WolfpackFan
Retired and loving every minute of it!!
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2000
We're just back from our week at OKW. We absolutely loved the resort. We had a great 1 BR with a golf course view that was close to the Hospitality House (unit 6421 to be exact). The unit was in great condition. We only had one minor problem - a broken lamp - which was replaced very quickly after we reported it.
The first night we were there, we were in a Studio at OKW that was a long way away from Hospitality House. We didn't have a car and it wasn't real clear to us as to how we were supposed to get to our room. Well we ended up walking and it was quite a hike. The next morning we got smart and took the bus, carrying our luggage with us back up to Hospitality House. I then checked into our 1 BR unit. I specifically asked for a unit close by and low and behold unit 6421 was available plus we could get into the unit immediately (this was like 9:00 AM). We could not have been happier. My reason for mentioning all this is, in my opinion location matters a lot at OKW, especially if you don't have a car or if you plan to go back and forth to Hospitality House a lot. I still don't quite understand the roll of the bell hops in getting you and your luggage to your rooms, if you don't have a car. Will they take you to your room or do they just take your luggage? Do they charge for this service?
Okay moving on, what I plan on doing is just list some comments and observations I had over the week. Some may seem very picky and some may be more important. These are in no specific order.
- We used ME to get from MCO to OKW. I was disappointed we had to take a regular Mears bus rather than a real pretty ME bus. Plus we didn't get to see the video they usually plays as you travel to WDW. Sure this is no big deal, but it was kind of a little disappointment. Coming back this morning our ME bus was packed and folks had to stand. One family got on at SSR and then the father got mad and took his family off. I kind of don't blame him. They have to know ahead of time how many folks are riding. Why didn't they send more than one bus?
- Busses to the parks from OKW were very slow IMO. It seemed like we spent a lot of time waiting for busses. This seemed especially true with busses from Epcot. I know it has to do a lot with timing, but this was just an observation I had.
- We ate at Olivia's twice and enjoyed it both times. We also ate at Cape May, House of Blues, Liberty Tree Tavern, Kona Cafe and the restaurant at China. All meals were very good.
- We really enjoyed the boat ride from OKW to DTD and did the trip several times. Plus we visited the AKV models at SSR, just to see what we bought. I have to say I love the idea of AKV and am really looking forward to staying there but I'm still kind of disappointed in the look of the models. They seem kind of plain and cheapish looking to me compared to other DVC resorts (especially OKW). This is just my opinion though and I know others disagree.
- Purchased AP's this trip for the first time. They really do change how you visit the parks. There were a couple of times when we would go to a park, do one thing and then leave. It was much more relaxing using the AP. We didn't feel like we had to do everything in one visit. Several nights we went back to OKW early and just relaxed. No late nights at the parks. We plan on getting three trips out of these AP's. Trip 2 is AKV in December and trip 3 is back to OKW the week after Easter (that is if we can get ressies at 7 months) and going with DD27 (she teaches 4th grade and that is her Spring Break week).
- I was disappointed they were working on the LBV golf course. I was really looking forward to sitting out on our balcony and watch the golfers play by each morning. Oh well, we plan to stay there next March again, so maybe there will be golfers on the course then (including maybe myself).
- A minor item - refillable mugs. When did they stop having resort specific refillable mugs? The mug I got at OKW as a generic mug that they even sold in the parks.
- The parks were very crowded this last week and it was very hot.
- We did the Backstage Safari tour at Animal Kingdom and it was the highlight of our week. We went back stage and visited where they keep the giraffes and elephants, plus saw the entire back side area of the Safari area. Then we had our own personal Safari, with our tour leader doing the narration rather than the driver. I highly recommend this tour. In fact, DW and DD27 plan on doing it next March when we return.
- DTD was packed every time we went. The TV news was running stories about how WDW was increasing security at DTD because there has been an influx of gang activity there on weekends. This started when they stopped charging to get into Pleasure Island. It kind of came to a head week before last with the couple who say there were kidnapped. Speaking of TV news, for those folks living in central NC - you might remember Jim Payne on WRAL. He is anchor at WESH in Orlando.
- Car - we flew on Southwest and decided just a couple of weeks ago to do so. It is only a 10 hour drive for us and every time I fly, I'm sorry I did. I really did miss having a car. But a hint for folks. We did not order any groceries because we didn't plan on doing any cooking. But we did want some soft drinks and beer and I refuse to pay the prices in the resort store. As some one suggested, we took the boat to DTD and then walked to the Hess across the street. We purchased drinks and beer there and the prices were very reasonable. In fact, I think the Cokes and Diet Cokes we got, were cheaper than what we pay here at home The Hess is very close to the Pleasure Island bus stop. So it was no big deal at all to do this. From now on though, I plan to just drive (I know famous last words).
- Okay - what is my favorite resort now. I would have to say it's a toss-up between OKW and BWV. We love the convenience of BWV to get to Epcot, but I also love how great OKW looks and the unit was huge.
Any questions?
The first night we were there, we were in a Studio at OKW that was a long way away from Hospitality House. We didn't have a car and it wasn't real clear to us as to how we were supposed to get to our room. Well we ended up walking and it was quite a hike. The next morning we got smart and took the bus, carrying our luggage with us back up to Hospitality House. I then checked into our 1 BR unit. I specifically asked for a unit close by and low and behold unit 6421 was available plus we could get into the unit immediately (this was like 9:00 AM). We could not have been happier. My reason for mentioning all this is, in my opinion location matters a lot at OKW, especially if you don't have a car or if you plan to go back and forth to Hospitality House a lot. I still don't quite understand the roll of the bell hops in getting you and your luggage to your rooms, if you don't have a car. Will they take you to your room or do they just take your luggage? Do they charge for this service?
Okay moving on, what I plan on doing is just list some comments and observations I had over the week. Some may seem very picky and some may be more important. These are in no specific order.
- We used ME to get from MCO to OKW. I was disappointed we had to take a regular Mears bus rather than a real pretty ME bus. Plus we didn't get to see the video they usually plays as you travel to WDW. Sure this is no big deal, but it was kind of a little disappointment. Coming back this morning our ME bus was packed and folks had to stand. One family got on at SSR and then the father got mad and took his family off. I kind of don't blame him. They have to know ahead of time how many folks are riding. Why didn't they send more than one bus?
- Busses to the parks from OKW were very slow IMO. It seemed like we spent a lot of time waiting for busses. This seemed especially true with busses from Epcot. I know it has to do a lot with timing, but this was just an observation I had.
- We ate at Olivia's twice and enjoyed it both times. We also ate at Cape May, House of Blues, Liberty Tree Tavern, Kona Cafe and the restaurant at China. All meals were very good.
- We really enjoyed the boat ride from OKW to DTD and did the trip several times. Plus we visited the AKV models at SSR, just to see what we bought. I have to say I love the idea of AKV and am really looking forward to staying there but I'm still kind of disappointed in the look of the models. They seem kind of plain and cheapish looking to me compared to other DVC resorts (especially OKW). This is just my opinion though and I know others disagree.
- Purchased AP's this trip for the first time. They really do change how you visit the parks. There were a couple of times when we would go to a park, do one thing and then leave. It was much more relaxing using the AP. We didn't feel like we had to do everything in one visit. Several nights we went back to OKW early and just relaxed. No late nights at the parks. We plan on getting three trips out of these AP's. Trip 2 is AKV in December and trip 3 is back to OKW the week after Easter (that is if we can get ressies at 7 months) and going with DD27 (she teaches 4th grade and that is her Spring Break week).
- I was disappointed they were working on the LBV golf course. I was really looking forward to sitting out on our balcony and watch the golfers play by each morning. Oh well, we plan to stay there next March again, so maybe there will be golfers on the course then (including maybe myself).
- A minor item - refillable mugs. When did they stop having resort specific refillable mugs? The mug I got at OKW as a generic mug that they even sold in the parks.
- The parks were very crowded this last week and it was very hot.
- We did the Backstage Safari tour at Animal Kingdom and it was the highlight of our week. We went back stage and visited where they keep the giraffes and elephants, plus saw the entire back side area of the Safari area. Then we had our own personal Safari, with our tour leader doing the narration rather than the driver. I highly recommend this tour. In fact, DW and DD27 plan on doing it next March when we return.
- DTD was packed every time we went. The TV news was running stories about how WDW was increasing security at DTD because there has been an influx of gang activity there on weekends. This started when they stopped charging to get into Pleasure Island. It kind of came to a head week before last with the couple who say there were kidnapped. Speaking of TV news, for those folks living in central NC - you might remember Jim Payne on WRAL. He is anchor at WESH in Orlando.
- Car - we flew on Southwest and decided just a couple of weeks ago to do so. It is only a 10 hour drive for us and every time I fly, I'm sorry I did. I really did miss having a car. But a hint for folks. We did not order any groceries because we didn't plan on doing any cooking. But we did want some soft drinks and beer and I refuse to pay the prices in the resort store. As some one suggested, we took the boat to DTD and then walked to the Hess across the street. We purchased drinks and beer there and the prices were very reasonable. In fact, I think the Cokes and Diet Cokes we got, were cheaper than what we pay here at home The Hess is very close to the Pleasure Island bus stop. So it was no big deal at all to do this. From now on though, I plan to just drive (I know famous last words).
- Okay - what is my favorite resort now. I would have to say it's a toss-up between OKW and BWV. We love the convenience of BWV to get to Epcot, but I also love how great OKW looks and the unit was huge.
Any questions?
(so if you see a man pushing a stroller with water and pop thats my DH)
