Saratoga Springs

[Jen D]

Hey all! I had a report I started to post a week and a half ago and never finished, so I'll put it here. It isn't a proper SSR report although we did end up staying one night but here it is:

We just bought a few weeks ago; we don't even close for a few weeks. We just came back from a trip that was planned long before DVC-- we stayed at a vacation house offsite with family and friends (All Star Vacation Homes) after two nights at All Star Music. We were supposed to fly back to NYC Sunday but a little thing called the biggest blizzard in city history got in our way and our flight was cancelled. We couldn't get a flight back until Tuesday morning. Sunday night was no problem, the family had the vacation house until Monday, but we had to figure out Monday. It was a no-brainer-- we were dying to use our points, and since we're starting with a point surplus we could spare the points for a night in a studio.

A call to MS Monday morning brought a choice of OKW, SSR, or BCV. Of course, I want to try them all, and had it been swimming weather instead of 45 degrees we might have done BCV. OKW was the lowest points, but we chose our home resort, SSR, since Dh would be seeing a movie at PI that day for work.

Now I'll backtrack to give my impressions, since we actually had a long visit to SSR earlier in the week (we'd never toured before buying.)

We visited the resort and toured the units earlier in the week. We were pretty knocked out by it... the common areas, the pool-- we ate at Artists Palatte and loved it. I've never met a resort food court I liked until now. We really enjoyed our sandwiches and the kids LOVED the easels. So much better than the lame puzzles they'd been getting with kids meals all week! We visited the units and were knocked out. I was especially excited to visit with Dh as he had never really been into the DVC thing-- it was sort of an, if you say so honey, but he loved the units and said, when he saw the master bedroom, "staying in a place like this will make me much more enthusiastic about taking vacations." Music to my ears! Anyway, it was a great visit as I felt now he was really onboard with the DVC commitment.

Anyway, back to the last Monday of our vacation, when we had a surprise first night Home. Check in smooth and friendly with welcome homes all around. Obviously I didn't try to make requests but we ended up in the Paddocks, I think the room was 5633. Studio was in excellent condition. DD (8) complained of the smell. I noticed it but just thought it smelled new, not unlike a new car smell. DD didn't disagree, she also hated the smell of our rental car, which just smelled like car to me. Dh thought it could be the smell of trying to cover up someone smoking in a non-smoking room. Anyway, while it was noticable, I can't say it was a bad smell (like I said, similar to a new car smell) and we certainly wouldn't change rooms over it. Wouldn't even mention it but DD had a couple minutes of drama over it (Kids )

View was not much, it was of a parking lot and across the way, construction. It was really cold so we didn't spend time on the balcony anway. I don't think it got to 50 degrees that day.

It being an extra day we would have loved to just lay by the pool or wander the resort but it was cold and none of us had proper coats.

We did use bus service to MK and it was fine. Slightly longer wait at MK than was comfortable.. buses came and went from other resort stops a couple times before we got a bus... but no worries. We're public transportation kid so the occasional blips here and there don't really phase us.

Room was in excellent shape, sofa bed comfortable-- looked like it wouldn't be but I tested it and it was.

That's about all. I was really glad to have a surprise trip HOME and was not disappointed by SSR.

Now if Disney would only get Comedy Central. I can't go to sleep without Jon Stewart.

 

[shantay1008]

Thanks for the report! We really enjoyed our first stay at SSR earlier this month, too. I admire your positive approach to having your plans changed thanks to the blizzard. My DS7 notices smells, too. Perhaps it's the age? Some sort of nose development going on? (P.S., did you know that Stewart is hosting the Oscars? should be fun...)

 

[smsnorthup]

Not to hijack the thread, but DH and I will be going home for the first time in just a little over a week! We haven't even "officially" closed yet!

Would you recommend making a section request, or just go with the luck of the draw? We'll be there 5 nights, will have a rental car, and are 2 able-bodied adults with no kids. Barring the weather is nice, we hope to try the pool, I'd like to do a spa treatment, and we know we'll spend at least one night over at DTD to see La Nouba. Any recommendations for us? TIA!

We are going home to SSR for the first time in April and we decided to request Congress Park section because of the convenience to the DD Marketplace walkway. Also, we just saw La Nouba in Jan and it is incredible!! Have a great time!!

 

[Jen D]

Thanks for the report! We really enjoyed our first stay at SSR earlier this month, too. I admire your positive approach to having your plans changed thanks to the blizzard.

Well, in truth, this is the second trip in a row this has happened. Our previous trip was in September 2004, Orlando had already been slammed by Charley and.. Frances? I'm blanking. Anyway, Jeanne hit while we were there. We were scheduled to fly out the night before and the flight was cancelled and stayed two extra nights. It was a lot more stressful that time somehow. This time when we found out our flight was cancelled and we couldn't get out for two days... it was kind of a shrug. Luckily accomodations weren't a concern. And upgrading MYW passes is so cheap-- $12 bucks to upgrade 3 passes for 2 more days in the parks. Of course, bosses at home were a little incredulous this was happening again. The first time we went to WDW was right after 9/11, we almost cancelled. When dd and I went in 2003 the whole country was on Orange Alert because the war was about to start. Now everyone jokes that if we are visiting WDW there must be some calamity or natural disaster on the way.

My DS7 notices smells, too. Perhaps it's the age? Some sort of nose development going on?

Probably! She certainly is a drama queen about it. Anytime we go anywhere that smells like... ANYTHING she has to pull her shirt over her face.

(P.S., did you know that Stewart is hosting the Oscars? should be fun...)

Can't wait!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Thanks tjhsr. I remember reading a post awhile ago about the possibilty of a second larger pool. I believe it was DR. Tomorrow that posted the rumor. Also something about a second outdoor food venue, if I remember correctly. I hope the new pool has a slide, or at least some themeing.

Yep, 'twas I.

The underlying premise behind all this is that Disney knows that they are expanding SSR beyond the anticipated levels that some of the community areas (pool, dining, etc) were designed for, and are taking steps to address this with enhanced common areas in the newest section.

 

[goofeydec]

I really liked it, one thing i did not like was the offsite pool hoppers comming from DTD on boat to use main pool.

 

[Brer_Mike]

i love it myself, as a manner of fact i will be there in 20 days!!!!!