Getting excited! How is SSR so far?

[Ducky4Disney]

Give me your opinion, how is SSR so far? I am getting very excited to stay there! We got a chance to visit it on opening day (or the day after, I don't remember) but I need to hear how great it is! We also recieved the letter about member deals for SSR add-on's, and I am tempted... but my DH and I need to go over the numbers ($$$).

What's the best part of SSR so far?

D4D

 

[kweaver]

Originally posted by Ducky4Disney
What's the best part of SSR so far?
D4D

HRS pool
quiet pool
View of DTD from Villa
Wonderful CMs
No crowds
Quick and Easy Bus Service
Community Hall!
Easy access to DTD

Things I would change to make it better:
Add AC in Elevators
More menu options at AP
Food/sandwich delivery at HRS

 

[Ducky4Disney]

It sounds great! I loved what I saw when we walked through it last May. I am used to staying at CSR so the pool looked small to me - but I bet it's great.

What is Community Hall?

More pro's than con's is always good!

D4D

 

[Granny]

Here's seem feedback on SSR straight from the horse's mouth (no insult intended...more of a pun, you see! )

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=643144

 

[KennyK]

We just returned from SSR. Rode out Frances there. We had a 1 bedroom in building 2700 or the 4th building on the right.

Beware Hallway floors get quite wet during rain storms and puddles do form. From our room we could see the fire works from MK and Epcot. Do you know that they fire off the unexploded fireworks at Epcot at around 12:30am. I was up and on the computer and heard these loud booms and looked out the window and saw quite a show.

By the way Internet service is available in the resort for $9.95/day. The clock starts ticking when you log on for the first time. Not only when you use it.

We really loved it. But then there isn't many people there yet.

We used both the quiet and main pool. My grandson loved the slide. I agree that the elevators need AC and I really didn't care for the selections at Artist Pallete. They do offer a special selection for dinner and breakfast that is not on the regular menu.

Merchandise and food/drink selection is ok but not great.

This restaurant is definitely too small for handling all the anticipated guests. I was talking to a CM while there and the Theater which is right across from check in may very well be used for a full service restaurant.

The CM's are very nice and were very helpful during the hurricane.

The resort lost a few new trees but they were putting them back in when we left.

Bus service was fantastic.

Go and enjoy. It is really a great resort and we are really considering the great offer being made for add ons.

Kennyk

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by KennyK
[...] I agree that the elevators need AC [...]
Kennyk

This is the second time I've read this comment, and I confess to being a slight bit confused. How long is the average elevator time, from the time the doors close until they re-open? Five, maybe 10 seconds? And keep in mind that before you get in AND after you get out, you're not in A/C.

It gives one furiously to think.....

 

[KennyK]

DrTomorrow,

Re: AC for Elevators.

Let me tell you, even though the ride is QUITE SHORT, there is NO AIR MOVEMENT in those elevators. maybe the fans are not working yet, but something has to be done. When we were just there, the air inside was hotter than outside or along the hall ways which seem to become wind tunnels when it gusts out side.

It is just a comment, but I see you will be going soon so you will get a chance to experience it if you are on the upper floors.


Kennyk

 

[KristiKelly]

I didn't realize the elevators didn't have A/C. I would imagine they'd get pretty toasty during the summer monthes & I'd hate to be in one if it malfunctioned & I got stuck in it.

 

[kweaver]

We were there in June...95+ degrees (I won't even go into the humidity). Not complaining...I expected it to be hot. However, I did not expect the elevators to be the the most extreme heat of the entire week. When you are relieved to get out of the elevator and into 95 degree heat...there's a problem. I can't imagine that the addition of AC would be A) terribly expensive or B) terribly difficult.

In the summer, it would be downright dangerous if they malfunctioned and someone got stuck in there. FWIW, we could hear some kind of motor running inside...which I thought might be a fan...but there was no air moving. Our room was on the fourth floor.

Quote: "It gives one furiously to think....."

I'm not sure exactly what this is supposed to mean...but I suggest that you check out the situation for yourself...particularly in the summer. Many of the comments made about the elevators were posted here right after SSR opened in May/June/July.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by KennyK
DrTomorrow,

Re: AC for Elevators.

Let me tell you, even though the ride is QUITE SHORT, there is NO AIR MOVEMENT in those elevators. maybe the fans are not working yet, but something has to be done. When we were just there, the air inside was hotter than outside or along the hall ways which seem to become wind tunnels when it gusts out side.

It is just a comment, but I see you will be going soon so you will get a chance to experience it if you are on the upper floors.


Kennyk

Actually, we were there for Member Homecoming at the end of May, right after the resort opened, and didn't notice a problem at all. It was hot & humid when we walked from our room to the elevator, it was hot (but not notably hotter) & humid for the short time we were in the elevator, and it was hot & humid as we walked to the pool/bus stop.

My take on it is this: it takes 5-10 minutes to get from the main area to your room - and 2-5 minutes to get from the bus stop to your room - so having 5-10 seconds of A/C in the middle isn't worth the grief and upkeep. And as an engineer, the logistics of keeping an exterior elevator cool give me the heebie-jeebies. Every time the doors open, the cool air inside is assaulted by the hot & humid outside air; to expect the A/C to be able to cool it down in seconds - well, you'd need Ice Station Cool (or Mr. Freeze) to do that....

IMHO - YMMV

 

[kweaver]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
Actually, we were there for Member Homecoming at the end of May, right after the resort opened, and didn't notice a problem at all. It was hot & humid when we walked from our room to the elevator, it was hot (but not notably hotter) & humid for the short time we were in the elevator, and it was hot & humid as we walked to the pool/bus stop.

My take on it is this: it takes 5-10 minutes to get from the main area to your room - and 2-5 minutes to get from the bus stop to your room - so having 5-10 seconds of A/C in the middle isn't worth the grief and upkeep. And as an engineer, the logistics of keeping an exterior elevator cool give me the heebie-jeebies. Every time the doors open, the cool air inside is assaulted by the hot & humid outside air; to expect the A/C to be able to cool it down in seconds - well, you'd need Ice Station Cool (or Mr. Freeze) to do that....

IMHO - YMMV

I guess my mileage does vary. We live in a warm area of the country, just as you do. There are many exterior elevators here that have air conditioning. As a matter of fact, the first apartment complex I moved into here in 1991 had them in every building.

There are products on the market for this...specially engineered for elevators. For example:

http://www.otis.com/modernizationdetail/1,1426,CLI1_MID9863_RES1,00.html

http://www.otis.com/file/display/0,1394,3603,00.pdf

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I agree that the elevators are very hot. When you come in from the hot sun and step into the elevator with your bags, etc., you expect it to be cool. I was hoping that what we experienced in June was not a permanent thing, but I guess it is. If your elevator makes a couple of stops, it can take several minutes to reach the top floor.

That was one of my few complaints about SSR.

 

[DISNEYWORLDBORN2SHOP]

The hot elevators was one of our only complaints about SSR. I equate it to getting into a car that has been parked in the sun all day only there were no windows to roll down. It took your breath away.

 

[Coach Rick]

I gotta say I went to take the tour in August between hurricanes, and it didn't seem bad at all. In fact I don't really remember it. However, I own a week in Newport, RI, and my unit is on the 5th floor. The elevator is a glass one on the outside wall facing south. It is a/c in the hall when you get on, and get off, but none in the elevator. And with the sun beating in all day in July, it was styfling in there. So perhaps that's why SSR elevators didn't seem to leave an impression. I will agree the breeze in the halls was strong, but it was refreshing IMO. Now if I could make my mind up to stay there or BWV for our next trip home next August.

 

[eporter66]

We were there the week of May 17th - 21st and loved it. We dont have kids (yet), so that may change your perspective if you do.

Rooms:
We had a studio, which was fine for us as we dont spend much time in the room. It was nice to have a microwave and fridge just to keep a few things at hand. We walked through the models of the 1 & 2 bedroom and Grand Villa - all were very impressive. Love the furniture they picked too.

Pool:
We used both the main pool High Rock Springs (fun water slide) and the quiet pools. We had the place to ourselves that week - it was wonderful

Visually:
The buildings are beautiful. The construction may bother some people, but I did not mind it at all. The landscaping is very pretty, we took walks along the water and watched fireworks from DTD. I think it is a beautiful resort

Food:
I thought Artists Pointe was fine. Not a huge selection, but decent. The food was good - especially breakfast. Since we dont have kids - we went to DTD most evenings and had dinner there. So - again, seemed convienent for us.

Golf
We love golfing so having Lake Buena Vista golf course right on site was great.

Transportation:
We rent a car, but at least then the buses had barely anyone on them. Cant comment on how well they ran

I love the resort, and after our first trip have no problem at all having it as our "home". We are from Saratoga NY, so it was great to see all the pictures from home (parks, and landmarks of the area, the Travers which is the biggest horse race held at the Saratoga meet every year)hanging throughout the resort and rooms.