Where to stay at OKW?

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by CRobin
I hope everyone contributing to this thread has the original poster's innocent question in mind.

Yep, did that!

I really like the views in buildings 16-22, but like the location of buildings in the South Point area (52-55). We stayed in building 64 this last trip. It is one of the new buildings with an elevator, and it was very close to HH and that last bus stop for leaving the parks was nice, but then you have to ride all the way around the resort when you return.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc



I often walk from my room at OKW to DD and to the tennis courts near the main pool, just for the pleasure of walking. I also often take a bus to MGM (8 minute ride) and then walk to the BW area and then over to Epcot.
But, that is just me, YMMV.

I don't mind the walk too much I am used to that. What I really didn't like about OKW was once you got on the bus how long it took to circle the resort (out and back, out and back, what a bad layout for a bus rote.)

Our nearest bus stop was Penninsula, but once on the bus it took 15 min (or longer) to get up to HH. Mostly we walked to HH and got on there, but then the bus was so full we couldn't sit down.

So when you are saying 8 min you mean once you leave OKW, not the 15 to takes to go around the resort.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree that during busy times, which bus stop does make a difference. We haven't minded that during our winter trips, because the buses are never crowded. This summer, there seemed to be many more buses than usual. One problem is that if you get on at HH you leave for the parks right away, but you have to ride the route around to get off there.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Someone along the way asked about golf course views. We've asked and (supposedly) received golf course views both times we've been there, once a studio in building 36, once a 2 BR in building 52. Neither time was much of a golf course view, with the palm trees obstructing our view. However, with the quality of the golfers, that is the numerous golf balls that landed in the palm trees rather than our heads, I'm not sorry the palm trees were there. However, I would hope I get better golf course view sometime. Driving around, looks like Penninsular Road and Miller Road might have some better golf course views. However, in building 52, although we had a limited golf course view, we found it very pretty with all the trees. Someone told me they had a beautiful golf course view, building 63 (?)

 

[DisneyPhD]

In that way where we were buildling 29 worked out ok, we could walk to HH with no problem, get the last bus and head out, then on the way home we should be the 1st stop. Except sometimes we weren't. In fact our very 1st day we didn't know the name of our stop, only that it was the 1st. We got off the bus and realized, this wasn't it (we couldn't see the river.) Had to get right back on.

Also if we were walking to the bus stop and saw the bus we needed pull off we knew we had 15 min to get up to HH to grab it before it left the resort.

This sometimes was a problem as if the bus was too full by that point it would just leave and skip HH, giving us an over a hour wait one day to AK. By time a bus did come it filled up to max with just the people waiting at that one stop.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by DisneyPhD

So when you are saying 8 min you mean once you leave OKW, not the 15 to takes to go around the resort.

Yes, 8 minutes once you leave the last stop. We are staying in building 28 right now and we just walk to HH to catch the bus. Since that's the last stop, it's 8 minutes to MGM. The total time on the bus will be determined by where you board the bus.

Because OKW is integrated with a golf course, there is no way to create a different driving route without interfering with the course itself. (BTW, contrary to the perception some have of OKW, the golf course is NOT part of the resort and should NOT really be included in the size of the resort any more than those who live on a golf course should include the fairway in the size of their backyard.) The resort also includes crossing a canal, which adds another obstacle to a different driving route.

There are 5 bus stops in the resort and at busy times of the day during periods of high occupancy, some buses may fill and be crowded. Right now occupancy at OKW is just below 50% (the GF is at 12% and many other resorts are around 30% according to CM's I've spoken with) and we've often been the only riders on any bus. The bus does take about 15 minutes to load/unload at all 5 stops. The OKW bus is currently not shared with any other resorts. The current "Flexible Dispatch" system being implemented by WDW Transportation has a goal of a bus every 15 minutes. If a bus is filled at HH, walk to Peninsular to catch the next one as it enters the resort.

Enjoy the ride!

 

[Tigger Fans!]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
Yes, 8 minutes once you leave the last stop. We are staying in building 28 right now and we just walk to HH to catch the bus. Since that's the last stop, it's 8 minutes to MGM. The total time on the bus will be determined by where you board the bus.

Please excuse my lack of knowledge but....what does HH stand for??

TTFN!

 

[colleen costello]

Favorite spots may depend on whether or not you have your car with you. We drive to WDW and always have our dorky family minivan. We therefore don't mind being "far" from the HH area. Buildings #55 and #56 are my favorite. They are near a quiet pool that is rarely crowded and are very close to the canal. They feel sort of "private" and they are on a cul-de-sac so there is little traffic. Finally, there are tons of ducks here, which is MOST important to my children. We have also stayed in #35 which was also quiet and high in duck percentage. To each his own! We have never had a "bad room" at this beautiful place.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by Tigger Fans!
Please excuse my lack of knowledge but....what does HH stand for??

TTFN!

HH= Hospitality House. It is the check-in area for the resort and includes the Conch Flats General Store, Olivia's Cafe, the marina, the main pool, Community Hall and the exercise room. There is also a snack bar (Goods Food-to-Go) a bar (Gurgling Suitcase), arcade (Electric Eel) and recreational office (Hanks Rent-and-Return).

Every bus stops there on it's way out of the resort, so transportation to that stop is very easy. There is also an "Internal" bus that comes every 15 minutes and then goes to all of the other stops in the resort.

Enjoy!

 

[Tigger Fans!]

HH= Hospitality House. It is the check-in area for the resort and includes the Conch Flats General Store, Olivia's Cafe, the marina, the main pool, Community Hall and the exercise room. There is also a snack bar (Goods Food-to-Go) a bar (Gurgling Suitcase), arcade (Electric Eel) and recreational office (Hanks Rent-and-Return).

Thanks for the help!

TTFN!

 

[TIdoublegaER]

One problem is that if you get on at HH you leave for the parks right away, but you have to ride the route around to get off there.

That is true. What we did last trip was to get on at the HH and get off at Pennisular Rd. That way we were the last to get picked up and the first to get dropped off. Since we were in bldg 63, it really wasn't much further of a walk.

To answer the OP, we have only stayed around the HH, so I can't comment on any other areas of the resort. We have already decided next time that we are not going to request a specific area, but play OKW roulette and see where we end up.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We decided that for our last trip, and are doing it in January too. I decided I have liked every location so far, so I am not going to request unless I am trying to be near someone else, like last January, when our friends booked the same time as we did, and we both requested to be in the same building at South Point. BTW, we were both in 2 bedroom units in building 52, and they were right next door to each other!