My SSR Improvement Suggestion......

[bom_noite]

To begin with - this is NOT a SSR Bashing thread. Have never stayed there - but - am not against the idea. I really love the Pool area and think the Fast Food dining is cool and has lots of good selection. When my kids were younger (and SSR was being built) I used to drive them over to Pool Hop and would grab a Coffee and Newspapaer and veg out - I thought it was a fantastic setting!

I am a OKW Geek - and one of the things I love is the Conch Flats area. The Christmas Lights the setting, there is a Buzz there that makes you feel like you are at the happening place (or I feel that way).

Regardless - I always felt something was missing at SSR. Something to give me the same home away from home feel I get at OKW. I came up with this idea about 5 years ago and my wife and I were just talking about it - so I thought I would throw it out for public consumption.

Ok Here It Is: The area behind the pool - the little "square" is prime Real Estate and has been totally wasted. If I was DVC Pres for the day I would totally rebuild that area with shops:

• Restaurant
• Pastry / Ice Cream Joint
• Bar (with nightly entertainment)
• Maybe a one chair Barber Shop
• An Equine / Horse Racing / Blacksmith Curio Shop
• Maybe a 6 Lane Bowling or DuckPin Bowling Alley
• Old time 40 seat Theatre
• Photographers / Portrait Shop
• Small Bank / Post Office
• Saratoga Mayors / Police Office (that is really a DVC Shop).
• Hitching Posts along the street
• Hot Dog, Cotton Candy, Hot Pretzel and Lemonade Stand on the Square

Those are just some of the ideas I had - obviously they would not all fit. I think others can come up with 100 more ideas.

As you look from the pool to the right is the Work Out Center (which is fabulous and I would hate to lose) and the DVC Tour Center. I am not surely what is on the opposite side (back-side of rooms? storage?) I think there is enough space you could re-arrange and retain some of what they currently have. The DVC Tour Center could have it's entrance like a Shop on the Square.

If you could not retain the fabulous work-out center it would be a shame - but - I think my idea benefits more people. Maybe the work-out center could be relocated on the SSR property?

I have never been to Saratoga NY, but, I think we all have been to some small town with a central square! The Lake Buena Vista city of Saratoga really deserves such a setting. It would certainly attract folks and be a money generator - more so then what the current set-up generates!

I really believe that this alone would dramatically enhance the SSR "Theme" and give SSR Dwellers a cool little place to hang out after a long day at the parks.

 

[hakepb]

I do completely agree that SSR is not ideally situated. SSR is a re-purposeed Disney Institute.

It would be very neat to have a portion replicate the feeling of a downtown SSR,, if such a thing exists.

It would be great to swap Carousel with the tennis courts and sales center. Or swap the pool and restaurants and pool (so the main pool overlooks DTD, also) but, what you see are many re purposed buildings, not ideally designed as a DVC resort.

I will say, the 'workout center' is also the spa. A spa that is not only the best in WDW, but one of the best in Fla. I'll put that down as a successful use of a building in SSR.

I think your general amenity ideas are good. That quad is a hidden gem, a little too hidden.

 

[csharpwv]

I agree with you about the lack of the presence of the 'town' of Saratoga Springs. When I walk in through that area I can't help but to think about what it would be like if there had been more focus on what people could 'do' AT Saratoga Springs instead of assuming guests would prefer to go to Downtown Disney for a shopping/nightlife experience.

There are an abundance of things that could have been done to further theme the resort in a way that would allow the experience to be more engaging - and allow for more space around the resort to explore and experience the 'life' of Saratoga Springs instead of just the 'look' of Saratoga Springs.

More shops would definitely have added to that feeling - more opportunities for activity could have added to that feeling - and things that heavily reinforced the theme would definitely have added to that feeling.

I always felt that Old Key West didn't really have a 'theme' until we stayed there for our first time - and now I realize that it's Saratoga that really doesn't have much or a 'theme'.
In comparison to OKW - Saratoga is very plain, half imagined, and only "Disney" thanks to a few small touches.

I vote for your plan!

 

[bom_noite]

I always felt that Old Key West didn't really have a 'theme' until we stayed there for our first time......

As long as I am spending WDW's money I would just lose the OKW Tennis courts (at Conch Flats) and expand the "uptown" area. I absolutely adore the area - it just needs to be 30% bigger.

 

[El&Asmom]

I like your ideas. It would be fun if it were like a little quaint town with family activities. Kind of like the boardwalk but more of an upstate NY town.

 

[vicki_c]

Hmm ... I really wouldn't want SSR to turn into a mini-version (or equal version) of the Boardwalk, especially with DTD so close by. I guess I disagree - I don't think any of that is needed. We liked our SSR stay (only been there for one stay, but I do own there) because of its LACK of all that type of buzz and activity.

 

[robertdangelo]

I think the Duckpin Alley is a neat Idea. I have only play traditional Bowling... I bet the Duckpin bowling would be fun for all... especially those that have nevr tried it.
I know Bowling is not the business it used to be... our area's largest alley closed a couple years ago... "Olympic Bowl" in Rochester, NY... had 80 lanes.
Maybe one of the former nightclubs in Pleasure island could be a bowling facility... have some traditional lanes, Duckpin Lanes as well as Candlepin lanes.

 

[bom_noite]

I think the Duckpin Alley is a neat Idea.

Donald's Duck Pin Bowling!

 

[hakepb]

I do have to say, the themeing of the main area, from check in, then down that hallway (with seating) to AP then turf club, and the main pool, is near perfect. Great design and finish materials, appropriate horse decor, piped in music, aroma from the food....

But you do not really experience that area every time you go to your room. Each building's entrance uses 'lower' quality concrete pavers (only in my dreams could I replace my gravel drive with those pavers) but this is Disney and I guess I expect more than my dreams. There is no music, no aromas of food or landscaping.... Makes it easy to forget how wonderful parts of SSR are.

 

[yitbos96bb]

i agree with you about the lack of the presence of the 'town' of saratoga springs. When i walk in through that area i can't help but to think about what it would be like if there had been more focus on what people could 'do' at saratoga springs instead of assuming guests would prefer to go to downtown disney for a shopping/nightlife experience.

There are an abundance of things that could have been done to further theme the resort in a way that would allow the experience to be more engaging - and allow for more space around the resort to explore and experience the 'life' of saratoga springs instead of just the 'look' of saratoga springs.

More shops would definitely have added to that feeling - more opportunities for activity could have added to that feeling - and things that heavily reinforced the theme would definitely have added to that feeling.

I always felt that old key west didn't really have a 'theme' until we stayed there for our first time - and now i realize that it's saratoga that really doesn't have much or a 'theme'.
In comparison to okw - saratoga is very plain, half imagined, and only "disney" thanks to a few small touches.

I vote for your plan!

okw=overrated

 

[TisBit]

I agree that a lot of the things at SSR were repurposed with the sales center and just not sure you will ever see the sales center moved (they had an opportunity to put it in BLT which would have been a better location getting people in from the parks or using the monorail).

I believe the building with the models was supposed to be a theater (want to say that our guide told us that). An ice cream shop, downtown feel would be nice as more of a destination like BWV....but as PP said, being so close to DTD, not sure how feasible/profitable it would be.

I really like the idea of adding a second theme'd pool out at Paddocks with more QS dining options, etc. SSR is a very large resort and I think it deserves to have the second QS and fully theme'd pool, it would quite many of the complainers about SSR.

 

[sweetdana]

I would love a kid's club like at BC, and AKV have. That would make SSR perfect. I love everything else about it, but stay at BC as often as possible due to the kid's club. DH and I love having 1-2 nights out while on VK and we do not like a kid's night out (she is bored stuck in her room) as well as her playing with her friends.

 

[eporter66]

I like any ideas that would help improve the SSR Resort. Nothing wrong with suggestions.

However - I live three miles from Saratoga Springs, and the design of SSR has many "little" reminders of my home town. The birdhouses around the pool are in the parks of Saratoga, the little statues in Congress Park (and other areas) are replica's of statues in Saratoga. There is a Carousel in the center of town in Congress park. If you take the time to look around, there is a lot that reflects on Saratoga Springs, and of course having the Spa there fits perfectly.

I do have to say that I prefer to walk over to DTD to do shopping and nightlife, I really think that works fine and keeps the resort quiet and peaceful. I love the look of the resort, the layout and the grounds. A lot of the art reflects the history of Saratoga and racing, so some things may be subtle - but I think they did a good job with it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I suggested on a thread last week that I wished SSR would have taken greater advantage of the little "home town" feel that the resort started with when it took over the Disney Institute site. It think your idea has great merit. I think you are also right about what makes OKW so charming. It just feels like community there.

 

[tjhsr]

To be honest we love SSR just the way it is We are here right now and have stayed here many times. We have never felt like there has to be night life or anything like that. if we want to do something we just go to DTD and there plenty for us to do or just eat ice cream and enjoy.

 

[Sammie]

For us that do "stay" there, we love it as it is. No improvements necessary. They have addressed the only area I felt was needed another theme pool with snack bar.

What we love about SSR, is the quietness, the lack of clutter, the nonbusy feel to it, the SPA feel, the tranquility.

I would hate to see it changed into a mini Boardwalk. If they did I would be moving to the new DVC campground resort,

The ice cream parlor, I might could accept that.

 

[rosermama]

So we just stayed there, our first time staying really more than a night in one of the DVC hotels. I too thought it could use a couple of changes, of the ones suggested above I agree with:

Restaurant -nothing to upscale, but a nice sit down place where you can get some good quality food- no burgers more like chicken, steak, meatloaf, stews etc. simple elegance. Then maybe one night a week they could do a formal night with dancing and piano playing. I like to think of SSR as the getaway like in Dirty Dancing, a property people would go to in NY for a few weeks to relax so they would have different night themes.

Pastry / Ice Cream Joint - kind of like the place at the end of the DVC tour office, just a little bigger with more flavors. They could attach this to the DVC area and when the tours are over bring people in to the parlor and give them a coupon to get a free scoop. THINK old time soda shop / ice cream palor

Maybe a one chair Barber Shop - totally agree, like an old school feel where a man could get a shave and a haircut. My husband hates the idea of going to a spa even for a hair cut. He likes to be pampered but the word SPA scares.

Maybe a 6 Lane Bowling or DuckPin Bowling Alley

Photographers / Portrait Shop - like the ones in the mall where they take the picture in old time clothes.

Hot Dog, Cotton Candy, Hot Pretzel and Lemonade Stand on the Square


I would add:
The resturant area looks too much like every other hotel on property. It would be cool if these were sort of broken up a little more or looked more like seperate areas.

I don't think this would make it like boardwalk at all... I think this could give it a small town feel. Picture the small town Jimmy Stewart lives in during the 20's in it's a wonderful life.
This would help to seperate the hotel and make it a different experince, as this is the largest DVC hotel and many people want to relax and not have to leave to go to downtown disney.

 

[Sammie]

Why add another sit down restuarant when they already have one of the best in the Turf Club. which serves a really good steak and chicken in a wonderful setting, especially the patio area.

 

[tjhsr]

Why add another sit down restuarant when they already have one of the best in the Turf Club.

We had dinner there last night out on the patio and it was great!!! Even better than the last time in May and that was pretty good too.

 

[hakepb]

Why add another sit down restuarant when they already have one of the best in the Turf Club. which serves a really good steak and chicken in a wonderful setting, especially the patio area.

The Turf Club is good, I do not think the patio is all weather, though. Could be better if it had breakfast.

I think they are doing the right thing adding a burger place to the new Congress Park pool, AP is completely overwhelmed with the size of SSR.