PAcricket says : 2) Stingy Trash & Towel Service. I expected trash & towel service only & had researched what was provided & not, but was surprised that it was as limited as it was (i.e., there were some paper towels still, so no new ones were left).
Well, I've heard experiences of this happening at just about every
DVC resort. I don't see how this is unique to SSR ? All one has to do is give mousekeeping a call and they'll bring down whatever you need---this has been my experience.
While there are restaurants available at Downtown Disney, I dont think its practical for a family to trek over there after a day in the parks. The wait at those restaurants is also an issue with tired & hungry kids. If I were going to load kids into the car for dinner,
Not practical for families ? First of all, families with children would most likely not be eating dinner after the parks close. They're probably going to take a break in the late afternoon/early evening, go back to SSR and take the bus or boat over----or choose to walk. Why have to load them into the car ?
From what I've been reading on the DIS, it's not going to take longer than 10-20 min to get to DD from SSR. This factors in waiting time for bus/boat, as well as walk times. I don't think that's bad at all. Wait time at the DD restaurants ? We had a 30 min wait at Cape May Cafe one time and we HAD PS ! One time we went to Cape May Cafe with no PS and had a 90 min wait ? So I don't necessarily see how the DD restaurants are any different ? Why wouldn't these families staying at SSR just make PS at the DD restaurant of their choice as with any other DVC location ?
PAcricket says : Buses are the single transportation option for most people, if you dont rent a car. Boat transportation is at one end of the resort & only an option for the limited number of people close to that end. The walk to Downtown Disney from our Congress Park room was shorter than the walk to the boat dock from our room. We walked some combo from/to DD and our room 3 times in one week & I wouldnt walk it more than that.
As Tjkraz pointed out....just use the internal bus transportation to get to the boat. As for the walk ? Why is it repeatedly such a perk for BCV/BWV Members to walk back and forth to Epcot and MGM, yet walking at SSR or OKW is such a "l-o-n-g" walk ? I stayed at BWV in '03. Took us from our room one-way 15 min to get to Epcot and 20-25 to get to MGM one-way. It just seems strange that walking is a plus from BWV/BCV and a real downer when discussing distance to main lobby or DD (or whatever) from SSR/OKW ? A walk is a walk. WDW vacations involve alot of walking, but luckily the resorts offer other options. SSR offers both boat and bus (in addition to the walk) to DD. I'd say this is more than adequate.
There was a night at MGK when no bus came to the SSR stop for more than 25 minutes & someone in line had to go have park personnel call for a bus to be sent. Also, be aware that the bus from DD to Saratoga Springs, first goes to Pleasure Island & DD Westside before the stops at SSR.
This is all very helpful info, but I've had trouble with transportation all over WDW. Particular nightmare experiences at WL (waited 45 min for an MGM bus on "early morning entry). We got in our car at the 45 min mark (there had to be like 40+ people waiting to go to MGM).....even as we were driving away from the WL we still did not see any MGM bus coming up the drive. We ended up missing most of the EMH there. Also had bus woes at POR---late to
MVMCP because the MK took forever to get there (maybe 40-45 min). Long bus waits at certain times on certain days. Also, busses from some other resorts go to other stops first as well.
After reading other reviews, I would agree that the Bell Service was very relaxed. When we arrived early Saturday morning, there was no one in bell services. The person who checked us in, directed us out to our car parked in the main check-in circle. Several minutes later, he came out, followed later by someone else to take our bags from our car. Our friends arrived very late Saturday night (3 kids, Mom & Dad in a wheelchair) who were met with a slight attitude according to my laid back friend when they opted not to have their room keys have the charge card function
We've had bell service delays/problems at BWV as well. They seemed very stressed/understaffed. Waited an hour to have our bags taken down to our car upon check-out. Lost an hour of travel time. There was a delay checking in as well. Didn't find the front desk there to be particular warm either. We checked in during the height of a big thunderstorm, so this may have impacted the moods of the check-in CM's. We couldn't even get our key card to our room for a couple of hours because the key maker was down due to the storm. The bellhop let us in to our room but someone had to stay there at all times until we could obtain a key. I could understand this happening, but the CM checking us in was not particularily gracious about it. She seemed a little moody---perhaps some guests were giving her trouble about it ?
But my point with these two examples you gave was that things happen ? Incidents as you mentioned can occur at any resort. No resort is perfect.
) I hope they haven't changed that. Didn't think to look when we were there for Whispering Canyon this trip.
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Go figure. 
