Which DVC resort has the best 1-bedroom vacation home???

[bpmorley]

Ok - we will definately stay in SSR bc/:

1. We saw the showrooms and I LOVE THE DECOR (even if they are the smallest rooms.)

SSR doesn't have the smallest rooms. Only OKW has bigger rooms.

Commute times at OKW & SSR are pretty much the same. At BWV you could walk to EPCOT & MGM.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Ok - we will definately stay in SSR bc/:

1. We saw the showrooms and I LOVE THE DECOR (even if they are the smallest rooms.) Not the smallest rooms, just the same as all non-OKW DVC rooms.
2. It is our home resort. Booking three different resorts (none of them being our home resort) would be waaaaay too difficult. Not difficult if you do it at the 7 month window and with one call to MS.
So, we will stay in SSR and VBR.

Now the question is - BWV or OKW.

If we do SSR and BWV - our studio will be at BWV and the 1-bedroom will be at SSR. If we do SSR and OKW - our studio will be at SSR and the 1-bedroom will be at OKW.

The postings are swaying me towards OKW. Does anyone have PICTURES OF THE PORCH AT OKW? If we did go to BWV, we would have a standard view to save points - so I'm thinking that we get a better view at OKW for fewer points.....

Is OKW so spread out that it is very far to walk to bus stops, food courts, etc.? There is no food court at OKW. There is a very nice restaurant though. It looks compact compared to SSR, and the bus stops are plentiful enough to not ever have much of a walk to the nearest one. The porches are a huge covered deck that has a ceiling fan and a table with 4 chairs with plenty of room for dining or any other activity you choose.
Finally.... does anyone know the approximate commute times from BWV, SSR, and OKW to the theme parks?

OKW commute times are good by bus for MK, Epcot, and MGM. AK does take a bit longer because the buses stop at Blizzard Beach and AK is the farthest away. MK, MGM, and Epcot will take 10-15 minutes from the time you leave the resort. We find the OKW bus service to be above average.

 

[Bribrittmom]

While I love the porches at OKW,wouldn't it be great to have a lounge chair out there to read and sleep?

 

[bpmorley]

Diane you are correct in that OKW has the biggest rooms. But SSR's rooms are bigger than BCV, BWV & VWL. They're just not as big as OKW.

 

[thelobstershanty]

I have never heard that the SSR villas are larger than BCV, BWV & VWL. If they are bigger, it can not be by much. We just returned a couple of weeks ago from SSR and the 1 br & the studio did not seem any larger to us than the villas at BCV, etc. OKW, yes the 1 br is very noticably bigger, but SSR, we did not notice any difference. Actually we thought the kitchenette in the studio seemed smaller than the kitchenettes in the other DVC studios.

 

[Nanajo1]

While I love the porches at OKW,wouldn't it be great to have a lounge chair out there to read and sleep?

I've thougt about going to Walmart and buying a lounge chair to have at OKW. Maybe we could start a lounge chair swap!

 

[Simba's Mom]

While I love the porches at OKW,wouldn't it be great to have a lounge chair out there to read and sleep?

I used to wish for rocking chairs out there, but your idea's definitely better!

 

[Bribrittmom]

I wonder who we would have to contact to get lounge chairs? Does anyone know?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane you are correct in that OKW has the biggest rooms. But SSR's rooms are bigger than BCV, BWV & VWL. They're just not as big as OKW.

That surprises me, because I have stayed at SSR, and the rooms appeared to be the same size and layout as the other non/OKW villas.

 

[MissD]

Personally for me the best 1 BR is the one I am in at the time.

Amen!

 

[bpmorley]

I have never heard that the SSR villas are larger than BCV, BWV & VWL. If they are bigger, it can not be by much. We just returned a couple of weeks ago from SSR and the 1 br & the studio did not seem any larger to us than the villas at BCV, etc. OKW, yes the 1 br is very noticably bigger, but SSR, we did not notice any difference. Actually we thought the kitchenette in the studio seemed smaller than the kitchenettes in the other DVC studios.

I wish I could find the site that gives you the dimensions of the rooms at all the DVC resorts. I remember reading it and it SSR listed as maybe 15-20% larger than BCV, BWV & VWL

 

[bpmorley]

I've thougt about going to Walmart and buying a lounge chair to have at OKW. Maybe we could start a lounge chair swap!

That is probably one of the best ideas I've ever heard.

Has anyone ever noticed that you get plastic chairs on the patios in DVC resorts, but regular resorts get more sturdy metal chairs?

 

[MrsNick]

FWIW, in comparing SSR to OKW, SSR has a counter service (Artist's Palette) as well as table service (Turf Club). OKW only has table service (Olivia's). Also, since you can walk to DD from SSR, there are dining choices there, as well.

So, if dining choice is important to you (and I think it's very convenient to have counter service available), then you may prefer SSR. If not, then you may prefer the larger units at OKW.

 

[bpmorley]

while it's true that SSR is much closer to DTD. OKW isn't that far away either. Last year we walked from SSR to OKW and I don't think it took more than 20 minutes. i guess OKW to West Side would be about 15 minutes. I know that all depends on what part of OKW you are staying in. Then there is always the boat that runs from OKW to SSR to DTD.

Anyone ever notice how close OKW is to Typhoon Lagoon? I would be great if they built a walkway and made a separate entrace. Just like the international gateway in EPCOT. Just a thought.

 

[LIFERBABE]

OKW has a counter service, by the pool. I think its called Goods to Go. We explored OKW on our last trip and really like their main pool area.

As for loungers, I have taken my own for the last 2 years. We were there last year for a month and we went to Sams CLub and I found this lounger for $25

It folds up and stores in a bag. Its great!! I took it to the beach with us and it fits nice on the patios.

Dh fusses every time I load it up, but I love it and I love having it and using it. So I let him fuss and we take it anyway!

Its about the length of a Golf Umbrella when folded and about twice the bulk.

 

[crisi]

I wish I could find the site that gives you the dimensions of the rooms at all the DVC resorts. I remember reading it and it SSR listed as maybe 15-20% larger than BCV, BWV & VWL

allearsnet has them....for some reason, not for BCV though....

Studio: 359 BWV, 356 VWL, 355 SSR

1 BR: 712 BWV, 727 VWL, 714 SSR.

 

[bpmorley]

allearsnet has them....for some reason, not for BCV though....

Studio: 359 BWV, 356 VWL, 355 SSR

1 BR: 712 BWV, 727 VWL, 714 SSR.

I just found the book they gave me when we took the SSR tour. It says that the studio is 395 square feet, 1bdr is 754 sf. Now we have to figure out which one is right. I do remember my guide telling me that they made the rooms bigger than the villas' because members answered questionaires stating that was the best thing about OKW. But then again we're all finding out there is never one answer. Ask 5 different CM's and you get 5 different answers.

 

[I Love DVC]

I just found the book they gave me when we took the SSR tour. It says that the studio is 395 square feet, 1bdr is 754 sf. Now we have to figure out which one is right. I do remember my guide telling me that they made the rooms bigger than the villas' because members answered questionaires stating that was the best thing about OKW. But then again we're all finding out there is never one answer. Ask 5 different CM's and you get 5 different answers.

Actually, our guide said SSR rooms were the smallest of any DVC resorts. The "Dream" book confirms this.

 

[bpmorley]

Well one of these things is wrong. I stayed at SSR last year and most recently VWL. Now I'm looking at the pictues of the room and I can swear SSR is bigger.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Does anyone have PICTURES OF THE PORCH AT OKW?

Here ya go :

MrsNick says : OKW only has table service (Olivia's). Also, since you can walk to DD from SSR,

OKW does indeed have counter service. I believe they're open from about 7 am to 10 pm. It's called Goods To Go. And OKW is a very nice, scenic boat ride away from DD.
Hope this helps !