I considered buying both SSR and OKW but ended up buying Floridian in part because the others are easier to book at 7 months. GF also had the lowest dues of the three and I decided I’d rather ‘pay up front’. Someone else may have the opposite preference so it’s great Disney has options. The next trip I book I’m hoping to split OKW and GF to stretch my points. 😁
Yessssss I bought at Bay Lake Tower for similar reasons - booking at BLT at 7 months can be hard, whereas OKW/SSR/AKV for most room types (definitely not all, but the ones I would target) is easy enough. Even if they are fantastic resorts, for me personally I couldn't come up with a good reason to make those my home resort. Lower annual dues is a great reason too!!
Hi Marie, thanks! Any requests? I did Beach Club vs BoardWalk already which is the other question I get asked a lot a lot. Im considering BRV and CCV but want to wait for the BRV refurb to get a bit further along. Are there other comparisons you would be interested in?
I have fallen in love with Saratoga Springs since the refurbishment and a 2 bedroom Villa there would be my choice. So many people say good things about Old Key West though so I’m sure it’s also lovely there. Thanks for all the great info and tips!
I think the space is a big thing for a lot of people, especially if you are getting a two bedroom! Also there's some allure of it being the first DVC resort for some people haha. Theyre both great though!
My family recently stayed at Saratoga in a one-bedroom villa. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. The room was great and the split bathroom was convenient, though the main living area was a little small. The pools were massively crowded so that was not fun and we only got quick service once (mediocre and overpriced). The grounds are okay, but it's a total maze. I did enjoy the location by Disney Springs--we ended up going several times during the week and the kids really liked that. Typically we drive to the theme parks, but this time we ended up taking the bus all the time, which turned out to be fine (most of the time) especially for park hopping. I would probably stay again, but perhaps after trying out a different resort. I've never stayed at Old Key West, though we did go to Olivia's once for dinner many years ago. I don't know--it just wasn't my vibe. I'd prefer Wilderness Lodge any day. Hope you are well!
"I didn't hate it" hahahah this is so perfect. Some people really like the charm of these resorts (to each their own!), but we are fully in the same camp here. Ah bummer about the pools though. And ya SSR quick service is like... serviceable. That's about it in my opinion haha. And totally Wilderness Lodge over these, yep! But that's not the most fair comparison hahah. Thanks for chiming in, Tara! It was a rough Sept and Oct for me at work, but it seems we are finally past that and I have a bit more space to breathe now. And soon the new Pokemon game comes out, yay! haha. Hope you and your family are staying healthy!
These two easy to book resorts are, oddly, now among only four WDW DVC resorts I have not stayed at (the other two are Boulder Ridge and Bay Lake Tower, and I'll knock BLT off the list in a few weeks.) However, I have booked OKW for my mother and she liked it and spoke glowingly about Olivia's. But this was an arrival night reservation and she was at Riviera for the rest of her trip. Old Key West did not compare favorably to Riv in terms of esthetics or luxury in her opinion. But I really like the idea of a Grand Villa at OKW for such a low point chart. That's a great deal if I ever want to take the eight of us. I'm doing a big family trip next summer and it's a combination of three of us in a Jambo House studio and the rest of us doing a split stay in two-bedrooms at Kidani Village and Riv. I agree with you fully about the gut reaction preferences. Definitely OKW for theming and vibe; definitely SSR if I was going to buy into one of them. The enthusiasm SSR owners often have for the access to DS is very strange to me. I am not excited about pedestrian malls. On the other hand, maybe it would seem more Disney Bubble if I was accessing it by foot rather than parking lot. I am also curious about the feature pools at SSR. They look very nice. Glad to see this finally. Idea--Grand Floridian vs Riviera.
I mean since they're easy to book it makes sense to me that they would be lower on your list and if you can snag other resorts you'd go for the others first! I look forward to hearing about your time at BLT!!! I mean I agree I don't think OKW compares to Riviera lol. That's definitely not a head to head matchup that feels like a fair fight hahah. And yep; in my head if my sibling ever wants to bring their family (spouse plus their kids / my niblings) to WDW, then with them and my partner and I that would be seven of us, so I'd like to put us in a Grand Villa. But my sibling is adamant he's not gonna try to put his children on that long of a flight for a long long time (they are all uh under 5 years old) so I have a while to buy more points hahah. Oooohh VGF vs RR is an interesting thought. I need to compare the points charts to make sure they arent too far off from each other "value" wise, but I bet they aren't. Thanks!!
@@PixieDustPhD They are very comparable in terms of points, but you'll find that Riv standard studios are a markedly better bargain than other Riv rooms and all GF rooms. They are now both my runaway favorites, which is so strange as they were both very low on the list I made on your DVC ranking video. All I needed was a little time! It would be great if you could add on at BLT and treat your family. I really enjoyed gifting my mother this trip. She absolutely loved Riv--we have very similar tastes. And I am looking forward to the full family trip in the summer. But I get your sibling not wanting to take three kids under five to WDW. My brother and his ex-wife took my twin niece and nephew when they were three. A memorable trip...Can't wait to tell you about BLT. My guess is I will like it, not love it, but appreciate the proximity to MK. But I'll keep an open mind. Who knows?
@@nycp1969 OH Lol in a future world where I put my family up in DVC it will almost surely be at OKW, not BLT hahaha. As great as that walk to Magic Kingdom would be with littles, I don't know that I'll ever have enough points for a grand villa at BLT for more than like two nights hahah. And totally I think your perceptions about BLT are spot on. The studios are a smaller room with a different layout. I quite like the layout, but I fully recognize for parties of 3 or 4 it might be a nightmare. And the bathroom is teeny tiny lol. But ya I mean I think it's nice enough and it, for me, is absolutely about access to MK. That's the selling point for sure for sure. The lake is also surprisingly serene most of the time.
Which do you typically prefer and why: Old Key West or Saratoga Springs? I'd love to hear about the little touches that make a difference for you!
I’d love to hear peoples thoughts too!!
Yes finally a comparison
I considered buying both SSR and OKW but ended up buying Floridian in part because the others are easier to book at 7 months. GF also had the lowest dues of the three and I decided I’d rather ‘pay up front’. Someone else may have the opposite preference so it’s great Disney has options. The next trip I book I’m hoping to split OKW and GF to stretch my points. 😁
Yessssss I bought at Bay Lake Tower for similar reasons - booking at BLT at 7 months can be hard, whereas OKW/SSR/AKV for most room types (definitely not all, but the ones I would target) is easy enough. Even if they are fantastic resorts, for me personally I couldn't come up with a good reason to make those my home resort. Lower annual dues is a great reason too!!
Omg Great Great Video. I would love it if you did more DVC comparing videos .
Hi Marie, thanks! Any requests? I did Beach Club vs BoardWalk already which is the other question I get asked a lot a lot. Im considering BRV and CCV but want to wait for the BRV refurb to get a bit further along. Are there other comparisons you would be interested in?
I have fallen in love with Saratoga Springs since the refurbishment and a 2 bedroom Villa there would be my choice. So many people say good things about Old Key West though so I’m sure it’s also lovely there. Thanks for all the great info and tips!
I think the space is a big thing for a lot of people, especially if you are getting a two bedroom! Also there's some allure of it being the first DVC resort for some people haha. Theyre both great though!
Ssr elevator and more years
Ya the elevator is a pretty huge consideration in my opinion too!
My family recently stayed at Saratoga in a one-bedroom villa. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. The room was great and the split bathroom was convenient, though the main living area was a little small. The pools were massively crowded so that was not fun and we only got quick service once (mediocre and overpriced). The grounds are okay, but it's a total maze. I did enjoy the location by Disney Springs--we ended up going several times during the week and the kids really liked that. Typically we drive to the theme parks, but this time we ended up taking the bus all the time, which turned out to be fine (most of the time) especially for park hopping. I would probably stay again, but perhaps after trying out a different resort. I've never stayed at Old Key West, though we did go to Olivia's once for dinner many years ago. I don't know--it just wasn't my vibe. I'd prefer Wilderness Lodge any day. Hope you are well!
"I didn't hate it" hahahah this is so perfect. Some people really like the charm of these resorts (to each their own!), but we are fully in the same camp here. Ah bummer about the pools though. And ya SSR quick service is like... serviceable. That's about it in my opinion haha. And totally Wilderness Lodge over these, yep! But that's not the most fair comparison hahah. Thanks for chiming in, Tara! It was a rough Sept and Oct for me at work, but it seems we are finally past that and I have a bit more space to breathe now. And soon the new Pokemon game comes out, yay! haha. Hope you and your family are staying healthy!
Love this analysis and comparison.
Cheers, thanks for watching and dropping a kind comment :)
@@PixieDustPhD 🤗
These two easy to book resorts are, oddly, now among only four WDW DVC resorts I have not stayed at (the other two are Boulder Ridge and Bay Lake Tower, and I'll knock BLT off the list in a few weeks.) However, I have booked OKW for my mother and she liked it and spoke glowingly about Olivia's. But this was an arrival night reservation and she was at Riviera for the rest of her trip. Old Key West did not compare favorably to Riv in terms of esthetics or luxury in her opinion. But I really like the idea of a Grand Villa at OKW for such a low point chart. That's a great deal if I ever want to take the eight of us. I'm doing a big family trip next summer and it's a combination of three of us in a Jambo House studio and the rest of us doing a split stay in two-bedrooms at Kidani Village and Riv. I agree with you fully about the gut reaction preferences. Definitely OKW for theming and vibe; definitely SSR if I was going to buy into one of them. The enthusiasm SSR owners often have for the access to DS is very strange to me. I am not excited about pedestrian malls. On the other hand, maybe it would seem more Disney Bubble if I was accessing it by foot rather than parking lot. I am also curious about the feature pools at SSR. They look very nice. Glad to see this finally. Idea--Grand Floridian vs Riviera.
I mean since they're easy to book it makes sense to me that they would be lower on your list and if you can snag other resorts you'd go for the others first! I look forward to hearing about your time at BLT!!! I mean I agree I don't think OKW compares to Riviera lol. That's definitely not a head to head matchup that feels like a fair fight hahah. And yep; in my head if my sibling ever wants to bring their family (spouse plus their kids / my niblings) to WDW, then with them and my partner and I that would be seven of us, so I'd like to put us in a Grand Villa. But my sibling is adamant he's not gonna try to put his children on that long of a flight for a long long time (they are all uh under 5 years old) so I have a while to buy more points hahah.
Oooohh VGF vs RR is an interesting thought. I need to compare the points charts to make sure they arent too far off from each other "value" wise, but I bet they aren't. Thanks!!
@@PixieDustPhD They are very comparable in terms of points, but you'll find that Riv standard studios are a markedly better bargain than other Riv rooms and all GF rooms. They are now both my runaway favorites, which is so strange as they were both very low on the list I made on your DVC ranking video. All I needed was a little time! It would be great if you could add on at BLT and treat your family. I really enjoyed gifting my mother this trip. She absolutely loved Riv--we have very similar tastes. And I am looking forward to the full family trip in the summer. But I get your sibling not wanting to take three kids under five to WDW. My brother and his ex-wife took my twin niece and nephew when they were three. A memorable trip...Can't wait to tell you about BLT. My guess is I will like it, not love it, but appreciate the proximity to MK. But I'll keep an open mind. Who knows?
@@nycp1969 OH Lol in a future world where I put my family up in DVC it will almost surely be at OKW, not BLT hahaha. As great as that walk to Magic Kingdom would be with littles, I don't know that I'll ever have enough points for a grand villa at BLT for more than like two nights hahah.
And totally I think your perceptions about BLT are spot on. The studios are a smaller room with a different layout. I quite like the layout, but I fully recognize for parties of 3 or 4 it might be a nightmare. And the bathroom is teeny tiny lol. But ya I mean I think it's nice enough and it, for me, is absolutely about access to MK. That's the selling point for sure for sure. The lake is also surprisingly serene most of the time.