Does anyone know if they will be adding any full service dining options to SSR later?

[biohzrd8]

I don't think SSR currently has any main restaurants now, but as the construction continues, do they plan to add any?

On a seperate topic, does anyone know any details of adding the Contemporary as a DVC resort....like when it might be offered or how the point schedule might compare?

 

[spiceycat]

someone says that he got told there would be a full service restuarant in the last part to be built. I haven't seem it on plans.

besides the BWV has no restuarants or snack bars - will the swimming pool has one but I am allergic to everything it services (besides the drinks)

you have to walk out on the BW to get your meal.

So I am surprised that SSR was treated difference - you have a food court (will kinda of).

DD is just a small walk away and it has a bunch of restuarants.

the Cont - DVC nor WDW is saying anything. Until they do any and all reports of it being a DVC resort is just a rumor.

if you are interested just call you guide and tell him/her that if they heard anything to give you a call. Then hopefully he will ask his supervisor....

and maybe one day we will get a DVC resort on the monrail - DVC has say it will happen - the when is the questions.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't think SSR currently has any main restaurants now, but as the construction continues, do they plan to add any?

Some will tell you their salesperson swear it is coming. Take that for what it's worth (nothing ).

The original idea was that Downtown Disney was close enough and had enough variety to satisfy guests. My guess is that DVC wasn't even certain that the resort could support a full service restaurant since (in theory) many would be drawn to DD.

Since the original design, the resort plan has been expanded by 50%. Will they alter the dining options in the future? Only time will tell...

On a seperate topic, does anyone know any details of adding the Contemporary as a DVC resort....like when it might be offered or how the point schedule might compare?

It's a rumor that has been floating about for years and years and years. And today it's still just a rumor.

Given all of the points left to sell at SSR, my personal feeling is that we're still months away from any formal announcement, assuming a decision has even been made at this point.

Once an announcement is made, you're at least 2 years away from points going on sale and point charts being determined.

(SSR was built on the former site of the Disney Institute, and some of the common area buildings were refurbished rather than being original construction. Still it took 2 years from announcement to the points going on sale, and another 10 months before the resort opened its first building.)

 

[vernon]

I received a survey from Disney about the dining options at SSR and it pointedly asked that IF a full service restaurant was added to SSR what type of food/menu would be preferable, so I would say they are at least considering the idea.

IMHO they need to have that option. In an upscale resort people expect to have a dining option on site. I understand the argument that DTD is just a (not that) short walk away and that there are busses and ferries to the DTD area BUT for a guest that comes back to the resort and wants to feed their hungry (and usually crotchetty) family reasonably quickly, a 30 minutes journey to DTD followed by whatever wait they are faced with at the DTD restaurants ( it's rare to walk into any of them in the evening) isn't a viable option and for many people neither is a food court. From leaving room to getting something to eat I would think a MINIMUM time lag is going to be an hour, more usually you'd be looking at 90 minutes + . Most of the time that is workable, but if that timescale is not workable to a family staying at SSR, then you are in trouble because you have no other options than the food court. If I'm paying $250+ a night for a room or $15k + for a timeshare investment I expect to have more options than a food court and I expect so do a lot of other people. JMHO.

People may not choose to use a full service restaurant while they are staying there, but for many people the fact that there is that option available to them should they need it will mean they will choose to stay at ( or buy DVC points at) the resort. IMHO just having the food court there ( and it's probably the nicest food court I've visited) is a major drawback to the resort.

 

[crisi]

I know SSR would be more appealing to us with an onsite real restaurant. And I've no doubt that DVC and Disney have discussed it. But its a long way from discussing to planning to funding to building to opening. Same with the CR rumor. Where either of these actually are, I doubt anyone other than repective project teams know.

Now, I personally believe that we will see MORE sit down restaurants open or Disney discontinue MYW dining (or make it more expensive). I think its currently too popular for the number of restaurants Disney has on site - and I don't want to be the person opening letters from guests who had MYW dining, no PSs, and didn't get to use their dining because there wasn't any available seating. No data, just my gut. Which would make it more likely to open a restaurant (or two) at SSR.

 

[NMW]

An onsite restaurant would make SSR more appealing to us also. One of the main reasons we bought and Epcot resort (BWV) was all the dining options. You can do breakfast at Spoodles, Cape May Cafe, Yacht Club galley. We like sit down breakfasts, not food court type food.
We do like the DTD restaurants for dinner however, so that would be fine for us, plenty of choices. It's just the breakfast we would not be happy with. We do a handful of character breakfasts (about 4) every trip but that still leaves us several days we'd like a resort breakfast and then go to the parks.

We have been talking about trying SSR in 2007. We'd really like to try it, but one of the big things we keep coming back to is the fact that there is not a full service restaurant.

 

[Tiggerfan40]

We were told by a cast member in Artists Pallette that a full service restaurant is in the "works" for SSR. We ate at Artists Pallette and it was quite good, a very short wait for our food and the food was very good! But they do offer a limited menu.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I know that Olivia's - which we are very fond of - is never crowded, and has never been a "destination" restaurant like many others. Could the fact that Olivia's might be underperforming have played into the decision to not do a full-service restaurant at SSR?

(I'd hate it if Olivia's went by the wayside, btw.)

 

[Dean]

I don't think we'll see one but I see it as a mistake. I hope I am wrong and some of the rumors are right.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Good question about Olivias - and I seem to remember hearing that the DI full-service restaurant (Seasons?) didn't do too well, either. However, given the increase in size of SSR w/Phase III, I firmly believe that they will either add a full-service restaurant, or turn AP into one (they could push back onto the patio and down the hallway towards the front desk, and move the gift shop).

My Magic 8-Ball sayeth: "Reply cloudy - try again when the resort construction is complete" (yeah, it's a special "DIS DVC" model 8-Ball!)

 

[paulh]

what wiil they do with the big building on the left as you drive to drop bags off theres plenty of room for a dinning place there think it used to be one of the presentation halls from when it was DI told that they use it for staf training ect
Paulh

 

[Uncleromulus]

Funny this thread should come up--
Back when SSR was initally being "constructed", I posted that I thought a food court would not do, and a golden opportunity existed to add a new full service restaurant. I was blasted out of the water by (virtually) one and all, who seemed to feel that a new restaurant was simply not needed and an unnecessary expense to boot.
As for Seasons--I loved that restaurant and true, it didn't do well--but back then the place was the Disney Institute, and had relatively few folks staying there. When we went over to Seasons for dinner (three times) it seemd we had the entire Institute to ourselves!! Plus Seasons looked as tho it were in a barn--huge room, high ceilings, no ambiance whatsoever.

 

[tjkraz]

Funny this thread should come up--
Back when SSR was initally being "constructed", I posted that I thought a food court would not do, and a golden opportunity existed to add a new full service restaurant. I was blasted out of the water by (virtually) one and all, who seemed to feel that a new restaurant was simply not needed and an unnecessary expense to boot.

And I'm sure there are many who still think it's unnecessary--myself included. The "food court" concept was one of the things that initially attracted us to SSR. I'm not totally thrilled with the execution so far, but I also realize that it is currently only servicing about 230 rooms.

Unless the full-service restaurant were something that just happened to appeal to us, we'd rarely (if ever) use it. If you transplanted something like Olivias or Spoodles to SSR, it would hold minimal appeal.

 

[Daitcher]

besides the BWV has no restuarants or snack bars - will the swimming pool has one but I am allergic to everything it services (besides the drinks)

you have to walk out on the BW to get your meal.

So I am surprised SSR was treated difference - you have a food court (will kinda of).



This is not totally accurate. BWV offers great in room dining. We order every night when we stay there. SSR does not offer this convenience. We found out after ordering several times that you can basically order anything from Spoodles or Flying Fish. You don't have to walk anywhere. They bring it to you set it up with white table linen and everything. Sure beats hauling your family to DTD and then possibly dealing with a lengthy wait. Vacation to me means relaxation and convenience. "Wasting" so much time eating isn't relaxing to me. Geting everyone ready, walking over, and back takes up to much of our precious vacation time. I think others with similiar concerns are the ones pushing for a sit down restaurant at SSR. Families don't always want to be forced into eating off property. Food court is fine for breakfast and lunch. Dinner needs to be addressed here. Thanks for your thoughts.

DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

If you transplanted something like Olivias or Spoodles to SSR, it would hold minimal appeal.[/QUOTE]



Thanks for "your take on things". It would appeal to my family for sure. Even if we only used it for a couple of nights out of a 7 day stay it would still be a great covenience. I do agree with your other statement about the food court. Food courts can be fine if they are done right. AP really is too limited with the choices right now. Hopefully it will expand as the Resort expands. All Star Sports has a bettter Food Court IMO.


DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

I received a survey from Disney about the dining options at SSR and it pointedly asked that IF a full service restaurant was added to SSR what type of food/menu would be preferable, so I would say they are at least considering the idea.

IMHO they need to have that option. In an upscale resort people expect to have a dining option on site. I understand the argument that DTD is just a (not that) short walk away and that there are busses and ferries to the DTD area BUT for a guest that comes back to the resort and wants to feed their hungry (and usually crotchetty) family reasonably quickly, a 30 minutes journey to DTD followed by whatever wait they are faced with at the DTD restaurants ( it's rare to walk into any of them in the evening) isn't a viable option and for many people neither is a food court. From leaving room to getting something to eat I would think a MINIMUM time lag is going to be an hour, more usually you'd be looking at 90 minutes + . Most of the time that is workable, but if that timescale is not workable to a family staying at SSR, then you are in trouble because you have no other options than the food court. If I'm paying $250+ a night for a room or $15k + for a timeshare investment I expect to have more options than a food court and I expect so do a lot of other people. JMHO.

People may not choose to use a full service restaurant while they are staying there, but for many people the fact that there is that option available to them should they need it will mean they will choose to stay at ( or buy DVC points at) the resort. IMHO just having the food court there ( and it's probably the nicest food court I've visited) is a major drawback to the resort.

Your post sums up my exact feelings. You 've just stated it so well. Thanks again.

DAVE

 

[DrTomorrow]

Man, lightbulbs are just popping up all around me these days.

See, we bought into a WDW DVC Timeshare Resort thinking the emphasis was on "Timeshare". We rarely have big sit-down dinners at WDW, and we loved the idea of having the refridgerator, stove & microwave to handle a lot of our needs - particularly breakfast - so we don't need to go out to eat (or wait & pay for room service). We liked having our own "front door", parking yards away from the elevator (we're "haul it ourselves" folks) and having lots of room to wander about.

But it seems like others have focused more on the "WDW Resort" aspect; expecting to be pretty much like any other WDW Deluxe Resort - except with bigger rooms.

I'm getting there, folks....

 

[JimC]

The old Disney Institute (where SSR now stands) had a fabulous on-site sit down restaurant. I believe the food court took over that space.

 

[Dean]

I disagree with the idea that BW doesn't have restaurants, etc. While technically it's correct, it is misleading when used by many. Who owns the restaurants or the fact you have to go out of the building really is irrelevant IMO. And the distance is no further than the options at the YC/BC and not much further than those at WL. And many options at the resorts require you to go outside to get to them. For many, part of the appeal of BW is the Boardwalk itself.

I have no problem with anyone who sees those as negatives however I have problem when people have made up their minds for other reasons and are being disingenuous searching around for "reasons" that other resorts are subpar Or more commonly they are trying to build their preferred resort up by doing so. For some, having to use an elevator to get there is far more a negative than the other issues mentioned (CG). Whether it be BWV, BCV or WVL, they all have great food choices. OKW is more limited and harder to reach but it's nice to have the choice. SSR has the food court which I see as very limited. They do have the great choices at DD, but certainly a long way away. If the distance isn't enough to bother you, then that's cool.

But SSR is a large resort and getting larger. It should easily be able tu sustain a nice family style restaurant or even two with one being more upscale, esp if done something like VB where they share a kitchen and staff. IMO, This is the perfect opportunity to put a stamp of excellence and interest on SSR. If they could get the right choice for a restaurant, and even possibly a dinner theater or upscale resaurant, SSR takes a big leap forward in many people's eyes, IMO. My worry is that Disney is wanting to use SSR to fee the DD options during slower times and will pass this opportunity by.

 

[vernon]

Nice post Dean,
I pretty much agree with all of your points. As you allude to DTD is a viable option in slow times for SSR guests, but in busy/holiday times the long wait times could be a major inconvenience to anyone who is looking for a decent dining experience relatively quickly.

I particularly like the idea of a pair of restaurants ( Like VB) sharing the same kitchen but offering slightly different experiences.