OKW, SSR or POR?

[Sam1]

I'm struggling to choose between these hotels, so I'm wondering whether anybody can help me out. Looking at the rooms, SSR looks the nicest, but I've read so much on here about people going for the resort rather than the rooms, so I'm trying to not let that sway my decision.

I know two are deluxes, bit why? To me POR looks in the same league and people seem to love it. So what makes people choose either OKW or SSR over POR, is it just to do with the value for money if free dining is offered, or do people genuinely prefer those two deluxes?

 

[Elise79]

OKW & SSR are actually deluxe villa resorts (or DVC) the rooms all have balconies and are designed more with home from home in mind. Studios have a kitchenettes and the one bed villas and up have a full kitchen.

POR rooms are slightly smaller than the studios at SSR & OKW and do not have balconies.

Personally, I pick a resort for the rooms and resort.

 

[flortlebap]

Generally speaking, the FD offer at OKW/SSR is combined with an additional 35/40% off room discount, which to some makes it worthwhile.

If it was the same price as POR then I'd go there purely for the FD upgrade, but I wouldn't pay extra for those hotels. They just don't suit my personal taste! But I love POR - it's the only hotel on Disney property I've stayed at more than once.

 

[micksn]

Stayed at both OKW and POR, much preferred the rooms at OKW, bigger, kitchen area and balcony. I liked that POR had no cars within the resort, particularly as we don't hire a car. Preferred the food court at POR, much bigger and lots more choice. Both resorts are very pretty and tranquil and both have the lovely boats to take you to DTD on the river.
For us it was down to the fact that OKW with free dining was cheaper than the cost of POR with upgrade to dinging plan.
I like the look of Saratoga and would like to try it, but my DD insists on having her own bed rather than a sofa bed!

 

[BudgieMama]

For us it was down to the fact that OKW with free dining was cheaper than the cost of POR with upgrade to dinging plan.
I like the look of Saratoga and would like to try it, but my DD insists on having her own bed rather than a sofa bed!

Same for us, but as it's just the two of us, we went for SSR as we don't need two beds. I liked the look of both POR and POFQ but getting the DDP on FD was more important for us.

 

[chmurf]

I wouldn't go for SSR, especially without a car.
You can hear lots of stories from SSR residents about offsite guests parking at DTD and using SSR buses as a way to avoid paying for parking at the parks.

The choice between OKW and POR would be (for me) a matter of what deal I get from Disney

FD (QSDP) at POR + upgrade to DDP on the one hand, and OKW with free DDP on the other hand

you often get large discounts on accomodations at OKW on top of FD. If OKW is just a couple of quids more expensive than POR + upgrade to DDP, then I might consider OKW

but, even if POR does not have balconies, it has something to it.
It also shares ammenities with POFQ, meaning you get 2 feature pools and 2 food courts. And the atmosphere is just perfect for us.

OKW is better in many aspects, but my heart goes to POR
I have 2 home resorts, POP and POR. And I think that, once you've fallen in love with a resort, no other resort can compare.

 

[Azza1987]

I wouldn't go for SSR, especially without a car. You can hear lots of stories from SSR residents about offsite guests parking at DTD and using SSR buses as a way to avoid paying for parking at the parks. The choice between OKW and POR would be (for me) a matter of what deal I get from Disney FD (QSDP) at POR + upgrade to DDP on the one hand, and OKW with free DDP on the other hand you often get large discounts on accomodations at OKW on top of FD. If OKW is just a couple of quids more expensive than POR + upgrade to DDP, then I might consider OKW but, even if POR does not have balconies, it has something to it. It also shares ammenities with POFQ, meaning you get 2 feature pools and 2 food courts. And the atmosphere is just perfect for us. OKW is better in many aspects, but my heart goes to POR I have 2 home resorts, POP and POR. And I think that, once you've fallen in love with a resort, no other resort can compare.

We did SSR last year without a car for 8 nights & had no problems at all.

We were in Congress park which is closest to DTD so it was only a 5 minute stroll to DTD on the walkway.

The buses were frequent & often empty, the max we awaited for a bus was 15 mins for MK on a Saturday afternoon. Otherwise the waits were about 5 mins, the transfer time was no more then 15-20mins and you were dropped right at the door! So no need for parking and then the hike to the park

We managed to get to universal, sea world, discovery cove etc without a car, we just caught the lynx bus opposite DTD which was $2 each! It was really easy & the bus driver let us know where to get off.

As we were in Congress Park there was a quiet pool and it was literally empty most days! There was 1 afternoon when there were around 20 people using it. So it was bliss being in the sun, peace & quiet, no fighting for sun beds etc (not that I can imagine that happening at Disney!)

It was however a 5-10 minute walk to the main building, by no means a hike the stroll is really pleasant in beautiful gardens!

I would without a doubt go back to SSR, but it has the least Disney theming of the resorts so it's not really 'fun'! The rooms are lovely, spacious, with a balcony which was what we wanted. Although it was only a view of some trees!

We're staying at BC this year so I'm looking forward to trying somewhere new!

 

[Sam1]

The discounts and free dining for OKW and SSR would make me think we're getting more for our money, but then I start questioning why they need to discount them so heavily, as well as offering free dining, if they're better than POR.

It's very hard to choose, but I want to be ready for if they offer free dining in April because we missed out this year. Luckily we got the room only discount with the Beach Club, so it worked out better, but next year I want to lessen the costs a bit and try more food within Disney for a different experience.

 

[queendisney]

I wouldn't go for SSR, especially without a car.
You can hear lots of stories from SSR residents about offsite guests parking at DTD and using SSR buses as a way to avoid paying for parking at the parks.

The choice between OKW and POR would be (for me) a matter of what deal I get from Disney

FD (QSDP) at POR + upgrade to DDP on the one hand, and OKW with free DDP on the other hand

you often get large discounts on accomodations at OKW on top of FD. If OKW is just a couple of quids more expensive than POR + upgrade to DDP, then I might consider OKW

but, even if POR does not have balconies, it has something to it.
It also shares ammenities with POFQ, meaning you get 2 feature pools and 2 food courts. And the atmosphere is just perfect for us.

OKW is better in many aspects, but my heart goes to POR
I have 2 home resorts, POP and POR. And I think that, once you've fallen in love with a resort, no other resort can compare.

this..
I seem to be agreeing with you a lot today

I have visited all the resort to get a feel for them. Some I like the vibe/theme etc instantly. POR is my resort of choice. I also like OKW but didn't like SSR. POR does it for us, the rooms are fine but there is only me and DH. I would have no use what so ever for a kitchen/kitchenette while on holiday so that's not important at all for us.
I like the food courts of both POR & POFQ and the resort always feels spacious, relaxing and quiet (apart from the feature pools).

 

[Hipster Meg]

This is something we're trying to decide as well. Both OKW and SSR have plus's and minus's and we're trying to decide which we want more - a resort with more eating choices (SSR) or one with bigger rooms and 2 beds in a studio (OKW)

 

[chmurf]

but then I start questioning why they need to discount them so heavily, as well as offering free dining, if they're better than POR.

because they're overpriced in the first place.
and nobody would (should) pay rack rates for those resorts.
I think the rack rates are "psychologically" set so that it gives those resort a truly "Deluxe" feel.

but when they sell them at 35% off they are merely selling them at the price they should be sold in the first place. So it's not really a discount from where I stand. It's just a way to make people think they get a deal when they really pay what they should have paid.

 

[tinks_1989]

I have stayed at SSR 4 times and not once had a problem with the buses. Actually quite a few times we have had a bus to our selves to and from the park.

I love SSR I love the rooms, the decor, pools, the location. We like to go to DTD a lot so we love that we can just walk there.

There isn't a great choice for dining but having DTD so close it doesn't really matter. A few times we have got a earl of sandwich and then walked back to the room and ate it and it's still been hot and fresh.

I have booked to stay at POR 3 times out of our 4 trips but I always end up paying the extra £40-£50 to stay at SSR. Also 2 out the 4 times we have been upgraded to a 1 bedroom villa and they are amazing so much room.

Yes the resort is large but do you research and chose where you wish to stay and send a block request and then the rest of the resort doesn't matter it's like it's not even there. Last time we stayed at the grand stand we were in the building with pool in front of it. This was perfect for us we would walk to the springs bus stop in the morning (last stop) and always got off at the grandstand (first stop) so we never really saw the rest if the resort.

 

[Sam1]

because they're overpriced in the first place.
and nobody would (should) pay rack rates for those resorts.
I think the rack rates are "psychologically" set so that it gives those resort a truly "Deluxe" feel.

but when they sell them at 35% off they are merely selling them at the price they should be sold in the first place. So it's not really a discount from where I stand. It's just a way to make people think they get a deal when they really pay what they should have paid.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm thinking. I don't think they're worth rack rate when you compare them to the rack rate price for POR, so that's why I thought I was missing something. I'm not bothered about the balcony or kitchenette, so I'm swaying more towards just booking POR and 'upgrading' if I change my mind (obviously I won't do anything until April).

 

[wayneg]

Stayed at OKW 4 times and if it was a choice of those 3 it would be back to OKW again. Only looked around the other 2 resorts, SSR does nothing for me at all but not been in the rooms. OKW being the oldest DVC has the largest rooms. POR smaller rooms, no balcony and only CS DDP instead of TS DDP we got at OKW.

All good resorts but OKW has everything we want, I would never consider buying DVC but if I did OKW would be my home resort.

 

[crabbie1]

To the OP its a personal choice and no one will give the same answer. I loved OKW and POR but would never stay at SSR again. I think if free DDP is on then I would stay at OKW but saying that we personally found loads of good QSDP places when we stayed at wilderness lodge and paid oop so POR on qsdp would work as well. As I own at DVC its nearly always cheaper to pay oop for the food and get TIW card but thats off topic.
BC looks fab. On my list of musts to stay at

 

[married2mm]

We've stayed at all 3,and pofq also.

However,we were in 2 bed villas at okw and ssr-so not a direct comparison-
I'm assuming your choice would be a studio?

Okw has the largest room
Okw has 2 beds
Okw has a ts restaurant (olivia's)
We preferred the ambience at okw

Ssr has a larger gym
We preferred cs options at ssr over okw

Both have more pools
Balconies
Can work out cheaper than por/pofq if discounts offered and free dining

Preferred the food court at por
Room was nice,but nothing special-did not feel it was that different to value-
Obviously the actual resort was not as large-or in your face disney-
But without free dining for 4-not worth 3 times the price of a value.

We loved pofq-it was idyllic.
Very relaxed,and a great size of resort.
Used every counter service credit for the first time.
The pool and hot tub were never busy when we were there.

We chose por/pofq as 2 beds were too expensive.
We only chose those mods as they were cheaper than cbr/csr.

If you want free dining(qsdp) I would choose the cheapest mod.
If you want free dining (ddp) I would choose the cheapest deluxe.

If no free dining-and simply after onsite perks-I would choose a value.

 

[Elise79]

because they're overpriced in the first place.
and nobody would (should) pay rack rates for those resorts.
I think the rack rates are "psychologically" set so that it gives those resort a truly "Deluxe" feel.

but when they sell them at 35% off they are merely selling them at the price they should be sold in the first place. So it's not really a discount from where I stand. It's just a way to make people think they get a deal when they really pay what they should have paid.

I have to disagree with you - they are better resorts. You do get more amenities in the rooms (whether they have value to you or not is personal) and all the rooms have balconies.

Personally, I would not pay rack rate for any Disney resort

OKW is a favourite of ours and it is a truly unique resort - I have never stayed anywhere else that has the same community feel

 

[Sam1]

I'm back to thinking OKW is where we're going to book. I think I can write off SSR because I can understand why people don't like the feel of it. Just looking at YouTube videos of POR and OKW makes me think they're more for us. SSR is good with it being close to DTD, but to be honest we wouldn't spend much time there and it's not worth my son sleeping on a sofabed for.

I wish I'd had a walk around them all when we went in October, but we only drove around them so couldn't get a proper feel. Straight away we loved OKW and decided after trying the Beach Club we'd try it, but then changed our mind because the rooms didn't look great. Looking again, they don't look that bad, so OKW it probably is!

 

[Meggysmum]

I love the DVC rooms with the kitchenette and the balcony. The balcony is the part that would always make me pick Deluxe.

Between OKW and SSR I would always pick SSR. I find it a much more walking friendly resort rather than OKW which has golf courses so you are restricted to walking along mainroads. You can also walk to DTD.

The studios at OKW are also darker than those of SSR.

The biggest thing for me though is the dreadful QS offering at OKW, if I am using free DDP I like to be able to have a nice QS breakfast without having to take it back to my villa or sitting outside.

 

[igk]

We're staying at SSR this time after several OKW stays - the only reason was OKW wasn't available on our dates. A few weeks after booking it showed up as available but decided against trying to change the booking as we agreed it would be nice to try SSR. I agree the theming from the outside doesn't seem as interesting as OKW but proximity to DTD is a plus, and a lot of people seem to rate it. FWIW last time I looked SSR was higher on Tripadvisor than OKW (not that I set much store by that just interesting to see.)