If you are not sold on SSR, what changes WILL sell you on it?

[Hibernians]

Improve the Bus Service. We have stayed at SSR twice and enjoyed the resort; wonderful stay both times. We relied on Disney Bus service for both stays and noticed how quickly the buses would fill up and by the time we stopped at the Springs the bus would be completey full.
Now we have not stayed at SSR since 2008 so I don't know if this is still an issue but in response to the OP this is an area for improvement.

 

[Sammie]

Improve the Bus Service. We have stayed at SSR twice and enjoyed the resort; wonderful stay both times. We relied on Disney Bus service for both stays and noticed how quickly the buses would fill up and by the time we stopped at the Springs the bus would be completey full.
Now we have not stayed at SSR since 2008 so I don't know if this is still an issue but in response to the OP this is an area for improvement.

Part of the problem with buses getting full is people that don't stay at SSR, parking at Downtown Disney catching the bus.

However due to member complaints they are aware of the problem and working on solutions.

Everyone needs to let Member Services know about this, so they will actually take a positive step to correct this problem.

More buses are not needed and more buses have to be paid for by the membership. What needs to be done is stop this practice by those too cheap to pay to park at the theme parks.

 

[tjhsr]

Part of the problem with buses getting full is people that don't stay at SSR, parking at Downtown Disney catching the bus.

However due to member complaints they are aware of the problem and working on solutions.

Everyone needs to let Member Services know about this, so they will actually take a positive step to correct this problem.

More buses are not needed and more buses have to be paid for by the membership. What needs to be done is stop this practice by those too cheap to pay to park at the theme parks.

I can tell I don't want to pay for more buses and agree we don't need more. And we have found it to be a problem a few times coming back from the parks. But over all the bus service has been find. And I don't say this having stayed a just a few time's at SSR but on average of 3 times a years sense 05. And we average 8 days so we have use the buses quite a bit.Long wait times have been few and far between. Maybe we have been lucky but with all of our stays there I doubt luck has anything to do with it.

 

[hope3702]

It would be nice to be able to walk to a highly desired Charcter meal like Chef Mickey/O'Hana etc...If DTD had a Character meal I think it would go a long way...I love SSR so the resort itself I wouldn't touch...Especially with new pool...Am curious to see what DTD becomes with the changes...

 

[tjhsr]

Does SSR really need changes? Many other owner's here at least don't seem to think so. So what is the real problem? That some owners just don't get it or bought not really understanding what SSR is all about. I lean more towards not really getting it. What we really need is more rocking chairs.

 

[Sammie]

It would be nice to be able to walk to a highly desired Charcter meal like Chef Mickey/O'Hana etc...If DTD had a Character meal I think it would go a long way...I love SSR so the resort itself I wouldn't touch...Especially with new pool...Am curious to see what DTD becomes with the changes...

This I would agree with, DD used to have Chef Mickey's and there used to be one on the riverboat back when it was the Empress Lilly.

I do wish they would bring one back to the area.

I would be fine with a character breakfast at the Turf Club, with Disney horses.

It would be like Secretariat on Craig Ferguson.

 

[kikiq]

What we really need is more rocking chairs.

Oh yeah!!!! Add a few more at the Congress Park lookout, we're down a few out there. And maybe some "themed" rocking chairs outside AP. Large rocking horses? You know, for those who want "more theming".

I have that on my screen saver right now, the view from the Congress Park fountain looking at the balloon and the rocking chairs.

 

[Carl'n'Ellie'sDad]

Hmmm, a character breakfast at the Turf Club? Let's see...

*Mickey in a jockey costume -- obviously
*Minnie in a humongous Kentucky Derby hat
*Goofy in a sharp suit as a trainer or an owner
*Daisy -- jockey? Sportswriter? Groom?
*Donald -- the bettor who lost on the longshot, tearing up his slip

This will definitely impact the "customer satisfaction" for SSR! I'll be sure to mention it to a manager on our next stay...

 

[stopher1]

What we really need is more rocking chairs.

Oh yeah! Love those rocking chairs.

I'd love one of these kind for my backyard. They're great.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Oh yeah! Love those rocking chairs.

I'd love one of these kind for my backyard. They're great.

 

[Hibernians]

speaking of food - this is another area that I recall needed improvement (again I have not been to SSR since 2008, so maybe things have changed).
The Artist Palette was not designed to support so many customers; I recall a huge difference in customer volume from my first visit in 2006 to my last visit in 2008 (obviously as the resort grew out).

Have they added more food stations; cash registers or seating ?

 

[kdzgon]

Exactly! If I knew this was a pity party, I would have bought a gift! Many of the things cited as missing are already there!

• 
  ..
• Sundee worked at Fort Wilderness for many many years, before being transferred to SSR Community Hall. SSR is not lacking activities or games or interactive cast members.
  .....
  

There are 7 (count them!) DVC resorts on WDW Resort. I own 6 of them because they all offer something different that we enjoy. If you want to talk money-grab, let's talk currently under re-construction BLT, which I own. The NGW was not a money machine for CRO either. They let SOG have it for 2 years before they tore it down. They are charging $130-$140 a point for what? After seeing the reinforcements to the skywalk, Im surprised the Fire Marshall cleared that thing to open. It was like a rope bridge when BLT opened!
Yeah, I normally dont even play along, but let's get it right if we want to see real improvement at any DVC resort.

I don't know if this list item refers to my post, but I stand behind my comment. I am well aware that SSR HAS a Community Hall - IN OUR OPINIONS, it just pales in comparison to a couple of other DVC locations. (Last I knew, everyone was still entitled to opinions....)

 

[Chic]

This is a super easy question. What has to change to make SSR more appealing? Build a monorail loop running between SSR and the Ticket and Transportation Center. There is a rumor mentioning this possibility and if it comes to fruition, SSR will be one of the most difficult resorts to book at the 7 month window.

 

[tjhsr]

Oh yeah! Love those rocking chairs.

I'd love one of these kind for my backyard. They're great.

Will be having morning coffee there shortly. Thats what we need coffee at the CP pool in the morning.

 

[Carl'n'Ellie'sDad]

This is a super easy question. What has to change to make SSR more appealing? Build a monorail loop running between SSR and the Ticket and Transportation Center. There is a rumor mentioning this possibility and if it comes to fruition, SSR will be one of the most difficult resorts to book at the 7 month window.

This would be a wonderful fantasy. I do remember something in our documentation that Disney does have the right to do precisely this, without the approval of the owners. Having said that I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Disney to spend several million $ per mile for the connection out of it's own pocket.

Wdrl probably has some good info on how many points are outstanding at SSR (and possibly OKW) but if members were assessed the cost of building and maintaining a new monorail line, I'd bet on at least a $10-$25 capital cost per point, and at least $1/point in higher MFs. With our 150 points, would I pay $2000 up front and $150/yr for a monorail at SSR in a few years? Hmmm

 

[stopher1]

This is a super easy question. What has to change to make SSR more appealing? Build a monorail loop running between SSR and the Ticket and Transportation Center. There is a rumor mentioning this possibility and if it comes to fruition, SSR will be one of the most difficult resorts to book at the 7 month window.

This would be a wonderful fantasy. I do remember something in our documentation that Disney does have the right to do precisely this, without the approval of the owners. Having said that I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Disney to spend several million $ per mile for the connection out of it's own pocket.

Wdrl probably has some good info on how many points are outstanding at SSR (and possibly OKW) but if members were assessed the cost of building and maintaining a new monorail line, I'd bet on at least a $10-$25 capital cost per point, and at least $1/point in higher MFs. With our 150 points, would I pay $2000 up front and $150/yr for a monorail at SSR in a few years? Hmmm

WDW does maintain an easement going back to the early years that "could" at some future date put a monorail through SSR, and yeah, it is mentioned in our documents - but don't count on that ever happening. Long time ago plans (mid '70's) had a spur of the monorail running over to the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village (pre-DTD, now known as the DTD Marketplace) - there were even artist renderings of a monorail running along the lakeshore... - but it won't happen. It's just way too costly to build. It would be nice, yeah, but it just wouldn't be a revenue generator for the company. Just think about all of the rides that have been built in the past decade or more, and how they automatically come with a shop at the exit. Pretty much everything they do has to generate revenue in one way or another. Building a monorail would not do that. It's much cheaper to bring more busses on line into the existing system than it is to do something cool like extending the monorail.

 

[Finally DVC]

However, the one change I need to see before we will stay at SSR again is bookable locations a la Hospitality House at OKW. Only then will we consider booking SSR in a non-THV stay again. (We usually choose off-site or staying home rather than overpay points at SSR right now.)

I agree 100%. SSR is so big that its different locations have distinct advantages. Springs appeals to those who make frequent use of all resort amenities, Grandstand appeals to those who rely on the buses, Congress Park appeals to DTD lovers, and Paddock/Carousel will soon appeal to those who want a less crowded feature pool. I'm sure there are other advantages to each section, but I've only stayed once so I'm not too familiar with them.

Since the only advantage that matters to me is proximity to DTD, I'd rather not book SSR until that location can be guaranteed at the time of booking.

 

[MeTink]

SSR is a beautiful resort however I think it lacks something. Just can't put my finger on it....

 

[Doug7856]

Our two favorite resorts are SSR and AKV. My son, age 9, has been coming to SSR since he was three. He considers it "our resort". I'm amazed that anyone would say there aren't things for children because he loves the place: High Rock Springs, the playgrounds (when he was younger), the trails, the Grandstand Pool, and the short walk to Downtown Disney's Lego store are all favorites. He's at an age that I suspect Community Hall will have huge appeal.

What would I change?

• The counter service dining sharing the merchandise cash register. This is more of an operational change.
  
• At Christmastime I would have more decorations. I would like to see something at the entrance to each building.
  
• Have the fireworks return to Pleasure Island so that we could enjoy the fireworks viewing area as it was intended.
  
• Possibly a bridge to Downtown Disney.
  
• Golf cart rental.
  
• More buses (again, an operational change).
  
• A few shops around the community hall area.
  
• Better shower facilities near the pool like at the AKV Jambo Pool.

Generally, we love SSR and my list is made up of enhancements more than anything else.

 

[Silver Queen]

SSR is our home resort. When we made our purchase I wasn't overly enthusiastic about SSR because we live 20 miles from the real Saratoga. Despite that we made the purchase and ignored the "buy where you want to stay" advice.
Well, after several trips to several DVC resorts we have to say that we just love SSR! We like that peacefulness and the non-hotel atmosphere. We are not big DTD people and we don't play golf. In December we stayed at BWV. It was lovely, but very much like a hotel with a lot of hustle and bustle and not very much surrounding greenery. We've also stayed at OKW. VWL, and Kidani (which we also love). In March we'll be staying at AKL Jambo for the first time.
The bottom line is that we really wouldn't want to have much of anything changed at SSR.