SSR Gripes!

[eileenfk]

Totally disagree.


There are definitely bellmen at SSR.

I think that the OP was looking for carts, not people, to help get the luggage from the vehicle to the room.

 

[CarolA]

Why are the elevators not air conditioned? In the summer wouldn't they feel like sweat boxes?
I seriously want to know. Is it a FL thing? Is there some kind of law? The only unairconditioned elevators I can remember being in were the ones in my freshman dorm building at college. My mother complained about it the entire time they were moving me in my freshman year!

Yes, they will be hot in the summer. However, A/C on outdoor elevators is just completly useless! I think the cost of trying to keep them cool would raise your dues! As soon as the door opens the cool air would rush out and it would be hot. Plus they only go three or four floors! Acutally lots of elevators are not aircoditioned. They are just in buildings with AC so the air in them is cool.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think that the OP was looking for carts, not people, to help get the luggage from the vehicle to the room.

Honest question.....do they leave carts by the elevators ? I don't recall seeing them at BWV---the bellman did it for us. Every time we went up and down the elevators I never saw carts there ? Same as OKW---even with the few elevator bldgs (we stayed in one in Nov) and we never saw carts there, but bell service was always available to assist. I also own an offsite timeshare (Sheraton Vistana) and they also have no carts by the elevators but do have bell service near the check-in area. Now, if the OP is saying there wasn't even a bell service stand near the check-in area, that shouldn't be. I just question how standard it is for any of the resorts to have carts by the elevators though ? I've just never seen it at BWV, OKW, VWL or Vero.

 

[mark&sue]

We stayed two weeks at Grand Floridian last October and we sometimes felt like a snack or a bite to eat in our room. Unfortunately the counter service restaurant was shut the whole time duirng our two week stay. The room service was unbelievably expensive and just felt with the £7,000 we had spent to stay that we could not justify the cost! We were really disappointed with GF and then decided to buy into DVC which seemed great value. When we go to SSR I am sure we will dine most nights at DTD and get snacks for the room. I don't think we will miss anything by not having room service, but it would be nice to buy some snacks to go. Is this possible anywhere at SSR?


Susan

 

[tjkraz]

...it would be nice to buy some snacks to go. Is this possible anywhere at SSR?

Depends on what you mean by "snacks." The restaurant has a farily limited menu right now--only 5 or 6 different items per day. But there is also an area where they sell convenience store type items. You'll find things like dry cereal (and milk), potato chips, cookies, fruit, frozen pizza, bread, and so forth. Prices are about 1.5 - 2 x prices in the "real world", but that's pretty typical for Disney.

Every DVC resort has these types of items available.

Downtown Disney is also very close by with other dining / take-out options and other limited things that you could call "snacks." There is a new candy shop opening soon at DD, and you'll also find a fair amount of stands that sell soft pretzels, ice cream, and that sort of thing.

Does that help?

 

[RobDoc]

... I just question how standard it is for any of the resorts to have carts by the elevators though ? I've just never seen it at BWV, OKW, VWL or Vero.

Also no carts available for public use at BC or even GF, CR, Poly for that matter. Bell Services will gladly transport your luggage using their carts, but the carts are not available for anyone to load up themselves.

 

[lllovell]

Also no carts available for public use at BC or even GF, CR, Poly for that matter. Bell Services will gladly transport your luggage using their carts, but the carts are not available for anyone to load up themselves.

Having seen these carts used for races down the hall last year during the power outage from one of the hurricanes at an off property hotel, I think it is best that they are not just sitting there waiting to be used by guest. First off, many would NEVER return them to their designated spot. Secondly, they would be abused badly by play and misuse.

 

[DrTomorrow]

I've never stayed at SSR or OKW, but have similar concerns - I'm just more of an interior hallways, hotel type of girl instead of a condo girl (and yes, lack of room service is one of my issues with OKW - the kitchen is wonderful - if you planned on cooking and have groceries). But the beauty of DVC is that people who value access to their car more than I value my air conditioned interior hallways have those choices.

As usual, one of the bright minds of the DIS gave me a "mental epiphony" (and yes, it's as painful as it sounds ). What some folks prefer is what I refer to as a "Las Vegas" resort - The Mirage, for example. Hella hella pool, pool bar, pool dining, room service 24/7, interior hallways, etc. I'd guess that - in DVC - BWV and BCV come closest to offering that. OWK & SSR are more "outdoors-style" resorts: separate buildings for lodging, dining, recreation, less likely to have room service, etc. So if Dave was expecting one and got the other, that would explain his dissatisfaction. He's absolutely right - that's why DVC offers different resorts; for example, I can't remember DW and I ever ordering room service EVER - except once at Port Orleans we ordered the pizza (uck), and we avoid bell service and valet - we're a bit more DIY on vacation.

But bell carts by the elevators? Bad, BAD idea. Let's see: Johnny and Susie racing them down the hall (with their children watching ) followed by lawsuits as someone falls off. Theft - way too easy to roll one off-site. I've only ever seen these in hotels that are so low-rent that they don't actually have bell services....

Be well!

 

[CarolA]

And you KNOW someone would sue Disney because they let thier kids play on those things and got injured.

 

[LIFERBABE]

None of the resorts have carts sitting by the elevator.

We stayed at VWL over Christmas and we saw plenty of DVC guests lugging groceries from the Parking lot to their villas and that was a pretty good distance! Im sure they could of pulled up and had Bell Services unload their groceries tip them and then tip them again when they brought them to the room which is why they probably chose to carry in the first place. The point of going to the grocery store is to save money. Tipping both ways pretty much eats that savings.
We had a stroller and used it to cart our groceries. BWV self lot can also be a long haul with groceries if you don't use Bell Services. No carts there either.

Bell Services is very possessive of those carts, because without them they cant earn a living! It's like a Taxi Driver letting you borrow his cab! LOL

Again, SSR has Bell Services and they were great when I chose to use them. If not, the self lot is a closer walk than most. BCV has a great self lot.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I know Vero and VWL had carts, we used them at both places. Now maybe at VWL, bell services had just left it in the building, I don't know. But at Vero you could always find carts in the basement parking garages by the elevators.

 

[Jennyvelaz]

Boy, reading the replies you are getting beat up-I was going to defend you but then again, you said for the OPs to "go ahead". I understand your gripes about SSR. That is my home as well and I felt at the time that it could have been better. Give it time. We have stayed at the BCV and this could be what you are looking for. I am going back to SSR in May and actually looking forward to it. It has so much potentail! I do fear the crowding that will happen after seeing all the construction. I fear the lengthy bus routes of "pickups" to be and I am sorry they do not have better meals offered. It balances out the beautiful rooms, views, and opportunities! I couldn't find the boat, either! Stay positive , despite the beatings and the punches!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Stay positive , despite the beatings and the punches!

wow....I don't see this at all. Hope the OP didn't feel my posts were this way I just see it as varying viewpoints. Alot of us acknowledged what the OP did himself...and that was that BCV/BWV were more to his liking. Nothing wrong with that ?
I personally feel the condo feel is more to our tastes. If I wanted a hotel-feel, I'd stay at one of the many WDW has to offer. We personally felt we wanted our home to be OKW because that's what it feels like to us---a home in WDW. We never feel a lack of service as the OP pointed out. I know many would disagree with this thinking and that's what makes DVC so special. Each resort has something unique to offer

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Boy, reading the replies you are getting beat up-I was going to defend you but then again, you said for the OPs to "go ahead". I understand your gripes about SSR. That is my home as well and I felt at the time that it could have been better. Give it time. We have stayed at the BCV and this could be what you are looking for. I am going back to SSR in May and actually looking forward to it. It has so much potentail! I do fear the crowding that will happen after seeing all the construction. I fear the lengthy bus routes of "pickups" to be and I am sorry they do not have better meals offered. It balances out the beautiful rooms, views, and opportunities! I couldn't find the boat, either! Stay positive , despite the beatings and the punches!

See I find the bus worry about stops to be strange. OKW has alot of stops and I don't see SSR having more then they do. Actually from what I have observed the buildings at SSR have more rooms in them and are higher. MAking the buildings fewer even though there are more rooms. So I think the bus stops will be fewer than anyone expects. I counted 5 in finished or in construction while there last month. According to the current map is that it? Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Daitcher]

Boy, reading the replies you are getting beat up-I was going to defend you but then again, you said for the OPs to "go ahead". I understand your gripes about SSR. That is my home as well and I felt at the time that it could have been better. Give it time. We have stayed at the BCV and this could be what you are looking for. I am going back to SSR in May and actually looking forward to it. It has so much potentail! I do fear the crowding that will happen after seeing all the construction. I fear the lengthy bus routes of "pickups" to be and I am sorry they do not have better meals offered. It balances out the beautiful rooms, views, and opportunities! I couldn't find the boat, either! Stay positive , despite the beatings and the punches!

Thanks for the reply. I am cartainly staying positive and still love DVC. We are staying at BCV in May and VB in a Beach cottage in October. These resorts seem to be more my style. Right now BWV is my favorite of the resorts we've tried. I don't mind people beating me up. This is just my opinion and my opinion only. Some agree, some don't. Just trying to share a different perspective. Thanks for being so positive.

DAVE

 

[Sammie]

I think that the OP was looking for carts, not people, to help get the luggage from the vehicle to the room.

I am not aware of any DVC resorts at WDW offering carts for personal use, am I mistaken. I know Hilton Head does but did not think any at WDW do.

We bring our own cart,

 

[Sammie]

Boy, reading the replies you are getting beat up-I was going to defend you but then again, you said for the OPs to "go ahead". I understand your gripes about SSR. That is my home as well and I felt at the time that it could have been better. Give it time. We have stayed at the BCV and this could be what you are looking for. I am going back to SSR in May and actually looking forward to it. It has so much potentail! I do fear the crowding that will happen after seeing all the construction. I fear the lengthy bus routes of "pickups" to be and I am sorry they do not have better meals offered. It balances out the beautiful rooms, views, and opportunities! I couldn't find the boat, either! Stay positive , despite the beatings and the punches!

The OP asked for opinions.

Lets here some fedback. Am I alone with these views?

That is what was given. I really did not see any one "beating up" on the OP. Just because some disagree why is that beating up on someone?

 

[Sammie]

Thanks for the post. People really miss the point when they state bellman are available. I found things just like you, no one there. My main point is that they need bell carts by the elevators. How people can dispute this is beyond me. You go grocery shopping and have tons of bags, wine, beer, etc. What are you supposed to do? Make ten trips up and down those stiffeling elevators. Forget the effort involved, this is a waste of time. A few bell carts would make this transport easy. I know many cook on vacation but we don't. I can cook at home, we like a little more in the way of pampering. Vacation to me means relaxing. Getting ready and walking over to DTD is not something we as a family want to do. Room service is a must for us. This resort is a do it yourself condo type place. The price of a DVC membership or the cash rate to stay here would lead one to believe their was some level of service. Thanks again for your post.

DAVE

Cash rate and points required to stay at BW, BCV, and VWL are higher than SSR or OKW. With that increase you get interior hallways, room service, and air conditioned elevators.

It is nice that DVC offers different options for what the guest wants. Now that you have stayed at SSR you can make your choice based on what is offered at each resort.

This is why so many on these forums state buy where you want to stay and do your research before you purchase.

 

[rmontgo892]

Sorry you felt so offended by the responses to your question. Since you chose to use a sarcastic "rolleyes" smiley in your question about airconditioning in elevators, the response about spending 12 seconds seemed very appropriate ... and also included a similar smiley .

Since the elevators at SSR (and OKW ... and HH ... and VB) all load and unload exposed to the external environment (remember, there are no interior hallways) and there are only 4 floors maximum (3 at OKW), it would seem a little energy foolish to heat or cool a small area that opens to the outside every few seconds. The trip from the ground floor at SSR to the 4th floor does take about 12 seconds - it would hardly seem that air conditioning would make much difference at all for that length of time in the elevator.

As someone who claims to have owned at OKW since 1994 (and a DIS member since 2001), even if you have not used one of the elevators, it would seem that you'd be aware of the exterior nature of all the villa access areas at OKW that would make air conditioning an impractical and unneccessary expense.

Sorry you were offended by my attempt at humor.

Holy crap...I asked if there was NO air conditioning in the elevators at OKW too like SSR. I mention that posting can be tricky and had 2 posters "one a moderator" NOT answer the question, really.

Did you bother to read how the other poster responded? I pointed out I am a relatively "new" person to the boards and was "interested" to see my question met with sarcasm/humor by 2 separate posts?

I am given a dissertation on why the elevators don't have air conditioing due to the structure of the BLDGS and expense etc. I don't care if they have air or not I was curious if OKW BLDGS with elevators had air. Simple right? I mentioned I assumed they were handicapped.

Read thru the few posts I have on DIS. It should take 5 minutes, if that. I never once complained about DVC or WDW resorts. My family and I love our DVC and WDW!

Apparently, cause I originally posted asking a question with this ---> I am then attacked with buzz words like if you "claim to own DVC since 1994" I should know better???

Hey, I didn't ask if I could pool hop at SAB while staying at OKW, use a refillable mug again, resell DVC points making a profit at the expense of others, complain how my trip was/will be ruined if I don't get all my requests met, etc. I asked what I asked. Simple, right?

Instead of admitting that the "Canadian guy/gal poster" was a bit over the top in his responses to my post and that it looked, well, unDisney like, you further reinforce my apparently wrong "interpretation of your FIRST response."

I'll bite. I must be lying about owning at OKW since 1994 and I must be a complete IDIOT cause I never knew there wasn't any air conditioning at OKW in their Elevators when they added these new BLDGS.

BTW, please don't apologize again unless you really mean it!

 

[Kath820]

No Dave you are right on all counts..
We stayed there in Oct and the rooms were beautiful!! but to get to everything else was such a chore..we opted for no car since staying at WL and never getting back into it from the airport..there I wished we had one..
You had to plan on least an hour to go anywhere else for PS seating..ugh
We went at 9 to have a drink (adults) and the bartender said he could give us one but then he had to close!! at 9???
Won't go back until it's done...sorry to say