GV at OKW (and elsewhere)

[simbasmom]

Are all the Grand Villas at OKW 2 story? And are they all starting on the first floor (as opposed to being second and third floors)? Is OKW the only DVC at WDW that has two floors in its Grand Villas?

[denlo]

Are all the Grand Villas at OKW 2 story? And are they all starting on the first floor (as opposed to being second and third floors)? Is OKW the only DVC at WDW that has two floors in its Grand Villas?

I can't answer about the location of the OKW GVs. But all of the GVs are two stories at WDW except the ones at AKV, Jambo House and a few of the ones at BWV. BTW, the GVs at Aulani are one story.

I saw on a thread that a family that had wee ones in the GV asked housekeeping for a gate for the stairs. But the adults found it so difficult to open the gate that they ended up using the ironing board to keep the babies off the stairs.

[goindowntofla]

We stayed in a OKW GV in March. And it started on the 2nd floor. No elevator. I was absolutely shocked they could book you in such a thing without any kind of warning. I thought that was against the ADA. Very surprising.

[KNWVIKING 2.0]

We stayed in a OKW GV in March. And it started on the 2nd floor. No elevator. I was absolutely shocked they could book you in such a thing without any kind of warning. I thought that was against the ADA. Very surprising.

They do have some ADA GV'S @ OKW (howz that for some alphabet soup).

[goindowntofla]

They do have some ADA GV'S @ OKW (howz that for some alphabet soup).

lolol

[denlo]

We stayed in a OKW GV in March. And it started on the 2nd floor. No elevator. I was absolutely shocked they could book you in such a thing without any kind of warning. I thought that was against the ADA. Very surprising.

I don't know about the ADA rules, but when we booked a studio no one at MS reminded us that most of the OKW buildings did not have an elevator. Our studio was on the third floor. I have to admit after a long day at the park those stairs were pretty daunting at times.

In the FAQ section of OKW on the DVC News Main Page there is information about the OKW GV and which buildings have elevators.
http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/old-key-west/faqs

Here are some of items that might interest you all.

Q.Which buildings at Old Key West have elevators?

A.The only buildings with elevators are 62, 63, and 64, all in the Miller's Road area.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 27 July 2011 at 13:53)

Q. Which buildings are in the Hospitality House area?

A. The official Hospitality House category buildings are 11, 12, 13, and 14, are directly across from the Hospitality House. Also, 23, 24, 25, and 26 are just down from the Hospitality House on Peninsular Road.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 27 July 2011 at 13:53)


Q. Why are Grand Villas at Old Key West so popular?

A. Not only are the Grand Villas at Disney's Old Key West Resort the largest villas of all of the Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World, but the cost per night is dramatically lower than other resorts' Grand VIllas.

Old Key West is the original Disney Vacation Club resort and the low point charts are a relic of Disney's initial entry into the timeshare industry. At this stage, Disney has very little flexibility to alter those point charts, making Old Key West's Grand Villas perhaps the greatest bargain in the entire program.

There are only 27 Grand Villas available at Old Key West, making them very difficult for non-owners to book 7 months prior to arrival.

Last Updated (Friday, 22 July 2011 at 14:14)

Q. Which buildings have Grand Villas?

A. Miller's Road buildings 15, 16, 19, 22, and 63 have Grand Villas. Peninsular Road buildings 25 and 29 have Grand Villas. Turtle Pond Road building 43 has a Grand Villa. and South Point buildings 48, 49, 51, and 53 have Grand Villas.

Last Updated (Monday, 28 July 2008 at 11:31)

[simbasmom]

Thanks for that info!
And Denise, I know exactly what you mean about climbing those stairs after a long day. When we stay at BCV, I swear they move the hotel between the morning when we walk from BCV to Epcot, to the afternoon, when we're trying to drag ourselves back from Epcot. It sure seems like a lot further.

[TimK]

We stayed in a OKW GV in March. And it started on the 2nd floor. No elevator. I was absolutely shocked they could book you in such a thing without any kind of warning. I thought that was against the ADA. Very surprising.

Building 63 has Grand Villas and an elevator. Disney now guarantees accessible accommodations at the time of the reservation. For those with a physical need, they must specify at the time of the reservation to lock-in an accessible villa or risk not getting it.

OKW contraction pre-dates ADA rules so it is grandfathered out of many guidelines. Only 3 buildings at OKW have elevators.

[goindowntofla]

Wow! Interesting info. Thanks everyone. I just thought, as a courtesy (esp. bc it is Disney), someone would mention it. From strollers to aging relatives and beyond - the person booking may not "know" to ask (like me) having never imagined it was possible. I was surprised.