OKW or SSR 1 bedroom?

[shaunacb]

Family of 5, kids ages 5-10 love pools/slides. Which resort 1BR (OKW or SSR) for four nights after a cruise in early January? Would likely be a resort-only stay... maybe a waterpark and mini golf. We will have a car. [Of note, we were also considering Vero Beach, but weren't sure about the weather early January for the beach?]

 

[The Jackal]

That’s tough. OKW has the largest 1 bedroom in the DVC lineup, plus you get a large balcony. SSR has the comfy Murphy style beds in the living room. Both have 1 bathroom. The 2 resorts are next to each other so distance to anything is about the same. Both have boat transportation to Disney Springs. Both have 4 pools, but SSR has 2 pools with large slides. It basically comes down to either more space or real beds to sleep on.

 

[DeeBee3]

I'm sure you know but don't count on the pools in January. I do love the idea of real beds at SSR because those couch beds are terrible. However, we did love the feel and "stuff to do" at OKW. We did not stay at OKW, just went to the resort to eat and walk around.

 

[Stargazer65]

It sounds like both have about equal merit. Since you have 5, you could show options and take a family vote.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

If you anticipate spending a lot of time in the room (which is a real possibility in January), then I vote OKW. The best one-bedrooms on property in my opinion! But, if your kids will swim no matter what the weather, then SSR has more and better options.

 

[CarolynFH]

I believe the 1 BR at OKW have the sleeper chair in the living room in addition to the fold out couch, so no more than 2 kids would have to share the couch. At SSR, some (most?) of the 1 BR have a bunk size Murphy bed in addition to the queen Murphy, but the points chart says not to count on that 5th sleeping space. Maybe having 5 guests listed on the reservation will mean you’d get one with the 5th space.

Also, at OKW some of the 1 BR have a bathroom entrance through the bedroom only, not from the living room, whereas some in the newer buildings have bathroom entries from both living room and bedroom. So that’s something else to consider.

 

[shaunacb]

I just learned that there is a High Rock Springs pool refurb for our dates at SSR (Paddock pool still open though)... maybe this gives a slight edge to OKW?

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

SSR has a kids water play area at the Paddock Pool with slides for kids 48 inches or less, in addition to the main Paddock Pool with water slide. My 6 yr old loves the kids water playgrounds, so for us, it's SSR over OKW for 1 bedrooms until he gets too tall. Plus SSR is walkable to Disney Springs instead of having to take the boat. Grandstand area has a sprayground, but it was closed instead of High Rocks Pool during our stay. My kids (ages 3 and 6) preferred the Paddock Pool area to High Rock anyways.

 

[dbadvisor]

One thing to consider with OKW having small children is the process to get to the food court. We stayed there last year and although we really loved the room (much more than at SSR), it was such a hassle to get from our villa back to grab an ice cream or snack.

 

[RoseGold]

I’d go AKL with this. Talk about something to do all day in a resort only stay, you’re in a zoo! And there’s an extra bathroom in the kidani 1BR.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I’d go AKL with this. Talk about something to do all day in a resort only stay, you’re in a zoo! And there’s an extra bathroom in the kidani 1BR.

Yeah I'd say Kidani or OKW. Saratoga 1BR have a storage problem. Not nearly enough drawers. I think 5 people is a stretch.

 

[Brian Noble]

Family of 5, kids ages 5-10 love pools/slides. Which resort 1BR (OKW or SSR) for four nights after a cruise in early January? Would likely be a resort-only stay... maybe a waterpark and mini golf.

Of those two, I'd lean to Old Key West. SSR is a "2nd generation" DVC resort, and those villas (together with BCV, VWL, and BWV) are very tight at full occupancy. OKW's 1BR is much bigger, the balcony is large enough to be enjoyed by more than one or two people at a time, and the balcony has entrances to both the living room and bedroom so that if the kids are asleep you can still get to fresh air.

The pools at SSR are nicer but (a) it's January and (b) as you noted High Rock is going to be closed for refurbishment. The CS location at SSR is also much nicer, but you have a car so that's much less of an issue.