tips on OKW

[crazyfortinkandcindy]

We originally were staying at SSR 3/26-3/31. We are little skeptical so yesterday changed it to OKW We are use to staying at POLY which we love and CBR. We have stayed at the WL and it just did not appeal to us. So we realized that we like Palm Trees (coming from New England you can see why). Does anyone have any insight or tips they can offer for OKW ?

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Try this link for lots of info on OKW!

http://allearsnet.com/acc/faq_okw.htm

Bob

 

[Kim&Chris]

We LOVE Old Key West.

My best advice: If you'd like to be in a peaceful, quiet area, ask to be in bldg 55 or 56. It's in a cul-de-sac, and has it's own quiet pool. Life don't get better than that!

Also, their on-site restaurant, Olivia's, is one of Disney's best kept secrets. Far and away one of the best restaurants on property, and affordable!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

According to the All Ears Net link, studios don't have safes. Is that true?

 

[lilstint]

According to the All Ears Net link, studios don't have safes. Is that true?

I read that too and was very surprised to find a safe in our studio last week!! I told my husband that there was not a safe in the room and he went into the closet and said "What is this?" Guess you really can't believe everything you read.

 

[Chuck S]

Safes were added to OKW studios during the last rehab. The one we had last June was a much larger safe than those in the one bedroom units.

I don't know if other DVC resorts added safes, or if they were included in the studios from the beginning.

 

[DonnaL]

We've also stayed at SSR in a studio and they have safes. Also stayed at BWV in a 2 bdrm lockoff and the studio portion did have a safe. Our 2 bedroom at VWL was dedicated so I don't know there. And never stayed at BCV so can't speak for there either.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Glad to hear the studios at OKW do have safes. I was a bit concerned when I saw that, since we always use the safe in our room.

 

[fluffykim]

My personal opinion I think you made a mistake moving to OKW. SSR is newer, the layout is better, you can walk to DD and you can not beat the rooms.

My mom was a long time owner at OKW, so I have stayed there a zillion times. I thought it was very nice. Then I bought at SSR, stayed there and now would never go back to OKW.

I also am from New England, and I do not feel like SSR is anything like being in New England at all.

AGain, this is my personal opinion. I am younger (32) and that may be why I like SSR better than OKW too..

If I were you, I would trade back ASAP

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think you'll love OKW---you most likely would have liked SSR too (all the DVC resorts are great). The decor and feeling of each of these resorts is a bit different. As far as the rooms go, OKW is more casual/light/tropical feel, while SSR has a more elegant/formal feel. So if you like the Poly as you mentioned, I think OKW is keeping a little more with that theme.
The OKW studio will have 2 queen beds vs a queen bed and a full-size sleeper couch in the SSR studio. So if it's just a couple vacationing, SSR may be better because there's just one bed. OTOH, if there are more than two people, or the two people are not a couple, I'd go with the two queen sized beds at the OKW studio. We always request "water view" when making our ressies. Definitely plan on a meal at Olivia's----we usually do a B and D at least during our stay there. Another thing we love to do is to rent a pontoon boat and pack a picnic lunch....we sail leisurely down the waterway to the DD area. The busses run very good at OKW---usually no more than a 10-15 min wait.
Have a great vacation

 

[byoung]

Have a great vacation.

 

[crazyfortinkandcindy]

I too am young. I have 3 children who are travelling with me so I don't think I would be spending that much time down at DD. My kids are more interested in how big is the sand pile. I think we would enjoy walking around DD for one night or two but I find DD is more for adults. When I am on vacation I want to be laid back listening to Bob Marley with some kinda of tropical drink in my hand. So for me I think I am getting the best of both worlds trying SSR and OKW.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think we would enjoy walking around DD for one night or two but I find DD is more for adults.

We've been vacationing in WDW since my youngest was barely 3. They used to love the Marketplace. My son (when he was younger ---7 or 8) HAD to make several pitstops at the Leggo store. He'd spend HOURS there ! Then there's Disney Quest---my kids love going there since they were around 7-10. My kids also love eating at the Rainforest---they think it is such a cool restaurant. They also have the little train there and those fountains the kids can run through and get wet.
During our visit last year, they had a puppet show and ventrioquest show near the World of Disney show. We all really enoyed that. We've visited during the Christmas holidays and the characters were walking around in holiday costumes......they had a Santa there as well. They often have small concerts by the waterfront too---all during the year.

So I do feel there are many ways for kids to enjoy themselves in the DD area.

 

[ElenaP]

We always request "water view" when making our ressies.

Can I ask you why? Are the rooms with water view particularly quiet, or similar?

Thanks!

 

[La2kw]

We originally were staying at SSR 3/26-3/31. We are little skeptical so yesterday changed it to OKW We are use to staying at POLY which we love and CBR. We have stayed at the WL and it just did not appeal to us. So we realized that we like Palm Trees (coming from New England you can see why). Does anyone have any insight or tips they can offer for OKW ?

Both resorts are great- we own at both. We have owned at OKW since it was known as the "Disney Vacation Club" resort. We never added on before because we never pictured staying anywhere else other than OKW. Didn't like the BWV or WLV. Considered BCV, but decided against it. We stayed at SSR last summer because nowhere else was available at the last minute and we loved it so much we added on for the first time. OKW is still our favorite resort, but SSR comes in second for us.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Can I ask you why? Are the rooms with water view particularly quiet, or similar?

Hi Elana,
We just think they're really pretty and peaceful.....I love the water, so we just prefer it over the golf course views (though they're nice as well).
The funny thing is, I don't know if the water views are quieter necessarily because we've always had a water view so nothing to compare it to.

 

[ElenaP]

The funny thing is, I don't know if the water views are quieter necessarily because we've always had a water view so nothing to compare it to.

I passed a very complicated and badly expressed request, and I can only hope the CM understood what I meant! My point was that being me pregnant and my baby only 19-months (going to sleep early, that is) we would like to have a top floor, but either in a 2-storey building OR in a 3-storey with a lift; plus we wanted to be sure to have a balcony (otherwise we should go to sleep early too!) PLUS not too far away from the hospitality house...
If the CM didn't type the reason for the requests, probably the room assigner will think I am the most noisy person in the whole world...

 

[jcanary]

Make sure you check for the kids activities. When we first bought in my youngest was 5 and oldest 12. they always had activities at the hospitality house for the kids. I still have reverse painting cells that they each did. I love OKW for young kids. You will truly love it. I have never been to SSR so I can not speak on that resort.
Enjoy.

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't think you'll regret moving to OKW. We own 2 contracts there and love it!!!! It's got a light airy tropical feeling, palm trees, water...it's great!!!! The rooms are large, the pool areas are very nice, Olivias is a cute little spot to eat.

We like to request the Southpoint that goes to the walkway to SSR & DTD. It's not close to the Hospitality House (HH)- the main area where check-in, Olivia's, the gift shop, the main pool etc. is).

Elena, you want to request one of the 3 highest numbered buildings. They are handicapped accessible, so they have elevators and are within walking distance to the HH.

 

[ElenaP]

Disney Doll: I would feel embarassed to request a handicapped building... what if someone really handicapped needed it?
Maybe our best best is to check in early and see what they have available, even if later in the day...
Thanks for you suggestion anyway! If they assign me a room in those buildings, I will at least know that it's just what I am looking for