SSR & OKW questions

[Sk8Leigh]

I'm not sure if this belongs here or on the DVC boards, but I'll try here first, since those boards confuse me.

My friends and I are going to WDW for Memorial Day weekend and are planning to get a 2br villa at one of those resorts. I can get a good rate with a travel agent discount. I'm not sure how long it's going to take us to be definite enough to book, though, and I'm afraid of the available rooms getting booked up, and I'm not sure how it works since they're DVC.

For DVC resorts being booked through CRO or WTDC and not through DVC with points, do they have XX number or rooms set aside for CRO/WDTC and that number is not affected by DVC bookings, or do you think I should try to book before the 7 month window opens up for DVC members. I'm not sure if they would affect the rooms available to me or not. (I realize there might be no one able to answer this in relation to travel agent rates. I'm just talking about rooms in general.)

Also, does anyone know how many 2br villas are in each resort, just to get an idea of how many are available, total?

And finally, I know there are great FAQ threads for the non-DVC resorts, but I can't find any for these two. Do the DVC resorts have similar threads, and where could I find them?

TIA!

 

[pamjb]

I can help you with the number of 2 bedrooms. Not much else, sorry!

OKW
274 Dedicated 2 BRs
230 Lock off (combo of 1 br and a studio)

SSR
360 Dedicated
432 Lock off (this includes the portion of the resort that may not be open yet)

 

[Chuck S]

The number of rooms available through CRO will fluctuate due to many factors.

1) There is a small percentage of rooms always in CRO inventory because Disney retains a small percentage ownership for rehab cycling.

2) When DVC owners trade out to other Disney hotels, the cruise, Disneyland, or some other non-Disney locations, they use a formula to determine an equivalent number of DVC rooms and turn those over to CRO. DVC then uses and monies collected to offset the cost of the trade. This does not apply to Interval International trades, as they are direct condo to condo trades through an outside company.

3) Any rooms not reserved by dVC members on points are tuned over to CRO at 60 days and made available for cash ressies. Although, on occasion, hese rooms can be "pulled back" if needed by DVC, as long as they have not already been reserved for cash.

However, given that your party wants to travel over a busy holiday weekend, I would book as soon as your plans are set, as it is indeed possible that there will be no availability.

As far as rooms, OKW two bedrooms are very large, much larger than SSR, but SSR has a few amenities not available at OKW, like a full spa and food court, so it really depends upon your individual preferences. Also, all OKW 2 bedrooms have 2 queen beds in the seconds bedroom, while other DVC resorts (in lock-off units) have a queen bed and full size sofa sleeper. That may also be a factor for your party.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Thanks for your answers. I'm trying to get them to commit to dates so I can go on and book in the next couple of days. So now I just need to decide which one. Some more questions, if you don't mind....

It looks like SSR has elevators, while OKW does not. Correct? Does OKW have some kind of bell services to help with bags, if we were to get an upper floor?

I see that OKW has boat rental (which I enjoy--haven't talked it over with my friends), but it doesn't look like SSR does. Correct? If they don't, would it be ok to go to OKW to rent a boat? I think people staying at other resorts do that at 7 Seas Lagoon resorts, right?

And does SSR have a new TS restaurant? It look like one has opened up recently?

It's a hard decision. I keep going back and forth. It kind of seems like:

Pros for SSR
Newer
Food Court
Closer to DTD
Probably Elevators

Pros for OKW
Larger Rooms
Larger and nicer beds overall
Boat Rental

Is there anything that might tip it? (I know SSR has a spa, but I doubt we would use it.) I see people mention that both resorts are large. Is one larger? I think CSR is really big. How do these compare to that one? Does one of the resorts have better transportation than the other? At this point I don't think we'll have a car.

Thanks!

 

[jarestel]

Having stayed at both SSR and OKW (and enjoyed both), I would add this to the mix. If planning to spend a lot of time at DTD, SSR is the choice I would make. I enjoy the option of being able to stumble, errr I mean walk, back to the room after an enjoyable evening at DTD. On the other hand, OKW is a beautiful resort with the finest rooms on WDW property.

Transportation is usually fine from either resort, but as with any WDW resort, I'm sure someone has a horror story or two. These types of stories are the exceptions though as normally Disney transportation is pretty efficient as long as you don't expect your bus to be waiting for you the instant you want to go somewhere.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Just bumping to see if anyone has any answers to my other questions, or more opinions.

TIA!

 

[dvc_john]

Yes, SSR has a table service restaurant. I believe it opened in July or so.

Yes, you can rent boats at OKW, but not SSR. However you can rent boats at DTD nearby. Both use the same lake and waterways. My preference for boat rental, however, is something on seven seas lagoon/bay lake.

Yes, each building in SSR has elevators. At, OKW, only 3 building have an elevator. The rest do not.

Yes, OKW has bell services to help with luggage if needed, but I've never used it.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Thanks so much for the answers, dvc_john!!! I didn't realize that DTD had boat rental, so that removes that negative for SSR. I think I'm leaning toward SSR now, but I'd still love any opinions!