Yes! Not recommended after drinking around the world. Those stairs are oddly treacherous! Some people reported that they were less slippery after the refurb but I didn't notice any improvement when we stayed there at the end of last year.
For us it is not an issue of the stairs being slippery. The stairs don't appear to follow the rule of 27 due to the limited vertical / horizontal space. However, I have never taken my tape measure to confirm.
I wasn't familiar with this rule, but there is definitely something strange about the way they are spaced. You really have to pay attention going up and down. I did actually fall once. Fortunately it was just a few steps not the entire flight.
The steep stairs are the ones actually in the cottage. The lounge is directly above your cottage (give or take) 3 floors. However, you'll have to walk outside, to get to the elevator, then up and around the hall so it will probably take you about the same amount of time, 7-10 min?. There's also a staircase you can take that involves less walking but then you are walking 5 flights of stairs and you will have to go outside to get to it. With all of that being said, the cottages are so stinking cute you might not mind it!
Seems I'm in the minority...ok with me because it is easy to get the cottage with a discount. We love the cottages. It's so peaceful and quiet back there. As for the stairs, they have been improved since the referb. They are wider and not at all slippery now. We are in our 70's and have no problem going up and down the stairs. WE also walk 10-15 miles a day in Disney and still make it up and down the stairs. I love the how big the cottage is. DH goes to bed earlier than I do, I can watch TV downstairs with a couch to sit on instead of a bed. The best thing...two bathrooms!!...only one has a shower though. That alone is worth the walk to the lounge. We don't mind it at all. It really doesn't take long to get there. Most of the time I take a walk around the courtyard in the morning on my way to get coffee, and it still doesn't take 7 minutes to get there. As a PP said you have to go outside to get to the elevator and walk down the hall to the innkeepers club but we don't mind it. Its only a PIA if its raining, but there is a large umbrella in the cottage if needed. Some of the cottages are steps away from the elevator. It's not as convenient to take food back to the room, but they do have containers for you to use. There is a microwave in the room and some have a small regular refrigerator with a freezer section. The one we had last month had a beverage cooler though so your YMMV. I would book the cottage every time over a standard CL room. We are not park commandos and like to spend time at the resort. The cottage is very large and comfortable. I hate sitting on the bed in a regular hotel room trying to watch TV. Try it you may love it like we do. If not ask if there is another CL room you can move to.
Sometimes questions get answered much faster here
Thank you
. We’re coming from a VRBO to on-site and will only be there one night before transitioning to DVC. Even though it’s not as convenient, it’s good to know that we’ll have lounge access until rooms are ready.
Yes! Lounge access before the room is ready is a great perk. We also use it on check out day while waiting for our next room to be ready if we're doing a split stay somewhere without club level. Check your bags with bell services before heading up, or leave them in the car if you're driving (garden wing has it's own convenient parking lot). You'll need to stop at the front desk to get your MagicBands set so that you can access the 12th floor from the elevator. Usually someone will escort you up the first time and introduce you to the CL staff.Thank you
I agree that it's "peaceful and quiet back there", EXCEPT when it isn't. If there's lifeguard training at the quiet pool, or a large loud group that thinks everyone should enjoy their music too takes over the courtyard, or if the giant rats that hide in the foliage decide to block the walking path, or if there's any kind of construction or maintenance project happening, it can be the opposite of peaceful and quiet. The first time we stayed there we had a fantastic experience but it's been progressively worse every time. I'm glad you enjoy it though and I hope it continues to be your happy place. You are right about those rooms being available at a discount much of the time. We liked that too. We also insist on having a sofa and prefer two bathrooms even when it's just the two of us. We will stick with suites or villas going forward.
Not being that close to CL lounge so I can roll out of my room to get a latte is a deal breaker for me never mind the stairs and going outside to get to the lounge. I do like my YC CL routine
Could you take your tape measure and get the specs on the stairs inquiring minds want to know...?
I'm sorry you have had bad experiences with the cottages. Thankfully we have not experienced any of that. It sounds like your cottage wasn't referbed or the referb wasn't completed when you stayed last time. The difference in the stairs is very noticeable if you've seen them before and walking down the row of cottages they all had blinds instead of drapes.
It will be an interesting review!
Curious if when you go matters. I know @Maxie86 and visited her Nov 23. It was quiet mainly because it wasn't pool weather. ( end of month and it was chilly)
DD and I are knocking SSR resort off our list.
Gosh we go to Disney so much that it's hard for me to even recall which months I've stayed in those particular rooms. This is a bit of guessing but I'd say April, May, August, September. Definitely during some pool weather
