SS Tips and Tricks

[misslissa]

Hi all,

I'm staying at SSR for the first time next month... any tips, tricks or advice???

~Melissa

 

[chuckcorden]

Hi all,

I'm staying at SSR for the first time next month... any tips, tricks or advice???

~Melissa

I just came back from a week's stay at the SSR (our home resort). It is a wonderful place, though huge! Where are you staying?

We stayed at the Springs, one of five sections (Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, and Congress Park, as well as the aforementioned Springs). The Springs is closest to the Carriage House and the restaurants and gift shop. I requested the Springs because I have difficulty walking and use a cane. Even if I weren't so mobility restricted I would have preferred where we stayed because of it's nearness to everything. Bus transportation was great and I never had to wait more than 12-15 minutes for a ride to any of the parks.

There is a map of SSR that can be accessed though I don't have the link in front of me.

Hope this helps! I'm going back to WDW in late September but will be staying at the Boardwalk Villas because of its closeness to EPCOT and the Food Festival.

 

[misslissa]

Which building would be closest to both the main pool and transportation? We'll be only there for a quick 3 night, weekend trip and want to do as much as possible, so those will be the most important.

Have you been to the Food Festival before? We loved it and I got a great cookbook there!

 

[larrytau]

Access to Main Pool:
From shortest walk to longest, I would think
Springs, Grandstand, Congress Park, Paddocks and the longest is Carousel.
Grandstand and Congress Park are pretty close to each other, and Paddocks and Carousel are pretty close to each other.

There is a transportation stop at each of the five sections.

 

[chuckcorden]

Which building would be closest to both the main pool and transportation? We'll be only there for a quick 3 night, weekend trip and want to do as much as possible, so those will be the most important.

Have you been to the Food Festival before? We loved it and I got a great cookbook there!

Larry is correct. Springs would be the closest to the main pool. It is also closest to the spa, Turf Club, Artist's Pallette, and the Carriage House (check-in, concierge, etc.) All sections have bus stops.

We were in the middle building of the Springs (rooms 3501-3836). View was so-so but I wasn't there for the view. The grounds are immaculate (after all, it IS Disney). The room (we had a studio) was super.

One suggestion I would make to the cast members at the Carriage House is: When you are giving directions to those guests who are staying at the Springs, don't just draw a circle around the building indicating where their rooms are. That's what they did to us and we tried to get through the spa to get to our room. It would have been hilarious if it weren't so late at night. Don't assume that guests who have never been there before know about the bus stops and the path to the buses. But that was how we had to get to our room---go down the bus path and go past the bus stop and your building will be there. Of course, trying to find the entrance was another story.

And yes I was at the IF&WF last October. We had a wonderful time.

 

[Starr W.]

Larry is correct. Springs would be the closest to the main pool. It is also closest to the spa, Turf Club, Artist's Pallette, and the Carriage House (check-in, concierge, etc.) All sections have bus stops.

We were in the middle building of the Springs (rooms 3501-3836). View was so-so but I wasn't there for the view. The grounds are immaculate (after all, it IS Disney). The room (we had a studio) was super.

One suggestion I would make to the cast members at the Carriage House is: When you are giving directions to those guests who are staying at the Springs, don't just draw a circle around the building indicating where their rooms are. That's what they did to us and we tried to get through the spa to get to our room. It would have been hilarious if it weren't so late at night. Don't assume that guests who have never been there before know about the bus stops and the path to the buses. But that was how we had to get to our room---go down the bus path and go past the bus stop and your building will be there. Of course, trying to find the entrance was another story.

And yes I was at the IF&WF last October. We had a wonderful time.

You should have seen us using the map trying to get to the Congress Park area(we were fine after the first trip). No directions given by CM, but we found our way, building wasn't a problem as it was the first one. Bus stop wasn't a problem as it was just across the parking lot.

 

[hadleyzoo]

Subscribing...we'll be going in June.

Tiffany

 

[Jillpie]

We got back 2 weeks ago. Whatever you do, don't get stuck out in Carousel. The resort is beautiful, but we were way out there and was very frustrating. So if you're closer to everything, you'll be fine.

 

[BroganMc]

Here's the map with some distances:

I've stayed in the Springs, building 3501-3836. In the middle by the elevators. View was of the lake between the buildings. And of the preview units. That building holds the three units Disney uses for tours. There's an Open House daily from 5-7pm if you want to see what a Grand Villa looks like. (Preview units of AKV are in the theater next to Community Hall.)

The Grandstand section is just opening now. Currently the 8101-8436 building is open, as is the pool (which features a water play area for kids). Building 8501-8836 is opening shortly. (Last report was furniture was being moved in and inspection teams were looking it over.) Last schedule I heard was to open a building a month. So the first in March, second in April, third in May, fourth in June. I can't confirm if they'll keep to the schedule, but I expect all buildings will be open by Fall. (The sales staff expect the resort to sell out by the end of the year.)

Currently, movies are being shown at the main pool (High Rock Springs) in the evenings. This is something new so no one knows for certain how long it will continue. HRS pool is zero entry and has water slides. There's also a Donald Duck water play area. At one side of the pool is the entrance to Community Hall which has arts & crafts activities, games and an arcade. Horsing Around is on the street side and has bike rentals.

There are drink refill stations at the Grandstand and HRS pools, as well as inside Artist Point. Paddocks and Congress Park pools have no drink refill bars but do have the nearby laundry rooms. Congress Park pool has a view of DTD. (Paddocks and CP are considered the "quiet pools".)

The bus route is currently Grandstand, Carousel, Paddocks, Congress Park, Springs. So if you are in the Springs and want an empty bus, walk over to Grandstand. If you are in the Grandstand and miss your bus, walk over to the Springs and catch it before it leaves the resort. (It takes the bus about 8 minutes to make the rounds, and around 5-6 minutes to walk to the Springs.) I believe the route is reversed when going to DTD.

Busses may also be used to hop around the resort.

Carousel is best if you are bringing your car and want a quick entry/exit from the resort. It's around .4 miles to Artist Point and resort center, a bit of a haul if you aren't used to distances or are lugging lots of stuff. If you are a morning walker, do the route to AP and pick up your morning coffee or juice. Congress Park has the quickest access to DTD. Take the yellow path and you'll find yourself in Marketplace.

You pass the DTD bus stop. Use this to hop a bus to a resort for dinner or poolhopping. All other busses go only to public areas such as theme parks, requiring you transfer to another bus.

There's a ferry behind the Carriage House. It starts running around 11am and goes to DTD (Marketplace, Westside and I believe Pleasure Island). Ferries in DTD go to Port Orleans and OKW. (I believe the SSR/DTD ferry also runs to OKW on the return trip.)

Beside the ferry dock is a bridge walking path to OKW and DTD. Cross the bridge and go right to take the nature path to OKW. Go left and you'll walk to DTD. Distance is around .7 mile to OKW and .5 miles to Westside DTD. It's not lighted so not advisable for solo travel at night.

Plan a few walks around the resort and take your camera. Lots of wildlife and nature about. Spotted recently are hungry bass in the Paddocks lake, swans frequenting all the lakes, and a bald eagle in Congress Park.

If you are a walker, do the SSR/DTD/OKW loop and you'll have a 3 mile walk seeing the fronts of SSR buildings, urban marketplaces, and nature paths along the canals, woods and golf courses.

You can drive into the resort at the Congress Park gate but it is a keycard entry. The main resort entrance has a guard house. Both can be used to exit the resort. Take the main entrance and Community Way to the theme parks. It has less traffic than the DTD route with its many traffic lights.

Oh and if when you check in you see a charming girl driving a purple & black power wheelchair say hi. I'll be staying there May 14-21st.

 

[CinderellasSister]

Thanks for all that wonderful info, BroganMC. I hope SSR paid you a consulting fee!!!

 

[BroganMc]

One suggestion I would make to the cast members at the Carriage House is: When you are giving directions to those guests who are staying at the Springs, don't just draw a circle around the building indicating where their rooms are. That's what they did to us and we tried to get through the spa to get to our room. It would have been hilarious if it weren't so late at night. Don't assume that guests who have never been there before know about the bus stops and the path to the buses. But that was how we had to get to our room---go down the bus path and go past the bus stop and your building will be there. Of course, trying to find the entrance was another story.

You went through the spa to get to the Springs? Did ya miss the pool completely?

I was in that very building. I took the ramp path through the pool and crossed the street at Horsing Around. Mind you, I was awfully confused when the CM gleefully said she found me a room "right across the street" as being closest. I had only seen the drive into Carriage House and the Preview Center, so this street business confused me. For a moment my brain was thinking of the street outside the resort.

After we got settled we were walking back and forth to AP and the Carriage House daily. My favorite was the early morning walk to Airline check-in for my friend. I was wearing PJs and some really cute fluffy pink bootie slippers. I guess I felt at home pretty early.

 

[chuckcorden]

You went through the spa to get to the Springs? Did ya miss the pool completely?

Yeah, the pool was off to the left and below a rocky pool (springs?). What they should do is change the sign that says "Bus Transportation" to "Path to Bus Transportation and The Springs buildings."

After we got settled we were walking back and forth to AP and the Carriage House daily. My favorite was the early morning walk to Airline check-in for my friend. I was wearing PJs and some really cute fluffy pink bootie slippers. I guess I felt at home pretty early.

Every day, I made the trip to the AP for a cuppa to drink on the bus. The walk was bracing even tho I was using a cane. I'm sorry I never saw those "really cute fluffy pink bootie slippers."

 

[Bichon Barb]

I just got back from a couple nights in the 2101 building, Congress Park. It's a short walk to the buses at DD. It was great to walk over there and hop on a bus to AKL for dinner at Boma. No transferring buses.

We didn't use the main pool at all, but we did spend a lot of time at the Congress Park quiet pool. It was very nice there.

 

[UConnJack]

Others may (and will) disagree, but consider renting a car, particularly if you stay in Carousel. SSR is certainly doable without one, but I found it easier when checking in/out since I was able to load/unload near my unit. Also, while I enjoy walking around the resorts I'm staying at, I sometimes just want to get to the pool area, dining, gift/convenience shop, etc. quickly, and a car makes that much easier at SSR (and OKW), especially if you are hauling kids and pool stuff. The WDW bus system at SSR is fine for getting to/from parks, but not worth the wait just to move about the resort quickly. Of course, I usually rent a car no matter where I stay (I like the freedom and control), but I found myself using/needing it more at SSR and OKW.

 

[crk1971]

Hi The family and I will be Staying at SSR On the 15th of April (Tax Day) WOOHOO! Any way, we have really young children, two sixmonth old girls and a 3yo boy. Which Builiding would you recommend, we were told Congress Park will provide us a nice view at night seeing we will be trapped in the room, any one else have a better suggestion?

 

[BroganMc]

Hi The family and I will be Staying at SSR On the 15th of April (Tax Day) WOOHOO! Any way, we have really young children, two sixmonth old girls and a 3yo boy. Which Builiding would you recommend, we were told Congress Park will provide us a nice view at night seeing we will be trapped in the room, any one else have a better suggestion?

Hmm, well that depends if your family are pool people. The kids will probably be using the High Rock Springs pool most since it's zero entry and has the water play area (so does Grandstand's pool). But if it's a situation of the adults being stuck in the room by 8pm so the kiddies can sleep, you'd probably enjoy sitting on your Congress Park balcony and watching the festivities in Pleasure Island. You'll also be able to hear some of the music outside. (The rooms are sound-proofed so the noise won't wake the sleeping occupants.) Of course, then you both could feel awfully trapped seeing so much intriquing adult activity and not being able to go over to enjoy it.

Except for Congress Park, all other areas view lakes or golf courses. Some have views of the nearby pools. If you prefer a more nature view, you might do better requesting another area. My Springs unit, as I said, had views of the lake between those buildings and a small courtyard overlooking that.

 

[IndianaMouseLover]

Subscribing...we'll be going in June.

Tiffany

Same for me. We are going in July. I want to know all of these neat tips.

 

[disneyscuba]

Hi,

Staying at SS in June in a studio. Just wondering if they have free washer/dryer like at old key west by they main pool?

Thanks,

DisneyScuba

 

[BroganMc]

Staying at SS in June in a studio. Just wondering if they have free washer/dryer like at old key west by they main pool?

Yes. There are free washer/dryers by each of the 4 resort pools. Supplies are also for sale in vending machines in each laundry room.

 

[BroganMc]

A few more tips for you all:

Tip # 1

The room AC units are on motion sensors. That means they will default to a set temperature when no one is in the room. It may make the room too hot or too cold when you return, depending on the time of year. To bypass it, you can either (1) buy a balloon and leave it in the room to bounce around and trip the sensor or (2) shutoff the motion sensor default on the wall unit. To do that:

The thermostat has two buttons on the left (ON/OFF and AUTO/FAN) and two buttons on the right (UP and DOWN)

1) Press the ON/OFF and AUTO/FAN buttons together. The digital display will change to 'CA'.

2) Press the ON/OFF and DOWN button together. The digital display will change to 'OR" (or something similar).

You have just deactivated the motion sensor. This will last for three days at which point you will have to repeat the process.

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Tip # 2

As DVC members, you get free DVD rentals. In SSR just go to Artist Point (the gift store side) and look for the DVD binder. It contains a page for every movie in the library. When you have your selection, go to the nearest checkout clerk and show them the movie you want. They'll collect it for you. Rentals are for 24 hours, I believe.

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Tip # 3

Groceries, including beer and wine, are on sale in Artist Point (the food side), but the prices are not cheap. You can take a cab or walk to Goodings supermarket just outside Disney's gates. It is 1.5 miles to Goodings, passing Hotel Plaza Blvd and its many hotels. Watch out for traffic at the light with the shopping center. It is a major, multi-lane route so gets a good amount of traffic. (I drive it everyday I'm in Disney and staying offsite. Nicer route than the Interstate to get back to the International Drive area.)