Saratoga Springs New Section

[tomandrobin]

SSR is purportedly the permanent home of the sales center. The old movie theater is being renovated to be sample rooms for whatever resort is coming next.

I was figuring they were going to be there for a while, especially with them adding the "new" model rooms to the theater. Maybe after 1o years or so, they will move out like they did from OKW. I guess it depends on how mwny new resorts, when, where, etc. If Eagle Pines ever gets built in the future, maybe it'll move to that location in the future.

 

[Ksp]

Does anyone know if they are totally getting rid of the old theatre?

 

[mello]

I think it's strange that they'd put another themed pool and interactive play area in Grandstand rather than Carousel. Grandstand's just on the other side of the Carriage House, and I'd think it's almost as close to the main pool area as the Springs buildings.

It would have seemed more logical to put this new area in Carousel. The Carousel (and Paddock) buildings are pretty far from the main pool. In fact, there're out in the middle of nowhere. It would make more sense to have a bar, food venue, larger pool, and interactive play area out there.

We were thinking the same thing, when we walked around the resort. It seems like the Carousel area needs something to recommend it. I guess having the closest bus stop to the entrance will be attractive to some. Having another nice pool in the Grandstand area will be a little more convenient to Paddocks and Carousel, but not as convenient as having one in their own section.

 

[mello]

SSR is purportedly the permanent home of the sales center. The old movie theater is being renovated to be sample rooms for whatever resort is coming next.

I'm guessing this could mean that whatever's coming next could perhaps be offsite? Otherwise, why wouldn't the samples be at the next resort itself? Do they always do this as a preview?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Having another nice pool in the Grandstand area will be a little more convenient to Paddocks and Carousel, but not as convenient as having one in their own section.

Actually, I don't think it will. Looking at the new map, there doesn't appear to be a path connecting Paddocks/Carousel to Grandstand, unless there will be sidewalks added to the street between the guard shack and the Carriage House. In any case, it's still a pretty long hike from Carousel to any of the resort ammenities.

 

[bpmorley]

I think it's strange that they'd put another themed pool and interactive play area in Grandstand rather than Carousel. Grandstand's just on the other side of the Carriage House, and I'd think it's almost as close to the main pool area as the Springs buildings.

It would have seemed more logical to put this new area in Carousel. The Carousel (and Paddock) buildings are pretty far from the main pool. In fact, there're out in the middle of nowhere. It would make more sense to have a bar, food venue, larger pool, and interactive play area out there.

They should have put a huge theme pool in between the paddocks & The springs. Then it would be accessible by two sections immediatley and it wouldn't be far for the carousel & congress park sections.

 

[Sammie]

Does anyone know if they are totally getting rid of the old theatre?

The outer shell of the building has not changed. They did completely gut it though and remove all the seats, as we saw them doing this and all the theater seats were piled up next to the tennis courts before they removed them.

 

[tomandrobin]

They should have put a huge theme pool in between the paddocks & The springs. Then it would be accessible by two sections immediatley and it wouldn't be far for the carousel & congress park sections.

The water/ponds between the Springs and Paddock's were existing prior to SSR being built. They probably are not allowed to fill in or alter the ponds, maybe just enhance them.

 

[Ksp]

The outer shell of the building has not changed. They did completely gut it though and remove all the seats, as we saw them doing this and all the theater seats were piled up next to the tennis courts before they removed them.

Thanks, Sammie.
There are two facilities at SSR that were theatres, though, right?

Is this the one that is closer to Community Hall? (I know that they have different names, but I can't remember them. My senior moments are starting early, lol)

The other theatre is right across from the doors into SSR lobby/checkin area. When we were at SSR this past January, member updates were held in this theatre, just outside of the check in area and next to High Springs Pool.

I hope they didn't gut this theatre -- I really enjoyed it.

The other theater (closer to Community Hall) was nice, but didn't have half the atmosphere of the one near the SSR main lobby building.

 

[bigsmooth]

I still would love to see them use the theater as a theater. You'd think a company with a history of movie making would have a place where they could feature their archive outside of an occasional DVD release.

 

[vonpluto]

The water/ponds between the Springs and Paddock's were existing prior to SSR being built. They probably are not allowed to fill in or alter the ponds, maybe just enhance them.

Comparing Guest Maps from it's WDW Village days, the Institute period and SSR, the water areas have actually changed quite a bit. Some pond/lakes have been removed and others added. Club Lake/Willow Lake/SSR Lake(name?) has been filled in a lot at the Congress Park end and a finger that once extended toward the Carriage House area removed.

 

[Entropy]

Saratoga Springs New Section

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was in Vacation Magic Newsletter:

The new section on golf course (4 buildings) will be called The Grandstand. There will be a 2,490 square foor, racetrack theme leisure pool, 1,257 sq fott interative water area and a 118-square foot pool. Area will include restrooms, laudry facilities, the Backstretch Bar and a barbeque pavilon. One builidng will open every month or two starting beginning of 2007.

118 square foot pool? I can drain that with just one belly-flop.

 

[vonpluto]

Thanks, Sammie.
There are two facilities at SSR that were theatres, though, right?

Is this the one that is closer to Community Hall? (I know that they have different names, but I can't remember them. My senior moments are starting early, lol)

The other theatre is right across from the doors into SSR lobby/checkin area. When we were at SSR this past January, member updates were held in this theatre, just outside of the check in area and next to High Springs Pool.

I hope they didn't gut this theatre -- I really enjoyed it.

The other theater (closer to Community Hall) was nice, but didn't have half the atmosphere of the one near the SSR main lobby building.

The theater that is near check in was called the "Performance Center" in DI days. The other one that is closer to Congress Park was simply called the "Cinema"

 

[bpmorley]

I still would love to see them use the theater as a theater. You'd think a company with a history of movie making would have a place where they could feature their archive outside of an occasional DVD release.

There were people on other threads saying the same thing. They should have been showing the old disney movies there every night.

 

[Ksp]

Well, I hope that it was the Cinema that has been gutted, and not the Performance Ctr.
It would be a wonderful use of the space to show some Disney movies; I know we'd go see a few during our visits -- DD is an avid fan of all the movies. When we are in a studio, she misses out on the free rental of movies, since most studios don't have a VCR or DVD player.

 

[vonpluto]

There were people on other threads saying the same thing. They should have been showing the old disney movies there every night.

They did this way back when at the little theater tucked into the far corner of the arcade in the Contemporary. Last film we saw there was Song of the South back in '87 or '88.

 

[mello]

I still would love to see them use the theater as a theater. You'd think a company with a history of movie making would have a place where they could feature their archive outside of an occasional DVD release.

I keep thinking the same thing!

 

[mello]

Actually, I don't think it will. Looking at the new map, there doesn't appear to be a path connecting Paddocks/Carousel to Grandstand, unless there will be sidewalks added to the street between the guard shack and the Carriage House. In any case, it's still a pretty long hike from Carousel to any of the resort ammenities.

Carousel is waayyy out there, and really, really needs its own pool - even if it's just a quiet pool. There isn't a sidewalk along the main road is there? Looks like there's one up to the far end of the golf green though. Maybe it could be extended out to the street at that end. That would be a more pleasant walk than along the street, if it's possible (not sure about logistics with the golf course) Sure hope they're planning to do something about that! As it stands, I really can't see anyone wanting to stay in the Carousel section at all. I would have placed the second big theme pool between Paddocks and Carousel, where the far left Paddocks building is.

 

[MissD]

Carousel is waayyy out there, and really, really needs its own pool - even if it's just a quiet pool. There isn't a sidewalk along the main road is there? Looks like there's one up to the far end of the golf green though. Maybe it could be extended out to the street at that end. That would be a more pleasant walk than along the street, if it's possible (not sure about logistics with the golf course) Sure hope they're planning to do something about that! As it stands, I really can't see anyone wanting to stay in the Carousel section at all. I would have placed the second big theme pool between Paddocks and Carousel, where the far left Paddocks building is.

When we checked out Wednesday, they were digging/creating some sort of walkway in the grassy area to the left of the guard shack (when exiting, the walkway was on your left) going toward the new construction. Maybe it will be a permanent walkway to somehow connect Carousel to Grandstand?

Hope that somehow made sense. The 'it's been 4 days since I left SSR' depression has fogged my brain.

 

[bpmorley]

Carousel is waayyy out there, and really, really needs its own pool - even if it's just a quiet pool. There isn't a sidewalk along the main road is there? Looks like there's one up to the far end of the golf green though. Maybe it could be extended out to the street at that end. That would be a more pleasant walk than along the street, if it's possible (not sure about logistics with the golf course) Sure hope they're planning to do something about that! As it stands, I really can't see anyone wanting to stay in the Carousel section at all. I would have placed the second big theme pool between Paddocks and Carousel, where the far left Paddocks building is.

You're correct about the pool. Just going by the map it looks like a hike to any pool.