What does everyone love about OKW, because I can't find anything to love...

[np4gp]

So, I have heard from a lot of people that they love OKW and I am trying to figure out WHY??

Checked in to OKW studio on Monday morning after 3 separate stays at SSR. I feel like I downgraded to a glorified motel room...the walls and ceilings are SO thin. The people above us right now sound like they are marching instead of walking! We seem to hear everything that moves, every word that's said. The grout on our bathroom floor and the bathroom tile is severly neglected (sticky and an old band aid behind the door when we first got to our room) and the air conditioner vent was COVERED in dust and cobweb looking collections of "ick". We called guest services about both cleanliness issues and it was remedied the next morning.
When we pulled in, the buildings looked beautiful but the inside did not match at all. The carpet has big stains and I was "lucky" enough to find a little black hair in one of the bedsheets (which was immediately stripped and we used the other bed - which creaks with every toss or turn, but at least the sheets were clean). Room 4410 for anyone interested. Close to a pool and a bus stop, which is nice - but there is nothing I can say positive about this resort...Flame me if you wish - but I will choose to stay at home rather than check in here again if another resort is not available next time we wish to travel.
Oh, and I got a little pizza flyer shoved through the side of our door and it actually made it all the way inside of our room. I thought it was private property and couldn't imagine Disney allowed this sort of thing! I did call guest services about that too.
Anyway, I felt like I had to vent and I would also be interested in hearing what it is that others love so much about this place.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

 

[culli]

Just an FYI any of the house keeping or Pizza thing could happen at any resort. I have not stayed at OKW yet so I can't comment on that, but sorry it didn't work out for you. I hope you still had a good time as regardless of the issues.

 

[spruce]

I love that avatar eating popcorn.....once I saw that, I realized I didn't want to be part of the show so.....to the OP, what works for some, does not work for others. We've stayed at every DVC resort except Hilton, they all have had great stuff and they all have had flaws. There are none that we won't go back to.

 

[Sabor]

#1 - The true Advantages to OKW over the other DVC resorts are in the 1 BR and higher rooms.

To me a Studio is a glorified Hotel room no matter where you stay except for SSR than it's a glorified motel room because of the exterior concrete hallways.

If you have a car no resort is more convenient to park at.
If you have kids no resort offer the spacious accomadations as OKW
If you have kids then most likely Laundry will be done, Full size Units in it's own seperate room , not in a closet that puts you in the way when using
If you are on a budget you probably have to do some cooking, on a long stay OKW has a normal size fridge that can actually hold all of your groceries.
In OKW 2 people can be in the kitchen at the same time.
I can stay here more days with my points than anywhere else.
Largest patios and balconies , that are the quietest in all of WDW many with great golf course views - very relaxing
The pools at OKW are way less crowded than any other in WDW. The one at Turtle Pond is the best kept secret- a decent size quiet pool.


All of the OP complaints are maintenance or housekeeping issues that I have encountered at BWV and BCV - so they exist everywhere.

 

[jekjones1558]

Before your OKW stay ends, ask to see a 1 bedroom. Then you will see something to love about OKW.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

I love that avatar eating popcorn.....once I saw that, I realized I didn't want to be part of the show so.....to the OP, what works for some, does not work for others. We've stayed at every DVC resort except Hilton, they all have had great stuff and they all have had flaws. There are none that we won't go back to.

 

[oakmanner]

 

[La2kw]

So, I have heard from a lot of people that they love OKW and I am trying to figure out WHY??

Checked in to OKW studio on Monday morning after 3 separate stays at SSR. I feel like I downgraded to a glorified motel room...the walls and ceilings are SO thin. The people above us right now sound like they are marching instead of walking! We seem to hear everything that moves, every word that's said. The grout on our bathroom floor and the bathroom tile is severly neglected (sticky and an old band aid behind the door when we first got to our room) and the air conditioner vent was COVERED in dust and cobweb looking collections of "ick". We called guest services about both cleanliness issues and it was remedied the next morning.
When we pulled in, the buildings looked beautiful but the inside did not match at all. The carpet has big stains and I was "lucky" enough to find a little black hair in one of the bedsheets (which was immediately stripped and we used the other bed - which creaks with every toss or turn, but at least the sheets were clean). Room 4410 for anyone interested. Close to a pool and a bus stop, which is nice - but there is nothing I can say positive about this resort...Flame me if you wish - but I will choose to stay at home rather than check in here again if another resort is not available next time we wish to travel.
Oh, and I got a little pizza flyer shoved through the side of our door and it actually made it all the way inside of our room. I thought it was private property and couldn't imagine Disney allowed this sort of thing! I did call guest services about that too.
Anyway, I felt like I had to vent and I would also be interested in hearing what it is that others love so much about this place.

You are judging an entire resort after one stay in one room? Did you ask for housekeeping to reclean your room? Did you ask for a cleaner room? Did you inform the housekeeping manager? OKW has had housekeeping issues the past two years, and they won't get any better if guests don't complain about them. We have been staying at OKW since '94 and have never had the sort of experience you have had. We have had some very sloppy housekeeping however. OKW is the original (and oldest) DVC resort. Once SSR has been around as long as OKW, you'll start seeing similar issues there.

 

[Sully]

I do agree with the thin walls and hearing noises from the other rooms. The dirty room should have been taken care of immediately. SSR seems to have more solid insulated walls. On another point, what is the deal with the pizza advertising slipped under the doors. We had one at SSR last November. Isn't this private property. We are going back to SSR in February and if we get another flyer under our door, I am taking it to the front desk and asking the manager about it.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

There's nothing quite like a spirited thread on a very cold, somewhat boring winter's eve...

 

[LisaS]

So, I have heard from a lot of people that they love OKW and I am trying to figure out WHY??

In our case it is the 1BR villas that make OKW a very special place to stay. They are HUGE! yet cost fewer points than the 1BRs at other resorts. They are very nicely decorated. The jacuzzi tubs are larger than those at the other WDW DVC resorts. Instead of a balcony off the living area with two chairs and a small drinks table there is a large veranda with a real table and four chairs so you can eat meals out there. It is such a treat to have breakfast out on the veranda!

We have only stayed there twice but both times our 1BR villa was clean and in good repair. The OKW studios don't appeal to us because if we are going to stay in a studio we would rather have a bed and a sofa rather than two queen beds. But for a reasonable number of points you can upgrade to a 1BR villa that is so large it feels luxurious! Take jekjones1558's advice and ask to see a 1BR villa and then you'll see why so many of us love staying at OKW!

 

[mvc1997]

#1 - The true Advantages to OKW over the other DVC resorts are in the 1 BR and higher rooms.

To me a Studio is a glorified Hotel room no matter where you stay except for SSR than it's a glorified motel room because of the exterior concrete hallways.

If you have a car no resort is more convenient to park at.
If you have kids no resort offer the spacious accomadations as OKW
If you have kids then most likely Laundry will be done, Full size Units in it's own seperate room , not in a closet that puts you in the way when using
If you are on a budget you probably have to do some cooking, on a long stay OKW has a normal size fridge that can actually hold all of your groceries.
In OKW 2 people can be in the kitchen at the same time.
I can stay here more days with my points than anywhere else.
Largest patios and balconies , that are the quietest in all of WDW many with great golf course views - very relaxing
The pools at OKW are way less crowded than any other in WDW. The one at Turtle Pond is the best kept secret- a decent size quiet pool.


All of the OP complaints are maintenance or housekeeping issues that I have encountered at BWV and BCV - so they exist everywhere.

I'll second that!!

"In OKW 2 people can be in the kitchen at the same time."

That's sooo true! We laughed out loud when we read that!

 

[Granny]

Anyway, I felt like I had to vent

Mission accomplished!

 

[buzz5985]

Last summer I was able to get 2 2BR villas at OKW and save 80 points compared to the point cost at all the other resorts. .

 

[Pootle]

Housekeeping issues happen everywhere .... and the older resorts are naturally likely to come in for more criticism as things show wear and tear.

I've had more than 30 OKW stays - many in studios - all on the ground floor and only once have I had any real noise issues. And my hearing is very sharp.

Vent away if it makes you feel better. I hope all your future stays at SSR are perfect

 

[Beth]

In OKW 2 people can be in the kitchen at the same time.

...Yep - Rich would be proud of this statement...

 

[Fastpassme]

I'm sitting in the living room of our 2 BR right now (3232) chuckling. Our home resort is Wilderness, but I love OKW! Our unit feels like a small apartment. With 2 boys, we love the extra place. My husband and older son will be playing golf here later in the week, so that's convenient. I like being able to park right outside. Our unit was spotless and is very quiet. I understand your disappointment, though. We tried Beach Club once because everyone raves about it and hated it. We requested non-smoking and got a smoke drenched, yucky room. They brought a smoke-eater in that barely helped. The halls had stained, worn carpeting. The main pool closed so early that we only got to use it for a few minutes. I do judge the whole Beach Club by that one stay, which isn't fair, but why would I want to try it again?

 

[DisDaydreamer]

With all the heated and unnecessary bashing of SSR over the years I am a little surprised that an SSR owner would so generally bash another resort based on a single experience.

I would be a little worried at this point that Diane has NOT responded.


Just kidding. I have learned to ignore wild complaints about VB and let other "not as attached" members respond.

 

[Cee]

I've stayed in OKW studios and like the two bed deal. One of them did creak a bit and at times the room felt a bit musty. I felt that those things paled beside all this beautiful resort has to offer.