what n/s 2 BR @ OKW do you recommend?

[pixiedustforever]

Hi Y'all!

We're staying at OKW (first time there as a family)
in mid-June. What n/s 2 BR would you recommend
for an active family with kids 10 & 11 years old?

Are there grills available for cooking out?

Thanks!
Pixiedustforever

 

[spiceycat]

OKW is a big resort - it is always best to ask for a location, or a view-

views - water, golf, woods

locations - near the HH, bus stop or pool.

near the HH is probably the most requested - I don't happen to like that location - but I am in the minority

if you know your kids are going to spending more time in the pools than the parks - ask for near a pool - there are 4 - one main one close to the HH - the others are quiet pools and are located all over the resort

if you aren't going to want to drive your car to the parks, and are spending the majority of your time at the parks - then ask for near a bus stop

that say I like the building at 18 and 55 - my 2 favorites.

here is a map
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.jpg

 

[dvcmomdeh]

Any rooms in Buildings 16, 17, or 18. You can't go wrong with any rooms at OKW, honestly.

 

[spiceycat]

yes there are grills availability at all the quiet pools - I am not sure about the main pool - don't use it so I don't know

there are also a sand playground at all the quiet pools.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

There are Grills available for use near the pool. You need to bring your own charcoal and lighter fluid.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by spiceycat
OKW is a big resort - it is always best to ask for a location, or a view

Why is it "always best" to ask for a location or view?

Only make requests if there's a reason for the request. If a member of your party has trouble with stairs, ask for a ground floor room. If someone hates any bus noise, ask for a room beyond the bus route. If someone has a phobia about golf courses, ask for a view of the canal. If you love the Turtle Pond pool, ask to be near it

But don't ask for a particular view or location just because you think you ought to make a request.

One more thing... Many people ask to be near the Hospitality House, but the DVC room assignment staff can't make all those people happy. Many of those people end up somewhere that's neither near the Hospitality House nor far from it — some place like the beginning of Turtle Pond Road or somewhere on Miller's Road. Those people might have had better locations if they didn't make a request.

 

[spiceycat]

go read my reply to why make request

or don't

my mother is 81 and has trouble getting around - so I generally end up pushing her in a wheelchair - even then 4 hours is about her limit (start with the early entry) - so while she rests - I get to look at the view.

I don't happen to like golf - but OKW has some of the prettiest water views - if I get a water view I am very happy out on the balcony while she rests -

if I don't get a water view - I am difficult to be around - now if she won't have a fit everytime I left the room without her - I could go walk my cat while she rests - but she is very, very, very dependent - I am not - so we fight - and yes now I make solo trips - but she is my mother so I still take her just not as often.

A water view helps me to calm down - is that so difficult to understand.

now if we were in the parks starting at early entry until they closed or E-nights - then no could cares about a view you won't ever see in the first place.

but when I am in the villa more than the parks - I definitely care what the view is. Sorry if that offense you.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I made 15 trips to OKW and have never asked for a location. You do not need to, they are all great, and with 10 & 11 year olds you do not need to be near the kiddie pool. It is a very short walk to any pool or bus stop. It is a short walk to HH from anywhere also. It is just a great place to stay, I always like not knowing where I am going to end up. With "active" kids you may want to ask for a bottom floor so not to have the kids running around over someone.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by spiceycat
but when I am in the villa more than the parks - I definitely care what the view is. Sorry if that offense you.

No, that does not offend me. I'm sorry that my comments came across to you as a personal criticism. That was not what I intended.

I was commenting on your statement that "it is always best to ask for a location, or a view." My point is nobody should feel obligated to make such a request. People don't wind up with awful rooms at OKW if they don't make requests for particular locations or views.

If people have reasons, they should, by all means, make requests — and if a water view enhances your OKW experience, that's a perfectly good reason.

 

[Snowgod]

We have yet to stay in a room that wasn't wonderful. Only request has been for non-smoking If you have a car it won't matter too much. If you don't have a car you may want to be near the Hospitality house.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

It's really remarkable that OKW really doesn't have "good views" and "bad views" or "good locations" and "bad locations."

It just goes to show what a great job they did when they designed OKW.

 

[reneesam]

I interpreted spiceycat's post to mean that "if you are going to make a request (and you don't have to) you should request a view, or location, rather than a specific room." I can see that it could have been interpreted as "everyone needs to make a request every single time" but I don't think that was the intent.

I hope I'm not putting words into her mouth, but maybe this can help point out the different ways her post can be interpreted.

Originally posted by Werner Weiss
No, that does not offend me. I'm sorry that my comments came across to you as a personal criticism. That was not what I intended.

I was commenting on your statement that "it is always best to ask for a location, or a view." My point is nobody should feel obligated to make such a request. People don't wind up with awful rooms at OKW if they don't make requests for particular locations or views.

If people have reasons, they should, by all means, make requests — and if a water view enhances your OKW experience, that's a perfectly good reason.

 

[colleen costello]

We were in #55 in March and it was GORGEOUS. Water view, no bus noise, and near one of the pools. I can't remember the number but that whole building looks out at the canal. My kids swim a lot so being near a pool is great for us.

 

[RobDoc]

I would agree with the thought that it's best not to request a specific room or building- as that often leads to disappointment.

If you have a preference what you might like to see from the balcony/patio- then request water, woods or golf course view. If you have access issues, request a ground floor room. All buildings are near a bus stop (some are 30 yards away- some are 80 yards away) and all are near a pool (again- some are closer than others) and all are able to access the HH area (main pool, Olivia's, Conch Flats Store, Marina, Community Hall) by bus- since every bus stops there before leaving the resort. There is also an internal bus that stops there about every 20 minutes.

Here is a <a href="http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=1251562#post1251562">thread</a> that may also shed some more light on the resort layout.

Enjoy!

 

[MissyinNM]

We were in bldg 62 (I think #6232) and we were steps from the Hospitality House and loved our room. We could see the fireworks from Illuminations every night from our balcony and overlooked part of the course and lake. We stayed with my parents and two small children and had a wonderul vacation. A little bus noise but only in the mornings.