Don't understand the coldness toward SSR

[FindingFigment]

I love SSR and think it's great just like it is. The only thing I wish they would change is the bookable categories. But Tim K. did everything he could to convince Disney to create them and they declined so I don't think it'll ever happen. Other than that, I think it's wonderful for the points required.

 

[purpliequeen]

Thanks to the OP for the review. Glad you had a great stay!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I fell in love with OKW from the get go and contrary to some, I actually bought where I wanted to stay! However since quite a few DVC'rs choose to stay at the run down, dreaded OKW, to save points, I've had to stay at SSR a few times.

I very seldom make special requests, for OKW I've not had to, I always got great locations and views, however, not so for SSR.

My 1st 2 stays at SSR without requests landed me both times, that's right, not once but twice in the Carousel Bldg, view of the guard gate and the parking lot! Talk about the land of exile, no where near a pool, a bus stop nor a restaurant! Did it ruin my stay, no the rooms and resort are beautiful even if my view of the parking lot wasn't.

My next 3 stays, yes that's right, OKW was all full up yet again, I took SSR but resquested and got each and every time, Congress Park DTD view. As a person who does enjoy the view, the bunnies, the otters and having coffee, cocktails, or even just a few moments of quiet out on the balcony, that DTD view made all of the difference and changed my opinion of SSR to one of my top 4. (OKW, BWV (for DS14), SSR & AKV) The Turf Club being there doesn't hurt either!

Once I've walked miles and miles of Disney Theme park pavement, I prefer to come home to a lush, tropical, relaxing landscape and if I can't have OKW, then SSR will do just fine!

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . . Once I've walked miles and miles of Disney Theme park pavement, I prefer to . . . . . .

I have read where the average WDW visitor walks between 8 and 12 miles per day. With that in mind, at the end of the day, just get me to a rocker; any rocker . . .

 

[mouseaider]

I don't dislike the resort, but I grew up in the real Saratoga Springs, so the theme definitely doesn't appeal to me.

IMO, the #1 factor in choosing resorts is location. BWV is my location of choice.

I fully agree with you. I love BWV because of the location. I loved the easy walks to Epcot and DHS when we were there in January.

If I had to own only one resort, it would be BWV, but to be honest...... I can't wait to stay at SSR now that we just added on there. We loved the looks of it when we took the DVC tour in 2006.

 

[Sammie]

I figure that people just like different things. And some are more vocal about what they don't like.

There are several DVC resorts I don't care for but see no benefit in sharing that opinion. I mean let people decide for themeselves what they do and don't like. Just because I don't like something should not influence someone else.

We love SSR. Love decor, the Spa, being close to Downtown Disney, and since we like to visit "all" the parks not just one or two, we love being so centrally located to everything. Love the open spaces, the beautiful landscaping, the friendly staff and much more.

Yes you have to bus but that is no biggie for us. You can't walk to all parks so at somepoint if you do go to all 4 regardless of where you stay you are either going to have to take a bus or drive your car. With gas being so high, why in the world would I want to waste my gas when transportation is provided.

Even though SSR and OKW use only buses, they are actually closer to all 4 parks than any other DVC resorts. Some seem to forget that. Obviously being far from everything is more about perception and less about fact.

 

[heathers4um]

We just got back last night from 5 glorious nights and 6 sunshiney days at SSR. We booked last minute and it was literally the only thing available - we even took a split reservation with the first 3 nights in a studio and the last remaining 2 nights in a one bedroom. The move was smooth and bell services were fantastic. Since we had never stayed there before it was great to see the different accomodations.

We didnt have a car so I requested the Springs - perfect locale for us. In the studio we had a pretty little courtyard view and the one bedroom overlooked the parking are towards the pool but to the left we had a tree top view of DTD West side. The busses were timely, the pool and hot tubs were incredible and On the Rocks was the perfect nightcap spot.

We will go again and enjoy the out of the way quietness after a long day at the parks.

 

[TisBit]

There were a lot of discussions of the negative impact of booking categories. I think the general idea (from Dean if I am not mistaken) is that if you make booking categories you can cause a lot of people to have to do split stays and move in the middle of their vacation. OKW has experienced this to a degree with the near HH category. If you try to book there and they have one room that is near HH for the first couple of nights and only one room that is not near HH for the last couple nights, you would have to move. If you make 5 seperate booking categories at SSR for the different areas, it can really make things difficult when trying ot book vs right now where they just place people and shuffle them around, not having to worry about the guaranteed categories.

I do agree that having some limited categories could be good, but the downside if very real and makes sense as well.

 

[ktbugsmom]

My daughter and I just had our first stay there (March 1-3). Gorgeous resort. Very quiet. Pools very nice. Staff very helpful and kind (lots of smiling happy people - which was great!). Loved the boat ride to DTD.

I did not know where to request - so asked for Grandstand... and ended up with the FARTHEST building away from the pool... which meant an even longer walk from the main building and the main pool and coffee (long long walk to get my morning coffee!).

If I stay there again - I will request the Springs location. Then I think I would love it. Given all of the walking - I really liked it.

So - lots of pluses and I would stay there again in a heartbeat. But - it is not my favorite location. We own at Boardwalk and that is our favorite - yes - scary clown pool, long hallways, early morning boat horns and late night noise on the Boardwalk. We love all of that!

 

[aggiemullins]

- so asked for Grandstand... and ended up with the FARTHEST building away from the pool... which meant an even longer walk from the main building and the main pool and coffee (long long walk to get my morning coffee!).

I'VE STAYED IN THAT BUILDING! We loved Grandstand, but hated that building. That walk is brutal! Next time I'm going to request one of the ones next to the pool. Grandstand is great though because you're the first ones on the bus in the morning and the first ones off in the evening.

 

[Greysword]

SSR used to have some amenities the other DVC resorts didn't (such as viewing fireworks from the balcony). Another great benefit of SSR is the location to greater Orlando. It is easy to get to grocery stores, the urgent care clinic, and the freeway from SSR. I guess SSR and OKW are the best kept secret of the best kept secrets?

 

[jade1]

For us, it is location to the parks. When we go, we enjoy being able to walk to/from parks.

So, SSR, OKW, and AKV are not on our list of places to stay because we have to drive to all the parks from these resorts.

We had a few bad experiences with the buses when our kids were little so none of those for us.

I have not visited OKW, but have both SSR and AKV and can say they are lovely resorts. But, our main goal for our WDW, at least for now, is to visit the parks so BLT and the Epcot resorts are all we are interested in at this point.

Exact same here. I get a week or 2 off a year to dedicate to WDW, I have no desire to "get away" from it whatsoever.

Now the kids are 21 and walking to EPCOT for dining/drinks/Illuminations and then walk back is great for them, but they still love MK so part of the stay will be BLT.

I don't think its so much the coldness to these resorts-as the warmness to others.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Aggiemullens,
Too funny... we showed up around midnight - they tried to show us how to walk there... I frowned. The check in CM immediately said "Let me get someone to drive you there!" and they did... thank goodness. I would have NEVER found it. The kind CM who drove us then carried both our bags all the way to our room. Very sweet of him! (Yes - I tipped him!).

We were on the first floor - and it was nice to look out over the golf course (around a bush...). I could see the treehouse villas... but it was just a bit far away. Had I known - I would have said "Grandstand - close to the pool" - then it would have been great. We did not go to the parks - but went to DTD one night (via boat) - and decided to walk home... in the dark (around 7:30pm) ... yikes. Another LONG walk. We made it an adventure - trying to figure out which way to go! Hysterical that some of the maps were upside down - which made it more of an adventure!

On a positive note - my friend who lives in Orlando could drive over to see us and park right outside the room. Very convenient when she had to pick us up!

 

[adminjedi]

IMHO,
-Distance from outlaying buildings to drink machines, food, pool.
-Weak restaurant.
-Small pool. The reno they are doing to the pools might be an improvement.
-Large, slow bus route.
-Not near a park (I don't consider DTD a park)

 

[AirGoofy]

My 1st 2 stays at SSR without requests landed me both times, that's right, not once but twice in the Carousel Bldg

Carousel is absolutely dreadful. Maybe if it was a working Carousel, then it may be better. But, that is the worst part of SSR.

 

[dmbkmb]

We own at SSR and love it! Yes, I have read the same threads as you and it does seem people look down upon OKW and SSR. I think it is too bad. I LOVE the fact that I can walk to Downtown Disney or take the boat from OKW to Downtown Disney. I also love OKW where there is a lot of privacy to each room. I'm not a big fan of hotels though. I stayed at AKL in Dec and I loved the decor, but I didn't like the hotel feel and how noisy it was. I love how in OKW and SSR there's just more room and a lot quieter. Oh well, I guess that is why Disney created so many different resorts to accommodate people's preferences.
I am glad that home resort is SSR. Worked out perfectly!

 

[ont/ohana]

We own at SSR and love it! Yes, I have read the same threads as you and it does seem people look down upon OKW and SSR. I think it is too bad. I LOVE the fact that I can walk to Downtown Disney or take the boat from OKW to Downtown Disney. I also love OKW where there is a lot of privacy to each room. I'm not a big fan of hotels though. I stayed at AKL in Dec and I loved the decor, but I didn't like the hotel feel and how noisy it was. I love how in OKW and SSR there's just more room and a lot quieter. Oh well, I guess that is why Disney created so many different resorts to accommodate people's preferences.
I am glad that home resort is SSR. Worked out perfectly!

Our feelings exactly, well said. There are many different options for all. We will never complain about another resort. We just won't be back to stay there any time soon. After staying at different DVC resorts we always return to SSR

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

ssr is our last choice

 

[happyann79]

I own at SSR and love it! However, I do miss the hotel feel that the other DVC resorts have...Overall I love all the resorts since each has something different to offer.

 

[Kathi OD]

I stay in DVC villas to feel like I'm home three times a year for a week. That's why I always stay at OKW or SSR. They are set up like a home with a front door and my car right outside. Many people feel the same way. They love OKW and SSR!!!

When I am at my "home away from home" I don't expect to be in a hotel. I don't live in an apartment building, so the other resorts hold no attraction for me, even though I own at BWV.

Hi, I know I said Location, but I am not that upset with how far out SSR is from any of the parks.

My problem with SSR is twofold, the point structure that I think should be closer to OKW's, and the inability to get a reservation that has a particular section attached to it. My whole family loved the treehouses and that's a section and I'm OK with the point structure of the treehouses. If it's just DH and I and we're staying at SSR, I would like to know where my reservation would be. DVC has been "good" to me when I've requested something, but I would like to be guaranteed what I ask for. I think if I had the guarantee, I wouldn't be upset with the points structure, I would deal with it better.

I do not have a lot of gripes about SSR! I think it's beautiful, and I'll keep going there to see the otters! I enjoy looking at SSR as we often eat at Fultons.

I think I answered the way I did initially is because I was trying to deal with the "coldness" of people's reception. I, personally, do not feel "cold" toward SSR, it just has a smaller (than some of the other DVCs) warm place in my heart!

Bobbi

Just curious as to why you think the point structure should be similar to OKW's.

I've always thought, with thought being the operative word, that the reason OKW's point structure was so low was simply because it was the first DVC property. If DVC has any idea how their little vacation club would have taken off, I would bet my last dime that the point structure at OKW would be very similar to what we see at SSR and maybe even higher, given the larger accommodations.