OKW or Saratoga Springs?

[tinks_1989]

Sounds like a great way to relax of an evening
Thinking of requesting Congress Park, I assume that's where that photo was taken from?

Yea right in front of the Congress Park swimming pool!

Personally I like it that Saratoga Springs doesn't appeal to every one I don't know about you guys but I love Animal Kingdom Lodge Grand Floridian etc but I wouldn't like to stay in a hotel where there are loads of people that aren't staying at the hotel all the time. I think that's what makes SSR more relaxing and more appealing to us.

 

[wayneg]

OKW, though, was the original DVC resort and, from what I've seen, the rooms need updating.

Although I couldn't fault our room before update the ongoing update should be complete by Spring 2011(unless this has changed)

 

[LeeDolling]

Its all 100% down to personal choice.

April 2009 we booked for Sept 2011 - after lots of research on the internet and reading threads like this about the two resorts we booked OKW.

Fast forward to Sept 2009 - We were staying in Conorado Springs, had a meal booked at DTD and about 3 hours to kill before the reservation. We drove to OKW and had a look around. We thought it was really nice and we were really looking forward to our visit. It actually reminded us of Conorado Springs where we were staying only with a different theme.

We then went to Saratoga Springs - We immediately realised that we preferred the feel of the resort to OKW, it just felt newer and more plush and dare I say it more grand. In a way it reminded us of Animal Kingdom Lodge where we had stayed in 2008. We also had a look around and decided that we would look at changing our booking when we got home. However we were hoping to convince some friends to join us with 2 children and we didn't want to change the booking in case they decided to come and they would prefer OKW, so we waited.

As time went by it came to be that our friends did book, but they booked a Villa at SSR but in August because they didn't want to take the kids out of school. We couldn't face going during the busier times and we already had our flights and other stuff booked.

I phoned to pay off some of the holiday in early 2010 and I asked if we could change the resort to SSR from OKW. The woman wasn't massively helpful - the first time I have ever experienced that with disney - and wasn't sure it was possible and if it was we would have to pay a really big admin charge for swapping. We decided that we were just going to stick with what we had and maybe go to SSR another time.

We phoned to pay off the balance this weekend and I mentioned to the woman on the phone that we really wanted to stay at SSR but I guess its fully booked and there would be a huge admin charge to change. She was so helpful, a few minutes of general chit chat later and she had priced up the change of resort for us. To change to SSR from OKW for the same dates, same type of accomadation, same park tickets, DDP etc was goign to cost us exactly £0.

Both are lovely resorts - we just preferred SSR when we looked around them both. SSR being close to DTD was also nice as I have never drunk in Disney as I am always driving so it will be nice to go out for a meal and not have to worry about the car or drinking for once

 

[Disneymad]

My personal preference is SSR. The odd thing about this resort is when I visited it just for a snoop around I thought it was rubbish - it felt all spread out and no character. It wasn't until I was all but forced to stay there (last minute trip and that's all that was available) that I actually realised that it's a super resort and has oodles of charm - it's just not obvious from the outside!

OKW is a wonderful resort too though. It has beautiful landscaping and feels tucked away from it all, a quiet reprieve from the mayhem of the parks. It's also the oldest of the DVC resorts and as such it feels more friendly - it's hard to explain, but there is just a really nice atmosphere there I think, not just due to the resort but due to the type of guest it attracts.

It doesn't really help with your decision but which ever resort you end up staying at, it'll be lovely - it's win-win

 

[kevin harrison]

I didn't think that SSR would be the more popular here.

If I do it, I am edging to a 1 bed villa aat OKW.

How far is OKW to Downtown Disney? we will have a car.

 

[diddldonna]

I received an e-mail from virgin offering me the upgrade to SSR or OKW, At first i thought it was too good to be true so i came here. WHY is this being offered? I don't want to get too excited incase it doesn't happen.

 

[luke]

I received an e-mail from virgin offering me the upgrade to SSR or OKW, At first i thought it was too good to be true so i came here. WHY is this being offered? I don't want to get too excited incase it doesn't happen.

There's about 2 threads not far below this talking about it, so certainly not too good to be true

 

[diddldonna]

There's about 2 threads not far below this talking about it, so certainly not too good to be true

So an upgrade from port orleans riverside is good right? We have only ever stayed at the movies and wanted to try riverside for the first time September. I am feeling a bit unsure at moment and know you will all help and explain things, lol.

 

[luke]

So an upgrade from port orleans riverside is good right? We have only ever stayed at the movies and wanted to try riverside for the first time September. I am feeling a bit unsure at moment and know you will all help and explain things, lol.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2499747

A few theories why the upgrades, as well as those in favour of, and against upgrading

 

[diddldonna]

Thanks its so hard to choose between the two, lol.

 

[diddldonna]

Food Court Question? We are on the QSDP and used the food courts i see that SSR only has this. Whats on offer at OKW using QSDP can we get cereal etc. onsite?

 

[dbriggsq]

I didn't think that SSR would be the more popular here.

If I do it, I am edging to a 1 bed villa aat OKW.

How far is OKW to Downtown Disney? we will have a car.

By car - less than 5 mins. There's also a very relaxing boat ride which leaves every 20 mins I think and takes about 15 mins altogether.

To walk from the nearest units at SSR takes about 15 mins and I think some of the units would be too far to walk from