Not only was this our first stay at SSR, it was the first time we had ever stayed on Disney property and the first time we had been to WDW since...November 1999.
It was a bit of a risk buying into DVC under those circs, but I did a lot of research.
The verdict: We LOVED it.
Everything went so smoothly on this trip:
*plane was on time
*short waits for ME check in and bus
*room was ready when we got there before noon
*room in the Springs, and it turned out to be on the pool side of the building. we could hardly have been closer to the bus stop, the pool, AP, which was just what we wanted
When we got in the pool that first afternoon, I felt complete joy and satisfaction at making this happen for my family.
*we had so much fun on the slide
*we loved the hot tubs
*the pool was not too crowded and pool chairs were available
*DH went to the fitness center and was extremely impressed, made good use of the facilities (treadmill, sauna, steam room)
*we ordered groceries from Wegoshop and this worked perfectly. DH prepared many simple meals for us so we could eat the foods we like, cheaply and conveniently
*the proximity to DTD was great for our nonpark days. I took the girls over there to browse and to do pin trading
*we had a few issues which housekeeping and maintenance addressed quickly and fully (1 was that there was no bedding for the sofa bed. they brought these over. 2 was a leak coming from above the washer/dryer. someone came to fix this & someone else came to remove water from the carpet.)
*kids liked the Community Room which we stopped by just to check it out, and which they went to when the pool closed due to thunder/lightning for a hour or so
*we borrowed DVDs a couple of times
*as this was our first time staying on property, I enjoyed being able to send purchases back to the resort. We only bought a couple of small things which we could have carried, such as a T-shirt, but it felt so luxurious to not have to carry even that.
Our trip was fantastic. We had a lot of fun in the parks, a great meal at Boma (this was also the first time we had any table service meals at all), and on our last evening, we went to Cirque de Soleil with the DVC member discount. We can't wait to go back! I just feel that it's only going to get better.
It was a bit of a risk buying into DVC under those circs, but I did a lot of research.
The verdict: We LOVED it.
Everything went so smoothly on this trip:
*plane was on time
*short waits for ME check in and bus
*room was ready when we got there before noon
*room in the Springs, and it turned out to be on the pool side of the building. we could hardly have been closer to the bus stop, the pool, AP, which was just what we wanted
When we got in the pool that first afternoon, I felt complete joy and satisfaction at making this happen for my family.
*we had so much fun on the slide
*we loved the hot tubs
*the pool was not too crowded and pool chairs were available
*DH went to the fitness center and was extremely impressed, made good use of the facilities (treadmill, sauna, steam room)
*we ordered groceries from Wegoshop and this worked perfectly. DH prepared many simple meals for us so we could eat the foods we like, cheaply and conveniently
*the proximity to DTD was great for our nonpark days. I took the girls over there to browse and to do pin trading
*we had a few issues which housekeeping and maintenance addressed quickly and fully (1 was that there was no bedding for the sofa bed. they brought these over. 2 was a leak coming from above the washer/dryer. someone came to fix this & someone else came to remove water from the carpet.)
*kids liked the Community Room which we stopped by just to check it out, and which they went to when the pool closed due to thunder/lightning for a hour or so
*we borrowed DVDs a couple of times
*as this was our first time staying on property, I enjoyed being able to send purchases back to the resort. We only bought a couple of small things which we could have carried, such as a T-shirt, but it felt so luxurious to not have to carry even that.
Our trip was fantastic. We had a lot of fun in the parks, a great meal at Boma (this was also the first time we had any table service meals at all), and on our last evening, we went to Cirque de Soleil with the DVC member discount. We can't wait to go back! I just feel that it's only going to get better.
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It sounds like your trip was wonderful and you took advantage of lots of the things that 
We had our first trip home to BWV in March and it was the best Disney trip we have ever had. Going home to SSR March 2007 and can't wait. Glad to read you had a good trip! 
