Gimme the juice on the SSR!

[wildernesslodgelover]

First time staying here, this May, in a studio! We are not doing any theme parks, only water parks (can you believe we have NEVER been to a WDW water park? )

I think I would like to be close to the main pool/lobby area, where the restaurants and activities are. Is there a downside to requesting this location? How long is the walk to DTD, and is there only one pathway to DTD? Do all rooms have balconies? Are there any "awful" views?

How is the food court, and the sitdown restaurant...do you recommend it? I don't hear too much about it, so that concerns me. I assume it is like a Boatwrights (POR) or Olivia's (OKW.) I mean, a fine enough place if you are there at the resort, but not worth a drive.


Thanks for any info or pictures!

 

[cherylp3]

the sitdown restaurant is great. Haven't been to counter service that much. Buildings you want is the Grandstand or the Springs

 

[Perditamarie]

We have always stayed in the Congress Park section...about a 5-7 min walk to the Marketplace side of DTD-- not sure if the otherside of SSR has a walking path to the West Side of DTD as well as a boat launch somewhere too. I am not sure if studios have balconies -- I would guess they do--there are some great DTD views!!

It seemed to us that the walk from Congress Park was about equi-distant to DTD and the main pool. The main pool is great - 2 slides, a waterfall, splashground, 2 hot tubs, zero depth entry, squirty fountains, a pool bar and many good vantage points of the pool. We didn't mind the walk a bit. There is also a very nice quiet pool, playground and bbq areas.

We have only eaten from the grab-n-go market and the quick service place --limited, but good food and service. Being so close to DTD, I would rather eat there! We also found the bus service to be good.

HTH -- this is a beautiful resort and large, but also relaxed and peaceful. The rooms were very nice as well.

 

[ChelleinNC]

SSR is beautiful! If you want to be near the main stuff, you'll want the Springs or the Grandstand. The Grandstand has a great "quiet" pool, with a splash zone for kids and a bar for the adults It is a longer walk to DTD from these locations, but the boat to DTD is behind the Carriage House (main bldg) so that's convenient.

As far as I know, all the villas have balconies or patios. There could be some parking lot views, but there are some beautiful golf course views as well.

Food at SSR is great!
AP (Artist Palette) is the CS, there are issues with the lines/sharing registers with the store, but the food is very good and different from the usual burger. Really good flatbreads and sandwiches. menu: http://allears.net/menu/menu_ssap.htm

Turf Club is the TS and is one of our favorites restaurants on property. We've had several lunches and dinners and all have been great. The restaurant is very quiet, dark woods, elegant. There is some outdoor seating overlooking the water and golf course. There is a bar just outside the entrance of the restaurant and a lounge area with chairs, sofas, tv, and pool table. As far as we're concerned, it's worth a drive over. A hidden gem menu: http://allears.net/menu/menu_turfdin.htm

I'll see if I can find any pictures and post them later.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Ooohhh, you guys are getting me very excited! This was not a planned trip. Well, to some people, two months out seems "planned" but we were not expecting to get back to WDW until our BCV trip in Sept. We won't have park passes, so I figured this would be a great time to stay somewhere that has easy access to DTD. Plus, I am trying to stay at every WDW resort at least once in my life, so this adds to my tally.

Chellie-I may just have to try Turf Club! I do like to try the restaurants that are at whatever resort we happen to be staying at, but we also wanted to try Raglan Road one night, and I usually like to return to a favorite place on our trips, too. We only have two nights, so maybe we will just go ahead and eat at TWO new places. Throw caution to the wind!

Thank Cheryl and Perdita!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Hi Want some photos??

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Oh, thanks DisneyBride! Beautiful pics! Now...what pool is that? I think I see a little "tot/kiddie" splash area there, correct? With my 9 year old, I should try to be close to the main pool, yes? Is that a popular request? I am just wondering if I have a good chance of getting the request.

 

[Goofy22]

Chicken Cesar Flat Bread at artist palette! Awesome!!!!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Chicken Cesar Flat Bread at artist palette! Awesome!!!!

*filing that away for future reference*

Thanks!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

hey WLL!

That pool is locatd in the GrandStand section..great and has a pool bar, considered a "quiet" pool...only a few steps to bus stop and a 5 minute or so walk to AP and the main pool which your DD would enjoy Parking is nearby.. as well!
Great lounge area as well near the Turf Club...which is near the walkway/steps to ferry to DTD!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hmmm, sounds like a great location. You had me at "pool bar!"

 

[clombardi]

We stayed in the Grandstand building in August. It was fantastic! My daughters loved the granstand pool much more than the main pool. The main pool was often very crowded, but Grandstand pool never was.

The Turf Club restauarant was excellent. Great food, view, and probably the best service I've ever had on property. The Artist's Pallete cs was also very good. The meals were great because they were different than the food we have gotten at other on-property resort CSs.

Make sure you try the community center. I think it is called that. There were art activities and video games and board games. My duaghters took a class on making towel animals. It was a nice way to get out of the August heat and take a break from swimming.

 

[warpdarkmatter]

I always request the spring Its closest to the main pool and food court. The turf grill is awsome, NOTHING like olivias and boat rights witch are ok resturants but not worth the drive. I would drive to ssr for dinner and The flat bread at the food court is the only good pizza you will find at disney

 

[twoanddone]

An added benefit to staying in the Grandstand section is it is the first bus stop. It is very close to the main pool and the Carriage House. We've always stayed in Grandstand. I love it!

Have fun! This is our first time staying at a DVC other than SSR (we are at OKW).

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Great! Thanks so much. I think we will make a point to eat at Turf Club one night. And we will request the Grandstand section. The springs also sounds good, that would be our second choice. That community center also seems wonderful. I plan to be at the water parks on Monday and Tuesday, but nothing is planned for Sunday when we check in, so I want to absorb all the resort has to offer!

 

[NedsTJ]

The Turf Club restauarant was excellent. Great food, view, and probably the best service I've ever had on property. The Artist's Pallete cs was also very good. The meals were great because they were different than the food we have gotten at other on-property resort CSs.

I agree with clombardi about The Turf Club. Afte walking over to DTD to eat, I found it hot, very very crowded and long lines at all the TS and CS places. So I took the ferry back around 8:30ish and decided to try the Turf Club. Got me right in, excellent table, fantastic service. The food was awesome. This was during my first stay at SSR back in June '07. I just wish I had taken the opportunity to eat there earlier in my stay.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Hmmm, sounds like a great location. You had me at "pool bar!"

I know, thats why I made sure to mention it Recall reading your great trip report from the Dolphin/Swan last year for your anniv trip

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Neds-That is good to know. Isn't it great when you stumble upon a great place without even trying?

Disneybride-LOL, I *thought* your name was familiar! Uh, oh, I am getting quite a reputation on this board. I was recently "tagged" by the Tag fairy and you see what quote of mine she selected!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I love your tag!!!

I have an Ava too...we *chatted* about that too!

 

[Tinkaroo]

WLL - I think SSR in and of itself is a great hidden gem. A lot of people dismiss it as being too spread out, too far from the parks, etc., but the 1st time we stayed there, we fell in love! We're DVC members there, and it has such a relaxed atmospehere - it is a wonderful respite from the crazied frenziness of other places on property. Of course, if you want action, just walk over or hop aboard the boat to DTD!

I'll second everyone's recommendations of the Turf Club and Artist's Palette. I really like both, and have not had a bad meal at either. Make sure you enjoy them, but be aware there is not a lot of standard "food court" fare at the AP, which some people don't like. I, however, find that refreshing. DH really likes their flatbreads, and I love the grilled chicken panini! YUM!

Yes, definitely check out Community Hall, which is to the left of the main pool at the Carriage House (near the bicycle rentals). There is a ton of stuff to do there. They will give you a list at check-in of all the things going on that week in/around the resort, and since Sunday is such a huge check-in day for DVC members, they usually have some sort of special welcoming activities going on, too.

I have only stayed in the Congress Park area (we love the views of DTD and the convenience to the walking path to the Marketplace). My 2nd choice would be the Grandstand as everyone else is recommending - that seems like a great location, too. And yes, all studios should have a balcony or patio.

Enjoy our home!