SSR vs OKW debate

[LadyLuck24]

My husband and I are having a debate. We are planning a trip next May with two kids who will be 4 & 2 at the time. We have rented points for our last several vacations because with young kids, we like the extra space and the kitchen. We will be staying for 10 days this time so we get plenty of down time at the hotel.

We want to rent a 1 bedroom villa. We have stayed at VWL, BLT, and AKV and are looking to try something different. The other monorail resorts (poly, VGF) are too expensive for us right now but we hope to try those in the future.

We are now down to OKW vs SSR. This is where the debate starts. I have stayed at SSR and think the pool areas, especially the paddock pool, would be awesome for the kids. Also, the walk to (what will by then be) Disney Springs would be so key on an extended vacation where we'll probably have a lot of down time to just walk around. I'm seeing Disney Springs as an extension of SSR.

My husband, on the other hand, would prefer OKW. His two reasons are that the rooms are bigger and that there is a sleeper chair, so we won't have to put the two little kids in the same bed. Also, it would be around $300 cheaper than SSR.
I have never stayed at OKW and I just don't get the attraction--it's not within walking distance of anything, the pool area didn't look great for toddlers...eh. It looks like the extra space is the only bonus.

Any thoughts? Am I unfairly judging OKW? Where would you stay with a 4 & 2 year old?

 

[SusieBea]

OKW has been our home resort since 1993, and we love it - the extra space especially. But in your situation, I would agree w/ you. I think the two feature pools at SSR are much more fun for little kiddos. And although I love Olivia's, I think the food options are better at SSR. Just my two cents.

 

[Nanajo1]

The boat to Disney Springs is nice. The "neighborhood" pools are great for little ones, the ones we saw had a sandy area and climbing structures. The main kiddie pool has a large sandy area and toddler pool. Rooms definitely bigger at OKW. At 4 & 2 my kids just like to splash!

 

[mort1331]

my 2cents about the sleeper chair being a factor. I don't think it is. With a 2&4 there is plenty of room in the pull out couch. My girls are 4&8 and have loads of room and love it. So when they are older maybe the chair would start to factor in but for now I wouldn't even worry about that small detail.

 

[tb1972]

We own at OKW but have stayed at both resorts. I took my 3 year old niece to OKW last Fall and she had a great time playing in the sand playground area. I also could see younger kids liking SSR's pool. I don't think you could go wrong with either choice.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We stayed at OKW with our then 4 yo and 2 yo DGDs last year. DS was telling us last night how he thought it was perfect-loved the villa size and layout (2 BR), we had great bus transportation, adequate food options. And yet, beforehand, he was sort of uncertain-"Well, since you're paying, we can't complain!" But you could tell that beforehand, he probably would have stayed any of lots of other places. Now, he's so glad we stayed there. And the kids loved the big porch and the table, where they sat every morning watching ducks and golfers while they ate breakfast..

 

[DVC Doctor]

They both are good, try flipping a coin or book 5 nights at each resort.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

The one consideration I would add is elevators -- SSR has them and OKW are limited to (I believe) one building. If you have a stroller of any size jacking it up and down the stairs will get old. Plus if the kids are asleep you can't just wheel them to the room - there will be waking and carrying involved. I would go to SSR for those reasons alone.

 

[LadyLuck24]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts. 3hobbits, you may have ended the debate with that comment about elevators. I had always read posts about OKW that noted the limited elevators, and I had always disregarded it as something irrelevant unless you needed handicapped accessibility. But duh--strollers and sleeping toddlers! Even if they're not sleeping, dragging a stroller and a bunch of stuff up stairs at the end of the day? No way--I think SSR will win. Although I would say I also hadn't thought about a split stay as DVC doctor mentioned...will need to consider that too...

 

[Dean]

My husband and I are having a debate. We are planning a trip next May with two kids who will be 4 & 2 at the time. We have rented points for our last several vacations because with young kids, we like the extra space and the kitchen. We will be staying for 10 days this time so we get plenty of down time at the hotel.

We want to rent a 1 bedroom villa. We have stayed at VWL, BLT, and AKV and are looking to try something different. The other monorail resorts (poly, VGF) are too expensive for us right now but we hope to try those in the future.

We are now down to OKW vs SSR. This is where the debate starts. I have stayed at SSR and think the pool areas, especially the paddock pool, would be awesome for the kids. Also, the walk to (what will by then be) Disney Springs would be so key on an extended vacation where we'll probably have a lot of down time to just walk around. I'm seeing Disney Springs as an extension of SSR.

My husband, on the other hand, would prefer OKW. His two reasons are that the rooms are bigger and that there is a sleeper chair, so we won't have to put the two little kids in the same bed. Also, it would be around $300 cheaper than SSR.
I have never stayed at OKW and I just don't get the attraction--it's not within walking distance of anything, the pool area didn't look great for toddlers...eh. It looks like the extra space is the only bonus.

Any thoughts? Am I unfairly judging OKW? Where would you stay with a 4 & 2 year old?

We love OKW but prefer SSR with younger and in between aged children due to the pool. While we always drive (and to the parks except MK) I would not do OKW without a car if I could help it. All considered though both are great and it comes down to personal choice. I'm not sure the age of the kids (toddlers) but for younger kids or those where a water slide was a major plus, I'd request near the pool/paddocks at SSR.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I agree with Dean.....OKW is designed IMHO to be for those that have a car. We are big fans of SSR and lot's of great options there. One plus for SSR is if you do Tables in Wonderland, they take it at the Artist Palate. 2 main pools in the springs and paddock surely beat out the main pool at OKW. As studio people we don't like NOT having the sofa bed (many prefer the extra queen bed, but we like the sofa for sitting) but since you're getting a 1br the extra space could be useful....especially for 10 days.