Old Key West or Saratoga Springs?

[Pluto&Tink]

Hi!

Me & my boyfriend are planning on booking today, with the intention of staying at OKW for 2 weeks with the free Disney dining.

However we were going through the booking process and noticed that for the same price we can stay at Saratoga Springs.

We've already done our research into OKW, so we've had a look at Saratoga Springs and now we're torn between the two!

Can anyone give us advice as to which one you prefer and why?

Any other opinions would be great about the resorts also, e.g distance to the parks, crowds, food etc.

Thanks, Have a magical day!! x

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Ive stayed in both. was a SSR last week. Loved it! short walk to DTD, bus service was good. OKW buses can take around 35 minutes to get round the resort to pick people up! OKW doesn't have a food court, which you think wont bother you, but it does. Newer feel to SSR.

xx

 

[Elise79]

With just 2 of you a studio at SSR might be nicer as you will have the sofa to sit on if you are chilling in the room.

The food court is nice and you can walk to DTD as well as get a boat/bus.

 

[wayneg]

You can't know til you have been for yourself.
We have stayed at OKW 4 times, never stayed at SSR but looked around & eaten there, don't like it half as much as OKW.
Never eaten at OKW CS so that is not something that bothers us, it might others, if I was choosing a resort on where I ate I would choose POR which is far better than either OKW or SSR.
We have chosen Millers Rd at OKW last 3 times for 2 reasons, we prefer the pool there and its the last collection for busses before leaving the resort, you get to MK in 11 minutes. On return you can then get off at the first stop on entering OKW and walk around to your room or stay on around the resort, usually 15 mins but if wheelchairs are getting on and off it can take longer (although personally we have never taken more than 20 min it can be longer)

Both OKW & SSR are beyond what I would pay this year or next but if I was to go back again it would be 100% OKW. Saying that you can't go wrong at either, they both have their fans.

 

[wiigirl]

With just 2 of you a studio at SSR might be nicer as you will have the sofa to sit on if you are chilling in the room.

The food court is nice and you can walk to DTD as well as get a boat/bus.

My vote also.

 

[MrRomance]

Hi!

Me & my boyfriend are planning on booking today, with the intention of staying at OKW for 2 weeks with the free Disney dining.

However we were going through the booking process and noticed that for the same price we can stay at Saratoga Springs.

We've already done our research into OKW, so we've had a look at Saratoga Springs and now we're torn between the two!

Can anyone give us advice as to which one you prefer and why?

Any other opinions would be great about the resorts also, e.g distance to the parks, crowds, food etc.

Thanks, Have a magical day!! x

I haven't stayed at OKW but we spent some time over there. We've stayed at SSR and LOVE IT! There is very little to choose between the two, but SSR does have things that OKW doesn't. The main one is that it has a great little walkway to Downtown Disney. I don't think you'll be disappointed with either choice, but for me, SSR just about edges it.

 

[irenep]

OKW is a lovely resort but more suited to families. For two young adults, I don't think you can beat it SSR. You will be able to stroll over to DTD any time you like for all the restaurants etc and I think the studios are nicer there than at OKW.

In fact that's exactly why I booked a studio there for my DS and his girlfriend

 

[peajay18]

We had a studio in Building 18 at OKW a couple of weeks ago.

Great location pool and bus-wise, great grounds and landscaping but the room fixtures and fittings felt a little tired. Excellent service from the front desk throughout our stay too.
Haven't stayed at SSR, but would stay at OKW again in a heartbeat.

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

We had a studio in Building 18 at OKW a couple of weeks ago.

Great location pool and bus-wise, great grounds and landscaping but the room fixtures and fittings felt a little tired. Excellent service from the front desk throughout our stay too.
Haven't stayed at SSR, but would stay at OKW again in a heartbeat.

thats what I felt regarding the difference between OKW & SSR, we did however get a refurb studio at SSR. The studio we had at OKW was really shabby and tired. Over last few years we'd picked guests up at SSR on the DME and never liked the look of it, but really loved staying there x

 

[wayneg]

The studio we had at OKW was really shabby and tired.

Was it 2010 you stayed there? Every room has had a refurb since http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/07/disneys-old-key-west-renovations-underway/

We stayed there 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012. No problems with any of the rooms (studios) before or after refurb. Not all will be perfect though, they get a lot of use.

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Hi Wayne

Yeah was late 2010. Before I went to SSR I'd say I'd definitely go back to OKW

PS meant to contact you re: the 10/4 Dismeet. Absolute nightmare start to the holiday. I was ill (vomiting) Tuesday/Wednesday. Daughter. Vomitting Friday/Saturday flew out Sunday. Husband vomitting Tuesday/Wednesday. First 4 days of holiday ruined. Up late home early hopefully next time x

 

[nuts]

Been to both. My fav is definitely SSR. More to do and see. I like the wide open spaces and plenty of walking. Each section has its own pool. Can't beat the easy walk to DTD (AKA Hyperion Warf, AKA Disney Springs, AKA ???).

 

[wayneg]

Hi Wayne

Yeah was late 2010. Before I went to SSR I'd say I'd definitely go back to OKW

PS meant to contact you re: the 10/4 Dismeet. Absolute nightmare start to the holiday. I was ill (vomiting) Tuesday/Wednesday. Daughter. Vomitting Friday/Saturday flew out Sunday. Husband vomitting Tuesday/Wednesday. First 4 days of holiday ruined. Up late home early hopefully next time x

No worries, I once had a whole holiday being ill, I got something from Walgreens, a flu remedy, couldn't stay awake, I remember falling asleep at every show in Seaworld, it happens unfortunately.

 

[Mrdudecool]

Okay so we have stayed at both OKW and SS and our home resort it SS.

One thing that is a huge noticeable difference is the size of the rooms. You get a lot more room in OKW than you do at SS. We have 5 of us in a 1 bedroom villa at OKW with plenty of room.

What we notice about SS is that it is more of a hotel where as at OKW they are more villa style a lot of the reasons due to the size of the rooms.

OKW tends to be less crowded than SS also. Partly due to the large size of the resort but also it isn't the most popular of resorts (imo.)

Food at OKW is limited compared to other resorts. While there isn't a blatant food court, there is 'Goods to Go' which is basically like the food court. They do your typical american quick service food which you can eat around the dock area or take back to your room. We have eaten here a couple times whilst on DDP and was really good. Was nice to sit and eat it around the dock actually.

As Wayne said, all the rooms at OKW have been refurbed now and are lovely rooms.

I could ramble on and on for hours about both resorts but it basically comes down to what you prefer. And you can't really say which is better for you as each person is different.

I'd say look around at pictures and see which you think you'd prefer. Then go for it! Either way you'll stay in a beautiful resort!

 

[queendisney]

Can't help you on the rooms as we haven't stayed in either but we have spend a fair amt of time in both. We went to see if we would want to stray from our fav resort POR We both preferred OKW a lot more. We liked the feel of it there and just felt like SSR was just too big. The pools at OKW felt less busy as well. Its just a feeling you get about a place really. We are just POR people through and through, its suits us perfectly for our holiday style. Personally I would go with your gut feeling, you could always go to SSR next time

 

[Pluto&Tink]

Thank you for all of your opinions on OKW and SSR!

As they were the same price we weren't really sure if there was much difference in the two resorts!

We've booked it for August 2014 at OKW (our original choice!) and we can't wait!!

Happy holiday planning everyone! x

 

[Miss Mo]

We had the same dilemma! We opted for SSR this July as we usually spend a lot of time at downtown Disney! Can't wait!! 78 sleeps!! :-D

 

[MichelinMan]

No worries, I once had a whole holiday being ill, I got something from Walgreens, a flu remedy, couldn't stay awake, I remember falling asleep at every show in Seaworld, it happens unfortunately.

Wife got food poisoning on Safari in Kenya once - she can't remember 3 days at all (including the night we spent at Treetops, which was meant to be the highlight of the trip). Lesson no.1 - egg mayonnaise at dinner is perhaps a risk too far in Africa!

 

[peajay18]

Thank you for all of your opinions on OKW and SSR!

As they were the same price we weren't really sure if there was much difference in the two resorts!

We've booked it for August 2014 at OKW (our original choice!) and we can't wait!!

Happy holiday planning everyone! x

Good choice and I'm sure you'll have a great time!

I'd recommend doing a room/building request so your aren't miles away from the action at OKW. It's a great resort, but some parts are quite remote and if you're relying on the bus system you can really go round the houses to get to where you want.
We stayed in building 18 - not very far to walk to the main facilities, and the bus stop nearby was the last stop for buses leaving to the parks (apart from the main building)
Worked out perfectly for us.

 

[Pluto&Tink]

Thankyou for the advice peajay18.

May I ask, How do I go about requesting a particular building? I didnt notice any options at the time of booking to make a request or select a prefered location. Will I need to wait until we are closer to the time of going, or wait until check in?

Thanks again for anyone who can help! x