Booked into Old Key West (only ever stayed in POR) in August, just had a call they want to move us to Saratoga Springs. What are our options and your thoughts please?
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Help! WDW want to change our resort
- Thread starter gail cameron
- Start date
OneofThree
Well-Known Member
It sounds like they're trying to do you a favor, if the price remains the same.
anchorman314
Well-Known Member
I can't tell you what your options are, but I can certainly share some thoughts, as I've stayed at both OKW and SSR.
First, I would think if you politely decline, then you'll still be at OKW without any issue. That being said, I'd consider what the change actually is. If they are offering you a larger room without charging the increased rate, that works to your advantage. Also ask what category of room they're offering. SSR has two categories: Preferred and Standard. Preferred is the Congress Park and Springs sections, while everything else is Standard. The Springs section is located close to the main buildings (check-in, food, main pool), and the Congress Park section is located close to the walking bridge that connects to Disney Springs.
In terms of the resorts themselves, it depends on your needs and preferences. OKW is gorgeous. However, it is very spread out. If you are in one of the outer buildings, it's a bit of a walk (or internal bus ride) to get to the Hospitality House (check-in, food, main pool). The restaurant at OKW, Olivia's, is always great. The only other food available is a limited-option counter service location by the main pool, and a smaller location by one of the area pools. SSR has both a table service restaurant, and a counter service option. (Though the counter service is a bit of a hybrid. You order at a register, go sit down, and they bring the food to you.)
In the end, it's really up to personal preferences. Just ask a bunch of questions, get as much information as you can, and you'll be able to make an informed decision.
First, I would think if you politely decline, then you'll still be at OKW without any issue. That being said, I'd consider what the change actually is. If they are offering you a larger room without charging the increased rate, that works to your advantage. Also ask what category of room they're offering. SSR has two categories: Preferred and Standard. Preferred is the Congress Park and Springs sections, while everything else is Standard. The Springs section is located close to the main buildings (check-in, food, main pool), and the Congress Park section is located close to the walking bridge that connects to Disney Springs.
In terms of the resorts themselves, it depends on your needs and preferences. OKW is gorgeous. However, it is very spread out. If you are in one of the outer buildings, it's a bit of a walk (or internal bus ride) to get to the Hospitality House (check-in, food, main pool). The restaurant at OKW, Olivia's, is always great. The only other food available is a limited-option counter service location by the main pool, and a smaller location by one of the area pools. SSR has both a table service restaurant, and a counter service option. (Though the counter service is a bit of a hybrid. You order at a register, go sit down, and they bring the food to you.)
In the end, it's really up to personal preferences. Just ask a bunch of questions, get as much information as you can, and you'll be able to make an informed decision.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
To the OP, if they've offered no additional information, I would guess they simply overbooked the resort. Considering both OKW and SSR are all DVC, theoretically there shouldn't be many rooms available anyway, so it could happen, I suppose.
SSR is IMO a very nice resort. Between the two I prefer SSR as a resort, but I prefer the size and layout of the rooms at OKW, the studio rooms are amongst the biggest on property, I think only the Poly has larger standard/studio sized rooms.
I agree with anchorman314 that you should inquire about the reasons behind trying to move you and if the room categories are comparable - for example, you may have booked a studio at OKW, perhaps they're already planning to "upgrade" to a 1BR at SSR. And you can let them know, at least insinuate, that you'd prefer not to move. If it's a matter of having the resort overbooked, they'll thank you and then see if they can move someone else booked at the same time, I'm sure eventually they'll find a yes. But if it looks like they're in dire straits and they need a yes out of you, they might sweeten the offer further. If they hadn't offered to upgrade your room, maybe this will do it. Or they might then try to move you into another resort entirely, perhaps one you'd find more preferable to OKW, one closer to MK or Epcot. Or they might offer some other kind of perks, additional fastpasses or some kind of gift card or rebate. Just be polite, don't be pushy (not that I'd assume you would be) and if OKW still sounds preferable to you, let them know so they either leave you be or try to make it more worth your while.
Just said it was no longer available!
This was a deluxe. First time deluxe for us!
Thank you so much for the advice. Disney has truly worked their magic for us, still at OKW
We have loved POR and thought that OKW would be the place for us. Do you think the renovations will be an issue?
correcaminos
Well-Known Member
Likely due to renovations that were slow to start (designs kept getting shot down so to speak). They are interior only renovations so nothing should get in the way of staying there.
I personally like OKW more than SSR - the rooms are bigger and it's just more warm and cozy feeling there to us. Plus 2 real beds in the studios instead of sleeper sofa. So to me that's a downgrade depending on what you were looking for. Now if you enjoy being closer to DS and such then it's a bonus.
Was SSR the only option?
We were in a studio, they offered me a 1 bed at SSR. You might think I'm mad but I was happy in the studio (4 of us). Anyway they have sorted it for us to stay at OKW now.
Wngo905
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Just a thought to remember:
Gail if you are booked at OKW in a Studio (not a 1 bedroom or higher) this is a great room as it is the ONLY DVC studios that have two actual queen beds and not the 1 queen bed and 1 queen pullout sofa. As others have said the room for a studio at OKW is bigger than SSR.
Both SSR and OWK are spread out for the resorts. I have stayed at SSR three times in a studio but never OKW (though I know about it).
IF they upgrade you to a 1 BR at SSR you would gain a full kitchen and a bedroom with a King bed and a big bathroom and WASHER DRYER
. The living room/kitchen would have the queen pull out. If this interests you, great. Otherwise, you could see if they would move you to a Deluxe resort in a standard (non DVC) room. You would loose the Kitchenet but would have two queen beds and more likely a smaller resort (with no multiple bus stops).
Gail if you are booked at OKW in a Studio (not a 1 bedroom or higher) this is a great room as it is the ONLY DVC studios that have two actual queen beds and not the 1 queen bed and 1 queen pullout sofa. As others have said the room for a studio at OKW is bigger than SSR.
Both SSR and OWK are spread out for the resorts. I have stayed at SSR three times in a studio but never OKW (though I know about it).
IF they upgrade you to a 1 BR at SSR you would gain a full kitchen and a bedroom with a King bed and a big bathroom and WASHER DRYER
. The living room/kitchen would have the queen pull out. If this interests you, great. Otherwise, you could see if they would move you to a Deluxe resort in a standard (non DVC) room. You would loose the Kitchenet but would have two queen beds and more likely a smaller resort (with no multiple bus stops).
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Please no apologies I was grateful for your response.
correcaminos
Well-Known Member
While having a washer and a kitchen is nice, that still would have left you with a sleeper sofa. I think you made a good choice for comfort with sleeping
Really? OKW was the original DVC resort.
As I recall, when it opened and prior to any DVCs, Old Key West was termed a Moderate Resort? I do remember when Caribbean Beach Resort first opened it was called a Value resort (before Pop and all Stars) so some resort rankings have changed over the years.