Our first on property stay was an SSR 1 bed in 2014 for 9 nights and we loved it. We are snobs when it comes to things like hotels, show tickets, and paper towels. But we went into it with no expectations and frankly, you have to seriously account for the convenience of DR stays vs the posh-ness of off property possibilities for the same or less $$.
We asked the front desk to give us a room where they would want to stay if they were taking their families and the ladies agreed on the Paddock (I think) it was the first stop to get dropped off and we walked straight across the lake to get to the main bus stop which heads right out and never had a long wait or got left out (even with a giant double stroller). We had a view of the pool where there is a kiddie area as well as a cafe literally right out of our door. The layout of the room was a bit odd as are the old dvc villas with that one kitty corner bathroom and the place could use some freshening up inside but it was comfortable and easy and we didn't want to leave.
The convenience to Disney Springs would take us back there in coming years when our kids are teens. We ate at all the food options and found them totally adequate. Artists was no less than Gasparillas at GF. The restaurant was packed at night so make a reservation the day before on the app or that morning. It was good. Hearty kind of a Stanfords type of place.
Overall, it was good enough to get us to tour the DVC sales center which is on property and sadly, we didn't buy VGF on that visit because we didn't realize it was closing sales with no wait list a couple months later. But it did lead us into the research and eventually the purchase of a DVC contract that we are now using to the max. Since that stay, we rented VGF twice, Aulani and have booked directly the new Poly villas, as well as used our own contract for a gift trip to Aulani, a xmas trip to Aulani (we're west coast), a 9 day stay at the VGC, and spring break in Poly and BCV. SOOOOOO, that tells you how much that stay at SSR has changed our lives. It was a great foot into the door and we had a fabulous, relaxing stay there.