OKW or Saratoga?

higgy66

<font color=deeppink>I have to force myself to go
Joined
Jun 20, 2006
Messages
1,887
Help! I'm wanting to book this week but just can't decided which resort. I haven't had a PC for months so even went to the trouble to borrow a lap top so I could get onto the disboards and ask your advice before we make out final decision!

So please if anyone has been to either, or better still, both please could you tell us the good and bad.

We won't be bothering with a car again so we'll be using the Disney transort.

We have 2 DDs who will be almost 9&8 when we go next October.

Many thanks in advance
 
Only stayed at OKW (twice) just can't fault it but we have a car and don't use the onsite CS. These seem to be 2 main concerns. 1 the size of it, get a building far away from the Hospitality house/main pool and its either a long walk or a bus to get there. Last year we were maybe 15 mins walk away, this year just 5 mins. but we only walked twice for DISmeets, we have no reason to go near the centre of the resort. Other is the CS option, just a little kiosk, we don't eat there so doesn't bother us, 2-3 min drive to POR, POFQ or DTD. using buses this might be more of an issue.
Looked around SSR and prefer OKW theming but people that stay there like it.
If we stay onsite again next Aug it will be OKW.
 
Another big thumbs up for Old Key West for us. Our daughter is 8 and just loved the resort activities - pool games, crafts etc. We used the CS a good few times and it was fine - about six mains, ice creams for dessert :). We had a car but only used it for shopping runs - it sat there most of the holiday. The bus service was excellent - never had more than a fifteen min wait even when we just missed a bus.

We are already booked for next year :)
 
If you are looking at getting a studio then the main difference is the OKW has 2 queen beds and SSR has a queen bed and a double sleeper sofa.

The one bed both have a king bed in the master bedroom and queen sleeper in the living room.

Both are spread out resorts and both have boat to DTD.

SSR has the better CS option and you can walk to DTD.

Other than that the themeing that most appeals to you is the one to choose.
 

Only been to SSR but loved it, the 1 bed apartment was great, lots of space. We were in the grandstand which had its own quiet pool but was only a few minutes walk fom the main pool. The reason we chose this over OKW was the dining options, lovely sandwiches, flatbreads etc and plenty of inside space to eat in, great when you are there for lunch.

Our bus service was brilliant too, very ittle wait.

People seem to love them both dont think you can go wrong with either really !
 
We are booked for OKW first time this Oct.

Our reasons are we preferred the themeing, liked look when we visited last trip, 2 beds in a studio, DD liked look of slide.

Do you get a timetable of resort events? - my DD will love the crafts.
 
We came back from SSR a week ago and loved the place.

We loved the location but used the car to go to the parks so dont know what the buses were like.

We stayed in Congress Park which has the view of DTD at night and is lovely. We are going to stay there again next year.

Havent looked at OKW but my opinion was that it looked dated in comparison to SSR.

Next year we are staying in a one bed villa - whereas this year we stayed in a 2 bed. We loved having the washing machine, kitchen and whirlpool, whereas with the studo yu dont get those items.

Have fun deciding
 
Another vote for OKW. as the oldest of the resorts it has the most established grounds - and i think this shows. Although some people have found the resort dated i believe that all rooms should be renovated by early next year but I could be wrong.

We stayed in Building 64 (requested) last year in a 1 bed and had the most amazing time. the space in the OKW properties is much more than SSR and they just felt roomier (went to look at SSR and it was much smaller and just felt too new for us. If however, you are going for a studio and want to spend any time in the room maybe OKW loses out to SSR cause of the sofa in the studios there.

no problems with the CS meals - although we tended to get the boat to DTD or in th parks to use any CS meals and then ate in the room (full kitchen with ice on tap!!) when we were at the resort - Never tried Olivias last time so cant comment but have booked 9 nights onsite for my 40th and have upgraded to the DDDP so we will defo try out for bfast.

Hope this helps

Jim

hope this helps

J
 
As a OKW DVC member I have only stayed there once and asked to be moved as we hated the resort, but dont let my comments put you off as Ive not met many people who have dis liked the resort, so I would opt for SSR which I have done for next year.
 
I am biased. I am a DVC member at OKW since 1992 and I love it. Beautiful resort, olivias restaurant is fun. Agreed goods to go is not great but by golly the 1 beds at OKW are so much bigger it is amazing. When i first viewed SSR it looked like a motel to me with the concrete corridors. From all reports read (and experience at OKW) I think the bus service is much better at OKW.
 
dixonsontour said:
We are booked for OKW first time this Oct.

Our reasons are we preferred the themeing, liked look when we visited last trip, 2 beds in a studio, DD liked look of slide.

Do you get a timetable of resort events? - my DD will love the crafts.

yes you get a monthly schedule which has everything in it! There was a small charge for materials for some things - tshirt printing etc.

It was brilliant ESP the pool games and dancing for kids.

Have fun
 
So please if anyone has been to either, or better still, both please could you tell us the good and bad.

We have stayed at both resorts, and for us, we would personally choose SSR over OKW.

We had a 1BR at SSR, and a studio over at OKW.

With OKW, we had two major issues - the counter service and size of the room. If you read the statistics on OKW, you will see that the studio rooms have more physical spaces than any of the other deluxe villa resorts. However, the studio rooms are all end rooms on corners of blocks, which means that the room is more a square shape, with a triangle on one end, as opposed to the basic rectangular shape of other studios, like at SSR. The upshot of it is that we found that the room *felt* smaller, even though it have more physical square foot size.

2 beds is a bonus, but it all depends on the size of the family. We are 3 adults, and we are quite happy with just a queen and the sofa bed, which we rarely actually pull out. Mum is usually quite happy to crash on the sofa, as a sofa! So, the extra bed is not really of concern for us, but could be a big plus if you have kids.

The counter service is also a problem, with no indoor seating to eat your meal. You can either sit outside under the umbrellas and eat, which is great unless the sun is up or it's raining, otherwise you have to take it back to your room. Again, great if you're nearby, not so great if you are miles away, especially if you have no car.

That said, if you were going for a 1BR, then personally we would actually overlook the things that we don't like about OKW and stay there, simply because of the sheer size of the 1BR apartments. Plus, with a 1BR, there's plenty of room in the kitchen to cook your own meals and not have to worry about the CS situation! :laughing:

We like SSR, although they will be starting the renovations soon (if not already) for the pool expansion. There is just something about SSR that captured our imagination, and it always feels like home now. Ironic really, since we only stayed at SSR because we had to - it was the only place our extra DVC points were valid!

SSR is probably just as spread out as OKW, although it doesn't feel quite so wide and far away. Due to the nature of the resort, there will, just like OKW, be places that are far away from the main hub of things. There is a good CS at SSR (with much better options than OKW) and has that all important indoor seating area!!!

Both sites have pools with slides, and quiet pools. They all have food and shops. It really comes down to personal choice, and whether you are going to be spending more time in your room, or whether you need it simply for a base.

Personally, if you want a studio, go SSR. If you want a 1BR, go OKW.
 
Thank you for all your replies.

As you can see from the sticker we've booked for SSR. It's not very often DH gets involved with the booking process but when I showed him the 2 options he fancied SSR. Like the previous poster he thought SSR oftered a better counter service, for the times we catch a snack at the resort, and again the studio layout looks better.

For me I was drawn to OKW but have to admit the description for SSR mentioned the pool was heated and I couldn't see this for OKW so that was a bonus for me plus the fact we could walk to DTD if we fancied that option.

Anyhow - all booked so we're very excited and as this is the first time my DH has shown any interest in the booking stage, if we have made the wrong choice you know who's fault it will be! :rotfl:

Just have to find cheap flights now for Oct 13 2011...........
 
Thank you for all your replies.

As you can see from the sticker we've booked for SSR.

Congrats on booking! You've made a great choice.

We arrived home last weekend from a 15-night stay at SSR. We loved it! The resort has such a nice atmosphere and the pool, transportation and restaurants were all very good. We might try OKW next year, or we may well go back to SSR. :)

When i first viewed SSR it looked like a motel to me with the concrete corridors.

Doesn't OKW have external corridors too? :confused3
 











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