Divamomto3
<font color=CC99FF>The Tag Fairy advises you to lo
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2003
- Messages
- 1,593
I returned last evening from 3 magical days and nights at SSR. This was a no kids escape weekend trip for DH and I, plus...Friday night was my birthday! The Northeast was pounded by a snowstorm that arrived just as our plane was due to take off from Bradley Airport in Hartford, CT. We stayed at the Sheraton at the airport the night before and when I woke up and saw the runways covered with snow, I was so afraid our trip would be seriously delayed. But the birthday luck was with me and our plane took off on schedule. When we arrived at Orlando airport, Magical Express was smooth enough but we did have to wait about 25 minutes for a SSR bus with 2 other parties. Not a very long time, but not the Tiffany Towncar guy waiting for me either. However, it was free, so when and if they start charging for the service, I'll probably be going back the town car route. Also, we arrived at 10:30am and our luggage didn't get to our room until about 4pm. We were out at the parks, had some things in a carry on, but when we were a little worried since we had dinner reservations at a nice place that evening. But they did come...I have to admit that prefer to have my luggage with me at all times.
Check in: There was a short line, but a CM was working the line and handing us our Welcome Home folders. We were too happy to be there to notice. When we got to the desk, our CM was earning her ears, but was very pleasant, as was her preceptor. Oh, by the way, got many Welcome Homes. She starts going through the check in process and I realize she has assigned a room to us without asking me any questions or offering me a choice of any available rooms, which had been my experience the last 4 trips. So I ask what is available and they tell me, "Oh your room is preassigned because you used Magical Express and we have to know where to put your luggage." (Could be another reason to never use ME again.) So I ask where the room was and it was in the 1st Paddocks building, the one that would be in the top left hand corner of your SSR map. Umm, no thanks. I'm not usually too picky, but I didn't want to be literally out in left field, especially since we were checking in early on a Friday morning, I knew there'd be other units to choose from. So I requested something in either the Springs or Congress Park. She had to make a few phone calls and got me a studio in Congress Park. I did thank her profusely. We went to the concierge desk and got our dining itinerary and our Candlelight Processional tickets. Everything went very smoothly.
The Room: Once the CM switched me to Congress Park, I didn't dare ask for floor or view requests...just nonsmoking. We were assigned room 1701 which is on the 3rd floor at the far end of the hall. We walked in and it was an absolutely breathtaking Downtown Disney view! Fulton's Crabhouse...Cirque, House of Blues, the whole thing. It was my first DD View at SSR and I loved it. The room is a studio and it was in perfect condition...can't report anything missing, dirty, or wrong there. It does bother me that the dishes and silver ware are paper and plastic in a studio and they are "real" in the 1 and 2 BR, but the only time I ever stay in a studio is on my rare adults only trip and I'm not using the kitchen anyway.
SSR: I find it to be beautiful and charming and relaxing. Love the Turf Club...had some great Cosmopolitans there while DH watched a little Sunday Night football. We didn't use the pool b/c it was too cold even for us New Englanders. I still think SSR needs a nice sit down restaurant...I don't care how close Downtown Disney is. The buses ran fine for us, but I never saw an internal resort bus and sometimes the walk from the Main Buildings to Congress Park seems very long when you're tired or carrying a lot of stuff. SSR is our home resort and I do love it, but once I get to the Boardwalk, I realize that I really like being right in the middle of all the action and like having many more dining choices.
WDW: The decorations are breathtaking, the crowds were very manageable, Candlelight Processional and Osborne Lights were awesome. We hope to one day get back to the World during Christmas.
Food & Drink: We had far too much of both! Narcoosee's was just OK for the price. Our appetizers got "lost" so the manager came over and took them off the bill and made sure our steaks weren't right behind the appetizers. Spoodles was GREAT. Earl of Sandwich was GREAT. Fresh was GREAT. And we especially loved going around the World Showcase 2 days in a row and sampling food and drink from different countries. The favorite is Cantina in Mexico for Cantina Nachos and Margaritas as usual!
Next time, I am going to try to get reservations at the Boardwalk, but all in all, I do enjoy SSR.
