Live From SSR!

[MBELSANTI]

HI All,

DS and I checked into SSR yesterday afternoon. Everything went very smooth..DME bus left pretty quick from airport and we were the 3rd stop after French Quarter and OKW. I checked our bags in with Bell Service and they put my laptop in the locked cage. We went to the check in desk and I had already done online check in. It still took about the same time as not doing online check in, but they did have the room keys already cut for us. We were able to get into our studio and it was only 130!

We ran over to Bell Services and they delivered our luggage, owners locker and 2 bags groceries to our room AND we got to ride along! We were in the first Grandstand building right outside the pool. We are right by the stairs elevator on the 3rd floor. Our balcony overlooks the golf course and there is a huge horseshoe shape in the grass below. The room was very clean, especially the tub...it was gleaming!

I will try to post some pics tonight. Last night we had a great dinner at Kona Cafe...I love that place!!!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Have a great time and stay cool!

 

[Dizny Dad]

As I sit here at work, munching my lunch grapes, my thoughts drift off to relaxing at the Grandstand pool on a lazy afternoon.

Keep the reports coming! Those of us stuck in reality need them!

 

[cyndixo]

Awesome...we love the Grandstand....stayed in same building in March and the Kona Cafe terrific we ate there in june and we are eating there again in Sept. 3 wks from today BLT yeah....

 

[rentayenta]

So jealous! Have a magical trip!

 

[Mouse511]

Have a great vacation

 

[StreamMaster]

Hope you have a wonderful trip !

 

[toniosmom]

We were at SSR this past spring and LOVED it. It was so relaxing. I can't wait to hear more about your trip. I am going to imagine myself there right now.....

 

[figmentfan0724]

yay for you, i am hoping to be there soon as well!

 

[Ms. WDW]

Lucky you!!! I have 55 more days until I'm there myself!

Can't wait to hear more about your trip! Enjoy!!

 

[MBELSANTI]

Ok so we had a little issue with the internet in the room. Had to have a tech come up and take a look at it as I was unable to get online. That security cable lock I ran out to buy and then left at home was unneeded.
I have been leaving my computer out on the table all week. The tech guy even came when we were not in the room and we had no issues.

Last night we met John from Owner's Locker at one of the Epcot Wine Evenings. You couldn't meet a nicer guy! We got to chat with some nice folks from across the pond as well as from New Jersey. John even gave us a OL soft side cooler bag. I really love our OL and it has made packing for trips so easy!

I must note that Monday we had ressies at Le Cellier and we had the time wrong. We should have been there at 5 and I had wrote down 8??
So needless to say, they were unable to fit us in. We ran over to Captain's Grille at Yacht Club and they didn't disappoint! We were able to get right in. The scallops are gone from the menu, but they now have crab legs or a crab cake entree for seafood lovers. I think there was also one other seafood entree with shrimp, I just cannot remember what it is. I ordered the crabcake entree. It was 3 jumbo crabcakes made from Maine lump crabmeat. Very good! My son ordered the NY strip and he enjoyed it as well.


All of the reports of SSR buses being so bad just have not been the case for us. The buses have come quick and we have had no issues whatsoever.
There is now a mug refill self serve station at the Grandstand pool bar. The only complaint about the bar is that they serve some of the same food items as Artist's Pallette, yet do not take the DDP. So yesterday when we became hungry but didn' t want to leave the pool area, I had to pay $4.29 each for average hot dogs.

I have to note that the rooms are very quiet. No flushing of the toilets like at Pop and we almost feel as if no one else is in the building with us..it is that quiet.

Well, we are off to the pool again. I think it's another steamy day. We tried to do the parks yesterday afternoon, but it was just too much. Oh one more thing. We were able to view the new Hall of President's and I must say I love it! I was totally crying when Abe Lincoln made his speech through to the end. One bad thing did happen that made me embarassed. People were actually booing President Obama during his speech. I just thought that was really a terrible and un American thing to do.

 

[SunnieRN]

SSR is beautiful!! Have a magical vacation!!

 

[Ms. WDW]

I'm so glad you're enjoying SSR. It's obviously one of our favorites!

I find the services to be very good at SSR with regards to problems in the rooms. Once we had an issue with the tiles actually being off of the bottom of the jacuzzi and you could have cut yourself getting out if you weren't careful. I called and immediately a supervisor came with a weekend plasterer and temporarily fixed the tiles. Monday morning when we were out the regular plasterer came and permanently fix the tub.

I'm really happy the buses have been "kind" to you; they can be "naughty" at times. My October trip last year they were less than "kind" and at one point I actually gave up trying to get to the MK and headed over to Epcot instead. Fortunately, that evening I had no dining plans that way or I would have really been upset. But I always leave sufficient time when I travel on the buses anyway.

Well I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[tea pot]

Enjoy and thanks for sharing
looking forward to more

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . . . . .I have to note that the rooms are very quiet. No flushing of the toilets like at Pop and we almost feel as if no one else is in the building with us..it is that quiet. . . . . . . .

We have friends that insist we are wasting money staying at the deluxe resorts of WDW. They stay at the econmy resorts and they find them delightful; same as any travel hotel but with great lobbys and great opportunities in the areas of food and such. They have never experienced a deluxe resort, but insist they are a waste.

It is all in the construction! Sure, all WDW on property resorts are outstanding to look at, neat lobbies, well groomed landscapes, but the difference is in the room (where one spends his private time) and the feel of whether or not you are at "home".

We, too, notice that at SSR and other Deluxe resorts, we feel very alone and private when it comes to collateral noises (toilets or stomping feet overhead).

 

[eggnmel]

I am loving reading about your current SSR trip as we arrive Sunday for our firs stay at SSR! I am so excited - our first DVC trip home!

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi MBELSANTI,
Thank you for the live report from Saratoga. I have enjoyed reading it. Please continue to update us of your experiences and all the fun you are having. I have to say I love Kona Cafe too!


________
Avandia Settlement

 

[Mr_Potts]

Thanks for the report. We stayed in Grandstand last Christmas and loved it too. Since I get bus-sick I loved the fact that Grandstand is the first stop coming back. And when we were going to the parks we walked to the Springs stop, which is the last one on the route. This was a good way of minimizing time spent circling the resort.

We finally had dinner at Kona Cafe last month, after a minor family melt down in the Magic Kingdom where seven adults could not agree on where to have dinner. Kona was able to fit us in as soon as we could get over on the monorail and everyone was happy the moment we stepped into the Polynesian lobby. I loved the chicken and the yummy salad with strawberries.

Right now I am wishing I could be sitting on a rocking chair in front of Artists Palette while breathing the scents from the spa!

 

[Ms. WDW]

Right now I am wishing I could be sitting on a rocking chair in front of Artists Palette while breathing the scents from the spa!

That's one of my favorite things to do when I'm on a "Mommy Only" trip. I actually sat there one afternoon for almost an hour!!! Just relaxing, watching the people and rocking.......

 

[Lilybee]

It sounds like your having a great holiday so far, keep the report coming, can't wait to read more. Only 31 days until we stay there for the first time can't wait.