Live Report from SSR! May 28-June 10, 2006......Updated Today Photos Added.....

[wdwstar]

LIFERBABE, I am so glad you are having a great time.... I have been so busy working everyday that i havent had time to surf the boards. I was thinking to myself the other day that LIFERBABE should be home by now and then i thought if its up to LIFERBABE she will squeeze a few more days out of her trip (and we all know its always up to you).

I thought you were going to VB too or did you change your mind .

Enjoy your "MAYBE" last night at SSR And when you get back we have to finish making our plans for the Members Cruise , only 4 1/2 months away......

 

[jisom12]

Great review of SSR and your trip. Thanks. My DW and I will be "Home" in Dec 2006 for the first time. We're looking forward to staying at SSR. Texas to Florida is a long drive, my back couldn't handle the long days in a automobile. Have a safe trip home to cowtown.

 

[Salsafor1]

We just returned from a 7 night stay at SSR (new DVC members). We were a little worried because we normally stay at BCR and BWI, but SSR is fantastic! We started out with a studio in Congress Park (with a limited view of DTD) but we decided to change to a one bedroom at the Springs. The resort sort of reminded me of Celebration, FL. We liked so many things about SSR, but here are a few quick tips that we hope will help you on your next trip:

* Be aware that there is a walkway to DTD West Side. It is much faster than the bus and it is a pleasant walk. You head toward the marina--cross the bridge--take the path to the left--which will take you directly to DTD West Side.

* The bus stops for the parks (not DTD) in order are the Carousel, the Paddock, Congress Park, and then the Springs. We had a view of the Paddock bus stop from our balcony and when we saw the bus we wanted we quickly went downstairs to catch it at the Springs. Worked every time!!

* The Paddock building just South of the bridge and bus stop is very convenient to the quiet pool, main pool and the Carriage House (main building). We stayed in the middle building of the Springs and we had the choice of getting off at the Paddock or at the Springs because it is all very accessible.

* The construction going on is not a problem. I expected to hear noises from it, but it was very quiet. As a matter of fact, the rooms are pretty well insulated but the toilets are loud. They are the same type of toilets you find at the moderate resorts, but the rooms are so well insulated you don’t hear them as well as you do at a moderate resort.

* The Fairway Villas are really going to be nice. The buildings have great views of the golf course and the river. There is a building that sits directly across from the Carriage House that will be an excellent choice once it is open.

* The bussing was no different than any other resort we have stayed at on Disney. The SSR bus stops at the parks are always one of the closest. Most are stop # 3.

* We arrived at a normally busy check-in time but we walked right up to the desk. We also found the Concierge to be very helpful and not crowded.

* For our Magical Express bus, SSR was the FIRST stop to drop off guests at the resorts from the airport. It is also the LAST stop when taking people to the airport. This could not be any more convenient. Also, the bus only had guests for SSR, OKW and Fort Wilderness.

* The only downside we found is Artist Palette stays pretty busy at SSR and it had limited choices for food. I did like the Chicken Artichoke Flatbread! At the parks, the DDE kept most of the restaurants filled to capacity. It was tough getting a table and lines were long even at off times.

Well, that is all we can think of for now since we just got back. We will post more as we think of it. We can’t wait to go back!!!

 

[tmt martins]

Great report SALSAFOR1 i'm down to 14 days now.

 

[ACDSNY]

I've enjoyed your reports very much. I'm breaking all my Disney rules (no summer trips) and will be at DL and WDW next month.

Work is sending me to a conference at the Dolphin, so DH & I will fly in a day early and stay at BWV for the first time.

My 5 year old niece talked me into joining her and my sister at DL for one night next month too. Girls only trip to celebrate kindergarten graduation. Thanks to a Ding special of $39 each way.

 

[LIFERBABE]

First, I want to thank God for getting us home safely. We arrived back home in Texas, y-day afternoon after a loooong drive.

I sure did not want to leave SSR!! We had a WONDERFUL time and we will definitely do the 2 weeks in a 1 bedroom again.

Here are some stats from our trip:


13 nights in a 1 bedroom at SSR

2 Park days, but we hit all 4 Parks

1 Water Park Day-Typhoon Lagoon

2 times on the TeaCups with my 2 Ds's who find spinning hilarious

Zero ADR's (just didnt feel like it)

Grilled out 2 Times at Congress Park (The steaks from Winn Dixie were awesome! Nice filets very tender. WD always takes pride in their meats)

Met 2 Great Disers while grilling. Hoping they can attend my Annual Congress Park BBQ next year

My DS (7) went down the HRS slide 14 times

Same DS went down the OKW Sandcastle slide 8 times

3 bottles of Beringer (I had help!)

3 trips around the Paddock Lake in a Surrey Bike

2 Games of Shuffle Board (we are tied up in the best of 7 series)

5 Flatbreads from Artist Palette (the Tuesday Special Chicken Aioli was the best!)
Dh ate 10 bowls of Saratoga Chili, add another 5 for the Ds's.

2 times we drove offsite for supplies my goal is ZERO!

Multiple Hours at Community Hall with the greatest crew in the World!
2 1000 piece puzzles (mostly Dh, but what great people we met! Next time we are bringing wine!)
We made beaded KTTW card holders and they were a hit! My Ds's wore them the entire trip and they were able to keep up with their own keys to check out games and equipment at Community Hall. They used the sports beads (footballs, tennis, baseballs, soccer etc.) and received lots of compliments from CM's.

1 Member Update attended. I won the Spa Prize!! Mystical Forest Shower/Bath Gel and Lotion. Smells so good!

1 SSR Spa Pedicure. 1 Fabulous hour and 10 pretty toes. I really liked the peppermint clay mask they rubbed on my calves before wrapping them in foil and warm towels

2 Visits to the SSR Grand Villa Model. I love that place! Cant wait to have a big enough group to stay in one.

Dh and Ds's made multiple visits to DisneyQuest. Almost daily.

5 walks around DTD and OKW

1 Fantasmic

1 Wishes

3 Refillable Mugs- DS's were actually requesting water by the end of the trip! LOL! Great mug refill access at SSR.

1 Sour Apple Freeze and Buffalo Chicken Tenders from The Turf Club

13 mornings sitting on the Patio.

13 days that the same 2 ducks came to visit me on the patio.

11 evenings sitting in the Jacuzzi tub. (See 3 bottles of Beringer LOL!)

A Gazillion Geico's (that's what DS7 calls them) by the end of the trip, they were coming to visit me on the patio too. Their kinda cute, once you get to know them

A million little furry rabbits hopping around

1 Beautiful Swan that sits on the Paddocks Lake (saw him on our bike ride)

2 weeks the waterfall was out of order on the HRS pool. It was
painted and had to dry. It was back up the day before we left.

Beaucoup Bucks-What we saved using the DDE at AP, TC and Flame Tree BBQ.

1 visit to Earl's in DTD

2200 miles

Countless Memories!!

 

[BCV23]

I really enjoyed reading your report. Sounds like you made great memories.

Glad to hear the drive home was safe and uneventful.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

LIFERBABE -- I think I will call you the SSR Queen from now on! Impressive stats! I'm still amazed at how long you were there and how little time you spent in the parks.

 

[Divamomto3]

Liferbabe...you're my hero! Your vacation sounds exactly like how I'd want a vacation to be...relaxing! It always seems like we're running from place to place no matter how many times we go to Disney. On Friday, we're heading off for 4 nights...2 at BCV and 2 at SSR. You're making me wish I just booked the whole darn thing at SSR!

Awesome trip report!

 

[lisaviolet]

LIFERBABE -- I think I will call you the SSR Queen from now on! Impressive stats! I'm still amazed at how long you were there and how little time you spent in the parks.

I agree with you. She should be called SSR Queen.

I vacation like Liferbabe. Once, pre-DVC, we spent ten nights at ASMo and never entered a park. Every morning....we sat after an outside breakfast by the pool and said, "Park?" ..."Nah....maybe tomorrow"....for ten days....

Hey Liferbabe....my entire group was at SSR/CP....I was at OKW at the start of your adventure. I wish I had shouted out "Liferbabe...where are you?". I remember hearing about your meal plans before you left and thinking, "hmmm yummy .....maybe my nose will find her".

Also, you know you simply don't have to wait for a group for the GV. I'm sure a bunch of us here could help you out with that!!!!! No problem.

Here's to a fantastic vacation!!!

Lisa

 

[Lexxiefern]

Wonderful report! I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Hey Liferbabe....my entire group was at SSR/CP....I was at OKW at the start of your adventure. I wish I had shouted out "Liferbabe...where are you?". I remember hearing about your meal plans before you left and thinking, "hmmm yummy .....maybe my nose will find her".

Lisa

Thank you CRSNDSNY and Lisa!! I like it!! Jim Lewis said that Members are DVC Royalty, so SSR Queen is fitting

Lisa, did your group hang out at the CP Pool? One afternoon we were out grilling and you know we Texans are famous for our BBQ, and this poor guy FROM CANADA followed his nose right to our table!! Now I dont know a BBQ from a Rotisserie, and actually had a pro prepare our ribs and brisket for the trip and was just heating them on the grill along with some chicken. This guy was sooo funny and impressed and I gave him a bite of chicken so he could taste the seasonings and he protested but only a little! LOL!! His girlfriends at the pool were aghast, which made it even more funnier I like a man that follows his nose!
Im serious, we had so much fun out there cooking and swimming, Im throwing a huge BBQ next year when we are there! All my Diser friends are invited! Who can resist a good BBQ?

wdwstar, yes I eeked out another day and a half! LOL!! DH was just happy for the school year to have ended so he was pretty easy going about it. Looking forward to October!! Yeah, we changed our mind on VB at the last minute. I didnt want to pack up and leave and then come back to re check in or if I added it on at the end of the trip, it would add extra time to our drive home so I scrapped it. It is still on the list though, but when we fly.

Salsafor1, thank you for sharing your trip too! I totally agree about the Fairway Villa area. It is going to be really nice! You will be able to sit on the patio and see golfing, water and boats pass. Plus they will have a nice pool area with food! SSR has alot of really nice areas and I find Im not as stressed with room requests because they will have several very desireable locations as opposed to one. Congress Park is our favorite but I dont think I would pitch a fit if we had to stay in another area.

Oh!! Some good news on the Spa! They are turning what used to be the Fitness Center Locker room (across from the Fit Center-The Training Quarters) into a nail salon for Pedicures and Manicures. It will have 6 pedi stations and 6 mani stations. Then they are turning the current nail area into a couples massage area.
Separated from the above info, at the Member Update, the Spa Rep hinted that they may add Salon Services too.

Here is an Artist drawing of the Turf Club they have posted:

The swatches in the right corner are from the chairs and benches. There is pendant lighting and stained glass. The walls are covered in cherry wood and trimmed out with bridles carved into the wood. The tables and chairs were set up and it looked as if they only have a little more to finish. I think it will be nice if the servers are dressed like jockeys! I did have the opportunity to see the TCBG up close but I didnt have my camera!

I have more photos, so stay tuned!

TTFN
SSR Queen

 

[lisaviolet]

Thank you CRSNDSNY and Lisa!! I like it!! Jim Lewis said that Members are DVC Royalty, so SSR Queen is fitting

Lisa, did your group hang out at the CP Pool? One afternoon we were out grilling and you know we Texans are famous for our BBQ, and this poor guy FROM CANADA followed his nose right to our table!! Now I dont know a BBQ from a Rotisserie, and actually had a pro prepare our ribs and brisket for the trip and was just heating them on the grill along with some chicken. This guy was sooo funny and impressed and I gave him a bite of chicken so he could taste the seasonings and he protested but only a little! LOL!! His girlfriends at the pool were aghast, which made it even more funnier I like a man that follows his nose!


TTFN
SSR Queen

My dearest SSR Queen,

Was he Black or White???? I had three men in my group...

Here's the scoop. We hung out at the pool as a group one day. BUT...one day we went to Epcot/MGM and two of the men stayed back. One is much too polite. The other, my father, might just give it go. And he's funny. He told my sister that Fulton's Crab House sailed up from farther down the river earlier in the day. And she stone faced, and naively, shared the exciting news to us in the pool when he told her to go tell your sister that FCH had arrived.

However, since we celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with a surprise party on the weekend...well the "girlfriends" are throwing me off. Unless he has WDW secrets!!!!

Geez.....does this mean I missed both Texans and funny Canadians at the CP pool?

And where the heck am I missing these CP grills? Are they near the playground that I've just noticed after three trips there?

 

[conciergekelly]

I really enjoyed your report. Thanks for all of the great info on the new restaurant. It looks great from the pictures. I'll be waiting for more pictures. I am glad you had fun. I'll keep an nose out for the bbq next time I am there. You really know how to vacation!

 

[LIFERBABE]

The Conch Flats Nature Trail, connects OKW and SSR. No lighting along this path, but great for morning walks.

EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival

 

[LIFERBABE]

The new Pool House in the Fairway Villas Section

Front View that will Face the Pool

Back View visible from the Carriage House

The view from our 1 Bedroom #1503

Your Carriage Awaits! SSR Carriage Ride

The new Turf Club sign above the Door (There is another much nicer sign in AP)

 

[uicbear]

Thanks for the pics. One question, is the "fairways" section the Paddock? Or is this an entirely new area. I am planning a small family reunion and thinking this area might be ideal with the pool area with food (and I heard a pool bar? )

Oh, and before I forget...

"ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!!!"

 

[LIFERBABE]

Thanks for the pics. One question, is the "fairways" section the Paddock? Or is this an entirely new area. I am planning a small family reunion and thinking this area might be ideal with the pool area with food (and I heard a pool bar? )

Oh, and before I forget...

"ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!!!"

SILENCE!! (In my best Queenly voice) That will be enough Hailing for the day!
(I've always wanted to say that, but it doesnt work well on kids)

Thank you UICbear! That section will be an entirely new section. Not sure what the name will end up being officially. If you request it, I would request "golf course view". Yes there will be a pool bar there. and I think it will be a great location within the resort. It will be as close to the main areas as the Springs but with its own amenities. It will also be very close to the boat dock. We cant wait to try it out!

 

[mommym]

What a great trip report! The new Fairway section sounds right up our alley. DisneyQuest every day?? How did you swing that? Do you have AP's? My kids love it but it gets spendy to keep going back so we only hit it once per trip. Would love to hear how you do it. Thanks again!

 

[LIFERBABE]

What a great trip report! The new Fairway section sounds right up our alley. DisneyQuest every day?? How did you swing that? Do you have AP's? My kids love it but it gets spendy to keep going back so we only hit it once per trip. Would love to hear how you do it. Thanks again!

Hi mommym,

My Dh and the boys LOVE DisneyQuest!! They went a couple of hours every day normally in the evening after spending all day hanging out at the resort.
2 years ago we started purchasing the DQ&Waterpark Annual Pass. They would much rather visit these than the 4 Theme Parks, so a PAP would be wasted on them.

So we customized our tickets to the way we tour. I purchased 10 day MYW hoppers with No Exp for the couple of days we hit the parks each trip and then for DH and the boys DQ&WP AP for daily use. I use to go to DQ with them and surf the net and eat Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Cake. Now I sit on my patio and surf the net and Dh brings me a piece of cake! LOL!!

It was actually a larger initial outlay than the PAP, but now we have Park days every trip and all the waterpark and DisneyQuest they can stand. I est. the 10 day passes will last until 2008 at our rate and we just renew their DQ/WP AP's and those are around $129 each for the 3 of them. If you just want the DQ AP without the WParks, that AP is less than $100. 3 trips to DQ and it is paid for!

I also wanted to add, that I figured if our park visits increase, to where the AP's make sense, we could always put our 10 day tickets on the back burner and purchase the AP's. I would love to be in the parks every day, but they would be miserable.

They love staying at SSR, one, because they like taking the boat over to DQ. They always have something to do, because DQ stays open until midnight and that's a treat for them to get to stay out that late.

So basically they have unlimited access to DisneyQuest Typhoon and Blizzard Beach. Limited Access to the parks.

I apologize if this is so detailed, but it took me days to put together the right ticket combo for us. Guest Services at DTD was very patient and answered all my questions about old hopper ticket values and trade ins. So hoping my path can save others some time.

.