What about OKW?

[MiaSRN62]

The laundry wasn't that far away, but if we wanted something to eat at night, we were a good 15 minutes away.

Jovidan,
Honestly, it looks like you're just looking for reasons to not like OKW. Honestly, this is how most of the DVC resorts are made up. We had to walk all around Crescent Lake when we stayed at BWV to eat at Cape May Cafe (again 10-15 min). We knew the resort was set up like this and you pretty much had to walk out on the boardwalk for food. We pretty much understand walking is just "the" thing when you go to WDW. Many of their resorts are spread out, not just OKW. Like I said, we had at least a 15 min walk from our building at Dixie Landings to the food court too. We've stayed in Turtle Crawl (bldg 43) as well, and it was probably, as you state, a 10-15 min walk (so maybe 6-7 min longer than the walk I had to the food court at POP from my room) to Olivia's & Goods To Go, but we felt it was a nice relaxing one at that. I really feel nothing would make you warm up to this resort, but that is fine. It's just not for you. Luckily WDW has MANY resorts to fit everyone's tastes.

There was nothing about the trash and towel rules.

You should have receive this information at check-in. I've been told both verbally and written. They give you pamphlets and a folder with all the info at check-in. Same as all the Disney resorts do. You get a small packet of information about the resort. Sorry, seems like both the person you rented from and the resort let you down. Now.....had you come here to post questions (or the DVC board) about an upcoming trip to OKW, you would have received a wealth of information and it might have made your stay more enjoyable.

 

[MiaSRN62]

However, I don't like feeling as though I have a good fifteen minute hike ahead of me at 11:30 at night when I just want a quick snack.

As I said earlier, it's fine you don't prefer OKW......different strokes for different folks. As for the walk---you could have requested in your reservation (or had the DVC Member you rented from do it) "close to Hospitality House" too. It's a shame you weren't made aware of this either. We got bldg 62 in Nov and it was a mere paces (2 min tops) to the main check-in area. Not all areas of the resort are a 15 min walk. Same as with any resort---it's all in where your room assignment is.

DVC resorts have kitchens or mini kitchenettes. The units were designed for people who like to have snacks or cook in their villas. I don't even think at 11:30 pm anything serving food would be open at OKW ? I believe the restaurant and Goods To Go close around 10-11 pm. In my first post in this thread I also listed a good take-out place that will deliver right to your OKW door.
But as I acknowledged before, the value resorts seem to suit your needs for now. And this is terrific. This may change over time for you. Not sure if you're married or have children, but for us, being a family of 5, we need the space that DVC affords us. It totally works for us but I can see how it wouldn't for others. Wishing you many happy future WDW vacations

 

[vernon]

A question to the Original poster, how do you plan to set up the sleeping arrangements? You have 8 people in the 2 bedroom (which is it's capacity) but with the group make up I think you're in for some potential problems. I'll guess you and your DH will have the masterbedroom, the two older kids will share the pull out sofa in the living room, younger child will have a pac -a-way crib but it leaves your mom, grandmom and MIL to share two beds in the 2nd bedroom. If your mom and her mom are happy sharing a bed then I guess that's ok, but IMHO it's worth considering getting an extra studio for your mom and her mom to share, that way your MIL could share a room with one of your kids.

OKW is an excellent resort, the units are very well equiped and I'm sure you'll have a great time there, but because this is your first time on site, I think it is wise to consider exactly what the set up is and to think about spending a little extra on the rooms to make sure that everyone has a bed to themselves. If it were just a couple of days I wouldn't be quite so cautious, but 10 days can be a long time if the arrangements you've made don't work out. With one less older relative I think the arrangements you've made would work out fine, but I think you've possibly made an error of judgement in having three of them along on this trip as I think it could make for a difficult stay.

IMHO your best options at the moment are
1) rent points from a DVC member for an extra studio for your mom and grandma (ups your cost but IMHO will give you the best experience possible)
2) See if you can arrange the trip so one less older relative comes with you ( needs a GREAT deal of tact and diplomacy to handle this if they have all been invited already)
3) Pass on OKW/On site this stay and rent a big (4 bedroom) villa off site. Try OKW/DVC units with a slightly smaller group in future. This is probably the option of least resistance
4) Pray that your Mom, grandma and MIL can work out sharing a bathroom and bedroom (with 2 just beds) for 10 days without falling out. (I'd be making sure I covered a few extra faiths, because I think this would be a very risky option)

IMHO you're going to be spending a huge amount of money on this vacation, I would hate to see that vacation be one that you all remember for the wrong reasons. If you (and the relatives) are fully aware of the possible problems and are certain you can work your way around them, then I'm happy for you. I can just see more chance for it being a HUGE problem on the vacaton than I can on it working out, but then I don't know your family or how well those older relatives get on together (there's a big difference between being friendly and being able to share a room/bed and a bathroom for 10 days). With older relatives the bathroom issues may be as much of a trouble spot as the bed issues.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I rented points for OKW this coming May, it gives the date for trash and towel service on the confirmation. For $95 a night as opposed to $99 for a value, I'll deal with washing towels.

 

[bubba's mom]

BTW......thanks for the heads up on the trash and towel thing.... we'll be there (in a studio) for 2 nights in June and I didn't realize the trash/towel thing till I read this thread. not really a big deal for us for only 2 nights..... we actually prefer "keeping" to keep out really! btw, if we're only staying 2 nights, and we won't be getting any towels or trash service, what would you tip??

 

[MiaSRN62]

BTW......thanks for the heads up on the trash and towel thing.... we'll be there (in a studio) for 2 nights in June and I didn't realize the trash/towel thing till I read this thread.

Yep.....but keep and mind T&T pertains only to using points on the trip. If you pay cash you will get daily maid service.

 

[bubba's mom]

Yep.....but keep and mind T&T pertains only to using points on the trip. If you pay cash you will get daily maid service.

oops! sorry...forgot to mention we ARE staying on points (SIL's )

 

[bubba's mom]

I personally would like to see Disney expand the DVC into the Value market, for those who are content with the Value resorts. Not sure if there's enough for this to be worth their while, but if they did it, I certainly would go for it.

i think you might have more families with younger kids go for it..... maybe if they built a whole separate special 'value' DVC??? Of course, we know they won't and it'll be expensive...but, maybe if enough people request it in DVC, they will?? Just a thought.....

 

[littlestar]

We really enjoy OKW. We're DVC members and we own at VWL, BWV, and BCV. So, we usually stay at the resort DVCs (as I actually prefer a hotel feel over a condo feel) But, I make an exception for OKW. It feels like a sweet tropical little Florida neighborhood. The walkways are made of crushed seashells. The buildings are light tropical colors and have pretty white railings. There are palm trees and beautiful flowers everywhere.

We LOVE Olivia's restaurant at OKW. They have the best buttermilk chicken breasts! Even when I'm staying at VWL, we make a point to go to Olivia's at least once to eat.

OKW makes me feel like I'm on vacation in Florida with a Disney touch. When we went over there in January (we were staying at VWL) my kids kept talking about how pretty everything was - when you're in Indiana in January, Old Key West's tropical beauty is very much appreciated.

 

[spiceycat]

you don't have to leave a tip for a maids.

I generally give them $1 a day - not the $1 per person per day that I give in other resorts.

others vary!

for years I didn't tip the maids - then I read on here that I was surpose too.

Oh about building a value DVC resort - DVC says before they won't. The DVC resorts are surpose to be deluxe type accomodations. they say it would be hard to do this with a value DVC resort.

when OKW was built - it was done on the style of the CBR - at this time the CBR was the value resort (before the All stars and PC were built).

so the studio part of OKW could be consider like the values - except better.

the 1,2 or 3 bedroom are definitely deluxe!!!

 

[bubba's mom]

you don't have to leave a tip for a maids.

I generally give them $1 a day - not the $1 per person per day that I give in other resorts.

others vary!

for years I didn't tip the maids - then I read on here that I was surpose too.

so, since we are only going to be there 2 nights on points, and we won't be getting trash/towel service, you're saying to tip just $2?? am I right?? i know they won't be there each day doing as much as another resort, but, they will be coming in...... anyone else think that's a fair tip??

 

[spiceycat]

dvc resorts surposely pay their maid service more than the WDW resorts - don't remember where I heard that....

but yes $2 - is what I would leave.

You can definitely leave more.

remember when you are staying on points -they don't clean your room until you leave....

the reason to leave a tip is to get good service in cleaning your rooms - this does not happen at a DVC resort because for most members the room is cleaned AFTER you leave.

 

[bubba's mom]

the reason to leave a tip is to get good service in cleaning your rooms - this does not happen at a DVC resort because for most members the room is cleaned AFTER you leave.

sure....that makes sense. glad to hear they pay their "maids" more than the resort maids........ makes me feel better about "skimping" on the tip!! thanks!!