OKW or SSR?

[ASMwishes]

We've decided to book directly through Disney instead of renting DVC points for this trip. We are staying at either OKW or SSR. Going to book as soon as I can and keep my fingers crossed we can apply next years spring rates when they are released!! We've stayed at OKW and loved it! Heard wonderful things about SSR but have never been. Which resort would you pick between these two and why?


Also, do they offer discounts rates to Disney Visa members before the general public?

 

[jmkjr72]

We own okw and have stayed at both
Bus service was better at okw
We like Olivias over the restraunt at ssr
There are more elevator at ssr
Like the theme better at okw but then again I was born in saratoga springs

I would stay at okw because of the bus and the restraunt

 

[Deb & Bill]

OKW has the largest villas of all the DVC resorts. It also has the largest and nicest porch of all (the rest are basically just a long space about three to four feet wide). SSR is a quick walk to Disney Springs, OKW is also walkable during the day , but not at night (the path isn't lit). SSR has three themed pools with water play areas for younger kids, while OKW has one themed pool but three more neighborhood pool (unthemed). Congress Park at SSR also has an unthemed pool. If you need a real food court, neither really has one, but Artists Palette is more "food courty" than Goods to Go which is more like pool side dining on a few picnic tables. OKW two bedrooms all have two queen beds in the second bedroom plus a twin sized sleeper chair in the living room (with the queen sleeper sofa). SSR doesn't have the twin sleeper chair and the SSR lockoffs have one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa in the second bedroom.

 

[ASMwishes]

We own okw and have stayed at both
Bus service was better at okw
We like Olivias over the restraunt at ssr
There are more elevator at ssr
Like the theme better at okw but then again I was born in saratoga springs

I would stay at okw because of the bus and the restraunt

We are from (and still live in) the Saratoga Springs area too!! ''Small world''

 

[Angeliki19]

Hi! We may be choosing between these two as well. I have young kids and want to know:

1) Which is more appealing (pool areas, arcades, etc) for little kids?
2) Which is more convenient to the parks (especially Epcot and Magic Kingdom)?

 

[theyoungs07]

Hi! We may be choosing between these two as well. I have young kids and want to know:

1) Which is more appealing (pool areas, arcades, etc) for little kids?
2) Which is more convenient to the parks (especially Epcot and Magic Kingdom)?

One thing that I take into account with my young kids...OKW does not have elevators in most of the buildings, which means that there is a good chance that you'll have to get kids out of a stroller and up steps to your room.
I've only stayed at SSR and they have two themed pool areas that are great for little ones.

 

[jmkjr72]

We are from (and still live in) the Saratoga Springs area too!! ''Small world''

Then if you stay there or visit there you will understand what I mean about the theme

But also okw isclose to 20 years older then ssr

I would say neither one is better for park aces unless it's bus then okw seems better
Never payed any attention to arcades

Years ago one of the activities at okw for the kids was a cane pole fishing trip to port Orleans

 

[iheartdisney44]

I may be biased because SSR was the first resort we stayed at in 2006 and is our DVC home, but I would stay there again and again! I have stayed at Bay Lake and enjoyed walking to MK but it feels more like a hotel and SSR feels like my home away from home. We really enjoy walking to Disney Springs which we do quite frequently while we are there. I have 5 children and they also love SSR. The pools are nice and big, there are several play areas, and they still love the arcade. Last trip they won a Nintendo DS from the arcade! I also love the Senses spa at SSR and it's worth the splurge in my opinion. Overall, it's pretty quiet and feels like a breath of fresh air coming home from a long day at the park. Bus service to the parks is about 10-20 minutes and I've never had an issue with overcrowding (again, maybe I've gotten really lucky since we go mostly in the winter, but even the week of New Year's I've not had any issues)
I wouldn't recommend the Treehouses. They add a good 10-20 minutes travel time to get anywhere and even walking to get coffee in the morning was a haul! We also had ants in our treehouse and snakes in our stroller...Yikes! Still, I love SSR and will stay there as often as I can!