I haven't had time to comment yet, but it looks like you already got some good information.
We have been members of DVC at OKW for 11 years and are very happy with our choice. My DD has cerebral palsy and is not able to stand. She is also not able to transfer independently, so needs us to either lift her or hold her up for a stand and pivot. We have stayed most often at OKW, but have also stayed with her at VWL and without her at BCV, BWV and SSR. Our stays have been mostly in one and 2 bedroom units. (The second bedroom in a 2 bedroom unit is basically the same as a studio).
How are the accessible rooms in the DVC properties? Any compaints or raves about them from the viewpoint of a wheelchair user who cannot walk but can transfer?
We have stayed in wheelchair accessible rooms, but not recently - because she's only 5 feet tall, those raised seat toilets are so high for her. The only one we have stayed in was at OKW and we found it to be very accessible . The non-accessible rooms at OKW are very roomy - much more than the other DVC. DD has no trouble at all getting around anywhere in the non-accessible 2 bedroom OKW room. All hallways, doorways and furniture placements allow at least a 3 foot path (usually a lot more). We don't usually even have to move any furniture. The dining room has a large round table, at least 60 inches in diameter and she has no trouble pulling her wheelchair up to it. The roofed porch is off the great room and has 4 chairs and a table (I think, it's 48 inches in diameter). There is a little lip at the doorjamb to get out, but once out, there is room for a wheelchair to be out on the porch and actually move around. I assume the accesible rooms would not have the "bump" at the door jamb/threshold.
When we stayed at VWL, we did have problems (in a non-accessible room) because everything is very close. The table for the unit is a long, narrow rectangular one with a bench along the wall for 2 seats and 2 chairs on the "out" side for seating. We had to move furniture to allow her to get thru, but it couldn't stay where we moved it because then it blocked something else.
I don't know what the "porch" is like in the accessible rooms at the other resorts, but the ones at the non-accessible resorts are long and narrow. At VWL, it was just barely wide enough for 2 chairs and a small side table. When I was sitting on the chair, close enough to easily touch the door, I could also easily touch the porch railing.
How is parking at the DVC resorts, especially OKW?
As others mentioned, OKW has small parking lots in front of every building. We usually use the wheelchair parking spots because we need space at one side of our van to transfer her in. We usually have no problem with parking at OKW. There arre many bus stops and where ever you are, there is a bus stop nearby.
The other DVC resorts are located at hotels, so the parking is large lots (or use valet parking). The other DVC buildings are multistory buildings with inside hallways for access to your room. I don't know where the accessible rooms are in relation to the elevators, but in general, we have found the regular rooms require quite a walk down the hallways to get to the elevator.
The parking at SSR is described as being outside the rooms like OKW, but we found it to be a little different. The OKW individual buildings are smaller, mostly 2 floors and more condo like. The SSR buildings are 4 stories, larger and more apartment like. The lots for OKW are smaller and you park closer to your building. The ones at SSR are rather large lots - the one for 4 buildings sort of all run together as one big lot.
I've heard some properties don't have standard view accessibl;e rooms. If you request an accessabl;e room in these properties do you get charged for the preferred view even if you don't request preferred views?
I don't know about the others, but OKW doesn't have any difference in points depending on view. All the OKW views are some sort of green space, either golf course or lawn/water. Some people have said their view on the bottom floor was obscured by bushes/trees. Things grow fast in Florida and the "obscured view" one week might be a great view the next because they have trimmed.
DVC members deal with Member Services for Special Needs. The only time we have not gotten our needs met was the first time we went down to OKW 11 years ago. We had made a request for a 1st floor room, but didn't specify that it was a medical request and we got in well after midnight. We ended up with a second floor room (which was OK for us for one night since DD was much smaller than and we could carry her up for one night). They moved us to a 1st floor room the next day. Since that one time, we have never had any trouble getting what we needed.
Here's a
link to the OKW page on the DIS site. It includes a few pictures and a link to a resort map.
