First DVC visit tips

[hbrother]

Hello,

My husband and I have just scheduled our first DVC visit at SSR. We are staying just the two of us in a studio and plan to visit Universal during our stay. Do any of the more experienced DVCers have tips to ensure our first stay goes smoothly?

Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Bring coffee, if you feel coffee = life.

 

[gojoe]

If you want quick access to Disney Springs request Congress Park. If you can arrive early or stay after check out and enjoy the resort. If you have the time take a boat ride up to Port Orleans or over to Key West. The line to the west side of Springs seems shorter than the line from the west side coming back. So we take the boat to the west side and walk back. We've really come to enjoy this resort.

 

[Sammie]

If you want quick access to Disney Springs request Congress Park. If you can arrive early or stay after check out and enjoy the resort. If you have the time take a boat ride up to Port Orleans or over to Key West. The line to the west side of Springs seems shorter than the line from the west side coming back. So we take the boat to the west side and walk back. We've really come to enjoy this resort.

You can't request Congress Park, it would have to booked as a preferred booking.

 

[DMKEDM]

Everything about getting to/from Universal from SSR is easier if done via Uber (if you're not driving yourself)--it's about half the cost of a cab!

SSR is quite easy to get around once you get a feel for its layout--but man oh man is it a challenge (at least for people like me who can only read maps if they already know where they're going!) that first time or two! So just be aware, if you're out walking, that there are paths that go around the resort and there are paths that go across the resort...once you pinpoint your location relative to the Carriage House (check-in and restaurants), look for the "crosswise" paths as well as the "around the resort" paths...and of course at check-in you can get a CM to drive you over (in one of the golf-cart-y type vehicles)...

Don't forget that you can hop on any bus to take you closer to where you're going within SSR (bus routes go Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park, Springs)--my family rather enjoys "pool hopping" within SSR, so we are out and about within the resort quite a lot. Every once in a while, despite the fact that we are all "walkers" someone gets tired and takes a bus from one pool's section to another, or back to our villa...there are 4 SSR pools, three of which are either feature (with water slides & lifeguards) or "feature-ish" (a food stand, water play area, but no slide)...there's the main pool (I can never remember its name...maybe High Rock?) behind the Carriage House/check-in, Grandstand (no slide, but a refillable drinks machine and a food stand), Paddock (feature, w/slide, kids' water play area, and food) and Congress Park (a true "quiet/neighborhood" pool--no slide, no food--but there's a kiddie playground there)...laundry is located at all the pools (and it's free--it looks like you have to insert coins to turn on the machines, but you don't)--there are also hot tubs/spas at each pool...they are heaven on the feet/legs after a day of walking all over Disney!

Do try the Turf Club (sit down dinner restaurant) if you have a free evening and want a "nice" meal...it's really quite quite good and it seems that many folks don't know about it!

If you like early morning or late night swims, you can do them at Grandstand and at Congress Park--but not at Paddock or the main feature pool outside the Carriage House (you can only get in those pools when the lifeguards are on duty)...they won't let you swim during pool-cleaning either--that tends to be between 5-ish and 6:30-ish am (in my experience)...

If you like "for fun strolls," it's a lovely walk from SSR to OKW (as well as to Disney Springs, either to West Side (from behind the Carriage House) or to Marketplace (via the walkway between the canal and Congress Park)...

And please say "hi" to SSR from us--it's one of our all-time very most favorite places! Have fun...

 

[DenLo]

2017 is when Congress Park and the Springs become preferred views for SSR and since it is over three months until the OP is doing their first DVC stay, they would need to select a preferred view. Even if you book a preferred view you would want to request Congress Park otherwise you could end up the Springs.

Hbrother, I hope you have a wonderful first DVC stay.

Tips: take some small chip clips or ziplock bags to keep any candies, chips or cookies fresh. We also take small plastic Glad or ziplock bowls with lids for leftovers from dining at Disney Springs and to use as cereal bowls. Those paper bowls in a studio are pretty small for the bowl of cereal my DH would eat. We also take our own wine opener, as we prefer the ones with a double hinge. If you will be drinking wine in the room call housekeeping when you arrive and request wine glasses as they are not part of the set up in a studio (1, 2 and 3 bedrooms have them).

Double check the temperature in the fridge. One time it was hot in the fridge so we turned the temperature down and during the night a diet soda can exploded, what a mess.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It is possible to eat cereal from a paper bowl with a fork. We had plenty of bowls and plates in our studio last week, plenty of knives and forks. But not one spoon. It was easier to just use the fork to eat the cereal than try to get a spoon.

 

[gmboy95]

Take some time and go see some of the other DVC resorts...it will give you some great ideas for future vacations

 

[JimMIA]

If you're a park commando, slow your pace drastically knowing that you'll be back again and again. Spend some quality time just enjoying the resort (pools, spa, etc).

 

[alldiz]

Have a great trip!
There is a nice walkway to OKW... Loved going for an early morning stroll there. Olivia's has a great breakfast(all meals actually ) and we would take bus to park from there.
Great access to DTD and all hotels if you are going to dinner and want a non stop journey(besides taxi)
Turf club is awesome!
Enjoy
Kerri