Ssr......help!!!

[kevw67]

Last February, we spent Presidents week at Pop Century and had a blast! On one of our off days DS 7 and DS 9 went on a pirate cruise and DW and I walked around Boardwalk and into EPCOT. While on this walk, we kept seein DVC signs and finally stopped and asked a CM about it. Scheduled a tour of SSR and sure enough, closed the deal. We were so excited as we plan on hitting Disney every other year(becasue of vacation schedules) and it seemed like it would work for us. Now I get on here and hear great things, good things, and horror stories about SSR and ME! we are spending Presidents week at SSR for the first time as DVC members and cant wait, but Im worried that this may not be the magical experience we bought into. Am I worrying too much over a minority who just like to complain about everything, or are their some legitimate concerns about SSR being too spread out, not being able to book rooms(I already have a 2br), pools being cold, etc? We used ME last Feb., and it was great, no probs., but it seems like there are more complainers than praisers. Help me see the light!!

Kevin

 

[RobDoc]

If you enjoyed your stay at Pop Century, you should REALLY enjoy your stay at SSR. SSR is not as spread out as PC, your villa will be larger and I think the location is far superior to PC. You will need transportation to any Theme Parks (just like at PC), but DD is a short walk away.

Since you already found no difficulty making your reservatino using DVC points, you won't need to have concern about the ability to reserve and WDW pools ae all similar regarding temperature- that is not a DVC issue, it's a WDW resort policy, however they choose to handle it.

You will likely have the same great experience using ME and SSR is often the first stop from MCO.


Enjoy your stay - please offer a report when you get back!

Welcome Home!

 

[spiceycat]

sorry doc - but Pop is not spread out at all.

SSR is a little spread out - but unlike Pop not so many people.

the food court at Pop is less than 5 minutes from any room.

at SSR restuarant/food court is like 12 minutes from Congress House. Springs is much closer.

SSR is at CH 5 minutes from DD. and I mean 5 minutes!!! that is pretty wonderful.

SSR is a beautiful, wonderful place. It is too fancy for my taste - I preferred the laid back of OKW. but there is nothing really wrong with it.

some posters think it is their duty to down cast the newest resort. It has happened everytime with BWV, VWL, BCV now SSR.

that is why I am hoping a new resort either AKL or Cont will be on the block soon - just so people will quit thinking they need to down rate SSR.

It is lovely!!! Disney used only the best material and it shows. there is nothing wrong with SSR.

the reason it is not one of my favorite - is I am a messy person. I have tried to change but I drop things - so housekeeping really knows me. at SSR I felt I couldn't drop anything because everything was so lovely. It was not comfortable to me - so I preferred OKW.

there is nothing and I mean nothing wrong with SSR.

paid no attention. what matters is how you feel about it.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

One of the great things you will discover about DVC is that there is something for everyone.

Everyone has different tastes & is looking for something different from a resort.

My best advice is check it out for yourself.

We happen to LOVE SSR. The more the resort matures (finishes construction, landscaping grows, etc.) the more we like it. We are also huge fans of OKW.

Yes, there is absolutely no pleasing some people and yes, some people feel the need to put others down in order to make themselves feel better. Take it with a grain of salt & judge for yourself.

Oh, and Welcome Home Neighbor!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

We will be at SSR from 2/17 - 2/22, we have a 1 bedroom for the 4 of us, just booked yesterday!! We are using ME, have used the service before and its great!!! We are renting a car for a day from Dollar at the Grosvenor to go to Daytona on 2/28 for the race and then back to SSR, we did this trip 2 years ago, but spent 2 days at the Swan, 3 nights at SSR then 3 nights on the Disney Wonder! I do remember the pools being cold, but, it was very warm, so they probably weren't heating it cause of the outside temperature, but it didn't keep the kids out!

 

[cncDisney4]

We have stayed at SSR twice since we joined DVC in 2005 and have our third trip scheduled for this December. We absolutely love SSR.

I agree that everyone has different tastes and some feel it is too far away from the parks, but we just love how spacious it is and the walking distance to DTD. What is also nice about SSR is that if you have a reservation at say 'Ohana's at the Poly then you can walk to DTD and just catch the bus to the Poly instead of having to take a bus to a park and catch a bus at that park for the Poly or the monorail (although it is fun to take the monorail!).

Some have complained about the bus service at SSR but we much prefer it to our stays at the All Stars. We have only had a few times where we had to wait for a bus but they are not as crowded as the busses at All Stars either. Nothing is perfect - even at WDW - but you just need to keep your Disney attitude.

We look forward to many trips to WDW and our home at SSR.

Relax and enjoy!

 

[Kris517]

I know this might come out sounding the wrong way but I don't mean to sound "upidy" ....

We are DVC members and for a short July trip this past year we decided to stay our first nite (a Friday) at Pop Century to save on some points as it was going to be just a travel day anyway.

It was the worst hotel experience I had in gosh knows how long. We could not leave POP fast enough. In fact, we woke up so early we checked in to SSR by 7 AM and when I walked in to the lobby I was like "Thank God!".

You should be really pleased with SSR. I thought Pop looked like a tacky painted Days Inn and the buildings reminded me of my college dorm years ago. The walls are paper thin, people running around screaming until past 3 AM, very small rooms, pool was mediocre at best.......

I think you will be really happy!

Krista

 

[Destination Disney]

We stayed there for a week at the end of July. It was a non-theme park trip, just to hang out by the pool and enjoy all of what WDW has to offer besides the theme parks. We loved it.
We are going back in Dec. for a few days to enjoy the holiday decor and MVMCP!

You'll love it.

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

We love SSR! We bought in late 2004 and have stayed there only once so far, last June, but are looking forward to many, many more trips home. I too had read negative reports before we went but we couldn't have been happier with the resort or with our decision to finally buy DVC! We stayed at Pop Century twice before buying DVC and we thought it was very nice but now after having had a 1 bedroom last June at SSR it would be very hard to go back to staying there for any length of time. Your 2 bedroom villa will be HUGE compared to the room you had at Pop. SSR is a beautiful resort and the pools are very nice! My DD, who was 11 at the time of our stay at SSR, loved the pool slide at SSR and she also liked the "quiet pools" there too. In addition at SSR there are activities going on for the kids; one thing I remember my DD really enjoying was a water balloon toss they had for the kids. Also at Community Hall they have different activities in addition to board games, Play Station 2, ping pong, etc. to enjoy. Just typing this brings back great memories of our first trip home to SSR! In fact next month we are staying one night in a 2 bedroom at VWL (we plan to try all the DVC resorts and this is where our friends wanted to stay) before we cruise on the Disney Magic and I have alredy told my DD and DH that we are going to have to find some time on that day we fly in before the cruise to get over to SSR to see the progress they have made since we were there last year. We also already have our next trip home reserved for next June at SSR!

Enjoy your trip and Welcome Home!

 

[whiplash]

If I listened to all the BS and bad comments I would never go to Disney! Sometimes half the fun of traveling is listening to other people and their expectations. It always makes us laugh to listen to people "yip" about things that they won't even remember in an hour. Forget all the negative stuff, make your plans, get excited and have a great time, let the MAGIC in and just remember, there are no bad trips to Disney, some just better than others!
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!! P.S. WE LOVE SSR!!!!!!

 

[B'rer Karen]

Another happy SSR owner here. I have stayed in a studio and a 1 bedroom in different areas of the resort and I just love it. The only other DVC resort I've stayed in is OKW, and that's another wonderul resort. Actually, I don't think I've ever had a bad resort stay at WDW. I've stayed at the Disney Institute, Carribean Beach, and Port Orleans Riverside and loved them all. Saratoga Springs is my favorite though. I think part of that has to do with the fact that it is my home. I really do feel that way when I get there. And I'll be back in just 30 days!!!

 

[Nikki_Mouse]

also another happy owner! SSR is great! We were there in June and loved it! I was a little afraid it was too far from MK- but I was pleasantly surprised! The best part was that my daughter, for her 5th bday, was with me and absolutely LOVED it. She still talks about "Saratoga Spring" and thinks it is even better than ASMo- and for a kid that is something!

 

[lizanne]

I've been a member since '92 at OKW. We've also stayed at the other DVC resorts at WDW. Last trip was at SSR. We loved it.

You've already seen the resort. Don't worry, be happy. You own DVC. Have a great trip.

 

[Esmerelda]

Kevin....my dear...not to worry. I too am a DVC member and SSR is my home resort. I am coming up this spring on my 3rd stay there and I have nothing bad to say about it. The villa's are fantastic....the pool is simply awesome (as well as the spa)....and the bus service is one of the best. Our past trip in July we used our points for the WL (room) and the Poly. While both hotels were great...we truly longed to be at SSR because of all the space! Its great to have a huge villa as opposed to just a 'room'. The kitchen is wonderful and a huge moneysaver also. We do a one bedroom and our boys take "Aero" single beds with them for the living room because someone would end up injured if they slept together LOL. (they are quite big now) I noticed on our trip to the WL and the Poly...we waited quite a long time at both resorts for buses. Everytime at a park...we would see lots of SSR buses zip by...but yet we still waited. The bus service isn't shared so its quite quick we thought from SSR.

I have to say we used Gardengrocer this past July and I have nothing but good things to say about them and we have never had groceries delivered while at WDW. I know there is some ongoing thread and folks were unhappy but I had ZERO problems with them and the service was great. I have learned in life that you cannot please everyone all of them time (I work in emergency medicine..boy do I know this saying all to well!). We will use them again for groceries (also some friends of ours just returned and had no complaints either with GG). Its so nice not to have to hit a grocery store!

One last thought: I have to agree w/Webmaster Doc. I thought Pop was waay spread out compared to SSR...so you should have no problem.

have a great time,
Esmerelda

 

[kevw67]

Thanks so much...i didn't want to sound as if I was comparing to POP....but I was concerned with the layout of SSR and Buses to and from parks....Kitchens are a bonus, but we go and eat at parks since food is part of the magic for us...anyways, thanks for all the reassuring....it has put me at ease.

 

[RobDoc]

sorry doc - but Pop is not spread out at all.

SSR is a little spread out - but unlike Pop not so many people.

the food court at Pop is less than 5 minutes from any room.

at SSR restuarant/food court is like 12 minutes from Congress House. Springs is much closer.

SSR is at CH 5 minutes from DD. and I mean 5 minutes!!! that is pretty wonderful. ...

Spicey, we'll just have to disagree then. I can walk from Congress Park all the way to OKW in about 12 minutes. Artist's Palette is about 200 yards from that area and about the same distance from The Carousel and The Paddocks. The Springs is closer (about 50 yards away) and The Grandstand buildings will be about 50 - 200 yards away. It will take longer to walk to DD from all areas except Congress Park - and that is in the 10 minute range, depending on which of the four buildings you stay in.

Pop Century is NOT all in one building. There are a number buildings scattered around the resort into various themed areas. Birnbaum's even describes it as "sprawling" and it has more than triple the number of rooms as SSR.

I'll stick with my original comments.

 

[spiceycat]

Pop Century is NOT all in one building. There are a number buildings scattered around the resort into various themed areas. Birnbaum's even describes it as "sprawling" and it has more than triple the number of rooms as SSR.

Doc believe me for the amount of people it is tiny. It takes up less room (until the second half is built) of the Polyn or GF - it is definitely less than OKW or SSR. It is definitely smaller than all the moderates.

for such a big resort people wise - it is pretty small especially compared to the DVC resorts or WDW deluxes. It is probably about the same size as WL (without VWL) - might be a little bigger but not much.

that is one reason why I do love it. You can be at food court in a few minutes no matter where you are staying here. the bus stop is a few minutes further. It is on the other side of the gift shop.

It is not one building and I didn't say that.

it is a value resort - that means small and compact. It is very well designed. go visit it. you might be surprised. I know lots of people hate it - but others of us love it.

 

[spiceycat]

for DD marketplace I count the time I start walking on the path until I get to the place with the sign telling you where everything is.

I don't know why I take so much longer to walk to the food court/restuarant at SSR. but it was definitely longer. I didn't understand that then. because I remember the others here saying it was just a few minutes. I guess it might be walking up that hill. there are no hills between CH and DD. that hill going up to the food court probably slows me down that much.

 

[Pluto 2]

ssr is a wonderful resort.
yes its spread out.
yes it has no inside hallways
yes its points all low
yes it has the lowest maint fees
do not worry what other people think judge for yourself
if for some reason you dont like it get in on the 7 month window, and you will still pay the lowest maint fees

 

[RobDoc]

it is a value resort - that means small and compact. It is very well designed. go visit it. you might be surprised. I know lots of people hate it - but others of us love it.

I have visited the resort and was given a tour of the facility and have seen all of the room types including the suites. The food court is nice, I have eaten there and it is easily accessible from all of the buildings (it's no closer than any of the buildings at SSR though).

Value Resort does NOT mean small and compact. The only thing small about Pop Century is the physical size of the rooms themseslves (about 260 square feet). The resort sits on an area larger than SSR and SSR even includes part of the golf course. Pop currently has 2880 rooms - more than triple SSR when it is finally completed.

Here is an overview map of Pop Century:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=15&ll=28.350543,-81.544819&spn=0.015674,0.028925

...and SSR at the same resolution:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=15&ll=28.377204,-81.519885&spn=0.01567,0.028925

... You should take the elevator inside the Spa buidling if the hill is an issue. That will take you right to the entry at the Spa which is right next to the Turf Club restaurant and Artist's Palette.