Just got home tonight....8 nights at SSR. LOVED GRANDSTAND.

[edk35]

WE arrived last Wed. the 14th and had a very very fast check in. Amazingly FAST. We requested Grandstand and were put in 8235. LOVED LOVED LOVED IT. We were right by the bus stop, pool and close to Carriage House. I loved this more than Congress Park ...where we stayed in Aug. I can see me requesting this bldg. over and over. Oh we were in a 2 bedroom and EVERYTHING was perfect this trip. No problems what so ever. Extremely happy DVC'ers except for when WE HAD TO COME HOME TONIGHT. BOOHOOO.

 

[JesseDisney]

So glad you had a good trip. I was at BCV the 12th - 18th, so we were at the world at the same time. I know what you mean about coming home!

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Nice to hear such enthusiasm for the Grandstand. We always request Congress Park so the teenagers can quickly pop over to DTD. I would really like to try the Grandstand next. How is the trip to DTD? Grandstand is closer to the boat? What about the walkway on that end? I'm wondering if they may prefer that since it is closer to Virgin and House of Blues.

 

[edk35]

It is soooooooooo sad. I hate it. I originally had us coming home tomorrow and leaving a day later on our flight to Orlando....but a DING came out in Oct. and I was able to lower our fares BIG TIME by leaving on the 14th vs. 15and coming home on Thanksgiving. Although it WAS really crowded starting Tuesday. We were at DTD today and WOW it was ZOO. WHEW!!! Of course I will start planning my next trip and that always helps.

 

[edk35]

Nice to hear such enthusiasm for the Grandstand. We always request Congress Park so the teenagers can quickly pop over to DTD. I would really like to try the Grandstand next. How is the trip to DTD? Grandstand is closer to the boat? What about the walkway on that end? I'm wondering if they may prefer that since it is closer to Virgin and House of Blues.

LOVED THE LOCATION FOR DTD. We would take the walkway by the golf course and it took like 6 min. Cut across the parking lot to shave a minute off of that time too. It brings you out at West side but we were there for Planet Hollywood, DQ, Virgin Records, Magic Shop and walking to Market Place was not bad from west side because the atmosphere and decorations made the walk very nice.

 

[JesseDisney]

Yes Planning does help, I am gonna plan my fall 2008 trip, but I can look forward to staying at SSR for the first time in 60 days, I am going to have a 2 bdrm, They look really nice and roomy

 

[edk35]

Yes Planning does help, I am gonna plan my fall 2008 trip, but I can look forward to staying at SSR for the first time in 60 days, I am going to have a 2 bdrm, They look really nice and roomy

We are going back in late Jan. but we are staying at Shades of Green. My dh isn't coming on that trip. We stayed at SSR and BWV for the very first time in Aug. I love SSR. Loved the Grandstand area. I also LOVE the 2 bedroom.

 

[tomandrobin]

WE arrived last Wed. the 14th and had a very very fast check in. Amazingly FAST. We requested Grandstand and were put in 8235. LOVED LOVED LOVED IT. We were right by the bus stop, pool and close to Carriage House. I loved this more than Congress Park ...where we stayed in Aug. I can see me requesting this bldg. over and over. Oh we were in a 2 bedroom and EVERYTHING was perfect this trip. No problems what so ever. Extremely happy DVC'ers except for when WE HAD TO COME HOME TONIGHT. BOOHOOO.

Glad you had a great trip!

We love the grand stand! Glad you had a great time.

 

[5 for WDW]

More Grandstand fans here!! We loved our stay there in September.
I am glad you had such a great time. I know what you mean about coming home. I am always sad too.

 

[BlakeNJ]

I am so happy you had a great time! SSR is our home resort but we still haven't stayed there! We are planning a Thanksgiving trip for 2008 and I had planned on requesting the Grandstand. Can you tell me if your room was a dedicated 2BR? What was your view?

I am so excited--too bad it's a year away!!!

 

[edk35]

I am so happy you had a great time! SSR is our home resort but we still haven't stayed there! We are planning a Thanksgiving trip for 2008 and I had planned on requesting the Grandstand. Can you tell me if your room was a dedicated 2BR? What was your view?

I am so excited--too bad it's a year away!!!

We were in room 8235 and our view was of a small courtyard outside balcony window and far off view was of golf course. When will you arrive next Nov.???? Just be prepared for CROWDS. We arrived last Wed. night and went to the party on Thursday and we thought all was well that first weekend and then BAM....THE PEOPLE WERE THERE. LOL

 

[dallastxcpa]

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. You really can't beat the ding rates when they come out.

 

[DMKEDM]

We're at Grandstand right now (we go home Sunday...shudder!)...it is a terrific section of SSR...the walk from our building (the one across the pool from OP's) to Carriage House is shorter than the walk from Community Hall to Artist's Palette...the walk over to the West Side is also very short (and pleasant)...and, there's a boat dock at West Side as well as at marketplace and at SSR, so if you get tired (or your feet start hurting) it's easy to hitch a ride...

Once again I'm finding myself 50-50...we love BCV and BWV, for the walkability to Epcot and MGM...but we love SSR for the walkability to DTD (and the buses to all the other resorts...the flexibility of transporation at SSR is unbelievable!)...

Yes, there are crowds here, but we're on a "laid back trip" and so aren't bothered by lines at all...and I must have gotten the pixie dust of the century w/respect to the buses...my longest wait in 5 days, so far, has been 5 minutes, and way more than half the time the bus has arrived right when I did...last night, I wanted to see Spectrmagic but my son didn't...so he headed to the bus and I stayed behind to watch (it is is awesome!)...decided after about 15 minutes to head on back, so worked my way thru the crowd (not bad at all...Disney CMs did a great job of keeping a walkway open) and got to the bus stop where DS was still waiting for his bus...which then arrived within 30 seconds of me arriving! No doubt I'll "pay my bus waiting dues" next trip to make up for the phenomenal luck I've had this trip...but it's been really amazing...

Happy day...

 

[BlakeNJ]

We were in room 8235 and our view was of a small courtyard outside balcony window and far off view was of golf course. When will you arrive next Nov.???? Just be prepared for CROWDS. We arrived last Wed. night and went to the party on Thursday and we thought all was well that first weekend and then BAM....THE PEOPLE WERE THERE. LOL

Thanksgiving week is our traditional week. We usually arrive Sat before Thanksgiving and leave the Friday after Thanksgiving. We avoid the crowds by using Tour Guide Mike It's worked like a charm for the last three years!

Thanks for the info. Grandstand it is!

Blakely

 

[athenna]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the Grandstand!
Thats where I requested to stay for my upcoming trip in just 9 days
I hope I get it, but my 2nd choice was the Springs and that would be fine, too

 

[Holly]

I'm heading to SSR in a few days and requested Grandstand, as well.

 

[edk35]

Thanksgiving week is our traditional week. We usually arrive Sat before Thanksgiving and leave the Friday after Thanksgiving. We avoid the crowds by using Tour Guide Mike It's worked like a charm for the last three years!

Thanks for the info. Grandstand it is!

Blakely

We also use TGM have for the past several years. WE went to MK on Tuesday listed GREEN but 3rd choice green and it was pretty crowded. A security cast member told us that it was estimated to be 44,000 that day. We left at 2 and came back at 7 and it was a bit better. WE also went to EC on Wed....but arrived 1 hour after opening and IT WAS JAMMMED in future world. Fast passes for test track were gone at 12:30 and we got the last ones and the return time 8:30. Test track took 25 min. with our fast passes and when we used them the stand by line was 115 min. This was a GREEN day 2nd choice. We like to arrive a couple of days before the weekend before just to enjoy the parks a few days before the crowds really pick up. DDT was really packed yesterday too during the day hours we were there. We had a great trip despite the crowds. We went on our first Thanksgiving trip 5 years ago and it wasn't as crowded back then.....everyone has picked up on the fact that this is a great time to go.

 

[PBader]

So glad you had a wonderful stay

 

[RLRDA]

We avoid the crowds by using Tour Guide Mike It's worked like a charm for the last three years.
Blakely

What is Tour Guide Mike?

 

[edk35]

What is Tour Guide Mike?

Go to the main page with all the boards and look at the top. He advertizes there. He is a wonderful person that helps make each and every trip to WDW AMAZING. He is a tour guide and he knows A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.