Planning first stay at SSR

[Goofygirl17]

Just got back from Virginia Beach so it's time to focus on our next vacation- SSR in April 2010

I'm sure I'm going to have a million questions between now and then but just a few to start-

I've read a lot of posts about the different areas- we're going to have a car but I think we might take the bus occasionally. It will be DH, me, and our two DDs- 10 and 7. It sounds like they would enjoy the main pool the most. We also would like to take the boat to DTD instead of walking. Should we ask for a room in the Springs section so we're close to the main areas (pool, counter service etc)?

We are exchanging through RCI so I called MS to get my confirmation/reservation #- they said that I should be able to make ADRs online at 3 months out. What website do I go to?

I guess I call member services back to request a room location- should I do that now or wait until it's closer to our vacation time?

Thanks so much! We are very excited to be staying onsite at DVC. We stayed at POFQ two years ago and enjoyed it but really wished we had a car and a little more space so we stayed off-site last year. It was nice and we enjoyed the space and full kitchen but we love being immersed in Disney!

Goofygirl

 

[Guinness]

It sounds like with the things you want the Springs would probably be best for you. It is closest to the main pool, and to the boat dock for DTD. You can make your room request now, and there is no reason to wait, that I know of. To make ADR's, you can go the disneyworld site and navigate to the Dining section under "Discover".

 

[liznboys]

We prefer the Springs. We've stayed in the Springs 3 times (Grandstand twice and THV once). We have our own vehicle and we mostly drive ourselves around WDW. The Grandstand bus stop is the best one (since it picks up and drops off first) so for people only using buses I think that's the place to be. But for occasional use the Springs is fine IMO. And we like being closest to the main pool, lobby, food, etc.

Oh and I have made our requests at different times...when I made the original reservation 11 months out, up to just a couple weeks before. Either way was fine for us. You'd just want to get it in there before the resort gets your reservation...which I am not sure when that is, so I make sure I do it at least a couple weeks out. Also, IMO sometimes the requests don't seem to matter much. Sometimes when we've made requests they had us assigned elsewhere. But when I asked for what I wanted (the request) they were able to give it to me. Who knows sometimes! lol

 

[Goofygirl17]

Thanks Liz and Guinness. I think I'll call and request the springs area and I checked out the dining reservations online.

Do you know when park times and EMH will come out for April 2010? I can't make my ADRs until January.

Thanks!
Goofygirl

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The bus stop at the Springs is the first pick up point for the resort so you will have a good chance of getting a seat. You are across the street from the main pool and short walk to a quiet pool. If you are in a studio you are across the street from the big laundry room

 

[vandy]

The bus stop at the Springs is the first pick up point for the resort so you will have a good chance of getting a seat. You are across the street from the main pool and short walk to a quiet pool. If you are in a studio you are across the street from the big laundry room

Did this change??? The Grandstand was always the first bus stop for the parks and the Springs was the last. Getting a seat by the time the bus gets to the Springs is difficult if not impossible at times. The Springs was the first bus stop for the Downtown Disney bus. Maybe the route has changed since the Treehouses came open???

 

[tink too]

Did this change??? The Grandstand was always the first bus stop for the parks and the Springs was the last. Getting a seat by the time the bus gets to the Springs is difficult if not impossible at times. The Springs was the first bus stop for the Downtown Disney bus. Maybe the route has changed since the Treehouses came open???

We were at SSR in April and we had the same experience as Vandy - Grandstand was first, then Carousel (which was our stop), winding around the resort at last stop was the Springs. Since we were there over Easter, the buses were usually full by the time we got to the Springs.

We were staying in the Paddock - the Carousel bus stop was right outside our building though.

Sorry, I can't comment about the bus route around SSR since the THV became available.

 

[simba20]

Did this change??? The Grandstand was always the first bus stop for the parks and the Springs was the last. Getting a seat by the time the bus gets to the Springs is difficult if not impossible at times. The Springs was the first bus stop for the Downtown Disney bus. Maybe the route has changed since the Treehouses came open???

Just got back and The Grandstand is still the FIRST stop to head to any of the parks. Springs was last. However the order is different for DTD busses.

 

[liznboys]

There's also the new THV bus that goes to the Springs and to the THV, back and forth. (And sometimes it stops at Grandstand too.) So that can confuse things..