WLV for Magic Kingdom or OKW?-opinions?

[MarylandMommy]

I have 2 small kids (ages 6 and 3) and one large kid (husband) who love Magic Kingdom. We are planning a trip to Disney in November. We spend most of our time at MK. We will go to AK for one day and may spend a couple of mornings at MGM. We may never even make it to Epcot. However, we seemed drawn to MK like moths to a light and end up there almost everyday, even it if is for just a couple of hours in the evening. We booked a one bedroom at OKW because I really think we would like the laid back atomsphere away from the parks, using less points, etc.
One thing I like least about Disney is how you get to Magic Kingdom by car. We have always had a car and I love having it, but going to the Magic Kingdom with the TTC just to catch the Ferry or monorail, gets really old after a while and takes 30 minutes or more!
So, here is where I'd like some opinions. I don't know if will be possible to even get a room at WLV (but let's just pretend we have a choice). I was thinking, if we stay at OKW, of maybe driving to Epcot and taking the monorail to MK. Any thoughts on this? Or if we could get a room at WLV, I know they have boat access, but it makes a couple of stops. So it may take up to 20 minutes to get to to MK or to get back? I'm not sure I'd want to give up more points just to save about 10 minutes a day?
Help! Opinions please!

 

[disneygal58]

I'm certain that you will hear this again, but here goes - I love the extra space within the villas at OKW and the relaxed atmosphere. I am not crazy about the decor of VWL - maybe because I live in Colorado, when I vacation I want scenery that is unlike my own backyard.
Whatever you decide, you won't go wrong.
Dawn

 

[Muushka]

To answer your transportation question, we always have a car when we go to WDW. We drive to every park except MK. We take a bus there because it drops you off right at the MK. Unless we stay at VWL, where we take the boat (the boat ride is part of the MK experience to us) love the decor, and as frugal as I am, do not mind in the least spending the points to stay there and the smaller size is more than compensated for in other amenities.

 

[patsal]

Both are great. Last year we split our vacation with 1 week at VWL 1BR and 1 week OKW 1BR. Honestly the boat to MK didn't make a heck of a lot of difference in the travel time once you factor in the stops at the campground and sometimes at CR, and that the boat does not operate if there is severe weather. I liked the extra space at OKW and the full sized laundry room rather than a laundry closet. I enjoy VWL because of the atmosphere, but with kids the space thing really makes a difference.

 

[kitkatsnindylou]

I own VWL and love the resort, the boats take more like 10 min to me. 2 years ago I stayed there with my niece 7 and her parents and it worked out great. This year we are staying at OKW. The rooms are bigger and it is a very relaxing resort. I have stayed there more times than at my home resort. The busses I find are convienent to all the parks. OKW is more like a community. VWL still has a hotel feel. I enjoy both, and again like disneygal58 said you cant go wrong.

 

[LVSWL]

We love both resorts. VWL for the great theme which your kids will love, like a big lincoln log structure to explore and 3 great restaurants on site, a boat ride to MK, fun pool, geyser. Old Key West was the first vacation club resort we stayed in and the one that convinced us to buy, large rooms, quiet peaceful sleep, great pools, but more of a "condo" feel. Good bus service, but we do like being able to park right outside of the room. Either way you will have a great trip. You are in Disneyworld!

 

[dianeschlicht]

VWL will be the closest to MK, but OKW has a lot more room, and the buses run very often and are quick to the MK. My guess is that if you leave a room at VWL, walk to the boat dock, and take the boat to MK, you will have spent roughly the same amount of time getting there as if you left your room at OKW, walked to the bus stop and took the first MK bus that came along. The boating time from VWL to MK is 7-10 minutes. The bus time from OKW to MK is 12-15 minutes. Buses from OKW have been very good the past several years, so no car needed there.

 

[gracelrm]

First, I've never stayed at OKW, so I can't compare the two places; but here's why I like VWL: You can roll your stroller right on to the boat and never have to fold it up or take the child out of the stroller. This may seem minor to most, but with a young child, I think this is great. We still stay at the parks pretty late, and it is so nice to just let the little one sleep in the stroller on the way back to the resort. My kids are past the stroller stage now, but that was always such a plus to me since we spent the most of our time at MK. But as others have said; you can't go wrong either place.

 

[melk]

We love both resorts, also. However, with small kids (like us), I don't think you can beat VWL. We would take the boat almost every morning to MK and it was so easy. The kids were always excited and they loved the boat ride, the anticipation of reaching MK. We love OKW for other reasons, but I think if given the choice I would choose VWL.

 

[abner1776]

OK..so here are your options (you have to close your eyes to imagine)
When leaving MK, you can fight the crowds over to the bus station, stand in line for ???, get packed onto the hot bus like sardines with sweaty crying kids and adults and then hope you get dropped off close to your room at OKW, or...
You can stroll over the boat dock which is right in front of the main gate at MK, leasurely get on the boat, and enjoy a 8 minute boat ride in the beautiful Disney night air with wonderful views of GF and CR, with the wind blowing in your face... then stroll off the boat and have a short walk to your room.
So.... the answer is ??

Now I don't mean to knock OKW cause I have never stayed there, but I have left MK at closing time and the boat just seems so much more civilized than the packed busses.

 

[MiaSRN62]

but I have left MK at closing time and the boat just seems so much more civilized than the packed busses.

Just want to preface.....OKW and VWL are my 2 favorite DVC resorts.

On that note......wanted to add something about park closing. IF you do the EMH (at night) at the MK, the boat does not run to take you back to the WL. It stops running after a certain time. You have to take the monorail to the TTC and then catch the "Boon" bus or something like that----goes to Ft Wilderness and WL. I've stayed at WL/VWL several times, but the most recent was in 2004, so not sure if this is still the case ? But I recall being a little bummed that the WL boat stops running after a certain time. It was a major pain having to get on the packed monorail to the TTC and then walk over to the Boon bus (and we had young kids a couple of those times). The Boon bus at the TTC is all the way over to the left after you exit the monorail---a little bit of a walk. So if you avoid leaving the parks real late and avoid attending EMH's (to the end) you should be ok with the boat.
Someone else might be able to tell you exactly what time the WL boats stop running at night.

 

[Muushka]

Gee, good tip about VWL and really late boats. I don't know what time they stop running, but we went to MVMCP in 2004 and stayed till closing (12?) and caught a boat. I guess the EMH is after 12? We have never done EMH, but I will remember this post! Thanks .