Saratoga or Old Key West?

[April]

Planning a last minute trip. Choice is between Saratoga and Old Key West. Any pros or cons with either resort?

 

[MinnieGirl33]

We love them both.

How many people? What size accommodation?

 

[puntagordabob]

OKW would be our choice personally... biggest dvc rooms....very relaxing resort... park your car within a short hop to your room.... and we prefer the hospitality house and community hall at OKW vs SSR. Only drawback to OKW is that their only CS option is outside....

 

[dmoore22]

OKW would be our choice personally... biggest dvc rooms....very relaxing resort... park your car within a short hop to your room.... and we prefer the hospitality house and community hall at OKW vs SSR. Only drawback to OKW is that their only CS option is outside....

Totally agree, except for one thing. If the CS option were inside it wouldn't feel like Key West.

 

[April]

There are four of is in a two bedroom unit. I'm sorry, CS? I am drawing a blank.

 

[ToddyLu]

Counter Service restaurant--CS

 

[SusieBea]

There are four of is in a two bedroom unit. I'm sorry, CS? I am drawing a blank.

CS=Counter Service. I draw blanks all the time.

With only 4 of you in a 2-bedroom, you'll have plenty of room in either resort. Two people working in the kitchen at the same time will be easier at OKW. There are elevators in all the bldgs. at SSR if that's important to you. But the balconies are much nicer at OKW.

 

[Anal Annie]

Personally we much prefer SSR to OKW. The resort is newer (cleaner & fewer maint. issues IMO). More food choices... Still convenient to DTD via water taxi...lots of really nice pools...

 

[April]

Any issues with the bus service at either place? Walking distance from your room to the main building?

 

[toniosmom]

I see you are from Update NY -- so you may already have the Saratoga theme at home -- why don't you do OKW?

Either way, you'll have a great time.

 

[April]

We are about 20 minutes away from Saratoga Springs, New York!

 

[KY*Figment]

SSR is our home resort. We like it except the Carousel area at SSR is in the middle of no where; not close to a pool or bus stop. Paddock was great. The main pool is nice but crowded. The CS is okay. Community room is lacking. I can't tell you about the rest of SSR. OKW has a great pool & community room. The CS is outside and this was fine w/ us because we were in swim suits. Turtle Creek was a nice area. My husband likes SSR over OKW and I like OKW over SSR. Sorry I'm not much help.

 

[bookwormde]

I am from the northeast also and SSR looks and feels to much like any of 100 condo developements in our region, so that is a big part of the reason I choose OKW (plus I am cheep and the points are less). OKW is super laid back.

bookwormde

 

[DizGirl20]

We are about 20 minutes away from Saratoga Springs, New York!

I lived in Upstate NY for 11 years... I would choose Old Key West without hesitation:

1. Larger accommodations
2. Tropical atmosphere (think palm trees everywhere!)
3. Boat to Downtown Disney
4. Laid back atmosphere

Happy Planning

 

[dvc deernut]

ssr is one of our home resorts, but we rarely stay there. Usually we book 11 month window there with if okw is full and be put on wait list. We usually get in okw. We like the laid back atmosphere at okw, not as busy and better landscaping. We like a first floor 2 br with view of water. We like to feed the birds we have stayed at every location at okw. One of our favourites is building 24 i think at pennisular overlooking pond and water fountain off to the right. Close to hh and pool and boats. You have a choice take bus from there or catch same bus as it leaves okw. The bus service at either place is good. Both have boat ride to dtd but ssr is a short walk away, but you can walk to dtd from okw thru a back path. Wouldnt do it at night. Maybe in 20 years we might like ssr better once the vegatation grows. We have driven thru sarratoga springs new york many times on our way to vermont, we can get that atmosphere up there. Oh we also like the music played at okw.

 

[Anal Annie]

Any issues with the bus service at either place? Walking distance from your room to the main building?

When we stayed at OKW we had the WORST bus service of any property ever. We waited about 90 min. one evening for a bus to MK. It ALWAYS took an hour to go someplace. When we stayed at SSR we were right by the Grandstand bus stop and it ran like clockwork.

When we stayed at OKW we walked and walked and walked and then walked some more to go to the main pool / dining. It was August so it was HOT and by the time we walked back to our villa after the pool we were dripping with sweat. The quiet pools at OKW are VERY quiet. No theming or anything. The SSR Grandstand pool was quite attractive with a water splash play area and lots of space to plop down. We did not find the walk to the main pool (High Rock) or dining to be anywhere close to long when we stayed at SSR. We didn't mind any of the walks there.

 

[Brian Noble]

Any issues with the bus service at either place? Walking distance from your room to the main building?

Both resorts get reports of bad bus service, and both resorts are very spread out. I would probably not distinguish either from the other on this point. The exception: OKW has a booking category called "Hospitality House"---if you book this category, you are guaranteed one of the buildings closer to the resort's main buildings. At SSR, location is always a request.

On balance, the bus service is largely okay at either---the reports are generally more positive than not. I'd still want a car at either, but I generally get a car no matter what. I did go car-free once at OKW, and it wasn't horrible. But, on my most recent trip, I've also had a couple of those >60 minute trips from the time I arrived at the bus stop until the bus arrived at the MK depot.

Personally, we find the overall vibe of OKW to be a little more appealing. But, that's just a personal preference.

 

[dmoore22]

Any issues with the bus service at either place? Walking distance from your room to the main building?

Haven't had any issues with bus service at OKW. Just remember the buses run approximately every 20 minutes beginning an hour before the park opens. Remember that and gauge the time to go to the stop accordingly. That way you can minimize your waits.

When we stayed at SSR we used the same strategy. It did not work as well. That may have been due to the detours to avoid the construction areas at that time.

Saratoga Springs is very nice but, for us, OKW still holds the edge.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Any issues with the bus service at either place? Walking distance from your room to the main building?

We find the bus service to be a little better at OKW, and while both are large resorts, we find that to be not much of an issue for getting to the main hospitality areas at either one. If you prefer not to walk, just take the first bus that comes along.

 

[dvc deernut]

The longest we have waited at OKW was about 15 min for bus, In the morning you may get 2 buses back to back to same place, OKW has bus running both ways to MK etc. One going and one coming. We find you wait longer at AKL its so far away from everything. There are more buses on in early morning than slower times of day. If you take your car to MK then you will first park car, then take either monorail or boat to MK and waste more time that way. The buses drop you off almost infront of MK main gate.