Saratoga Springs or OKW?

[kandb]

We are considering a trip in mid-January, midweek. My two college age children and myself. Which resort do you recommend. We ususally stay GF or BC/YC but don't want to spend that much.

 

[eandt]

We are considering a trip in mid-January, midweek. My two college age children and myself. Which resort do you recommend. We ususally stay GF or BC/YC but don't want to spend that much.

I think with college aged kids I’d stay at SSR and if they are 21 it’s a slam dunk

 

[CarolynFH]

If eating or other activities at DS will be important, then SSR because you can walk there or take the boat or bus. From OKW it's really boat or bus (there's a walking path but it's open during daylight hours only), and it's farther from the SSR action.

Also, all of the SSR buildings have elevators, whereas only a few OKW buildings do. Bell Services will help carry your luggage up to your room, but if anyone in your party would have trouble with stairs, I'd recommend SSR.

OTOH, OKW has the largest villas on property! Are you planning on a studio? If so, the OKW studios all have two queen beds. The SSR studios have one queen bed and one queen Murphy bed that folds down to cover the couch. It's a regular mattress, so still as comfortable as a bed, but being able to put the Murphy up during the day gives you more floor space.

If swimming pools are important to you, SSR has two feature pools with slides and two quiet pools; OKW has one pool with a slide and three without.

Both resorts have multiple bus stops and bus-only transportation to the parks, so no real difference there.

Both resorts are spread out across beautiful grounds, including a golf course (the golf course at OKW winds around and through most of the resort whereas at SSR it's only in the Grandstand neighborhood).

 

[CarolynFH]

PS check out the DVC Resorts forum too for more details and answers to questions - https://www.disboards.com/forums/dvc-resorts.187/

 

[CastAStone]

I would suggest Saratoga Springs unless you’re looking for a 1/2 Bedroom and planning to spend a lot of time in the room. Because OKW 1 and 2 bedrooms are huge.

But the studios? Eh.

Gimme the centralized main area and access to Disney Springs that SSR has in that case.

 

[teamsamant]

Another vote for SSR. Elevators, nice new refurbishment in the rooms, DS is walkable, golf course on site. Staff has been great to me at SSR and internal bus loop never a long wait.

 

[Brian Noble]

For these two, it's all about the vibes.

OKW constantly whispers island time. It's mellow and laid back. The golf course is intertwined with most of the resort. The quiet pools are quiet, and even the feature pool feels less hectic than at most other resorts. The 1B/2B villas are huge, with very large patios/verandas, equipped with a table that easily seats four.

SSR feels a little more sophisticated to me, but in a very understated way. It's closer to the action of Disney Springs, and the pools seem more active. The proximity of Springs keeps the energy level up.