SSR v OKW for littles

[ajsanford]

Hi,

New DVC owner here, so I just wanted to get some advice from people who know a lot more than me...
We are planning a trip in March (or maybe later depending on availability). It will likely be 8 adults and 4 kids (ages 4, 3, 2, and 1).

I am a DVC member and will be using points for my family, but my sister has hilton and will have to go through RCI. She thinks she can only book OKW or SSR... (let me know if you have any other experience, as we would prefer a different hotel simply for transportation with little ones).

Does anyone have any recommendations between the two resorts or little ones specifically?
From my research it looks like OKW might be a better bus situation if you are near the hospitality house, but it does not seem that there is a splash pad, which given the kids age is something they would probably enjoy.

Thanks so much!

 

[ajsanford]

And we also might push the trip depending on availability I know things are harder to book right now

 

[bobbiwoz]

With children and strollers I think it’s important to remember that OKW only has three buildings with elevators. I would lean towards SSR.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I would do SSR and ask to be near the Paddock Pool which has a splash pad and slide. You're also close to DS if you want to do some shopping or get a meal. @bobbiwoz also has a good point about elevators. SSR has elevators in every building. So when you're tired or have a stroller, you don't have to climb stairs.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Booking through RCI through Hilton is not always available, but when it is, OKW or SSR are often the only options is what I've heard from other Hilton owners. I've heard of rare occurrences of others, like AK, but probably not in March.

That being said, I'd pick SSR for stroller-aged kids, because of the splash pad, lack of elevators at OKW, and walking distance to Disney Springs.

 

[Stargazer65]

I can't speak to OKW because I haven't stayed there, but we stayed at SSR many times when the kids were little and found it great for little ones.

 

[ajsanford]

Thanks all! This is super helpful! We’ve stayed at SSR before and thought it was great, so we will go with that (it was before kids though so now everything has changed!)

 

[Tigger's ally]

I can't speak to OKW because I haven't stayed there, but we stayed at SSR many times when the kids were little and found it great for little ones.

I'm the other way around as I have never stayed at SSR (split stay there coming in December) and have many trips at OKW. I would agree though as in my many stays at OKW, nothing screams kids to me. It has always reminded me of a mellow adult Jimmy Buffet kind of place. The one thing that I will say though with the size of her group, the huge room size of OKW would be a benefit.

 

[Stargazer65]

I'm the other way around as I have never stayed at SSR (split stay there coming in December) and have many trips at OKW. I would agree though as in my many stays at OKW, nothing screams kids to me. It has always reminded me of a mellow adult Jimmy Buffet kind of place. The one thing that I will say though with the size of her group, the huge room size of OKW would be a benefit.

Although I've never stayed at OKW, I've been there to eat at Olivia's and walked around a lot. If OKW projects a "mellow Jimmy Buffet adult look", SSR projects a sort of "hoity-toity Victorian era adult country club look". So from a strictly appearance point of view for the kids, it's probably a toss up.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We stayed at OKW once with our DGDs, 3 and 1 1/2. They loved it. Every afternoon my older DGD went to the pool with Grandpa, and she loved it. That's the thing with kids that age-they love everything if they're with family. We were on the third floor, and yes, DS had to lug the stroller up and down the stairs. But he never complained-he's said several times that he'd love to go back and stay at OKW.

 

[Tigger's ally]

Although I've never stayed at OKW, I've been there to eat at Olivia's and walked around a lot. If OKW projects a "mellow Jimmy Buffet adult look", SSR projects a sort of "hoity-toity Victorian era adult country club look". So from a strictly appearance point of view for the kids, it's probably a toss up.

Runs to cancel the SSR part of our split stay for December........I am no hoity toity Victorian fan or else I would do the GF!

 

[Stargazer65]

Runs to cancel the SSR part of our split stay for December........I am no hoity toity Victorian fan or else I would do the GF!

Well, I sort of exaggerated lol...it's not that hoity toity. Country club feel is probably accurate.

 

[CarolynFH]

Regarding RCI exchanges into DVC - tell your sister to put in an Ongoing Search now for the dates you want, and be patient. Disney doesn't seem to deposit DVC weeks into RCI until about 6 months out. She should also check periodically via her RCI account to see if anything pops up. It can be a Friday, Saturday or Sunday checkin.

I'd pick SSR for the elevators as well as the proximity to Disney Springs, not to mention the splash pads. BTW both the Paddock and the Grandstand pools have kiddie splash areas, and both of them are Standard sections, which are the usual RCI exchange locations as opposed to the Preferred sections. For more information about SSR, click HERE, and for information about OKW click HERE .

 

[VH103428]

For what it is worth, my kids always feel like they have to behave at SSR because it looks "nice". Note to parents...same at POR, Riviera, Boardwalk, and GF. My kids always behave better. OKW, Poly, CR, and WL they are crazy and never listen.

 

[Stargazer65]

For what it is worth, my kids always feel like they have to behave at SSR because it looks "nice". Note to parents...same at POR, Riviera, Boardwalk, and GF. My kids always behave better. OKW, Poly, CR, and WL they are crazy and never listen.

That's an interesting phenomenon!

 

[Tigger's ally]

That's an interesting phenomenon!

Thinking the youngsters have their parents "trained" to think that so they can at least be crazy and not listen to them at 4 resorts. It's a ploy!

 

[VH103428]

My kids...Walls and decorations look like grandma's house...behave. if it looks like my husband or I decorated it is a free for all.

 

[DVCTigger]

We have really enjoyed SSR with our grandsons (3&1). The splash/kids pool area at the Paddock is their favorite. Our last trip we all skipped the parks because the boys were happier at the pools. We just let them choose which pool each day. And they loved looking for turtles from the bridge between the springs and paddock

 

[Deb & Bill]

With RCI they usually only have one bedroom villas at SSR or OKW. More likely SSR.

 

[eMoneyBug]

I’ve heard from others sometimes they spot a boardwalk week! And I myself have spotted AKL week on a few occasions.