Dining at SSR

[wdwlver]

Going to SSR first week of October. Does anyone know just how limited the food service is? Anything available at poolside? In room pizza?

I've stayed in just about every WDW property, and I was really looking forward to this trip, just getting a bit concerned about the food service, especially with three kids.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[vascubaguy]

I don't really know the answer, but I would imagine that as SSR continues to grow, they will likely add more dining options. My assumption is that they are possibly holding back because it's right next to DTD and all those food locations...

 

[mstec]

Actually, I'd love to know the answer to this myself. We stayed there once before last year (our first trip home) and were a bit dissappointed with the lack of variety with regards to onsite food. There is the Artist's Pallette, and I think that's about it... I don't know if there is any sort of room service from there - pizza delivery, etc. - I ended up just sending my husband up to the main building to pick something up at the Artist's Pallette, which to be honest, I wasn't all that thrilled with. My husband and I ordered the two "special" hot meals one night, and were both sick that evening. Of course, who knows if it was that or something else we ate that day, but just gave me a bad feeling about the place.

My thinking was also that they really want you to go to Downtown Disney, which is close, but not always convenient - especially with small children. I'm hoping they do consider adding, at least a delivery service from the main house to make it more convenient. Even better would be if someone came up with a delivery service for the Restaurants at Downtown Disney. Ahh....Now that would be a good business....

 

[wdwlver]

Actually, I'd love to know the answer to this myself. We stayed there once before last year (our first trip home) and were a bit dissappointed with the lack of variety with regards to onsite food. There is the Artist's Pallette, and I think that's about it... I don't know if there is any sort of room service from there - pizza delivery, etc. - I ended up just sending my husband up to the main building to pick something up at the Artist's Pallette, which to be honest, I wasn't all that thrilled with. My husband and I ordered the two "special" hot meals one night, and were both sick that evening. Of course, who knows if it was that or something else we ate that day, but just gave me a bad feeling about the place.

My thinking was also that they really want you to go to Downtown Disney, which is close, but not always convenient - especially with small children. I'm hoping they do consider adding, at least a delivery service from the main house to make it more convenient. Even better would be if someone came up with a delivery service for the Restaurants at Downtown Disney. Ahh....Now that would be a good business....

That so would be a great business!!

We have small kids as well, and I'd really like some decent food onsite.

 

[Lesli54]

Just the Artist's Palette and a few sandwiches available in the bar. No room service and nothing poolside, at least not that we saw when we were there in June. It can be a good walk to the Artist's Palette, unless you are lucky enough to be in the Springs building. I know that there wasn't a room service menu in the villa.

 

[RayJay]

Going to SSR first week of October. Does anyone know just how limited the food service is? Anything available at poolside? In room pizza?

I've stayed in just about every WDW property, and I was really looking forward to this trip, just getting a bit concerned about the food service, especially with three kids.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

Hi there, just got back 2 days ago from a week at SSR, sorry to say that the food service was our only drawback. Now I want to be clear so, Artist Palette is the place to get food, problem is it's limited to Flat Bread pizzas, sandwichs, and some specials. They do have hotdogs (Mini and Jumbo) no hamburgers and Mac and Cheese for the kids, that's about it.

The rest of the food is to buy and prepare in your room, they have a good assortment of this kind of food, everything from basic essentials like Breads, Milk, sodas, water, luncheon meats and cheese, bagels, snacks like donuts, chips, etc..., also have soups, contiments, anything you might find in a grocery store. Frozen dinners, eggs, cereals, etc... all expensive.

Refillable mugs also available.

Hours were 7:30 to 10:00 for the fast food, which didn't cut it for us.

Poolside had no food that I could see and no in-room pizza or room service for that matter. I suppose you could find a pizza shop local that would deliver.

We were disappointed with food options, however DTD is nearby.

Hope this helps some
RayJay

 

[RayJay]

Going to SSR first week of October. Does anyone know just how limited the food service is? Anything available at poolside? In room pizza?

I've stayed in just about every WDW property, and I was really looking forward to this trip, just getting a bit concerned about the food service, especially with three kids.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

One other thing I felt important, we had to shop for groceries because of the limited food options, so if you are a family who doesn't like to do this you might have some issues.

RayJay

 

[PedsTherapist]

I've heard that Papa Johns will deliver to the resorts, don't know the phone # though.

 

[LeCras]

When we stayed at SSR we walked to Wolfgang Puck Express and got takeouts from there - five minute walk from Congress Park and a very pleasant one at that.

Of course, we also did a shopping trip at the beginning of our stay, and cooked in the villa a few times. Just simple stuff like pasta with sauce, soup and sandwiches or chicken wraps - nothing that took more than 5-10 minutes to prepare. With children I imagine this would be by far the quickest and easiest (not to mention cheapest) option.

Charlotte

 

[lenshanem]

The word is a full service restaurant is going to be built in one of the new sections.

Don't depend on Artist's Palette for food. Plan ahead. The selection is pretty small right now.

 

[mstec]

The word is a full service restaurant is going to be built in one of the new sections.

Ooohh...I hope this is true! I LOVE being a DVC member, and I really like the SSR, which is our home resort, otherwise, but my one big complaint is the limited amount of food options, and in particular, the Artist's Pallete and the lack of choices. It seemed so strange to me to have such a limited option for food, for such a big place, but then again, most of it (the resort) weren't built yet. They have so much space there. I would love to see them also add a full service restaurant.

I guess we will have to wait and see, but I will keep my fingers crossed.

 

[lenshanem]

Michele, I was told by TWO CMs at SSR last month and by a guide working at SSR that a full service restaurant was in the plans. Then about a week ago my own guide told me that yes, a full service is planned. I still hope that work on improving the Artist's Palette.

 

[mstec]

One other thing I felt important, we had to shop for groceries because of the limited food options, so if you are a family who doesn't like to do this you might have some issues.

RayJay

That's a good point...When we have gone in the past, we usually do our main grocery shop the day we arrive. I actually fax a grocery list to Albertson's the day before and they will shop for you for free. I just show up and pick up my order and then we go straight to our hotel. We have done this when we had our own rental car, or if we were using a Car Service (particularly Happy Limo - they will provide a grocery stop, including the Albertson's). I have 3 kids myself (6, 5, and 2) and I love to take advantage of the kitchen for quick/cheap meals for the kids, whether it's a quick breakfast, lunch, etc. or reheating the meal that they wouldn't eat at the restaurant the night before.

We only use the groceries at the Artist's Pallete for a quick grab for something that we might have forgotten or run out of. I have also read from some other DVC folks that they use a service called wegoshop.com, I believe. I believe they charge a fee, however. Perhaps someone else can tell you more about this service.

 

[Daitcher]

Going to SSR first week of October. Does anyone know just how limited the food service is? Anything available at poolside? In room pizza?

I've stayed in just about every WDW property, and I was really looking forward to this trip, just getting a bit concerned about the food service, especially with three kids.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

This was the deal breaker for our family. We will not stay here again because of it. For us SSR might as well not exist because we don't even consider it. Vacation means realxing for our family and cooking isn't relaxing for us. We like to come back after a day at the pool or parks and pick up the phone and order room service. This isn't an option at SSR. AP has a limited lunch type menu and the store has little or nothing. This could change later on as our son gets older but for now there is nothing relaxing about sitting in a restaurant with a 3 year old. No food is served poolside either. They expect you to go into AP. Only a few tables to eat at poolside anyway. Poor plannng all the way around IMO. Hopefully the addition of a full service restaurant will help a little. I was told that they are not going to offer room service, however. I hope they reconsider this. Room service at BCV comes all the way from the YC so distance isn't a factor. It can be done. I did walk over to Rainforest Cafe one night and got to go food to eat poolside by the quiet pool. This was very relaxing and that pool has a great view. Just go in to the bar, have a drink and order. Good luck. Now that you are prepared you can make the best of it.

DAVE

 

[mstec]

This was the deal breaker for our family. We will not stay here again because of it. For us SSR might as well not exist because we don't even consider it. Vacation means realxing for our family and cooking isn't relaxing for us. We like to come back after a day at the pool or parks and pick up the phone and order room service. This isn't an option at SSR. AP has a limited lunch type menu and the store has little or nothing. This could change later on as our son gets older but for now there is nothing relaxing about sitting in a restaurant with a 3 year old. No food is served poolside either. They expect you to go into AP. Only a few tables to eat at poolside anyway. Poor plannng all the way around IMO. Hopefully the addition of a full service restaurant will help a little. I was told that they are not going to offer room service, however. I hope they reconsider this. Room service at BCV comes all the way from the YC so distance isn't a factor. It can be done. I did walk over to Rainforest Cafe one night and got to go food to eat poolside by the quiet pool. This was very relaxing and that pool has a great view. Just go in to the bar, have a drink and order. Good luck. Now that you are prepared you can make the best of it.

DAVE

I hear ya...There were evenings on our last visit to SSR when the last thing I wanted to do was cook, but after a day of walking around at the parks, the last think I wanted to do was walk , however short, to and from Downtown Disney, to bring food back. As I said in previous posts, I had a bad experience with our first try at Artist's Pallete, so that combined with the small menu, I probably wouldn't waste my time with that again. I'm really hoping they do build the full service restaurant - perhaps then they will also consider the room service as well...at least maybe a pizza delivery would be nice.

 

[wdwlver]

Thanks for all the great info. Looks like we'll plan on eating most of our meals in the parks.

 

[JimFitz]

This was the deal breaker for our family. We will not stay here again because of it. For us SSR might as well not exist because we don't even consider it. Vacation means realxing for our family and cooking isn't relaxing for us. We like to come back after a day at the pool or parks and pick up the phone and order room service. This isn't an option at SSR.
DAVE

I knew this going in, and bought a resale at OKW. Didn't you realize that Room Service would not be available?

However, I do agree that it would be nice to sit by the pool and order a burger.

 

[JimFitz]

How far is AP from the main pool? Would anyone consider it to be the same distance that VWL pool is to the snack bar in the lobby?

 

[lenshanem]

I would say about the same distance Jim.

We went to get lunch at AP one day while swimming and it felt awkward going in there with our bathing suits on and cover ups. Yet, it seemed like a waste of time to go all the way to Congress Park to get changed to get a fast lunch.

I wish they'd offer a few small items like hot dogs, etc. by the pool at SSR.

 

[nuts]

This was the deal breaker for our family. We will not stay here again because of it. For us SSR might as well not exist because we don't even consider it.

This will change when your kids are teenagers. Mine absolutely love SSR...easy access to downtown disney for dinners (they like variety) and entertainment.