OKW or SSR? Opinions Please..

[Mich Mouse]

Hi All,

We currently have ressies at BWV for the first four nights in a 2 BR, and three nights at SSR.

OKW is currently available for the three nights as well. Which would be a better choice? SSR or OKW? We will have a car, but it seems SSR is a bit out of the way, and not as nicely landscaped/themed as OKW.

Any opinions?

 

[Chuck S]

Either resort should work for you, SSR and OKW have roughly the same advantages and disadvantages as far as location on property, just as BWV and BCV have approximately equal locations. OKW has larger rooms, and the landscaping has grown in, while SSR is still new plantings. SSR is closer to DtD and Typhoon Lagoon, if that is of any importance to your trip. But both resorts are within a mile of each other. OKW has a full service restaurant, SSR is opening a restaurant next month, and has a food court, which OKW does not have.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Thanks. I didn't know SSR had a food court. That was one thing I did not like about BWV...No self serve coffee- soda refill stations.

A small issue obviously since we are thrilled to be returning there again.

Anyone else? OKW or SSR?

 

[seabright1]

Like you said, OKW is nicely themed and landscaped.
Stayed at Saratoga Springs and did not like it.

 

[jwfla422]

Like you said, OKW is nicely themed and landscaped.
Stayed at Saratoga Springs and did not like it.

Why didn't you like SSR??

 

[Mich Mouse]

I am also interested, why didn't you like SSR?

When we visited it seemed very sparse....with more pavement that any other resort.

 

[CMedley78]

I have stayed at both resorts, but I LOVE SSR. The rooms are beautiful (and NEW), the grounds are beautiful, and the place is just so peaceful. We were there in April and I was not disappointed one bit. I am SO happy that is my home resort. There are a variety of pool areas to choose from, so if you want a quieter afternoon, you can spend time by the pool next to your building. The main pool is great, too. I thought the food was really good at the food court, and I can't wait to try to new Turf Club restaurant the next time we go down. Also, if you request Congress Park, you are right on the path to take the 5 minute walk to DTD and the buses that can take you to any other resort if you like. I really can't say enough about the resort, but I can say I liked it much better than OKW. Also, I had no problem with the bus service and it is no more out of the way than OKW is. Everyone will have their own opinions, but I highly recommend SSR.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Since becoming members on '04 we have only stayed at OKW (even though SSR is our home) in order to stretch our points to make 3 trips (plus we love the extra space!). After spending a good amount of time at SSR between the pool , spa , gameroom & Artist Palette we decided to do an add on & will be staying there in Sept. for the first time .

We feel the resort is maturing nicely & are so glad SSR is our home . The theming is very different between OKW & SSR & we love them both. We always rent a car & prefer the outside entrances of these properties to the others.

SSR & OKW are only seperated by LBV golf course so IMO location is virtually a toss up.

I think the best choice would depend on who you are traveling with (kids? ages? solo? adults only?) and what things are important to you in a resort.

Whatever you choose I hope you enjoy!

 

[spiceycat]

okw is lay back, relax - like kw...

ssr is not. It is much fancier than OKW. DVC spend some money and it shows... have you send it?

OKW studio has 2 queen beds, SSR has the 1 queen and double sleeper sofa.

the 1-bedroom and up at OKW is alot bigger than any of the other WDW DVC resorts.

 

[thelobstershanty]

We have stayed at both resorts and both are nice. If you are going to have a 1 br or larger, I would go with OKW. The 1 br is much larger at OKW. We also like the bar better at OKW. There is something so "in character" of Key West about the Gurgling Suitcase. We love it there, great bartenders.

 

[dsneygirl]

I preferred SSR, DH OKW. Our room at SSR was spotless and looked like it had never been used. Our room at OKW was looking a little tired and was a bit musty smelling.

Loved being able to walk to DTD in just a few minutes.

 

[mom2rb]

I preferred SSR, DH OKW.

This is how it is in my family also. You can't go wrong at either.

 

[thelobstershanty]

dsneygirl,
I just noticed your baby countdown and tomorrow is the big day! Congratulations and wishing you and the little bundle of joy all the best!!!

 

[dsneygirl]

dsneygirl,
I just noticed your baby countdown and tomorrow is the big day! Congratulations and wishing you and the little bundle of joy all the best!!!

Thank you so much

 

[seabright1]

I am also interested, why didn't you like SSR?

When we visited it seemed very sparse....with more pavement that any other resort.

That is one of my observation. The pavement/concrete area is just overpowering. To me Saratoga Springs felt somehow more like a "motel" or an "apartment complex"than a resort. Don't get me wrongthough, there are areas that are nice..like the hospitality center..but then again,whenever I am in (apartment)building I felt like I was so detatched from that nicer area (or that magical experience I felt at the other resort). For me, the build quality is also not there. I can go on and on..but maybe your experience and other DVC member's experience will be (or was) different.
I am just stating my point of view.

 

[thelobstershanty]

That is one of my observation. The pavement/concrete area is just overpowering. To me Saratoga Springs felt somehow more like a "motel" or an "apartment complex"than a resort. Don't get me wrongthough, there are areas that are nice..like the hospitality center..but then again,whenever I am in (apartment)building I felt like I was so detatched from that nicer area (or that magical experience I felt at the other resort). For me, the build quality is also not there. I can go on and on..but maybe your experience and other DVC member's experience will be (or was) different.
I am just stating my point of view.

seabright,
I have read quite a few of your posts regarding your opinion of SSR. I do somewhat agree with your feelings that SSR is not as "up to the same level" as the other DVC resorts. I also agree that SSR is a huge resort and is having a huge impact on the DVC membership in regards to booking; due to it's size.
I do think, DVC cut corners when building SSR to save costs and then raised the buy in cost--for DVC villas that are less than the existing DVC resorts.
We were not happy to see how DVC cut costs at SSr.
However, what I do not understand is how you can say SSR is not a resort. We find all WDW resorts to be very much resorts. This includes from the values up to the deluxe resorts, with the DVC resorts included.
How can you not consider SSR a resort is beyond my comprehension. It is most certainly a resort, and a very nice one, at that.
It may not appeal to you, which is fine, but it is still a nice resort.
I also can not understand how SSR is an apt complex with too much concerte. I can see calling SSR a condo resort, but an apt complex--I can not see it.
We recently stayed at SSR and did not find it to have too much concrete and we commented on how well grown the trees and shrubs were considering how new the resort was. That was our take on the landscaping at SSR, but YMMV.
What I really can not understand is how you can be so pro OKW and anti-SSR. We find the resorts to be very much alike. We do prefer the size of OKW's 1 br+, but for a studio we would pick SSR. We do not like not having a sofa--but when we stay in a studio it is always just 2 people.
We do like Olivias at OKW and their pool bar, but other than that we find both resorts to be pretty much the same.
They are both very alike resorts, with the same location, design, amenities, etc. Both are very nice resorts and both are very different from the park/hotel DVC resorts.
I do agree that the villas at OKW have advantages that have been cut at SSR. The silly hallways are a prefect example.
BUT, you make SSR out to be less than a roach motel on I-95; and that is far, far from the truth. It is also a very unfair and untrue impression to give to people, that are visiting this board for facts about WDW resorts.
I think everyone is very aware of your feelings regarding SSR. It is your opinion and you entitled to it. But imo, you have to make your posts regarding SSR--less personal and more factual.
BTW, we do not have SSR or OKW as our home resorts, so this is a completely unbiased opinion.

 

[HUFF590]

We were not happy to see how DVC cut costs at SSr.

I have only stayed at OKW HHI and SSR but found that I like SSR the best, just my opinion . But where did DVC cut corners with SSR ? I know I havent stayed in Heaven oh I mean BCV so I would like to know.

 

[Sammie]

I have only stayed at OKW HHI and SSR but found that I like SSR the best, just my opinion . But where did DVC cut corners with SSR ? I know I havent stayed in Heaven oh I mean BCV so I would like to know.

I have to agree, after staying at all the DVC resorts, I saw no evidence of cost cutting measures at SSR. The furnishings in the room, are top quality. The new sofa beds are wonderful and SSR was the first DVC resort to go to pillow top mattress, just like those used at the Ritz Carlton. The counter tops in the kitchen were much more upscale.

More money was invested in sound proofing due to the location near DD, and I can vouch that it is the quiestest DVC resort we have ever stayed in.

So I too would be interested in knowing where the cost cutting areas are.

 

[thelobstershanty]

I have to agree, after staying at all the DVC resorts, I saw no evidence of cost cutting measures at SSR. The furnishings in the room, are top quality. The new sofa beds are wonderful and SSR was the first DVC resort to go to pillow top mattress, just like those used at the Ritz Carlton. The counter tops in the kitchen were much more upscale.

More money was invested in sound proofing due to the location near DD, and I can vouch that it is the quiestest DVC resort we have ever stayed in.

So I too would be interested in knowing where the cost cutting areas are.

I have stated our opinions on how DVC cut costs at SSR is another thread on this board.
I have to disagree that SSR is the quietest DVC resort. We had a lovely villa in Congress Park. We loved the view of DTD and were quite happy with our villa. However, it was the noisiest DVC villa we have ever had. The music and noise from PI went on until 2 AM, especially on Fri and Sat nights. This did not bother us because we are very much DVC members that prefer resorts with a lot of activity, but our villa at SSR was without a doubt the noisiest DVC villa we have ever stayed at. And we are big BWV fans that get the boardwalk view villas whenever we can. I have read countless posts about how noisey boardwalk view villas are. We found the CP SSR villas facing DTD to be much, much noise, for a much longer period of time, then we have ever experienced at BCV, BWV, VWL and most certainly OKW.
I did not mean to give the impression that we did not enjoy our trip to SSR. We did very much.
What is so funny is, I was posting in defense of SSR and trying to convey how much we did like SSR. However, DVC has continued to cut cost with SSR. The buildings at SSR, although very nice with great furniture lack ice vending machines and trash rooms on every floor, but instead have one for the entire building. The outdoor hallways, greatly detract from the beauty of the buildings, etc.
We like SSR and would stay there again, but we do feel as though they cut corners and costs when building lSSR. YMMV.

 

[HUFF590]

I remember the noise at PI but I also remember closing the balcony door how quite it got, now I am a good sleeper so maybe it would bother someone but the bus noise at OKW was very loud also( of course I slept through that also) but a few less trash rooms (less smell) and a few less ice makers(less noise) doesnt seem much like cutting corners IMOP,I love all the resorts ,just did not seem SSR had ANY corners cut.