Our first dvc vacation... the good and the bad.

[brookelizabeth]

Our first DVC stay was in January at SSR and I agree with you on several points. The food options at AP were not great-the selection is so minimal I was always disappointed. Thankfully we were staying in Congress Park and DTD was actually closer than AP, so we opted for DTD more often than not.

That stinks about the coffee--we had a ton in our 1 bed. It must be that they just add a pack every maid visit, if the people before you used it or not. I agree though, $5 for another pack of coffee-absurd. It really should just be taken OUT of the rooms and then complimentary if requested, since it seems to be a big money issue for Disney or something....

Our network cable from our 1 bed was also missing. Thankfully we too brought our own. My DH doesn't go on vacation without it. He's a nerd.

We had awful bus service at SSR. I have never had such poor service. Now, I've only stayed at AKL, WL and Pop prior to SSR, but really-it was a LOT longer. I'm nervous about that service going down even more with the Treehouse Villas opening! However, we probably won't ever stay at SSR again unless it's the only option. We just weren't that impressed with it overall. It's pretty, but just didn't have that magic.

Our carpet was the only thing in our 1 bed that looked a bit rough. Our studio (we stayed in for 1 night) was very, very fresh and stunning. We actually liked it better than the 1 bed!

That's awful about the flowers and the spa. Sorry you had to deal with that...I'm too cheap to pay those prices!

Like you said, we don't regret DVC one bit, but probably won't be back to SSR anytime soon.

 

[culli]

Well we just got back from SSR, we are not complainers, we are not well to do, we are generally very happy with whatever is plopped down in front of us. I have NEVER sent anything back to the kitchen, if that gives you an idea of what I'm like.

SSR is a beautiful, huge resort. It is fairly well maintained considering its age. The staff was more polite than im used to at other resorts.

That said, the quick service food is pretty rough - I know they're trying to keep the menu small but we ended up buying quite a bit of our food there which was probably a mistake. The park food is superior, maybe I'd like something in between sit down and cold sandwiches. *shrug*

Our studio room was OK, but the tub was physically dirty, as was the couch (we stayed in a studio). I could see with my man-eyes (not the most discerning as the women know) that the couch and tub were soiled. It left me wondering what else wasn't cleaned. They gave me one "pouch" of coffee which I didn't care about as I brought my own. Unfortunately I brought one bag of unground coffee so I found myself kinda wanting some more pouch coffee. Not enough to pay $5 to the maid for more. Just leave me a couple you scrooges! When the maids came mid week they left me one more pouch. gee, thanks. and yeah i get they make the coffee at the restaurant, but that nescafe is garbage. I can say that, nestle is local.

Someone had stolen our network cable. Luckily I bring my own.

While I get that Disney isn't the place to get trashed on booze, i dont get why the bar closes at 6pm. To me this is just silly.

At times I waited for a bus up to 30 mins. Maybe twice it was that long. twice is enough. While I don't expect more buses I think the resorts need to figure things out a little better - maybe a short shuttle to a hub resort? There is a lot of distance between SSR and pretty much everywhere else.

I ordered flowers for my girl while we were there. Excuse me, but they were expensive. That's fine, I don't mind, but when they didn't show up when they were supposed to I was annoyed. I called the front desk and they acted like I was not a smart person and put it on the florist rather than looking. In the AM I called the florist who had the signature card, the flowers had been signed for. They were sitting in some back room at the resort. I called back down and they were found and would be "brought right up" - weak.

I ordered a gift cert for valentines day for my girl for the spa. I know its not like a "disney" spa but the knuckleheads misspelled both of our names on the dang thing. Kinda silly when I spelled them both out, and it wasn't "cheap" so um PAY ATTENTION. For a place that has NO reservations you think they'd be a little more careful.

Also, how come the maid only shows up when you dont want her there? LOL.

Oh well, for the most part great service. Minor things bug me though, but people are people I agree with what others have said about the SSR furnishings though, they need a little TLC...

In closing, I am not disappointed by my DVC purchase but I suspect we will not be back to SSR.

Great thread.......first one that has a critical note that doesn't appear to be whining. Maybe because have similar observations/attitudes/feelings towards things. I don't think I can argue with anything you have said the $7 beer is a joke, and yeah the coffee........give me a break. The first time I stayed with my wife at SSR I had similar observations. Now we plan around that stuff and 1st think I do is go through the room to make sure nothing is "out of sorts". I shouldn't have to do this but I do and it makes it easier. For us DVC rocks because for our little kids and large accomidations but RIGHT ON with your complaints. Busses are not bad but you would think they would have it down to a science by now wouldn't you

Actually we love our adult only trips here but it is all about the convienience for us and we go around the other apects. I love SSR and as a resort is my favorite but location location location.........BWV for us.

 

[Alysa]

Our first trip home to a DVC resort, we stayed at the Boardwalk. We had a similar trip to yours. It was just the two of us, the room wasn't clean, we had a sucky preferred view, they lost our luggage and then called us at 1am and brought it to our room at 2am. They lost our flowers and champagne. And they just were not friendly. I am convinced that everyone has one DVC trip like this, ours just happened to be our first. We were panicked that we had spent $$$ on a huge lemon! Then, on my last day I got sunstroke at the park. I was REALLY sick. I went back to the hotel and asked them to let me go get cleaned up and cooled off at the health club or the pool change room and they told me that since we had checked out, they couldn't help us. They basically told us to leave. We did and made it about half an hour from WDW when I passed out beside the car trying to get to my husband who was trying to buy "Gravol" in the drugstore. (Apparently only available in Canada). Someone found me on the ground and called 911 when they couldn't revive me.

Needless to say we were horrified with our purchase. But the manager my husband spoke to when we got home refunded all of our points (how often does that happen?!), we gave it another chance and we have never had another trip like that one. (We are also never going back to the Boardwalk).
I'm so sorry your first trip was not the best, I know how much you must have looked forward to it. But just think, it wasn't so bad and now your worst trip is behind you - they will only get better!
BTW, I know many people probably love the boardwalk but it wasn't for us, despite it being our home resort. We were just at SSR and it was nice but not our style either. I'm not a big waiting for the bus fan. But that's the great thing about DVC - something for everyone - you just have to find it. For your next trip, I'd recommend the beach club or wilderness lodge (our favourite - peaceful, romantic, beautiful decor, great cast members and a short ferry away from the MK). Have a blast! And remember, no matter how bad it was, you didn't come out of a drug store to find your wife unconscious on the ground, surrounded by paramedics and firemen who told you to take a hike because they thought you were gawking!
Cheers!

 

[Brian Noble]

it's all about the pickle. the free pen. that's why we love disney. I dont like "stingy"

Good idea. But, "the pickle" is all about repeat business and brand loyalty.

News flash: Disney doens't need to sell you anymore. You're already sold. You've pre-paid for your next 40-odd years of vacation lodging. The pickle is for the renters who might not come back next year.

Sad, but true.

 

[SunnieRN]

Good idea. But, "the pickle" is all about repeat business and brand loyalty.

News flash: Disney doens't need to sell you anymore. You're already sold. You've pre-paid for your next 40-odd years of vacation lodging. The pickle is for the renters who might not come back next year.

Sad, but true.

Grrrrrrr, I hate this concept!!!! We have only stayed a few days at dvc when we bought in Sept. SSR was clean, cast members were for the most part helpful, but there were a couple of things that did surprise me.
I hope the concept of us already being sold is not commonplace. I do know one thing however. The squeaky wheel is more often than not the one who gets the grease. OP I hope you will be a squeaky wheel as a dirty room should never be acceptable. I also feel your complaints were valid points that if resolved could make everyones experiences better!
As for AP I agree that there is a strong lack of choices. If I remember correctly (please tell me if I am wrong) there wasn't even a hamburger available there? At least what they did have there last sept was well prepared and tasty. I will say that it did seem crowded though. As long as people frequent AP I highly doubt if things will change.

 

[Uncleromulus]

firebuilds: If you're looking for $1.00 beer, you won't be happy at ANY bar at WDW.
Or anywhere else for that matter.

 

[marvali]

I just have a few observations since we have done a short stay at SSR, and also because we are also DVC.

Was the grill not working at AP? We ordered a good bit there when we stayed and there were many choices besides cold sandwiches from the grill. We thought it was a pretty good selection for counter/quick service, and there were a lot of options besides the grill offerings. Has something changed?

Not sure you can do much about the couch, but when you noticed the dirty tub you should have called Mousekeeping immediately and had the situation rectified. No excuse for that one and they need to be made aware. Also, the missing internet cable should have been immediately reported. Okay, you had your own (this computer geek usually does also) but I think I read somewhere about a charge if they find it missing, so I wouldn't want it left unreported so they try to charge me for it.

We never had a problem with buses while we were there, but the buses are a constant issue discussed on here at pretty much all resorts. Were you there during a very busy time, and waiting at the busiest times of the day? MS definitely needs to hear these types of complaints as you are not the only one who has run into problems with the WDW bus system.

I guess a few on here have been lucky but I don't ever remember finding more than one (maybe two if decaf also) coffee pack in the room. We always bring our own anyway because we don't expect room service until day four when they normally restock (unless you are paying for daily mousekeeping, which isn't worth another bag of coffee to me )

Flower delivery problems.....definitely need to let MS know about this. Apparently this is a big problem, so what else isn't getting delivered in a timely manner??? This is very poor and certainly not up to what I would consider Disney standards, especially at the inflated rates everything costs to start with.

Not sure I understand the comment about "not like a Disney spa." I thought SSR WAS one of the premiere Disney spas. I was thinking about doing this at SSR for DW on our trip this summer. As for spelling names correctly, that is one of my pet peeves. It is a small thing that tells people you think enough of them (and in this case, their business) to fret the small details.

We had drinks at the pool bar when we were there, but it was summer time. I thought it was later than six when that happened, like at least dusk in August so around 8-ish. They were about to close, but maybe it is just the hours for this time of year. And yes, like everything else at Disney, they are very proud ($$$) of it!

Glad you had an overall good time, but please report the problems. Hopefully it will make things better for you and everyone else on future trips!

 

[Ms. WDW]

I know I got sick because of the lack of projectile control on the little snotters at the park. (I know I'm not a dad, but I am a big brother.)

While I didn't find your original note funny at all, I have to admit your observation about how you got sick did make me laugh. NOT that you got sick now!!!!! But the mental image of "a little snotter letting one go" was just too much.

Back on topic now, only once in all the time I've stayed at SSR did I find things missing; like the tiles all around the hot tub!!! Yes; they were literally falling off and just laying along the side of the tub. And there was no cd player in the livingroom. I called immediately to the front desk and told them about both situations. First, the tiles missing around the tub were an accident waiting to happen; rough jagged edges can cut!!! And secondly, I didn't want anyone thinking I took the cd player!!!

Buses; well that's an ongoing problem. However in the recent Disney Magic magazine (hope that's what it's stilled called.) there was an article where it seems they are working on the SSR bus situation. We'll see......

 

[jimmacmn]

i had my own. the ethernet bag was there, the cable had been "swiped" by likely the last person to stay there.

Actually it was probably not "swiped". The card with the internet information on it states that you can take the cable with you for a $10.00 charge. If it was gone when you got there, apparently mousekeeping didn't replace it. You might want to check your bill to make sure you didn't get billed for one since it wasn't in your room after you left

 

[thefirebuilds]

Someone found me on the ground and called 911 when they couldn't revive me.

um, ok, you win. lol...

 

[thefirebuilds]

Not sure I understand the comment about "not like a Disney spa." I thought SSR WAS one of the premiere Disney spas. I was thinking about doing this at SSR for DW on our trip this summer. As for spelling names correctly, that is one of my pet peeves. It is a small thing that tells people you think enough of them (and in this case, their business) to fret the small details.

This is the second reference in the thread to me being critical of the spa at SSR. I was not, I didn't go to the spa, I sent my SO, and as far as I know it was up to par and she was very happy. The only thing that irritated me about that is that they couldn't be bothered to spell EITHER of our names right on the gift certificate. English not being their first language, of course...

Oh, I re-read my comment. The spa is this "relaxedyet.com" deal, it isn't "Disney's spa @ saratoga springs" it's apparently a contracted organization, at least thats the impression I get since the D likes to stamp their dang name on everything they produce.

 

[thefirebuilds]

firebuilds: If you're looking for $1.00 beer, you won't be happy at ANY bar at WDW.
Or anywhere else for that matter.

dude, $1 and $7 are 700% different. I know it's probably got a lot more to do with the Florida State tourism tax then Disney proper but nuts to both of em. I really wasn't complaining that much about the price, but I am appreciating a six pack of craft beer at home for the same price as one.

and ill be damned if im drinking PBR, for the record.