Just back from first OKW stay

Partridge4ever

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 17, 2000
We got in late last night from our first stay at OKW. We surprised our daughter with this trip. We drove 2 1/2 hours to the airport. Dh sat her on the trunk and asked her if we could fly somewhere, where would she go? She of course said Disney World. I've watched the video 3 times. The look on her face is priceless.

Checked in at 2 am. No Welcome Home, but the lady at the front desk was perky. She loaded our stuff into a van and said she had one stop to make before taking us to our unit. I wasn't too thrilled to be sitting outside someone else's unit in a minivan for 20 minutes, but I didn't say anything. She said there was a "challenge" she had to take care of. Disneyspeak for problem, I guess.

We had room 4325. Second floor. It was the connecting room to a one bedroom. It was fine for the 4 of us. We were near the pool and Turtle Shack, which was closed. I had requested to be on the first floor near the hospitality house. I actually liked our location better. I wouldn't want to have to ride the bus through the whole resort before being dropped off at night.

I didn't mind the no housekeeping thing. I think the towel rule is a little excessive. I use one for my hair and one for my body. I think there ought to be a toaster in the studio.

We tried the walkway from MGM to Boardwalk one night. It was nice and quicker than waiting for the boat. We were trying to walk to Epcot for Illuminations. Made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up lost at the Yacht or Beach Club, not sure which. Dh saw enough of the Boardwalk to want me to try to switch our Dec. reservations there. He likes to go to the hotel bar after the kids and I are asleep, which is hard to do at OKW. He made do by having a beer on the little balcony.

Enough negatives. Most times the wait for a bus was minimal. Once we got there just as the MK bus left and had to wait awhile, but we were still at the park w/in 30 min. of leaving the room. My 5 year old loved the pool, even though it was in the upper 50s and raining. She's looking forward to trying out some of the scheduled activities next time. There was a pair of ducks that she made friends with and a bunny we saw a couple of times. I was very smug one night on the bus back to the resort when she asked if we'd be home soon. I thought she meant Alabama and told her we had two whole days left. She said she meant the hotel. She said, "Let's not call it the hotel. Let's call it home, because it's kind of like our home only it's at Disney World." EXACTLY!
 
Glad to hear your first trip to OKW was magical. What a great surprise for your daughter. The first time we stayed at OKW (this past December) we also did not get a Welocme Home. So let me say to you ........ Welcome Home!

As a side note, Our very first DVC stay was last Spet. at our home resort of BWV. The CM was very gracious and most certainly greeted us with Welcome Home. Also BWV is very convenient and you will love staying there. Will be there ourselves this mid-Dec.
 
Sounds like a very smart daughter! She even figured out that OKW is "home" instead of a hotel.

You can always request a toaster from housekeeping at any of the DVC resorts. You are right that it comes in handy in a studio! I'm not sure how late Gurgling Suitcase stays open at OKW but I know some members make "memories" there. It might be an option for your husband if you are back at OKW.
 
Welcome home from us OKW people! Was the studio portion of the lock off noisy? We usually stay in a dedicated 2 BR, so was just wondering if the noise was a problem in a lock off that is used as two separate units.

Disneydiane
 
Too cool how you told her about the upcoming trip! Got me all choked up. And glad to hear all went well!

Sue

<img width="200" src="http://www.geocities.com/dmurphydis/cleveland.gif">
 
Oh I love your story. 5 is such a great age to start sharing the Magic.

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<font size=4 color=blue font face="Comic Sans MS">Robin

 
Yes, we did hear noise from the one bedroom and I'm sure they heard plenty of noise from us in our studio with a 15 month old and a 5 year old. The baby now expects to be picked up at the first peep after 4 nights of me rushing to quiet her when she woke during the night. It was a little frustrating to feel like we had to whisper, but we were only in there a couple of hours a day.
 

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