OKW vs SSR

[FlyingDonut]

What does HA mean?

HA = handicap accessible

I stayed at SSR last week and went on a run that included OKW. I've been to OKW several times and it was my first time at SSR. From what I'd heart on these boards I'd thought the resorts were going to be more similar, but I felt more of a difference than I was expecting.

-SSR has a lot more manicured landscaping look. Feels like a golf course. OKW feels like it has more asphalt.
-Even so, OKW feels a lot more chill.
-I prefer OKW food.
-Both great for running.
- SSR felt big to me. My party ended up taking the boat, not walking, multiple times, so that access was similar to OKW. Even for the parts of SSR nearest to DS, if you want to go kind of in the middle of disney springs, it's still a good walk.
-The main pool at SSR was too busy for me, but having a second feature pool was really cool.

For park trips, I still think they're similar: very available, low cost rooms in the springs area. I guess I may slightly prefer SSR, but that may just be because I was there more recently. I can see myself sticking with OKW if the points cost is lower.

 

[Wedgeout]

Is there a certain patio request or view that you recommend requesting? View wise is it better to be on a higher floor? Thank you

Most views are garden/trees or golf course. A few buildings are along the waterway the boat use. Floor height won’t matter much. Even first floor patio is raised some off the ground with railing. Made a request once with one bedroom ‘near south point bus stop and waterway’. Got building 45, second floor, overlooking the canal. Personally not an end of Miller’s Rd fan. (Mainly being 4th bus stop, couple buildings look out onto that leisure pool, and that end being so close to the outer resort perimeter).

 

[Brian Noble]

At SSR the parking lot is further away-and did I mention how huge SSR is?

I remember parking directly outside or next to my building at SSR. I don't think it's all that different from OKW, but the SSR buildings are larger, so there is a little more walking to get to the room sometimes.

 

[zackiedawg]

I enjoy both resorts. However, I prefer SSR in general for a few reasons:
1. Access to Disney Springs by walking a short walk. I love boat transportation, but having such easy access to Disney Springs means I can even walk over and get food from any restaurant or food stop TO GO and walk it back to my villa to eat. And the boat service isn't guaranteed - it's down for low water seasons, and it's down during any lightning storm or hard rain. The walking path to Springs is always open no matter what.
2. Access to Disney Springs busses to get to and from various parks. Sounds crazy, but I actually enjoy having that additional access method - sometimes coming home from crowded parks means long lines at the park bus stop. But a quick walk to BLT from MK, Beach Club from Epcot, or Boardwalk from DHS, and I can grab the Disney Springs bus from the resort bus stop, and simply walk back to my room at SSR.
3. I always book Preferred and request Congress Park. It's the closest to Disney Springs for walking access, also easy to hop the boats to OKW and Port Orleans to go over to their restaurants and bars, has its own decent sized pool area, but is only a short walk to the main pool at SSR too.
4. I prefer SSR's food options on site - Olivias is OK, but not big on the quick serve at OKW. Turf Club I find pretty decent for sit-down options, and Artist's Palette has some pretty decent quick serve food...and you can get some food at the Turf Club's bar and side window too.
5. The redesigned rooms for SSR are more convenient as they removed the sofa beds and added the much better murphy beds. I often stay in a 1-bedroom when going as a party of 1 or 2...two bedroom in my opinion would be a waste of points for 2 people.

Still I always enjoy my time at OKW. It's laid-back, the rooms are huge, and I enjoy the boat rides to Springs. Though I have reasons to prefer SSR, I don't dislike either resort.

 

[mort1331]

You have heard pluses on both resorts. And I will agree. I find it unique that SSR people are saying it feels like a golf course, yes the course runs by some of the rooms, but OKW it runs by 80% of the rooms. I play and when we stay at OKW 2 things come to mind. Love quick stop at my room and refresh my food and drink while playing, I have never seen as many people chilling on the balconies as I do when I am at OKW. People hanging out watching the golfers and enjoying the largest balconies of any resort.
1 bdrm at either is plenty for you. If you have a car then its a toss up for either location.

 

[Girlstar30]

Geez you guys are actually making it harder than before to choose, now I want to stay at both

 

[Girlstar30]

I enjoy both resorts. However, I prefer SSR in general for a few reasons:
1. Access to Disney Springs by walking a short walk. I love boat transportation, but having such easy access to Disney Springs means I can even walk over and get food from any restaurant or food stop TO GO and walk it back to my villa to eat. And the boat service isn't guaranteed - it's down for low water seasons, and it's down during any lightning storm or hard rain. The walking path to Springs is always open no matter what.
2. Access to Disney Springs busses to get to and from various parks. Sounds crazy, but I actually enjoy having that additional access method - sometimes coming home from crowded parks means long lines at the park bus stop. But a quick walk to BLT from MK, Beach Club from Epcot, or Boardwalk from DHS, and I can grab the Disney Springs bus from the resort bus stop, and simply walk back to my room at SSR.
3. I always book Preferred and request Congress Park. It's the closest to Disney Springs for walking access, also easy to hop the boats to OKW and Port Orleans to go over to their restaurants and bars, has its own decent sized pool area, but is only a short walk to the main pool at SSR too.
4. I prefer SSR's food options on site - Olivias is OK, but not big on the quick serve at OKW. Turf Club I find pretty decent for sit-down options, and Artist's Palette has some pretty decent quick serve food...and you can get some food at the Turf Club's bar and side window too.
5. The redesigned rooms for SSR are more convenient as they removed the sofa beds and added the much better murphy beds. I often stay in a 1-bedroom when going as a party of 1 or 2...two bedroom in my opinion would be a waste of points for 2 people.

Still I always enjoy my time at OKW. It's laid-back, the rooms are huge, and I enjoy the boat rides to Springs. Though I have reasons to prefer SSR, I don't dislike either resort.

Thank you for the detailed response! I was looking for a good room request there and now i got my answer, if we stay there, I definetely want to be at the building closest to DS!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I will start by saying I have been to neither. I would choose SSR based all the reading etc I have done, plus newly refurbed is a huge plus (for me). I wouldn't spend points on a 2 bed for 2 people. Have you been in a 1bed DVC villa? They are huge.

Did the drone show end? I feel like it did since I havent seen any posts about it, but what if they suddenly brought back? Id totally want to be at SSR for that.

 

[Girlstar30]

I will start by saying I have been to neither. I would choose SSR based all the reading etc I have done, plus newly refurbed is a huge plus (for me). I wouldn't spend points on a 2 bed for 2 people. Have you been in a 1bed DVC villa? They are huge.

Did the drone show end? I feel like it did since I havent seen any posts about it, but what if they suddenly brought back? Id totally want to be at SSR for that.

I have never stayed in a 1 bdrm, but definitely not getting 2 brdm for 2 after seeing the feedback

 

[VGCgroupie]

I have never stayed in a 1 bdrm, but definitely not getting 2 brdm for 2 after seeing the feedback

We had always been in studios. Our Aulani trip we were in a studio for 3 nights then switched to our first 1 bedroom. After being in a studio 3 days with 3 of us walking into that 1 bedroom it felt like a mansion!

 

[Girlstar30]

We had always been in studios. Our Aulani trip we were in a studio for 3 nights then switched to our first 1 bedroom. After being in a studio 3 days with 3 of us walking into that 1 bedroom it felt like a mansion!

This upcoming trip were starting with a Riv Studio and booking all 1 bedrooms from there, I'm afraid I'll never be able to go back to a studio . I didn't know we were going to be buying Riv so I rented points. Now I regret renting points because I would have liked to stay in the Riv one bedroom the whole time! Now we have to choose if we want to move to the one bedroom after 4 nights or just stay the whole time in the studio. Moving is a pain but I would like to compare both!

 

[VGCgroupie]

This upcoming trip were starting with a Riv Studio and booking all 1 bedrooms from there, I'm afraid I'll never be able to go back to a studio . I didn't know we were going to be buying Riv so I rented points. Now I regret renting points because I would have liked to stay in the Riv one bedroom the whole time! Now we have to choose if we want to move to the one bedroom after 4 nights or just stay the whole time in the studio. Moving is a pain but I would like to compare both!

Moving is a pain. I was grumbling the entire time I was packing my stuff. But I was so happy to be in that 1 bedroom. We are doing a split stay again next month, Im sure I will be grumbling again while packing but I want easier park transportation and I want to experience more than one resort while there.

 

[Girlstar30]

Moving is a pain. I was grumbling the entire time I was packing my stuff. But I was so happy to be in that 1 bedroom. We are doing a split stay again next month, Im sure I will be grumbling again while packing but I want easier park transportation and I want to experience more than one resort while there.

I love split stays, after 5 nights somewhere i like a change of environment and restaurants! I do wish Riv had one more restaurant...

 

[The Jackal]

I remember parking directly outside or next to my building at SSR. I don't think it's all that different from OKW, but the SSR buildings are larger, so there is a little more walking to get to the room sometimes.

Yes, in general for the most part it’s not much further than OKW. OKW has limited spots and sometimes you can’t get a close one if there are a lot of cars.
If you want quiet SSR the rooms are more quiet. At OKW the buses and cast member golf carts drive by almost all the buildings and you can easily hear them. Granted the theme parks don’t open as early or late as they used to. I’m a light sleeper and they wake me up. Along with the ferry boat horn at PVB. At SSR the bus routes are a little further from the buildings, plus that is the hallway side so only a door facing the road. We love and own both resorts along with VGF.

 

[Instagramhusband]

I am probably in the minority but I didn't just buy SSR for SAP, I like the proximity to DS, the overall vibe, the pools, and the dining. I have stayed at OKW and I enjoyed my stay there. I do agree that the offerings at OKW foodwise aren't noteworthy at all.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

I am probably in the minority but I didn't just buy SSR for SAP, I like the proximity to DS, the overall vibe, the pools, and the dining. I have stayed at OKW and I enjoyed my stay there. I do agree that the offerings at OKW foodwise aren't noteworthy at all.

I guess I'm in the minority with you.

 

[UA DVC Member]

We really prefer SSR to OKW. SSR has better pools, better location (can easily walk to DS) and is prettier than OKW. We also really prefer Turf Club over Olivia’s. For us, it’s a no brainer to stay at SSR vs OKW.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

The walking trail from OKW to DS also closes at dusk, so that limits any nighttime walking.

 

[Moonspinner]

We like both, but okw feels so spacious. The living room/kitchen area at SSR is very cramped. And the balconies are very small at SSR.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We like both, but okw feels so spacious. The living room/kitchen area at SSR is very cramped. And the balconies are very small at SSR.

You can't beat the balconies at OKW, one big reason I love it there. Nothing like sitting around the table on the balcony eating breakfast with my grandchildren.