OKW vs SSR last minute trip

Thinking of booking last week of April for 4 days. OKW and SSR look like our "best" options (we don't care for Kidani and would have to purchase a few extra points for Poly since we are already booked in July for a week).

Let me give you some background, then you fine folks help me make a decision.

Toddlers aged 3 and 5. We do two single strollers. We hate the bus (we love Epcot resorts and VGF....staying at BLT in July). We do not rent a car. We do not really cook (both would be studios). We like a room with a view (golf course or DTD both would be great).

I guess if I was GUARANTEED Congress Park, I would choose SSR. But the remote areas look REALLY remote and no pool in the really far section.... Help. I hope to book tomorrow after we get our taxes done (hey if we do great, maybe we will book the Poly!!! LOL)

Things are just a bus ride away at SSR. We really liked Paddock. But sections of the resort are requestable in online checkin, FWIW. SSR has elevators, which can be useful with little kids. OKW has very few elevators.

Well, depending on where you want to walk to, Congress Park can be furthest of all (e.g., from the big feature pool and the restaurants)...Carousel has a reputation for being remote, but in fact it's closer (if you go over to Paddock bus stop.thru the pool area, and then over the bridge) to Carriage House than the furthest building of Congress Park...

And the "super close" areas--the first two buildings of Grandstand and Spring, are still a five-minute stroll to Carriage House--

So, if the difference between a 10-minute walk and a five-minute walk matters (and w/2 little ones it might!) then Carousel could be a little issue (as for pools, it's as close to the Paddock Pool as the further buildings of Paddock are)...

Now, if it's the walk to Downtown Disney that matters most to you, and if by Downtown Disney you mean Market Place, then Congress Park is the clear winner...but West Side is actually closer to Grandstand/the Spring...and you add only another 5-7 minutes walking time from any other area of SSR (unless you're going from Grandstand's furthest building to Marketplace--that's probably the longest walk at SSR and it's about 15 minutes, going at an easy pace...

And just to complicate things further, OKW requires walking, too ... even the Near Hospitality House category includes buildings that are a five-minute walk ...

Both resorts have pools scattered throughout all their "neighborhoods" and most of the pools have laundry and playground and barbeque areas...

So, I'd choose based on something other than walking distances...do you prefer one kind of theming over another? SSR's quick serve (Artist's Palette) has indoor seating w/easels and drawing materials for the kids; OKW's is all outside...SSR has two feature pools w/slides and a third pool (at Grandstand) w/a kids' splash play area...both have Community Halls w/rainy day activities (or pretty weather day activities, too) for the kids...

Personally, I love them both...might choose OKW for the lower points cost but would have a hard time picking between the two! Either way what a great last minute treat! Have a super time...

OKW has 2 queens size beds for their studio's. SSR has 1 queen and a sofa bed. I don't know if that makes a difference to you.

OKW has the largest studio in all the DVC resorts so with 2 little ones and 2 adults the more space the better IMHO

I picked OKW over SSR for a last minute May 1 trip because we've never been there and it's slightly less points. We also have 2 little ones in strollers. I've requested ground floor. If we don't get that, I'll just stick the stollers in the car and make the kids walk up the stairs. Our plan for this trip is water parks and Disney Quest, so the resort pool wasn't important. I wanted the 2Q beds and see how much of a difference the bigger studio makes.

We were at SSR last summer. Kids loved the pool. The bus to MK was the fastest bus I've ever taken - compared to AKV, BWV, BCV. Views were ok. Even if you get congress park, there's no guarantee that you'll get a "nice" view. Because of the U shapes of the building, some rooms will end up looking across the lawn at other rooms.

I would never pick OKW with kids in strollers simply because of the stairs. I don't know how many times I have seen kids in strollers sleeping after a day at the park. The SSR's Paddock pool area has become very popular with families because the one area is restricted to small children and is even gated. Although Congress Park or Grandstand have nice leisure pools the are often empty and every time I do see a single family there the kids are having a great time.

We were at SSR last month in the Carousel section. It's an 8 minute walk to the main building and beautifully landscaped every step of the way. The pool is one building over, wasn't crowded and very nice with a slide. We had a beautiful view that overlooked a pond with a geyser and the golf course. I would stay there again in a heartbeat!

Also, if you need a ride, someone from bell services can pick you up or take you back to your room on a golf cart.

I would pick SSR hands down. I think the walls are too thin at OKW. I would also try and wait list for like BWV or BCV.

I would pick SSR over OKW. Largely for the stairs/elevators. We have gotten Congress Park when we requested it, not guaranteed, but we've been lucky and happy.

If given a choice we would pick SSR over OKW. As already mentioned there are elevators, it is newer and IMHO has better bus service than OKW. We like the Grandstand area as it's the 1st bus stop so seating is not a problem. It also has a nice pool / splashplay area.

We love both, but we have a new appreciation for SSR as of late. We love the proximity to all the dining choices. Food is important to us on vacation.

guppy1013 said:

Thinking of booking last week of April for 4 days. OKW and SSR look like our "best" options (we don't care for Kidani and would have to purchase a few extra points for Poly since we are already booked in July for a week).

Let me give you some background, then you fine folks help me make a decision.

Toddlers aged 3 and 5. We do two single strollers. We hate the bus (we love Epcot resorts and VGF....staying at BLT in July). We do not rent a car. We do not really cook (both would be studios). We like a room with a view (golf course or DTD both would be great).

I guess if I was GUARANTEED Congress Park, I would choose SSR. But the remote areas look REALLY remote and no pool in the really far section.... Help. I hope to book tomorrow after we get our taxes done (hey if we do great, maybe we will book the Poly!!! LOL)

Click to expand...

SSR in this situation. The important factors to me as it applies to your question are +/- car and sleeping arrangements/villa type. I would not do OKW without a car if I had a choice, I'd prefer not to for SSR either. For a GV or where the 2 beds in the studio or 2 BR made the difference (OKW has 2Q all 2 BR, SSR only dedicated), I would choose OKW.

Great news! We ended up waiting and booking at the 29 day mark....BWV pool/garden view studio! For a non-park trip, this is great, we love the Boardwalk location. Requested village green, high floor.