We just came back from a quick visit to WDW and decided to go look at the finished SSR. I have a mixed reaction.
First, some background on my perspective: We have been DVC members since 1999 and already own at OKW and Boardwalk, and love them both. Have also stayed at BCV and visited VWL many times, and like them very much, too. We bought points at SSR, in order to take advantage of the 50yr window, plus the good rate Disney was offering to DVC members. We will be staying there for a couple of days at the end of June.
My first impression was that we were visiting a moderate resort, not a Luxury resort. Nice theming, but sparse. The entryway and lobby were very plainly decorated - no comparison to the other DVC resorts at WDW. All the public spaces seemed very "moderate" - nothing wrong with that at all, but not what you expect at DVC prices. I was somewhat turned off by the idea of a food court only for dining, but I understand and agree with the reasoning behind it. It looks great, but it looks like it belongs at a moderate resort. The public spaces at Port Orleans seem more elaborate than this.
The walkways to the rooms were partly enclosed but had these awful looking painted concrete floors. I know, OKW has concrete walkways too, but they are completely exterior, so it seems to make sense, and fits it with the architectural style. These floors seemed jarring to me - just think of the great patterned carpet in the corridors at Boardwalk, even the new ones, which are not as nice as the old ones were. These floors had a painted border to look like a carpet outline, but it doesn' work.
By contrast, the rooms themselves are beautiful, and very nicely furnished - totally up to the usual DVC standard. In fact, my husband commented that the interiors seemed to have higher quality furnishings than usual. It just makes me regret that the outside doesn't reach that standard at all.
Please share your impressions - I am curious if I am the only one who feels this way.
First, some background on my perspective: We have been DVC members since 1999 and already own at OKW and Boardwalk, and love them both. Have also stayed at BCV and visited VWL many times, and like them very much, too. We bought points at SSR, in order to take advantage of the 50yr window, plus the good rate Disney was offering to DVC members. We will be staying there for a couple of days at the end of June.
My first impression was that we were visiting a moderate resort, not a Luxury resort. Nice theming, but sparse. The entryway and lobby were very plainly decorated - no comparison to the other DVC resorts at WDW. All the public spaces seemed very "moderate" - nothing wrong with that at all, but not what you expect at DVC prices. I was somewhat turned off by the idea of a food court only for dining, but I understand and agree with the reasoning behind it. It looks great, but it looks like it belongs at a moderate resort. The public spaces at Port Orleans seem more elaborate than this.
The walkways to the rooms were partly enclosed but had these awful looking painted concrete floors. I know, OKW has concrete walkways too, but they are completely exterior, so it seems to make sense, and fits it with the architectural style. These floors seemed jarring to me - just think of the great patterned carpet in the corridors at Boardwalk, even the new ones, which are not as nice as the old ones were. These floors had a painted border to look like a carpet outline, but it doesn' work.
By contrast, the rooms themselves are beautiful, and very nicely furnished - totally up to the usual DVC standard. In fact, my husband commented that the interiors seemed to have higher quality furnishings than usual. It just makes me regret that the outside doesn't reach that standard at all.
Please share your impressions - I am curious if I am the only one who feels this way.
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