I like OKW and I like SSR - but which is better? There's only one way to find out....

[torsie24]

FIGHT!

Not really - Ask the DIS!



So, after crunching the numbers it looks like it's going to be more beneficial for us to go to the WDW next year instead of 2016. (DD will be under three so that saves some money.)

The only trade off is it's going to have to be either Saratoga Springs or Old Key West - and that's providing the 30% and free dining offers are around this year.

So now we have to deal with the eternal debate that is SSR or OKW!

It's going to be either the 3 of us in a studio or us + my parents in a 2 bed.

I'm swaying towards SSR for location & because it has nicer looking pools and a CS. But I know OKW has bigger units.

I think I'm slowly losing my mind comparing the two......

Any non obvious benefits or drawbacks you guys have found that might make the decision easier?
(We will probably have a car for some, but not all, of the trip.)

 

[Cadbury]

Our only stay was at SSR and we loved it.
The pools are great!! Good parking, near your room/studio and
lovely people.
My girls (then 4 and 6) really enjoyed the art they could make at artist palette.

We are def going back

 

[OKW Lover]

Why does one have to be better than the other? Can't they just be different?

We prefer OKW (hence the screen name) because of its more laid-back and spread-out layout. We like the grouping of rooms into more individual buildings, which we find cuts down on the number of people making noise outside our door as they come and go. We also like the ability to park very near the room. Perhaps the biggest factor is the size of the rooms at OKW, especially the 1BR and larger units.

 

[torsie24]

Why does one have to be better than the other? Can't they just be different?

My title is a quote from a well know British TV comedy show. (This is on the UK board)

I was just trying to find a title other than "OKW or SSR" as I know there are a bazillion of them as I've read them and still can't decide!

 

[NikkiMouse]

I was struggling with this too!

But it was the ability to walk to DTD with two teenage girls that made me decide on SSR. They love to shop!

Good luck with your decision wrestling!

 

[Hipster Meg]

This is what we're trying to decide as well, my inclination is towards OKW as it has bigger rooms and the studio's have two queen sized beds rather than a bed and a sofa bed. A rather large part of me thinks that if we're saving for 2 years and spending £6K ish on a holiday then DS is entitled to his own bed

The one thing that's holding me back from committing fully to OKW is the fact that it doesn't have a counter service restaurant and seeing as we won't have a car it does put me off some.

 

[BudgieMama]

We love the look of SSR, and as there are just two of us, only need one bed. If I had a child in tow, I'd be tempted to pick OKW as it has two 'proper' beds. That's if if was just 3. I'd find it harder if if was a different type of unit!

 

[wilma-bride]

We own at SSR but have stayed at both. Of the two, I prefer OKW but that could be because we had a really bad room location at SSR when we stayed there and ended up having to use our car a lot, to get to the pool etc. Locations at OKW have been better. Even when not in the 'near HH' location, it doesn't seem as much of a trek to the main pool etc. from most locations at OKW. I also prefer Olivia's to Turf Club. Having said that, the quick service option at OKW is worse than SSR, in my opinion. If you don't plan to be eating much at the resort, though, I would vote OKW.

By the way, have you considered pricing up renting points and adding the dining plan, rather than just assuming that OKW/SSR with 'free' dining is cheaper. If cost is not an issue fair enough. I would consider it though, especially if you're considering a 2-bedroom - they are pricey!

 

[Laurafoster]

With little ones I preferred our stay at SSR. The Ability to walk to DTD - even the furthest away rooms from downtown are still walkable. This was great for evenings when one child was tired. We could eat/shop and stroll back whilst DD or DS was asleep in the pushchair.

Pools - SSR pools (especially the paddock pool) suited my kids better. The zero entry and shallow play areas were great and both of mine have loved every minute they spend in them. They also have the kids entertainment.

The one thing that massively put me off OKW was that we were put in a lovely room on the 2nd floor of a block over looking the golf course - all great until we were told that building didn't have an elevator! Not the best with a 18month old and stroller, unfortunately we were unable to be moved which certainly took away a little magic.

 

[wilma-bride]

The one thing that massively put me off OKW was that we were put in a lovely room on the 2nd floor of a black over looking the golf course - all great until we were told that building didn't have an elevator! Not the best with a 18month old and stroller, unfortunately we were unable to be moved which certainly took away a little magic.

Good point! Because OKW is older, most of the buildings don't have lifts. If that is a factor (and, I'm assuming, with a little one it may well be) then go for SSR.

 

[torsie24]

Lifts are a good point!

Wilma-Bride yes I've done a lot of DVC v WDTC crunching.

It's about £1k cheaper for us either way (studio or 2 bed) if the 30% and free DDP come out.

My original plan was to rent points for AKV as that's what we did last trip and was an amazing price.

But my calculations look like this.

£ amount for 14 nights SSR studio point rental = appr £1900

DDP to buy is a little over £1k for 2 of us for 14 nights.

The current price for 14 nights as SSR on WDTC is £3136

So if they keep a similar price and do 30% off that's £2195 and then free dining on top I'm hoping.

4 adults in a 2 bed is pretty similar amounts for both DBC and WDTC too.

Why I was so pleasantly surprised by this deal.

.....

.....unless they do what the DLRP site does when they have "40% off" and put peak season prices across all the offer dates even if it's low season you're booking for.....

 

[Elise79]

We love OKW and have our 4th stay there next week (and 5th booked for July!) however our DD is now older.

With an under 3 I would choose SSR for the following reasons:

• All buildings have lifts (I don't like ground floor rooms and OKW only has 3 buildings with lifts)
• The pools are Zero entry and they have more wet play areas for little ones (I think the minimum depth at OKW is 3ft and that is near steps which isn't great with a toddler)
• I actually like the sofa bed with a little one as the arms help keep them on the bed without the need for bed rails (and the beds at OKW are high!)
• The CS serves far better food - sometimes its nice to be able to grab something to eat in your room with a toddler as it takes the stress out of eating out all the time (All DVC rooms have highchairs too )

I also can't make renting points work with the offers they have done the last few years

 

[OKW Lover]

My title is a quote from a well know British TV comedy show. (This is on the UK board)

I was just trying to find a title other than "OKW or SSR" as I know there are a bazillion of them as I've read them and still can't decide!

I didn't even realize I was posting on the UK board. No wonder I missed the reference.

Others have noted the lack of "lifts" at OKW as being a consideration. I'd like to mention that over 1/3rd of the rooms are ground floor or are in the 3 buildings that do have lifts.

 

[wayneg]

We prefer OKW, stayed there 4 times but others prefer SSR so you can't lose.
Unfortunately both are out of my price bracket now.

 

[married2mm]

We prefer OKW, stayed there 4 times but others prefer SSR so you can't lose.
Unfortunately both are out of my price bracket now.

We much preferred okw over ssr.
We stayed in 2 bed villas at both resorts (2010 and 2011) however,they are just crazy prices now as Wayne says-we can't afford,nor would we pay the silly price.

 

[wayneg]

We much preferred okw over ssr.
We stayed in 2 bed villas at both resorts (2010 and 2011) however,they are just crazy prices now as Wayne says-we can't afford,nor would we pay the silly price.

2 bed villa for our 7 nights in Sept = £2,961.00 = £423/nt

Staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, 2 bed villa = £490

We love OKW but not at almost 7 times the price.

 

[DLPDreams]

Hi Torsie

I haven't been yet but one observation I can make is, if your parents do go with you, would it be better to have a 'lock off' 2 bed at OKW? Meaning your parents have their own self contained unit, with front door etc as well as the facility to be in the main part of the villa too. This may not be an issue you to you at all, but the way I sold us sharing a villa for almost 3 weeks to my DH, was with this 'lock off' option (I really hope we get one - will request but will have to wait and see! ).

I believe (but could be wrong) that SSR don't offer this option. I think it's kind of nice for my parents to have their own front door and their own balcony too so they can come and go without feeling they are encroaching on us etc.

Probably a wee bit different for us though as my girls will be older, so the plan is they sleep in the master bedroom and DH and I have the sofa beds! I don't fancy having my parents walk in on us on the sofa bed each morning - so the lock off works well . I keep wondering if we could put the girls in the sofa bed, but I do think they'll end be more settled in their own room, and it means DH and I have a bit of breathing space at night if the girls have an early night.

Sorry this is longwinded! Have to say, I like the look of both resorts so would stay in either, but it's the lock off at OKW that swung it for me.

 

[married2mm]

2 bed villa for our 7 nights in Sept = £2,961.00 = £423/nt

Staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, 2 bed villa = £490

We love OKW but not at almost 7 times the price.

7 times-just ludicrous?!
We paid less than £200 per night for 2 bed villa,with ddp for 4-well worth it.
Double that-most definitely not.

Sidenote-Wayne-how and where do you book wyndham bonnet creek for less than £500 per week?

 

[wilma-bride]

Hi Torsie

I haven't been yet but one observation I can make is, if your parents do go with you, would it be better to have a 'lock off' 2 bed at OKW? Meaning your parents have their own self contained unit, with front door etc as well as the facility to be in the main part of the villa too. This may not be an issue you to you at all, but the way I sold us sharing a villa for almost 3 weeks to my DH, was with this 'lock off' option (I really hope we get one - will request but will have to wait and see! ).

I believe (but could be wrong) that SSR don't offer this option. I think it's kind of nice for my parents to have their own front door and their own balcony too so they can come and go without feeling they are encroaching on us etc.

Probably a wee bit different for us though as my girls will be older, so the plan is they sleep in the master bedroom and DH and I have the sofa beds! I don't fancy having my parents walk in on us on the sofa bed each morning - so the lock off works well . I keep wondering if we could put the girls in the sofa bed, but I do think they'll end be more settled in their own room, and it means DH and I have a bit of breathing space at night if the girls have an early night.

Sorry this is longwinded! Have to say, I like the look of both resorts so would stay in either, but it's the lock off at OKW that swung it for me.

SSR do have lock-off villas

ETA: although that doesn't necessarily mean that one would be available.

 

[wayneg]

7 times-just ludicrous?!
We paid less than £200 per night for 2 bed villa,with ddp for 4-well worth it.
Double that-most definitely not.

Sidenote-Wayne-how and where do you book wyndham bonnet creek for less than £500 per week?

I used Booking.com (also got some cashback)

Many use this site for booking it. http://www.vacationupgrades.com/