SSR vs OKW

Saratoga or Old Key West

  • SSR

    Votes: 7 41.2%

  • OKW

    Votes: 10 58.8%
  • Total voters
    17
Jess G

Jess G

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
You guys are the only ones who can understand my pain lol . This is the first time in 3+ years that I don't have a date set to go back... due to some life changes its hard for us to plan such a big thing at the moment.

BUT! - I think I may see an open opportunity for us to squeeze in 3 nights the last week of Feb. We are going to rent points and since we are so close to Feb already I imagine that these 2 will be the only places that have studios available last minute.

And one specific question - does SSR not have any palm trees at all ?
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Jess G said:
You guys are the only ones who can understand my pain lol . This is the first time in 3+ years that I don't have a date set to go back... due to some life changes its hard for us to plan such a big thing at the moment.

BUT! - I think I may see an open opportunity for us to squeeze in 3 nights the last week of Feb. We are going to rent points and since we are so close to Feb already I imagine that these 2 will be the only places that have studios available last minute.

And one specific question - does SSR not have any palm trees at all ?
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I did not vote in the poll because you can't really go wrong with either of these choices. Both are large, spread out and very nice properties. We prefer SSR for its proximity to DS, but the boat ride from OKW to DS is nice too.
As for palm trees at SSR, no it is mostly pine and hardwoods. It is supposed to be themed after an area in upstate New York, an area that is not exactly known for Palm trees. Same thing at Wilderness Lodge, themed for the Pacific Northwest, where again there are not an abundance of Palm trees.
Lots of Palm trees at OKW though. Can't remember what area it is themed after, some place in Florida I think, where there are lots of Palm trees.
 
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Jess G

Jess G

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
epcotisbest said:
As for palm trees at SSR, no it is mostly pine and hardwoods. It is supposed to be themed after an area in upstate New York, an area that is not exactly known for Palm trees. Same thing at Wilderness Lodge, themed for the Pacific Northwest, where again there are not an abundance of Palm trees.
Lots of Palm trees at OKW though. Can't remember what area it is themed after, some place in Florida I think, where there are lots of Palm trees.
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LOL - traveling with someone that for some reason palm trees are an important part of vacation to him. We're from NY so not so fond of the thought of traveling somewhere that looks completely like home lol
 
Wngo905

Wngo905

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Jess G said:
BUT! - I think I may see an open opportunity for us to squeeze in 3 nights the last week of Feb. We are going to rent points and since we are so close to Feb already I imagine that these 2 will be the only places that have studios available last minute.
Click to expand...
I understand your pain of wanting to go back (though I was just there in October). As I sit here typing this my wonderful parents are IN DISNEY!!!!on rented points. You are correct, normally SSR and OKW are the last to book up point wise SSR is the last. However, even with it being February renting points for either resore will be hard to come by but not impossible. Also look at DVC RentalStore's discount points. These are points offered at the last minute (well a month or two out) at a lower rate. They can only be used at SSR. (David's does the same but much less often and only by email.)

Another option is actually looking at the company you use (David's or DVC RentalStore) and seeing if either has a dedicated reservation available for a second booking (this is where the original point renter could not use the reservation and bought insurance). This is where you can also pick up a hard to get resort such as Boardwalk, Beach Club, Grand Floridian, etc. Both of them have a couple of Feb reservations now that are available at full rental rate (none discount).

epcotisbest said:
Lots of Palm trees at OKW though. Can't remember what area it is themed after, some place in Florida I think, where there are lots of Palm trees.
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I think this is themed after a Key, probably Old and somewhere in the West....must be California
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
To spare you the trouble of reading my long, boring trip report, here is a picture of the main pool at SSR and the main pool at OKW showing no palms at SSR, plenty at OKW. These photos were taken in May.

SSR pool.jpg
OKW pool.jpg
 
brifraz

brifraz

Marching along...
Premium Member
Have stayed at both numerous times and for us, OKW wins hands down. We find it tends to be much quieter and more relaxed and feels more like a vacation that SSR. Not sure I can put it all into words! While both are spread out and large resorts, OKW has almost 300 fewer possible rooms (lockoff type rooms make this number variable) and the buildings themselves are much smaller - so it tends to have a much less crowded feel. The atmosphere of the community area is much more low key at OKW as well. Both of these things make it a lot more appealing to us. While SSR has more pools, for some reason they always seem more crowded than the OKW pools - there is no logic to this, but it always seems to be the case. There's also something about the island music (generally reggae, but sometimes other styles) as you walk the breezeway to check-in, that just gives us the feeling of VACATION.
 
katiekinzakat

katiekinzakat

Active Member
If you're looking for a studio, OKW's are bigger, and are the only studios with 2 queen beds. All other resorts have a queen and a pullout couch.
 
anchorman314

anchorman314

Well-Known Member
I've stayed at OKW multiple times and at SSR once. I would gladly stay at either one again. If you are a fan of Disney Springs, SSR is great in terms of location. And the main QS restaurant is pretty good -- both in variety and taste. But I'd give OKW the edge for the rooms and overall setting. The layout of each room type is great. The grounds are gorgeous. And Olivia's is a must-do.
 
Jon81uk

Jon81uk

Well-Known Member
We stayed at SSR (cash on a UK discount) and found it almost too quiet, no atmosphere and a little too sprawling. But we had a Congress Park room and being able to walk to Downtown Disney was great.

I haven't stayed at OKW but have passed through (when changing busses to get from a park to DTD) and it felt harder to navigate, the river in the centre seemed to split the resort up too much.

If paying cash though I would choose one of the Port Orleans resorts.
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Jon81uk said:
We stayed at SSR (cash on a UK discount) and found it almost too quiet, no atmosphere and a little too sprawling. But we had a Congress Park room and being able to walk to Downtown Disney was great.

I haven't stayed at OKW but have passed through (when changing busses to get from a park to DTD) and it felt harder to navigate, the river in the centre seemed to split the resort up too much.

If paying cash though I would choose one of the Port Orleans resorts.
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I have never found quiet at a resort as being a negative, but to each his own. I also like the sprawling part and being spread out through the beautifully landscaped grounds. Now, mind you, we drive, so transportation is not an issue and parking right in front of your unit, at SSR and OKW, for us is a big plus. Not sure what you mean about the atmosphere at SSR. Again plenty of quiet, private areas, several pools to choose from, a great spa, lovely area to get up early in the morning and walk or bicycle ride among the tranquil grounds...love it.
Oh, and as for the Port Orleans resorts...we enjoy both of them as well.
 
Jess G

Jess G

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
mouse_luv said:
There's a chance you might be able to get into AKV's! Our second home, it's definitely not one to count out! :) (There are some palm trees there LOL)
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We love AKL!!! I was under the impression that the standard studios fill up pretty quickly? For a short trip I didn't want to pay for the savannah view. but it is for sure something I will check out!
 
Jon81uk

Jon81uk

Well-Known Member
epcotisbest said:
I have never found quiet at a resort as being a negative, but to each his own. I also like the sprawling part and being spread out through the beautifully landscaped grounds. Now, mind you, we drive, so transportation is not an issue and parking right in front of your unit, at SSR and OKW, for us is a big plus. Not sure what you mean about the atmosphere at SSR. Again plenty of quiet, private areas, several pools to choose from, a great spa, lovely area to get up early in the morning and walk or bicycle ride among the tranquil grounds...love it.
Oh, and as for the Port Orleans resorts...we enjoy both of them as well.
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I just found SSR a little too quiet, when we were only guests on a 9am bus it felt off. But POR seemed to have the right balance (when we stayed at least) between busy and empty. But as you say, some people prefer empty
 
mouse_luv

mouse_luv

Well-Known Member
Jess G said:
We love AKL!!! I was under the impression that the standard studios fill up pretty quickly? For a short trip I didn't want to pay for the savannah view. but it is for sure something I will check out!
Click to expand...
They might. The Values usually go first and are the most difficult to get into.
 
Jess G

Jess G

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
@epcotisbest @mouse_luv I am now considering 1 night @ AKV with the view and 3 nights OKW ... If the room is available on the main disney website for the dates does that mean the same rooms would be available to rent through DVC?
 

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