for our 3rd stay there. It is a great place and I do wonder why some don't like it. We can't wait to go back.

 

[RuthnPaul]

Thanks for the great OKW trip report! We, too, fall into the category of "settling" for OKW this October because we couldn't get into BWV (home resort). It is very encouraging to hear all the great comments you and others have made -- we have a 2 BR booked. This will be our first visit to WDW as DVC members and it doesn't sound like we'll be the least bit disappointed at OKW!!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Hi Carnotaur Dad! It was a great pleasure to read your trip report

Since we bought OKW based on pics at Allears.net, it is so exciting to read a glowing report of our DVC! We get to go this October for the first time and we are also staying in a 2 br. So glad you ended up happy

Thanks, Lisa

 

[CarnotaurDad]

The crowds were pretty bad before the hurricane.....we are used to November, so it was amazing to see so many people and to see the parking lots get towards full.....

We took advantage of fast pass and went back to OKW during the afternoon.....

The day after the hurricane, my DW, DD and I went to MK for the night and had a great time (especially watching Spectromagic)....

We will be going to our home resort (BCV) in December and can't wait to try that one....

 

[ILPHIL]

Like so many others, we bought into OKW "sight unseen" and were really starting to have 2nd thoughts as we read all the negative comments about our new "home". Until we made our 1st trip home last June.
OKW was everything we had hoped for and then some. We had read about the size of the 2 bedroom villas but it really didn't sink in until we actually saw it. Not to mention the convenience of being able to park right outside our door and being a stone's throw from the bus stop. My m-i-l has very bad arthritis in her knees and that short walk at the end of a long day was a blessing.

We already have our ressies made for next yr and have request the same bldg. We are quite comfortable with our DVC purchase now, to say the least, and look forward to many more years.

 

[OneMoreTry]

All the DVC resorts have their advantages, but we seem to have the most enjoyable trips when we stay at OKW. I think it's because OKW helps us keep perspective on things. It produces a great attitude adjustment without chemicals (although those are available there, too) that isn't found elsewhere at WDW.

 

[loveswdw]

This post makes me happy! We just switched our March reservations today from BCV to OKW. The guy from MS was surprised as he stated most people want to go to BCV from OKW. Well, we visited OKW for a couple of hours last trip and decided that we really wanted to try it because it just seemed fantastic!

By the way, as of this morning, OKW had plenty of available 1BD in March!

We can't wait!

loveswdw

 

[penguins_fan]

When we decided in May to go to WDW in August, we were unable to get our home resort BCV. Our choices were SSR or OKW - we chose OKW with the same initial conern. We also loved it! While we didn't use the buses, it seemed that they ran continually. We loved Olivias (dont miss the conch chowder or key lime tart). We had a great view of the main bridge/lake and part of the golf course (2br 1613) and were a stones throw from the hospitality house. The unit was very clean, well decorated, new appliances. Its interesting how some refer to the resort as more isolated - while its true that its a much different atmosphere than BCV, its certainly a quick hop to any of the parks and the boat/buses to DD gave our older kids options to do things on their own (pin trading!). All in all, I can't imagine anyone being disappointed in OKW.

 

[MJTinNH]

I'm happy that you enjoyed your vacation and OKW was as great as a lot of loyal OKWesters keep telling the rest of us. Good to know that a 1st timer is just as impressed with the resort. I'm eager to try it out.

Thank you for posting your report!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Of the 3 resorts that we call "Home" I really love OKW the best. I love the atmosphere, the huge one and two bedrooms. I just love everything about it. So glad that you enjoyed your stay, but I really think that you should have kept all this praise to yourself as it may become that OKW "is not the easiest reort to get a room at."

 

[MomsGoneGoofy]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
So glad you liked our "home"! I'm not sure where OKW gets it's "bad" image, but we have always loved it! Maybe it's the "old" in the name! Don't speak too loudly about its amenities though! Let's just let it be our little secret! BTW, the only area we liked better than 46 is 55!

I agree about building 55. We were in building 55 from 8/8 - 8/20 and just loved it.

 

[MrsM]

My in-laws have been members since '94, so our first DVC experience was with OKW. It completely spoiled my husband from a "regular" hotel room. Even though we bought at VWL, OKW still feels sort of like our first home. Every time I hear steel drum music, I can close my eyes and I'm there!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by penguins_fan
... While we didn't use the buses, it seemed that they ran continually. ...

Curious to know why you did not use the buses. We find the buses to be a much more efficient way to the parks than driving.

 

[penguins_fan]

Diane - I guess we didn't want to wait with the crowd at park closing to board the buses, maybe its not that bad, but we like the idea of our van waiting.

Do you have a GV for your trip for 12? We're thinking about adding on at OKW, one of the reasons would be to have 11 month window for a GV.