Day 1 @ SSR -- LOST!!!!

[Quilter007]

OMG -- How in the heck do ya'll find anything around here?!?!:scared1: This is our first stay at SSR, third stay @ WDW. Stay # 1, we stayed off property using Marriott points, Stay # 2, boss paid for us to stay at the Poly :dance3:, & this time we're using our Developer Points. Have to say the room is lovely -- we did DVC the tour @ VGC -- so this is all new & we never made it over to Downtown Disney before. This whole bus this is a mystery. However, we have learned that having cute kids in tow & asking nicely does sometimes work -- two bus drivers have taken pity on us today & taken us on our own private trip! :worship: In California, there are Disney Maps all over the stinking place -- I know there are maps of the parks, but for crying out loud, SSR & Downtown Disney are each larger in size than Disneyland, PRINT SOME MAPS ALREADY!!!!!! Sorry, just needed to vent. Oh, and I've got some complementary 4-day tickets (from the poly trip when Disney hosed us on the dining plan) which I need to upgrade to 6-day tickets & buy 1 more ticket. Well the ticket line was 5 miles long when I checked in. So, I thought I'd mosey on down after dinner & take care of that. It was late, so I called to make sure I could still do it -- the gal said yes, so I mosied on down all the stinkin way from the carousel (after coaxing special bus ride #2 of the day). Well, the front desk says, "no, I'm sorry we can't do that after 10 pm." That's when I lost it -- I clearly called at 11:30 -- She was nice enough to drive me back though. Oh, and I remembered that we'd gotten a piece of key lime pie to go from T-rex.....that full size fridge is going to ruin the diet! I swear that when I got off the plane in Orlando & smelled the fried food it was like walking through a layer of fat -- I could just smell the pounds adding on. You almost gain weight walking through the airport! The boys loved the T-Rex -- oh and there is a DVC discount -- in the store too! :wizard:

Any hints for figuring out where you are when not in the theme parks would be appreciated. I'm used to having a mountain to get my bearings. I'm really not used to this flat thing. Even LA has mountains -- they just put them in the wrong spot & cover them up with smog! :upsidedow

[kikiq]

Here's a SSR map to help out.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u311/BroganMc_photos/SSRmap_enhanced.jpg

I have a mental WDW map in my head that looks like a triangle. Maybe it will help. At the top is the MK with the Poly/GF/CR/WL/VWL. At the right bottom angle is AK/AKV, going across the bottom is Epcot/DHS/BWV/BCV and the left bottom angle is DTD with SSR/OKW a little above that. The buses only go to the parks, water parks and DTD. Learning the bus system can be daunting in the beginning, but we don't think twice now.

Have a great vacation!!

[Quilter007]

Yeah -- that helps. I think I've heard the triangle thing before -- just didn't make any sense before. Just like the spoke & wheel thing doesn't make sense to people when we try to explain it before they go to D-land!

Hey -- so found out that I can watch CNBC from the Jacuzzi tub! :yay: I may not need park tickets! It took all the self control I could muster not to bring the laptop into the tub! It's a finacial analyst's dream! Throw away your spreadsheets! If I'd known about that little detail, we'd bought DVC a long time ago!:worship:

OK -- gotta grab my toast & figure out the ticket thing & get to the parks....trying Yak & Yeti for lunch & have Le Chef de France for dinner..mmmmmm........kids think they are getting Grandma on Test Trak -- we'll see about that!

Thanks!

[allshookup]

Don't they give you a transportation map when you check in anymore? That should explain what buses, boats, etc. to take & if that doesn't have a map of WDW, then I would ask for one at the desk or you can try this link: http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/Map_WDW_Resort.jpg

Keep us updated...I'm really enjoying reading about your adventures! :thumbsup2

[BEASLYBOO]

Quilter007, remember this is a vacation, now, "Breath in, Breath Out, Breath in".

P.S. If you can see the yellow hot air balloon in the sky close up, you're near Downtown Disney and SSR.

We also tried T-Rex for the 1st time in Jun and really enjoyed the food.

Have fun!

[culli]

:lmao::rotfl2::rotfl:

Just got to say thanks for the laugh, this has been typical Monday for me so THANK YOU....oh yeah enjoy your trip!

[tea pot]

Quilter007, remember this is a vacation, now, "Breath in, Breath Out, Breath in".

Have fun!


Love it

[pickles]

stayed at SSR for the first time back in april. The resort itself has its enjoyable points, but I can tell you I HATE the layout and especially the way they have numbered the buildings. You practically have to walk up to each one to see what number it is.
I do own at OKW and enjoy OKW, but their numbers out by the road are much easier to see IMO

I will be staying in sept to finish off my dev points and after that have no intention of staying at SSR again.

lousy signs had me walking all over the place the one day and their map along the walkways are terrible to read..horrible to understand!! and if memory serves correctly dont have the "you are here" sign on them so even when you are looking you have no clue which way to go

for positive points..the walkways are nice and especially nice for couples. The area up by the main pool and outside the gaming hall etc.. has some nice areas to sit and just enjoy the scenery.

[5forDiz]

op thank goodness you aren't staying in a TreeHouse Villa :rotfl: !!!


Quilter007, remember this is a vacation, now, "Breath in, Breath Out, Breath in".

P.S. If you can see the yellow hot air balloon in the sky close up, you're near Downtown Disney and SSR.

Exactly !!!!











Don't they give you a transportation map when you check in anymore? That should explain what buses, boats, etc. to take & if that doesn't have a map of WDW, then I would ask for one at the desk.......


They usually do and will if asked ::yes::






Resort map is given at check-in and there's Downtown Disney map too.....if you didn't get ask for it.

You'll get the hang of it and now that you're a member you'll be back so often you'll soon be finding your way around WDW with your eyes closed!

Have fun and enjoy your trip :yay:

[kikiq]

I totally understand how the OP feels. Last month I rented a car:scared1: ONLY because I had to get my DD to her apartment complex from AKV. After making a trial run from AKV to her check in point, we decided might want to try a Steak and Shake meal. Never found it. Then after taking Disney transportation to watch Wishes, we returned to DTD and thought we might make a quick trip to a grocery store to pick up a few items. :eek: Never found it, took a wrong turn somewhere and found myself going away from WDW on the freeway and taking the last exit into WDW and slowly finding my way back to AKV in the dark. I usually pride myself in knowing where i am and having my bearings in strange areas. But I am humbled by finding my way on the roadways in and around WDW at night. And I will give some kudos to the AKV valet who offered to draw a map to the grocery store at 11pm for me;)

Hope the OP checks in. Did you notice she's having lunch in AK and dinner in Epcot? She has to get from AK to Epcot. OR maybe AK to SSR to Epcot.

[Deb & Bill]

I totally understand how the OP feels. Last month I rented a car:scared1: ONLY because I had to get my DD to her apartment complex from AKV. After making a trial run from AKV to her check in point, we decided might want to try a Steak and Shake meal. Never found it. Then after taking Disney transportation to watch Wishes, we returned to DTD and thought we might make a quick trip to a grocery store to pick up a few items. :eek: Never found it, took a wrong turn somewhere and found myself going away from WDW on the freeway and taking the last exit into WDW and slowly finding my way back to AKV in the dark. I usually pride myself in knowing where i am and having my bearings in strange areas. But I am humbled by finding my way on the roadways in and around WDW at night. And I will give some kudos to the AKV valet who offered to draw a map to the grocery store at 11pm for me;)

Hope the OP checks in. Did you notice she's having lunch in AK and dinner in Epcot? She has to get from AK to Epcot. OR maybe AK to SSR to Epcot.

Tom-Tom. That's the best way to find your way around Orlando.

[habg1]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl2:

Welcome to my world this past April.

My sister and I got lost trying to find our room. Dragging our luggage down the side walks, cars zooming by us. We went by the whirl pool 2 times. Finally realized we needed to cross the bridge. The counter CM's were not helpful. And the map, forget it. The marker she used covered road names, etc... and was not in a straight line.

oh well.

We finally got the bus route down pat on our last day there.

I told my husband about the hassle and I don't think he believed me about the maze of paths, roads, and sidewalks.

If we ever stayed there again, I would want a car. Seriously.

[BEASLYBOO]

The good thing about Disney's road system is that there is more than one way to get to any resort/park etc. You can twirl around for 15 minutes and then all of a sudden make a right and you're there, of course you still don't know how you got there. :confused3

Our home resort is OKW, the 1st few times we went to the grocery store we'd head back and end up in some distribution center (Disney ?) full of semi's and warehouses. Of course there's the obligatory "How did we end up here?". At dark w/ a car full of groceries, it's not funny, though we laugh about it now, I still don't know how we kept ending up there.

Since DTD got the yellow Hot Air Balloon it's a little easier to know where you are!

[KPH500]

My husband is convinced that Disney has intentionally made it confusing to get around on property using your own transportation. This will discourage folks from driving and keep us all on the busses, therefore keeping us on property spending all our money at Disney! :rotfl:

[Sammie]

I am confused, they give you a SSR map when you check in, did you not get one? They circle your building and show you were the check in is located and where your room is :confused3

If you are talking about driving from SSR to other locations that I can understand and as someone else suggested you need a Disney road map available also at the front desk.

[Sandy321]

that full size fridge is going to ruin the diet! I swear that when I got off the plane in Orlando & smelled the fried food it was like walking through a layer of fat -- I could just smell the pounds adding on. You almost gain weight walking through the airport!

:rotfl2: OMG - I so can relate! Thanks for sharing!

btw - did you get the ticket thing ironed out? I've read on the main Theme board that you can enter a park on your ticket and then upgrade - :confused3

[Chim Chiminy]

I've always found it pretty easy to find my way around property. I think they are good about marking the roadway with signs.
I guess maybe the trick is knowing what resorts are near which parks?

In ten trips, we have only gotten lost three or four times, and we drive everywhere.

I can understand the OP's frustration though.
Especially calling to see if you can still upgrade your tickets, and getting there to be told "sorry, it's closed for the night."

[thelionqueen]

We stayed @ SSR for the first time in May and had absolutely no problem at all finding anything. Of course we had to take a few minutes to gain our bearings and look at the map (which was clearly marked and explained to us by CM), but after that it was as if we had been there 10 times before. I would suggest looking at the map, figuring out where you are on it, and starting there. It does sound a bit as if you're making this harder than it has to be.

As far as directions around WDW and the surrounding areas, I can totally relate. We were not smart enough to get a GPS the first 2 trips, and boy were we driving around. We had a map, but it was over a large area so it didn't help too much. Once we figured out that Apopka Vineland had different names depending on where you caught it, we were good :lmao:

I must say too that after staying @ SSR, and being so close to DTD and Vineland, we finally got ALL our bearings straight. I had to laugh at how long it took me to get to Wal-Mart before this trip when seriously it's 5 mins away :lmao:

[kikiq]

Tom-Tom. That's the best way to find your way around Orlando.

SHHHHHH, don't let my daughter hear you. She kept "nagging" me that I "shoulda" gotten the GPS :)

[Quilter007]

1) Map @ check-in -- Ummm....Yeah -- they circled a bunch of stuff....we took it to the bus stop -- asked the bus lady there...decided it was going to take too long to wait & wanted to walk -- so looked @ map & headed off in the wrong direction! That's when she commandeered an empty bus for us & we left that in the room when we found it....thinking they would be all over the property.

2) Grandma LOVED animal kingdom! Yak & Yeti was great! We all ordered a different dessert & shared -- Mango Pie :worship: I'm not eating entrees anymore........ Heading to Epcot & Chefs now!

We think we got the bus thing figured out. That probably means they'll change them!

I did get the ticket thing done this am......all is right with the world.....OK -- well except I don't expect to see the Tiki room fixed! It's wrong! Just wrong!!! We've got to sheild Grandma's eyes when we get over there! :scared:

[FindTheMickeys]

I have driven Disney property before and the one way streets get me every time. :confused: The last time we went to Disney, we rented a car to go to the grocery. When we were at Alamo, the service person asked if we wanted to rent a GPS. My dad said YES!! Best thing we ever did! We didn't get lost once:cool1: When I got home, I bought one for my personal use!!!:goodvibes

[Quilter007]

Well, now that DH has the bus thing figure out, he's been sharing his wisdom with multiple confused people at the bus stops :grouphug: The big test is today -- I'm taking a cab from the MK to Hertz & renting a car for a couple of days so we can go to the space center......yes --- we brought the Garmin....hopefully, Helga pulls through for us! -- Otherwise -- you can expect a lot of whining in about 15 hours! As you know, I do know how to whine! ;) Thanks for the help! Gotta run & get some rides & fast passes in before the breakfast buffet....the leftovers in the fridge just keep growing...those little boxes are going to gang up and attack tomorrow, I can feel it!

Loved Chefs De France -- Again -- Fixed Price Menu -- Brilliant -- Kids Menu -- great -- told kids that the cheese puff pastry appetizer was a french hot pocket -- darned if they didn't eat the hot thing! :yay:

[tomandrobin]

Hey -- so found out that I can watch CNBC from the Jacuzzi tub! :yay:

Ok...Know I understand how you are confused. :lmao:

[tomandrobin]

Well, now that DH has the bus thing figure out, he's been sharing his wisdom with multiple confused people at the bus stops :grouphug: The big test is today -- I'm taking a cab from the MK to Hertz & renting a car for a couple of days so we can go to the space center......yes --- we brought the Garmin....hopefully, Helga pulls through for us! -- Otherwise -- you can expect a lot of whining in about 15 hours! As you know, I do know how to whine! ;) Thanks for the help! Gotta run & get some rides & fast passes in before the breakfast buffet....the leftovers in the fridge just keep growing...those little boxes are going to gang up and attack tomorrow, I can feel it!

There is a car rental center at the Swan & Dolphin hotel too. But I don't recall the brand.

[tomandrobin]

OK -- well except I don't expect to see the Tiki room fixed! It's wrong! Just wrong!!! We've got to sheild Grandma's eyes when we get over there! :scared:

Tell Grandma that its closed for renovations.....and the Country Bear Jamboree too!

[allshookup]

1) Map @ check-in -- Ummm....Yeah -- they circled a bunch of stuff....we took it to the bus stop -- asked the bus lady there...decided it was going to take too long to wait & wanted to walk -- so looked @ map & headed off in the wrong direction! That's when she commandeered an empty bus for us & we left that in the room when we found it....thinking they would be all over the property.

2) Grandma LOVED animal kingdom! Yak & Yeti was great! We all ordered a different dessert & shared -- Mango Pie :worship: I'm not eating entrees anymore........ Heading to Epcot & Chefs now!

We think we got the bus thing figured out. That probably means they'll change them!

I did get the ticket thing done this am......all is right with the world.....OK -- well except I don't expect to see the Tiki room fixed! It's wrong! Just wrong!!! We've got to sheild Grandma's eyes when we get over there! :scared:

It sounds like they just gave you an SSR map & not a transportation map. The SSR map can be very confusing, especially if it's very late at night & you're not feeling well from a few too many margaritas before the flight. Not that I'd know anything about that! ;)

You should really write a full trip report. You have a great sense of humor! :thumbsup2

There is a car rental center at the Swan & Dolphin hotel too. But I don't recall the brand.

National!

[tomandrobin]

It sounds like they just gave you an SSR map & not a transportation map. The SSR map can be very confusing, especially if it's very late at night & you're not feeling well from a few too many margaritas before the flight. Not that I'd know anything about that! ;)

The map of WDW is on the back of the papers in the Welcome Home packet.

National!

Need more coffee before I start posting, brain isn't quite "snapping" yet!

[allshookup]

The map of WDW is on the back of the papers in the Welcome Home packet.



Need more coffee before I start posting, brain isn't quite "snapping" yet!

I only know because I'm trying to reserve one for August. ;)

[tomandrobin]

I only know because I'm trying to reserve one for August. ;)

I also would recommend priceline to bid "low", "real low" for a car.....we have been pleased!

[kikiq]

Well, now that DH has the bus thing figure out, he's been sharing his wisdom with multiple confused people at the bus stops :grouphug: The big test is today -- I'm taking a cab from the MK to Hertz & renting a car for a couple of days so we can go to the space center......yes --- we brought the Garmin....hopefully, Helga pulls through for us! -- Otherwise -- you can expect a lot of whining in about 15 hours! As you know, I do know how to whine! ;) Thanks for the help! Gotta run & get some rides & fast passes in before the breakfast buffet....the leftovers in the fridge just keep growing...those little boxes are going to gang up and attack tomorrow, I can feel it!

Loved Chefs De France -- Again -- Fixed Price Menu -- Brilliant -- Kids Menu -- great -- told kids that the cheese puff pastry appetizer was a french hot pocket -- darned if they didn't eat the hot thing! :yay:


Well, let me send my DH to finish up those left overs for breakfast:rotfl:

French hot pocket :lmao:

Getting to the Space Center is easy...oh I say that now that I know how to get there :)

[kikiq]

I also would recommend priceline to bid "low", "real low" for a car.....we have been pleased!

How low? And do you get to choose where you rent? OH NO, did I just ask that? It makes me chuckle just thinking about me driving in Orlando/WDW. And my DH is even worse. Plus we've not ever used a GPS before.

[minnieandmickey]

Yeah -- that helps. I think I've heard the triangle thing before -- just didn't make any sense before. Just like the spoke & wheel thing doesn't make sense to people when we try to explain it before they go to D-land!

Hey -- so found out that I can watch CNBC from the Jacuzzi tub! :yay: I may not need park tickets! It took all the self control I could muster not to bring the laptop into the tub! It's a finacial analyst's dream! Throw away your spreadsheets! If I'd known about that little detail, we'd bought DVC a long time ago!:worship:

OK -- gotta grab my toast & figure out the ticket thing & get to the parks....trying Yak & Yeti for lunch & have Le Chef de France for dinner..mmmmmm........kids think they are getting Grandma on Test Trak -- we'll see about that!

Thanks!

Hi there,
This is an off topic comment. I noticed your avatar and that picture is of MY KIDS, or at least very much dead on like my kids! Just wondering where you got it as I have never uploaded it to my knowlege.
I'm glad you are having a great time.

[Quilter007]

The avatar photo...umm...well...you see...I am truly a rotten daughter. A few years ago my mother complained that she didn't have a family photo of me, DH & DSes. So, in a moment of brilliance, we took that photo @ the Star Tours exit at DL -- since we all truly love Disney & Star Wars, we'd thought it expressed us very well -- they take each person's photo, resize it, color match it & print it. I wrapped it up & gave it to Mom for Christmas. :angel: She was NOT amused & gave it back! :mad: Imagine me doing a Conan imatation here -- "I'm a gonna go ta hell when I die...." -- only I'm signficantly shorter & fluffier than Conan.... By the way, I'm in way more trouble with my mother now, than I was then, so I'm just as happy to have our Star Tours photo -- because I love it! :grouphug: Gotta run! NASA tomorrow! Need to do some work tonight & someone suggested a trip report. Maybe I'll let DH drive out to Titusville & I'll type while he drives.

Oh -- and believe it or not -- even though the Garmin doesn't have any idea how to direct us inside SSR, I managed to find the Carousel from the front the Springs withot incident! :woohoo: Twice! :dance3: DH was shocked!! Not as shocked as me, but I didn't let on.

Oh one more thing -- we went back MK this evening & used a gazillion FP. In the middile of Splash Mountaing -- when it's dark and there are whooptee whoos -- DH starts asking me if the Smithsonian has past currencies available for viewing. Now, granted I am a financial analyst and a nerd and do tend to know odd random things and generally love talking about money, but 1) it's Splash Mountain, 2) I've never been to the Smithsonian, 3) he can't hear me because he's a row ahead, 4) he knows I hate to speculate when I don't know the answer -- I kept thinking to myself that I could only think of a few places that were less appropriate to ask such questions and most of them involved a lot less clothing -- it was hot today -- can you tell? Gees! I must have given him the look of death -- because he apologized when we got off.......drat must go put permit in rental car....:scared1:

[minnieandmickey]

Well I found ours and it is almost an exact match, facial expressions and all. Kind of freaked me out there for a second. I loved having the kids take that, and my mom would have understood the sentiment behind it since it is a big family favorite.
Enjoy NASA it's my hubby's all time favorite place.