Great Trip! We arrived at SSR Sunday morning after staying at the Wyndham Saturday night. I didn't see or hear people at the Wyndham being directed to SSR for bus or pool priviledges. There were rarely others at the bus stops with us...so hopefully this problem has been taken care of. The AM guard at the gate wasn't terribly friendly. Checked our names on the list and let us through. Christell (sp?) from Kenosha at the front desk was lovely and very welcoming. She was knowledgable about the resort and had a room ready for us. It was not water view, so she gave us room keys and said to call around 11. We shopped at DTD for a couple of hours and the room was ready at 11. The kids thought the room was GREAT!!!!! Nice view of Westside. Everything in the room was perfect. We did have two bulbs burn out while we were there (the florescent in the hall and one over the pedestal sink). I think DVC must use the cheapest lightbulbs ever! 
We checked things out in the room and then headed to the main pool for the afternoon. The pool is great...kids loved the waterslide (little guy never got up the nerve to go down it). The lifeguards were excellent! As I posted during the trip, the recreation department had some water and hula hoop games going on...plus played a lot of upbeat Disney music. Sunday night we went to Olivia's...YUM!
SSR Observations:
Pool size vs. main pool at BW...a bit smaller...but not as much as I expected from the pictures.
Construction, while it could be a visual eyesore for some, did not cause any problems or irritations for us. We knew it would be there. The only time we really noticed it (visually) was at the bus stop. I took some pictures for those who haven't been there...will try to upload them tomorrow.
Staff: A+! Example: someone in a studio tripped a breaker and the front desk called our room at 11:45pm (woke us) thinking the breaker was in our closet (1BR section of a lockoff). Glenn checked it, but the breaker box was locked. Maintenance was supposed to come up and open it...but never showed. We waited 20 min or so and finally called back to see if they were coming. The poor night manager sheepishly admitted that they had the wrong room...and said please take your family to breakfast in the morning and we'll be glad to comp it.
Noise from DTD: Non existant with the doors closed except for the few booms from the fireworks at midnight. Three out of the five nights I didn't even hear them.
Sofa bed: Comfy! I slept on it for about 4 hours one night when I had a cold/cough and we played musical beds with the kids. Slept like a baby. I'm used to a firm bed...so that might have made a difference. Also, even though it pulls out a little differently than standard pull out sofas, I had no problems figuring it out.
Landscaping: Gorgeous! They spent big bucks on plantings and large trees...I can't wait to see what it will look like in 3 years or so. One night I noticed some flowers looking a little fried (marigolds in the brick beds in front of the building) and by 9am the next morning they had been replaced with fresh plantings!
Suggestions:
- Add a "menu of the week" for Artist's Palette to the welcome information. There are Chef's Specials every night that I hear are excellent. It would be nice to know what they are ahead of time and pre-order. (They ran out of chicken one night). It would also be nice to have some kid friendly lunch/dinner selections (hamburgers and hot dogs, etc.)
- Do not allow housekeeping "vehicles" (modified golf carts) to take guest spaces in the parking area (During the day there were always several there) Grrrrrrrrr. We had no problem with the tour vehicles, they generally parked at an angle in front of the walkway.
- Bus dispatch from parks at closing time needs to understand there at this time there won't be a long line for SSR...and they still need to send a bus every 20 minutes (we waited 40 min before I jumped on another bus and asked the driver to speak to dispatch about it...our bus came within 3 minutes after that). That was the only bus problem we experienced...most waits were less than 10 minutes.
Rumors:
- According to one DVC member at the pool: there will be a sit down "white tablecloth" restaurant at SSR built during an upcoming phase. I could never get that confirmed by any CM.
- SSR construction has slowed down due to a concrete shortage (??). This came from one of the bus drivers whose grandson works for the construction company.
And last but not least...a quick report:
Mon - AK EMH: crowded from the start...did the safari early...saw lots of animals. Mid-morning to afternoon HOT and miserable. We did adore the Tarzan show...but we were wishing for AC. We still need to do some exploring in this park...didn't get to see Lion King. I wasn't thrilled with the Dinoland area at all. I think we need to come back in the winter. We left by 1pm.
Tues - Blizzard Beach - first time! Slept in - didn't arrive til 10:30. Bus driver had the bus sing Happy Birthday to DD on the way and made her an honorary driver. He was awesome...the best we experienced all week...even before all of the birthday fanfare. We stayed about 5 hours til the kids were too tired to stand up straight...Fun for all ages! Can't wait to go back. Ate at RFC...wonderful food...huge portions (love having a fridge for leftovers).
Wednesday MGM and MK. MGM was great...short lines and lots of AC. Whispering Canyon for dinner...had a 6:50 PS but headed over around 5:45 and got right in. Things weren't in full swing yet but were well underway by the time we got our food. The staff there is excellent and my kids had SO much fun! Camden got into the ketchup thing so much that on the way over to a table he swung two bottles together and broke both of them...ooops! Saw Philharmagic at MK...wow! Stayed for Wishes and watched from the carousel...what an amazing show.
Thurs - Slept in...did laundry...late breakfast at the villa....and pool hopped to BW. Pool was crowded (was this one of the days SAB was closed?) but fun! All of us loved the slide...even Camden, my little one, went down it about 30 times. Had the kitchen sink at B&C for Ashley's birthday celebration!! Lots of pixie dust from our favorite CM (she waited on us last year...the day we bought DVC!) with a Mickey/Minnie card and balloons. On the way home...toured Fairfield's Bonnet Creek resort (did not go through the sales pitch because we almost bought FF points so I know the details). LOVED IT! Spacious...upscale furnishings (can you say leather sofa?)...gorgeous pool (in progress). I'd own there in a heartbeat...too bad it's offsite. I took some pictures (interior and exterior) and once I get a chance to upload them I will post about it separately if anyone is interested.
Fri - Check out day.
Cleaned up the villa and packed. Ran one last load of laundry (come home with clean clothes? OK!). Breakfast is by far the best thing about Artist's Palette...GREAT! Food was excellent (try the French Toast Casserole). Checked out at 11 (used privacy sign...no problems with housekeeping). Spent the rest of the day at the Arcade (made our yearly contribution to the operating expense fund for that place...plus some!) and Community Hall. The big kids played a game of Life while the boys played with PS2, blocks, trucks, wipe-board, etc. The folks who run that place are A-OK!
Oh yeah...DH was talking add-on by the second day!
We checked things out in the room and then headed to the main pool for the afternoon. The pool is great...kids loved the waterslide (little guy never got up the nerve to go down it). The lifeguards were excellent! As I posted during the trip, the recreation department had some water and hula hoop games going on...plus played a lot of upbeat Disney music. Sunday night we went to Olivia's...YUM!SSR Observations:
Pool size vs. main pool at BW...a bit smaller...but not as much as I expected from the pictures.
Construction, while it could be a visual eyesore for some, did not cause any problems or irritations for us. We knew it would be there. The only time we really noticed it (visually) was at the bus stop. I took some pictures for those who haven't been there...will try to upload them tomorrow.
Staff: A+! Example: someone in a studio tripped a breaker and the front desk called our room at 11:45pm (woke us) thinking the breaker was in our closet (1BR section of a lockoff). Glenn checked it, but the breaker box was locked. Maintenance was supposed to come up and open it...but never showed. We waited 20 min or so and finally called back to see if they were coming. The poor night manager sheepishly admitted that they had the wrong room...and said please take your family to breakfast in the morning and we'll be glad to comp it.
Noise from DTD: Non existant with the doors closed except for the few booms from the fireworks at midnight. Three out of the five nights I didn't even hear them.
Sofa bed: Comfy! I slept on it for about 4 hours one night when I had a cold/cough and we played musical beds with the kids. Slept like a baby. I'm used to a firm bed...so that might have made a difference. Also, even though it pulls out a little differently than standard pull out sofas, I had no problems figuring it out.
Landscaping: Gorgeous! They spent big bucks on plantings and large trees...I can't wait to see what it will look like in 3 years or so. One night I noticed some flowers looking a little fried (marigolds in the brick beds in front of the building) and by 9am the next morning they had been replaced with fresh plantings!
Suggestions:
- Add a "menu of the week" for Artist's Palette to the welcome information. There are Chef's Specials every night that I hear are excellent. It would be nice to know what they are ahead of time and pre-order. (They ran out of chicken one night). It would also be nice to have some kid friendly lunch/dinner selections (hamburgers and hot dogs, etc.)
- Do not allow housekeeping "vehicles" (modified golf carts) to take guest spaces in the parking area (During the day there were always several there) Grrrrrrrrr. We had no problem with the tour vehicles, they generally parked at an angle in front of the walkway.
- Bus dispatch from parks at closing time needs to understand there at this time there won't be a long line for SSR...and they still need to send a bus every 20 minutes (we waited 40 min before I jumped on another bus and asked the driver to speak to dispatch about it...our bus came within 3 minutes after that). That was the only bus problem we experienced...most waits were less than 10 minutes.
Rumors:
- According to one DVC member at the pool: there will be a sit down "white tablecloth" restaurant at SSR built during an upcoming phase. I could never get that confirmed by any CM.
- SSR construction has slowed down due to a concrete shortage (??). This came from one of the bus drivers whose grandson works for the construction company.
And last but not least...a quick report:
Mon - AK EMH: crowded from the start...did the safari early...saw lots of animals. Mid-morning to afternoon HOT and miserable. We did adore the Tarzan show...but we were wishing for AC. We still need to do some exploring in this park...didn't get to see Lion King. I wasn't thrilled with the Dinoland area at all. I think we need to come back in the winter. We left by 1pm.
Tues - Blizzard Beach - first time! Slept in - didn't arrive til 10:30. Bus driver had the bus sing Happy Birthday to DD on the way and made her an honorary driver. He was awesome...the best we experienced all week...even before all of the birthday fanfare. We stayed about 5 hours til the kids were too tired to stand up straight...Fun for all ages! Can't wait to go back. Ate at RFC...wonderful food...huge portions (love having a fridge for leftovers).
Wednesday MGM and MK. MGM was great...short lines and lots of AC. Whispering Canyon for dinner...had a 6:50 PS but headed over around 5:45 and got right in. Things weren't in full swing yet but were well underway by the time we got our food. The staff there is excellent and my kids had SO much fun! Camden got into the ketchup thing so much that on the way over to a table he swung two bottles together and broke both of them...ooops! Saw Philharmagic at MK...wow! Stayed for Wishes and watched from the carousel...what an amazing show.
Thurs - Slept in...did laundry...late breakfast at the villa....and pool hopped to BW. Pool was crowded (was this one of the days SAB was closed?) but fun! All of us loved the slide...even Camden, my little one, went down it about 30 times. Had the kitchen sink at B&C for Ashley's birthday celebration!! Lots of pixie dust from our favorite CM (she waited on us last year...the day we bought DVC!) with a Mickey/Minnie card and balloons. On the way home...toured Fairfield's Bonnet Creek resort (did not go through the sales pitch because we almost bought FF points so I know the details). LOVED IT! Spacious...upscale furnishings (can you say leather sofa?)...gorgeous pool (in progress). I'd own there in a heartbeat...too bad it's offsite. I took some pictures (interior and exterior) and once I get a chance to upload them I will post about it separately if anyone is interested.
Fri - Check out day.
Cleaned up the villa and packed. Ran one last load of laundry (come home with clean clothes? OK!). Breakfast is by far the best thing about Artist's Palette...GREAT! Food was excellent (try the French Toast Casserole). Checked out at 11 (used privacy sign...no problems with housekeeping). Spent the rest of the day at the Arcade (made our yearly contribution to the operating expense fund for that place...plus some!) and Community Hall. The big kids played a game of Life while the boys played with PS2, blocks, trucks, wipe-board, etc. The folks who run that place are A-OK!Oh yeah...DH was talking add-on by the second day!
