I just had to add my 2cents worth as my family and I returned from a 2 week stay at OKW and SSR from 10/8-10/23. As a member since 1994 at OKW we usu. stay there and love it, but due to the pool being closed we decided to spend a week at SSR. We loved both places, but must say that what the OP said about the pool is absolutely true. We used the main pool on most days and most of the time we found it to be crowded, not uncomfortably so, but to the point that there were often no avail. pool tables and sets of chairs together were hard to come by. Now, this is not a problem currently, but with only 4 blgs. opened, this is going to be a HUGE problem in the near future, esp. considering this was an off season week that we were there. The slide is great, 3 turns, very fast and very well themed, but the draw to the slide is going to be the main pool's downfall as my children wanted to go to that pool, not the "quiet" pool as there was no slide there, which btw provides an incredible view of the Downtown Dis. lights and fireworks. The food was very good, although in limited variety, but good and pricey, you are only allowed to take it to the pool if you have a table to sit at, so plan accordingly if wanting to eat at the pool. This place is huge and it really helps to have a car if quick trips are needed to go anywhere on property, otherwise plan on long walks to where ever you plan on ending up within the resort. We were in room #2321 and had an incredible view of Downtown Disney and the lights and fireworks, they really did maximize the view there! As far as the trees down, the institute bldgs. next door have a few trees, still leaning on them as do the treehouse villas as seen from the roadway and the boatride from OKW to SSR, pretty incredible how much damage was done this far inland! Again, this is a beautiful resort, very big, but beautiful. As an OKW owner, I do hope they stop the pool hopping once the slide is built, w/ the sheer numbers of people at SSR, the OKW pool as well as the SSR pool will be mobbed w/ people just from SSR as there will be no other options than the "boring" (my kids words, not mine) quiet pools. And yes, we cooked at both resorts, not just breakfast.