Please compare SSR to OKW

[sters]

It seems to me that OKW and SSR are neighbors, right? What's the advantage of going with one over the other? I know SSR has a longer contract, but that OKW has a restaurant.

Also, as a separate question... is there boat transportation available between OKW and POR? I loved the pools at POR and, since pool hopping is acceptable, I wouldn't mind taking a boat from OKW to POR if it were available.

 

[jaysue]

Under current setup no boat from OKW to POR - they are separate boats that go between the two resorts and DTD - this may change in the near future

OKW:

Lower Dues
2042 expiration
Larger Rooms
Lower points for same room category
Parking in front of your unit
No hallways (all walkup's)
No slide at pool/no lifeguard
Longer walk to DTD
Spread Out
Bit of a walk to Main Pool from outlying villas - can also drive
Bus Stops are well located - helps to offset the sprawl

SSR:
Higher Dues (but lower than Epcot area and VWL)
2054 expiration
Rooms similar to BWV/BCV/VWL
Themed Pool
More compact and easier to walk from place to place

I am sure there are more but there is a start

thanks
jaysue

 

[Tiggery]

As I dont like to drive when on vacation then the SSR layout would suit me better than the sprawling OKW.

 

[kweaver]

I believe we will also be able to park in front of our unit/building at SSR.

 

[stacy6552]

The units at OKW are larger, and the parking is probably better.

The SSR units are newer. The main pool is more tricked out.

 

[sters]

Are there grand villas at the SSR? What will the pools be like? That is, will there be slides/lifeguards?

 

[RobDoc]

SSR will be the largest DVC resort upon completion.

It will have GV's in each building with parking nearby. The pool will have a slide (and therefore lifeguards). The pool is located near the Spa, Artist's Palette (restaurant) and check-in area at the resort.

SSR is an easy walk to DD and will also have boat transportation to DD. The clubhouse for the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is also located there.

Here are some construction <a href="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/ssrmay2003.html">photos of SSR</a> taken in September. I expect to update these in the coming week.

Enjoy!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I was happy to see this thread, because after staying at OKW for the 1st time in Aug I hope that some of the things I found disapointing about OKW will not be repeated in SSR.

For one, does all the building have elevators? Do they have interior or exterior hallways. Having a tolder in a stoller being on the second floor with no elevator was a major pain, she always was asleep and getting her up the stair was really bad (uncovered stair ways in the rain no less!!!)

The layout at OKW is really bad for busses, in and out, turning around in parking lots and no direct loop. I found it to be a major waste of time. Also our room was so close to the road the busses wizzing by at all hours really bothered us (and we live close to a train at home, found the busses much wrose.)

For these reasons we really like BCV, VWL, and BWV much better.

Does anyone know if SSR has the same things, or did they learn from their past mistakes?

I would also love it if the new pool at SSR was more like SAB with the sand bottom play area, that is so great for young children. (I can dream can't I?)

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by DisneyPhD
I was happy to see this thread, because after staying at OKW for the 1st time in Aug I hope that some of the things I found disapointing about OKW will not be repeated in SSR.

For one, does all the building have elevators? Do they have interior or exterior hallways. Having a tolder in a stoller being on the second floor with no elevator was a major pain, she always was asleep and getting her up the stair was really bad (uncovered stair ways in the rain no less!!!)

The layout at OKW is really bad for busses, in and out, turning around in parking lots and no direct loop. I found it to be a major waste of time. Also our room was so close to the road the busses wizzing by at all hours really bothered us (and we live close to a train at home, found the busses much wrose.)

For these reasons we really like BCV, VWL, and BWV much better.

Does anyone know if SSR has the same things, or did they learn from their past mistakes?

I would also love it if the new pool at SSR was more like SAB with the sand bottom play area, that is so great for young children. (I can dream can't I?)

You bring up some good points. It may be hard to answer some of them in comparision to SSR not knowing the bus route that will occur at SSR. It does tend to rain fairly often in florida, especially during the summer months. Thanks for sharing these observations.

 

[KANSAS]

IMHO, JAYSUE did an incredibly job comparing SSR&S with OKW.

I would just like to expand, if you are a grand villa person.
It will take many many more SSR&S points, sunday-THURSDAY nights, for A GRAND VILLA at SSR&S Than OKW.

If you want a grand villa for 7 days. I am prettysure, that GRAND VILLA AT SSR&S is only a little higher point requirement than OKW GRAND VILLA for 7 days

 

[Simba's Mom]

Some may call this an advantage of one resort over another-OKW has 2 beds in all its studios, SSR (I think) has one bed and a sleeper-sofa.

Also, I have to mention this for anyone worried about noise at OKW-it bothers some, but not others. DH is ordinarily a very light sleeper, and we had buses going through the parking lot of our villa, turning around nearby. He never heard a thing!

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by KANSAS
If you want a grand villa for 7 days. I am prettysure, that GRAND VILLA AT SSR&S is only a little higher point requirement than OKW GRAND VILLA for 7 days

Actually, SSR GVs are about 40% more points than the GVs at OKW. If you're at all interested in GVs, make sure you check the Point Charts link at the top of the page. Unlike the rest of the room types, points for GVs are all over the map.

 

[KANSAS]

JIMBO
isn't a SSR&S GRAND VILLA, for sunday-thursday evening, versus
A OKW GRAND VILLA, for sunday-thursday evening,
almot 70% higher?? in dvc point requirements.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by stacy6552
The units at OKW are larger, and the parking is probably better.

The SSR units are newer. The main pool is more tricked out.

Just curious but what is a "more tricked out" pool?

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by DisneyPhD
For one, does all the building have elevators? Do they have interior or exterior hallways.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe elevators are now required due to handicapped accessibility laws. I thought that I had read OKW was exempt from this requirement due to the fact that it was constructed prior to the laws being passed.

I'm really not certain about the hallways. I believe that WebmasterDoc had once made a comment that ALL rooms in buildings 1-4 of SSR would have a water view. If true, that would seem to indicate that the buildings are only one room deep, and thus would not have the traditional interior hall running down the middle of each floor.

That said, looking at the artist renderings of SSR, the entry ways do not appear to be nearly as exposed as those at OKW. Could be that they still have the exterior room access, but that these areas have a greater degree of shelter than OKW.

The layout at OKW is really bad for busses, in and out, turning around in parking lots and no direct loop. I found it to be a major waste of time. Also our room was so close to the road the busses wizzing by at all hours really bothered us (and we live close to a train at home, found the busses much wrose.)

SSR is organized into three "neighborhoods" if you will. The first contains the registration building, spa, pool, etc. The second is located near the water and will have buildings 1-4 of the resort, all set to open summer '04. The third neighborhood is set away from the water and will have buildings 5-12, which should open throughout 2005.

This type of a layout should make bus service more direct. There won't be the winding up and down roads that you have at OKW. As to the number of stops, that's anyone's guess. Could be as few as 3, or 6+ if they make two stops at registration and have multiple stops in each "neighborhood."

I would also love it if the new pool at SSR was more like SAB with the sand bottom play area, that is so great for young children. (I can dream can't I?)

It won't be quite as dynamic as SAB, but may (I emphasize MAY) end up being the second best DVC pool. High Rock Spring will have a 100+ foot slide that winds through a rockwork contstruction being erected poolside. It will have a large childrens' play area with a "hot springs" theme. I believe the childrens' area will include jets of water that shoot up in the air, similar to the fountains at Downtown Disney. There will also be a pair of hot tubs, sand box, etc.

Construction also calls for two quiet pools in each of the two resort neighborhoods described above.

I put together some additional details on the resort which you can find here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=459794

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by KANSAS
JIMBO
isn't a SSR&S GRAND VILLA, for sunday-thursday evening, versus
A OKW GRAND VILLA, for sunday-thursday evening,
almot 70% higher?? in dvc point requirements.

Right. Weekends are pretty close, with SSR actually requiring less points. Sunday through Thursday, though, SSR GVs are substantially more, enough to make a one week stay 40% more. That's what I meant by points being all over the map. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.

 

[jaysue]

That is an interesting point on the loopy bus thing - I never thought of it that way before. Looking at OKW and the way it was designed, the loopy bus thing is the only design that would work.

The way around this is if you are lucky (and you want to) score a room near HH - since the buses pick up last there

I think SSR will be more of a point to point bus route as opposed to a loopy route

Love the tricked-out pool comment

thanks
jaysue

 

[dianeschlicht]

In reality, truely comparing the two resorts will have to wait until someone has actually stayed at SSR.

 

[stacy6552]

When I say tricked out, I mean that there will be a cool slide and beach incline, and "interactive childrens wet play area."

OKW's main pool is fun(cuz hey, what body of water isnt), but not really tricked out.

 

[spiceycat]

all handicapped rooms are on the first floor period - WDW does not want to have trouble removing guests if something happens and the power goes out.

so handicapped rooms are on the first floor no matter what resort you are staying at in WDW.

OKW has plenty of handicapped rooms on the first floor - so elevators were not included - they have been with all the other resorts - so I am pretty sure that SSR will have them.

OKW was surpose to be more like home - if you live in an apartment/condo does you apartment/condo have elevators - mind certainly didn't it.

I don't think it will have the nice big patio/balcony that OKW does - it is more like VWL, BWV or BCV - it is based on the hotel style not the condo style.

and one of the things that I love most about OKW are the balconies.