Mini Trip Report! Big Screen Movies at High Rock Spring Pool (SSR) Photo Links Added

[LIFERBABE]

Hi Neighbors,

Just returned from our girls trip last week where we spent 2 nights at BWV and 4 nights at SSR. I was really thrilled to see the huge movie screen set up almost nightly at the High Rock Spring pool showing Disney Movies!!:thumbsup2

They played Nemo, Toy Story and I cant remember the others, but they started at 8pm. Saw lots of new activities, and cant wait for our family reunion at SSR in June! I know my boys will enjoy the movies and the other activities.

We had a great time at both resorts, and we did the DDP which my friends were thrilled with. It was nice as 4 ladies to not have to worry about splitting the bill or figuring out the tip. They LOVED Turf Club and decided to forego Wolfgang Puck, to dine there again. They liked Turf Club (EXCELLENT service) better than Le Cellier, (who's service was terrible).

We stayed in a Dedicated 2 bedroom in the first building of the The Springs and once they saw the room they didnt want to go back to the parks!:rotfl:
There were no rooms available in the Grandstand bldg (only 1 was open) but I was able to go over twice to check out the new pool area:thumbsup2 I love the red loungers and the 2nd time I went over was on checkout day and I chilled out by the pool and relaxed until it was time to catch ME.(which worked great except we flew SWA and they dont participate in return luggage service) The pool was very quiet and we basically had it all to ourselves. I think they did an excellent job.:wizard: I did take more photos of the pool area if anyone wants to see:3dglasses

Ownerslocker worked like a charm and i cant wait to return with my lighter, cuter luggage.

BWV was great for the location. We were only there for 2 nights with a late arrival the first. We shared a studio the first 2 nights (to splurge points on the 2 bedroom) We visited Epcot and had dinner at Le Cellier which was crowded loud and sloooow service. That said, I would still go back, if I was on the DDP, but not if I was paying cash. Our bill for 4 of us for dinner came to $245!!! The filet is still pretty good but I did not enjoy the risotto as much as my last visit. Sunshine Seasons was very good for our counter service lunch. :thumbsup2

[littlestar]

Nice report. Thanks for posting. :)

[SaratogaShan]

Glad you had a great trip. I am excited about movies at the pool as well......GREAT idea!

And I definately want to see your photos please! :)

[spiceycat]

yes definitely want see your pictures.

like the ideal of movies at the pool!

[bobbiwoz]

What a great trip you had! I like the idea of movies at the pool too!


Bobbi:goodvibes

[loribell]

Glad you had a great trip. I really need to take a trip with just a couple of friends some day (really soon).

Yes please, I want to see more pics of the Grandstand pool or anything else you took!

[lizziepooh]

Sounds like you had a great trip!

[disneymom8589]

I'm getting more and more excited for my 1st trip to SSR this summer!! :cheer2:

[Slakk]

Wow the nightly movies are a real positive. We plan on a June 08 SSR trip - cannot wait!

[paults]

sounds like a great trip and you definitely made good use of your pts by getting a studio the 1st 2 nts and then the 2 bed at SSR:cool1:

[TenThousandVolts]

Thanks for the report Liferbabe! I love the idea of movies at the pool. How fun!!!

[murphy t]

Hi,
Glad you liked the resort. We are staying there over Thankgsgiving. We own at Boardwalk and my husband is a little reluctant to stay any place else. Which area do you think is the best to stay in? We like DTD but also want to be close to the main pool and dining areas.
Thanks, Murphy

[LIFERBABE]

Thanks all!!
Slakk, I was nervous having 4 women in a studio, but it worked out great. We checked in on a Fri night at 11pm, so no way was I booking 2 studios for that and Saturday was a park day and I knew we would be gone all day and night so I booked 1 standard view studio at BWV for our first 2 nights and hoped for the best. It worked out great and the new sofa bed was really comfortable and when we moved over to the 2 bedroom they were kicking up their heels!:goodvibes

We did have a nice time. My family visits the parks once every 6 days on average, so hitting the parks twice and trying to show my friends everything, really wore us all out. That is the 1 thing I will do different when travelling with adults is let them set the pace and take it a little easier.


We also went over (we were right across the street) to see the AKV models. They are very nice and I do like the colors and the extra bath and pull out chair. The master bath tub is different, it is a large rectangle soaking tub w jets (about 36 inches across) where the other DVC's are the oval corner tubs (52" across). The kitchen cabinetry I think clashes with the rest of the unit. It is too fake/cartoony looking imho and with the marble countertops and black appliances, the cabinets (which are open to the dining/living area so you see them plenty) detract from an otherwise African Contemporary feel.

We are planning on picking up points at AKV, but I want Dh to see the models when we return in June.

Ok, I do have a few pictures. Another thing that was dramatically different on our girls trip, is we did not take many pictures at all:scared1: I guess they are old enough to remember:rotfl:

http://images1.snapfish.com/349867396%7Ffp38%3A%3Evq%3D3235%3E6%3B7%3E787%3E23 266%3B78785%3C6wp1lsi

[LIFERBABE]

Hi,
Glad you liked the resort. We are staying there over Thankgsgiving. We own at Boardwalk and my husband is a little reluctant to stay any place else. Which area do you think is the best to stay in? We like DTD but also want to be close to the main pool and dining areas.
Thanks, Murphy


Hi murphyt,

I am one of the biggest SSR fans on this board, my family prefers it over all others that we own. We have only stayed in Congress Park (closest to DTD MarketPlace) and have for our last 5 stays. We like Congress park because of the quiet pool and hot spa, the DTD views, the BBQ pavilion, and the walks to the main area are about 5 min. for us.

The Springs location this trip was really convenient to the main pool and dining, and we had a nice lake fountain view. I liked being last for the bus stop, because after the bus picked us up, it headed out to wherever we were going.

The bus stop order coming back to the resort is GrandStand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park and The Springs. So if you miss the Grandstand bus, race over to The Springs stop and you can still catch the same bus. I think the busses dont take more than 8 min to circle the resort, so walk fast! We only had to stand once and that was the closing bus from MK. The driver said another bus in 20 min. if we chose to wait so we stood. Otherwise the busses were never more than 1/2 full.

We will still request Congress Park as a family and I want to try the golf views of the Grandstand. We can get to the main areas of SSR within 12 min. from anywhere in the resort, and that is acceptable for us. The only area I would not care to stay in is the Carousel.

I like that SSR has so many desireable locations, because it spreads the wealth and not everyone is fighting for the same thing. I missed my DTD view this trip, but the Springs was great for my girlfriends.

If anyone can help me post my photos from snapfish, I would really appreciate it, I can only get the thumbnail size to show:confused3

[Lexxiefern]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! I too really like the idea of movies by the pool. I hope they keep it up.

[ErinC]

Sounds great Liferbabe. Can't wait to see the photos. Thanks for the tip about the bus, I may use that in a couple of weeks if we get our grandstand request.

[ebenmax]

Sounds like a wonderful trip!! And what fun to show your girlfriends all that Disney has to offer!!

Our family is so excited for the movies by the pool as well. I wonder if we will be too tired after days in the parks to even get to enjoy them!

I have to agree with the comment on the AKV kitchens. When I first saw them I really did not like the brown and black together. Then in other pictures with different lighting, they didn't look as bad. So, we are waiting to see the real thing when we go to SSR this summer to make a final judgement.

Once again, glad you had fun and thanks for sharing.

Ellen

[Mtnman44]

That is great to hear about pool movies at SSR! I saw a photo somewhere of this at the BVW pool, I think? Do they do it there also?

[tiggercrew]

Thanks, Liferbabe, for the great report. My family is taking a trip to SSR this July to relax and do other things besides the parks (we already have a May vacation scheduled for parks). I would love to hear what you and your family do when you are not at the parks. This will be our first stay at SSR so all comments are welcomed.

[murphy t]

Thanks for all the greart info, Liferbabe
Murphy T

[tomandrobin]

Photos, photos, photos, photos...........

[eeyoresmom]

We also toured the AKV model while at SSR last week. Our guide pointed out that they are changing the kitchen cabinets ( getting rid of the "worming" in the wood,so it will be less "worn looking") Also, if you noticed there are beautiful sheer curtains in the sliders with an animal theme.They are replacing these also because there are tigers depicted and there are no tigers in Africa!

[E-P-C-O-T]

Great news!! Looking forward to our July stay at SSR. The kids loved to hear about the movies at the pool.

:)

[LIFERBABE]

We also toured the AKV model while at SSR last week. Our guide pointed out that they are changing the kitchen cabinets ( getting rid of the "worming" in the wood,so it will be less "worn looking") Also, if you noticed there are beautiful sheer curtains in the sliders with an animal theme.They are replacing these also because there are tigers depicted and there are no tigers in Africa!


Thanks eeyoresmom!!:thumbsup2 I HATED the wormy look!!! That's what I meant by fake/cartoony looking. It was just too much and not believable. Who wants worms in the kitchen? Im glad they decided to change them! Now the sheers I like! Maybe they will just remove the Tigers and replace them with Lions.

Sorry to keep you all waiting on the photos, but I cant figure it out. Ive done it before but now it escapes me:confused3

Hi Tiggercrew, one of the reasons my family enjoys SSR so much is because there is so much to do and they have an AWESOME recreation staff there.
When we first purchased DVC, I thought we would work our trips around AP's and visit the parks frequently. I purchased BCV for us and SSR was going to be a place we sent family and friends. :rotfl: DVC allowed us to slow down and enjoy the resorts more. Once SSR opened, we really liked it more than we ever expected and although I will always have a soft spot for BCV, if given a choice, Dh and the boys (now 10 and 8) always choose SSR. They prefer the leisurely vacations and will always choose hanging out at the resort over the parks. I look at WDW as our "country club" more than just a theme park vacation. We dont have time to belong to a club at home and DVC really allows us to be away and enjoy all the resort amenities.
Sorry to take the long way to answering your question, but that is our mindset.
We spent 2 weeks at SSR over Christmas and NYE (no parks) and this is what we did:
Went to Typhoon Lagoon with some Dis Friends
Had a NYE BBQ and watched the PI Fireworks on the lake
Community Hall activities-too many to list, my favorite was ceramics, we made ice cream, PS2, shuffleboard, towel animals, Disney Magnets, pool games, pool bingo, foosball, ping pong,etc.
We only purchase mugs when at SSR. The self serve stations are conveniently located.
Spa-even if I dont have a service I visit and buy Mystical Forest body gels and candles and salts for use in the whirlpool tub.
late night swims-I love the soundproof aspect of SSR Villas and that the pools are away from guest rooms. You can actually enjoy late night swims and not have to worry about disturbing guests or breaking rules. We are not loud or disrespectful anyway but it's good to know that we couldnt bother anyone even if we were. ;)
Dh and I plan on taking up golf when the boys are older
DTD and DisneyQuest-Dh and boys get AP's for DQ and the Waterparks which SSR is very close to, and go often. DQ stays open late (midnight or after) so they get their monies worth even if they only go for an hour or 2.
DTD-lots to do there. If it's raining we duck into a movie, or Virgin Megastore has lots of video games and movies and books.
Typhoon Lagoon-very close to SSR and a great way to spend the afternoon foating around the lazy river. The boys like the waterpark lazy rivers because they can touch bottom, which they cannot do at SAB.
They make friends-I like that DVC allows us to stay long enough to see some of the same children during our stay. The boys make friends and meet up at Comm. Hall to play PS2 or Ping Pong.
We feed the fish-that long bridge to The Paddocks has some huge bass underneath and they come right to the surface to eat.
We walk-We take long walks around the resort, thru DTD and sometimes over to OKW to enjoy our beautiful surroundings. I love the landscaping there.
My favorite thing to do-Sit on my patio with a glass of wine enjoying my DTD view!:love:
I hope that gets you started!

[3DisneyKids]

Thanks for the TR!

We are going in 4 weeks and 2 days! (me?? counting??) and staying at BWV instead of my beloved SSR. Now that I hear about the movies at High Rock Springs, I am thinking hmmmm....maybe we should go back to SSR!!!

So many choices....so little time!

[alldiz]

Thanks for the great info.....

The movies sound cool....

I am going to SSR...may 22 to may 29th.....
wont do parks memorial day weekend.....
Soooo glad to hear there is lots to do at SSR:goodvibes
Kerri

[tiggercrew]

WOW! Thank you so much for all the wonderful nonpark things to do. My kids (14 & 10) are looking forward to the pool and community hall, but I can't wait to tell them about all the other things we can do besides the parks.:banana: They were reluctant at first to do a nonpark trip, but since we will be in the parks 5 weeks earlier, I convinced them that we might be "parked out" by then.

I love your philosophy about DVC being your country club...I can't imagine a country club that I would enjoy more than DVC.:goodvibes

[nuts]

Hi Tiggercrew, one of the reasons my family enjoys SSR so much is because there is so much to do and they have an AWESOME recreation staff there. When we first purchased DVC, I thought we would work our trips around AP's and visit the parks frequently. I purchased BCV for us and SSR was going to be a place we sent family and friends. :rotfl: DVC allowed us to slow down and enjoy the resorts more. Once SSR opened, we really liked it more than we ever expected and although I will always have a soft spot for BCV, if given a choice, Dh and the boys (now 10 and 8) always choose SSR. They prefer the leisurely vacations and will always choose hanging out at the resort over the parks. I look at WDW as our "country club" more than just a theme park vacation. We dont have time to belong to a club at home and DVC really allows us to be away and enjoy all the resort amenities.


You describe exactly my family's view of SSR! My 4 teens will not stay anywhere else for the exact reasons you stated. I think new DVCers miss this point. Parks are great...but after a few years they become a part of the landscape. DVC is more than being right next door to the parks. It's about relaxing. SSR gives you a quiet atmosphere to enjoy and slow down. A short bus ride and you are back in the middle of it (if that is what you want). We went to BCV a couple years ago. I thought my kids would love it. Nope...they wanted to go back to SSR. They said it was too crowded and busy.

[Luv2trav]

I would love to see your pictures... We are staying at VWL and SSR this upcoming trip and we are thinking about switching our whole say to SSR... We just loved it last year..

[Mean Queen]

We just got back and loved the movies as well. Our DD7 didn't want to go to a park that night because she'd rather watch a movie from the pool. Cars and Toy Story was on when we were there. Thanks for the report on the Grandstand area, we didn't check it out.

[twinmomplus2new]

Does anyone have any definate information as to what evenings SSR plays the poolside movies?

to answer a prior poster about movies at BWV, In 10 years only once did I see this at BWV. approx3 years ago in December there was an usually warm spell high 80ies?? And they added a few pool parties which included a DJ by the pool doing pool trivia type stuff during the day. and a poolside movie set up to the right of the slide exit. ( The movie was little Mermaid) They sold cotton candy and popcorn out of the community hall.

I wish they would do this ALOT more often, quite a few of offsite resorts do this. I think it was the Hilton tuscany village?? does this and sells snowcones and glow items during the movie. popcorn::

[DutchsMommy]

Liferbabe - regarding posting the pics:

when you go to snapfish you have to open the photo to 'full size' - not the preview screen with all the pics. Once you have it open, right click and look for 'properties' - copy that info (looks like a really looooong URL) into your posting window. Then bracket the whole thing with at the beginning and at the end. Preview your post and it should work. If not, you could make an album in snapfish with only the pics you want to share and give us the link to it.

We're all dying for the pics LOL. :thumbsup2

[LIFERBABE]

Thank you for trying to help me post my photo's, still having issues, but here are the links! If anyone knows how to turn these links into photo's, please help! LOL!

I took some photos of the laundry area and soap for the true Disers! LOL!! I call em "Distails" because only a Diser wants to see photo's of the kind of soap they sell. Notice the Bounce!

Other "Distails" are the fountain and Spa rules. Notice the spa is open 24hrs!! Ive never seen that before at any of the DVC resorts. 99% of the balconies face opposite the pool so that is probably why.

Also, disregard the dates on the photos. I told you Im pretty pitiful when it comes to consumer electronics.

http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxrKUp7BHD7Kofrj%3DQofrj 7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQQ0xJaGxGGGx QQQ0JaGGGGJ0PqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPGl%7CRup6 lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442

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[Mean Queen]

Now I'm very upset we didn't check it out. That pool looks like so much fun. Makes me even happier to call SSR home.

[athenna]

Thanks for sharing those, Liferbabe!!!
They are great!!!
:cool1:

[ErinC]

thanks for posting the pics. I'm really hoping for a grandstand building in 2 weeks.