DVC Studio comparisons: SSR vs. OKW: UPDATE FROM CM

[ptrbryant]

Hello!
I wanted to let you know that I finally called WDW to ask about the construction at SSR, etc. due to my son's asthma. The CM told me to call SSR directly and gave me the number. The rather curt CM there told me that "construction is going on all over the place here" and that it still would be going on in May. She added that it's kicking up a lot of dust, so would not be good for us. I'm glad she was honest, but, really, she was pretty terse. Then, I called OKW and asked if there were elevators in the newer buildings. This CM had a somewhat "lost" voice and said there are no elevators in any of the buildings--which seems contrary to what I've read. Then, I asked, I guess as a kind of test, if the studios at OKW are any larger than studios at other DVC properties and she said, no, there're all the same size. I gave a fairly incredulous,"What? Are you sure?" then she added that maybe they were bigger. I have to say that in 5 years of calling WDW, I've never encountered less friendly CMs! But, from this information, it looks like we should pick OKW. So, with no elevators, even on a top floor, you basically just haul all your luggage, etc. up the stairs?
We're renting points to try out a DVC studio this May (DH, DS9 and myself.) Our first choices, VWL and BCV, are not available, but SSR and OKW are.
I've looked at photos on Deb Willis' website and just have a couple of questions for you DVC experts:
1. Is there still a lot of construction going on around SSR? If our view is of a construction site, DH will NOT be happy! It also looks a bit "treeless"...still the case?
2. Is the studio at OKW as large as other studios? Maybe it's the shape of the floorplan, since it's a lock-off, but it just seems oddly configured or smaller or something.
3. Is the color theme in all the OKW units still pink/peach and seafoam green? Just like in the pictures?
4. Which one is YOUR vote?
Thanks! I need to settled this asap!
Karla B.

 

[dianeschlicht]

1. Is there still a lot of construction going on around SSR? If our view is of a construction site, DH will NOT be happy! It also looks a bit "treeless"...still the case?Some buildings will see construction, but it depends on where you are.
2. Is the studio at OKW as large as other studios? Maybe it's the shape of the floorplan, since it's a lock-off, but it just seems oddly configured or smaller or something.Actually, the OKW studios are larger than any others.
3. Is the color theme in all the OKW units still pink/peach and seafoam green? Just like in the pictures?Yes, the theme wont change.
4. Which one is YOUR vote?I have stayed in both. The SSR studio has a queen bed and a hide-a-bed for the second bed. The problem I saw there was the strange and difficult door situation between the bath and closet and dressing area. OKW has a nice seperate dressing area and large closet, but the doors make it easier to use. There are 2 queen beds in the OKW studio.
Thanks! I need to settled this asap!

 

[Tramp68]

Size is definately bigger at OKW. The only reason I would go to SSR is if the ability to take a 10 minute walk to DD is important to you.

 

[ptrbryant]

I know that OKW was the first DVC...does it seem at all dated? Also, am I correct that the rooms at OKW open to the outside...no interior corridors? And SSR does have interior corridors? (thinking about DS's allergies).
Thanks!
Karla B.

 

[drusba]

Rooms at both OKW and SSR open directly to outside and there are no internal hallways. The only things noticeable that could be called dated about OKW are (a) most buildings do not have elevators and you still need to walk up to the third floor, and (b) all the bushes and trees are full grown.. As to a look, OKW has always had an "older" look to it in the sense of southern traditional but not any bad sense.

 

[tjkraz]

OKW rooms are a bit bigger, but it's hardly noticable in a studio--only 20 or 30 square feet. The real difference is in the bed situation. If you are going to sleep more than two people, or have a party that does not want to share a bed, I would lean toward OKW. The two queen sized beds would be very welcome.

But if you only have 1 or 2 people in your party who will be sharing a bed, I'd lean toward SSR. Having a sofa instead of the extra (unnecessary) queen-sized bed will make a world of difference in being able to relax and move around the room.

 

[bobbiwoz]

OK, I vote for SSR, studio. I do not like the bathroom right next to the kitchenette in OKW. With SSR and the others, there is the sink area that is across from the kitchenette, it's just a small difference, but it makes the others, not OKW "feel" better to me.

Bobbi

 

[spiceycat]

the big difference is the beds - 2 queen beds at OKW vs one queen bed and a sleeper sofa at SSR.

if it is just you and your husband I would go with SSR.

remember however that the points are less at OKW than SSR - so if you are rentings points from a DVC Member - than OKW is your better buy.

 

[TDC Nala]

OKW also does not have a split bathroom. The bathroom is quite large, but the toilet, tub, shower and sink are all in the same room. Sometimes when you have a few people getting ready to leave, it helps to have the sink in a different area.

 

[ptrbryant]

It's just going to be DH, DS9 and myself. I keep looking at pictures of SSR and I just can't figure out how there are no interior corridors...I mean, the balconies look like they're only accessed from INSIDE the room...but there's no interior way to the room?
I'm still feeling conflicted, so please keep the opinions coming! We want to decide by tonight! I like the idea of SSR being new, but not if it's still got so much construction around it or has an "unfinished" feel to it (again, it seems like most online photos of it were taken a year or so ago).

Really, I am welcoming the most opinionated of opinions here!

Karla B.

 

[ptrbryant]

and tell me what you think about it!

Thanks!
Karla B.

 

[tjkraz]

Two comments:

1. Sounds like you got some pretty bad CMs. For what it's worth, I've heard it mentioned a number of times that all WDW resorts use a "virtual" front desk. Even when you pick up your phone and call the "Front Desk" while in a WDW resort room, you don't really get anyone at the front desk or even the resort itself. The staff is supposedly trained to deal with the types of issues that guests would raise, but I'd be lying if I said this was the first time the responses came across as totally ignorant. I've even had my own (bad) first-hand experiences.

Not trying to justify the quality of the response you received--rather to perhaps shed a bit of light on why they seemed so clueless.

2. Someone else will have a much better answer on the elevators than this, but I'll give it a shot anyway. Suffice it to say that there are SOME buildings with elevators. Bell services is available if you want help with your luggage, but you will probably have to walk up the stairs daily if you get a second or third floor villa. You could always request first floor. I wouldn't necessarily count on being able to get one with an elevator.

 

[lllovell]

I think you got bad info. Twice.

There is construction going on "all over SSR" but it is in quite restricted areas and once a building is opened, it is my understanding that the construction is done in that building. (i.e. - they wont be pounding on the walls next to your room hanging sheetrock.) The Congress Park area of SSR is well away from the construction I saw going on at SSR the last time I was there. The Springs location is right across from the main hub where the restaurant, pool, sales office, check in, spa is located. This was not open when I was there last. It was surrounded by a fence (which was NOT an open chain link - it had tarps and solid walls in some areas) keeping the dust, etc to a minimum area - one that you are not supposed to be in. Someone that has been there more recently than you could clear this up more.

Also, it is very common knowledge that the Old Key West floor plans are larger than the rest of the resorts. Not sure why the CM you spoke to there didn't know this, but I knew it before buying and I didn't come to this board or others until after I purchased.

I don't think that in a studio you will notice the difference very much and I would go with SSR where you could fold the bed up and have the extra floor room when you were not sleeping. The sleepers are supposed to be excellent at SSR, so that doesn't need to be a concern.

Good luck with your decision!!

 

[ptrbryant]

I feel a little reassured from tjkraz and lllovell. Maybe I'll put up a new post to see if anyone's been to SSR recently. I don't know why, I just like the look of SSR, but can't risk staying there if there's too much construction nearby.

Thanks again!
Karla B.

 

[mikesmom]

Karla:
We were in SSR a month ago. There is construction, but I didn't notice a bit of dust/noise/etc anywhere near us. We were in the Congress Park section that was the only one finished last month. The construction wasn't anywhere near the place, AND the only view was of PI across the lake (lovely!).
SSR is ALL outside corridors. Think of it as a giant apartment house. You take the elevator up to your floor (outside), you follow the outside corridor around to your room, and you enter. Inside you are in the entryway of your room and continue walking into your room. The balcony is at the other end of the room. They keep taking pix of SSR from the balcony side, not the entry side so I can understand your confusion.
I have stayed in a studio at OKW, but only in a 1 bdrm at SSR so I can't personally answer the question, but I do believe all OKW rooms are larger than any of the other DVC resorts.
Some of the OKW buildings do have elevators, I have used them. I think it is the older buildings that do not. There are bell services to assist you if you don't want to carry luggage. The CM you talked to was totally confused, new, or both.
I do agree that SSR is somewhat "treeless". At least I felt it was less landscaped than I was used to at a DVC resort. If your DH wants trees, OKW is the place to go - beautiful mature plantings everywhere.
Have you been to WDW before? If your son's allergies are bad enough that you are concerned about outside corridors you need to know that there are trees, flowers, plants everywhere. Animals in AK, of course. Residue from smoke in Epcot at fireworks time. If the wind is blowing there is a good deal of pollen and/or dust in the air all around you. I suspect some even from the construction that is going on all over Orlando. We have been twice in May that grass fires around Orlando put a good bit of smoke residue into the air. You might want to be prepared for that. The parks could be a bigger problem than the resort.

 

[tjkraz]

Here's a link to a map of the resort:

http://disneydoc.homestead.com/files/SSRMap1.jpg

By May, the only buildings with any ongoing external construction will be the 5 toward the top of the map. The four buildings to the right (Congress Park) have been open since last summer. The three right in the middle are beginning to open now.

Take a look at the photo just posted at www.barrybedford.com. Barry has some great photos of the construction areas. The part still being built is called "The Paddock." The photos should give you a good idea of how far they really are from the occupied areas of the resort.

As lllovell said, there is a tarp-covered chain link fence surrounding the construction zone. No, it wouldn't be enough to keep dust and dirt contained, but the reality is you won't be anywhere near the construction area. And I have to think it would take some pretty darn high winds to carry any of that debris into the occupied areas of the resort.

 

[JimC]

I know that OKW was the first DVC...does it seem at all dated? Also, am I correct that the rooms at OKW open to the outside...no interior corridors? And SSR does have interior corridors? (thinking about DS's allergies).
Thanks!
Karla B.

OKW is a Caribbean influenced, Key West style Victorian setup with groupings of villas in separate building clusters. It is very laid back and relaxing and not dated at all. OKW has three buildings with elevators 62, 63 and 64. The rest do not have elevators.


SSR is a turn-of-the-century (circa 1900) upstate New York grand resort destination with open corridors. Buildings are large with lots of villas in each. All buildings have elevators.

 

[ptrbryant]

We've been to WDW 3x and have stayed at WL...the only time we had a problem was on our last trip (Jan.- Feb.) when there was a bizarre rainy, cold, windy few days that left even the tables at Pizza Planet covered with green pollen! DS doesn't seem to have a big problem with pollens once early spring is over. I'm more concerned about, well, if construction dust is all over the place, I guess. He's never had problems with fireworks smoke, flowers or other plantings, etc. Sometimes, mold can be an issue.

I really hope I'm not sounding like a lunatic, over-protective mother! I should explain that DS was just diagnosed with severe asthma and we're just coming out of a 3 week flare-up that required 7 medications! This is all new to me and I just don't want to mess up with our resort choice!

Thanks for the update on SSR...now, if I had a magic ball to see what will be going on in May!

Karla B.

 

[SueM in MN]

OKW and SSR are like very upscale condo/apartment complexes. OKW is our home resort, but DH and I have stayed at SSR.
They do have outdoor hallways, but the walkways are covered. So, instead of the long inside hallways that some of the other DVC have, you have an outdoor walkway. A lot of time when people hear outside hallways, they think "Motel 6", but neither resort is at all like that. The "front door" to the units are set up so that you don't really see anyone else's front door from your area. There are no windows that look out in that direction, so your view doesn't include other people's front doors.

Three of the OKW buildings do have elevators (the buildings in the 60s) and for bringing in your luggage, you can always use Bell Services. OKW's decor doesn't look at all dated. It's kind of classic Florida.

 

[ptrbryant]

Sorry! Didn't realize that you DID give me info on what construction would be like in May!
Thank you!
Karla B.