I believe Disney will do something to differentiate SSR......

[Martinvols]

Based on the below posts, it appears that the supply of rooms exceeds demand for SSR. As a result, I believe Disney will do something to differentiate this resort from a marketing perspective in the future. I don't know what it will be; however, I think Disney will make a significant investment. Maybe they will build something close to SSR. In it's present state -- what differentiates SSR from the other DVC resorts?

Here's spreading some pixie dust to the SSR owners ***

[sajetto]

I spoke to my guide a couple of days ago and he said there were plans for quite a few more quiet pools and a few other things, but he didn't mention what those things are. Maybe its something really good...one can hope :goodvibes

[Maistre Gracey]

I like SSR, although will not likely stay there because of my addiction to VWL. :teeth:

Anyway, in my opinion the one thing that's badly needed at SSR is a full service, upscale restaurant.
I was disappointed to read it's going to be a "bar and grill". :(

MG

[sanilacjack]

I also talked to my guide on Friday and was told that 2 more pools were to be built...one like turtle ??? Rd. at OKW, where it would have a snack bar and also that the turf club would be a full service sit down by July.

Kim

[DebbieB]

I think they built the slide at OKW for the same reason, to get more people to stay there, both on points and cash.

[dallastxcpa]

I think SSR is a great resort. Any additions at this point is Gravy. I think it would be neat if SSR turned that theatre in to a Movie Grill. We have these in the Dallas area. You sit at a small table (usually seats two) and you watch a movie while waiters serve you. :3dglasses

[mark&sue]

The movie grill sounds like a great idea. It does feel like more could be added. There also seems like lots of new things happening to DTD so this could make more people want to stay at SSR.



Susan

[PamOKW]

One thing that differentiates SSR is the on-site, full-service spa. You also have easy access to the LBV golf course. Not everyone experiences WDW as a park commando. My friend and her family bought at SSR after staying as my guests at OKW. So far, they don't even consider staying at the other DVC resorts. They loved their first stay at SSR -- made use of the spa -- and seem to plan on spending most of their WDW vacations at SSR.

SSR is in the building stage and, like all the other DVC resorts, tends to have greater availability in the first few years as members purchase points during a WDW stay and sometimes don't return to WDW for another year. The good news is it make last minute trips easier for the rest of the DVC folks.

[dianeschlicht]

Based on the below posts, it appears that the supply of rooms exceeds demand for SSR. As a result, I believe Disney will do something to differentiate this resort from a marketing perspective in the future. I don't know what it will be; however, I think Disney will make a significant investment. Maybe they will build something close to SSR. In it's present state -- what differentiates SSR from the other DVC resorts?

Here's spreading some pixie dust to the SSR owners ***
SSR already has something that differentiates it from the other DVC resorts....TWELVE EXTRA YEARS!!

[lisareniff]

I also talked to my guide on Friday and was told that 2 more pools were to be built...one like turtle ??? Rd. at OKW, where it would have a snack bar and also that the turf club would be a full service sit down by July.


Two more "quiet pools" have been in the plan for phase III. There was some rumor that one would have a slight theme pool bent. If phase III was in the plan from the beginning perhaps they would have designed a larger main pool. Now they are trying to fix this. Sometimes a fix isn't as optimum as what should have been done from the beginning. IMHO a larger centrally located main theme pool (w/snack bar) would have been much better then the slightly enhanced (larger or snack bar) quiet pool that is only near 3(?) of the buildings. ...or you could look at it that they are trying to make those additional buildings as good as the rest of SSR since they could be farther away?

[crisi]

I doubt it. Making it a "destination resort" will involve a significant outlay of capital. They will sell through the resort by offering discounts, and once its sold, really don't care how often it sits empty - its paid for. If they didn't think they could sell it at a price they'll make money at, they wouldn't be building phase III.

As noted, SSR has some features the other DVC resorts don't have (or have less of) that make it an attractive option for a lot of people:

1. Easy access to the Spa
2. Easy access to the Golf Course (apparently, even easier than the OKW access)
3. Easy access to DTD
4. Twelve extra years.
5. Lower point structure than BCV/VWL/BWV preferred
6. Availability of Grand Villas
7. Condo like configuration

Building something near it? Igers is on record as saying "no fifth theme park in Orlando." To build one would after that opens up stockholder lawsuits. They could build another minipark - like a waterpark - but I don't see that as happening either.

There is the rumored redo of Pleasure Island - but I'm not sure if they will make significant changes or not there.

[littlestar]

Too bad they don't add another pool with a slide or something, or a lazy river. With all that room/grounds, they could really perk it up, I think. Marriott's Horizons resort has some great theming on pools with more than one themed pool area. Too bad Disney couldn't do the same for Saratoga.

[cobbler]

I was thinking the other day how much potential it has. They could do so much with that movie theatre area. Put something in there like the BW bakery / ice cream shop type thing.

Hubby swears he heard at the annual meetings that there would be another mini themed pool, but I don't recall hearing that.

[Sherri]

I love SSR though I have not stayed there yet, we own there. We loved it when we went on tour. I love the fact that it is so close to DTD and really like the pool. We did pool hop there last year and the pool was very quiet. I would love to know if there are any incentives to add points because I would love to convince my husband that its just what we need. Although he usually needs no help getting into the Disney spirit. I wonder how much it would cost to add 50 more points. Anyone have any idea?

[popsmensahbonsu]

I think SSR is a great resort. Any additions at this point is Gravy. I think it would be neat if SSR turned that theatre in to a Movie Grill. We have these in the Dallas area. You sit at a small table (usually seats two) and you watch a movie while waiters serve you. :3dglasses



Hey neighbor ( I live in Southlake)! The movie theatre is a good idea with tons of potential.

[spiceycat]

the movie theatre and the area surrounding it are not part of the DVC.....

they are owned by another branch of WDW.

so forget the movies.... the only place at WDW where you can see a free movie is at FW. It was doing this before AMC was in Downtown disney west.

I think someone here say that as long as AMC is there - Disney agreed NOT to show any movies for free or limited admission.....

I think some carriage rides - I mean WDW is doing this for FW and PO - so why not????

[popsmensahbonsu]

I doubt it. Making it a "destination resort" will involve a significant outlay of capital. They will sell through the resort by offering discounts, and once its sold, really don't care how often it sits empty - its paid for. If they didn't think they could sell it at a price they'll make money at, they wouldn't be building phase III.

As noted, SSR has some features the other DVC resorts don't have (or have less of) that make it an attractive option for a lot of people:

1. Easy access to the Spa
2. Easy access to the Golf Course (apparently, even easier than the OKW access)
3. Easy access to DTD
4. Twelve extra years.
5. Lower point structure than BCV/VWL/BWV preferred
6. Availability of Grand Villas
7. Condo like configuration

Building something near it? Igers is on record as saying "no fifth theme park in Orlando." To build one would after that opens up stockholder lawsuits. They could build another minipark - like a waterpark - but I don't see that as happening either.

There is the rumored redo of Pleasure Island - but I'm not sure if they will make significant changes or not there.



With all due respect, this isn't towards you, but Iger is way off. I heard that comment as well and almost fell off of my chair. A 5th park must be added or ANY new on site hotels/DVC's shouldn't be added. The parks are a zoo now and can only hold so many more people. I was there this year right after new years. Magic Kingdom was closed due to reaching capacity. Do they really want parks at capacity every day? I hope not because that will hurt business in the long run. I know I'll be out if other times of the year were like this new years. AK & MGM have room for growth but not enough to offset all of the resort expansion on site and in Orlando. Iger is kidding himself if he feels otherwise.

[Brian430]

.....

[Sherri]

WOW! I didn't know that they would stop allowing people into the magic kingdom on the count of being too crowded. We had that problem one day at Blizzard Beach. Now two fourth of Julys ago we spent at the Magic Kingdom and was amazed that they kept letting people in. I guess it would be very upsetting to young children to be turned away at the door.

[Brian430]

You're kidding right?

That's a bit of park planning right out Yogi Berra's school of logic:

"No one goes there any more...It's too crowded."

All business, from production plants, to restaurants to airlines, judge their success on how close they are to operating at capacity.

For the same reason hotels strive for 100 occupancy Disney strives for 100% attendance.

Besides, adding more hotel rooms doesn't necessarily mean more park attendance. Many of these guests would haqve stayed in Orlando and visited the parks anyway.

Disney hotels compete with other area hotels.

[spiceycat]

all the parks close due to capacity... the parking lot goes up - so they close to offsiters.... then if the park is really at capacity they close to everyone.

yes even the MK - of course I don't think I want to be there when it does - 40,000 is crowded to me - being there with 125,000 others is not what I would call fun....

the offseason lately has seem a big rise. More people are not going doing the hot summer months.....

the new school schedule (fall or winter break) has helped some. Also sites like this - making sure that anyone going to WDW during the summer understand the heat and humdity....

he say no new parks - that does not mean that WDW will not expand at the current parks and kept adding new rides/attraction....

[crisi]

With all due respect, this isn't towards you, but Iger is way off. I heard that comment as well and almost fell off of my chair. A 5th park must be added or ANY new on site hotels/DVC's shouldn't be added. The parks are a zoo now and can only hold so many more people. I was there this year right after new years. Magic Kingdom was closed due to reaching capacity. Do they really want parks at capacity every day? I hope not because that will hurt business in the long run. I know I'll be out if other times of the year were like this new years. AK & MGM have room for growth but not enough to offset all of the resort expansion on site and in Orlando. Iger is kidding himself if he feels otherwise.

By publicly stating it, he has closed that door for the next few years - or he opens himself and the company up to shareholder lawsuits. So it won't be done. Good business or not, it won't be done.

[kkmauch]

Sherri--You asked about add-ons. Most of us just got an e-mail about an add-on special. You get some free park passes and a discount on the price (I think it's $8 less per point with the savings being applied to the down payment). You have to do a min. of 50 points if I remember correctly. Call your guide for more info!

[popsmensahbonsu]

By publicly stating it, he has closed that door for the next few years - or he opens himself and the company up to shareholder lawsuits. So it won't be done. Good business or not, it won't be done.



I do agree it won't be for some time. He'd look like a joke, not to mention what you've thrown out there. I guess my point is that it will happen at some point.

[popsmensahbonsu]

You're kidding right?

That's a bit of park planning right out Yogi Berra's school of logic:

"No one goes there any more...It's too crowded."

All business, from production plants, to restaurants to airlines, judge their success on how close they are to operating at capacity.

For the same reason hotels strive for 100 occupancy Disney strives for 100% attendance.

Besides, adding more hotel rooms doesn't necessarily mean more park attendance. Many of these guests would haqve stayed in Orlando and visited the parks anyway.

Disney hotels compete with other area hotels.


You got me there Brian. I read my post again and it didn't come out as planned. Of course they want the parks full. It is just that there is only a limited amount of growth left for the parks. I just feel a 5th park will happen. With a 5th park in the mix the growth possibilities expand. My value of my DVC is directly tied to the theme parks. If the parks become a place where 45 minute waits become the norm then my DVC isn't valuable to me. I'll sell and move on down the road. I really feel it would diminish the demand for DVC in general if this happens. There a ton of timeshares out there. If the parks aren't an enjoyable option any longer, we'll sell and buy a timeshare that is in a location we would enjoy. DVC is no cheap option as timeshare go. We bought DVC to be at WDW. 100,000 people in a park isn't enjoyable for anyone. Overall attendance would eventually start to drop and DVC values would plummet. Parks operate very well with 30,000 people. 100,000 not so well.

[Maistre Gracey]

By publicly stating it, he has closed that door for the next few years - or he opens himself and the company up to shareholder lawsuits. So it won't be done. Good business or not, it won't be done.
I don't have the Iger quote handy, but I remember reading the statement.
The way I understood the context was "no fifth park at this time". In my opinion, that's a lot different than just "no fifth park".
That's okay with me, as I feel there is still several years of growth and expansion to be done at Animal Kingdom. I feel that park is still several years away from being a mature park.
Perhaps by that time a fifth park will be warranted.

-- Just my opinion. :smokin:

MG

[Sammie]

the movie theatre and the area surrounding it are not part of the DVC.....

they are owned by another branch of WDW.

so forget the movies.... the only place at WDW where you can see a free movie is at FW. It was doing this before AMC was in Downtown disney west.

I think someone here say that as long as AMC is there - Disney agreed NOT to show any movies for free or limited admission.....

I think some carriage rides - I mean WDW is doing this for FW and PO - so why not????

They already offer carriage rides.

[Sherri]

Thanks for the incentive information. I have a different emai address then I had when we bought and never updated it with them so I am guessing that is why I missed hearing about it. So it would be something worth looking into i'm thinking. We will be at the beach in Florida over Spring break and will probably make our way over to Downtown Disney one day, we can check it out then. Thanks again for the help with that. And thanks to to Spiceycat for explaining the park capacity and limits for closing. Your right, who would want to be there when its that insane. I'll tell you, we took a break last year and went to sea world for the first time. That was so much fun and very little crowds. It was a nice escape from the mayhem of Disney. But of course my heart is always with Disney.

[dallastxcpa]

the movie theatre and the area surrounding it are not part of the DVC.....

they are owned by another branch of WDW.

so forget the movies.... the only place at WDW where you can see a free movie is at FW. It was doing this before AMC was in Downtown disney west.

I think someone here say that as long as AMC is there - Disney agreed NOT to show any movies for free or limited admission.....

I think some carriage rides - I mean WDW is doing this for FW and PO - so why not????


Actually at a movie grill you do pay admission to see the movie. Then you also pay for your food and beverages. (they usually serve beer and alcohol) So not only do you get to see a movie, but you also get to eat at a full service restaurant.

[Ksp]

SSR with the addition of a pool and snack bar will be even better; I've been concerned from its opening about pool capacity.
Adding the steak house/sit down area is wonderful, although I will miss being able to just sit out on that back veranda. It was a nice place to get away from it all.
Movie house with a dinner/food option: Would be TERRIFIC. Has anyone sent that idea to DVC yet? :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2
Some outdoor ping pong tables (like OKW)would be welcome; I didn't see any there during our last visit.

[crisi]

I don't have the Iger quote handy, but I remember reading the statement.
The way I understood the context was "no fifth park at this time". In my opinion, that's a lot different than just "no fifth park".
That's okay with me, as I feel there is still several years of growth and expansion to be done at Animal Kingdom. I feel that park is still several years away from being a mature park.
Perhaps by that time a fifth park will be warranted.

-- Just my opinion. :smokin:

MG


Oh, I agree. I don't have a crystal ball for WDW future. Personally, I doubt a fifth park will ever be built because I think tourism is going to take a huge hit with increasing fuel costs - until an alternative fuel source is made viable, with the expansion of the auto and jet travel in India and China - we are going to see huge increases in gas prices. My tea leaves says that crisis will hit before a fifth park is more than drawings on a drawing board. Disney will respond by localizing their parks so there is less travel involved - which they are already doing by expanding in the Far East. There are huge untapped markets in India and South America. But I'm doom and gloom on the economy and energy - I think we are in for a rough ride - particularly here in the U.S. where we are spoiled by expections of high wages and really can't compete with people willing to work harder for less - and that doesn't bode well for vacations. If I were Disney, I'd be investing more in the Far East and less in the U.S. - that is where the disposable income is moving.

[Lewisc]

I don't understand the problem, from Disney's prespective. Once SSR sells out, does Disney care if the guests try to book other resorts at the 7 month window? It's possible it'll be harder to get reservations less than 7 months out if the SSR guests prefer to stay in other resorts but Disney doesn't really have to do anything.

[DrTomorrow]

Actually at a movie grill you do pay admission to see the movie. Then you also pay for your food and beverages. (they usually serve beer and alcohol) So not only do you get to see a movie, but you also get to eat at a full service restaurant. I just don't see how this would attract a lot of people; what would be the target demographic? With everything that WDW (and Greater Orlando) offers, I can't see much desire to pay extra (remember, Disney is never inexpensive) to sit, eat and watch a movie....

[bpmorley]

SSR already has something that differentiates it from the other DVC resorts....TWELVE EXTRA YEARS!!

Which was my main reason for buying SSR. I love the resort. Can't wait to go back home. also on another board. Someone just got back last week and was told that there are plans for another park and the next DVC will be a villas at either AK or Contemporary. Now I would definitely buy at one of those. And can someone explain to me how shareholders can sue just because Disney builds another park?

[LisaS]

I think the single best thing they could do is build a pool to rival SAB with no pool hopping allowed. A lot of us who own at other resorts would end up competing at the 7-month window to get into SSR now and then so that we could enjoy its wonderful new pool. Put in a lazy river and I'm so there!

I think it would also help them sell out the rest of the resort if they had some plans to show prospective buyers (showing the new pool area, lazy river and snack bar) with a time table spelling out exactly when this pool would be built. If DVC could promise prospective buyers that SSR would soon have the best pool of all the DVC resorts, there would be no problem selling out the rest of the resort and they wouldn't need incentives to do it.

[Maistre Gracey]

But I'm doom and gloom on the economy and energy - I think we are in for a rough ride - particularly here in the U.S. where we are spoiled by expections of high wages and really can't compete with people willing to work harder for less - and that doesn't bode well for vacations. If I were Disney, I'd be investing more in the Far East and less in the U.S. - that is where the disposable income is moving.
Holy Moly! :teeth:
I guess we could start another whole thread about this subject alone.

I'll gracefully bow out here so this thread can stay on topic. :)

MG

[DisFlan]

I think we are in for a rough ride - particularly here in the U.S. where we are spoiled by expections of high wages and really can't compete with people willing to work harder for less - and that doesn't bode well for vacations. If I were Disney, I'd be investing more in the Far East and less in the U.S. - that is where the disposable income is moving.


Have you seen pics or info on the new DubaiLand? Top flight, first class mega-mondo, humongous parks (lots of parks), timeshares, resorts, shopping, entertainment complex. This one may give Disney (and DVC) real international competition.

DisFlan

[bpmorley]

I think the single best thing they could do is build a pool to rival SAB with no pool hopping allowed. A lot of us who own at other resorts would end up competing at the 7-month window to get into SSR now and then so that we could enjoy its wonderful new pool. Put in a lazy river and I'm so there!

I brought this idea up a while back. I think the lazy river should go by all the building and it should be sand lined. So it's like a north Jersey beach.

[Ksp]

I brought this idea up a while back. I think the lazy river should go by all the building and it should be sand lined. So it's like a north Jersey beach.

Yes to the lazy river idea :thumbsup2 Between that, and the movie/dinner idea.... more ping pong tables... the spa... DD next door... golf.... community hall.... it would be really hard to leave. (Ok, harder to leave than it already is.)

[crisi]

I don't understand the problem, from Disney's prespective. Once SSR sells out, does Disney care if the guests try to book other resorts at the 7 month window? It's possible it'll be harder to get reservations less than 7 months out if the SSR guests prefer to stay in other resorts but Disney doesn't really have to do anything.

Once again, your perceptiveness has hit the point. From Disney's point of view, there is no problem - perhaps SSR is selling a little slow, but it can't be a problem, or they wouldn't be building the last phase. Since Disney would have to make a significant capital investment to differentiate it, it isn't likely to happen, unless that investment adds revenue.

Of course, there is a lot of talk about redoing PI, which is twenty years old and in need of a facelift. If they redo PI in a manner that makes it a more appealing destination to a wider audience, that may do it. It adds revenue for Disney, takes care of some issues Disney seems to have with their current PI clientele, and would make SSR more attractive.

[manning]

I have heard there was going to be a total of three theme pools.

[LisaS]

I brought this idea up a while back. I think the lazy river should go by all the building and it should be sand lined. So it's like a north Jersey beach.I remember reading your post about that and thought it was a very cool idea, but would probably cost more to build and maintain than Disney would be willing to spend unless they could charge admission to use it! Earlier in that same thread, I had suggested something more modest, something similar to the lazy river that goes around the pool area at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It's not a very long river, but it's a lot of fun to swim or float around in it and it's a nice change from splashing around in a regular pool. Being contained within a new pool area, it wouldn't require them to change anything that's already in place at SSR. And by making it off limits to pool hopping, it would make SSR more desireable and take some of the booking pressure off BCV.

But overall I agree with Crisi. I can't see them doing anything more to SSR if they believe they can sell it out as is. In my comments about this in the other thread, I had proposed this as a way to improve sales if the rumors were true that sales at SSR were lagging. Otherwise, I think the only improvements they will make will be improvements to existing amenities in response to strong feedback from SSR owners, such as they are doing by adding sit-down dining at the Turf Club.

[bpmorley]

Personally I like SSR the way it is. I only bring this up because the thread is asking for ways to make SSR stand out. It can stay like it is and I will be happy. But I wouldn't mind seeing some of the ideas on these boards happen either.

[DrTomorrow]

I think the single best thing they could do is build a pool to rival SAB with no pool hopping allowed. A lot of us who own at other resorts would end up competing at the 7-month window to get into SSR now and then so that we could enjoy its wonderful new pool. Put in a lazy river and I'm so there![...] Two problems: too nice of a pool complex starts to steal paying customers from BB & TL, and not every DVC owner thinks that SAB is a big plus....

I'm on the Lewisc bandwagon - unless sales at SSR come to a screeching halt, Disney will see no reason to dramatically improve SSR; unless, that is, Disney thinks that they can make more money off of it (carriage rides generate more $$$, for example). I can incremental improvements, like they are already doing with Turf Club, and maybe some cosmetic additions (my plea for a little whimsy) but not a fantasmagorical pool or monorail, etc.

Of course, we love our SSR just as she is :hug: :cheer2:

IMHO - YMMV

[bpmorley]

Two problems: too nice of a pool complex starts to steal paying customers from BB & TL, and not every DVC owner thinks that SAB is a big plus....

I'm on the Lewisc bandwagon - unless sales at SSR come to a screeching halt, Disney will see no reason to dramatically improve SSR; unless, that is, Disney thinks that they can make more money off of it (carriage rides generate more $$$, for example). I can incremental improvements, like they are already doing with Turf Club, and maybe some cosmetic additions (my plea for a little whimsy) but not a fantasmagorical pool or monorail, etc.

Of course, we love our SSR just as she is :hug: :cheer2:

IMHO - YMMV
I never even thought of a monorail. That would rock. :yay:

[Sammie]

Disney will not build another SAB, maybe a nice themed pool with cool slide but not an SAB, due to costs.

[bpmorley]

Disney will not build another SAB, maybe a nice themed pool with cool slide but not an SAB, due to costs.
They may not even build another theme pool. They already have one with a slide

[LisaS]

Disney will not build another SAB, maybe a nice themed pool with cool slide but not an SAB, due to costs.I'm not a big fan of SAB myself and wasn't advocating building something similar at SSR. Rather, I would like to see them build a pool that offers something unique. That's what I meant about something to rival SAB -- it wouldn't have to be a big sprawling pool complex, but put in something unique that no other DVC resort pool has. That's why the idea of a small lazy river came to mind.

My favorite hotel in Las Vegas is Mandalay Bay. I like the decor, love their fitness center and spa, the buffet restaurant serves a great breakfast and I love floating around their lazy river for an hour or so in the afternoon. Their river is not very long and certainly nothing like the one at TL, but it's just enough to offer a different sort of pool experience -- floating around in an inner tube or paddling along with the current.

SSR already has some things in common with Mandalay Bay: a fitness center and spa, upscale decor, so if I could just get nice buffet breakfast there and float around in a small lazy river as I do at MB, I would find SSR hard to resist. I agree that it's unlikely they would do anything along those lines. It's just my own personal vision of what SSR could be.

It's probably just as well. The last thing I need is to feel compelled to add on more points somewhere else!

[cobbler]

What makes the AKL pool so special that no hopping is allowed their either?

They could do something along those lines to a second mini themed pool for SSR. Of course I have no idea what AKL pool or anything looks like as I have never seen it but there must be something about it if you can't hop there.

[crisi]

What makes the AKL pool so special that no hopping is allowed their either?

They could do something along those lines to a second mini themed pool for SSR. Of course I have no idea what AKL pool or anything looks like as I have never seen it but there must be something about it if you can't hop there.


Nothing. The pool is relatively small for the size of the resort and sits fairly close to the Savannah. AKL gets a lot of its own tourist traffic - and when the resort opened the rationale was "not to disturb the animals."

It is a zero entry pool, so while the surface area of the pool is HUGE, a proportion of the pool is relatively shallow. Zero entry is nice for kids (SSR is also zero entry, I think they now build them that way to fill ADA requirements). They have an OK pool slide - a lot like the one at WL - rather tame compared to SAB or the Keister Coaster.

I suppose they could paddock horses by the SSR pool - then you'd get the animal thing. Personally, the smell of horses wouldn't be a draw to me.

If you've never been to AKL, you should go and check it out for yourself. It is a very cool resort. The pool isn't anything too special, but the whole resort is cool.

[cobbler]

I've been to the resort, ate at Boma and wandered around. Just wondered what was so special about the pool if you couldn't hop there.

[LisaS]

What makes the AKL pool so special that no hopping is allowed their either?I've stayed at AKL a few times and I cannot figure this out either. It's a nice pool but as already stated it seems a bit small for the size of the resort. So maybe that's why they don't allow hopping there.

The other thing I've read but never experienced myself is that it is possible to see animals while lounging in one of the hot tubs. Maybe this only happens in the evening when the pool area is quieter. But I could see this being another reason that the pool is exclusive to guests only.

I do enjoy the pool there. It's not huge, but it's nice and the bar serves a great Mai Tai.

[Glorydaz]

I've stayed at AKL a few times and I cannot figure this out either. It's a nice pool but as already stated it seems a bit small for the size of the resort. So maybe that's why they don't allow hopping there.

The other thing I've read but never experienced myself is that it is possible to see animals while lounging in one of the hot tubs. Maybe this only happens in the evening when the pool area is quieter. But I could see this being another reason that the pool is exclusive to guests only.

I do enjoy the pool there. It's not huge, but it's nice and the bar serves a great Mai Tai.

my boyfriend and I stayed at athe AKL in Sept of '03 and we used the hot tub around the side of the building - mere feet away from the fence and yes, if you sat in the right spot - you could watch the animals! in fact, a couple of the giraffes came up to the fence right close to us and I'll tell you, we had a great trip but that moment stands out in my mind above all the rest! what an awesome experience!

as for SSR - I love the idea of a lazy river! when my children were small, we would visit Dorney Park and what I loved most there was the lazy river ( so did the kinder)! so SSR brass - if you're reading this - LAZY RIVER ... :thumbsup2 ...gets another vote from me :teeth:

[bpmorley]

I've been to the resort, ate at Boma and wandered around. Just wondered what was so special about the pool if you couldn't hop there.

I often wondered that myself. No I have some sort of an idea

[bpmorley]

as for SSR - I love the idea of a lazy river! when my children were small, we would visit Dorney Park and what I loved most there was the lazy river ( so did the kinder)! so SSR brass - if you're reading this - LAZY RIVER ... :thumbsup2 ...gets another vote from me :teeth:

Been to DP tons myself. There is a dismeet in Allentown this summer.