Man is SSR Ever Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge

[nbodyhome]

What is America's problem with walking? I have read way too many posts this week about people complaining about loooooong hallways and loooooong walks to a pool.....If these resorts were any smaller, we'd never get a reservation and people would complain about that. If they were too small or too close together, people would complain about the tight spaces.
Blakely

I LOVE to walk at Disney - Last month I started a section of my site on Disney walks, and it amazes me how close everything really is to one another. I just am working on the 2nd and 3rd part of my Downtown Disney/Saratoga Spring walk (already photographed, I am just putting it together) - and I've never timed it before, so it surprised me. Actually, I've done most of the walk many times, but I didn't realize that I could walk to the West Side right from Saratoga until recently.

First, I am not a fast walker. About 3mph, average probably. I started at the Lake Buena Vista golf course - going through the West Side, around PI (it was closed at that time), through the Marketplace, around to the Saratoga Springs walkway - to the path that goes to the Gazebo, and then around the water area to the LBV golf course again.

The time to do all that? 33 minutes. The bulk of the time was not at Saratoga Springs. (I did walk around the resort as well). The walk from the Hospitality House at OKW to the golf course area - where the path meets the SS bridge/Westside area was about 20 minutes for me.

I wish there were MORE walking at Disney. I've done more at the BW, Epcot and FW than anywhere - but I can't ever get enough of finding new places to walk. (I used to live in Lake Buena Vista, now I only get down there a few times or so a month. I know, poor me!)

 

[tomandrobin]

I LOVE to walk at Disney - Last month I started a section of my site on Disney walks, and it amazes me how close everything really is to one another. I just am working on the 2nd and 3rd part of my Downtown Disney/Saratoga Spring walk (already photographed, I am just putting it together) - and I've never timed it before, so it surprised me. Actually, I've done most of the walk many times, but I didn't realize that I could walk to the West Side right from Saratoga until recently.

First, I am not a fast walker. About 3mph, average probably. I started at the Lake Buena Vista golf course - going through the West Side, around PI (it was closed at that time), through the Marketplace, around to the Saratoga Springs walkway - to the path that goes to the Gazebo, and then around the water area to the LBV golf course again.

The time to do all that? 33 minutes. The bulk of the time was not at Saratoga Springs. (I did walk around the resort as well). The walk from the Hospitality House at OKW to the golf course area - where the path meets the SS bridge/Westside area was about 20 minutes for me.

I wish there were MORE walking at Disney. I've done more at the BW, Epcot and FW than anywhere - but I can't ever get enough of finding new places to walk. (I used to live in Lake Buena Vista, now I only get down there a few times or so a month. I know, poor me!)

We are walkers too! In fact, if you are in Disney by some measure, you are a walker too (not meant to exclude my wheeled friends, Mc! )

The whole distance thing and walking around SSR is ridiculous. Doesn't matter what resort you are statying at, there is alot of walking to be had! Wether its walking to the pool, restuarant, bus, boat, monorail (future reference), walking to Epcot or MGM (if staying at BWV/BCV) there is a lot of walking. You might save a few steps walking to the pool at BCV, but walking to EPCOT or MGM is no short trip.

Probably the best resort, for the least amount of walking is VWL.

 

[nbodyhome]

The whole distance thing and walking around SSR is ridiculous. Doesn't matter what resort you are statying at, there is alot of walking to be had!

I used to go to the Boardwalk or FW (mostly, though occasionally other areas - like DD/Saratoga and elsewhere) and walked for 2 - 3 hours several nights per week when I lived closer. Boardwalk and FW were my first 2 walks for the site, because I've done them SO much.

You don't have to walk a lot when at Disney - one can go from ride to ride, in order, and not walk as much as someone like me who takes extra laps around WS. Saratoga Springs isn't the smallest resort - but I don't think the main area is more than a 5 - 10 minute walk (at most) from any of the villas.

The walk from Epcot to MGM is only about 20 minutes - but I guess that is a lot to some people. I know that I need the walking to keep my weight off (80 pounds lost over 4 years so far).

Saratoga Springs is beautiful. I do miss the Disney Institute, but at least Disney has something there that house willing guests (unlike the Disney Institute and incarnations of the name prior to that).

 

[MinnesotaChill]

You know, there are a lot of other resorts which require walking too. CSR is one of them. As BW owners, who stayed there for my sister's wedding last year, we thought at first that things were a ways a way. But then when walking it with the kids, it was so much more enjoyable that they could meander through the grass, look at wildlife, and take shortcuts than it is at the BW, where you walk down one endless hallway. Don't get me wrong, we LOVE BWV, but we once had the last room at the end of the hall on the Studios side and honestly, I'll bet it took much longer to get our key fixed the two times we demagnetized it because there were no short cuts we could take. It felt like it took less time to walk to the Studios than to the front desk! Since we were at Disney and having a great time, it didn't bother us enough to actually even talk about it, but we did tend to consolidate our trips downstairs!

At least at SSR (unlike CSR), we do tend to have food in our rooms, preventing the need to walk if we are starving. At CSR we didn't have cars and had to make the walk to eat. I think there were busses too, but I'd rather walk along landscaped paths than ride in a bus anyday! The people we were with who don't own at Disney thought CSR was one of the prettiest resorts they'd ever stayed at because everything wasn't right on top of each other!

We own at both because at different times of life we like to vacation different ways. I'd also love to own at AKV, and maybe we will some day! And I know that would be entirely different too! So please, no need to criticize someone else for their taste.

 

[SoCalKDG]

Some other interesting comparisons courtesy of Google maps. All of those are screen grabs in exactly the same zoom levels:

As you can see, SSR is like the entire Boardwalk resort area, but the center point is in the middle of the lake.

Looking at those photos shows the longest walk at SSR is almost 2 1/2 times as long as the longest at either BWV or BCV.

You could stay at BWV and walk to either Epcot or Disney Studios or stay at SSR and walk to your pool. Choices, choices.

On a serious note, is there a bus that runs inside the resort at SSR similar to OKW?

 

[barlitz]

I've stayed at both BC and SSR, the walk from BC to Epcot is longer than any walk we did at SSR.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Not sure if that would have been possible, in FLorida we cannot build underground. In Vero you enter the garage on the first floor then the units are on the "second floor" but appear to be the first floor since they are built on a hill.

Thought this comment in response to the 'put the parking lot underground' suggestion was interesting.....I had been told that the AKL villas parking will be underground?? Maybe that is wrong?

 

[Sammie]

There is an underground parking garage for staff at MGM, so I don't think building underground is a problem.

However I like the parking the way it is at SSR, that way I am steps away from my door.

 

[cobbler]

Parking really isn't underground. Parking is on the ground level (or level 1) while the rest begins on level 2.

 

[jco_direwolf]

There is an underground parking garage for staff at MGM, so I don't think building underground is a problem.

The untildors (aka the tunnels under MK) aren't realy underground. They built them on ground-level, then they backfilled between them and built the MK on top.

In Florida is basicly a swamp, if you build anything really underground it gets wet and wants to float up. Not that you absolutly can't build stuff underground in Fla, but rarely is it worth it.

johno

 

[BroganMc]

Looking at those photos shows the longest walk at SSR is almost 2 1/2 times as long as the longest at either BWV or BCV.

You could stay at BWV and walk to either Epcot or Disney Studios or stay at SSR and walk to your pool. Choices, choices.

I think you're misunderstanding the map. The EPCOT resort area includes BWV, BWI, BCV, BC, YC, and Swan & Dolphin. EPCOT itself is off to the right and included in the second DTD/SSR vs. EPCOT/World Showcase map.

Since SSR has 4 pools, you could do the same walk from BCV or BWV and get to a pool. But if you wanted to hop from BWV to SAB, it would be like going from SSR's Carousel to the High Rock Springs pool. Oh but then, at BWV you can't hop to SAB. Oh well, then you'd have to walk from BCV to the clown pool at BWV, with a longer distance.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Isn't it rather silly to argue about others preferences

From my perspective, I like to read reviews from others trips especially if I haven't experienced the location myself. Of course, I would be rather naive if I didn't take those reviews with a grain of salt.

 

[fishermouse]

Don't believe her. She has the moderators wrapped around her little finger.

I have to agree with edk35... I was okay with OP's posting and found parts amusing.

HOWEVER... I have learned to never discount a woman's intuition.

Vero Beach has everything within .25 mi. walking.

The moderators move posts all the time and she is correct this is a trip report
although IMO it is a totally fabricated trip report. It's not like they removed it or put it somewhere obscure, if anything it will get viewed by more in the misc. board than the operations board.

 

[tjkraz]

Isn't it rather silly to argue about others preferences

Yes, but I don't think it's inappropriate to dispel factual errors mixed in among the preferences. For instance the first post in this thread effectively claimed that SSR's pool was twice as far from many guest rooms as BCV's pool is from its rooms, and that SSR needed another feature pool. Those types of errors deserve to be addressed.

Now, if someone made a claim like "I don't like the style of buildings at XXX", that truly IS a preference and doesn't require defending.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Good Things About SSR
. . . nicely appointed rooms
. . . good overall theming
. . . pleasant exterior decorating and gardening
. . . near DTD for some buildings

2) Bad Things About SSR
. . . very spread out
. . . without trees (like OKW) parking lots are very much in-view everywhere
. . . extremely limited dining choices
. . . lack of enough pool capacity

 

[SaratogaShan]

1) Good Things About SSR
. . . nicely appointed rooms
. . . good overall theming
. . . pleasant exterior decorating and gardening
. . . near DTD for some buildings

2) Bad Things About SSR
. . . very spread out
. . . without trees (like OKW) parking lots are very much in-view everywhere
. . . extremely limited dining choices
. . . lack of enough pool capacity

SSR does have trees....lots of them. They are not fully mature yet, but are growing quickly.

I think the addition of the Turf Club Bar and Grille adds nicely to the offerings at Artist's Pallate. Two onsite restaraunt choices PLUS a snackbar in the Grandstand section is probably plenty, given the close proximity of DTD.

SSR has some VERY nice quiet pools, especially Congress Park and the new Grandstand pool. There are now two splashpads for the kids as well. Plenty of water to go around!

All of this of course is ONLY my opinion!

 

[Mtnman44]

Everyone has their own opinion, and the great thing is for the most part everyone is correct! We all like what we like and thank goodness we all like different stuff.

I bought SSR for a few reasons, but one WAS the location and the layout. Day after day at crowded parks, jammed with people and lines, I wanted my home resort to be a place to relax, unwined, and "de-park" myself. I wanted open and quiet with other things to do (golf, spa, DTD, car to go off prop). So I chose SSR. Sometimes we may spend SOME nights at VWL or BWV or BCV, and I plan on buying some points at one of the Epcot resorts, but that will only be for some of our days (mostly Epcot and Studios days). The bulk of our trips will be back at SSR or OKW I imagine.

 

[shellbelle1971]

Also it seems those that critize SSR, in the same report rave about BCV. BCV is a wonderful resort as are all of the DVC resorts I just find it amusing that those that usually stay at BCV are the most critical, or so it seems. And truly they are so different if one loves BCV, why would one book SSR anyway.

.

We own at both SSR and BCV and love 'em both for different reasons. We have also thorougly enjoyed our stays at other properties...I don't get it when people feel the need to bash other resorts. They all have their plusses and minuses!

 

[cncDisney4]

I really can't believe I'm reading another thread talking about the good and bad aspects of SSR. We have been to SSR four times in the last 15 months (three times in CP and one time in Paddocks) and absolutely LOVE it! To us, any visit to WDW means walking and walking and more walking whether you are at resorts or parks. We no longer do the "commando" vacations and we still do alot of walking.

As a side note - I have lost 60 lbs in the last year and have lost weight after every vacation we've taken in the last year. That is largely due to the amount of walking because we certainly enjoy the dining there too.

Anyway, back on subject - not everyone will enjoy every DVC resort. We are staying at the BCV, BWV and our beloved SSR in June. Just DH and I on this trip and we wanted to stay at some of the other DVC resorts offered. We will do this with an open mind about each resort knowing that each one offers something different - what a blessing it is to have the opportunity thru DVC to vacation this much and experience different things.

I say - Enjoy life and learn from what you have experienced. If you don't like a certain resort then it's simple - don't book there again. That is what we plan on doing after we stay at all the other DVC resorts - if we don't like it - we won't be going back. There are plenty of choices - gotta love that. I have no doubt that the majority of our trips will be at SSR, but again, to each their own.

Blessings and I hope your next trip to WDW will be everything you want it to be.

 

[tomandrobin]

I really can't believe I'm reading another thread talking about the good and bad aspects of SSR.

what a blessing it is to have the opportunity thru DVC to vacation this much and experience different things.

Enjoy life and learn from what you have experienced. If you don't like a certain resort then it's simple - don't book there again. I have no doubt that the majority of our trips will be at SSR, but again, to each their own.

Blessings and I hope your next trip to WDW will be everything you want it to be.

Amen on that!

PS - Congratulations on your weight loss!! It takes alot effort to stick to lossing weight!