Saratoga Springs, Old Key West?

[Tink33333]

Can I get some thoughts on these two properties? We are planning a trip and considering staying at either resort. My grown son wants gym access and the rest of us want easy access to parks. Thanks in advance!

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

We've stayed a couple of times at OKW and really loved it.

Neither are particularly close to the parks though, you'll have to drive or take a bus. Both offer a boat to Disney Springs, and you can walk from Saratoga.

Old Key West has a gym, and I'm assuming Saratoga does as well, and I believe they have a spa as well.

[SodaPopMGK]

We have stayed at Saratoga Springs, not OKW, and while I loved the resort it is not close to the parks as Ibelieveindisneymagic stated. Also, it is a large resort, we also found the boat to Disney Springs to be super slow. I would stay again because we don't mind driving to the parks and it really is a lovely resort.

[ThanxForNoticin]

For us, it's definitely OKW. The resort is nicer and the rooms are among the largest on property. Since OKW was the original DVC location, the rooms were built quite large and roomy.

You'll likely be taking a bus or boat from either resort to the parks or Disney Springs (depending where you stay at Saratoga, it can be a short walk or a very long walk to/from Disney Springs).

Both resorts have a gym. The one at OKW is located right by the main pool and community hall. I'm not exactly sure where it's located at SS, but I'm sure there is one. I believe all DVC resorts have a workout option - and it might be all Disney resorts in general.

[Buttercup]

A couple years ago we had a reservation for Ft Wilderness cabins. But when we arrived they said they were overbooked and asked if we'd like to stay at a DVC one-bedroom suite at Saratoga Springs. We took it! To be honest, we didn't venture too much around the resort -- our room was close to the main pool and buildings. It was nice - but it just felt a bit disjointed and spread out too much for us. I needed Tylenol or something from the gift shop and I went to a few different buildings before I found what I needed. Seemed really spread out and awkward. I ended up lost in some DVC building there where they do presentations for buyers and couldn't figure out where the heck I was going! haha!

I've also stayed at Old Key West before and really enjoyed it. No complaints, lots of bus stops. It was good too.

I mean, both resorts are great - but I would pick Old Key West over Saratoga Springs. Neither are close to the parks so you're at the mercy of the buses.

[Fangorn]

I prefer OKW over Saratoga. Rooms at OKW are some of the largest on property, and they have just recently completed a major refurb of all the rooms. We're actually the right now. OKW has a very relaxed vibe about it. They do have a gym. The resort is large though, and you can be a very long way from the main area (check in, pool, store, gym). There is an internal bus with 5 bus stops. The property consists of 40-some buildings (2 or 3 stories each). But OKW was built prior to ADA going into effect, so most of the buildings do not have elevators. There are only 3 buildings with elevators (they are built later). If stairs are an issue, OKW may not be a good choice.

Steve

[lawgirl]

We've stayed at SS several times and loved it. I wouldn't say it has easy access to the parks, and it is HUGE resort. Be prepared to walk alot, esp if you are far from the gym/ main food court area. It's a really quick walk to Disney Springs, and it is a beautiful resort. It's just very, very spread out!

[ThanxForNoticin]

But OKW was built prior to ADA going into effect, so most of the buildings do not have elevators. There are only 3 buildings with elevators (they are built later). If stairs are an issue, OKW may not be a good choice.

Steve

When we have a trip where access is important for a member of our family, we've requested a first-floor room, and they have always accommodated us. But the lack of elevators was clearly a poor oversight when they first built this back in the early 90s.

[ginger19]

My biggest issue with OKW is the bathroom design in the 1BR. It is in the master bedroom which I really do not like. I prefer the style at SSR where the bathroom is accessible from both the master and the living room as it gives much more privacy in the bedroom.

[ThanxForNoticin]

My biggest issue with OKW is the bathroom design in the 1BR. It is in the master bedroom which I really do not like. I prefer the style at SSR where the bathroom is accessible from both the master and the living room as it gives much more privacy in the bedroom.

Agreed. However, it's an identified flaw that they have been fixing in many of the 1BRs at OKW over the past few years. I don't know that all of them now have a living room entrance to the bathroom, but many do. With our last stay at OKW last year, we had a room with the additional bathroom entrance.