SSR or OKW? First Trip Home...Need Advice

[prez65]

I already have ressies for a 1 bedroom at OKW last week of June. (We own at SSR).
I chose OKW because of the points we will save.. but now my DW is thinking she rather stay at SSR (which as of Friday had 1BR available), but the 2 DD 3 & 9 want to stay at OKW ...
We do not plan on going to the Parks this trip being that we did that this March when we stayed at PORR, which was also when we purchased DVC. We just want some R&R
We have never stayed at either SSR or OKW, we have seen SSR when we took the tour but never seen OKW besides pics.
So my question is.... which resort should we choose?
I need the Pros and Cons for each resort and also would like to mention...we will not be renting a car.
All suggestions would be greatly appreciated...Thanks

 

[utahkennedys]

If you don't have a car and will be visiting other resorts for meals, pool-hopping, etc., I would pick SSR because you can walk to DTD and take the resort buses directly from there. Otherwise you have to take 2 buses from OKW. We love OKW and love the relaxed atmosphere, but I honestly don't think I would ever be there without a car...just my opinion. But, you probably can't go wrong with either!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I personally don't think the car issue is any different between SSR and OKW. Sure, you can walk to DTD from SSR, but depending on which area you are in, you could also walk there from OKW in about the same amount of time.

Both resorts are quiet and will be relaxing, but I feel the OKW villas seem more private than the SSR big buildings. At OKW we always feel like we are in our own vacation home, but at SSR we felt like we were in a big apartment building. That can make for a very different tone to a vacation. The kids will enjoy the pool at either resort, but most of the kids we have had with us really like the big slide at OKW. SSR will give you all the entertainment options of DTD close at hand, while OKW will give you that same proximaty without the urban feel.

 

[drakethib]

My bet is that you will enjoy either place.

 

[ccw]

While waiting my turn at the OKW pool slide last month, I asked the children at the top with me how many of them had also been to the SSR pool. One little boy about 9 or 10 said that he had been to both the OKW pool and the SSR pool and he liked the pool and slide at OKW better. For what it's worth.

I was at both pools but the water at SSR was too cold for me to get in while I was there. Their poolside lounge chairs are much nicer than at OKW though (fabric as opposed to plastic).

I am a huge fan of OKW but agree that either resort will be fine for your children!

 

[carol1231]

We love OKW for the size of the 1 bdrm, but haven't stayed at SSR to make a comparison. Would your family be interested in staying at both? Maybe switch resorts half way thru your trip. Bell Services will take care of moving your luggage.

Which ever you choose, you are at Disney and it will be wonderful!! Have a great time

 

[Slakk]

If parks are not part of the package I would stay at SSR to be by DTD. I am sure some parts of OKW are close enough to walk but what happens if you don't get them? At SSR you can easily walk to DTD and to me that would be the deciding factor. I love SSR's zero entry pool for the little ones.

But they are both really nice so you cannot lose.

 

[cobbler]

Since you own at SSR I would go there first. It's always nice to take your first trip "home" to your actual home resort.

There is just something special about it, at least for me.

 

[prez65]

Thank You everyone so far for the advice....Still have not made up our minds. Does SSR have boat rentals like OKW? Do they both have the Surrey Bikes? Maybe this will put the edge over the other at this point!

 

[bpmorley]

We've stayed at both and i don't remember seeing boat rentals at SSR. You can get to DTD from either resort, walking, bus or boat.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Since you own at SSR I would go there first. It's always nice to take your first trip "home" to your actual home resort.

There is just something special about it, at least for me.

I agree! First trip-home resort.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I feel like I'm seeing more and more posts about people wanting to stay at OKW to save points. My friend at work (who owns at BCV) wanted OKW for 4/16-4/20 to save points as well. She could only get it for 1 night. She had to split the rest of her stay at BCV and VWL.
I've never stayed at SSR before so can't compare.....but my kids love OKW.
OKW for sandcastle poolside....you can walk/boat/bus to DD/Marketplace.....u can rent Surrey bikes at both OKW & SSR (not sure if SSR has a marina for watercraft rental ? OKW does)
Large balcony with 1 bedroom villa at OKW. We usually have our car with us when we stay at OKW but rarely use it. We only use it for offsite dining/shopping. Other than that, we strictly use wdw transportation (boat or bus). I don't think you'd miss not having a car here anymore than you would at SSR (or any other larger resort such as POR, CBR etc). You are never more than a few minutes from any bus stop. I really don't think you can go wrong with either of these resorts. Have a great time !

 

[prez65]

Since you own at SSR I would go there first. It's always nice to take your first trip "home" to your actual home resort.

There is just something special about it, at least for me.

Thats what my DW's thinking was....Lets make our first stay at our home resort...But being we will not be doing the parks....I was realy hoping to be able to rent a boat for a while....this way it would add just another option of things to do.....Everyone is making some great points....I greatly appreciate it....I think our final decision is going to have to be made by Monday afternoon if we are going to do the change over from OKW to SSR and bank the remaining points.....OH THE CHOICES WE MUST MAKE! I am going to let the DW read these posts in the morning and see what she decides from them....Please keep posting your comments.....They are realy helping....

 

[bpmorley]

How about doing both resorts? Book a couple days at each resort. That would give you another reason to hop the boat from OKW to SSR or vice versa. I've never done it, but I read on these boards all the time about people switching resorts.

 

[SueM in MN]

I was realy hoping to be able to rent a boat for a while.

Our home is OKW, but we have stayed at SSR. I agree with the person who said OKW feels like a vacation home (like a condo community) and SSR feels like an apartment complex.
I'm pretty sure SSR doesn't have a marina to rent boats (don't know about bikes), but you can go to any other resort and rent a boat if you want. It doesn't have to be the resort you are staying at.

 

[prez65]

How about doing both resorts? Book a couple days at each resort. That would give you another reason to hop the boat from OKW to SSR or vice versa. I've never done it, but I read on these boards all the time about people switching resorts.

We will not be checking in till Sunday evening and leaving Friday morning...If We were staying longer I might have considered both.....To short of a stay to switch from one to the other....I would love to that on a longer vacation......

 

[bpmorley]

I wish I would have known about switching resorts before. We stayed for 10 days at SSR last year. I would have liked to see another resort. but there will be other trips to do that.

 

[La2kw]

I already have ressies for a 1 bedroom at OKW last week of June. (We own at SSR).
I chose OKW because of the points we will save.. but now my DW is thinking she rather stay at SSR (which as of Friday had 1BR available), but the 2 DD 3 & 9 want to stay at OKW ...
We do not plan on going to the Parks this trip being that we did that this March when we stayed at PORR, which was also when we purchased DVC. We just want some R&R
We have never stayed at either SSR or OKW, we have seen SSR when we took the tour but never seen OKW besides pics.
So my question is.... which resort should we choose?
I need the Pros and Cons for each resort and also would like to mention...we will not be renting a car.
All suggestions would be greatly appreciated...Thanks

You can't go wrong with either resort, IMO. OKW has larger rooms, which is nice when traveling with kids. SSR is close to DD and has a nice food court, which OKW lacks.

 

[shellbelle1971]

FWIW,
I don't think you can rent a boat at SSR. You can rent surrey bikes. And they now have the carriage rides, which my kids are looking forward to.

If you want, you can hop on the boat to DD and use it as a relaxing shuttle between OKW and SSR. That way, you can pool hop from either resort to either pool and see which one you like best.

 

[loribell]

Personally I would choose SSR, especially since you aren't planning to visit any parks. Not sure how you are going to do that, I never could!

Anyway, the reason is the pool at SSR is much nicer IMHO. I know that when we pool hopped over there on the last evening of our trip last summer my oldest DD with her 18 month old and my niece with her 3 1/2 year old wished we had stayed there for the pool. The zero entry part, the slide for the little ones as well as the big ones and the Donald fountain play area are perfect for the kids.

OKW is where we were staying and they did not like the pool for the little ones at all.

OKW is very nice though so which ever you choose you should be fine!

Have fun,
Lori

Just wanted to add that although SSR does not have the marina for renting water craft I believe you can do that from DTD. You could also do it at any of the resorts that have a marina, such as VWL, CR, GF, etc. We did rent the water mice ast OKW once and it takes so long to get through the slow zones your time is almost up by the time you get out onto the actual lake if you are only renting for 30 minutes.