Ssr v okw

[stephensmum]

We have booked for SSR for August on the 42% offer & now the offer has come again for 2010 we're thinking of booking. What, 2 hols booked at same time! I must be dreaming. I know a lot of you have booked OKW and just wondered how you chose one over the other. We chose SSR for the walk to DD. So opinions on both, please.

 

[stephensmum]

Anyone help with this?

 

[UKDEB]

I've lifted this from a post I made on another thread recently:

Old Key West has a laid-back charm and I can see why its fans rave about it - the entire place has a homely, neighbourhood feel - but it wouldn't be for me. It has lots of wide open spaces and the units are considerably larger than those at subsequent developments, but it's just all too jaded IMO, and too far away from the action. It is possible to walk to Downtown Disney, but it's a fair old trek, particularly from some parts of the resort, and the path is closed each evening at dusk.

Saratoga Springs to DTD, on the other hand, is easily walkable and it has the benefit of being much newer. The villas we've stayed at in the (newest) Grandstand area have been immaculate. It's let down, though, by not having a really good restaurant or bar. I don't do food courts, but Artist's Palette there seems pleasant enough. The Turf Club isn't bad, but it isn't in the same league as the signature restaurants which all the other 'deluxe' resorts boast. And the bar is just a hole in the wall in a lounge which effectively serves as a holding area for the Turf Club. The main pool, and the quiet pools there are all good, though.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I haven't stayed at either Sharon so my input is virtually useless *what's new?*

What I do know is we had a full tour around SSR, the advantage it has over many DVC resorts is it is still fairly new so it's almost certain you will get a lovely room.
The pool's are very nice, and both suitable for children, especially the Grandstand area with a water play area.
One of my doubts is I didn't think the restaurant and bar facilities were suitable for someone who is vain and likes to pose in the evening - ie me!
For me that was the only downside.
You obviously have Downtown Disney very nearby too.

OKW - I know even less, what I do know is the resort I understand is very spread out over a large area, that it's one of the older DVC properties, and that the rooms are the biggest of all of them.

Not much use - but a start perhaps?

*edited , oops wasn't the first response after all*

 

[tink too]

Can't comment on OKW as we've never even visited it, let alone stayed there, but...

...we stayed at SSR this past April and loved it! It's a large resort but very pretty, everything was always immaculate - grounds, our room, the shop and Artist's Palette. We never dined at the Turf Club, but heard good things about it while we were there. The only thing I found was that it closed relatively early.

The walk to DTD is easily manageable and although the Disney bus service from SSR often gets bad press, we really had no issues with it.

 

[stephensmum]

Thanks for the replies. Still can't decide but am happy that we can go next year as well.

 

[jackieleanne]

We are now booked in for SSR. Picked it over OKW for the fact that it is closer to DTD therefore only a quick walk or boatride away. We have also heard very good reviews about The Turf Club and looking forward to dining there.

 

[Tillybud]

we were originally going to go to POR but we're now considering either SSR or OKW, it's just difficult deciding which one. OKW looks so pretty but having read the bits posted I'm swaying towards SSR, I hate tough decisions !!!

 

[paulh]

OKW is laid back and eating options is just one restaurant.unless you drive out and about or use disney transportation
SSR again laid back but you have more dinning choices as DTD just a walk away opening up more dinning for you plus the shops there .this is one of the reasons SSR is one our fav resorts
Paulh

 

[Neoshoegal]

we had to make the same decission a few months ago and chose SSR. Mainly because it has a sofa instead of a second double bed and as it's just the 2 of us that seemed to appeal more. Also liked the fact that it was newer too. There's also a spa at SSR (went there on previous trip for a rather heavenly massage). Still trying to way up if it's a good thing that we're staying there, dangerous money pit that spa!

From what I've read, they are both great resorts and whatever you choose will be brilliant!

 

[katiec]

Hi Sharon

Can you tell me where you got the 42% discount offer from?

Despite all the odds DH now wants to go back next year!!! (not that i'm complaining!)

We were looking at AKL with Dlx DDP for 10 nights part paying with our Tesco vouchers, but we also have $800 of American Airlines vouchers so it might be more cost effective to do it all separatly.

Many thanks

Katie

 

[Pootle]

OKW for me definitely I don't go along with the 'jaded' view expressed by Deb (maybe I've been lucky in my 30+ stays, and I'm often in a one bedroom villa and not a studio) but some of the ground floor studios can be a little dark because of the heavy landscaping at OKW.

Really though, the things that might swing it for you if you have no strong preference are the one bed plus sofa bed at SSR versus two queens in the larger OKW studios and/or the availability of more counter service choices at SSR. If you have children, putting up a bed each night seems a bit like camping to me, but without children, the set up at SSR could be ideal.

You can be quite far away from DD if you are in the Carousel section btw. Parking at both is convenient, but at OKW it's right outside your door.

More opinions on the same question can be found here on a current thread.

 

[wayneg]

Really though, the things that might swing it for you if you have no strong preference are the one bed plus sofa bed at SSR versus two queens in the larger OKW studios and/or the availability of more counter service choices at SSR. If you have children, putting up a bed each night seems a bit like camping to me, but without children, the set up at SSR could be ideal.
.

The sofa bed was 100% why we didn't go for SSR, we wanted 2 proper beds.
Don't want to be messing about with a sofa bed.

 

[stephensmum]

Hi Sharon

Can you tell me where you got the 42% discount offer from?

Despite all the odds DH now wants to go back next year!!! (not that i'm complaining!)

We were looking at AKL with Dlx DDP for 10 nights part paying with our Tesco vouchers, but we also have $800 of American Airlines vouchers so it might be more cost effective to do it all separatly.

Many thanks

Katie

Hi Katie. We are booked through Disney UK for this year & it actually states 42% off & for next year someone very kindly posted that the offer is on again. It doesn't state 42% off but if you put your dates in it brings up the choice of resorts OKW & SSR are same price as we paid this year, with the exeption of the passes going up. It cost us £1931 for 14 nights comm 20/8/09 with passes & free dining and nxt year it will be £2005 for the same. There is 3 of us so 3 adult passes.

 

[stephensmum]

Thank you for your replies. I think we will proberly book for SSR again as we don't hire a car & the no cs may not work for us, although I would perfer the 2 beds rather than a sofa bed for our DS. Our friends have just confirmed they want to go to OKW so that is swaying us slightly but the things we require most seem to be at SSR. Walk to DD for dining etc, CS & good slide at main pool. You can proberly tell i am pretty indecisive.

 

[mikki.young]

The slide at the OKW is excellent. I was against them putting it in because it puts the annual dues up but they have done a good job. If Downtown is your thing you can walk from SSR but there is boat or bus from OKW. I disliked SSR from the first time I saw it and couldn't understand the appeal but I love OKW. Maybe they just appeal to different types of folks.

 

[raph_b]

Great thread

I'll be keeng a keeping eye on this as we're currently trying to decide which of the 2 to pick.......

 

[oceanscape]

For a 2 bedroom villa which one do people recommend??

Thanks!!

 

[stephensmum]

The slide at the OKW is excellent. I was against them putting it in because it puts the annual dues up but they have done a good job. If Downtown is your thing you can walk from SSR but there is boat or bus from OKW. I disliked SSR from the first time I saw it and couldn't understand the appeal but I love OKW. Maybe they just appeal to different types of folks.

Thanks. I thought the slide did'nt look too good on the photo's I saw, but you can't always tell from photo's. Do the quiet pools have whirlpools/spas? How do you manage without a food court?

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Isn't there like a grab and go foodcourt at OKW? I am deciding too...without these boards I wouldn't even have looked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!