OKW or SSR?

[Lexilulu]

We are trying to decide where to stay next. Our home resort is AKV and we tried BLT. We would love to try OKW and SSR but can't decide which one to try first. Any advice.

 

[magicaldisney]

These two resorts have things in common. They are both condo style resorts, with outdoor entrances to your room. They are both larger resorts with multiple bus stops within the resort. Both resorts have wonderful restaurants.

OKW has bigger rooms and now the one bedrooms allow five people.

SSR now has two themed pools and offers a quick service for dining options. It is also within walking distance of DTD.

 

[nolanboys]

We love both resorts. Stayed in a THV this past march with the whole family and dh and I went alone this past September and stayed in a studio at OKW. The rooms are larger at OKW and the points are a steal. SSR has great proximity to DTD and has a great new feature pool. Both resorts have many positives going for them - maybe you should just flip a coin!

 

[DenLo]

We just stayed at OKW and I was impressed with the size of the studio. But we were on the third floor and no elevator. That got old quick. DH kept saying he would feel sorry for any families with young children because every night coming home from the parks they'd have to carry the children up to the villa and then bring up the stroller.

Only three buildings have elevators--all on Miller Road. So you can request a building with an elevator or a first floor room, but it's strictly a request.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I love both resort!

OKW-The landscaping and tropical feel is fantastic, especially if you like to walk around. The villas are the largest of the resorts (easily fit 1 or 2 air mattresses) and the 1 and 2brs have a wonderful full size balcony that counts as another living space. We love to have cocktails or breakfast out on the balcony. We also grill out by the quiet pools. Olivia's, is casual, has good food, you must try the Key Lime Pie and Olivia's Breakfast Potatoes. We've rented pontoon and paddle boats at OKW and taken a tour of the waterway by the Tree Houses, etc. The Guirgling Suitcase is a good spot to get a Pina Colada.

SSR-The grounds are also lovely. We are partial to the Congress Park location. We've requested a DTD view 3 times and received it, it's beautiful day or night and you can walk to and back from DTD. The Turf Club has good food and we've always gotten in w/out ADR's, excellent prime rib and lamb. Now there's also a second theme pool at Paddock, something new to check out.

We love the proximity of both resorts to DTD. Nothing like taking the boat to Girardeli's for ice cream after dinner.

I've heard complaints about lack of Disney Theming and this I don't understand, these 2 resort have the same things as all other DVC resort, hidden Mickey's , Disney activites for the kids. Does the fact that you can see Epcot from across the lagoon give a resort Disney theming, no, at least not IMO!

You can't go wrong with either! Good luck with your choice.

 

[CMOORE185]

These two resorts have things in common. They are both condo style resorts, with outdoor entrances to your room. They are both larger resorts with multiple bus stops within the resort. Both resorts have wonderful restaurants.

OKW has bigger rooms and now the one bedrooms allow five people.

SSR now has two themed pools and offers a quick service for dining options. It is also within walking distance of DTD.

SSR now has three themed pools, the main pool, one by Grandstand area, and the new one in the Paddock area. Maybe you do not consider the one by Grandstand themed?

I love the look of the buildings and the wide open grounds area at SSR much better than the OKW surroundings. I also love the view of the golf course and downtown area.

 

[DizGirl20]

First of all, let me disclose that we have never stayed at SSR. We stayed at OKW a few years ago and loved it. In fact, we bought into DVC because of our stay in a 1 bedroom at OKW! I would choose a stay at OKW over SSR b/c I find the tropical theme more appealing and because the rooms at Old Key West are H-U-G-E! I don't think you can go wrong either way, especially now that SSR has the new pool... hmmmm. Happy Planning!

 

[Anna114]

We have stayed at both. I like OKW much better. The only things I don't like about OKW it's very spread out, but so is SSR. Also, when staying in a studio, there are two beds and no couch. I prefer a couch. It's one of the reasons we went DVC. I want certain creature comforts. Back to the conversation at hand. I like the feel and atmosphere of OKW better.

 

[Fatalbie]

We have stayed at both with varying party sizes and makeup. Knowing the party size/makeup may help tip the scales to one or the other, at least for me.

With smaller children I think SSR has more appealing amenities easily accessible in outlying areas of the resort.

OKW rooms are much bigger and just rehabbed.

Both offer a nice boat ride to DTD.

Both offer very similar experiences with different themes. Pick one and you should be happy!!!

Jim

 

[makthompson]

I havent stayed at OKW but I've been at SSR a few times now and if you have kids they would love SSR. there is a movie by the pool every night, they can roast marshmallows, they have poolside games and activities for the kids and family. There are free video games and ping pong tables...my kids wanted to stay and do those things rather than go to the parks...lol

 

[ddoconnell]

Love both resorts! It just depends on the vibe you are looking for in a resort. OKW has the laid back feel of Key West while SSR has a more "Adult" feel but it is still great!

If you are looking for comfort and space though I would have to go with OKW all the way! SSR has nice villas but they are not as big as the OKW ones...even the GV's are bigger feeling!

OH! And the points are alot less for OKW so you could stay longer....always a good option!!!

Good luck with your decision!!

 

[eporter66]

It's probably due to my "homesickness", but I am really looking forward to going to SSR next year. I have not stayed at our home resort since 2004, (my wife had two girl trips where she has stayed). As much as we enjoyed staying at AKV, I think I need to go home the next trip.

Obviously they are both in the same location, and the rooms at OKW are a little bigger. I do like the look/landscaping of SSR, it just suites my eye a little better.

Don't think you can go wrong with either one, and I believe OKW will save you on points for the same room type. I love being able to walk over to DTD from SSR, that is a nice bonus for me. I prefer walking to talking the bus or boat.

 

[sweetdana]

We just stayed at OKW and I was impressed with the size of the studio. But we were on the third floor and no elevator. That got old quick. DH kept saying he would feel sorry for any families with young children because every night coming home from the parks they'd have to carry the children up to the villa and then bring up the stroller.

Only three buildings have elevators--all on Miller Road. So you can request a building with an elevator or a first floor room, but it's strictly a request.

Some how this bit of info I hadn't read. I had thought it would be garenteed, if you needed it. What if you have a new born, a stoller, a tired 7 yr old, and 3 bags of park goodies? I could not image having a high end resort with no elevator. Even POR has elev. Do they consider kids ages when going through room requests? I cannot imagine even thinking of staying here until it is DH and I alone, or kids are over 10.

 

[sweetdana]

I don't usually answer when I haven't stayed at both, but I will add.. I LOVE SSR. The new pool, moved it up to 10000% our 2nd fav resort. (If the added a kids club, it would be #1.) Now all rooms have a pool and bus stop reasonable walking dist. The views are all beautiful. The walk to DTD for dinner is heavenly. The atmostphere at Artists Pallet is amazing every morning for coffee.

I cannot state all the lovely things about OKW, but I can say, with the new pool at SSR, I cannot imagine an unsatisfied SSR customer now.

 

[lisa3635]

We like SSR much better than OKW. I do like that the studio at OKW have 2 beds instead of a pull out. The points are less at OKW too but I like the decor and common areas at SSR better.

 

[KBoopaloo]

We just got back from our first stay at OKW and at the end we all agreed that while we really liked the setup of the studio rooms at OKW, overall we preferred SSR.

We found the counter service at OKW to be crowded and very limited. It was free dining time and though we were not on the dining plan, it seemed everyone else was so Goods to Go was ALWAYS crowded.

The pool at OKW was nice but again, we preferred SSR (and we haven't stayed there since they redid the Paddock Pool, I am basing this only on the original feature pool). We also liked the pool bar at SSR. At OKW, the only option was the Gurgling Suitcase which was again quite small.

We also LOVED being able to walk to DTD from SSR though we also enjoyed the boat from OKW.

I think if we were staying for a full week, with a grocery delivery and plans to eat lots of breakfasts in the room, etc, we would have liked OKW more but we were there for 3 nights and treated it more like a regular resort stay than a DVC stay.

We also found the buses at OKW seemed to take FOREVER. I am normally not one to complain about the buses even at the resorts with multiple stops (POR is one of my favorite resorts despite the multiple bus stops within the resort) but we felt like we rode around OKW forever before we were actually on our way to the parks.

 

[DenLo]

Some how this bit of info I hadn't read. I had thought it would be garenteed, if you needed it. What if you have a new born, a stoller, a tired 7 yr old, and 3 bags of park goodies? I could not image having a high end resort with no elevator. Even POR has elev. Do they consider kids ages when going through room requests? I cannot imagine even thinking of staying here until it is DH and I alone, or kids are over 10.

No it's strictly a request. Keep in mind people in ECVs request 1st floors (as they don't really need a handicapped room or an elevator building, people with problems walking stairs and families. There just would not be enough villas that are on the first floor or have elevators in the building that cover all of those people making the request.

When moving in or out of a villa bell services will carry your luggage up and down the stairs and on departure even load up your vehicle or move everything to hospitality house for your ME departure.

As to your surprise, about the elevators I was shocked myself. That seemed poor planning on DVCs part in early 90s. But many OKW lovers don't seem to mind.