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

[murcor]

Having not stayed at either one, I need help choosing. These are the only properties with availability for my dates that have 2 bedroom units.

We have 3 adults and 2 children for 9 nights.

All personal opinions, good & bad appreciated.

Thanks

Angela

 

[OKW91]

We are OKW members, have not stayed at SSR, one big plus for OKW is room size! With your group I would think that would be a plus. Nothing against SSR, think the resort is beautiful, but the room size is noticable!

 

[spiceycat]

do you love the GF - are you happy with that style of building - then SSR was built for you.

if you like the CRB or Polyn or PO - then OKW is more like that - laid back and more relaxed (my opinion) - not nearly as fancy.

much more room at OKW.

SSR newer - you are much closer to PI and DD, so more stuff to do without going to the parks.

SSR is very fancy - very upscale.

if you are out to impress your relatives then I think SSR might be better than OKW.

If you want a relaxing time then OKW.

 

[BillPA]

We have stayed at both, actually all the on site DVC resorts. I would select OKW, SSR is a great resort, or will be when the construction is complete. Right now it is a bit of a mess, Dusty, noisey, and only 4 buildings open. The 2 BR at any DVC will be more than large enough for your crowd. OKW has lots more space, it is VERY impresive. With a 9 night trip, the extra space would be more relaxing. JMHO

You will have a great time at either. If you don't mind moving, try both, decide for youself, but go to SSR first. The space at OKW will make SSR feel small, and it really isn't.

Have a great trip.

 

[kocar]

For your party size, definitely OKW especially if you have kids. The 2 br we had in building 27 was huge. My daughter took her friend, which made 7 of us, and we still had enough room that 3 more people could have brought sleeping bags or an inflatable mattress for the floor! Definitely quieter than SSR right now due to ongoing construction. You didn't specify your dates, but the main pool at OKW is under construction - adding a slide - to be completed in next month or so I think!

They have organized kid and family activities - tshirt painting, unbirthday party, $30 kids' fishing excursion (DD loved it). The boat launch service to DD and PI is a nice relaxing ride. You can rent boats or the small wave runner type vehicles there too. We loved it and can't wait to go back in December.

Either way, you're getting the quality of the DVC!

Have fun!

Michelle

 

[stacy6552]

we own at SSR and have stayed at both. Im thinking you also want OKW, not for size but for decompression. 9 days can get long and we definately felt like OKW was the oasis away from the crowds and chaos. People are more consolidated at SSR. So if I was choosing between those two, I'd say OKW.

 

[mickeyc]

We were at Disney this past week end and stayed at both SSR and OKW. SSR is newer and more convenient to the PI and DD. However, although OKW is nice it is last on my list of DVC resorts. It is just personal taste. I find you can relax at any of the resorts since they all have quiet spots.

At the present time the main pool at OKW is undergoing renovations; hence, it made it less convenient. I am not sure when they will be completing the repairs. We used the pool at SSR, which was very nice.

Whatever you decide enjoy!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Hmmm, surprised that no one has asked the age of the children (and adults, for that matter). If the kids are older (more interested in a video arcade / shops than in Dumbo ::hee:: ) then having a 5-10 walk to DTD and West End would seem to be a plus, particularly for a 9-day stay. The same for the adults, if they're into any shopping, dining or nightlife (Disney-style, of course).

And for a group of 5, I honestly think that any 2 BR will give more than enough space. (Heck, I hear some folks seem to think that 5 fit just fine in a ......, oh, never mind ::grin:: )

And with all due respect and admiration to spiceycat, I think she's the only person here who thinks SSR is fancy and upscale - usually we here about the 'downscale' outdoor hallways. And I don't see the GF/SSR similarities....

Good luck!

 

[rinkwide]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
...some folks seem to think that 5 fit just fine in a...

Dude! Are you trying to bring Thor's hammer down on this thread?

If you're staying nine nights I'm going to guess any extra bit of square footage will be greatly appreciated come night six. Go with OKW.

On the other hand, if you like to eat out a lot (and don't mind overpriced, mediocre food) choose SSR for it's near-walking distance proximity to Downtown Disney.

 

[Caskbill]

Referring to the kid's ages, and when you might be going, the new Water Slide at the main OKW pool will be opening in a couple of months. (SSR's pool has a slide too, of course)

Personally I prefer OKW simply because the room sizes are so much larger than the other DVC resorts. At OKW it feels more like 'home'.

 

[murcor]

I did forget to mention the ages of my children 5 & 4.

I was leaning towards the SSR for the zero entry pool and overall size of the resort, it seems abit more compact. Ex: to get from rooms to the pool etc. Also, I have heard any view is basically a good view.

Looking at the OKW on a resort map, it seems more scattered and sizable distances to get anywhere. On one thread I read that the buses take 20 mins just to do the resort before heading out to a park. Also, looking at the resort map many of the clusters of villas seem very remote, is this true

I think the theming of the OKW and the size of the rooms is the way to go.


Im so confused...but I need to decide soon or I will have no choices left.

 

[Chuck S]

OKW seems like a "community" in the middle of WDW. The rooms are large and comfortable. Even though the resort does seem "spead out", there are 4 pools (3 currently operating with the main pool rehab) so you aren't far from a pool or bus stop no matter where in the resort you stay.

As far as the bus loop taking 20 minutes. there is a little added driving time at SSR, so I would guess that is kind of a wash between the 2 resorts.

At OKW to get to the main check-in area from anywhere in the resort, you can hop on any bus, they all stop there. For the return trip, you'll need to wait for the internal loop bus -or- walk across the bridge to the Peninsular Road bus stop and catch any bus.

My personal opinion is that Peninsular Road is probably the most convenient spot to stay as far as bus and hospitality area access, but be aware that Bldgs 28 and 29 don't have the best "views" from the balcony if that is important to you. The rooms, themselves, are perfectly fine.

I'm hoping we can get a nice water view this trip, in on of the buildings along the canal. In all the years we've owned, we've never been in one of those buildings. So far, I think our favorite area is Turtle Pond...but again, we have a car, so it really doesn't matter where we stay.

 

[meier56013]

Don't underestimate the walking at SSR. There is a good distance to the pool, restaurant, Comunity Hall, and check-in from the open buildings. The bus only has 2 stops, so is quicker than OKW, but you will end up backtracking. I would vote for OKW this trip. The large rooms will add comfort to your long stay. Ask for a specific area or building, maybe close to Hospitality House. Either way, you'll love either place. I'll wait for SSR to grow a bit before our first stay.

 

[BillPA]

When we were at SSR in July, the same bus went from OKW to SSR. I don't know if this is still the way it is running, they said when more buildings open and they have more guests at SSR they may get their own bus.

Have a great trip.

 

[disneycrazed139]

Commenting on the eating situation near SSR....

On the other hand, if you like to eat out a lot (and don't mind overpriced, mediocre food)

Overpriced? Perhaps for 2 restaurants in particular.... Portobello's comes to mind as well as Rainforest Cafe. I don't think the rest of the restaurants in DTD are overpriced or mediocre though. Living close to NY, I'll pay about twice as much at any restaurant in the city so I am not shocked by prices in DTD at all. DTD has a pretty good selection of places to go for all tastes and even budgets. Fulton's is definitely pricey, but not "overpriced" for what you get there. We've always thoroughly enjoyed it....and Wolfgang Pucks...not really a mediocre place to eat.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by BillPA
When we were at SSR in July, the same bus went from OKW to SSR. I don't know if this is still the way it is running, they said when more buildings open and they have more guests at SSR they may get their own bus.

Have a great trip.

When we were at SSR in mid July, the buses were separate.
We had read on the boards before our trip that the buses were combined. One day when we were coming back (can't remember where we were), we did ask a driver of a bus marked OKW if his bus was going both places and he said the routes were NOT combined. So, whether they are combined or separate might have to do with how full both resorts are. Or, they might have done it in the beginning when there were less buildings open at SSR.

One thing we didn't expect at SSR was that the feature pool was only 3 feet deep. Maybe that's good for the 4-5 year olds in your party, but I found it was not possible for adults to swim in the pool. The "quiet" pool was very nice though. DA shallow area, but also deep enough to swim in and with very pleasant theming. It had giant frog fountains at each corner and a nice; large seating area plus a hot tub.

One of the pluses of OKW is the large covered porch with a large round table and 3 chairs. When we go to OKW, one of our morning routines is sitting out there for breakfast while the late sleepers are still in bed. Also, if you are planning on eating in your room, you have a much larger table (a 60 inch round dining table). The room at SSR has a small breakfast bar and a small rectangular table. Also, the appliances are apartment size at SSR (as opposed to all regular size with an icemaker in the freezer at OKW).
OKW looks more spread out on the map. SSR is equally spread out (or will be when it's done). I'd take the 20 minutes to get thru the resort thread with a grain of salt. It's not quite that big.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since you are probably staying in a 2 bedroom, it probably doesn't matter as much about size, but there are other differences.

We stayed in both SSR and OKW on the trip we just returned from yesterday.

I loved the upscale decor of SSR. It was very well appointed, but......HATED the doors! it is awkward to use the closet/dressing/ bathroom area with all the doors! Hated the small room size too and the long outdoor hallways. It was VERY quiet though. It seemed like it was difficult to get around though, but I suspect part of that was due to construction.

OKW has LOTS of room and "down and out" type accommodations, so you feel like you are in a vacation home instead of a hotel. We love the easy access to the car there, and thought SSR, while it had parking outside your building, was not really so easy in this regard.

OKW has a great restaurant on site (Olivias), while SSR has a less than adequate food court. We were greatly dissapointed in that, and felt it didn't fit the upscale theme of the resort. OKW is a bit more laid back feeling than SSR, but SSR has a great little "town" feel to it. We loved the little streets etc.

BTW, buses were seperate, but used the same stop in some parks.

 

[senecabeach]

Go to this web site to see many..many pics of "both" resorts;

http://allearsnet.com/acc/gallery.htm


When I need my Disney fix...I go here and dream....


IMHO.....OKW, because of unit size, would be my way6 to go!!

Best of luck in whatever you decide!!

 

[drise]

We own at OKW and love it, we have a 2 and 6 year old. We've stayed at all DVC resorts except BW. SSR has very small rooms, the pool and food court are a good walk from the buildings that are open. The food court is very limited. The pool is not great - 3' deep but the 0 entry is nice. OKW will have the new main pool open in Dec. and the quiet pools are conveniently located to all units. We love the space with OKW. 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.

 

[Disney Doll]

SSR is quite beautfiful, but many of the reasons that others have outlined on this thread already are what would lead me more toward OKW for this trip for oyu guys.

The rooms are bigger (keeping up the faith Richyams!!!!! ), the feel is more laid back, there are several pool choices, so no matter what area you're in, there will likely be a pool close by, the restaurant is good, the place is not as big as it appears on a map.

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.