Old Key West vs Saratoga Springs whats better?

[rapunzal]

Looking into a one bedroom...which place is better? What are your experiences? Going in Aug....are the pools crowded? How many pools does each resort have? Would we be able to walk to pool from condo? How the bus system to Magic Kingdom? Snack restaurant at pools?

 

[helenabear]

You might also want to go onto the DVC board for this one, but I'll answer what I can.

Personally I like OKW far better than SSR. I don't like the location of SSR myself and the walk to DtD takes so long that it isn't worth the extra perk to me. I like feeling a wee bit more secluded. The rooms at OKW are MUCH bigger than SSR. The rooms at OKW will be bigger by 200-300 sq ft (don't have that info off hand for exact measurement). The rooms at OKW also will have a bigger patio and a full sized washer and dryer instead of stackables.

As for pools, OKW has four pools. The main pool and three quiet pools. We were always able to walk to the pools from any of our rooms. How busy will depend on the time of year more than anything else IMO.
SSR will have a similar set up. One main pool and then quiet pools near clusters of the rooms.

Last I new the snack bar near the main pool at SSR only served drinks. OKW's serves food.

Bus system from both is equal to me IMO.

 

[kjs1976]

Another vote for OKW!!!!

We got upgraded to a 1bdrm fom POP this spring. The room/place was HUGE!!!!!! Bigger than our first two-bedroom apartment! We loved everything about the resort itself. Only downside was the size, which I think you'll find at SSR, too. We had a rental car and used it all the time...we planned to and like it that way for convience over the busses, but if you don't have a rental car and have to depend soley on busses, then it would be a hassle.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE OKW!!!!

 

[ccigliano]

I prefer OKW over SSR as I have stayed in both and I feel that SSR is just too spread out for me and rather stay at OKW as the surroundings are much more tropical and lush. The rooms are also much more spacious at OKW than at any of the other DVC resorts. Either way you can't go wrong.

 

[ParrotBill]

I am a DVC member at OKW and love the setting and grounds... and extra large rooms. There are only a few buildings near the main pool and food services.

But I found the pools and food services to be better at SSR. And I found walking paths to be nicer too. There are several building groups that you could request to be close to the main pool and food services.

At both resorts, the outer building groups have a smaller pool nearby. Bus stops are nearby all buildings and you can ride any bus to stops before they exit the resort or the Downtown Disney bus which stops at the main stop entering and leaving, so it acts as an internal shuttle as well.

 

[disneykid4ever]

We've stayed at SSR and only walked around the grounds of OKW. We personally preferred SSR because we felt many of the clusters of buildings at OKW were far away from check-in, the main pool, activity rentals, Olivia's, and the country store. SSR on the other hand seemed a bit more accessible. We stayed in the Congress Park section and found it was very convenient for us. We walked to DTD often and found it was only about 8 minutes. We also walked to Artist's Palette,Turf Club, and the main pool and found that to be about 8 minutes as well. Totally not far at all. We went during January/Feb so the pools were not busy at all but I assume in the dead of Summer there are more people. One more thing I want to mention, there are a few clusters of buildings that will put you close to the Carriage House/main pool/eateries: Grandstand, Springs, and Congress Park. If you ask for any of these sections you should be happy. The inside of the rooms are new and beautiful with granite countertops and comfy beds. The rooms may not be as huge as OKW, but no DVC on disney property has as big rooms as those. Also, as a bonus if you like to travel from your resort to other resorts for meals (nice dinner at Cali Grill, etc . . .) we find that it is sooooo easy to just walk from Congress Park over to DTD bustop and hop right on whatever resort bus you need (Contemporary, WL, Grand Floridian, etc . . .) It cuts down on the extra time of having to catch a bus to a park and THEN catch the resort bus for your dinner ressie, etc . . .