SSR buildings, dining, walk to DTD and pool/playground ?'s

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Just as I thought I had everything planned, we are now learning about a new resort and I need to re-think the plan. First, let me say how extremely extremely excited we are to be staying at SSR!! We can't wait!

That said, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the new information. We are leaving Sept 16, and I just booked a Dec trip on a whim, and now all of our ADRs need to be done BEFORE we leave for the SSR trip! So I have two new resorts to learn about and alot of ADRs to make in a small time frame. I usually have no problem searching old threads and reading up on my own, but now I'm desperate!! Can anybody help???

A little info first... we have 2 adults, 3 children, and one of which has severe allergies and they are doing a VIP clean of the room before we get there. That means, I cant get there and say can you move us... CM says all requests need to be put in the system well in advance so if we are dead set on requesting a certain building, they will try to get us there, but they cant switch the room when we get there- obviously because another wont be cleaned in the same way. SO I need to figure it out soon.

Also, DD3 has Aspergers. She doesnt do well in chaotic situations and sometimes the noise and crowds really bother her. I'm hoping we can find something close to a pool and/or playground, yet not too overly crowded that she wont want to participate.

Here's what I'm trying to figure out:

1.) If youre on the first floor, what is the first floors equivalent of a balcony? I'm a worry wart and not sure I'd be okay with having a balcony off the ground with small kids, especially one who doesnt so much understand danger when she sees it. Do you still have a place to sit outside if youre on the ground floor?

2.) What buildings would be okay to walk from to get to the main building with gift shop and quick service dining? I dont want to push a double stroller back and firth twice a day if its a super long walk... We will not be having a car on property and the resort looks REALLY big. Where is the bus stop located? Or is ther emore than one?

3.) Can you get good quick service meals there? Ive read the artists palette has CS, but are we talking the same as the values? Or more limited? what about the actual food, is it the same food? Piizas, chicken fingers, pasta, etc? Kids meals?

4.) Can you rent those little four seater bikes there? How much are they?

5.) I've heard something about movies they play at night? At the pool? So is it for people who are swimming, or is it just BY the pool? Will it crowded and noisy? Do they run the same time every night?

6.) We are staying in a one bedroom. Will I have enough room in the room with the sleeper sofa to set up a pack and play? I'd prefer to let him sleep with his sisters, but sofa beds make me nervous with the gap between mattress/couch and he definitely will scream if he cant be in the same room with them. Should I bring the pack and play or try something else?

7.) what does it mean by equipped kitchen? Utensils, pans, etc? Can I just bring/ have delivered food only and not have to bring items from home to cook with? Ive heard people order from garden grocer.. are they reasonable? How much do you usually tip them? How do I pay them, before I come or after the stuff arrives? Do you need to be in your room?

8.) does the stackable washer/dryer take regular detergent (dumb question, yes I know). Do you buy it at the resort? I have an HE set, and not sure if the amounts are different for regular machines with it being a smaller size?

9.) This is a really open ended question...but, what is there "to do" there? Anything we should definitely check out or go see at SSR? What about good places for a nice photo there? It looks so architecturally beautiful... I'd love to get some pics in front of a nice building there!


Sorry this is so long... I appreciate any advice we can get...

[Sammie]

Ok I will take a stab at some of your questions, hopefully others will pitch in, and we have a thread on this forum with other info about SSR and OKW so you might want to read it. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2238431

1. you have a very nice concrete patio on the first floor.

2. Springs is the closest to the main building and the main pool.

3. the food at the quick service is very good, but not as many choices as a food court.

4. don't know the cost

5. They are by the pool and yes it can get crowded and noisey with kids having fun, etc. You could watch a little further out.

6. there is enough room and they provide pack and plays in the room.

7. fully equipped, everything pots, pans, dishes, silverware etc. Don't know about Garden Grocer we do our own shopping.

8. regular detergent, they will leave one small laundromat size for you. I just bring some with me, those new clorox sheets with all in one are nice.

9. There is a beautiful life size bronze statue of a race horse and jockey as you approach the main check in area, be sure to take a photo of it.

PS: based on your title if you want to be near a pool, playground and walk to DD, I would suggest Congress Park area.

[vicki_c]

You didn't say how old your other children are, but SSR has a great community hall where the kids can color, watch TV, play video games, and they have arts & crafts there as well (nominal fees for some things, some are free). You'll get the resort activities flyer when you check in - it will cover those things, what movies they might be showing, pool activities, etc.

Artists' Palette will probably be a let-down from a value food court, but the food is good, there are just less choices. That's what the deluxe counter services are all like - I don't think AP is any worse than the others (but it gets crowded in the ordering/paying area).

PS - Welcome to my home - have a great time!

[farfalla818]

Originally Posted by LuvMy3Monkeys

Just as I thought I had everything planned, we are now learning about a new resort and I need to re-think the plan. First, let me say how extremely extremely excited we are to be staying at SSR!! We can't wait!

That said, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the new information. We are leaving Sept 16, and I just booked a Dec trip on a whim, and now all of our ADRs need to be done BEFORE we leave for the SSR trip! So I have two new resorts to learn about and alot of ADRs to make in a small time frame. I usually have no problem searching old threads and reading up on my own, but now I'm desperate!! Can anybody help???

A little info first... we have 2 adults, 3 children, and one of which has severe allergies and they are doing a VIP clean of the room before we get there. That means, I cant get there and say can you move us... CM says all requests need to be put in the system well in advance so if we are dead set on requesting a certain building, they will try to get us there, but they cant switch the room when we get there- obviously because another wont be cleaned in the same way. SO I need to figure it out soon.

Also, DD3 has Aspergers. She doesnt do well in chaotic situations and sometimes the noise and crowds really bother her. I'm hoping we can find something close to a pool and/or playground, yet not too overly crowded that she wont want to participate.

Here's what I'm trying to figure out:

1.) If youre on the first floor, what is the first floors equivalent of a balcony? I'm a worry wart and not sure I'd be okay with having a balcony off the ground with small kids, especially one who doesnt so much understand danger when she sees it. Do you still have a place to sit outside if youre on the ground floor?


You do have a spot to sit outside on the bottom floor. Can you see the bottom floor behind the picnic area in the Grandstand? I will add that we never had bottom floors. I brought my son at 3. I barely can get the balcony doors open. If you leave them locked, they should be childproof.



2.) What buildings would be okay to walk from to get to the main building with gift shop and quick service dining? I dont want to push a double stroller back and firth twice a day if its a super long walk... We will not be having a car on property and the resort looks REALLY big. Where is the bus stop located? Or is ther emore than one?
There are multiple bus stops. We LOVE the Grandstand (the first 2 closest buildings rooms 8101-8836 NOT the 9000s). The grandstand is across te carport. But the Springs are around the pool and technically closer. But in our 2 favorite Grandstand buildings, the quiet pool has an awesome spray park for the kids, a picnic area with grill, and a really close bus stop. Grandstand is the first picked up (so you always get a seat) and the first dropped off back at home (faster!). The Springs is closer to the main building and theme pool. You can also use the buses to get around the resort if you wish.

3.) Can you get good quick service meals there? Ive read the artists palette has CS, but are we talking the same as the values? Or more limited? what about the actual food, is it the same food? Piizas, chicken fingers, pasta, etc? Kids meals?

It is more limited, but very good. We like the breakfast and the pizza flatbreads. They have a huge refrigerated food area too. The table service restaurant is actually very good as well: The Turf Club. We enjoyed two nice meals there. You can even eat outside in a covered patio area. There are kids meals at Artist's Palette and my son was happy. It's a far better QS food option than say at Wilderness Lodge, but not the variety of Pop or All Star Movies

4.) Can you rent those little four seater bikes there? How much are they?

You can rent the buggies. I'd check allearsnet.com for a ballpark price.

5.) I've heard something about movies they play at night? At the pool? So is it for people who are swimming, or is it just BY the pool? Will it crowded and noisy? Do they run the same time every night?

They play it across the pool on certain nights and the movies rotated and changed daily. You could sit around the pool or stand in it. It wasn't overly crowded, but it was popular. I think the night an the movie impacts this. And how cold/ warm!

6.) We are staying in a one bedroom. Will I have enough room in the room with the sleeper sofa to set up a pack and play? I'd prefer to let him sleep with his sisters, but sofa beds make me nervous with the gap between mattress/couch and he definitely will scream if he cant be in the same room with them. Should I bring the pack and play or try something else?

There should be enough room. The living room is spacious. you may need to rearrange where you put the coffee table, but a pack n play will fit fine. There is a big closet in the bedroom for luggage. Even when we had a 2 bedroom, the children too over the living room, because the bar that wraps around the kitchen is at their height.

7.) what does it mean by equipped kitchen? Utensils, pans, etc? Can I just bring/ have delivered food only and not have to bring items from home to cook with? Ive heard people order from garden grocer.. are they reasonable? How much do you usually tip them? How do I pay them, before I come or after the stuff arrives? Do you need to be in your room?

Garden Grocer: always hear good reviews, but we've never used. We have had a relative who drove in bring drinks/ snacks/ etc. We have always bought a few things at Artist's Palette. can you cook there? Yes. Everything you need down to utensils is there... all the basics including pans.

8.) does the stackable washer/dryer take regular detergent (dumb question, yes I know). Do you buy it at the resort? I have an HE set, and not sure if the amounts are different for regular machines with it being a smaller size?

It takes regular detergent. It's like the ones in my old apartment. My mother once brought tide in a ziploc bag. My aunt brought a jug of something, and I bring travel packs.

9.) This is a really open ended question...but, what is there "to do" there? Anything we should definitely check out or go see at SSR? What about good places for a nice photo there? It looks so architecturally beautiful... I'd love to get some pics in front of a nice building there!

It's a beautiful resort. Weirdly, I thought it too bland for me to like it. but then I stayed there. I love it. It has gazebos, playgrounds, picnic areas. You can take a boat to Downtown Disney. You can go in the arcade. You can go to the spa. (I LOVE THE SPA there!!!) I love sitting on the balcony and reading. I love the theme pool. There are statues and just pretty vistas. There is also golf, but I never notice it, lol.


Sorry this is so long... I appreciate any advice we can get...

Hope I helped!

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Thanks for the info guys! This will be a great help!

Originally Posted by vicki_c

PS - Welcome to my home - have a great time!

Thanks so much We're really looking forward to it!

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Originally Posted by farfalla818

Hope I helped!

UHH... YEAH!!! You definitely did!! Any interest in coming along as a guide?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

[farfalla818]

I'll be back just before you leave! (we're going over Labor Day) otherwise I was going to say "let's get the kids together"!

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Originally Posted by farfalla818

I'll be back just before you leave! (we're going over Labor Day) otherwise I was going to say "let's get the kids together"!

Aww man!! How neat would that have been? Bet there's not too many kids who have Disney playdates arranged before they get there! Well, there's always next time, right? DH says once we stay here we're not going to want to go back to any other resort...

[vicki_c]

Hey Kristen - I sent you a PM with a link to some photos of SSR - I don't know about you, but I don't get a pop up when I have a PM on the DIS anymore and a lot of times I don't notice that tiny little number up in the corner here when I have one! So I thought I would just tell you!