Are the studios at OKW really that much bigger?

[Steamboat Girlie]

My husband and I can't agree on which to book. I want SSR, but he is really pushing for OKW, mostly because he has heard the studios are much bigger. We haven't stayed at either resort. We are squeezing in a trip over Christmas, and those are the two that are available. We don't have many points left, so we have to stay in a studio. We have 2 little boys. We've done a studio at AKV (Jambo) and thought it was fine space wise. But my husband keeps on talking about the extra space at OKW. How much space are we talking about here? Is it that much of a difference. I am really wanting to stay at SSR to try out all the feature pools, and I have heard the counter service is great. But he keeps insisting on OKW. I know it's a win win, as we'll be at Disney either way, but will I really notice a difference at OKW studio as far as roominess is concerned?

 

[disneynutz]

OKW Studio is 21 sq ft larger than SSR.

Bill

 

[jekjones1558]

The floor plan for OKW studios is different from the other DVCs and OKW studios are the only ones with 2 beds and no sofa bed. Maybe that makes them seem even bigger to your DH.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think the big difference is that there are two queen beds in the room, and the entry area is more open than the other resorts. Also, the bathroom is a huge open plan, and that too makes it feel like it's more than 21 sq. ft. larger.

 

[bobbiwoz]

If the 2 little boys want to share a real queen bed, then OKW is for you. However, what I remember about the beds is they are higher off the ground, and if that is the way they still are, I think a pull out is safer, unless you have bed rails, which you can get, or at least we got them once at VWL.

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

Thanks for all the replies. 21 square ft. doesn't seem like that much, but I know layout can make a huge difference. Both my boys sleep in big boy beds, so I don't have an issue with them falling out of bed.
I guess it just comes down to where we want to be. I just have it in my head that I want to try SSR and he wants OKW. We may have to flip a coin!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for all the replies. 21 square ft. doesn't seem like that much, but I know layout can make a huge difference. Both my boys sleep in big boy beds, so I don't have an issue with them falling out of bed.
I guess it just comes down to where we want to be. I just have it in my head that I want to try SSR and he wants OKW. We may have to flip a coin!

I much prefer the layout of OKW studios to SSR, and the layout DOES make a significant difference in how spacious the room feels. If your reasons are for either DTD access or pools, I believe you can still pool hop to SSR from OKW, and OKW has a GREAT slide and sand area for the kids. With the walking path and ferry to access both DTD and SSR, it isn't a huge difference which one you stay at from location standpoint.

 

[RobDoc]

Some feel that the SSR studios feel larger since there is more usable space when the sleep sofa is folded up. Regardless, OKW does have a little more sq. footage.

The real difference in size at OKW is with the 1 and 2BR villas. Those are significantly larger than any of the other DVC resorts.

The largest DVC studios are at HH - those are 455 sq. ft. - but that would be tough commute to the Theme Parks.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Some feel that the SSR studios feel larger since there is more usable space when the sleep sofa is folded up. Regardless, OKW does have a little more sq. footage.

The real difference in size at OKW is with the 1 and 2BR villas. Those are significantly larger than any of the other DVC resorts.
:

I tend to lean more with this thought. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE OKW..especially the HUGE one bedrooms, but can't really say that the studios feels that much bigger to us because you don't have a pullout and the bed takes away the space. However, we still choose to stay there due to the points. Really, this scenario is a coin toss for you. I would pick on preferred location over the size because it doesn't seem that much of a difference. HTH!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I think the big difference is that there are two queen beds in the room, and the entry area is more open than the other resorts. Also, the bathroom is a huge open plan, and that too makes it feel like it's more than 21 sq. ft. larger.

Exactly

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

We ended up booking OKW this morning! We are officially in trip planning mode for December!!!

 

[eyor44]

We stayed in a studio at SSR in April and right now are in a studio at OKW. Yes, the studios are larger and feel larger. Plus the layout is different and I prefer the OKW layout.

That being said, I would definitly stay at SSR again, just not with four people.

 

[Alexander]

We ended up booking OKW this morning! We are officially in trip planning mode for December!!!

I think you made the right choice. While 21 sq. ft. doesn't seem like a lot, I feel like the studios at OKW are huge in comparison to any others. It is the layout more than anything. You won't have a typical rectangle shaped room. Also, the idea of not having to pull-out and put away the sofa bed everyday is a plus for me. The studios we have had at OKW also have had huge balconies. I don't know if they all do, but we've had 3 or 4 different studios and always had a huge balcony.

Now, the 1 bedrooms far and away are gigantic. Once you try one of those, the others seem tiny! I think I could live in one of the 1 bedrooms and be very happy.

 

[jimmytammy]

Sq. ft. wise, yes they are bigger than other studios. But, they remind me more of a moderate resort 2 queen room, add the nice balcony, the bigger bath(the baths are bigger than other studio baths), and the the kitchenette.

I love OKW, but esp. when I am in a 1 bedroom! We have stayed in studios many times at VWL and I like the gen. layout of those better than OKW studios. I think the gen. layouts of studios at other DVCs are similar to VWL.

So, it boils down to this for me...do you mind sitting on the bed to watch TV, or would you prefer the couch

 

[dianeschlicht]

We ended up booking OKW this morning! We are officially in trip planning mode for December!!!

We'll be there early Dec. again as well. It's our favorite time to visit. Unlike you though, we never stay in studios, so it will be a 1 bedroom for the two of us. I just can't be without the kitchen, Jacuzzi, laundry room or that big porch! Early Dec. is our favorite time to visit WDW, and since we are using a year and a half of our points to do Aulani in February, we had to limit our Dec. trip to 6 nights instead of 7. Oh well...I had originally thought we'd have to skip Disney completely this time! LOVE those OKW low points!

 

[robinb]

The floor plan for OKW studios is different from the other DVCs and OKW studios are the only ones with 2 beds and no sofa bed. Maybe that makes them seem even bigger to your DH.

The 2 queen beds actually makes it feel smaller to me. It feels more like a hotel room with a kitchenette tacked on next to the bathroom. I think that any of the other resorts with the pull out couch feel bigger because you have more floor space when you open up the couch. I do prefer OKW's balconies to other DVC studio balconies, but not enough to give up a couch to sit on and more floor space when we are relaxing in the room.