Keep in mind that SSR is more of a golf resort than a hotel resort, so everything is not inside and right around the corner. If you have that in mind your stay will go much better. Times to get to busses, pools and the such are actually about the same (sometimes faster) than some of the Hotel resorts, but because you are not inside it just has a different feel to it.
Yes, yes, and yes! The resort itself is absolutely beautiful, but it is so enormous! We stayed in the Springs on the far side, and even though it is "near" the main pool and hub of things, it was still quite a hike to get to it from where our room was located. I agree to be near the transportation center if you're not driving yourself. It was hot (we went in August) and the walk was about 7-9 minutes to get to the bus, which would be crowded because we were the last stop. I don't mind walking, but it felt like forever after coming back/enroute to the parks in the summer heat. However if you are driving yourself then that problem would be solved! Other than that, it was a wonderful vacation and the resort itself if just gorgeous. Our kids liked to take the boat over to DTD. We loved our room!

Our home resort is Kidani, but I'd go back to SSR again.