Don & June
Disney Kids at Heart
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2002
- Messages
- 123
We departed Maryland at 6pm on Saturday the 26th of June. The drive was quick and comfortable. It was DW, DS (18) and DD (17) and I the DH. With the big truck and portable DVD player, the seats folded down and the bed made, the time passed while watching movies on the way down. No, I wasnt watching the movies, although having the surround sound on via the truck speakers made it enjoyable. We stopped for about a total of 2 hours on the way down. At about 4am I started getting tired so we stopped at a rest area about 3.5 hours outside Disney and caught about an hour nap since we were making better time then I had anticipated.
We got to Saratoga Springs right at 9am, so with the stops for toilet, gas and nap we made the trip in about 13 hours which was our best time yet. Really didnt do more than 5-8 miles an hour over the speed limit. What was nice was the no traffic and 70 mph speed limits most of the way. Set the cruise control and go.
We checked in at 9am and our room was ready. Got room 2825 which is located in the last building too the right when facing down town Disney. The room was on the 4th floor with a good view of downtown Disney. As posted in previous posts NO bugs NO noise with doors closed, but it would be nice if we had a sliding screen door. The room itself was great with only a couple things noticed. When flushing the toilet it sounded like if you were too close it would suck you down with it. During the afternoon thunder storms and they were daily when the wind was blowing it sounded like someone was running a vacuum cleaner outside our door. The wind was coming between the door jam and the door and it was very loud, and the elevator. As noted previously it was very hot inside the elevator and it seemed like the elevator was out of order at least once every day. Wouldnt want to be the one stuck in there when it broke down. All in all SSR will be very nice once it is completed. Dont feel that the construction took away from anything. Did the walk back from DTD on 2 nights. It was a long walk but enjoyable. Once the Marketplace side of the walkway is open it might be shorter depending on you room location.
So we checked in got room got park tickets from Shades of Green (active military). Got 4 adult 5 day Stars and Strips passes for I believe $995 total. This was actually a 6 day/5 night ticket. We used them every day from Sunday Friday. Did the grocery thing Sunday afternoon took showers and headed to DTD for dinner and Disney quest with the teens. Did dinner at House of Blues which is always nice.
We did all 4 theme parks during our stay, as well as Blizzard Beach on Friday, the day we left. Wont get into much detail but will try and hit the things I think will help others. We hit the parks on the days they opened early. Not sure if this helped us or not. The crowds I expected (week before July 4th) where not present. Thought the parks would be wall to wall people this time of year and I was wrong.
We did an E-night on Monday. Saved time on the rides when we hit Magic Kingdom for the day. The kids thought is was great also.
Did a couple extras this time we did Hoop Dee Doo review (again). First time for the two teens, DW and Is second time. I think its a great show as well as good food. We also did a Keys to the Kingdom tour. Thought this was ok really wasnt impressed. We did the 930 tour. The group before us had ear phone receivers so they could hear there tour guide better. We did have any and thought that if they are using them for one group then they should be using them for all groups.
We ate dinner every night either at a show or DTD. During the day we used the Q&C coupons I ordered from Hotwire.com. On average we saved about $5.00 per meal. Thought they were well worth the purchase and will do the same again. We also cancelled our hotwire account with no problems the day we returned home.
We checked out of SSR on Friday with no problems. Im not much into water parks but the 18 DS wanted to check out one of them so we hit Blizzard Beach after checking out of the resort. It was really nice and would recommend hitting a water park at least one day during any stay.
Just a couple things Id like to hit on: One being the bus system for SSR my honest opinion after staying at a couple other resorts at Disney and using there bus system the system for SSR needs a lot of work. On average we waited from 20-30 minutes for a bus. Just one example the Epcot stop is shared with OKW 3 buses for OKS showed up before 1 bus for SSR at one point. Another time SSR and OKW shared a bus so we got the free 15 minute ride through OKW which after a long day isnt really what I had in mind.
We put a credit card down on our room so I wouldnt have to carry extra money or credit cards I could just use my room key which is great. When we checked in I was told there would be a $1500 limit at which time that amount would be charged to the card and we would start all over again. No problem right well try being at Rain Forest paying for dinner when the waiter comes back and says your room charge card has been declined. No money, No other credit cards comes to find out the $1500 limit isnt something that happens automatically it is only seen a certain times during the day or should I say between midnight and early am. I had to call the resort and ask the what was up with my room card so I could pay for dinner pretty embarrassing to say the least.
Dont get me wrong all in all SSR is great and would stay again and we all had a great time
If anyone wants any type of information drop me an email.
Also everything we did DW planned using the PassPorter which was very useful.
Don
Fortgot the one thing that I thought was very interesting - and just proves that it really is a small world after all - We are in line waiting too order our food the Electric Umbrella at Epcot when I noticed Ray the CM was from Carle Place, NY as indicated on his name tag. While waiting in line I mention to Ray the CM that my moms family is from Carle Place and I tell him my moms maiden name as well as her first. Well Ray doesn't remember my mom but he proceeds to tell me that he graduated from Carle Place High School with a Pamala (last name) are they related. Comes to find out CM Ray graduated high school with my Aunt - thought that was neat - just thought I'd throw that in there.
We got to Saratoga Springs right at 9am, so with the stops for toilet, gas and nap we made the trip in about 13 hours which was our best time yet. Really didnt do more than 5-8 miles an hour over the speed limit. What was nice was the no traffic and 70 mph speed limits most of the way. Set the cruise control and go.
We checked in at 9am and our room was ready. Got room 2825 which is located in the last building too the right when facing down town Disney. The room was on the 4th floor with a good view of downtown Disney. As posted in previous posts NO bugs NO noise with doors closed, but it would be nice if we had a sliding screen door. The room itself was great with only a couple things noticed. When flushing the toilet it sounded like if you were too close it would suck you down with it. During the afternoon thunder storms and they were daily when the wind was blowing it sounded like someone was running a vacuum cleaner outside our door. The wind was coming between the door jam and the door and it was very loud, and the elevator. As noted previously it was very hot inside the elevator and it seemed like the elevator was out of order at least once every day. Wouldnt want to be the one stuck in there when it broke down. All in all SSR will be very nice once it is completed. Dont feel that the construction took away from anything. Did the walk back from DTD on 2 nights. It was a long walk but enjoyable. Once the Marketplace side of the walkway is open it might be shorter depending on you room location.
So we checked in got room got park tickets from Shades of Green (active military). Got 4 adult 5 day Stars and Strips passes for I believe $995 total. This was actually a 6 day/5 night ticket. We used them every day from Sunday Friday. Did the grocery thing Sunday afternoon took showers and headed to DTD for dinner and Disney quest with the teens. Did dinner at House of Blues which is always nice.
We did all 4 theme parks during our stay, as well as Blizzard Beach on Friday, the day we left. Wont get into much detail but will try and hit the things I think will help others. We hit the parks on the days they opened early. Not sure if this helped us or not. The crowds I expected (week before July 4th) where not present. Thought the parks would be wall to wall people this time of year and I was wrong.
We did an E-night on Monday. Saved time on the rides when we hit Magic Kingdom for the day. The kids thought is was great also.
Did a couple extras this time we did Hoop Dee Doo review (again). First time for the two teens, DW and Is second time. I think its a great show as well as good food. We also did a Keys to the Kingdom tour. Thought this was ok really wasnt impressed. We did the 930 tour. The group before us had ear phone receivers so they could hear there tour guide better. We did have any and thought that if they are using them for one group then they should be using them for all groups.
We ate dinner every night either at a show or DTD. During the day we used the Q&C coupons I ordered from Hotwire.com. On average we saved about $5.00 per meal. Thought they were well worth the purchase and will do the same again. We also cancelled our hotwire account with no problems the day we returned home.
We checked out of SSR on Friday with no problems. Im not much into water parks but the 18 DS wanted to check out one of them so we hit Blizzard Beach after checking out of the resort. It was really nice and would recommend hitting a water park at least one day during any stay.
Just a couple things Id like to hit on: One being the bus system for SSR my honest opinion after staying at a couple other resorts at Disney and using there bus system the system for SSR needs a lot of work. On average we waited from 20-30 minutes for a bus. Just one example the Epcot stop is shared with OKW 3 buses for OKS showed up before 1 bus for SSR at one point. Another time SSR and OKW shared a bus so we got the free 15 minute ride through OKW which after a long day isnt really what I had in mind.
We put a credit card down on our room so I wouldnt have to carry extra money or credit cards I could just use my room key which is great. When we checked in I was told there would be a $1500 limit at which time that amount would be charged to the card and we would start all over again. No problem right well try being at Rain Forest paying for dinner when the waiter comes back and says your room charge card has been declined. No money, No other credit cards comes to find out the $1500 limit isnt something that happens automatically it is only seen a certain times during the day or should I say between midnight and early am. I had to call the resort and ask the what was up with my room card so I could pay for dinner pretty embarrassing to say the least.
Dont get me wrong all in all SSR is great and would stay again and we all had a great time
If anyone wants any type of information drop me an email.
Also everything we did DW planned using the PassPorter which was very useful.
Don
Fortgot the one thing that I thought was very interesting - and just proves that it really is a small world after all - We are in line waiting too order our food the Electric Umbrella at Epcot when I noticed Ray the CM was from Carle Place, NY as indicated on his name tag. While waiting in line I mention to Ray the CM that my moms family is from Carle Place and I tell him my moms maiden name as well as her first. Well Ray doesn't remember my mom but he proceeds to tell me that he graduated from Carle Place High School with a Pamala (last name) are they related. Comes to find out CM Ray graduated high school with my Aunt - thought that was neat - just thought I'd throw that in there.
