Just got back from SSR - Disappointed - Long

[spiceycat]

the older you are the longer walk will be -

just look at it as a chance to get in better shape.....

the maids only speak spanish - so unless you can speak spanish - forget about communicating with them.

the job doesn't pay enough for english speaking people to take it.

the maids tell which room needs to be done by the basket being there. they don't put down the basket. A supervisor that rides the truck (also called a train) puts down the basket. This is a big problem because supervisors are surpose to be much better trained than that - it looks like they forgot you.

I also found SSR very hard to get around and we were following someone.

I have never found OKW hard to get around at OKW a room number like 1610 - would be in the 16 building - 1 floor - room 0.

where 1623 is - would be 16 building 2 floor - room 3. the CM use to tell you at the front desk - but I think they are so used to DVC members that they forget to ask if this is your first visit. Next time make sure they know at OKW that this is not your home resort and you need the floor plan explained to you.

At SSR they should know that each and every guest is new. and should be explained in detail where everything is and how to find it.

for the signs beginning wrong - there is no excuse for that. To receive the sign wrong is okay - but to put it up knowing it is wrong - bad form.

DVC is going to make this resort - there best resort - so give them time. I am certain they will make the changes necessary to make it great.

All the new WDW resorts had openning problems - the CM's would get guest lost - the machines were not plugged in - the front desk send people to the wrong building. This fairly common with a new resort being opened - don't worry (I know easy to say - hard to do)..you should have seen the complaints when BW opened or WL or AKL or CSR or the All Star or VWL - the PC did not have as many complaints - why - because these CM's were not new - they were taken from some of the best resorts - Polyn, OKW, GF. So they had very few problems of this type. However because of the Dis I new where my room was better than the front desk......

the problems will fix - DVC really wants this resort to be the best.
they will work very hard to accomplish this goal. you need to give a new resort a good year to work out all the problems - this resort only opened in May - give it time.

 

[profdsny]

I would add that while we didn't intend to take it, we didn't find the boat dock over to DTD. We drove that way just looking around, and only later, while looking at the map again, saw that it was still a bit further than where we had gone. I think that could use better signage.

 

[kweaver]

I have to say that I am not a big fan of the laundry basket situation. What happened to housekeeping carts? The buildings aren't that big, and they have elevators. Walking past laundry baskets at every door isn't too appealing.

The baskets were there all day during our stay in June. Our villa wasn't cleaned until after 4pm, so I understand your frustration with housekeeping. However, she did more than was required for Trash and Towel, so I didn't feel the need to complain.

I do think that DVC will fix the minor problems that have popped up during the opening of SSR.

I don't think the size of the resort is "over the top" in size. It looked big on the initial SSR map, but a look at the tennis courts put everything into perspective. I'll be interested to see some of the walking distance measurements compared to OKW and other WDW resorts (Coronado Springs is another that is relatively spread out IIRC).

The map that you are given at check-in is excellent. I can't imagine not being able to find my way around, especially with the resort at its current size. If you know the quiet pool is in the center area on the DTD side of the villa buildings, how difficult can it be to find?

If signs are incorrect they definitely need to be fixed.

I thought there were supposed to be hair dryers in the 2nd bedrooms? It seems like I read that somewhere. I agree, they are needed.

I'm sorry that I did not take more notice of the handicapped entrances. If there are problems with them, they definitely need to be taken care of. Cruelladeville, I'm not sure why you would be upset (at least I got that impression ???) that a CM stayed with you to make sure you could access everything you needed to. Surely you could let them know that it wasn't necessary if you didn't want them there. However, it seems like a very kind thing for them to do and hopefully it allowed them to see where changes might need to be made to make the resort more handicapped accessible.

Overall, I think SSR is an excellent resort. We really enjoyed the fabulous landscaping and the pools.

 

[Claudia1]

I am home now and remembered another perk at SSR that impressed me...... the lighting in the bathroom was great for make-up. Much better than the lighting in some of the other DVC resorts.

 

[Sammie]

I don't understand the confusion with finding the villas and the numbers for them, aka signage. We found everything very well labeled and easy to find.

If you are trying to apply some other resort number system to this one that does not match the SSR number system, then you are the one confusing yourself and not the way the buildings are numbered.

As long as there are plenty of signs stating where a certain villa is located I do not have to understand how they came to be numbered that way.

I do not feel the resort is any larger or spread out than OKW, building 55 is a long way from the HH and a very long walk.

We like all the DVC resorts for different reasons and we definitely like this one.

I guess it is all in how one looks at things. We found the menu at Artist's Palette a welcome change from the traditional food court junk food. We found the walks to anywhere short and invigorating, I guess to some it could be too much. If the walk to the main areas is too far, I am not sure how anyone manages the parks. We found the CM's to be friendly and helpful. We found the map to be very complete and easy to read, so we did not need any additional help getting around the resort. We found the very few mistakes any CM made due to everything being new, forgiveable and minor.

 

[princess&tig]

I own and have visited SSR. I had the exact same concerns. I am a guy and guys can read maps (hehe) but I was totally lost. I was reading the maps they had posted and still could not figure out how to get anywhere. It was hot and the walk seemed like a marathon. And I am in pretty good shape.

I agree that all the problems are fixable.

My big concern is Artist Pallet is just not that good of a restaurant (too small, note enough selection, too far, not that nice, not themed well, not comforable, very little booths, not full service...). Normally that could be fix but I think Disney wants us to walk to DTD to support those restaurants. Which leaves us either walking 15 minutes or walking 5 to 10 minutes and 15 for the boat to get some chow. At other resorts, they may put in a small restaurant or snack bar by the pool.

But we all have a remedy for this right!!!! The fridge!!! Just fill it up and stay in your room.

I think the place is going to be great. Just know what to expect. Buy lots of groceries. Drive to the parks. Park in front of your hotel room. Swim in the quiet pools. And when you feel like a stroll DTD is not that far.

IT WILL BE GREAT!!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Hopefully some of these issues will be taken care of when SSR has been up and running for a while.

I hope you will give it another try!

We will find out for ourselves next summer--along with 24+ members of our family

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by princess&tig
I own and have visited SSR. I had the exact same concerns. I am a guy and guys can read maps (hehe) but I was totally lost. I was reading the maps they had posted and still could not figure out how to get anywhere. It was hot and the walk seemed like a marathon. And I am in pretty good shape.

I agree that all the problems are fixable.

My big concern is Artist Pallet is just not that good of a restaurant (too small, note enough selection, too far, not that nice, not themed well, not comforable, very little booths, not full service...). Normally that could be fix but I think Disney wants us to walk to DTD to support those restaurants. Which leaves us either walking 15 minutes or walking 5 to 10 minutes and 15 for the boat to get some chow. At other resorts, they may put in a small restaurant or snack bar by the pool.

But we all have a remedy for this right!!!! The fridge!!! Just fill it up and stay in your room.

I think the place is going to be great. Just know what to expect. Buy lots of groceries. Drive to the parks. Park in front of your hotel room. Swim in the quiet pools. And when you feel like a stroll DTD is not that far.

IT WILL BE GREAT!!

I truely am curious, what could you not find using the map. We have kids in our group and with a map they have had no problems finding everything they need. As to the walk if its too much why did you not ride the bus up to the front. If the walk is too much how do you manage the parks.

As to Artist's Pallette what are you comparing it to. I found the selections far superior to Beaches and Cream. Hilton Head has very limited dining on property and no one seems to have a problem with that.

I guess it is all in what one likes and I truely like what Saratoga has to offer, I hope they change nothing.

I feel like someone else that posted, there must be 2 Saratoga Springs resort, for the one some have described I have not seen.

 

[princess&tig]

ust telling you I had problems. The building were poorly labeled, no signs to the walk to the west end of DTD. No signs to the hotel or artist pallet. Without a map, I had to guess where community hall was. Maybe it is just me but I was seriously lost.

As for Artist Pallet, yes it may have better selections than B&C but there are 4 other restaurants really close to B&C (about 100 yards) - Cape May, the fast place next to cape may, a bar that serves food and I think the yacht club. For the size of the resort, the restaurant selection is a joke.

But don't get me wrong, I love the place!
-Its beautiful
-Golf Course
-DTD
-Nice pool
-Spa
-I like that you can drive to your room (BCV are a hike) - I think I am starting to sound lazy
-Nice New Rooms
-Cheaper points than BCV and BWV and more space

Signs are easy but keep focused on what I stated. I don't think Artist Pallet maybe able to handle the volume when the place gets built. I think SSR will not get another restaurant because they want us to visit DTD restaurants. I maybe wrong but it is just my concern.

 

[kweaver]

Originally posted by princess&tig
I don't think Artist Pallet maybe able to handle the volume when the place gets built. I think SSR will not get another restaurant because they want us to visit DTD restaurants. I maybe wrong but it is just my concern.

You know, I thought the same thing when I saw the pictures. However, we were there in June with two buildings open and AP was virtually empty. There were no more than two other families there at the same time as us (and both Congress Park buildings were completely occupied). For breakfast, the CM to guest ratio was better than 1:1!

I'm curious to know if others experienced the same emptiness in July and August as the third and fourth buildings opened.

 

[Figment56]

Will let you know, we are going down in about a week! Kinda hope it is quiet, we like it that way!