With a new slide and low pts and large units.....

[yasuern]

Do you think OKW will become more popular? Do you think that you will need the 11month window for times when you usually wouldn't? Will pool hopping become an issue and do you think ,for a while, they will have to suspend pool hopping to OKW?


Sue

Thread to artist drawing of OKW pool slide
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=519832&highlight=+okw++slide

 

[Chuck S]

While I'm sure it will be an attractive slide (still not a pool slide person), I don't think it will be so "special" that it will substantially increase pool hopping. OKW is often fully booked now, and does sometimes require booking during the 11/7 window for busier seasons, like all DVC resorts. It is a popular resort as it is, but because it is the largest (currently) in the DVC system, it fills up last. I think the same will happen with SSR once the "new" wears off.

 

[spiceycat]

no - nothing that they could put in would complete with SALB.

No offense but the new pool slide at SSR in my opinion doesn't even compare with WL - much less BWV.

As long as you can pool hop to Polyn, GF, WL, BW - I just don't see OKW being that popular.

besides I don't want it that popular. I like my quiet and relaxed resort - thank you.....

 

[Simba's Mom]

Even with the new slide, you still have location. I think the biggest complaint I hear about OKW is that it isn't "convenient" to the parks, "too out of the way". Lots of people still want the convenience of BWV, being "where the action is. Me, I agree with spiceytcat-I don't want it that popular. I like the quiet, relaxed resort. Also, as a member whose home is elsewhere, but likes OKW best, I count on being able to book there at 7 months, and want it to continue.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by yasuern
Do you think OKW will become more popular? Do you think that you will need the 11month window for times when you usually wouldn't? Will pool hopping become an issue and do you think ,for a while, they will have to suspend pool hopping to OKW?


Sue

I think you'll see a minor shift but not that much overall. I doubt it'll be enough to affect availability. I also doubt many will PH to OKW. SSR will have a little more due to it's location by DD. The only pool that ever got a major PH crowd was SAB. I suspect BWV has seen some increase with the closing of SAB for PH. My guess is far less people PH now that when SAB was open. For OKW to have much PH, it'd have to have a monster pool the equal of SAB or even better.

 

[Biddler]

I can'timagine it making much of a difference. Makes no difference to us as OKW is not convenient to any of the parks which is why we like BWV and is our home.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

besides I don't want it that popular. I like my quiet and relaxed resort - thank you

You took the words out of my mouth.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by Biddler
I can'timagine it making much of a difference. Makes no difference to us as OKW is not convenient to any of the parks which is why we like BWV and is our home.

As long as you define convenient as 'I can walk there' or 'hop on a boat'. For me convenient is having a car in front of my house. I don't drive to work, so driving is fun for me. Living in the city, a spot out front is luxurious. Relying on public transportation daily, riding a bus isn't a vacation. It's the rat race. I do like the boats though...reminds me of summers at the shore.

It's all perspective.

I don't think OKW will become more popular, just the main pool for the OKW guests with kids. I think OKW is too much like the suburbs, and given the number of people who have fled to the suburbs, I think part of the attraction of the Hotel resorts is they have the 'action' of a city without the perceived dangers.

Of course, I could be wrong.
-Joe

 

[RoutemanDan]

<b>Relying on public transportation daily, riding a bus isn't a vacation. It's the rat race. I do like the boats though...reminds me of summers at the shore.</b>

Same here.

<b>It's all perspective. </b>

Truer words were never spoken on this board.There is a large group here that feel the BWV/BCV location is superior,and in turn state this as fact.It is not a fact,just an opinion.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by RoutemanDan
Same here.




Truer words were never spoken on this board.There is a large group here that feel the BWV/BCV location is superior,and in turn state this as fact.It is not a fact,just an opinion.

Absolutely!

For me the "fact" is that I totally enjoy my vacation home at OKW and don't like the hubbub of the Boardwalk area. My bus rides to OKW don't take me any longer than walking from BWV to MGM or even the front part of Epcot. Sure, you seem to be closer, but in reality, you aren't. If you look at an overhead view, OKW is close to Future world than BWV. Sure, we have to take a bus there, but 15 minutes later we are entering the park. Besides, we are on vacation...no need to rush about.

 

[yasuern]

Thank God! I would hate to see that the addition of this pool would change my beloved OKW

Sue

 

[lenshanem]

I know IMHO it makes OKW seem more attractive to us. Slide for the kids, lower points, larger rooms...

I still think though that if anything it would help balance things out a bit. It is still a large resort and like others have said some prefer to be close to Epcot or MK. Location is still a factor to some degree.

 

[rinkwide]

Originally posted by RoutemanDan
...BWV/BCV location is superior...

Maybe in the context of real estate value but nothing beats parking in front of your "Home".

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by rinkwide
Maybe in the context of real estate value but nothing beats parking in front of your "Home".

Hey rinkwide, are you a politician or a news reporter? Way to take a post out of context.

BCV/BWV are superior IF you value lots of resort activity/fancy pool slides/walking-boating to MGM or Epcot. OKW is superior if you like homefront parking, larger rooms, no long hallways, quiet and riding buses around the resort if you don't have a car. VWL is superior if you like railroads, boating to the MK, being in perhaps the best themed resort on property, dark, cool tones, and feeling like you are in the diagonal opposite side of the country. SSR will probably be superior if you need to stagger home from PI, shop your heart out at DD, walk to your massage-spa treatment, watch PI Fireworks at NYE, or be alive in 50 years.

I think the slide is simply the OKW management saying, "How can we make this resort better?" Slides are the one pool attraction everyone seems to miss at OKW. They did the same sort of brainsstorming when they built the blocks with living room access to the bathroom in a 1 or 2 bedroom.

Despite all of our complaining (and mine about 'hotel style' resorts especially), DVD does listen sometimes.

-Joe, hoping that a possible CR DVC resort would be anything but contemporary.

 

[LisaSt]

I think the pool slide will make OKW a more desirable resort for alot of people that didn't normally stay there. We have stayed there and now with the lower point values and the addition of the slide we will probably stay there more often. I am sure there are others that will do so to.

 

[wdwa1]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht

SNIP
My bus rides to OKW don't take me any longer than walking from BWV to MGM or even the front part of Epcot. Sure, you seem to be closer, but in reality, you aren't. If you look at an overhead view, OKW is close to Future world than BWV. Sure, we have to take a bus there, but 15 minutes later we are entering the park.

LOL!!!

 

[lisareniff]

Originally posted by jmminarik

It's all perspective.

.... I think OKW is too much like the suburbs, and given the number of people who have fled to the suburbs, I think part of the attraction of the Hotel resorts is they have the 'action' of a city without the perceived dangers.

Of course, I could be wrong.

From our perspective you are very correct!! We live just beyond the suburbs and are dying for some action when we go on vacation(and no driving) ..... along with some sunshine!!

 

[Sammie]

Oh yea, that BC/BW location is the best, especially when you want to go to the Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom. As someone said it's all opinion and one's prespective. If you have one of the rooms at the BW at the end of a long hall, by the time you walk to the boat dock, catch a boat and then walk to Spaceship Earth, anyone from OKW on a bus will beat you there.

 

[walt4evr]

I am just making an observation, so please don't flame me. We love all the DVC resorts and will gladly stay at any of them, at any time! Yet we must be realistic. BCV and BWV are much easier to get to 2 of 4 major parks. This is opposed to OKW's score of 0:4!
Love all the DVC resorts, but facts are facts. OKW has advantages that the other DVC resorts can not even begin to touch; but an easy location to WDW parks is not one of them.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Originally posted by walt4evr
I am just making an observation, so please don't flame me. We love all the DVC resorts and will gladly stay at any of them, at any time! Yet we must be realistic. BCV and BWV are much easier to get to 2 of 4 major parks. This is opposed to OKW's score of 0:4!
Love all the DVC resorts, but facts are facts. OKW has advantages that the other DVC resorts can not even begin to touch; but an easy location to WDW parks is not one of them.

Not a flame , but an observation or two. I have stayed at all the onsite dvc resorts with the exception of SSR. In fact, in one recent trip our first week was OKW, and the second week was BCV. We have also just returned from another trip to OKW - had to slide another one in before school starts .

OKW vs BWV/BCV to Epcot FW - a tie.
Usually only 10 ~ 15 minutes from the time we left our room we were in Epcot. Since anyone walking from BW/BC has to walk through WS their time would be similar to ours. If bus wait time is too long, BCV/BWV wins.

OKW vs BWV/BCV to Epcot WS - BWV/BCV wins.
NO question that since the internation gateway enters into WS the Epcot resorts have quicker access to this area.

OKW vs BWV/BCV to Studios - a tie.
From your room at OKW a short walk to a bus stop, usually minimal wait, and dropped off at park entrance. From your room at BCV/BWV you walk to the lobby and then walk to the park or take the Friendships. Walking is usually 10~15 minutes, and the boats are no faster - maybe longer if you have to wait for one.

OKW vs BWV/BCV to AK - a tie.
We all have to use the bus for this. However, if you want to drive I'm halfway there before you have reached your car.

OKW vs BCV/BWV to MK - OKW wins.
Again, we will all be taking the bus there so that's a wash as far as time. I know that you can walk through the WS & FW, take the monorail to TTC, and then the MK monorail but by the time you've done all that I'm on my first or second ride. And don't forget MK EE mornings - I actually feel sorry for Epcot resort guests then. They REALLY need more busses on that route during those mornings !

OKW vs BCV/BWV to Epcot resort area - BCV/BWV wins

This one is fairly obvious.

OKW vs BCV/BWV to non-Epcot resorts - OKW wins

I'm in my vehicle while you're still in the hallway.

OKW vs BCV/BWV to water parks - OKW wins

I've done both busses and car to the water parks. A car is much faster and more convenient that a bus in this case, since you are parking at the very entrance of the park. Again, I'm in my vehicle while you're still in the hallway. Also, since my rooms cost less in points and my dues are lower I can use part of that savings for water park APs. Luna Park and Stormalong Bay are both very nice, but not as nice as Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.


I'll give BCV/BWV a big nod in one aspect - access to lluminations. I really did enjoy that about our stay at BCV. I think that is Disney at it's best.