Let's change SSR? OR Let's keep it?

[4Gus-Gus&Figaro]

We love SSR. Another pool would be nice, and maybe a restaurant, but it's not that important.

I agree with the folks that say the "special" thing about SSR is the proximity to DD. We love DD, and being able to walk there is fantastic.

SSR is beautiful and peaceful. And, once the foliage "grows up", it will be even more beautiful and peaceful.

And, as much as I love Mary Poppins... Ummm - no. (IMHO)

 

[bongo59]

Ok......... I own at SSR... we did a membership at SSR for the extra years on the deed. ( my wife wants it for our kids down the road).

I personally don't like the THEME at SSR.......

The poll is ...would you change SSR or No, I like it...leave it alone!!

If you would change the theme at SSR, what theme would you like to see??

I wanted this Thread to be a poll?? I guess I don't know how to post it as a poll???

I am sitting here in room 2647 at 2 AM.............I love it!

 

[jonesm34650]

Maybe they ought to have tv's set up to watch live horse racing with a betting parlor. I love horse racing, but its just a joke so please don't flame me.

Mark

 

[gjw007]

I think that the theming at SSR is tastefully done. Why change it?

 

[PKS44]

So what character touches are there at the other DVC resorts?

Let's see -

OKW - none
BWV - none
BCV - none
VWL - none
VB - none
HH - none
.

BCV- has the Ariel statue

 

[cobbler]

SSR has that jockey jacket that is pink with Mickey heads on it.
The Disney touches are there, just subtle to keep with the elegance of the decor.

There is a Mickey head on the headboard of the king bed. Mickey heads under the breakfast on those wood things that support the bar area. Mickey heads in the windows of the rooms (something to do with Fire rescue or something??)

So they are there, just subtle and not in your face.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think the resort is lovely as is. It has as many "Disney" touches as any other DVC resort. OKW has the cut out Mickey heads in the railings, and other little hidden Mickeys here and there, but nothing "in your face". Same with all the other resorts...nice little touches, but nothing in your face. I am not sure why anyone thinks that SSR needs more of a theme and more "Disney" than any of the others?

I wouldn't change a thing. Not everyone wants to be within spitting distance of a theme park every minute of the day. Some of us like to actually "get away" from the hoopla every once in a while.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Dont forget other Disney touches at SSR

Mickey Topiary right in front of the Springs building.

Donald Duck at the HRS pool.

Mickey Heads in the Victorian Playground.

The Horse over the Arcade is from The Sword and the Stone. I forgot his name!

 

[pouncingpluto]

I don't like the Mary Poppins idea because I don't think it's very fitting with New York state.

I wouldn't mind SSR having a more interesting theme, but there's no doubt that it is already very beautiful.

I do think they should have horses other than the carriage rides. Specifically I want to go riding.

 

[Alexander]

So what character touches are there at the other DVC resorts?

Let's see -

OKW - none
BWV - none
BCV - none
VWL - none
VB - none
HH - none

So why does SSR need Disney touches?? Keep Mary Poppins at GF. She's not even a Disney character. Has anyone ever read the book? She's not that pretty, can't imagine her in a white, frilly dress, etc.

Oh, thank you! I couldn't have said it better myself!
SSR needs time. It is the only resort since OKW to be built from the ground up (if you will). The others VWL, BWV, and BCV had an established resort theme to them before the villas arrived. SSR will grow into it's own, give it time. Those that don't like SSR don't have to stay there, you just better plan ahead. I look at it like another DVC property to choose from. You may be able to get a room at SSR when the others are sold out when before SSR was around you may not get at DVC villa at all. Yeah, yeah, I know, now there's more owners, but there were times when it was difficult to get a villa at prized times before SSR.

 

[lilstint]

This topic is very interesting to me since my daughter and I have been batting it around since SSR opened. We have stayed on Disney property every year since our first visit to the Contemporary in 1976 (she was 8 months old at the time) so we have a pretty good idea of the general "feel" of a Disney resort. We both agree that although SSR is ABSOLUTELY beautiful, there is, most definately, something "missing".

This impression really slapped us in the face last February when we took the boat from OKW to DDD. We left OKW on a beautiful evening at about 7 pm and the resort was just hopping. People were eating on the picnic tables, the bar was standing room only, the pool was crowded, music was playing, kids running, bikes and surreys flying by etc. The evening sun shone on a positively festive atmosphere as we pulled away.

Minutes later we pull up at SSR and what a difference. Talk about first impressions? Why? oh why did they not utilize that beautiful water front area for something with more atmosphere than a concrete ramp, a page fence and a parking lot. And where was everyone? The food court was soooo quiet and there were literally only 7 people in or around the pool. I counted them! And the atmosphere, compared to OKW, was just so "serious" there. Why?

Okay, IOHO does SSR need to be changed? YES. What SSR needs is to be pulled together. Rip out that parking lot and use that beautiful area for a common area like OKW has. With maybe another bar, a snack bar, a lazy river AND a carousel (I loved both ideas and the real SS DOES have a carousel in the middle of town!) Pull the resort together to pull the people together. That is why everyone thinks it is so spread out. The buildings are no more spread out than OKW! The people are spread out!!

Now, I know that there may be a million legal, enviromental or architectural reasons why SSR was constructed as it was but it DOES need something and we're just throwing out our ideas of what it might be.

 

[SaratogaShan]

Okay, IOHO does SSR need to be changed? YES. What SSR needs is to be pulled together. Rip out that parking lot and use that beautiful area for a common area like OKW has. With maybe another bar, a snack bar, a lazy river AND a carousel (I loved both ideas and the real SS DOES have a carousel in the middle of town!) Pull the resort together to pull the people together. That is why everyone thinks it is so spread out. The buildings are no more spread out than OKW! The people are spread out!!

:

I don't think SSR needs to be changed...it just needs to be finished....and this takes time! Also, people ARE more spread out at this resort! A lot of folks who like this resort frequent downtown disney quite often and may not be at the resort in the evenings. I know I'm usually eating at Rainforest cafe or earl of sandwich, YUM!

 

[goldilocks_63]

I think some honest to god grass eating horses, like the clydesdales at seaworld would be nice....

A pretty pasture, with some ponies to pet....

I want my horses!

Goldi

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think some honest to god grass eating horses, like the clydesdales at seaworld would be nice....

A pretty pasture, with some ponies to pet....

I want my horses!

Goldi

Head over to Ft Wilderness for horses. SSR is too nice to have horses stinking it up.

 

[4Gus-Gus&Figaro]

Some of us like to actually "get away" from the hoopla every once in a while.

Hoopla!

(For you Adventurer's Club fans out there! You know who you are...)

 

[paslea_pooh]

We bought into SSR in March of 2005,,, we loved it and it is Beautiful..... We went home for the 1st time in Nov of 2005.... not Completely impressed on my part.... My family on the other hand, Loved it.... We have a 17 year old, 14, 9 and 5 year old... All girls... They love this resort...I want to try other resorts, and will and they are fighting me on this, mostly my 17 year old, so we are planning an adults only trip for the F&W festival..... next trip in December of 2007 all family will be at SSR, lol.....

 

[DrTomorrow]

Hmmmmm.

How to improve SSR?

Hey, Disney could add a Casino!

 

[FoxxBoys]

We appreciate the Saratoga Springs NY theme created and in place at DSSR. As a former DVC Cast Member and host of the weekly DVC Member Update, I would ask attendees each week if they had been to Saratoga Springs, NY and whether or not DVC had done a good job with the theming. Without fail, the answer was always, yes. Whether from Members who lived in Saratoga Springs or from Members who had visited Saratoga Springs NY, the answer was always, yes, the theming was well done.

Having been a Cast Member since 1988, I didn't doubt the responses of these Members. They too appreciated the diligence of Walt Disney Imagineering in creating the seventh DVC Resort. In fact, one of the Imagineers who worked on the creation of the resort was actually from Saratoga Springs, NY. He actually lived in Saratoga Springs, NY and brought his colleagues back to upstate NY during the development of the resort.

I read each of the postings on this thread, and for the Member who inferred there weren't enough people there, that AP was too quiet, there are a few things that go into this. First, it's a food court and for DVC Members, a food court isn't as popular as food courts at the Value Resorts. After all, we have kitchens and kitchenettes in each of our Vacation Homes. Secondarily, there are many restaurants from which to choose within walking distance, a boat ride, a bus ride, or a car ride away from DTD. Certainly, the expansion of AP into a FS restaurant will cater to those who don't want to cook and want to be waited upon, but, the fact of the matter is that populations change. DOKWR has its own population and atmosphere, just as each of the other DVC Resorts have their own populations and atmospheres. Every DVC Resort should not be the same as each of the others. People travel to New York City for a different experience then they get when they travel to Boston, or when they travel to Oregon. They get different experiences in each destination. What DVC Resorts have in common is the quality of service and the attention to detail found in each DVC Resort.

We appreciate the theming of DSSR and the atmosphere it offers. We're thankful that we can find different themes, characters, experiences, etc. throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. We don't need to have the same experience at every resort. That's why there's a variety of themes and experiences available. The choice is ours.

With respect for everyone's opinions, I humbly submit my own.

Very sincerely,
David

 

[Maistre Gracey]

David, I believe we spoke after you gave your last Member update. I remember you announced you were leaving DVC.
I asked where you were going, and you were telling me about your opportunity in Texas.
It's not like we had a two hour chat over a beer, so I don't expect you to remember me.
If that wasn't you, well it sure is a coincidence!

You will see this forum has some of the most knowledgeable DVC Members anywhere. It's like a hobby for many of us.

I hope all is going well for you, and hope things have worked out with your job.
Again, if that wasn't you, I have just majorly embarrassed myself!

PS- That was good cake after the update!

MG

 

[wdwstar]

My first impression of SSR, i thought SSR was going to be like "its own little town " were you didnt have to leave SSR property for anything except for going to the parks . It has its own golf course, basketball courts, tennis courts,several nice pools, spa, ice cream parlor, recreation center, grills. I believe SSR just needs a few changes, it needs a sit down restaraunt, maybe a sit down character breakfast restaraunt & turn the theater into a real movie theater maybe a few stores to shop. I understand that DTD is just a boat ride, bus ride, walk away, but some families may feel that they dont want to be bother taking a bus ride or waiting for the boats(dont the boats only drop you off at pleasure island and not DTD boat ramp? or have they changed ) and the last thing families want to do is get back in the car to drive over to DTD. SSR needs to be alittle more personal.