OKW vs. SSR?

[MomtoGKC]

My mom and I are trying to plan a trip in May 2008. We're thinking about trying a 2 bedroom villa somewhere. She loves Boardwalk but since there will be a lot of us it might be too expensive. (we're not DVC members) I started looking into OKW and SSR but was wondering what the differences are between the two. My mom has a friend in DVC who always stays at OKW, but I figured you guys would have way more information! I guess the main thing we're concerned about is how long it takes to get from the rooms to the busses and then from the busses to the parks. I also read some places in OKW don't have elevators - is it the same at SSR? We'll have my three little ones with us and anywhere from 5-9 adults.

Thank you!!

 

[CraftyMouse]

I think the two are very similar. Both are spread out with a condo-complex feel, rather than a hotel feel, to them. Both have several bus stops throughout the properties. Both offer a boat to Downtown Disney, although it is a shorter trip from SSR than OKW. Transportation to the parks is by bus from both resorts.

The rooms at both are similar, however OKW's rooms are considerably larger. If you are planning to put 8 into a 2BR I would definitely go with OKW, just for the extra space.

Dining options are a bit different at each resort. OKW offers Olivia's, a full-service restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. For fast food there is Goods to Go, an outdoor, counter-service snack bar. At SSR the Turf Club is a full-service restaurant that serves lunch and dinner, no breakfast. Artist's Palette is a more upscale counter-service spot that has sandwiches, flatbread pizzas and other items.

Our favorite WDW resort is OKW, although we like to stay at all of them.

 

[vandy]

OKW only has three buildings with elevators, SSR has elevators in every building. Your walk to the bus stop could be about the same since there are several stops and it would depend on which building you were in. OKW was the first DVC resort and SSR is much newer. The rooms at OKW are much bigger and the living room is nicer for a larger group. There is a round table with chairs where at SSR It is a rectangle with two chairs and a bench against the wall. For sleeping, OKW has the sofa sleeper but also has a loveseat where a child could sleep on. OKW has a definate "Florida" theming where SSR definately has the "Saratoga NY" theming, a little more elegant touch. They are different, but both very nice.

One other note since you will have a larger group, the bathroom and bedroom privacy may be an issue. At OKW, buildings 1-29 have the bathrooms only accessible from the bedrooms. Buildings 30 and above have an access through the laundry room. This is nice for having privacy in the bedroom but still allowing those sleeping in the living room access to a bathroom. Otherwise they need to enter a bedroom to get to the bathroom. At SSR, all bathrooms are accessible from the living room.

 

[Caskbill]

OKW is more 'condo' style while SSR is more 'apartment' style.

OKW has full sized kitchen, full sized washer/dryer. SSR has a smaller apartment kitchen (EG smaller refrigerator, no ice maker, etc), and a smaller stacked washer/dryer in the closet.

In OKW the 2nd b/r has two queen size beds. At SSR the 2nd b/r will have a single bed plus a pull out sofa-bed.

While the older buildings at OKW do not have elevators, you can always just get a ground floor unit. Then there's no steps at all.

Also keep in mind that a 2-B/R sleeps 8. If you have a larger group ("Quote: We'll have my three little ones with us and anywhere from 5-9 adults.") you'll need to get a 3-B/R villa. Note that the 3-b/r villas (Grand Villa) at OKW are very popular due to the lower point requirements.

Maximum occupancy allowed in a 2-B/R is 8 persons (children included) plus a 9th if the 9th is a child under age 3 and can sleep in the pack-n-play that is stored in the closet.

 

[Uncleromulus]

WeE prefer OKW for most of the reasons already stated. And the units aren't "high", so lack of an elevator has never been an issue. Can't help with the bus service tho--we're never w/o a car at WDW.

 

[MomtoGKC]

Thank you so much! We're not going to put all the people in one villa - my family with the little ones would probably have a studio, three or four adults will share a 2 bedroom then the last adults will share another 1 or 2 bedroom depending on how many come. I would'nt mind sharing with someone but nobody else wants to share with us since we're the only ones left with little kids!! They all want a place to escape the hectic-ness at the end of the day.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

OKW is more 'condo' style while SSR is more 'apartment' style.

Hi Caskbill! Can you explain what you mean? I have stayed at SSR and am considering a visit to OKW and am wondering about the differences also. I haven't heard this comparison before.

 

[Caskbill]

Hi Caskbill! Can you explain what you mean? I have stayed at SSR and am considering a visit to OKW and am wondering about the differences also. I haven't heard this comparison before.

Obviously that's my own observation, based on some of the following:

SSR: Central elevators with common, outside concrete walkways, entering at the back side of the unit.
OKW: Massive wooden porches and steps. While still shared somewhat, they don't have that long 'hall' feel like the outside of the SSR units have.

SSR: Apartment sized refrigerator, no ice-maker, small counter (no dining table, small outside porch. Apartment sized, stacked, Washer/Dryer, located in a 'closet'.
OKW: Full sized kitchen, including full size appliances. Ice Maker in the full refrigerator. Kitchen counter space AND a full dining table that could seat 8 people. Large outside porch. Full sized washer and dryer, located in an actual 'Laundry Room'.

SSR: Large parking lot for multiple buildings and units. Depending on the crowds, it could be a fairly decent walk from the villa to the car. (Although to be fair, nowhere near the walk you could have at BWV, BCV, or VWL)
OKW: Smaller parking lots strategically located, and very close to the actual villas. We had a ground floor villa on our last trip where we could park the car only 20 feet from the front door. To me this is just more 'condo'.

SSR: Smaller room size.
OKW: The largest 1-B/R size villa of all the DVC resorts.

The one thing I don't like about OKW is when using the 2nd B/R as a Studio. That seems too much like a hotel room. But a 1-b/r can't be beat.

BTW, just to be clear. I like SSR very much. Have stayed there in the past and will again in the future. I'm not trying to say that one is better than the other, but only what I perceive as the different 'feel' of condo vs. apartment.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Thanks for the clarifications- I am excited to try OKW in the near future!

 

[tjkraz]

At SSR the 2nd b/r will have a single bed plus a pull out sofa-bed.

That's incorrect.

Lockoff 2Bs at SSR have the queen bed plus sofabed configuration. Dedicated 2Bs have two queen-sized beds.

Each building consists of 20 dedicated, 24 lockoffs and 2 grand villas. While the lockoff/dedicated status should be guaranteed at the time of booking, those who book more than a few months in advance should have every opportunity to choose the style that best suits their party's needs.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Ok- so for our next trip to ssr we have a 2bdrm dedicated (that is what the reservation says- so I am thinking this is a guarantee- not a request) So that means the 1st br will have a king and the 2nd br will have 2 Queens- then a pull out in the living area?

 

[colleen costello]

That is correct. "Dedicated" also typically has no need for the small kitchenette in the studio part -- since the studio is always rented as part of a 2-bedroom with a full kitchen -- so you will also get "extra bathroom" space where the kitchenette would have been. At OKW this is a nice-sized counter with a single sink and mirror, plus an extra trash can. I LOVE dedicated units! Also at OKW, where the studio "door to outside" would be, you get an EXTRA CLOSET. There are similar "tweaks" in the dedicated rooms at all the DVC resorts.

 

[BroganMc]

Ok- so for our next trip to ssr we have a 2bdrm dedicated (that is what the reservation says- so I am thinking this is a guarantee- not a request) So that means the 1st br will have a king and the 2nd br will have 2 Queens- then a pull out in the living area?

This was the configuration of the room we checked out of yesterday. The second bedroom was a lot bigger than we expected. Big enough to fit the round table, chairs and still have lots of walking space between beds. There was more closet space along the back hall as well since there's no lockoff door.

 

[LSchrow]

personally, we would def choose SSR over OKW (this from BWV addicts ).

while OKW rooms are larger, we found SSR to have better transportation options, more variety (lots of "do nothings" or......just walk to marketplace ).
SSR also gets high points for its cleanliness & elegant theming