Nervous about SSR

[dcassetta]

We really wanted the studio amenities for out trip and SSR is a good value, but I am concerned about being at such a spread out resort. Knowing that requests are not guaranteed, the 8500 building in the Grandstand section seems like a good compromise for location in a standard studio. Would appreciate hearing about experiences.

 

[erionm]

I've had very good luck with SSR requests. My typical requests are Grandstand and Near Transportation. We've always gotten Grandstand and the room has been in one of the two buildings on either side of the pool.

 

[Dean]

We really wanted the studio amenities for out trip and SSR is a good value, but I am concerned about being at such a spread out resort. Knowing that requests are not guaranteed, the 8500 building in the Grandstand section seems like a good compromise for location in a standard studio. Would appreciate hearing about experiences.

SSR seems to do better than most honoring reasonable requests. SSR is a fine resort but it is spread out. If you won't have a car it can be more challenging.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We've stayed in Grandstand and enjoyed the location, we were close to the pool. Limited view, trees obscured it, maybe we faced a golf course.

 

[abner1776]

Choosing "preferred" is a crap shoot. I choose preferred last winter and ended up at Congress Park far end by Disney Springs...it was a hike to anywhere. My DD did preferred later in the spring and ended up in "springs" right next to the bus stop and a few steps from the main bldg.

If you decide to go with "preferred" booking, I would make a request for "springs" if that is possible or you could just go with regular booking and request Grandstand.

 

[Dean]

Choosing "preferred" is a crap shoot. I choose preferred last winter and ended up at Congress Park far end by Disney Springs...it was a hike to anywhere. My DD did preferred later in the spring and ended up in "springs" right next to the bus stop and a few steps from the main bldg.

If you decide to go with "preferred" booking, I would make a request for "springs" if that is possible or you could just go with regular booking and request Grandstand.

For preferred I'd want to be as close to Disney Springs as possible. Much of the resort is a hike which is whey I likely wouldn't do SSR or OKW without a car.

 

[Shellyred8]

We were in the grandstand area once and it was a pretty decent location. You are fairly close to the main building and the boat transportation. If I was going with the standard view option, I would request Grandstand again in a heart beat.

 

[DMOMof3]

We stayed in Grandstand last year, requested it. Near the pool, view of golf course. Most important for us was First on the bus and First off the bus. The bus filled up pretty quickly by the time it got to Spring, which by the way, was so close to walk to. So close that bell servicse laughed when I asked if they brought us over in the golf carts, we just walked out and took a left at bell services and our section was around the corner.

 

[dcassetta]

Thanks, all. Put in a request for Grandstand and looking forward to trying a "new" resort. We stayed in a Treehouse villa when I was a kid back during the Village Resort days and a bungalow when it was the Disney Institute, but this is the first time for the new Saratoga Springs.

 

[DaisyNY]

Another vote for Grandstand...stayed in that section twice...will request it again for our November trip!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

SSR is a beautiful resort and has very nice food and amenities! I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[paults]

if you don't mind walking SSR is great. We stayed at both Grandstand and CP. I walk in the morning and it's a nice resort to walk.

 

[bobbiwoz]

if you don't mind walking SSR is great. We stayed at both Grandstand and CP. I walk in the morning and it's a nice resort to walk.

It is pretty.

 

[SL6827]

The Paddock section, the buildings that are closest to the pool area and the long bridge look like a nice location for a standard reservation.

 

[Judyat]

We always enjoy being at or close to Congress Park. There's a nice quiet pool there along with a bus stop and we like to be close to Disney Springs so it's a nice short walk. I'm curious what the attraction to Grandstand is? It seems a little isolated at least where the bus stop is seems like a little hike to it.. What besides being the first bus stop for getting on and off do people like? Is there a short cut way from there to Disney Springs? We're no longer golfers so that wouldn't attract us being close to the golf course. And we enjoy the quiet pools over the big pools. I don't mind the short walk to the main building where the food court is. I don't want a long hike to Disney Springs. I know there's always the bus you can take but just curious what else Grandstand has to offer. Going to SSR in January for 2 weeks.

 

[PlainJane]

We always enjoy being at or close to Congress Park. There's a nice quiet pool there along with a bus stop and we like to be close to Disney Springs so it's a nice short walk. I'm curious what the attraction to Grandstand is? It seems a little isolated at least where the bus stop is seems like a little hike to it.. What besides being the first bus stop for getting on and off do people like? Is there a short cut way from there to Disney Springs? We're no longer golfers so that wouldn't attract us being close to the golf course. And we enjoy the quiet pools over the big pools. I don't mind the short walk to the main building where the food court is. I don't want a long hike to Disney Springs. I know there's always the bus you can take but just curious what else Grandstand has to offer. Going to SSR in January for 2 weeks.

We always ask for Congress Park or the Springs. I stayed in the Grandstand section once and it was probably my least favorite location (and I've stayed in the Paddock section right next to the Carousel section). I'm sure it all comes down to priorities. When I stay at SSR, I visit Disney Springs frequently. The Springs gives us easy access to the boat and Congress Park provides a short walk. I also like being near the main building for dining, the gym, and the main pool. I'm willing to walk over if we're placed in Congress Park.

I think, I've heard people talk about a different way to walk to Disney Springs from the Grandstand, I could be remembering wrong. It's kind of close to the main building and some people value the bus stop order. That's what comes to mind for the benefits.

OP: I would do SSR with or without a car, the size doesn't bother me, but I'm the type of person who likes walking. I would, actually, prefer to stay at SSR than say AKV because I want the opportunity walk around nice scenic areas.

 

[Deb & Bill]

if you don't mind walking SSR is great. We stayed at both Grandstand and CP. I walk in the morning and it's a nice resort to walk.

I agree. It has nice places to walk all around the resort. Especially in the morning. We saw all sorts of small wildlife there, too.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We always ask for Congress Park or the Springs. I stayed in the Grandstand section once and it was probably my least favorite location (and I've stayed in the Paddock section right next to the Carousel section). I'm sure it all comes down to priorities. When I stay at SSR, I visit Disney Springs frequently. The Springs gives us easy access to the boat and Congress Park provides a short walk. I also like being near the main building for dining, the gym, and the main pool. I'm willing to walk over if we're placed in Congress Park.

I think, I've heard people talk about a different way to walk to Disney Springs from the Grandstand, I could be remembering wrong. It's kind of close to the main building and some people value the bus stop order. That's what comes to mind for the benefits.

OP: I would do SSR with or without a car, the size doesn't bother me, but I'm the type of person who likes walking. I would, actually, prefer to stay at SSR than say AKV because I want the opportunity walk around nice scenic areas.

Congress Park and Springs are now considered preferred. So they require a few more points than Paddock, Carousel and Grandstand.

 

[PlainJane]

Congress Park and Springs are now considered preferred. So they require a few more points than Paddock, Carousel and Grandstand.

I can see people being frustrated being put in Congress Park when they used the extra points hoping for the Springs. We’ve always traded in through RCI, so I don’t think the change really affects us. For example, we’ve never been given a standard view at BW, and have even received a BW view. I think we’ve also been placed near the Hospitality House at OKW after they changed the point structure.

If they can no longer offer the Springs and Congress Park for RCI trades, I’ll start asking to be placed in the Paddock.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I can see people being frustrated being put in Congress Park when they used the extra points hoping for the Springs. We’ve always traded in through RCI, so I don’t think the change really affects us. For example, we’ve never been given a standard view at BW, and have even received a BW view. I think we’ve also been placed near the Hospitality House at OKW after they changed the point structure.

If they can no longer offer the Springs and Congress Park for RCI trades, I’ll start asking to be placed in the Paddock.

There was no point structure change at OKW with the two booking areas. With the BWV, standard view is most often gone before they can even offer weeks to RCI. RCI get preferred/pool/garden which is about 60% of the resort.