Recent stay at SSR vs past stays at BWV

[jkfreeman33]

I may get flamed for this but here goes.........we have always stayed at BWV (home resort) and couldn't get a 2 bedroom there for our 10/14 - 10/21 trip. There is a world of difference at these resorts. I guess we have been spoiled by walking to Epcot and Disney Studios from BWV. The bus service at SSR was horrible and that's putting it nicely. It took us 1 hour 45 minutes to get from Epcot to the Springs section. I get that the Spring is the last stop both ways so I wasn't surprised that we never got a seat on the bus. It was common to wait for 30 minutes for a bus at the Springs stop and when it did come, it was so full we had to wait for another one. That is insane! Thank God we rented a car because after 2 days of dealing with bad bus service, we then opted to drive. However, with 5 adults, someone always had to be the designated driver. We went for the F&W Festival, so someone each night only enjoyed the food.
The designated 2 bedroom had a strange layout. The foyer is huge and that is where the doorway to the 2nd bedroom was. That made the living room much smaller. We could have used the extra space in the living room since we spent more time there than in the spacious foyer.
Getting to Downtown Disney was convenient by boat and the walk wasn't bad at all, although we did think that walking thru the parking lot was not very Disney-like. So this trip we did spend more time in DDT than we usually do.
We did all agree that if you were doing a golf or spa vacation, SSR was a great spot to stay, it was just inconvenient for getting to and from the parks. Had I only seen SSR, I can honestly say it would not be enough to make me buy into DVC.
I learned a great lesson from all this.......plan our trips well in advance and we can stay at our home resort. Also learned that wait list do not always come thru so when picking an alternative resort, choose wisely.
Just my personal thoughts on SSR vs BWV.
All that said, we had a lot of fun with the people we went with.

 

[RDP]

Going there on Tuesday for 2 weeks, hope our experience is better than yours!

 

[AKLFan3]

One thing that is nice about DVC is that there are different resorts to suit everyone's needs. I am an owner at AKV and I do agree with you about the buses at SSR. Sometimes they're full and you have to wait for another by the time you get around to the Springs. Sorry your time wasn't as magical as you had hoped but it's very nice you were able to enjoy the F&W Festival.

 

[Deb & Bill]

One thing that is nice about DVC is that there are different resorts to suit everyone's needs. I am an owner at AKV and I do agree with you about the buses at SSR. Sometimes they're full and you have to wait for another by the time you get around to the Springs. Sorry your time wasn't as magical as you had hoped but it's very nice you were able to enjoy the F&W Festival.

Isn't that the truth. I could write an almost opposite tale of our stays at SSR vs BWV. BWV is our least favorite resort because of all the noise, the hike from the parking lot (and possibility of not getting a parking space on this side of the parking lot vs the gas station side of the parking lot) and the long narrow corridor and the hike down it. And I'm not a fan of clowns.

What I love about SSR is being able to walk around the resort soaking in all the nature - the animals, plants, scenery. It's just a beautiful place to walk around early in the morning. I thought the stroll over to DTD was really nice, especially walking along the Trumbo Canal.

But if you are there for F&W and want to make sure you get a little of the W, I can see where BWV might be more appealing (but even then, I'd go with BCV).

So it's all in what you like.

 

[SAGE]

That's sounds like long waits for a bus..... I'm staying at SSR & really looking forward to seeing this resort + close proximity to DTD ... think I'll plan for a few taxi rides though.

 

[LSchrow]

when we stayed at SSR, the buses were never full, and came frequently (an early may trip) we stayed in congress park, with amazing views (not of a parking lot or street, which is something i loathe waking up to), serene and clean walking areas, etc

we loved SSR, it is actually our 2nd favorite DVC, right behind the BWVs (btw, the ones many consider comparable, like OKW to SSR, and BCV to BWV, are at the bottom of our list - BCV just too, constantly noisy with seriously lacking views, and OKW for many, many reasons......thank goodness there are enough resorts to appeal to the many different ppl)

 

[TLSnell1981]

Years ago, the only villas were near DTD. We could also rent golf carts...lots of fun! We are thinking of trying the THV, again. This was one of our children's favs (when they were little). Of course, we have so many kids and grandkids...now need two villas!

We own BWV and it's definitely our favorite resort. It is sooo convenient to the parks. It's kind of nice, going back to nap in the middle of the day. The noise has never bothered us and we always opt for a BW view.

Not a bus fan, another reason why we prefer the park resorts.

 

[mch04049]

I may get flamed for this but here goes.........we have always stayed at BWV (home resort) and couldn't get a 2 bedroom there for our 10/14 - 10/21 trip. There is a world of difference at these resorts. I guess we have been spoiled by walking to Epcot and Disney Studios from BWV. The bus service at SSR was horrible and that's putting it nicely. It took us 1 hour 45 minutes to get from Epcot to the Springs section. I get that the Spring is the last stop both ways so I wasn't surprised that we never got a seat on the bus. It was common to wait for 30 minutes for a bus at the Springs stop and when it did come, it was so full we had to wait for another one. That is insane! Thank God we rented a car because after 2 days of dealing with bad bus service, we then opted to drive. However, with 5 adults, someone always had to be the designated driver. We went for the F&W Festival, so someone each night only enjoyed the food.
The designated 2 bedroom had a strange layout. The foyer is huge and that is where the doorway to the 2nd bedroom was. That made the living room much smaller. We could have used the extra space in the living room since we spent more time there than in the spacious foyer.
Getting to Downtown Disney was convenient by boat and the walk wasn't bad at all, although we did think that walking thru the parking lot was not very Disney-like. So this trip we did spend more time in DDT than we usually do.
We did all agree that if you were doing a golf or spa vacation, SSR was a great spot to stay, it was just inconvenient for getting to and from the parks. Had I only seen SSR, I can honestly say it would not be enough to make me buy into DVC.
I learned a great lesson from all this.......plan our trips well in advance and we can stay at our home resort. Also learned that wait list do not always come thru so when picking an alternative resort, choose wisely.
Just my personal thoughts on SSR vs BWV.
All that said, we had a lot of fun with the people we went with.

We stayed at the Buena Vista Palace last spring and walk over to the Springs to catch the bus because the hotel bus was always jammed, and did not have any of the problems that you had. Maybe it was the time of the year but it was Easter weekend and very busy.

 

[castleri]

I am another who does not see the advantages of being able to walk to a park and our recent stay at BWV just reafirmed my feelings about that resort for many of the reasons already mentioned by Deb & Bill. We had long waits for some of the buses there also. When we have stayed at SSR it has been some of the best bus service we have had so I guess either we were just lucky or the OP was really unlucky. I am so glad that there are all the different options with DVC so that we all have the chance to find the one that suits us best. I won't be taking anyone's favorite room at BWV and will be hoping to get my favorites at SSR or OKW.

 

[bz8bls]

I guess I will be dating myself, however, we also remember when the only villas at WDW were situated where SSR is now. In fact, it was those stays that convinced us to buy into DVC, SSR in particular.

I am another member who want serenity when leaving the parks, plus the fact that SSR has, IMO, the best spa on Disney property.

Can't wait for next year...we will be on a pre-cruise visit in the THV for seven days before the five day Dream cruise.

By the way, I guess we have been lucky in all of our trips because we never found the bus transportation a problem...we have mostly stayed in Congress Park or the Grandstand areas.

 

[amberjack]

We just returned (4 days ago) from our first stay at SSR. We didn't have any problems with bus wait times, but we stayed in the Grandstand section so we were the first stop. The buses did get crowded, but I expected that. Never been to Disney when they weren't. Our stop was really close to our room, so another plus there.
However, the rooms at SSR seemed small and cramped, especially in the living room/ kitchen area, and having the entrance to the second bedroom right at the front door seemed awkward. I know this is because we are used to the large dedicated 2BRs at OKW. We were on the first floor and only had a small patio with 2 chairs. We were missing the big balcony with the table.
Boat to DTD was okay, but my DH hates to shop and could care less about going there. I usually make a solo trip one night.
Haven't tried BWV to compare, but planning to in December.
I know everyone has their own preferences, and I won't say we aren't going to stay at SSR again, but it isn't going to be our first pick.

 

[jekjones1558]

We just returned (4 days ago) from our first stay at SSR. We didn't have any problems with bus wait times, but we stayed in the Grandstand section so we were the first stop. The buses did get crowded, but I expected that. Never been to Disney when they weren't. Our stop was really close to our room, so another plus there.
However, the rooms at SSR seemed small and cramped, especially in the living room/ kitchen area, and having the entrance to the second bedroom right at the front door seemed awkward. I know this is because we are used to the large dedicated 2BRs at OKW. We were on the first floor and only had a small patio with 2 chairs. We were missing the big balcony with the table.
Boat to DTD was okay, but my DH hates to shop and could care less about going there. I usually make a solo trip one night.
Haven't tried BWV to compare, but planning to in December.
I know everyone has their own preferences, and I won't say we aren't going to stay at SSR again, but it isn't going to be our first pick.

I think that any DVC other than OKW will seemed cramped to you because the others are fairly comparable in size and all are quite a bit smaller than OKW (at least the 1 and 2 bedrooms). The living/kitchen and balcony at OKW are SO MUCH more spacious. We have stayed at SSR and also noticed that the living/kitchen area seemed smaller than BWV, where we usually stay. But I liked the SSR bathroom better than BWV. You will love the BWV master closet, however.
Since DH and I never have anyone with us in a 1 bedroom we are okay with the size of BWV rooms because the location and BW view are so important to us. I hope that you find things to enjoy at BWV during your December visit even if the room size is not an advantage. Have fun!

 

[Deb & Bill]

A couple of you have mentioned the entrance to the second bedroom at the entrance of the villa. After BWV, they changed it from the living room to near the entrance because of the noise from the lockoff. Plus it gives the guests in the second bedroom a little more privacy if they arrive and depart at different times than the master bedroom guests.

 

[Doug7856]

We've had good and bad bus service all over Walt Disney World. I used to think other hotels (not the one I'm staying at) must have better bus service, but I've had enough experiences to know that even the best Disney hotels have bad bus service.

That being said, the one time we stayed at BWV, I decided that a return visit was very low on our priority list. By the time you stop at the Swan and the Dolphin and the Beach Club and the Yacht Club, I'd had enough. At least at SSR, four of the stops are on a loop and it just doesn't seem as long of a ride.

I think bus service is one area of service that Disney really needs to work on.

 

[DebbieB]

That being said, the one time we stayed at BWV, I decided that a return visit was very low on our priority list. By the time you stop at the Swan and the Dolphin and the Beach Club and the Yacht Club, I'd had enough. At least at SSR, four of the stops are on a loop and it just doesn't seem as long of a ride.

I think bus service is one area of service that Disney really needs to work on.

It's been a long time since I've been on a BW bus that went to all 5 resorts. I am at BWV now, we took the bus to MK this morning. We just missed one and another one came in about 2 minutes. We stopped at the Swan & Dolphin. On the way back, we were the first stop. It's so convenient to Epcot & DHS. We always drive to AK and DTD.

I can't compare because I've never stayed at SSR. Is there anything equal to this picture we took about 5 minutes ago from our balcony?

 

[jekjones1558]

We've had good and bad bus service all over Walt Disney World. I used to think other hotels (not the one I'm staying at) must have better bus service, but I've had enough experiences to know that even the best Disney hotels have bad bus service.

That being said, the one time we stayed at BWV, I decided that a return visit was very low on our priority list. By the time you stop at the Swan and the Dolphin and the Beach Club and the Yacht Club, I'd had enough. At least at SSR, four of the stops are on a loop and it just doesn't seem as long of a ride.

I think bus service is one area of service that Disney really needs to work on.

I agree that bus service is a cr-- shoot everywhere at WDW. We always rent a car and only use the buses to go to MK. Only once in 10 years of BWV trips has a MK bus to/from BWV stopped at Beach and Yacht, and that was several years ago. Maybe we have been just lucky. It is bad enough that they stop at Swan and Dolphin. The only happy note has been that BWV has always been the first stop on the return from MK. Again, maybe we have just been lucky.

 

[Doug7856]

It's been a long time since I've been on a BW bus that went to all 5 resorts. I am at BWV now, we took the bus to MK this morning. We just missed one and another one came in about 2 minutes. We stopped at the Swan & Dolphin. On the way back, we were the first stop.

I'm glad they changed that. It was a really long ride to go any where.

 

[acpalmer]

It's been a long time since I've been on a BW bus that went to all 5 resorts. I am at BWV now, we took the bus to MK this morning. We just missed one and another one came in about 2 minutes. We stopped at the Swan & Dolphin. On the way back, we were the first stop.

We were at BWV in June and nearly all of our buses stopped at all five--they were very long trips with all of those stops in there. I loved being able to walk to DHS and Epcot, but the bus rides to AK, MK, and DTD were super long due to all the stops--so it all evened out in the end, I guess.

 

[~Brandy~]

The designated 2 bedroom had a strange layout. The foyer is huge and that is where the doorway to the 2nd bedroom was. That made the living room much smaller. We could have used the extra space in the living room since we spent more time there than in the spacious foyer.

We just got back last Friday and I commented on this all week. We used that area to take off our shoes and I think the shoe room was bigger than the living room. When the pullout couch was out, you practically had to climb over it to get to the patio.

 

[jkfreeman33]

Here was another thing about the room we couldn't quite make sense of...... The master bathroom has the toilet in a separate area with a door and the sink and shower outside of it, yet all in the same "room".
What is the purpose of that? Is one person supposed to be sitting on the "throne" the other is brushing teeth or showering?
If my husband is in the "room" with the toilet, there is no way I am going to be in the shower and be left enjoying his aftermath.
No one could figure out why or what the reasoning was for that set up. The BW has it all in one one large bathroom.

We made use of the large foyer by storing the guys golf clubs there. We still would have made better use out of the extra room in the living room and kitchen than the foyer.

We didn't "hate" SSR, we missed getting back to our resort quickly after a long day in the parks. We really missed the ESPN club and in general, we missed the amenities that come along with a deluxe hotel attached to the DVC.