I need honest opinions of SSR vs OKW...(m)

[joepoe]

I would always choose OKW for two reasons. Less points and larger accomodations.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by drise
Besides full size applicances in the kitchen the washer and dryer are in a laundry 'room' not a closet stacked. This means they dry a full load in a reasonable amount of time. The stacked units hold less and take forever. We like parking in front of our unit and not using hallways and elevators.

The laundry room at OKW also makes it much quieter to do the wash. The closet for the stacked ones in the other DVC units are right off the living room area. So, if you do wash, you hear it quite loudly where ever you are.

 

[Tink03477]

Originally posted by Disney Doll

DH and I like the Southpoint area, particularly building 56 or 57. Close to a pool and bus stop, and close to the walking path to DD. Far from the main building, but for us, that's OK.

Hi Disney Doll This is the first I've heard of a walking path to DD from OKW! My son & I are staying there next month and we don't mind walking. Heck we walk from MGM to BCV! Can you please tell me the details on this wonderful path to DD?? Like where is it exactly so we can find it and how long is the walk? Probably shorter than MGM to BCV, right? Building 56 is one of the buildings I was thinking of requesting too.
Thanks for your help!

Kim

 

[condoboy]

I stayed at OKW in September and really loved it. It is big and the parking is convenient. The rooms were very comfortable and the kitchen well equiped.

The busses were great. It seemed I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes. A few times I changed my mind about driving because the bus was just arriving.

Parking right in front made driving to parks and coming home midday very convenient.

Because the main pool was being refurbished, we were allowed to use SSR's pool. I really didn't like it (the pool and main buildings). Only went once. The boat ride there was nice, but its the same boat ride as going downtown. It was sad to go past all the unused tree houses that were once so popular.

I was in Building 56, Southpoint just steps from the bus stop and very near a quiet pool. I could hear Tilly from Typhoon lagoon on my porch.

I would vote for OKW

 

[Desperado]

If you were purchasing this would be a big decision, but for just one stay, try either and enjoy.

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

I'm not one to try to tell people what they're going to like, but I can at least tell you what my experience was....

I just stayed at SSR and OKW in September. I was really excited to try a second resort after staying 6 nights in a 1BR at SSR, but didn't want to leave SSR either. I was moved to OKW because SSR was full. Anyways, I really thought I'd fall in love with OKW because of the theming etc. I did like the look of the buildings (the tropcial feel is great), but my studio was a disappointment. I REALLY tried to appreciate the great aspects of OKW...Olivias, etc. but I couldn't shake the fact that my room was not up to "Disney Standards."

When my DH and I opened the door the whole room smelled musty. We had a big beetle in our tub and a ball of somebody else's hair on the bathroom floor! Yuck! There were lots of cob webs all around the entrance to the room. (at SSR they have a cast member blowing even the smallest leaves out of the outside hallways so it's always clean!) The toilet seat wouldn't stay up for the DH. I am not a complainer! I really love Disney and I ALWAYS find myself defending it to everyone I know!

Maybe I just had rotten luck at OKW. I would like to give it a second chance but don't know if my DH will ever go back. It's kind of sad that we didn't like the room more. I wonder if the studios just aren't as well kept as the other rooms? It was a tough experience. We came from a spotless room at SSR and ended up with a less than spotless room at OKW. As you can imagine, it was hard not to be disappointed. My advice is if your friends are expecting a really clean, bug-free room think about going to SSR. Or if you go to OKW I'll cross my fingers that you get a better room than I did.

 

[vernon]

If the main pool at OKW is going to be reopened at the time you're visiting I'd go for OKW. Room size is one reason, although with your group size that may not be a major issue. Another reason would be that SSR is still in the middle of construction, it's likely that the construction wouldn't impact on your vacation, but it isn't certain. by opting for OKW, it's a potential problem that you could avoid. A third reason would be lower points cost, for a similar location. IMHO the only areas where SSR scores a win is that it's newer and it has a zero entry pool, but the mail pool at OKW has two large walk in step areas so IMHO it's not really THAT big a plus.

I would choose OKW this trip, and leave SSR for a later trip when it is more complete.

 

[Tink03477]

Originally posted by DisneyDiva4ever

When my DH and I opened the door the whole room smelled musty. We had a big beetle in our tub and a ball of somebody else's hair on the bathroom floor! Yuck! There were lots of cob webs all around the entrance to the room. The toilet seat wouldn't stay up for the DH. I
I wonder if the studios just aren't as well kept as the other rooms? Or if you go to OKW I'll cross my fingers that you get a better room than I did.

I'm sorry your room was yucky DD4! Do you remember what room number/building it was?? As to the good side, was the view nice, beds ok, balcony nice? I hope all that was ok!
Thanks,
Kim

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

I know I know, I gave OKW a bad wrap. I feel so bad, but it's all true. We had room #2020. The view of the golf couse was really nice & we liked the mini-balcony. I know that there are tons of OKW fans out there so I don't mean to say bad things about it. I hope that I can get my DH to try it again. Maybe all of the hurricane madness had something to do with the lack of housekeeping? Maybe I'm the only one that's had bad luck there. I guess it's worth another shot. I've always read great things about the place. I know that THAT many people can't be wrong! Perhaps when the new pool is complete I'll stay there again. I don't want to sound like I'm one of those people that goes LOOKING for something to complain about. I absolutely treasure every minute I have with Mickey and the gang!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by DisneyDiva4ever
I know I know, I gave OKW a bad wrap. I feel so bad, but it's all true. We had room #2020. The view of the golf couse was really nice & we liked the mini-balcony. I know that there are tons of OKW fans out there so I don't mean to say bad things about it. I hope that I can get my DH to try it again. Maybe all of the hurricane madness had something to do with the lack of housekeeping? Maybe I'm the only one that's had bad luck there. I guess it's worth another shot. I've always read great things about the place. I know that THAT many people can't be wrong! Perhaps when the new pool is complete I'll stay there again. I don't want to sound like I'm one of those people that goes LOOKING for something to complain about. I absolutely treasure every minute I have with Mickey and the gang!

Perhaps a bigger reason for your dissapointment was in going from a 1 bedroom to a studio. I really don't care for the studios anywhere!

 

[Merilyn]

For the points and room size, I would go with OKW. The rooms are larger and less points per night. I have never had any trouble at OKW and love the location. I know others have had complaints, but mine have always been small and quickly fixed. Good luck with your reservation.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by DisneyDiva4ever
I know I know, I gave OKW a bad wrap. I feel so bad, but it's all true. We had room #2020. The view of the golf couse was really nice & we liked the mini-balcony. I know that there are tons of OKW fans out there so I don't mean to say bad things about it. I hope that I can get my DH to try it again. Maybe all of the hurricane madness had something to do with the lack of housekeeping? Maybe I'm the only one that's had bad luck there. I guess it's worth another shot. I've always read great things about the place. I know that THAT many people can't be wrong! Perhaps when the new pool is complete I'll stay there again. I don't want to sound like I'm one of those people that goes LOOKING for something to complain about. I absolutely treasure every minute I have with Mickey and the gang!

What ever resort you mention, there will be someone who had a superclean room and someone else who says their room was just "not up to Disney standards."
When we stayed at DDR this July, our room was not the dirtiest I have stayed in, not the cleanest. We saw some small things like a few bugs and some hair on the floor and a light bulb that was burned out. We also had fuses blown twice during a 5 day stay without us even turning anything on - the engineer said they had some wiring problem, but could not track down just where it was. When it rained, water poured down the outside stairwells and made a huge puddle over the drain (which caused an interesting phenomena of water splashes bouncing up about 3 feet out of the drain).
The point of all this isn't to give SSR a bad rap - I think it's a very nice resort. My point is that nothing is perfect and if there is something like bugs, a blown fuse, a toilet seat that doesn't stay up, etc. ,the resort is counting on us to let them know so they can fix it. Some of the differences in Housekeeping might be due to an individual housekeeper - you might find a less than clean room at the same resort.

 

[Tink03477]

Originally posted by DisneyDiva4ever
I know I know, I gave OKW a bad wrap. I feel so bad, but it's all true. We had room #2020. The view of the golf couse was really nice & we liked the mini-balcony. I know that there are tons of OKW fans out there so I don't mean to say bad things about it. I hope that I can get my DH to try it again. Maybe all of the hurricane madness had something to do with the lack of housekeeping? Maybe I'm the only one that's had bad luck there. I guess it's worth another shot. I've always read great things about the place. I know that THAT many people can't be wrong! Perhaps when the new pool is complete I'll stay there again. I don't want to sound like I'm one of those people that goes LOOKING for something to complain about. I absolutely treasure every minute I have with Mickey and the gang!

No, no, no DD4, I didn't mean that at all! I just wanted to know if there were some good things about the room, just in case I get it next month. That's all. I always find little things like you did in the rooms I've stayed at. They're not horrifying, just things that make you go "yuck" and take care of it yourself. Mousekeepers/housekeepers can't catch everything for goodness sake! They're only human and they do the same thing day in day out. I expect little things like that and don't let it freak me out. That beetle could have gotten in there after they left the bathroom. Sometimes they leave the balcony doors open to freshen up the room, a bug flies in, hangs out where they can't see it and ends up somewhere where WE see it. It happens. So 2020 has a nice golf course view and mini-balcony. Great. The location is good too. That's all I meant DD4, no worries or bashing!!! Thank you very much!
Kim