Need so much help! New to 'New Disney' (and DVC)

[Princess Katelet]

Hello,

I'm unfamilar with all the covid ways of booking Disney now.

A friend has points for DVC that will be wasted if she doesn't use them up and she's offered them to me. The only resort I can get for my dates in May is Saratoga Springs. Does Magical Express drop off there?

I am looking at two bedroom villa that sleeps eight...can we book for say, four people, and then only two show up? Does Disney care or penalize you if you book for four and all four don't come?

Can you walk to Disney Springs from there?

Do you get to the parks by bus only (I mean Disney transport only)? It seems pretty far from everything.

I have unused, unexpired seven day Magic Your Way hoppers. Do I need them to reserve my park days? And then am I stuck with those park days or can I change my dates (depending on my daughter's possible internship) and possibly book a trip later in the summer, as long as I haven't used any of the ticket?

For that matter, can my friend also reschedule the Saratoga Springs booking to another hotel and dates? She is new to DVC so we are both inexperienced here.

Thoughts on Saratoga Springs? I live a few hours from there and can't say I'm too thrilled going from upstate NY to upstate NY, lol...

Thank you!

 

[CarolynFH]

Short answers:
Yes, Magical Express drops off at SSR.

Disney doesn’t care if only two people show up for a villa that sleeps 8. (They do care if 9 or more people show up.)

Yes, you can walk to DS. Some parts of SSR are farther from DS than others.

Your tickets need to be linked to you and your party in MDE in order to book park reservations. You can change them, based on availability. The tickets will still be good for a later visit as long as you don’t use them at all.

Whether your friend can reschedule to a different resort depends on availability as well as on the number of points she has, their use year, etc. She can get help on the DISboards DVC Member Services board - click HERE.

And you can get more information about SSR here on DISboards on the DVC Resorts board - click HERE.

 

[Princess Katelet]

Short answers:
Yes, Magical Express drops off at SSR.

Disney doesn’t care if only two people show up for a villa that sleeps 8. (They do care if 9 or more people show up.)

Yes, you can walk to DS. Some parts of SSR are farther from DS than others.

Your tickets need to be linked to you and your party in MDE in order to book park reservations. You can change them, based on availability. The tickets will still be good for a later visit as long as you don’t use them at all.

Whether your friend can reschedule to a different resort depends on availability as well as on the number of points she has, their use year, etc. She can get help on the DISboards DVC Member Services board - click HERE.

And you can get more information about SSR here on DISboards on the DVC Resorts board - click HERE.

 

[Princess Katelet]

Thank you so much for the info!

 

[chalee94]

Can you walk to Disney Springs from there?

There is usually a boat to DS also, but it has been shut down in the pandemic. No telling when it will reopen.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

SSR is actually very centrally located. It is bus to all parks but the bus rides are direct once you leave the resort and quick compared to say an MK resort to AK. And there's the benefit of walking or boat access to DS. Park hours are getting extended but it still is nice to have all the DS dining options so close to your resort.

 

[Sandisw]

Just be sure before deciding anything that you check the park reservations calendar. Many dates in May and June are booked up at some of the parks.

For example, as of today, the only park available for every day of my June 7 to 11th trip is Epcot for resort guests. Fortunately, I booked a few weeks ago.

 

[The Jackal]

Short answers:
Yes, Magical Express drops off at SSR.

Disney doesn’t care if only two people show up for a villa that sleeps 8. (They do care if 9 or more people show up.)

Yes, you can walk to DS. Some parts of SSR are farther from DS than others.

Your tickets need to be linked to you and your party in MDE in order to book park reservations. You can change them, based on availability. The tickets will still be good for a later visit as long as you don’t use them at all.

Whether your friend can reschedule to a different resort depends on availability as well as on the number of points she has, their use year, etc. She can get help on the DISboards DVC Member Services board - click HERE.

And you can get more information about SSR here on DISboards on the DVC Resorts board - click HERE.

SSR refurbished 2 bedrooms sleep 9, the old ones did too, but didn’t have the sleeping surface and linens for the 9th. Disney did have different limits for cash customers though. DVC cares that all people staying in the room are on the reservation and you do not go over maximum room occupancy. There are a few grand villas that have sleeping surfaces for 14 people, but the maximum is 12.

 

[Quellman]

Just a few notes about SSR transportation. We've stayed here a few times.

Disney Springs is a walkway, bus, or a boat ride - subject to current operation limitations. Do be aware that generally trying to come BACK from SSR via the boat can be more time consuming as a result of the number of boats. SSR does have multiple stops in the resort. Not sure how they are doing in during COVID, but the bus can sometimes get full if you are one of the later busses. Don't get discouraged, another less full bus will show up.
SSR has a type of internal bus route. Depending on your nearest bus stop, you will want to get on the Disney Springs bus to get to the lobby and then any parks bus, OR any parks bus to get to the lobby and then the Disney SPrings bus to get back to your room. This is because the routes are backwards. For example, if you are in the Grand Stand section, it is the first stop for all parks busses, and the last stop for all Disney Springs. But really all you have to do is ask the bus driver if they are going to the place you want to go and they'll help you out.