Advice please! Saratoga or Key West?

[Drzoemouse]

Hello everyone!

I'd really appreciate some resort advice. I just booked a 2-week stay at WDW for July 2013 and chose Saratoga Springs. We've stayed at pretty much all the resorts at one time or another, but they have a good deal on this resort and Old Key West, so I decided to try one of the few we've not done before.

However, I'm now wondering if I should have picked Old Key West. I have a few days to make changes, so I thought I'd seek out some advice. Main points about our trip are:

- We don't tend to use the buses, because we hate to miss park opening and find buses unreliable / crowded, but we do use them now and then. We will have a car, but like most people don't like to spend hours queuing in traffic!
- We are an adult couple, not travelling with kids. We spend lots of time in the parks, but also like a nice, comfortable resort / room.
- We probably won't go off property much.
- We are happy walking long distances
- We are pretty seasoned WDW visitors, but normally in off season. We've never been at Peak season before.
- Epcot is out most visited park
- We don't care for Golf or Spas, so that doesn't really factor in decision wise.
- Our favourite place to stay in the past has been the Boardwalk villas or Contemporary, because of the walking options, but that is out of our budget this time!

Any advice on which to pick would be great. I've tried comparing as much as I can, but am at a loss and would like to pick the best one!

Thank you in advance!

 

[spiceycat]

SSR is BIG - really big doubt that DVC will ever do this type again.

OKW is more spreadout - yea sounds strange. OKW was designed as a neighborhood - so was SSR - but different places.

OKW to me is more relaxed. SSR is little more upscale or was.

both have lots of walking places - you can walk to DD from both of these. with SSR you are going to the marketplace. OKW is west DD. plus there is walking path between them.

you will love all the walking you can do at both places.

the highest building at OKW is 3rd floors - most are 2 floors. At SSR it is 4 or 5 floors.

ssr has elevators in every building. OKW only has elevators in building 62-64.

okw has more pools for the amount of guests staying there. okw has pool, playground, bbq, at every pool. it has arcade at main pool and old turtle pond - the bus stops and pools are based on the road they are on.

ssr has (my opinion) the best restaurant.

happen to love OKW - bigger rooms, less guests - it was my favorite for years until BLT.

 

[owl0306]

ssr - great new paddock pool and qs, walk to DTD if located in congress park, elevators, rooms are run down except congress park which was just refurb. I stayed two weeks ago in paddock had an awful room with mold, mildow rust, was given a huge refund for the issue, ts only for dinner
okw - bigger rooms, no elevators except blding 64 65 i think, olivias has b,l,d for ts

 

[outahere]

- We don't tend to use the buses, because we hate to miss park opening and find buses unreliable / crowded, but we do use them now and then. We will have a car, but like most people don't like to spend hours queuing in traffic!

I can't comment on the bus service at SSR, but on our last few trips it seemed that there were many more OKW buses than any other resort. When we were waiting for a YC bus at the MK on our last trip, at least 3 OKW buses pulled in before one YC bus showed up.

When we stayed at OKW last Feb. we never had to wait more than a few minutes for a bus to show up, either at the resort or at any of the parks.

 

[BanditsMommy]

I've stayed at OKW at least five times, more than any other disney property, and I have to say it's my absolute favorite property. I actually liked it better than GF. I've never had bus trouble there, the food is great, the atmosphere is very relaxed, and I never heard anyone in the rooms around me. Also the views are so beautiful. I liked sitting on the balcony or patio at night, it was just very peaceful. I stayed at the Villas at the Disney Institute which is what I think was on the property where SSR now stands and I do have to say it is SUPER close to DTD if you like that.

 

[Pakey]

Tough call for 2 adults. I like the OKW resort better than SSR. OKW ranks as one of my top favorite places at WDW. I love the quiet, relaxed feel. I love the lack of hallways in the buildings. I enjoy the pool areas.

What I don't like, for 2 adults, is that the OKW studios have 2 beds, much like a hotel room. I prefer the SSR studio layout when it's a couple because the sofa vs the bed just really opens up the living space within the studio.

I think SSR is easier to walk. Better walkways, wider paths, less sharing walking space with motorized vehicles. However, I don't find it as relaxing or quiet.

I agree that SSR's table service is a little better than OKW's but not enough that it would factor into my decision.

I have stayed at both many times and with the exception of one long bus wait over Easter week at SSR, I've found the bus service to be equal.

 

[Karabee]

I;ve stayed in both and I get the same relaxed, happy feeling at both. I love how you leave the parks and actually escape to a peaceful place. In fact, I just got back from SSR last night (tear). I do think SSR has a slight edge since you can walk to DTD. We had breakfast reservations one morning at Kona and we just walked over to grab the Poly bus. Also, it was so nice to walk back after dinner in DTD at night. I like the pool in both places and the rooms are all very nice. I don't think you can go wrong, but SSR just gets a slight nod more for me. Enjoy!

 

[darkwing818]

I've stayed at OKW at least five times, more than any other disney property, and I have to say it's my absolute favorite property. I actually liked it better than GF. I've never had bus trouble there, the food is great, the atmosphere is very relaxed, and I never heard anyone in the rooms around me. Also the views are so beautiful. I liked sitting on the balcony or patio at night, it was just very peaceful. I stayed at the Villas at the Disney Institute which is what I think was on the property where SSR now stands and I do have to say it is SUPER close to DTD if you like that.

We have stayed at both & Old Key West gets our vote . Rooms are super big & dining at Olivia's is one of the best kept secrets at WDW. While you can walk to Downtown Disney for SSR, besides a bus; you can take a boat ride to get to Downtown Disney from OKW. Either one should make you happy...

 

[dISNEYlOveer]

I have stayed at both, although I cant comment much on OKW because I dont remember much of it. You can walk to DD from both, but SS does have boat service to DD(not sure about OKW). SS does have lots of walking paths, and multiple pools. Buses to OKW are very frequent it seems, and buses to SS sometimes may take a while, but buses to DD, waterparks, and the theme parks from SS seem to be very frequent no matter where you are going. I stayed in College Park in SS last January and thought it was very nice. We had a great view of DD. So, out of what I remember I would pick SS.

 

[tinacaplan]

I've stayed at both and with your list, it would seem to come down largely to theming, in which case I'd go for OKW every day of the week. I'd much rather stay at a resort that's meant to look like Florida than one that's supposed to look like upstate NY. But, I'm from the Northeast!

 

[cannonboys]

Stayed at SSR 2 times within the year! LOVE IT!!! It is not as big as it appears to be. 1st we stayed at Congress and yes it was refurbished and in November stayed at Spring and again it was refurbished. We have stayed at many of the resorts on Disney property and really felt that Saratoga was beautiful with resort like atmosphere....well laid out with pool and Artist's Palette (counter service) above it. Love the rocking chairs overlooking pool area and out by the lake overlooking DTD. Just a neat experience. The cool thing is that each section has its unique feature such as Paddock has pool with counter service "cabana" type feel. Congress overlooks DTD....and I could go on and on.....
Just my opinion...OKW actually looks like a community rather than a resort. A beautiful one that is!