Another SSR "Report"

[kev9035]

Hi all. First, forgive me if this is not up to any DIS Discussion Forums standard but I wanted to share my experience of the last week at SSR with all of you.

This was my first experience with a "new" resort on Disney property so I was unsure about what to expect.

When making reservations we were told SSR was only available for half of our stay. We opted to be waitlisted for the other half. A week after being waitlisted we were informed that our request was approved and our whole vist could be at SSR. When we checked in this appeared to cause a slight problem. The cast member insisted that we were checking-out mid stay. It took three cast members and twenty minutes to get everything straight.

We were granted our non-smoking request. We booked a two-bedroom villa and recieved a courtyard view on the fourth floor. The rooms at SSR are great, very nicely decorated.

During our stay we noticed some of the bumps that come with opening a new resort... thought you would liketo hear about them. Please don't think the whole experience was bad, these were just some things I noticed.

- At one time, boat service was "missing." -- A Port Orelans boat made three trips from that resort to Downtown Disney before pulling in to the SSR dock to ask a person (from my party) where he was going. (After seeing he had been waiting...) The captian of that boat sent another boat (also from the PO/Downtown route) to pick him up with an extra seat.

- If you are traveling by bus, you may want to help the bus driver navigate the property if they appear lost. Several were unsure of where to stop. One mentioned it was her first time doing the loop and she had not been told how many stops the resort had.

- One night, just around 10:30-11PM, no guard was posted at the main entrance guard house. Drive right in...

- There are times during the day when the menu at Artist's Palate changes. Some of the cold items appeared to not always be available and the hot entree "special" changes between lunch and dinner so there is not one present for an hour or so ... or at least there wasn't while we were there. They are open untill 11 but hot entrees and the pizza are stopped long before that.

- The pool bar only had soft drinks, mixed drinks, beer and chips.

- Walkways from SSR to Downtown Disney are not clearly marked in places. If walking from the west side, expect a bit of a walk across that parking lot to the LBV golf course walkways that lead to SSR. You should probably avoid the "Golfers Only" signs if you actually want to reach the resort! The other walkway, to the Marketplace, is not finished. You can get there though, passing through some trees and walking along the side of the road near the Marketplace bus stop.

- The DVD rentals were not available for the first couple of nights. It was available however, just in time for the founder's day events.

- Room Charges can be temp. unavilable. If you reach a register and attempt to charge an item(s) to the room and are rejected it may be because of the SSR system, not you. You can have a store call the resort directly for more information if it happens to you.

Be prepared and informed if staying at SSR, it is a work in progress. Roll with the punches!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like the type of minor issues that would happen with the opening of a new resort.

HBC

 

[PamOKW]

Thanks for the report. I think you far exceeded DIS Discussion Forums standards.

Despite the bumps from them breaking in the resort, what was your overall impression? Do you think you'll want to stay there again in the future?

 

[wisbucky]

Thanks for the report. I am sure all these small glitches will be fixed in time as more and more DVC members stay. By chance did you mention any of these minor problems to any CM's? IMHO it may helpf for Disney to have SSR do a short survey with DVC members staying at SSR to see what changes they should make. But then again these are all issues that I am sure will be worked out.

 

[MJTinNH]

Thanks for the report!

 

[kev9035]

Stay there again?
Probably not. I'll never not enjoy a Disney vacation but I don't think my personal taste will bring me back to Saratoga. (Maybe once all is finished, just to see how much it has changed.) Forgive me if this is worded wrong but most of the "lower-level" cast members at SSR seemed to be the most happy and others were "just there."

We bought in at OKW so have had time to experience alot of what DVC has to offer... and have learned over time to check the little details that will make our stay perfect. We have learned to check pool times (some open later than others, that's better if parks close later..SSR pools close at 10PM) .... food options (SSR has a limited menu at the Artist's Palate and there is no real sit down at the resort unlike OKW where you have Olivia's, unlike BCV with the Cape May Cafe & Beaches and Cream, unlike the Boardwalk, and unlike VWL. )

A guest survey would be a great idea, and I know Disney is good with getting those out ... most of the "issues" I encountered were probably just bumps any new place would have just after opening.

SSR was most crowded on "Founder's Day." Aside from that day, that featured many tours, the grand opening parade festivities, live television news reports from the main pool all day (WFTV & WKMG), and a very, very crowded Artist's Palate (couldn't move in there at lunch-time) ... it was very quiet. (Artist Palate CM's are very very nice.)

SSR even gave guests a nice little, what I call horse-shoe shaped paperweight, to guests for staying there during the opening festivities.

 

[pmcpmc]

.

 

[Cris]

do you mean lower senority not "lower level"??

 

[eporter66]

That is a fair assesment of SSR. As others have said I am sure some were due to the first couple weeks opening a new resort. We were the only ones at check in when we were there, and I thought they were a bit slow - but it didnt bother me.

I did not have the same issues at Artists Palette, but we must have missed those times. We sat at the bar for about an hour by the pool, then went and got pizza around 8 - so we were not in there later than that at night.

We rented a car, so we did not have to deal with the transportation issues. We did have the same experience at the boat dock, we got passed at least twice and waited almost 30 minutes.

I found the staff very helpful and friendly, even though I am sure they were feeling the stress of opening the place.

We really enjoyed our stay, and will certainly stay there again. We are looking forward to trying the other resorts, but loved our SSR experience.

 

[Pinnie]

Thank you for your frank comments. I know when we stayed at the BCVs duing their opening week, there were some bumps in the road, too. (We had a list of problems with our 2 bedroom villa and took them to the desk...all were promptly taken care of).

We are going to be in a 2 bedroom at SSR in July. Hopefully, the wrinkles will be out by then and we will have a smooth stay!


pin

 

[kev9035]

>> do you mean lower senority not "lower level"?? <<

That's probably a much better way of putting it. Sorry!

As I pointed out, there was only one time Artist's Palate was "crowded," that was during the MH, just about lunch time.

I'm sure anyone who stays there in the future will have a fine stay. This was not a bad trip in any way, just noticed a few things along the way.

 

[Granny]

THanks for sharing your impressions. It's always good to hear, whether they're positive or not. And I think you did a good job in reporting "just the facts", and not letting your opinion cloud your comments.

In fact, after reading your first post, I had no idea that you would probably not want to stay there again. That's a pretty good testimony to your objectivity in your comments.

Thanks for taking the time to write down your impressions.

 

[Sammie]

Where you disappointed the pools close at 10pm, as that is the closing time for the other DVC pools, it is just not enforced at some resorts unless someone complains. It it posted at each pool with the rules for the pool unless it has changed since last summer.

 

[kev9035]

>> Where you disappointed the pools close at 10pm, as that is the closing time for the other DVC pools <<

Not really disapointed, just aware. (There were no pool hours on the rules at the main pool, looked like it was missing, but it was listed on the information we were given upon check-in.) We have had past experiences where the pools at the Wilderness Lodge Villas and Boardwalk Villas were open until midnight, lifeguards were not present during certain hours.

 

[bom_noite]

While driving through SSR I noticed that 3 separate busses came through and each had the destination marked as "training". Thus, they are at least working on that problem.

 

[jbwolffiv]

Thanks for the update! The infor on the busses will be helpful since we totally rely on them to get around.

 

[Simba's Mom]

As far as the glitch of the disappearing boat, I can't help but wonder when it was. On Wednesday, 5/26, I was on a boat from OKW via SSR to DTD. When I was on it, the boat was on its last legs, had no reverse already, and the CM was concerned if it would make it through the evening. He even radioed whoever to voice his concern, but whoever just told him to "do your best". If it was that day the boat "disappeared", maybe it was floating around somewhere, unable to function.

 

[kev9035]

Simba's Mom ... If I recall correctly, it "disapeared" on Tuesday(5/25) for the member of my party.