CSR or OKW, for the same price?

[Disneyrsh]

Stayed at both places, vastly prefer OKW. Has some of the best 'disney vibe' I've ever encountered. No conventioneers, either.

DD 6 likes the OKW slide better because it's a spiral and she can repeat slides faster than the longer walk for the dogleg slide at CSR.

Rooms are much brighter and cheerier at OKW, and we could always hear the toilets flushing above us at CSR, we can't at OKW.

And at OKW they say "welcome home" when you drive up. That cinches it for me!

I like knowing nobody's been in my room when I'm gone, we're not slobs so we don't need housekeeping anyway. To get more free towels at OKW just flag down mousekeeping and ask nicely...

 

[Scoootch]

I have just a few more questions if anyone cares to respond.

1) What about Christmas decorations? Which resort looks nicer at Christmas?

Can't say as I've not stayed at CSR yet.

2) Lack of housekeeping (we're renting points). Do we still get Mickey soaps, shampoos, lotions, etc.? If so, how often?

3) Towels. How do we get clean towels each day?.

Yes, you get all the Mickey soaps & stuff just like any other WDW resort ...as for how often....You'll get trash-n-towel service on day 4 of your stay (or a full cleaning on day 4 and T-n-T on day 8 if you'll be there longer than 7 nights and the cycle repeats every 4 days). T-n-T day they come in and empty out your trash cans and give you fresh towels and replenish supplies like soaps & shampoos and I think coffee supplies (can't remember if coffee supplies are only replenished on full cleaning days or on T-n-T day but the trash -n towels definetly are ) . If you need to empty the trash before T-n-T day there are closets under each stairway (every couple of units) throughout the resort and new bags underneith the one being used. Towels you just hang up and use again like you would at home. If you need to wash them before T-n-T day there are washers and dryers by each pool to use FREE of charge (if you'll have a 1bdrm or larger unit you'll have a w/d right in your villa). You can obtain an extra towel pak (enough for 4 people) for $6 each if you wish and if you'd like to add extra T-n-T days it is $10 per day for a studio and you can add as many extra days as you wish. Just ask for it at check in. You can also add extra full cleaning days for $25 a day for a studio I think it is if you really want to have the full housekeeping but to me (and alot of people) it's really not worth it But it is an option.

4) Pool hours, Dec. 10-17..

Not sure but I know for the quiet pools even though they have hrs posted, if you're quiet and not disturbing anyone they generally will let you be in at all hours.

5) Pool water temp.? .

All pools at WDW are heated in winter. Suppossedly to 80 degrees but not positive

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your help.

Anytime Best of luck deciding!

 

[dcgrumpy]

We rented points last month. We were only staying 5 days we got a full cleaning on the 4th day. Not sure why

 

[colleen costello]

OKW pools are always quite warm. It's one of the things we love best. The one pool down by #55 is like a sauna -- wonderful. Each pool has a hot tub and none of these are very crowded. None of the quiet pools are guarded so I suspect they never really close, as long as you are not making a ruckus. Not sure about the Main pool now that there is a slide.

Also, if we have ever needed extras of anything we have just asked a houekeeper. They will give you supplies from their carts. The staff are very courteous. There are pool towels available by all the pools in case of a "towel emergency!" Free laundry by each pool is a nice extra!

OKW had the main area decorated when we were there at Thanksgiving time once. Everything was decked in garlands and boy were they cool -- they had coral-colored poinsettias in them and tropical fish. Very unique. There was a big tree in the check-in area and Olivia's restaurant was decorated too.

 

[thelobstershanty]

We have stayed in both quite a few times. We are DVC members but we also enjoy stayiing at all the WDW resorts. CSR is our favorite moderate resort but we enjoy all the others also. We think all WDW resorts are great and unique with their own flavor. We have our favorites in each category of WDW resorts but still enjoy them all and would rather be in any of them then at work.
I am not biased at all about either resort so here is my 2 cents.
Hands down without a doubt the better deal is at OKW. You are getting more for your money. You are going up in WDW room categories, getting a larger room (the bedroom part of an OKW studio is about the same size as a room at CSR and the kitchenette would be approx the same size as the sink/closet area in a CSR room but the bathroom is more than double the size), you are getting a kitchenette area vs a cube refrig on the floor and a coffee maker on the sink, and you are getting a balcony which adds a very nice feature to the room.
Location is really a wash. Both resorts are about equal distances from the parks. Transportation is also a wash since both offer bus only Disney transportation. The exception to this is the boat to DTD from OKW. Both resorts have buses that service only that resort and both have mulitple bus stops within the resort.
Dining options- CSR does have a slight edge because of the food court. Both sit down restaurants and pool bar/take out places are equally as good at both resorts. OKW is closer to DTD restaurants and it is a pleasant boat ride away so this is an advantage.
They both offer bike and boat rentals. Bike rentals are equally enjoyable at both resorts. Boat rentals are better at OKW because you can travel the waterways all the way to DTD, at CSR you have only the lake in the middle of the resort to go around and around in.
OKW is a very low keyed resort and very quiet. CSR also has many areas that are very low keyed and quiet especially the Cabanas and Ranchero sections but it also has a more active/upbeat atmosphere available in the main building. There is a very nice lounge with music which is an added plus if you do not want to leave the resort to go to DTD.
Both resorts have very nice pools with slides and hot tubs at the main pools with several quiet pools also throughout the resorts. We would give a slight edge to CSR main pool and slide and definitely their hot tub.
If given the same choices you have for the same price we would definitely choose OKW. We like CSR very much but you are getting more for your money at OKW. If you were paying rack rates at both resorts it might be a different story but for the deal you got, we would go with OKW without the slightest hesitation.

 

[Keith]

If they have Jimmy Buffet and tropical music playing, they must have some awesome margaritas, daiquiris, pina coladas, etc. to sip on. Do they taste better by the pool or in the restaurant? Is there a sandy beach? I've been to CBR and enjoy the caribbean/tropical theme. I'm sure OKW is pretty much a better resort all around? (besides no food court) I really did enjoy the live band at CBR, though.

 

[Keith]

I just talked to my TA/friend. She's calling tomorrow to book OKW for us. The total price will be $820.00 for the 7 nights. That's equivelent to $103.20 plus tax, so I beat the $107.00 I had at CSR. We're so excited! I never thought we'd get that good of a rate at OKW.
We were pretty excited about staying at CSR, but I'm sure we'll have a great time at OKW.

Thanks to all of you for your helpful advice.

 

[Scoootch]

Great choice Keith!! You'll love OKW! Enjoy! I'm going next monday in a studio for 2 nights to OKW (my neice is competing in gymnastics at the Wyndam hotel in DTD) I can hardly wait to go back! So happy to hear you even beat your original deal of $107 -- you're right! You got a smokin' deal at $103 per night Have a terrific trip!

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

I would choose OKW over CSR and I have stayed at both. Both resorts are beautiful, but I thought OKW was more themed than CSR. Also, it may have the biggest hot tub, but it is at the main pool and I don't care to share a hot tub with a resort full of people. At OKW, every private pool has a hot tub. We could never get in the one at CSR, but we had the one at our private pool at OKW all to ourselves almost every night after returning from the parks and it was right across the street from our room.

We also had better bus service at OKW. We never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus at OKW. CSR we waited several times for more than 20 minutes. But, in all fairness, we stayed at CSR when they were trying out the new bus system. That may be different now.

Both resorts are spread out but neither one more than the other. But, at OKW, you do get to park in front of your room instead of in a parking lot. Much less walking to your car. But again, this is only a factor if you have a car.

The rooms at OKW are much bigger. We had a studio with two queen beds instead of two double beds. We had a much bigger bathroom, as well as a fridge, microwave, toaster and extra sink. We also had a patio off of the room.

My one complaint at OKW is the dining. The only real option is at the resort is a sit down restaraunt which can get a little expensive every night. But, we ended up not eating at the food court at CSR very often. The food was fine and I could over look the added gratuity. But the bar is right outside of the food court seating area with no divider. It was always filled at night with the convention goers. Every night, my son was treated to a bar full of intoxicated conventioners that were talking like sailors. Not very appealing.

CSR probably has the better main pool. But, we were at OKW before the main pool there was redone. I haven't seen the new pool, but it would be hard to beet the pool at CSR.

I think CSR probably has the better workout facility. I never used the one at CSR, but the one at OKW wasn't anything speacial.

Both resorts are very peaceful. I think that is the price you pay for them being spread out. We always have our car there, so it isn't an issue at either resort.

Location within WDW is also a wash. Both resorts are pretty much the same distance from the parks when you figure it as an average distance. But, then again, you have to consider which parks you are going to.

As far as price, we rented points from a DVC member to stay at OKW. After paying the additional fee for daily maid service, our room at OKW was still less expensive than our room at CSR, but not by a significant amount.

In the end, each resort is going to appeal to different people. We thought we would love CSR, but we didn't and it is our least favorite of the moderates. Would I stay there again if the price was right? Probably. We thought we would be disappointed with OKW. But, we loved it and would stay again.

Read all you can on each one and decide what points apply to you and your family.