Comparing WKORV and WKORV-N

[Denise L]

For all you OV WKORV owners out there, if you could stay in an IV WKORV-N one year instead of your home resort (with a 12 months out reservation), would you, and why, or why not?

I would miss the full-sized oven, and the extra space of WKORV.

I would miss the *chance* to get a true oceanview with a sleepy timestamp.

But, I am still considering a swap with a friend.

Is the staff nicer at North? Are the villas more comfortable with nicer furnishings? Are the lanais better?

 

[ascarborough]

I would not want to swap. The rooms are plenty good for us at WKORV and we had a great 6th floor ocean view last time.

What benefits do you see that would make you want to swap? Can't we just walk over there for most things?

 

[LisaRex]

Depending on the season, I think an IV owner at either property would have a decent shot of being upgraded to an OV room simply because Starwood is beginning to offer the IV units on Starwood.com for really great deals -- StarPoints alone and/or cash & Starpoints. Assuming that owners would receive an upgrade ahead of SPG folks, I think the IV owners stand to benefit the most from this.

You already have a good shot getting a decent OV at your home resort given that you paid for it. So I'm not sure what the upside to you would be. The north property villas are smaller, the studio side has queen instead of king beds, and they lack a full oven. The only real benefits to the north are that the OV views overall are better, the villas are newer, and both sides have lanais.

If you want to do it just to do a favor for your friend, then go for it. But I wouldn't go into the deal believing it was an equal exchange.

 

[Denise L]

I would not want to swap. The rooms are plenty good for us at WKORV and we had a great 6th floor ocean view last time.

What benefits do you see that would make you want to swap? Can't we just walk over there for most things?

Yes, it is an easy walk over to North from WKORV. I don't know if there are any benefits, except that it is slightly newer and slightly different. That's why I was asking, I just wanted to see what OV owners thought. So far, it doesn't seem like there would be any upside for us.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[j4sharks]

I would not swap. WKORV has bigger units, better kitchens, enclosed building interiors with AC (as opposed to unit corridors in the North phase), better pool area (in my opinion) to name a few. I am SO HAPPY we own at WKORV instead of North.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

I visited the North side in November but did not see the inside of the units so, all of this is hearsay. I thought, the WKORV-N IV units had a much better view than the IV units in WKORV. There are no parking lot views or highway views that I could tell. The only bad IV I could see was the one at the end of the building where the pirate ships is. If you go towards the highway there it looked like you were overlooking maintenance area. I do like how WKORV-N is landscaped. To me it has more of a tropical feel. I did not like the beach in front of WKORV-N. I liked it more near WKORV. Good luck deciding...

And, you know I won't swap because I couldn't make those chocolate chip cookies... Just kidding... We are staying at Princeville in July so, I'll let you know how the no oven thing goes. But I'd definitely miss the no oven and the beach.

 

[LisaRex]

And, you know I won't swap because I couldn't make those chocolate chip cookies... Just kidding... We are staying at Princeville in July so, I'll let you know how the no oven thing goes. But I'd definitely miss the no oven and the beach.

I got a tub of chocolate chip cookie dough from Costco and have been making exactly 3 cookies every night in my toaster oven. It works like a charm. I don't think you'll have any trouble with a micro/convection oven. Just be sure to reduce the temp by 25 degrees (to 350).

 

[ciscogizmo1]

I got a tub of chocolate chip cookie dough from Costco and have been making exactly 3 cookies every night in my toaster oven. It works like a charm. I don't think you'll have any trouble with a micro/convection oven. Just be sure to reduce the temp by 25 degrees (to 350).

I do have a convection/microwave combination at home and I use it a lot as a second oven. However, it is a challenge to find flat cookie sheets to fit in the oven as it has a circular base. I didn't look at the one on the studio side closely enough or even seen the ones at WKORV-N to see if that is possible. I don't even know if it has a raised base. Beacause that is important you don't want the cookie sheet on the bottom, you want the air to flow all around the cookies: on top as well as bottom. People would probably have to be creative and use aluminum foil but I'm guessing a lot of people don't know that you can use metal in these types of microwaves. Also, convection cooking requires less cooking time so, that is something else people are probably not going to be aware of. But who knows maybe everybody here has a convection oven.

Have you visited your home resort yet? I'd love to see pictures of the interior. I've seen a few but people don't take enough for me.

 

[DavidnRobin]

I took a lot of photos of a WKORV-N 2Bd LO (both sides) during our December trip as part of our Owners Update. The SVO person didn't go with us, but gave us a unit number. The unit number she gave us was wrong (big surprise), but we just followed someone we saw on a tour.

Here's the link:
http://davidnrobin.shutterfly.com/action/
password is TUG
Album is called WKORV-N 2Bd LO

I did not like them compared to WKORV - the furnishings were a bit nicer but the size and the building construction didn't seem as good. As to the views, yes, there are no Parking Lot views as with some WKORV units, but for other units - they were not better. also, we didn't like the grounds (nor the pool) better at WKORV-N, but we did like the bar/cafe better.

 

[DavidnRobin]

also added photos of our Dec07 WKORV 1Bd Dlx OF trip (and storm damage) - check out Robin in the Jacuzzi Tub!!!! (she gonna kill me...)

 

[rocky]

ok.... here's my take. The WKORV-N living area is a closet with doll furniture and the pirate ship is an eyesore.

 

[Time2Ponder]

I did not like them compared to WKORV - the furnishings were a bit nicer but the size and the building construction didn't seem as good. As to the views, yes, there are no Parking Lot views as with some WKORV units, but for other units - they were not better. also, we didn't like the grounds (nor the pool) better at WKORV-N, but we did like the bar/cafe better.

After viewing your photos, I'm glad that we sent in our recission for an OV at WKORV-N and purchased an OF Deluxe at WKORV instead!

It is much smaller -- at least compared to the deluxe. (But okay -- maybe I'm spoiled!) And while they've added some nice touches to the N property, like the flat panel TVs, what in the world were they thinking when they put in that pseudo-privacy door in the WC of the 1BR?

Kim

 

[saluki]

The St. John's scenery is gorgeous but I now clearly understand the need to update the villa interiors there!

 

[Denise L]

ok.... here's my take. The WKORV-N living area is a closet with doll furniture and the pirate ship is an eyesore.

Ha ha, you guys are great :hysterical: . I do love our OV WKORV villa! It's nice to see a thread that speaks positively about our home resort, thanks everyone! I'm not going to swap!

 

[dss]

I completely agree with everything I've ready here comparing WKORV to WKORV-N. In particular, I thought the kitchen counter at north takes up far too much of the space in the main living area. In fact, that was one of my biggest concerns about buying Princeville since they have a very similar unit layout. I was please to see that Princeville is a touch larger (I believe about 50sq ft per side of the lockout) and the huge kitchen counter that extends into the dining area at WKORV has been significantly reduced into more of an Island design which I think will open up the room quite a bit.

Plus the LCD TVs look TERRIBLE. As a bit of an AV snob, I was horrified at how poorly they were set up. I don't know if they have HD feeds available on the Island yet (I thought I saw an HD signal piped into the WKORV Poolside bar one night) but they had the worst looking SD signal into a terrible looking display. For all the noise they made about having flat panels in the rooms, you think they could have at least spent a few bucks setting them up reasonably well.

 

[LisaRex]

Thanks for the pictures DavidnRobin.

I agree about the glass privacy screen in front of the toilet. It just looks like one more thing to break.

I love the look of glass shower doors but from my own experience, they don't hold up well.

 

[Ken555]

Yes, but... some of the N IV units have *GREAT* ocean views! I was extremely pleased with mine last year and would prefer that over the south property parking lot view any day (which I'm going to get, for certain, in May...as I'm trading in via II).

 

[Henry M.]

I own at both properties (OV at WKORV and IV at WKORV-N) but haven't stayed at WKORV-N yet. I've been to the rooms and I like both properties a lot. N is a little smaller, but the lanai for the studio makes a big difference to me - N is better for that.

It is hard to make a blanket comparison. Sure a 6th floor OV close to the beach is nicer than an IV, but if you're towards the back of the building on a low floor, or heaven forbid a parking lot view, WKORV-IV is better. That's not counting that some N IV units actually look all the way out to the ocean.

I'm happy I own at both places. If I were guaranteed certain OV units at WKORV I'd probably favor that, but given an average room I'd say either location is good. You'll be in Maui - it's paradise no matter what.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

I took a lot of photos of a WKORV-N 2Bd LO (both sides) during our December trip as part of our Owners Update. The SVO person didn't go with us, but gave us a unit number. The unit number she gave us was wrong (big surprise), but we just followed someone we saw on a tour.

Here's the link:
http://davidnrobin.shutterfly.com/action/
password is TUG
Album is called WKORV-N 2Bd LO

I did not like them compared to WKORV - the furnishings were a bit nicer but the size and the building construction didn't seem as good. As to the views, yes, there are no Parking Lot views as with some WKORV units, but for other units - they were not better. also, we didn't like the grounds (nor the pool) better at WKORV-N, but we did like the bar/cafe better.

Thank you for sharing.... I loved the pictures of the unit. You and Robin make a really cute couple.

 

[pharmgirl]

Do both have high speed internet connection? free? I will be doing some work while there and need access

 

[Time2Ponder]

WKORV does. I can't imagine that the N property doesn't. They even had wireless access around the pool and in the lobby.

 

[Ken555]

Do both have high speed internet connection? free? I will be doing some work while there and need access

Yes and yes. If not for the Internet I would never visit... (sad, isn't it?)