JUST BACK...SPLIT STAY SSR AND AKL

[caseyem67]

Arrived Saturday, August 1 and checked out August 7. Here are just a few brief thoughts about the resorts we stayed at. I have more details in the HERE NOW/JUST GOT BACK thread on the Theme park Attractions/Strategies board

SARATOGA SPRINGS
Our room was ready before we arrived (we got off plane around 3:30). SSR was deserted! We were in Congress Park Sat-Wed. At most there would be about 30 people at the main pool, at quiet pool we never saw more than 4 other people. It was very quiet, everyone wore masks and if you passed someone they gave you space. I felt safer there than I do at home going to the grocery store! Mousekeeping stopped by one morning but we just asked for towels. Our room was spotless when we arrived and the refurbished rooms are great. The design is wonderful. Couldn't be happier with our stay there.



ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE
Checked into AKL on Wednesday AM (got text that our room was ready at 10AM!). I will say that AKL was way more crowded than SSR. Pool chairs were spaced out and a cast member actually walked us to chairs for us to use. Everyone seemed to give others their personal space but there were more people than I thought would be there. No night goggles that I saw. I did ask at desk but was told they weren't using them at this point.

 

[bbn1122]

Thanks for sharing. DH and I will be doing a spilt stay in November, SSR and RIV.
Congress Park is a great area, so close to DS.
If you have any pictures of the refurbish rooms, would love to see them.

Thanks again.

 

[bakerworld]

Did Bell Services transport your belongs between resorts?

 

[LadybugsMum]

If you have any pictures of the refurbish rooms, would love to see them.

Check out Here with the Ears on YouTube. They lived at Disney all of 2019. They have videos of all of the refurbed rooms in SSR.

 

[Geomom]

Did Bell Services transport your belongs between resorts?

We did a 3 way split stay (VGF-BWV-AKV), had bell services move our luggage both times. They said it would be at the next resort between 1-2pm. We brought our luggage to bell services on checkout days as it was close to 11am. When we arrived at the new resorts late afternoon after a day in the parks, we went to bell services and they sent the luggage right up.

 

[LadybugsMum]

Here are the tours of the remodeled rooms:

Studio:

1 bedroom:

2 bedroom:

Grand villa:

 

[caseyem67]

We had a car so we just took care of our own luggage. And by the way the pull down bed is really comfortable!

 

[RapunzelRN]

We did the exact same split stay last month and I agree that SSR was way less crowded feeling at pools vs. AKL. Wish Kidani had a quiet pool.

 

[jodistrock]

Just got back from SSR for a 3 night stay, July 30-Aug 2. It was lovely & enjoyed the quiet pool in Congress Park as well. Perfectly wonderful for a get away that is low-key

 

[mindeola]

Thanks for sharing your experience with SSR. I have never stayed there before and we have a trip there 1 October. Really looking forward to it.

 

[Disneypapa]

Enjoyed your report and positive hearing about your experience with luggage transfer from resort to resort. Never thought I would ever want to do a split stay, but I might rethink that in the future.

 

[drusba]

For those above who have already recently stayed at SSR, some Q's if you can help:

1. Were all pools open and for what hours? Did you need to reserve pool time?

2. Were the Turf Club, Artist's Pallette, and Paddock Grill open and, if so, what were restrictions being followed?

3. Was the golf course open and being used?

4. If you had a car you may not have used transportation but if you did, buses or boat, how was as it as far as timelines and crowds?

 

[tpskult]

For those above who have already recently stayed at SSR, some Q's if you can help:

1. Were all pools open and for what hours? Did you need to reserve pool time?

2. Were the Turf Club, Artist's Pallette, and Paddock Grill open and, if so, what were restrictions being followed?

3. Was the golf course open and being used?

4. If you had a car you may not have used transportation but if you did, buses or boat, how was as it as far as timelines and crowds?

1. All pools are open. Grandstand and Congress Park were 24 HR and Paddock and High Rock were 9 to 9. Do not need to reserve a pool time. Pools never seemed over crowded. Leisure pools were basically empty.

2. Artist Pallets and Paddock Grill are open, no Turf Club. Masks required in Artist Pallette unless sitting down to eat. They are encouraging mobile order to limit guests in area.

3. Golf Course is open but plenty of tee times available for last minute reservations.

4. No boats operating to Disney Springs. Did not use any bus transportation aside from Magical Express.

 

[drusba]

1. All pools are open. Grandstand and Congress Park were 24 HR and Paddock and High Rock were 9 to 9. Do not need to reserve a pool time. Pools never seemed over crowded. Leisure pools were basically empty.

2. Artist Pallets and Paddock Grill are open, no Turf Club. Masks required in Artist Pallette unless sitting down to eat. They are encouraging mobile order to limit guests in area.

3. Golf Course is open but plenty of tee times available for last minute reservations.

4. No boats operating to Disney Springs. Did not use any bus transportation aside from Magical Express.

Sounds like they are doing ok at SSR. Little sad about Turf Club (one of my favorites) but good there are food places to go to, and pool hours look really good. Add redone rooms and sounds like a place to visit during these times. How was Magical Express — how many allowed to ride? Long waits?

 

[tpskult]

Sounds like they are doing ok at SSR. Little sad about Turf Club (one of my favorites) but good there are food places to go to, and pool hours look really good. Add redone rooms and sounds like a place to visit during these times. How was Magical Express — how many allowed to ride? Long waits?

There was about 15 people on our bus to the resort but they told everyone where to sit to ensure there was proper distancing. We did not have to wait more than 5 minutes at the airport as they got us on a bus that was just about to leave. However the the bus made 3 stops before SSR which we were okay with.
The return trip to to the airport we were 3 of 8 on the bus and made one quick stop after we were picked up at SSR.