We also toured the AKV model while at SSR last week. Our guide pointed out that they are changing the kitchen cabinets ( getting rid of the "worming" in the wood,so it will be less "worn looking") Also, if you noticed there are beautiful sheer curtains in the sliders with an animal theme.They are replacing these also because there are tigers depicted and there are no tigers in Africa!
Thanks eeyoresmom!!

I HATED the wormy look!!! That's what I meant by fake/cartoony looking. It was just too much and not believable. Who wants worms in the kitchen? Im glad they decided to change them! Now the sheers I like! Maybe they will just remove the Tigers and replace them with Lions.
Sorry to keep you all waiting on the photos, but I cant figure it out. Ive done it before but now it escapes me
Hi Tiggercrew, one of the reasons my family enjoys SSR so much is because there is so much to do and they have an AWESOME recreation staff there.
When we first purchased
DVC, I thought we would work our trips around AP's and visit the parks frequently. I purchased BCV for us and SSR was going to be a place we sent family and friends.

DVC allowed us to slow down and enjoy the resorts more. Once SSR opened, we really liked it more than we ever expected and although I will always have a soft spot for BCV, if given a choice, Dh and the boys (now 10 and 8) always choose SSR. They prefer the leisurely vacations and will always choose hanging out at the resort over the parks. I look at WDW as our "country club" more than just a theme park vacation. We dont have time to belong to a club at home and DVC really allows us to be away and enjoy all the resort amenities.
Sorry to take the long way to answering your question, but that is our mindset.
We spent 2 weeks at SSR over Christmas and NYE (no parks) and this is what we did:
Went to Typhoon Lagoon with some Dis Friends
Had a NYE BBQ and watched the PI Fireworks on the lake
Community Hall activities-too many to list, my favorite was ceramics, we made ice cream, PS2, shuffleboard, towel animals, Disney Magnets, pool games, pool bingo, foosball, ping pong,etc.
We only purchase mugs when at SSR. The self serve stations are conveniently located.
Spa-even if I dont have a service I visit and buy Mystical Forest body gels and candles and salts for use in the whirlpool tub.
late night swims-I love the soundproof aspect of SSR Villas and that the pools are away from guest rooms. You can actually enjoy late night swims and not have to worry about disturbing guests or breaking rules. We are not loud or disrespectful anyway but it's good to know that we couldnt bother anyone even if we were.
Dh and I plan on taking up golf when the boys are older
DTD and DisneyQuest-Dh and boys get AP's for DQ and the Waterparks which SSR is very close to, and go often. DQ stays open late (midnight or after) so they get their monies worth even if they only go for an hour or 2.
DTD-lots to do there. If it's raining we duck into a movie, or Virgin Megastore has lots of video games and movies and books.
Typhoon Lagoon-very close to SSR and a great way to spend the afternoon foating around the lazy river. The boys like the waterpark lazy rivers because they can touch bottom, which they cannot do at SAB.
They make friends-I like that DVC allows us to stay long enough to see some of the same children during our stay. The boys make friends and meet up at Comm. Hall to play PS2 or Ping Pong.
We feed the fish-that long bridge to The Paddocks has some huge bass underneath and they come right to the surface to eat.
We walk-We take long walks around the resort, thru DTD and sometimes over to OKW to enjoy our beautiful surroundings. I love the landscaping there.
My favorite thing to do-Sit on my patio with a glass of wine enjoying my DTD view!
I hope that gets you started!