SSR & OKW ???'s

[thelobstershanty]

This question is for those that have stayed at SSR, OKW and also one of the other DVC resorts that are close to the parks and dining.
We are a family that likes to be close to parks and dining. We love to be in the thick of things.
For this reason we do not like OKW. For us, the bigger rooms do not make up for the location.
We have a trip planned to WDW in a couple of weeks. The only resorts we could get was SSR or OKW. We chose SSR because we have never stayed there. My question is: will we be disappointed with SSR? Is staying at SSR the same as OKW but with smaller villas? Please tell me it is not so.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We own at SSR and have stayed at OKW & VWL.

Yes, SSR is similar to OKW in that it is a stand-alone, spread out resort as opposed to a higher-rise front-lobby-elevators-and-gift shop hotel. And no, you can't walk 5-20 minutes and be at a major park, although DTD is a walk or boat ride of similar duration away, and many folks - and childen - enjoy what DTD/PI/WE have to offer. SSR only has one upscale CS restaurant and is expanding their lounge to full-scale TS status this summer; that's it for on-site dining, but again, dozens of dining options can be found in DTD.

SSR suits our needs quite well: we're not big on valet parking, Disney dining, room service and - considering the sensory overload one gets from the theme parks - we prefer to be just a little bit farther from Stimulation Central, while still on-site.

Whether or not you are disappointed is up to you - it's all about managing expectations.

IMHO - YMMV - Be well!

 

[mickeymom629]

I've never stayed at SSR, but I can tell you that the location is comparable to OKW. We have stayed at BWV and V@WL. You will not be "in the thick" of things at SSR any more than you are at OKW (except a little closer to DTD). Hopefully you won't be disappointed, but it sounds like you might.

 

[LIFERBABE]

The only way to not be disappointed is plan at 11 months and dont change those plans. I say this because your requirements are pretty specific.

There are plenty of dining options at DTD that are a walk, bus or boat ride away. You will have at least 2 dining options at SSR proper.

You like what you like. Nothing we can say will bring SSR closer to the parks or speed up construction on the TS restaurant. The busses at SSR are direct to the parks, no stopping at other resorts like the Epcot resort busses.

If I was still stressed about my lodging options a couple of weeks before my stay, I would pay whatever it took to change and stay somewhere that gave me the warm fuzzies.

Or I would put on my Adventurer hat and make the best of it.

IMHO

 

[dianeschlicht]

Knowing how vehiment you have been against OKW in the past, yes, I think SSR will disappoint you. It is VERY quiet. The difference is that, like OKW it will soon be getting a full service restaurant, so that might help you. You are also about as far a walk from DTD as you would be from the South Point area of OKW.

 

[La2kw]

This question is for those that have stayed at SSR, OKW and also one of the other DVC resorts that are close to the parks and dining.
We are a family that likes to be close to parks and dining. We love to be in the thick of things.
For this reason we do not like OKW. For us, the bigger rooms do not make up for the location.
We have a trip planned to WDW in a couple of weeks. The only resorts we could get was SSR or OKW. We chose SSR because we have never stayed there. My question is: will we be disappointed with SSR? Is staying at SSR the same as OKW but with smaller villas? Please tell me it is not so.

I think that OKW has the edge concerning the bus service. SSR is a great resort, and is very similar to OKW.

 

[btrim]

with LiferBabe and DrTomorrow. You can make your vacation whatever you want. Yes, SSR is away from the parks. You know that going in, so don't be disappointed when it takes alittle longer to get to the parks. Don't go there thinking you are staying at BWV or BCV. The resorts all have their pluses and minuses depending on what you are looking for. If you are going to go and be disappointed or mad the whole time because you are staying where you want to be, then I vote you don't go. Why set yourself up for a miserable vacation? Rearrange your schedule and go when you can get into your favorite resort, otherwise, as quoted before "Or I would put on my Adventurer hat and make the best of it. "

 

[thelobstershanty]

The only way to not be disappointed is plan at 11 months and dont change those plans. I say this because your requirements are pretty specific.

There are plenty of dining options at DTD that are a walk, bus or boat ride away. You will have at least 2 dining options at SSR proper.

You like what you like. Nothing we can say will bring SSR closer to the parks or speed up construction on the TS restaurant. The busses at SSR are direct to the parks, no stopping at other resorts like the Epcot resort busses.

If I was still stressed about my lodging options a couple of weeks before my stay, I would pay whatever it took to change and stay somewhere that gave me the warm fuzzies.

Or I would put on my Adventurer hat and make the best of it.

IMHO

Lifer,
We are willing to pay anything to change resorts (pts wise) but there is nothing available for the full week at any of the DVC resorts except SSR & OKW. We are not willing to pay cash, since we have plenty of pts and that is what we own them for. We are willing to take a villa of any size even though we only need a 1 br, but there is nothing at BCV, BWV or VWL.
We know it is our own fault for not booking sooner, but this was a spur of the moment trip so we did not know we would be going at the 11 month mark.
So I guess we will be wearing our Adventurer's hats! Anyday at WDW is better than being at work!

diane,
I do not think we are "vehement" about our preference for the park DVC resorts, we have simply expressed our preferences and the reasons behind them. Just as you have consistently expressed your dislike of BWV and the other park DVC resorts.
We have come to the conclusion that we are going into this expecting to be less than thrilled with our resort and hoping that we will be pleasantly surprised. We will still be at WDW and on vacation vs working and that is what the main objective is. Plus we will be returning to WDW in Oct with friends and are staying in a GV at BWV, so we can wait a few more months to get our park DVC resort fix! LOL!
Thanks for the responses, everyone!
Adventure Land, here we come!

 

[La2kw]

We have come to the conclusion that we are going into this expecting to be less than thrilled with our resort and hoping that we will be pleasantly surprised. We will still be at WDW and on vacation vs working and that is what the main objective is. Plus we will be returning to WDW in Oct with friends and are staying in a GV at BWV, so we can wait a few more months to get our park DVC resort fix! LOL!
Thanks for the responses, everyone!
Adventure Land, here we come!

We were "forced" to stay at SSR last summer when we booked a last minute trip as well. We prefer OKW and had no desire to ever stay at SSR. I also couldn't understand why anyone would want to buy points there. Well, once we checked in and encountered some of the friendliest cm's at any Disney resort, inspected our room, and took in the view across the lake at DD, we fell in love with the resort. Even though our view included landscaping construction of the Paddock, we absolutely loved the decor of the resort and the residential feel of it. We even did our first ever add-on to our OKW points. Hopefully SSR will work some of its magic on you, enough that you will enjoy your trip!