Old Key West or Saratoga Spring...

[Walter Yensid]

Hello all,

Long time site visitor, first time poster...

Anyway, I have been to Disney around 22 times or so...yep, I fit in very well with all of you at this site. haha. During those visits, I have been to most of the resorts.

Last year, my wife and I stayed at the Grand Floridian with our 1.5 year old daughter. Obviously, GF is absolutely beautiful. In July, we just decided we will be going down again. The Polynesian is booked for the number of days/time we want, which is where we wanted to go (hey, my fault for waiting).

So, we can get a one-bedroom villa at either Old Key West or Saratoga. I have been to Old Key West before, but a very long time ago. My wife has not been there. We have never been to Saratoga.

My question is, which one would be the best choice for us? My daughter loves the pool (she even went down the GF slide...no fear), but probably most interested in having a nice, relaxing place with kid-friendly things to do. And what section of each resort would be best? We will not have a car, so I do not have to walk a couple miles to get to things. I know we will definitely go to the pool, go to DTD, and need to pic kup the buses to go to the parks.

Thank you so much for any help you can offer.

Tom

 

[CatsMeow]

Both are great resorts, although I am a little biased in favor of my home resort. :animwink: Both are pretty spread-out, although SSR is larger than OKW and has more rooms - 531 at OKW and 800 or so (maybe more; not absolutely certain) at SSR; the Treehouse Villas will also be a part of SSR.

We have stayed at SSR 3-4 times. Congress Park is our favorite building. Great views and easy walks to the main pool and the Hospitality building. There is a spa at this resort, which is a first for a DVC property. The grounds are beautifully landscaped. There are two eateries - Artist's Palette, which is great for a quick meal and the Turf's Club which serves dinner and lunch (and which we have not tried.). DDT is very close by for lots of other meal choices. The main pool area is great, although we tended to use our "neighborhood" pool the most. The rooms are lovely with full kitchens, washer/dryer in all but the studios, and a Jacuzzi in the master suite.

OKW was the first DVC resort and the villas are the largest. Lots of room to spread out! As at the other resorts, there is a main pool and smaller "neighborhood" pools. Depending on where you stay, you can walk easily to the Hospitality buildings or catch an internal bus. The resort is built on a golf course and there is also tennis available. As at the other DVC properties, all rooms except for the studios have a Jacuzzi in the master suite and full kitchens plus washers/dryers. There is boat transportation from OKW which makes a stop at SSR and continues on to DDT (although I have heard the route may be changing due to the opening of the Treehouse Villas).

My suggestion is to take a look at some photos of the resorts and decide which appeals to you. Both offer comparable amenities. Transportation to the parks is generally pretty good; during busier times it bogs down a bit. We've never had serious issues.

Here are some links to check out ---
http://allears.net/acc/faq_okw.htm
http://allears.net/acc/faq_ss.htm
http://www.mouseowners.com/

 

[worldfanatic]

Both are fantastic, especially if you'll be spending time at Downtown Disney. Saratoga has beautiful, well kept, perfectly manicured grounds. But I'm really a sucker for the tropical trees and plants of Old Key West. Maybe it's because I live in the desert, I love vacationing in that jungle atmosphere!!

 

[polynesiangirl]

I'd say OKW, but then, I have only been in SSR -- haven't stayed there (though it is also beautiful). We've stayed at OKW a handful of times though, and relatives of mine were just there a few weeks ago and loved it.

 

[stitchsMom]

I would say Old Key West, especially with a little one. Their pool is fantastic for the little ones. OKW is very charming and cozy. This year are staying at SSR, which is a pretty resort - very nice, but my favorite is OKW.

 

[Mickey-Mommy]

I've never stayed at OKW, but stayed in SSR in December with dh and 15 month old ds. The one bedrooms were beautiful! We felt so much at home there! Our son just loved the pool how it has the zero entry so he could just walk on in himself. We got there too late, so the water feature for the little ones was shut down, but he still loved playing there anyway and talking with Donald. I didn't care for the food court myself, so we mostly ate in our room or elsewhere. Pizza delivery was also sooooo yummy!

My vote is definitely for SSR! Have fun!

 

[LivFreeorDisney]

I say go with Saratoga Springs. The rooms are a little smaller but nicer all around and clean. I like to stay in Congress Park so we can jump right over to DTD. It does make the walk to the main pool and buildings a bit longer but we never use the main pool any how.

What ever you decide it won't matter because they are both great places to stay.

Enjoy

 

[MickeyspalJim]

We have stayed at both a number of times. Both are great resorts. As others have said before, if You do want to head to DTD, SSR has Congress park section, which, as We just experienced last week, if you get a room far left in congress park, You will only be a casual walk of Maybe 5 mins. to the stores. They have a quiet pool there, and a larger pool with a slide up by the Springs section. We stayed in the Grandstand a few times and they have a nice pool there which is very kid friendly. That bus stop is the first from all the parks, so You will be first off the bus, which is great! OKW has many bus stops, and the bus has to zig zag throughout the resort to get to them. Its a long ride inside the resort. They do have a fun pool with slide near the hospitality house, and the resort is very tropical. It seems that the rooms are going under refurbs, so You may get a room that is quite worn out. This is the oldest DVC resort. They are both next to each other, so taking a bus to anywhere, would be the same timespan. They both have several pools to choose from.
The food court at SSR is much better. OKW is a walkup, with seating outside on Picnic tables. Not too comfortable. Enjoy whichever You choose!

 

[slappy magoo]

can't fully compare since I've yet to stay at OKW. stayed at SSR twice, both times in Congress Park. Less than 5 min walk to main building, less than 10 min walk to DTD, with all the restaurants and shopping contained therein. Quiet pool nearby, and last time I was there, the main pool has an inflatable movie screen with movies at poolside at night. Don't know if OKW or if any of the other resorts are doing this yet (beyond the campfire outdoor movie as FW). Turf Club is quite nice and rarely busy. It's not the most "Disney magic" resort, but still very nice.

Word of advice if you stay at SSR, especially if you stay in Congress Park section: one negative about SSR is that the counter service restaurant, the Artists' Palette, often can't handle large crowds, especially during breakfast (there are 800+ rooms after all). You'll save time (and get a much tastier breakfast) walking to DTD and eating at the Wolfgang Puck Express. I'm a big fan of the breakfast pocket made out of Puck's pizza dough, and Slappette is all about the corn flake french toast. We've never had more than one family ahead of us, and while you order at the counter, food is brought to your table, as well as beverage refills, so it's a little like full service, for a counter service credit. AND they do takeout - you can call ahead while you're walking there, it'll probably be almost done when you arrive and you can bring it back to your room while the rest of the family either gets ready for a day at the parks, or an early night staying at the resort.

 

[kerrie]

i had a one bed room in oct 08 at both resorts for a week.
okw- main pool ground was great for children they had soft white fluffy sand, and a kiddie pool on top of a playground. Downside if your not close to these pools the t=other pools dont have sepreate pools for younge one or slides, however they do have playgrounds.
S.S_ the maine pool was absoulutly wonderful they had a big slide and a kiddie slide with walk in pools like a beach with a adult beverage place just off to the side. the outter pools where nice too they didnt have any fancy slides but one i was close to had frogs that shot water into the pool and a playground. SS also had a community hall where kids can do art and other creative things, also have Vidio games and movie rentals. .
sory this is so long.

im staying at ss this trip for the full 2 weeks.