need help with a decision......

[arielrocks]

hey everyone,

we are looking at booking with complete orlando for a trip in oct 2012 and we can#t decide what to do......your input is greatly appreciated.

So, first hurdle......

Should we stay at Saratoga Springs or Old Key West? Have spent 1 night at both resorts before, but that didn't really give me any time to look round and really get a feel for the resorts.

Now, once that has been decided, shall we book a studio or a 1 bedroom? there are only 2 of us, we would be on the dining plan, no hire car so don't need the kitchen. However I love having a washer/dryer in the room......Has anyone stayed in a studio for 2 weeks and used the communal laundry rooms? what are the like? are they usually really busy? TBH this is the only thing making us look at a 1 bedroom!!! we pack really light when the 2 of us go so thats why the washing machine is great!

any help guys?

 

[catherine]

I can't comment on SSR as we have never stayed there. However we love OKW have been staying there for years and have stayed in all of the different types of villas. We have used the laundry room and I've never found them to be busy but I would go early in the morning or later at night. Most of the time it would just be DH and me. We actually found it to be quite relaxing we'd throw the laundry in and then just sit be the pool and talk! A couple of times I did laundry while we used the pool and again there was nobody else using the machines.

 

[disneyholic family]

i've never stayed at SSR so i can't comment on that resort.
We've stayed at OKW 4 or 5 times and loved it every time.
We always stayed in a 2 bedroom - since it was 4 of us - DH, DD, DS and me.

i love the layout of the one and two bedroom suites at OKW - so open and spacious.

If money is no object for you, then i would go with the one bedroom. It's really lovely having the big jacuzzi and the laundry room - it's a HUGE laundry room. Bigger than the one i have at home.

i'm sure you'll be perfectly happy in the studio, but if money isn't an issue, that one bedroom will certainly make your stay extraordinarily relaxing, luxurious and memorable!!!!


here is the description of the one bedroom unit at OKW (taken from allears.net)
One Bedroom villas are 942 square feet and have a large "great room" with queen size sleep sofa, loveseat, chair and ottoman, full size dining table with four chairs, 27" TV, ceiling fan and a full kitchen. The kitchen is fully equipped, including small appliances, wine glasses, mixing bowls, pots and pans, etc. It has a full size refrigerator with icemaker, dishwasher, stove and oven, microwave, and double sink with disposal. These villas also have a laundry room with a full size washer and dryer, an iron and ironing board, and a broom, dustpan, mop and vacuum cleaner are available for those who miss their domestic duties. As with the studio villas, paper towels, dish soap, coffee, creamer and sugar are supplied. Also included in the one-bedroom villas and larger is a small supply of dishwasher and laundry soap. Items available upon request are: bed rails, high chairs, napkins, placemats, voltage converters, hangers, and mixers.

The master bedroom is quite luxurious, with a king bed, chair and ottoman, two nightstands, armoire with TV, with dresser drawers underneath, hope chest with drawers and ceiling fan. The master bedroom connects to a divided bathroom. The area of the bathroom has a full closet with key-operated safe, extra bedding and a portable crib with linens. This area also has a pedestal sink, wooden shelves, and large two-person Jacuzzi tub. The second area of the bathroom contains the toilet, very large shower, and second sink with large vanity. Both the master bedroom and the great room have glass-panel doors to the patio or balcony, which has a table with four chairs and ceiling fan with light. One-bedroom villas sleep four, plus one child under 3 in a crib.

 

[mikki.young]

If you go for a studio go to SSR - one queen bed and a sofa bed. OKW has 2 queen beds in a studio.

If you go for a 1 bed then go for OKW. The main living area is the largest of all the DVCs and the jacuzzi bath is big enough for 2. I am not a fan of the refurbishment but it doesn't hide all the space. You also have a separate laundry room with the machines side by side rather than on top of each other in a cupboard.

 

[wayneg]

This August will be our 3rd stay at OKW, had a quick look around SSR but don't like the theming anywhere near as much, can't comment on rooms only the resort.
We rarely wash on holiday but last August we did because the laundry room was near and never busy, a free washer every time we wanted one. Personally I would not upgrade just for the washer, only if you wanted the other facilities & space.

 

[disneyholic family]

This August will be our 3rd stay at OKW, had a quick look around SSR but don't like the theming anywhere near as much, can't comment on rooms only the resort.
We rarely wash on holiday but last August we did because the laundry room was near and never busy, a free washer every time we wanted one. Personally I would not upgrade just for the washer, only if you wanted the other facilities & space.

i would upgrade just for the washer...
i love having the washer/dryer right in the room with me and not having to hang out at the laundry room....
you can put your clothes in the washer any time you want and not take them out again for a week if you're so inclined...

and the bathroom in the 1 bedroom is also huge...
you have a big walk in shower..
a giant jacuzzi...
two sinks (one near the jacuzzi and one near the shower)..
there's tons of closet space (again, more than i have at home)...
and having that full kitchen is nice..
and the huge living room to spread out in..

we REALLY enjoyed our 2 br at OKW...and the 1BR is exactly the same layout of the master and living room (just without the second bedroom)..

the only problem? you're going to be ruined for a regular hotel room after this

 

[wayneg]

i would upgrade just for the washer...
i love having the washer/dryer right in the room with me and not having to hang out at the laundry room....
you can put your clothes in the washer any time you want and not take them out again for a week if you're so inclined...

and the bathroom in the 1 bedroom is also huge...
you have a big walk in shower..
a giant jacuzzi...
two sinks (one near the jacuzzi and one near the shower)..
there's tons of closet space (again, more than i have at home)...
and having that full kitchen is nice..
and the huge living room to spread out in..

we REALLY enjoyed our 2 br at OKW...and the 1BR is exactly the same layout of the master and living room (just without the second bedroom)..

the only problem? you're going to be ruined for a regular hotel room after this

While I appreciate people want to upgrade for all the extra facility I can't believe many would just for the washer, the difference in price is £630 for a 2 week stay Oct 2012, £630 to use a washer in your room instead of walking 50 yards and use for free. Do they offer a laundry service? that would cost less.

 

[crabbie1]

If just 2 of you then studio is big enough if you afterall how much time will you spend in the room? As wayne said not worth upgrading just for a washer especially as they are rarely busy and are free. Depends on what room u want and if you intend to cook at all? Having a 2 bedroom seems ridiculous if just for 2 people i can think of better ways to spend the money. There is a sofa bed in the lounge as well. Stayed at both and would not return to ssr but just my personal choice. I know lots on here love ssr good location to dtd though but okw only a boatride away.

 

[disneyholic family]

While I appreciate people want to upgrade for all the extra facility I can't believe many would just for the washer, the difference in price is £630 for a 2 week stay Oct 2012, £630 to use a washer in your room instead of walking 50 yards and use for free. Do they offer a laundry service? that would cost less.

i might....i said in my first post that i would upgrade if money were no object..

i know someone who upgraded their room at canyon ranch in tucson arizona just because of the in-room washer/dryer..
and the difference in cost in that case was several thousand dollars for a week....(the two suites were essentially the same at canyon ranch except for the washer/dryer)...

everyone has different things that drive them....
i didn't upgrade in tucson, but i might at OKW....i REALLY hate going to that communal laundry room...i hate having to wait around....i hate it when people toss your clothes out of the machine if you're not there (i've seen that happen at every disney resort).....i love being able to just wash a few things at a time at whatever pace i want to wash them.....
i can understand that other people don't feel inconvenienced by using the communal laundry room, but i really really really hate it....

a difference of £630 for 2 weeks of staying in a more luxurious suite actually is worth it to me...doesn't seem like all that much to pay for what an OKW 1 BR suite has to offer...
but that's me, Wayne.....we've always had pretty big differences of opinion when it comes to spending on rooms..
and that's what's so great about orlando - so many different options to choose from

 

[disneyholic family]

If just 2 of you then studio is big enough if you afterall how much time will you spend in the room? As wayne said not worth upgrading just for a washer especially as they are rarely busy and are free. Depends on what room u want and if you intend to cook at all?
Having a 2 bedroom seems ridiculous if just for 2 people i can think of better ways to spend the money. There is a sofa bed in the lounge as well. Stayed at both and would not return to ssr but just my personal choice. I know lots on here love ssr but good location to dtd?

we're talking about a 1 br vs studio, not a 2 br vs studio..

 

[catherine]

I agree with PPs who've said that they wouldn't upgrade just for the washer and drier. Like i said earlier when I've used the laundry rooms they've never been busy and I've never had anyone take my clothes out of the machines. Having said that I love the 1 and 2 bedroom villas for the space, the jacuzzi bath etc. if those things are important to you and you don't mind paying the extra then go with a 1 bedroom. If however you won't be cooking at the villa and will be spending most of your time at the parks then I would go with a studio!

 

[arielrocks]

Oooooo I forgot about the amazing bathrooms 1bed have!!

Tbh I am leaning towards the 1 bed now......save all year for a holiday might as well have the extra luxury....

Old key west seems very popular. Anyone got any info on the resorts atmosphere? Is it chilled out like the real key west?

 

[mcarthur205]

I would upgrade to the one bedroom villa for the washer/dryer and the bigger bathroom with jacuzzi and separate shower. Oh, and the kitchen too even though we don't cook much! We have stayed in a studio at SSR, a one bedroom at BWV and BCV and a two bedroom at SSR and would find it difficult in a regular hotel room now LOL.

I hate using the communal laundry rooms, I've used them at several non-DVC Disney resorts and I don't like having to pay (I know this isn't an issue at DVC resorts). I've also experienced putting clothes in the machine and going to the pool, and when I return my clothes have been removed and left on top of the machine. This is very irritating, especially if there are no available dryers because someone else is using two (or more).

I'd much rather pay the extra money and avoid this hassle on holiday.

 

[joolz1910]

We rarely wash on holiday .

Sorry Wayne, I couldn't resist.

 

[crabbie1]

we're talking about a 1 br vs studio, not a 2 br vs studio..

Yes I know you are. I was simply pointing out that although the other person may stay in a one bedroom and you commented on having 2 bedroom I would not personally pay for a two bedroom but that is my personal opinion Beth and I dont find it an issue going to the laundry and using the free facilities.Never had clothes thrown out and always managed to do it at night or early morning with DD in the pool. If I had the money maybe I would splash out but for the amount of time we spend in a room I cannot justify it. However because my mom is coming this year we are having a one bedroom as I want some privacy and four in a studio will be a bit of a squash.

 

[disneyholic family]

Yes I know you are. I was simply pointing out that although the other person may stay in a one bedroom and you commented on having 2 bedroom I would not personally pay for a two bedroom but that is my personal opinion Beth and I dont find it an issue going to the laundry and using the free facilities.Never had clothes thrown out and always managed to do it at night or early morning with DD in the pool. If I had the money maybe I would splash out but for the amount of time we spend in a room I cannot justify it. However because my mom is coming this year we are having a one bedroom as I want some privacy and four in a studio will be a bit of a squash.

each time we've stayed at OKW it's been for 3 weeks...
when we visit WDW it's always for a long liesurely visit...not commando park hopping..so we actually do spend a lot of time in the room - especially since DH works while we're there (he works 24/7/365)....

also, i cook at least about half of the meals in the room....mainly because it's tiresome eating in restaurants 3 meals a day for 3 weeks...