switch from OKW to POR dilemna, please help!

[disneyholic family]

yes, this was factored in when I mentionned it would cost £493 more at POR.

we want the DDP (as long as at least a part of it is free )



that's what DW and I are concerned about.

DS is rather lightweight (under 50lbs at almost 7) and would probably find it fun to sleep on a sofa ... kids ... but during our stay at POR, all day long on our first day, he talked about the folding bed under the telly and how it was his "favoritest" bed of his whole life... but as soon as we went "home" that night, he headed straight for the queen bed without giving the additionnal bed a look, and he did not even talk about it anymore.

and sofabeds (that open up) are notoriously uncomfortable..
i would stick with OKW, but you need to ask for one of the buildings that is near the main building..
you should specify that you need this because of a disability (or something like that)..
i have to look up the building numbers to tell you which one to ask for..
i haven't stayed at OKW for years and years, so i don't remember the numbers (well i do, but i always have a car - so we stay far away...but that's not where you should stay- i have to look up the numbers of the close buildings).

by the way, i made reservations for DD and her husband at POR....cost 5 arms and 4 legs because i reserved a royal room for her..

when we stayed at POR, we always stayed in building 14 of the bayou rooms..
but i thought she'd love a royal room, so that's what i booked...it's only money after all!!

 

[chmurf]

i have to look up the building numbers to tell you which one to ask for.

I've already done that bit of homework, but thank you for your insight, much appreciated
Since we're staying on cash, not points, I wasn't allowed to book the "near HH" category, but I would be fine with something like blgs 11 through 14, or the elevator buildings (62 to 64). 16 would also be nice.

when we stayed at POR, we always stayed in building 14 of the bayou rooms..

we stayed for 3 weeks in room 1405. perfect location. So close to South Depot, food court and Ol' man island. And we had the car parked in the disabled bay in front of the path leading to our room, 20 yards away.
Doesn't get any better than that

 

[scoobydooby]

We also love POR but are also off to OKW in 2015. I know already I am going to miss the POR food court and the kids may well miss the fun pool if the OKW one is inferior. My daughter moaned like crazy to start with about the AKL pool in May as the Riverside one is better. However we are in a different position as we are at OKW for the space. I simply cannot bear to share my bedroom with the kids anymore now they are both teenagers and frankly they are not wanting to share a bed any more either. I would say though that I have always enjoyed trying different resorts. I recently stayed at AKL and a couple of years ago at Beach Club and a few times at POFQ. POR remains my favourite overall but once I'm there I just make the most out of the unique elements of whichever resort I am at. So. Beach Club has the fabulous pool and proximity to Epcot. AKL has lovely theming and of course animals. POFQ is lovely and small and has a great bus service. I'm sure I'll find something unique to love about OKW. So unless a good food court is a deal breaker for you, I'd stay at OKW and give something new a try. From having read your entire post though I wonder if the food court is a deal breaker? If so re book for POR. I would say the year we stayed at Beach Club the lack if a food court was a monumental pain in the neck.

 

[Elise79]

Thnaks for sharing your views.

DW and I have watched many videos and pictures (including some we shot ourselves during our stays in Florida) from OKW, POR and other resorts (we even went as far as considering WL and BC)

our biggest "fear" is that OKW might be too similar to POR (small buildings for example) and we didn't really like CBR that much when we stayed there (you can't skip the pirate rooms with a 5 years old ) I didn't mention, but will we like the theming better at OKW when we didn't really enjoy CBR ?

Now, after another long discussion with DW, we think we would miss POR, but we also think that we would be missing an opportunity to try something else.

In that regard, we then went on watching SSR videos ... and DW was almost sold on that one. (Do I need to mention that it doesn't help at all) and it would not cost a penny more than OKW.
DS would need to sleep on the sleeper sofa. It's one of the points we're still reluctant about.
Second point would be the size of the resort, especially if we don't have a car, but if we do have a car, it's not that much longer a drive to POR than from OKW, and on the other side, we'd have DTD even closer by... and I could really survive with WPE as our food court (we're on the DDP)

Am I overthinking this ?
I don't want to turn this thread into a OKW vs. SSR thread, there are already many of these on this board and I must have read them all. I just want to know if it could be a good move for us, or if I'm in total denial, or if I'm beginning to lose my sanity over this.

From what I've told in this thread, is it a good idea even to think about switching to SSR, or should I really leave things as they are ?

This isn't going to help

Our DD is 6 now (she is very tall too over 48") and always sleeps on the sofa beds as we always stay in a one bedroom villa at a DVC resort. She has never complained.

The CS food location at SSR is very nice - we have popped over and eaten there more than once.

Without a car I think SSR is more "walking" friendly as it has paths that don't just follow the roads and cut across to the main building. My inlaws spent 16 nights there last month without a car. They said the buses were great and they stayed in the Grandstand section which was only about a 5-10 minute stroll from Carriage House.

OKW is themed like Key West and is probably similar to CBR. It has sand areas near the pools with play equipment. Everything is outside though so when it rains (which it does in Florida in summer ) you are kind of stuck with no where to eat or grab a drink and a snack.

 

[chmurf]

From having read your entire post though I wonder if the food court is a deal breaker?

That's the core issue.

If we have a car (as in "if I'm fit to drive") then it doesn't really matter. POR is just around the corner, and I know that road like the back of my hand.

If we don't have a car, then it's another ball game ... but I try to remain positive and I'm not ready to give up just yet. So I'll do as if it's going to be alright.

 

[iluvtot]

This isn't going to help


The CS food location at SSR is very nice - we have popped over and eaten there more than once.

OKW is themed like Key West and is probably similar to CBR. It has sand areas near the pools with play equipment. Everything is outside though so when it rains (which it does in Florida in summer ) you are kind of stuck with no where to eat or grab a drink and a snack.

1 agree, the food court at SSR is nice. We sometimes drive over there as I love the chicken, spinach and artichoke flatbread, and it's the only place to get it! However, we wouldn't stay there again unless we had no other choice!
OKW is different though. Because it doesn't have a food court, the seating is outside so you can watch the boats come and go, (if it's not raining!) but then if it is you can go back to your room Also, the food is always hot and when we have gone there it has been cooked fresh for us. Not as much choice as POR, but there isn't the 'scrum' for food and then queuing up while your food gets cold! There is always Olivia's for TS which we have enjoyed when we have eaten there x

 

[chmurf]

We might have taken a step in the right direction.

DW and I are ready to give OKW a chance.

We're still very tempted to switch to SSR (same price as our OKW booking) but the construction going on at DTD is holding us back

I know that by October 2015, Disney Springs will be close to completion. But can anyone advise about this ?

Right now we're at "Let's do OKW in 2015 and SSR in 2017".
But SSR has nicer pools, and seems to be more "pedestrian" friendly .. in case we don't have a car.

I will admit (don't tell DW) that I'm very tempted to go to SSR.

I think I'm bound to second guess our hotel choice until the last moment ... (well, I also usually second guess our ADRs at least for ... the last 6 months before check in ... ) ... obsessed ? why would you say that ?

 

[micksn]

Just got back from OKW for second stay and have stayed at POR in AB room before with 2 adults and 1 teenager.
The OKW room set up is much better for our family than POR. The space is noticeably bigger, there is a balcony so can use additional chair inside or out. The bathroom has lots of storage space and the kitchen area is very useful.

OKW is beautiful and also has the boat to DTD, there are small pools which we prefer as well as the main pool.

The buses are much better at OKW as many people have cars and don't use them. Except for the bus to Typhoon Lagoon and DTD (due to DTD construction) we never waited for more than 15 minutes.

The food court is the main issue. It is very small and the quality and choice is not great particularly compared to Riverside Mill. However, with planning it can be avoided and there are so many alternatives in the parks and at DTD.

We were very lucky with our room request (building 16 Millers Road) We did online check in and phoned about 5 days before arrival - it worked for us! You could even request 62,63, 64 if you have a disability.

Hope it works for you

 

[jon18uk]

We might have taken a step in the right direction.

DW and I are ready to give OKW a chance.

We're still very tempted to switch to SSR (same price as our OKW booking) but the construction going on at DTD is holding us back

I know that by October 2015, Disney Springs will be close to completion. But can anyone advise about this ?

Saratoga might be a better choice for getting to DTD as you can walk so there is no issues with busses and traffic. However Old Key West has boat service to DTD as well.

In terms of construction, the only things that look like they may be finished this autumn are the parking garage, the new bridge linking the former pleasure island with marketplace and the new bridge from marketplace to Saratoga (you used to have to walk right up to the road (on footpath)).

 

[chmurf]

In terms of construction, the only things that look like they may be finished this autumn

thanks but we're going in october 2015 I hope they get more than just the garage done by then

cheers

 

[Elise79]

thanks but we're going in october 2015 I hope they get more than just the garage done by then

cheers

I would say by October next year a lot will be done - they are nearly finished the work up by SSR.

The old PI seems slated for the biggest changes.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Another vote here for OKW. Even if I didn't own DVC, this would be my preferred resort in that price range. The rooms are really spacious and airy and the pool is lovely. When we take kids they love the films in the evening and the easy way to get from the store to the CS and the pool area. The buses are plentiful. Even when it was busy, we never waited longer than 15 mins.

 

[Laurafoster]

We have just booked to stay at SSR in 2015, as a family this works better for us than OKW for 2 reasons.
1. The pools - My kids are younger than your DS but they loved the pools at SSR. We like the paddock area as it's got a great pool, has music and games going on for the kids.
2. The indoor food court. Because my kids are small they get tired and so we sometimes have evenings in the resort and the food court here I think is quite good. Not as good as the moderates but certainly far better than OKW.

We don't always drive and have always found the buses to be quite good here.

My kids have always slept on he sofa bed with no problems. I went when I was 6months pregnant and spent 2 weeks sleeping on the sofa bed but I sleep anywhere We like that in the day we have the sofa to sit on as opposed to sitting on the bed.

The construction doesn't overly bother me as we prefer to stay at the Paddock area, as we don't have a view of DTD it's not an issue but I think a fair amount I'll be finished by the time you go.

 

[jon18uk]

thanks but we're going in october 2015 I hope they get more than just the garage done by then

cheers

Ooops sorry! I just saw October and got it wrong.

I guess a lot will be finished by 2015 but they will then be constructing the new shopping area (The Town Center) that is going on the parking lot.