Help me choose OKW or SSR?

[MickeyMcMouse]

Stayed at SS many times (as you can see by my sig ) and love it - it's around a 10 min walk to DD and its great to be able to stot back at night without having to worry who will drive.

The one drawback about SS is that it is huge. If you get a building at the back of the resort, you can probably add another 10 -15 mins onto the times.

SS is one of the newest resorts so everything is pretty much new and clean although the rooms at OKW are huge.

Its about 10 -15 min walk along the river from OKW to SS which is very relaxing.

(WL is pretty great as well )

David

 

[tracipierce]

Can I just clarify,,,, are you adding on to get the deluxe dining plan or is it coming with the package? I thought it was just the regular dining plan with this offer, or am I wrong???
If it is the deluxe, that would be even more tempting!!!!

 

[Elise79]

You can rent sea racers from any of the marinas so no need to spend £1000 staying at WL.

Our little Disney souvinear is now a year old and walking Hope you get one of your own too

I think the offer ends 14th July but best check - I know it is the middle of July but as we have bought DVC with DD in mind I haven't paid that much interest to the free dining!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Traci, I am upgrading to deluxe dining for that price quoted. We did the DDP on our honeymoon but that was when the apps and the tips were included. I would like to know I can order an app if I want without having to pay extra, need to budget for this trip so want to know in advance what I'm paying. Plus hubbie prefers apps, whereas I prefer desserts

Hmmm, I didn't know that I could stay at any of the Disney resorts to use the sea raycers, I thought I had to stay on the property for a specific marina, i.e. GF, POLY, WL and Contemporary means I could use that marina. I thought if I stayed anywhere else I would have to use a different one. Good to know!

I do love the look of WL but an extra £1000 to stay there seems a bit extreme, it may mean I will spend the whole vacation at OKW or SSR. Still undecided, took a look at the Disney DVD and OKW looks a lot like CBR which in itself is very appealing.

 

[paulh]

dont forget the boat to OKW will stop at SSR before heading to OKW from DTD and visa versa.Walk round the walkway at SSR all the way round taking in DTD is 45 min (then again if DW pops into shops it can take 4 hours)form anywhere at SSR. For OKW you will have to factor in walk from room to boat and wait time. i do like OKW but would always have a car there.
Sea racers can be rented anywere on the water personly the ones at DTD seam slow we rent from Poly as like Capt Jaks for bbq pulled beef sandwich
Paulh

 

[dolphingirl47]

I would always request a high floor when booking as prefer that for the views so would you recommend Miller Road or Old Turtle Pond Road when I book?

I have just had a look at prices again and to have 15 nights in OKW or SSR would cost £2548 including DDDP and 14 day tickets. If I had 10 nights in OKW or SSR and 5 nights in WL, then it rises to £3528, so almost £1000 extra for the 5 nights in WL Have never stayed at WL but loved the look and feel of it when we had dinner at Artists Point, plus we loved using the sea raycers when we stayed at GF. Can I still use the sea raycers in this area if I have my whole stay at OKW? Don't know if I can justify an extra £1000 for 5 nights at WL... That £1000 would hopefully cover the flights!

We personally love Old Turtle Pond Road. It is further from the Hospitality House/ Marina/ Main Pool and Boat Dock, but we love the pool there and it is nice and quiet.

I am pretty sure that there were Sea Raycers at the marina at OKW as well.

dont forget the boat to OKW will stop at SSR before heading to OKW from DTD and visa versa.Walk round the walkway at SSR all the way round taking in DTD is 45 min (then again if DW pops into shops it can take 4 hours)form anywhere at SSR. For OKW you will have to factor in walk from room to boat and wait time. i do like OKW but would always have a car there.
Sea racers can be rented anywere on the water personly the ones at DTD seam slow we rent from Poly as like Capt Jaks for bbq pulled beef sandwich
Paulh

Not anymore. Since the Treehouse Villas opened, SSR and THV share one boat service that goes to DTD Market Place and OKW has a dedicated boat service that goes to Pleasure Island.

Corinna

 

[orangetiggs]

summer this is the small print from dsney so you dont need to rush to make a decision as the offer for this year runs out next week not next years offer

Save up to 42% on your Disney Package!!*
Book now to benefit from this fantastic offer!
This saving represents up to £1600 when you book two weeks at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa or Disney’s Old Key West Resort for hotel stays between 2 October - 28 November 2009. This fantastic saving includes accommodation, Disney's 14-Day Ultimate Ticket for the price of a 7-Day Premium Ticket, and Disney Dining Plan for free, for the duration of your stay, for every member of your party!

This incredible offer is available for all bookings made between 1 April -15 July 2009 and for hotel stays between 2 August - 17 December 2009

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Thanks Sarah

I wonder though when the offer for next year runs out?

Corinna, glad to hear that OKW has it's own boat service, don't fancy having to wait for it to visit SSR first, then possibly being really busy when it's get to OKW.

I don't know why I am struggling so much. I mean just staying on Disney property with the deluxe dining would be amazing. I will do a bit more research but really want to book by the end of the weekend.

Thanks all for your help so far

 

[orangetiggs]

just a guess but i would say the same time next year as they cant expect everyone to book before they go away this year.

As the economy out there s still not looking good they need all the bookings they can get

 

[disneyholic family]

we love the OKW.....there are places in that resort where you don't even know you're at disney - i mean that in a good way....so secluded and quiet...

we just love it there...(we've always been in the 2 br there)

but we did have a rental car, which i think makes it much easier..

so between SSR and OKW, i'd go with OKW hands down..

between OKW and WL.....that's a more difficult one...

it's sort of comparing apples and elephants....

of the resorts, my favorite is GF and 2nd favorite is WL..
i really love those two resorts.....staying at them vs the OKW is really two very different holidays...
i love them both, but they're different...

in the WL, you're in a hotel....a really nice hotel, but a hotel....
at OKW, it's more of that islands resort type feeling...
but i love them both and it depends what i'm after....
sometimes we combine them in one holiday (1 week one place and 2 weeks the other)

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Going on TripAdvisor can be a bad thing! Looking at reviews for both OKW and SSR and SSR does get better reviews, however the bad reviews are just awful, everyone makes it sound like a an apartmetn complex that is far removed from the magic of disney (not something I want). I don't need in your face disney, but I do want to feel the magic of being in a disney resort.

On our last vacation we stayed 4 nights off property at the Crown Plaza as part of our honeymoon. Although te hotel was nice, there was no magic and after coming off of Disney for 17 nights, it was real let down!

I have read loads of reviews on OKW and it is worrying that so many state it is looking rundown, but people do think that the resort itself is gorgeous and laid back, I like the "islands resort type feel". I know that OKW has it's own transportation to the parks, but do you have to wait a really long time for buses? Surely it would be similar to POFQ or others in the DTD area?

So give me recommendations of areas in OKW I could request. Looking for a studio that isn't rundown, doesn't need to be in a quiet area, not completely out of the way, maybe first bus stop would be good as I hear they have about 6 internal stops Any area that has nice views from studios?

As you can see I am heavily leaning towards OKW.

 

[dolphingirl47]

We were in building 43 and had a ground floor studio. Friends of ours came to stay for a weekend and had the studio above us. Both studios were in perfect condition. Building 43 is in the Old Turtle Pond Road area. The quiet pool (and laundry) was just across the road and the bus stop was less than 100 yeards away.

We waited on average 5 to 10 minutes for the park buses. The only buses that seemed to be few and far in between where the DTD buses, but you have the boat service for that. The bus route for the park buses is as follows: Peninsular Road, South Point, Old Turtle Pond Road, Millers Road, Hospitality House.

The DTD bus also doubles as the resort shuttle and takes the following route:
Hospitality House, Peninsular Road, South Point, Old Turtle Pond Road, Millers Road, Hospitality House. To get to Hospitality House, you can take any bus. To get back to your studio from Hospitality House, you can either take the Internal Shuttle/ DTD bus or you can walk through Hospitality House and through the marina to the Peninsular Road stop (less than 5 minutes) and then take any bus.

Corinna

 

[Claire L]

SSR is a lovley resort we have now stayed there twice although we own at AKV and would never be upset if we couldn't saty at AKV and had to stay at SSR instead. The rooms are lovely, the Grandstand pool is fab and SSR is so close to DTD you can walk it. Oh and the Spa is onsite, plus The Turf Club does good food.
a
Oct 2007 trip report

Feb 2009 trip report

Claire

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I have never stayed at either but we did have the full tour around SSR in 2006.
It is a lovely, classy resort and the rooms very nice, the advantage therefore is the rooms will still be in excellent condition.

Location for me is the plus point for staying on-site, if you want a Downtown disney location then SSR is a good choice.

It doesn't necessarily feel like a Disney resort, but then again with the Saratoga theming isn't necessarily supposed to.
Personally didn't really like the restaurant/bar facilities but that's just my opinion *probably a unique one given our sons disabilities*.
However, the pools I really liked and would be ideal for children.

Cannot really comment on OKW as I have never been there.

www.allears.net has useful information and photos

 

[disneyholic family]

if you go for OKW - ask for building 13...
it has a lake/golf course view, is away from street noise (a problem at some OKW buildings), and is close to the main building, main swimming pool and marina..

next best for being close to the main building/pool/marina would be buildings 12 and 11 (same quiet and convenience as building 13, but with primarily golf course views)...

so if you want to be near the main building, main pool, and marina ask for 13, 12, 11

that's not what we ask for....we take the opposite end of OKW......we prefer total seclusion..
our favorite building is 55...

 

[stephensmum]

Does anyone know when you have to book by for 2010?

 

[orangetiggs]

sometime in dec for next year

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Okay so we are definitely going back to Disney and I am pretty sure it will be OKW for 10 nights and 5 nights at WL. I am thinking September 10th and will hopefully be able to get flights at a decent price. I am going to put down the deposit on Wednesday so I am all ears for the best places to ask for. I am not bothered about it being really quiet, although don't want bus noise every 5 minutes. Also would prefer more of a refurbed room if possible, looking for a studio, higher floor with a river view if possible, unless of course there are other views which are great to ask for??? We will be celebrating our 3rd anniversary so am aiming to make this visit really special. Even going to get a replica of our wedding cake from Sea Breeze Point Am I right that I read I can get cakes to OKW?

I am getting so excited, I know it is over a year away but that mean so much time to plan Just wait and see how excited I get when I actually book the thing!!!!!

 

[stephensmum]

Checked with Disney UK & 15 July 09 is the date you need to book by for 2010 hols too. I'm waiting for a call back to book for SSR. I am getting quite anxious as she said she'd ring me back at 7 & I can't contact her as UK line is closed now.

 

[orangetiggs]

Checked with Disney UK & 15 July 09 is the date you need to book by for 2010 hols too. I'm waiting for a call back to book for SSR. I am getting quite anxious as she said she'd ring me back at 7 & I can't contact her as UK line is closed now.

small print from disney uk so clearly states only for this years departures

Save up to 42% on your Disney Package!!*
Book now to benefit from this fantastic offer!
This saving represents up to £1600 when you book two weeks at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa or Disney’s Old Key West Resort for hotel stays between 2 October - 28 November 2009. This fantastic saving includes accommodation, Disney's 14-Day Ultimate Ticket for the price of a 7-Day Premium Ticket, and Disney Dining Plan for free, for the duration of your stay, for every member of your party!

This incredible offer is available for all bookings made between 1 April -15 July 2009 and for hotel stays between 2 August - 17 December 2009