OKW/SSR comparisons please

[Michele]

Our first DVC stay (with friends points they are not using this year) We are trying to decide between OKW and SSR. Just looking for opinions and comparison. Thanks

 

[Tigger031266]

Well it depends if you like quiet vacations with large rooms - that would be OKW.

Or like down town disney, night life, small rooms and have points to burn - SSR.

Both are nice. If you have kids, I would go OKW. If you like the night life, go SSR.

 

[beccasmom]

OKW has a very relaxed, quiet ambience. The rooms are very spacious. Bus service is fine, IMHO. There are quiet pools in each "neighborhood". Olivia's is the restaurant; service is exceptional and the menu, though recently revised, is quite good. There is boat service to SSR and DTD. There are some buildings with elevators.

SSR is a huge resort which is still under construction. The rooms are furnished beautifully, although not as large as at OKW. I think it is important to think about a car rental at this resort. We found the buses (on our November visit) to often be very crowded. Also, the distance from some of the areas (the Paddocks, for instance) to the main buildings/pool can be a lengthy one. There are quiet pools in each area. So, location is important here. The Springs and Congress Park are our preferences. The grounds are lovely and there is a spa. One can walk to DTD, a huge plus.

 

[prez65]

I stayed at OKW this June and wished I stayed at SSR....I wanted to save points and have a bigger room and that is why we chose OKW.....But when we were there we spent a lot of time in Downtown Disney and everytime we passed SSR...I kept thinking to myself how much nicer it would have been to stay there.....Not only being closer to DD but having a newer looking room.....But maybe it was just a case of the grass is greener on the other side syndrome! They are both very nice resorts......

 

[thelobstershanty]

What size villa are you staying in?? That will definitely have a bearing on our recommendation/opinion.

 

[drakethib]

I dont think you will be disappointed with either.

 

[starbox]

With 11 and 12 year old boys, how much time will they want to spend at DTD? Between the Pin Trading Central, Lego Store, Rainforest Cafe and Disney Quest - my DS9 thinks it is the greatest place EVER. With OKW you can take a boat to DTD, but SSR is close enough to walk (or you can boat) and you can see DTD from the resort.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Haven't stayed at SSR yet, but we love the large balconies/porches at OKW. It really makes a difference for us. Our family of 5 can all sit out there together and have breakfast in the morning....play board games or whatever. Also, my kids love the new sandcastle pool slide at the OKW main pool. We also love the ability to park our car right outside our door.
On the SSR side, I think with the addition of the new Turf Club restaurant, dining options are a little better at SSR. They have a counter service with indoor seating and a new sit down restaurant & a better food selection than OKW's counter service.
OKW has a sit down restaurant---Olivia's. The counter service here (Goods To Go) has only sparse outdoor seating.

 

[ccw]

On our trip in March, I asked some young boys at the OKW pool how they would compare OKW and SSR pool slides...they gave the new OKW slide a big thumbs up over the one at SSR. The SSR main pool is very pretty but your boys might like the OKW slide better. I have to say that the lounge chairs by the SSR pool are VERY nice ones, better than OKW, BW, and moderate pools I have experienced. The fitness center at SSR is much bigger and better equipped than the one at OKW, if that is of interest. Obviously, when you are comparing these two resorts, you get down to pretty fine points...they are both quite nice!!!

By the way, you can still walk to DTD from OKW...it is just a bit more of a hike!(but a very pretty walk along the golf course)

 

[Michele]

Thanks so much for all the replies. We will be getting a 2 bedroom villa, bringing my mom with us this trip. We are leaning towards OKW, I think I might like the bigger rooms and quieter atmosphere.

 

[CarolMN]

When are you planning to go? If it's this year, you may not have a choice. Many times are already completely booked at OKW.

I think your family would enjoy both resorts, so no need to stress too much over the choice.

Best wishes -

 

[seabright1]

Thanks so much for all the replies. We will be getting a 2 bedroom villa, bringing my mom with us this trip. We are leaning towards OKW, I think I might like the bigger rooms and quieter atmosphere.

Very good choice. Less points and bigger rooms at OKW. I stayed at SSR 2 months ago and I did not have a view of DTD plus depending where you are too, it may be "hike" to the facilities and DTD.

Request a water view if you can at OKW. ENJOY!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Having stayed at both, I noticed that OKW was much more lush with trees, flowers, etc. (that could primarily be a function of a few years of the landscaping growing). I also noticed that when we walked over to AP at SSR, we had to walk thru the parking lot, etc. OKW seemed much more "set up" for walking, with nice sidewalks to the main areas.

 

[Michele]

We are going in Sept and both these resorts have availabliity.

 

[seabright1]

The hallway of SSR buildings.

 

[thelobstershanty]

For a 2 br, we would pick OKW also. The rooms are much larger including the balcony. The location of the 2 resorts is basically the same. SSR does have slightly more dining options because it has a food court. I have to disagree that the selections were better at AP than at Goods to Go. We found the prepared food selections to be very limited at AP for lunch. We were bored with the lunch selections after a few days. We always come back to the resort and go to the pool in the afternoon. We have lunch by the pool. After a few days of eating salads and flat breads(although they were very tasty), we would have killed for a good old cheeseburger, onion rings and some conch fritters.

 

[castleri]

Don't know how you plan to arrange the sleeping but I would go with OKW just for the bigger common rooms and the balcony since you are bringing your Mom also. But then OKW is always my first choice even though I also own at BCV and SSR. We'll be there for 11days in Sept so will keep a look out for you and the boys.

 

[kpk89]

Both are very nice ... OKW has a quieter, more laid-back atmosphere to it. SSR feels more like a big condo complex, though it is very nice. We preferred the SSR pool, but our kids are much younger so the zero entry and the baby slide were nice options.

The walk to DTD is nice from SSR, but depending where you are, it could be a hike, as someone said. You're really not that much further if staying at OKW -- still a boat ride away if you choose not to walk.

Oh, and OKW definitely does feel more "finished" and lush with greenery. I guess that makes sense since it's the first DVC resort, compared with SSR the newest and still under construction.

Have a great time, wherever you go!

 

[Sammie]

Having stayed at both, I noticed that OKW was much more lush with trees, flowers, etc. (that could primarily be a function of a few years of the landscaping growing). I also noticed that when we walked over to AP at SSR, we had to walk thru the parking lot, etc. OKW seemed much more "set up" for walking, with nice sidewalks to the main areas.

Actually you do not have to walk through parking lots at SSR to get to the main building, they do in fact have very nice sidewalks to the main areas. Of course it is one's choice as to whether they use them.

As to the landscaping, yes OKW has had almost 15 years to mature to SSR's year or two or less. But I don't think even when SSR matures they will be the same due to themes. OKW will be similiar to the Bayou section of Riverside and SSR will have the more formal, manicured look of the Mansions.

 

[Michele]

Can anyone direct to a post or site with good pictures of OKW?