Dreamfinder2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2000
- Messages
- 1,794
WARNING - obscenely long post ahead!
With our Dec. 26 - Jan. 2 stay at SSR, we've stayed at all the "on campus" DVC properties. Our home resorts are SSR and BWV. This was our first stay at SSR.
Here's my wimpy disclaimer: To us, all Disney properties are simply terrific. It's just a matter of (1) degree of terrificness (sic) and (2) what we're in the mood for during any given trip.
So, compared and contrasted, here's what I've decided, resort by resort:
OKW - Size does matter. I continue to be astonished by the spaciousness of the accomodations. You could hold square dances in the living room/dining room/kitchen area. If you're with a large party, you simply don't feel cramped. And there's no doubt you're in Florida - the decor, landscaping, and theme are dead giveaways. Plus the condo feel. But the resort does earn the adjective "sprawling," and it won't be confused with a hotel, and you aren't really in the center of things. And, I'm an Olivia's fan - good, basic, non-destination dining. Nothing pretentious or stuffy. We haven't stayed there since the slide showed up, btw.
BWV and BCV - I'm lumping these together because of the location around Crescent Lake and their proximity to Epcot and the Studios. Thumbs up to BCV for Stormalong Bay, obviously, but, totally subjectively, BW seems to hold just a little more "charm," and don't ask me to explain that. Walking to Epcot is a joy. But I like the layout of the rooms at BCV just a bit better - something about that oval dining table seems to open up some more space, and eating as a famiy (assuming you do such as thing) is a bit more convenient. BW and BC are two parts of a whole, methinks, and when all is said and done, I wouldn't turn around for the difference. They are "hotelly." And if you wanna fill your belly, you've got the most options in this neighborhood, fer sure. Beaches and Cream burgers bless my heart.
VWL - a breed apart from the rest. Woodsy, secluded, just lovely during the holidays. The most impeccably and impressively themed of the lot. My daughter says the long hallways remind her of "The Shining," but that's one kid's opinion. Pfft. On our last stay, I recall standing by the geyser, looking back toward the lodge, and thinking what an amazing job the designers did of recreating the Pacific Northwest... almost, but not quite, making me forget I was in Florida, which, depending on your tastes, can be good or bad. And it has the best marina. I continue to be an apologist for Whispering Canyon - they've "tuned up" their ribs recipe, and they're dang good.
SSR - Well, sort of a hybrid between OKW and the Epcot resorts. Sprawling? You bet, and looks like it'll sprawl even more. The accomodations were staggeringly beautiful, just oozing taste and refinement. I think the best way to evaluate SSR is as a work in progress; as the landscaping matures, it'll feel much, much different. The "downtown" area, around the Carriage House and spa, has an engaging small-town feel. DW and DD were treated to a spa pedicure (a belated Christmas gift) which they announced as pampering plus (and I'm left scratching my head ... 50 minutes? Five minutes a toe? What the heck goes on back there?), and they just thought it was the best. We ate two meals at Artists Palette, and they were fine, for what they were. There was another more extensive menu posted at the Turf Club, but in the times I peeked in, I didn't see anyone eating.
I also need to say, candidly, that despite the nightmare experiences that so many of our friends on line have experiened, we've not had those ... at SSR during our week there, our room was as clean as an intensive care ward, and bus service was just fine... we were leaving Epcot one afternoon, and got to the bus stop just as a bus was departing, so there was a wait then, but certainly within the posted and expected parameters. We did have a burned-out lightbulb at BWV once, but we worked through that, and slept well. Why should I ratched up my blood pressure over something menial?
So what's our favorite resort? I love them all. My favorite is the one I'm staying at. I'm a lousy critic. Know why?
Because I'm at DISNEY, for cryin' out loud. There is, even on the most hectic and crowded of days, a hushed magic in the air, if you take time to pause and experience it - sometimes in the smile of a CM, sometimes in the glow in a youngster's eyes as she embraces Pooh, sometimes in the sunset as reflected over the Seven Seas Lagoon. Perhaps in watching someone dab a wayward tear at the climax of "Wishes."
Oh, yeah. People. I would like to announce, with overflowing pleasure, that after 100+ visits, that the dream is still alive.
With our Dec. 26 - Jan. 2 stay at SSR, we've stayed at all the "on campus" DVC properties. Our home resorts are SSR and BWV. This was our first stay at SSR.
Here's my wimpy disclaimer: To us, all Disney properties are simply terrific. It's just a matter of (1) degree of terrificness (sic) and (2) what we're in the mood for during any given trip.
So, compared and contrasted, here's what I've decided, resort by resort:
OKW - Size does matter. I continue to be astonished by the spaciousness of the accomodations. You could hold square dances in the living room/dining room/kitchen area. If you're with a large party, you simply don't feel cramped. And there's no doubt you're in Florida - the decor, landscaping, and theme are dead giveaways. Plus the condo feel. But the resort does earn the adjective "sprawling," and it won't be confused with a hotel, and you aren't really in the center of things. And, I'm an Olivia's fan - good, basic, non-destination dining. Nothing pretentious or stuffy. We haven't stayed there since the slide showed up, btw.
BWV and BCV - I'm lumping these together because of the location around Crescent Lake and their proximity to Epcot and the Studios. Thumbs up to BCV for Stormalong Bay, obviously, but, totally subjectively, BW seems to hold just a little more "charm," and don't ask me to explain that. Walking to Epcot is a joy. But I like the layout of the rooms at BCV just a bit better - something about that oval dining table seems to open up some more space, and eating as a famiy (assuming you do such as thing) is a bit more convenient. BW and BC are two parts of a whole, methinks, and when all is said and done, I wouldn't turn around for the difference. They are "hotelly." And if you wanna fill your belly, you've got the most options in this neighborhood, fer sure. Beaches and Cream burgers bless my heart.
VWL - a breed apart from the rest. Woodsy, secluded, just lovely during the holidays. The most impeccably and impressively themed of the lot. My daughter says the long hallways remind her of "The Shining," but that's one kid's opinion. Pfft. On our last stay, I recall standing by the geyser, looking back toward the lodge, and thinking what an amazing job the designers did of recreating the Pacific Northwest... almost, but not quite, making me forget I was in Florida, which, depending on your tastes, can be good or bad. And it has the best marina. I continue to be an apologist for Whispering Canyon - they've "tuned up" their ribs recipe, and they're dang good.
SSR - Well, sort of a hybrid between OKW and the Epcot resorts. Sprawling? You bet, and looks like it'll sprawl even more. The accomodations were staggeringly beautiful, just oozing taste and refinement. I think the best way to evaluate SSR is as a work in progress; as the landscaping matures, it'll feel much, much different. The "downtown" area, around the Carriage House and spa, has an engaging small-town feel. DW and DD were treated to a spa pedicure (a belated Christmas gift) which they announced as pampering plus (and I'm left scratching my head ... 50 minutes? Five minutes a toe? What the heck goes on back there?), and they just thought it was the best. We ate two meals at Artists Palette, and they were fine, for what they were. There was another more extensive menu posted at the Turf Club, but in the times I peeked in, I didn't see anyone eating.
I also need to say, candidly, that despite the nightmare experiences that so many of our friends on line have experiened, we've not had those ... at SSR during our week there, our room was as clean as an intensive care ward, and bus service was just fine... we were leaving Epcot one afternoon, and got to the bus stop just as a bus was departing, so there was a wait then, but certainly within the posted and expected parameters. We did have a burned-out lightbulb at BWV once, but we worked through that, and slept well. Why should I ratched up my blood pressure over something menial?
So what's our favorite resort? I love them all. My favorite is the one I'm staying at. I'm a lousy critic. Know why?
Because I'm at DISNEY, for cryin' out loud. There is, even on the most hectic and crowded of days, a hushed magic in the air, if you take time to pause and experience it - sometimes in the smile of a CM, sometimes in the glow in a youngster's eyes as she embraces Pooh, sometimes in the sunset as reflected over the Seven Seas Lagoon. Perhaps in watching someone dab a wayward tear at the climax of "Wishes."
Oh, yeah. People. I would like to announce, with overflowing pleasure, that after 100+ visits, that the dream is still alive.
