At SSR.. First trip home.

[MarriedAtDisney]

Well, we may be heading home early to avoid the storm predicted to hit this Sunday. In the mean time, here are some observation - completely my own subjective impressions. If they seem negative it's only because I'm listing the things to improve. We had a blast and love our time here.

1. SSR rooms and buildings are beautiful.
2. The main pool is way to small for the size of this resort. Yes, there are 'quiet' pools, but the kids will want the slide and the main pool is small.
3. Artist Pointe is very nice, but menu is short and doesn't change from lunch to dinner and only one different 'special' from day to day. The food is great!! but you won't want to eat there very often due to lack of variety.
4. The water taxi to DD is nice but if you're in the congress buildings, the walk is still very long back to your buildings.
5. I have to agree with others that the existing buildings are not very attractive. They could have restyled them more. They look like long boxes.....
6. Got a 'welcome home' at the gate just about every time... DW loved it.
7. Outside hallways didn't bother us.
8. Internet access very useful for work....$10/day a little steep.
9. Cable TV stations stink. Bad lineup, need more channels for bad weather days.
10. Why no sponge? You get dishwashing detergent, etc. etc... but no sponge.... they're like .25 cents...had to go buy one.
11. Loved the shower, wish i could take it home.... but why put the towel hanger such that i have to get out of the shower to get the towel?
12. Needs a bigger entertainment center in bedrooms. Needed two more drawers for a weeks stay of clothes.
13. Pool needs more umbrellas.


Disney parks. Magic Kingdom had like 8 attractions closed. Shouldn't there be a maximum number down at one time? Is this normal for this time of year? They're really doing something to the old 20k leagues under the sea ride. I could see reebar and concrete...

Haunted Mansion.... Man this ride needs some updating. Hasn't changed in 25 years. I'm all for nostalgia, but c'mon....

Will add to the post later..

cheers all.

 

[kweaver]

Glad you had a great trip!

I think all of your comments are right on. We felt the same way about everything. I don't remember not having a sponge. Maybe we brought one? Lord knows the back of the van was full! The cable channels...the same throughout Disney. If you are a TV person...it can be bothersome.

Hopefully DVC will take some of these issues into consideration and make changes to improve things. We still love SSR...just want it to be better!

 

[goofy4dvc]

You know, it seems that if there were that many attractions closed, there should be discounted park passes. Why pay the same for 8 fewer rides as when they are all opened? You're obviously not getting the same value for your dollar.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by MarriedAtDisney
2. The main pool is way to small for the size of this resort. Yes, there are 'quiet' pools, but the kids will want the slide and the main pool is small.

I'm starting to wonder whether this is really true. Someone recently drew a comparison between High Rock Spring and Luna Park at BWV. Having stayed at BWV recently, I think it's fair to say that they are comparable in size.

BWV/BWI has 700+ guest rooms. SSR is slated for about 850. Will there really be a problem?

5. I have to agree with others that the existing buildings are not very attractive. They could have restyled them more. They look like long boxes.....

Dr. Tomorrow recently posted in another thread about many of the buildings in Saratoga Springs NY being converted airplane hangers. Not having been there myself, it sounds like the design was very much intentional given the theme of the resort.

Personally, I kinda like it. It's unique.

Disney parks. Magic Kingdom had like 8 attractions closed. Shouldn't there be a maximum number down at one time? Is this normal for this time of year? They're really doing something to the old 20k leagues under the sea ride. I could see reebar and concrete...

Actually, there are only 4 actual attractions under rehab:

AE / Stitch Encounter
Small World
Tom Sawyer's Island
Magic Carpets of Aladdin

But there are construction projects going on elsewhere (20K lagoon, Ariel's Grotto, old Fantasyland Skyway station, etc.), so it probably seemed like more.

Yes, this time of year does tend to see a lot of rehabs. September / October is big, as well as January / February. They tend to avoid the summer months and holidays (the Thanksgiving-to-New Year's corridor and President's Day to Spring Break) whenever possible.

Oh, and unfortunately the old 20K lagoon site will be nothing more than another character greeting location. Too bad.

Haunted Mansion.... Man this ride needs some updating. Hasn't changed in 25 years. I'm all for nostalgia, but c'mon....

I've never been a huge Haunted Mansion fan myself, but this will NEVER happen. While they may need to upgrade the mechanics someday, I just can't envision any circumstances under which they would do anything to change the HM.

IMO, that would be comparable to destroying every existing copy of a film like Casablanca or Citizen Kane, and creating a "new and improved" version. Technologically it may not stand up to Mission: Space or Tower of Terror, but it's too firmly ingrained in the Disney mythology to ever allow for changes.

Take the Keys to the Kingdom tour someday and it may give you a better appreciation for the art and imagination that went into the making of the ride.

(BTW, next time you're there, take a look at the spires on the top of the building. They are all chess pieces. However, there's one chess piece missing...the Knight. Why? Because it's always "night" inside. )

Glad to hear so many other great things about your trip!!!

 

[Granny]

Thanks for providing your honest impressions of SSR resort. Sounds like you're having a great trip!

You know, it seems that if there were that many attractions closed, there should be discounted park passes. Why pay the same for 8 fewer rides as when they are all opened? You're obviously not getting the same value for your dollar.

goofy...while the rehabs are generally done during the off season, my guess is that on any day in September, a guest can ride more "A rides" in one day than they could at any point during the summer when more attractions are open. One might even make the argument that since it's harder to get to as many attractions during the peak times, the ticket prices should be lower then. Just trying to look at both sides of the issue.

 

[goofyforlife]

I'm with you on the towel bar issue....... (we ended up hanging it over the far end of the shower rod when you took you shower)


The drawer space was an issue too.

We have stayed at POR and clothes for four fit fine.
During our stay at SSR we ended up piling everything on top on the entertainment center.

Our problem with the main pool was the distance to Congress Park buildings. Maybe I would enjoy it more once the other building closer to the main complex open.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

From the card they give you at the gate.

Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree - closed
It's a small world - closed
Liberty square Riverboat - closed on Sun,Mon,Tue,Wed
Magic Carpets of Aladdin - closed
Timekeeper - closed
Tom Sawyer Island - closed
Ariel's Grotto - closed
AE / Stitch Encounter - not listed but obviously not open.

and as you said barriers in other areas indicating work going on. Just seemed like so much when we walked around the park.

I'm not mad, just dissapointed and it did take away some of the magic to see so much in 'repair/refurb'.

Since I've never stayed at BWV/BWI I can't say how it compares from a 'feeling' perspective. I can just say sitting at the pool and thinking of going from 4 buildings to 18.....wow.

I agree HM is a clasic, but I do think they could 'update' the ride a little without taking away it's heritage.

 

[poohj80]

We're arriving Sunday and are packing to get wet.

One question since you're at SSR - are there DVD players or VCR/DVD combos in the rooms?

Thanks!

PJ

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

DVD Players only.

 

[poohj80]

Thanks!

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing!!!! Glad you had a good trip!

Allison

 

[K9pal]

We didn't get a kitchen sponge either, but did at BWV. What's with that??

 

[pumpkinboy]

Well, reading thru MarriedAtDisney's initial post, it seemed pretty positive to me. Anything slightly negative are things we already know about and don't care much about (like cable line-up).

So from this post and K9Pal's excellent trip report, I am feeling pretty good about our SSR add-on and am now looking forward to staying there (hmmm, when could we fit that in? well, all that's unplanned so far is February '06, maybe halfsies with VB?).

I guess the drawback I perceive there is the relatively higher point costs to stay, when compared to our beloved BWV Std View and the ultra-spacious OKW. Still, we're hoping to get there while they are still building, to get maximum benefit of the currently underused facilities (which just might be overused by the time it's all built).

 

[Deep-Thots]

Originally posted by MarriedAtDisney

9. Cable TV stations stink. Bad lineup, need more channels for bad weather days.

cheers all.

Disney has poor cable TV selections for the same reason that casinos have poor cable TV selections: They don't want you to stay in the rooms; they want you out in the parks, where you can spend more $$$!!

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

Don't take any of my comments as bad news. The resort is great, the staff wonderful. I just hope they tweak a few things and keep an eye on utilization of the pools and Artist Pointe.

Shame we didnt' get to stay for our whole vacation.... I was feeling a little add-on-itis...but i need to drag the DW along for the 'yes dear' since I bought the first points without her nod....

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Thanks for the trip report and the comments. Glad you had a great time

Lisa

 

[lenshanem]

No sponge? How odd? Did you call and ask for one?

 

[jtfranklin]

Thanks for all the useful information. We are making our first trip home tomorrow and just hope we get in before MCO closes down. We land at 10:30 so it shouldn't be a problem. We were supposed to make this trip On Sept. 7 for our 25th anniversary but DW had some post surgical complications and we had to bag it. DVC was great in helping us re-book btw. We called to cancel the day before arrival and they were very accomodating canceling dinner reservations, appointments at THE SPA, and rebooking to this time slot. We only received clearence from our surgeon yesterday to do this so hurricane or not, here we come!!

 

[Patty3]

Thanks for the trip report!