Help With OKW/SSR Room Requests Please

[keishashadow]

Found out the mr was able to get vacation time in October this year vs 1st week in December.

Yesterday OKW (a portion of days) and SSR were open, have never stayed @ either and unfamiliar with the resorts, i'm going to book this am

Any suggestions as room requests based upon the following?

OKW - we'd like to request a building(s) near the main pool.

SSR - ?

Probably will rent a car @ least for portion of split U trip, but some mobility issues so being near a bus stop would be helpful.

All suggestions welcome.

 

[laughinplace199]

I don't know building #'s, but at OKW you can try to book a room near the Hospitality House. That is where the front desk, the gift shop, Olivia's restaurant, marina, and main pool are located.

I've never stayed at SSR, so I don't know about that one.

 

[dianeschlicht]

How many in your party and what size unit are you booking? It does make a difference IMO.

At OKW, the HH booking category is in the lower numbered buildings, and you will NOT have access to the toilet area of the bathroom except through the master bedroom. Buildings 30 or higher WILL have an extra door into the toilet area through the laundry room, so it's a concern if you have anyone using the living room as a bedroom. That being said. I really don't understand why anyone feels they have to always be near Hospitality House. It really is my least favorite area. I say this mostly because of the door thing and because of the crowding of the buses there etc. I usually have very little reason to go to the main area once I get checked in, but if I need to go there, I can take a short walk to any bus stop and ride the next bus going anywhere to HH. The walks at OKW really aren't that much worse than the hallways at BWV or AKV, and often a lot more pleasant, since you are outside.

If you are not able to book the HH category, you can still request a few buildings that will be closer and a relatively short walk.

Buildings 62, 63, and 64 are near HH and also have elevators, but are often reserved for people with mobility issues.

Beyond those, buildings 15 and 16 are considered to be Miller's Road, but are really a short walk to either Miller's, Hospitality or even Peninsular. In fact many of the Miller's Road buildings are an easy walk to HH.

Then there is my favorite buildings along the canal, 45 and 46. These will be about a 5 minute walk from HH, and have the best views of all PLUS, they have that extra door to the toilet.

I could say the obvious and tell you to request buildings 27, 28 or 29, but frankly, those are my least favorite views of all at OKW. You will be hemmed in by vegetation, and no extra door there either. It IS close to HH though.

We like the South Point area best because it is the second bus stop coming into the resort and that makes it an easy trip home from the parks. Many will tell you they love the Turtle Pond area. I have stayed there many times, and it is definitely NOT my favorite area.

 

[dvc_john]

Rooms near the Hospitality House at OKW are more than just a request. It is a booking category. So you have to book it that way if it's available.

At SSR, the Springs section is closest to the main pool area. But I actually prefer Congress Park or the Grandstand sections. Also, the Paddock area is getting a new themed pool that I think will be open before October.

 

[dianeschlicht]

How did this thread page get so wide? Is it just me, or is this one wider on the screen than all the others? It's kind of like when someone posts a picture that is too large.

 

[keishashadow]

Rooms near the Hospitality House at OKW are more than just a request. It is a booking category. So you have to book it that way if it's available.

At SSR, the Springs section is closest to the main pool area. But I actually prefer Congress Park or the Grandstand sections. Also, the Paddock area is getting a new themed pool that I think will be open before October.

hmmm, didn't know that?

diane thank you for the detailed info

we've @ SSR, WL'd for OKW & AKV, studios as just DH & me. He's not thrilled where we landed due to one of his friend's reviews,. SSR does seem to get a general bad rap, not my 1st choice either, but hoping i'll be charmed by our 1st visit. IMO just happy we were able to book anywhere since it's F&W time.

 

[andreadoiron]

at key west if you request hospitality house rooms, be aware that unless you are handicapped, you will be in a building w/no elevator. we booked a top floor room near hospitality house a couple of years ago. first it wasn't truly that close and we have to lug our suitcases up 3 flights of stairs to a room w/broken ac that they spent 2 hours to "fix it" only it was never really fixed. the hospitality house rooms are more run down as that is a frequent request and the lack of elevator is quite awful!
as far as SSR goes, we have stayed at the springs (right there by the main pool) and i believe the paddock (it has the pool that has a horse sprinker feature) both locations were very close to the main pool and food and bus. I personally like SSR alot better than OKW (better rooms, walk to DTD, elevators for carriages/luggage, better food service, more bus stops, better pools)
we stayed at AKL-Kidani last time and absolutely loved it! it was by far the nicest disney resort we have stayed at but it is quite far from everything and in the summer time, the 2 pools for the resort seem quite crowded. seeing the animals was awesome and we didn't have a savanna view room but at kidani it seems the animals are everywhere!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'd be pretty surprised if the OKW rooms were run down now, since they were all recently refurbished.

Keishadow, If you are staying in a studio, I'd stick with SSR, because you will have a bed and a sofa. At OKW the studios have two queen beds, and it's not as comfortable for just a couple. We are usually just two of us too, but we don't consider it a vacation if we aren't in at least a 1 bedroom!

 

[spiceycat]

at OKW like South pointe and miller's road.

don't like near the HH because the traffic is worst here.

at SSR like Grandstand and congress park.

they both have their own pool. Congress park is a quick walk (less than 6 minutes to DD)

Grandstand is next door to where you check in - so fairly quick walk to the food court and restuarant. there restuarant is definitely worth doing

 

[andreadoiron]

not sure when it was refurbished but we were there in aug 2009 and the sofa bed was broken, the ac didn't work and they really couldn't fix it, the bathroom looked worn, etc. we complained the first night we were there but they couldn't move us to another 1 bedroom unless we wanted to move as far away from the hospitality house as you could get at 11:30pm w/kids so that really wasn't an option
the location we were at was to the left of the entrance to the me bus dropoff/checkin area...older bldg, no elevator

 

[keishashadow]

thanks all. Called back & took the 4 nights open for studio @ OKW (non hospitality area, as nothing available) as the mr just doesn't want to stay @ SSR after hearing his friend complain about itdespite never showing any preference before, i'll concede.

we're waitlisted for another night there for #1 & 5 days @ AKV that i'll be shocked if it comes through to tie into Universal onsite portion of trip.

maybe i'll get lucky & CRO will offer FDP, then i can save points for one of my DSs to mooch.

 

[dianeschlicht]

not sure when it was refurbished but we were there in aug 2009 and the sofa bed was broken, the ac didn't work and they really couldn't fix it, the bathroom looked worn, etc. we complained the first night we were there but they couldn't move us to another 1 bedroom unless we wanted to move as far away from the hospitality house as you could get at 11:30pm w/kids so that really wasn't an option
the location we were at was to the left of the entrance to the me bus dropoff/checkin area...older bldg, no elevator

It was refurbished in 2010.

 

[katmittens]

We like the HH area. I don't think it is too busy or noisy. We usually get a 2bedroom so we don't have to worry about the door to the bathroom. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

at key west if you request hospitality house rooms, be aware that unless you are handicapped, you will be in a building w/no elevator. ...

There are only three buildings with elevators (62, 63 and 64) and they are not included in the hospitality area.

...the location we were at was to the left of the entrance to the me bus dropoff/checkin area...older bldg, no elevator

The aforementioned buildings are the only newer buildings at OKW and they were completed around 2001 or so when the Commorodore House was torn down. That was used for sales. So none of the rest of them are actually "older" than the others.

Plus, like Diane said, all the renovations were completed recently.

That said, SSR could be a very nice location for a couple. Close to DTD for other dining choices, shopping, movies, etc. Very nice spa on site. Golf course on site (same course runs through OKW). SSR and OKW are probably our favorite two resorts.