slk537 said:
Thank you for posting the photos! I had seen your wonderful food photos and was wondering how you liked SSR - our "home" as well.
Was it gorgeous at Christmastime? Did they do anything special for the holiday? We love VWL in December, but we have decided to go to SSR one of these times and I would love to hear how you enjoyed it...
thanks!
Thanks for the compliment on the food photos...I admit it...I am a food porn addict!
I have a couple photos of SSR with the Christmas decor, but I have to say the only place that was really decorated was the Carriage House. It was very tasteful...lots of garland and shiny balls, and horses of course. The grounds were not decorated much other than the addition of poinsettas in various spots that I can remember. However, on the flipside, the grounds at SSR are beautiful! I've read here that they are sparse, but it's because the landscaping is still fairly new, but what is there is lovely. I have some shots taken from our room that show the small lake with the bridge across...we thought it was a wonderful view. I can post those photos if you like...just have to upload them first.
One of the things DH and I loved about the Carriage House was the sitting area between the check-in and Artist Palette...nice groupings of chairs that felt like you were in a more cozy space...like a friend's living room, but still could chat with someone in the next grouping. Also there are large windows that let in natural lighting and was great.
Special things for the holidays? Well, on Christmas day they were handing out yummy sugar cookies, cider and fruit punch...full size cups not like at Beach Club when we happen to be there...those things were not much bigger than a shot glass. On the community bulletin for the week, there were MANY special activities listed such as floral arranging, ornament making, gift bag designing, etc. Some had fees and you had to be able to pick up the item a couple of days later, but all of that was clearly stated in the bulletin. They also had caroling at specific times and dates at the resort as well as visits by Mickey and Minnie and Santa Goofy. Unfortunately, Santa Goofy did not visit our door on Christmas morning as someone told me he might.
We were in room #4645, a second floor NS located directly behind the carrousel bus stop. It is in the Paddock section, but the older buildings of this section. It was the next to the last room on the end (to the right) as you came off of the elevator...a stairwell was located right near our door which we used when coming from and going to the Carriage House area. It was about a 5 - 7 mins. walk at a leisurely (hand holding) pace for us and was very nice walking next to the lake. We were probably equal distance to the main pool and the nearest quiet pool, but we didn't swim this trip...too cold for us. Upon making the reservation I had requested a DD view, NS and 2nd floor...well, 2 outta 3 ain't bad and on Christmas Eve we happen to be in the room at midnight and I was right next to the window when I heard a KABOOM...looked outside and saw the DD fireworks all the way from our room anyway.
Our room was great, as I described in my OP. I have some photos, not with all the nice bedding made, the lived in look if anyone would like to see. DS who is about 5ft. 4ins., slept on the sofa sleeper with no complaints. I laid on it for a short time and found it to be quite firm, unlike any sofa sleeper I'd seen before. The actual back of the sofa becomes part of the sleeper as does the part of the sofa where your legs touch...it became the footboard...there are NO bumpy bars! I think one adult or 2 kids could sleep comfortably on it, but not sure if 2 adults or even 1 tall adult could. DS didn't have a lot of extra leg room. Again, I have a photo of the sofa sleeper out if anyone wants to see.
We found everything we needed in the kitchen...we didn't really cook - just coffee and snacks this trip. But we did check it out and DH said next time pre-packaged cookie dough to bake...well, he can just have at it...lol The amount of dishwasher detergent was plenty...don't think I'd bring my own unless I planned to do lots of cooking. The bathrooms were more than ample in space. I took advice learned here at the DIS and bought some air freshner and hand soap, which was a nice convience...DH said next time 2 things of hand soap...1 for the kitchen, too. I left both of these for mousekeeping to decide what to do. I think an extra box of tissues...nicer than what WDW provides would be good. DS's allergies kicked in on the trip so we opened the spare box to keep in the living room and the other in the bathroom...think I might make that as a suggestion for WDW. I did use the stackable washer/dryer...it was great...a bit loud, but washed 4 pairs of jeans easily in one load.
Check-in...went smoothly. We arrived at SSR around 12:45pm, the line was to the double doors...the longest check-in line I've ever encountered except maybe at the Poly. I received my welcome home packet about 5 mins. into waiting and the time passed quickly looking at it and chatting with the couple in front of me. Our room was ready so we moved in right away.
The only problem we encountered was a leaky toliet which we may have never known had DH not overindulged at Cape May and spent a bit of time there the first night...noticed the floor was soaked. Okay, it was a space about the size of a washcloth and it only "coated" the washcloth I laid down to clean it. When I got up and checked it, what was happening was with every flush a squirt of clean water would shoot out from the base of the tank where it met the comode. It so happened that first morning our room was scheduled for routine maitanence, but the guy suggested we report it anyway to make sure there was a work order. So, I spoke with the front desk and reported it...came back that night and no leak.
I found the CMs at SSR to be very friendly and helpful. I had called the front desk a few times and was always greeted with that wonderful "welcome home" and had my answers quickly. I'm not decided on the wake-up call procedure at SSR...you actually call the front desk and talk to a live CM...all other resorts I've stayed used an automated system. The end results are the same...the obnoxious Stich slobbering at me to wake up and Mickey apologizing...WDW really needs to change that.
The Spa...OMG, what a piece of heaven in our own backyard!!! DH and I had treatments on the midway day of our trip and now DH says it will be a part of every trip. (I knew I married that man for some reason...lol) He had a swedish massage (50mins), given by Natalie. She was fabulous according to DH...she found knots and loosened them that he never knew existed...may have even found the reason for his hip pain...an injury he had as a boy some 35 years ago. He plans to follow up on it with a doctor at home. He was a bit hesitant with the whole spa idea...he'd had massages before but at our chiropractor's office. Let me tell ya..he is hooked! When he came back into the lounge, he was one giant marshmallow! I opted for the Peppermint Pedicure and oh, so glad I did! I had a wonderful CM, Helen, who treated my piggies with TLC. The spa uses real brown sugar with maple as an exfloliant...sea salts can dry out the skin Helen told me. I smelled like a pancake...mmmm! Then a clay mask with peppermint is applied, legs were wrapped in foil...turkey legs is what I looked like...then hot moist towels over that. My feet would have been done the same, but Helen suggested a parrafin dip for my feet as they are VERY dry, so I did. AAAHHH! Dipped 3 times then wrapped in foil and topped with the towels...left to cook...I mean sit for 10 minutes. Afterward my piggies felt almost like a baby's bum. Then a nice moisturizing lotion is massaged into the legs and feet...ah, Helen found a few knots in my calves...I couldn't imagine why...and worked them out. Next was a pretty polish on the nails...oh, so pretty piggies!
Okay, now the only complaint I have is the bus service. I'd read all the posts about it here and decided to reserve judgement for myself. Well, the busses did seem slower running than other resorts, but not always. I think the problem was more with the bus stops at the parks and DD. For example, at Epcot SSR shares a bus stop with OKW and so many people not reading the signs on the busses. Folks tried to get on any bus that stopped. Or you'd arrive at the shared bus stop and there'd be a group of a few SSR folks and a huge group of OKWers and me at the back wanting on the SSR bus and the OKWers not wanting to let me through the line when the bus arrives. I think we may have noticed this more so in part because we did a lot of transferring at DD going between SSR and another resort for dinner. We opted not to use the walkway since we were at the farthest point from it and since we knew we'd have to transfer to a different bus it made since to just start with a bus. Also, the day we tried to use the boat, it was closed due to high winds so I can't report on it.
We did chose to to take a taxi from SSR to WL one night. We'd gone to the member's update meeting, which ended close to 5pm and our ADR at Artist Point was at 5:30, so the cab made sense. The cost of the fare was $13.50, mostly because we were stopped at a couple of lights making the fare tick away. The trip took about 10 minutes, but we thought it was worth it and would consider it again.
Well, I think that covers it all for SSR. We really liked the resort and do plan future trips there, maybe with my Dsis, her DH and DD in a 2 BDR. We do want to try the other
DVC properties at WDW, too. We got a chance to see the display rooms at the Boardwalk, which is amazing for location, but how do ya'll stand it when those fireworks are booming?
Again, if ya have a question, I'll try to answer. I'll upload the photos of Christmas decor and post those. If anyone wants to see others from the SSR, let me know.
Have a happy new year!
