SSR Helpful Tips?

[gatorfreud]

Hi everyone! We (me, DH, DS5, DS3) are off to SSR (1 bed villa) in a few weeks, and was wondering if anyone who has stayed there could offer any tips? We requested Springs or Grandstand (doubt we'll get it)...

If there was something you really liked that I should do, try, eat, let me know! Bus stop tips, etc...


If there was something you did not like that I can watch out for let me know that too! (But not something that's out of my control.... if I can't fix/avoid it, don't tell me!)

Thanks!!
Kim

 

[Disney lovin' senior]

Hi everyone! We (me, DH, DS5, DS3) are off to SSR (1 bed villa) in a few weeks, and was wondering if anyone who has stayed there could offer any tips? We requested Springs or Grandstand (doubt we'll get it)...

If there was something you really liked that I should do, try, eat, let me know! Bus stop tips, etc...


If there was something you did not like that I can watch out for let me know that too! (But not something that's out of my control.... if I can't fix/avoid it, don't tell me!)

Thanks!!
Kim

We have stayed a few times at SSR. I found the eating area around Artist's Palette to be small, and crowded. We often took our plates to the lounge by the bar, or even out on the veranda. The Turf Club is an excellent restaurant, we both enjoyed our evening meals there. Love the SSR. Very relaxing after a hectic day at the parks. The boat ride to DTD is quick, and the shopping is unlimited. Can't wait to go again!

 

[gatorfreud]

Thanks... good idea to take the food outside. I am excited to try the Turf Club!

Anyone else been? Thank you!!!

 

[gatorfreud]

bumping... anyone else been?

 

[Amy&Dan]

We love SSR! I think you stand a good chance of getting your request, I have requested both of those sections and gotten them both times. I loved the Grandstand area, that new pool they have there with the spray jets is so fun and it has its own bar for the adults. If you don't get Grandstand, be sure and check its pool out, its not your typical quiet pool! I love Artist's Palette, I have not had a problem finding seating there, but as the other poster said, they have some outdoor seating as well. I also think its one of the best counter services options in all of WDW. If you don't get your requests, I would ask for either Congress Park (very convenient to DTD) or the Paddock. The Carousel area is a bit further out.

Being so close to DTD is nice, that way if you don't have a car and want to eat at another WDW resort, its very easy to go over to DTD and then get on that resort's bus. I find SSR very quiet and relaxing. The main pool is great with the zero entry and Donald spray jets, your kids will love that pool. All of the quiet pools are also nice. The main pool always has games for kids in the afternoons.

I hope you have a great trip! For more information, check out the DVC Planning Board, there is lots of information about SSR on that board.

 

[5 for WDW]

Our home resort is SSR. We love it!

We were in The Grandstand section in September for 10 days and it was the perfect location for us. That section being the first bus stop to be picked up and dropped off is a huge plus. As another poster said, the pool in that section is awesome. My kids loved it. The High Rock Spring pool (Main) was a huge hit with our kids as well. My husband and I both loved the slide as much as the kids. The kiddie slide was perfect for my 4 year old. We brought her arm swimmies which really came in handy on the slide.
The resort is beautiful. We liked taking walks around in the evening. The walk to Downtown Disney was pleasant and we enjoyed taking the boat back.
Artist's Palette is quite small. We also took our food outside to eat a few times. We did eat breakfast in our room.
We borrowed a movie once or twice from Community Hall for the kids on the nights we went back to the room early. We were there for 10 days so it gave them a night or two do wind down. They have every Disney movie you can think of. They also have great crafts that they do with kids at certain times of the day. They post the times and the craft before hand so you can see what they will be doing.

Have a great time! We are going "home" again this December and we can't wait!

 

[gatorfreud]

Thanks everyone! I did just find the SSR Lovers thread on DVC board (don't know why I didn't think to look there first!?)!! Just what I was looking for... 140 pages about the cool stuff at SSR! Thanks, we can't wait for our trip!

Kim

 

[ElizabethB]

Rent a car. We found it to be really big and spread out.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Rent a car. We found it to be really big and spread out.

If the OP gets either Grandstand or Springs, as requested, they certainly won't need a rental car. It is only a 0.25 mile walk from the farthest most building in Congress Park to High Rock Springs pool -- at most a 10 minute walk with a pokey 5 year old girl munching on a Mickey Bar.

 

[gatorgirl2]

Following along this thread too. We will be going in a couple of weeks. SSR wasn't our first choice, but I know it will be relaxing, and I'm excited about it now!!

 

[DjdBrit]

Just back from SSR 4/17 - 4/24 and LOVED it. Was a little nervous about the whole trip as had read tons of bad stuff. We stayed in the Grandstand building H. Perfect as it was right next to the grandstand pool. Much quieter than the main pool but still way cooler than the quiet pools. Also this building is right across from the Carriage house. Perfect.
Big tip if at the Grandstand USE that bus stop... you are dropped off first great for carrying sleeping kids and are picked up first which means you get a seat on those crazy EMH days!!! Good luck and have fun!

 

[Sandi]

We stayed at SSR in the Paddocks a couple of years ago and enjoyed it a lot. I was surprised at how much my DD liked going to Community Hall. Make sure to make time to go there. We played table tennis, she hooked up with some other kids to play video games, and she did a few craft items.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Remember if you are staying at one of the sections furthest away from the front of the resort and you don't want to make the long walk to the big pool or to grab a bit to eat, you can ride any bus that comes along. They all loop around the resort and the last stop the bus makes is near the big pool and bike rental office.

 

[SharonZ]

Hi everyone! We (me, DH, DS5, DS3) are off to SSR (1 bed villa) in a few weeks, and was wondering if anyone who has stayed there could offer any tips? We requested Springs or Grandstand (doubt we'll get it)...

If there was something you really liked that I should do, try, eat, let me know! Bus stop tips, etc...


If there was something you did not like that I can watch out for let me know that too! (But not something that's out of my control.... if I can't fix/avoid it, don't tell me!)

Thanks!!
Kim

You will love SSR -- I just wanted to mention, since you have younger children, that the Springs bus stop is the last pick-up for the theme parks. However, it is the first pick-up for DTD. If the crowds are large, you may have to stand on the bus. I stayed in the Paddocks for my last trip and enjoyed the area very much. Keep in mind that it is a large resort and will involve some walking. Another option for DTD is the boat launch which is a 6-8 minute ride from the dock. I originally was booked for a Studio, but was upgraded to a 1-BR, you will be amazed at the layout. There is a full kitchen, living area with a queen-sleeper sofa, seperate bedroom, jacuzzi tub, shower, and much more. Please feel free to ask any questions!

 

[DISNEYNY]

We stayed at SSR last August in the Grandstand section. We loved the pool and we were very glad that we had the first pickup for the bus. There were several times that the people waiting at the Springs were not able to get on the bus or else they had to stand. We also enjoyed Artists Palette and Turf Club, as well as the boat ride to DTD.

 

[gatorfreud]

Good to know about the busses, thank you! I am hoping to get Grandstand, but of course Springs would be great too (I am going to walk to Grandstand to pick up the bus most likely). I would love to get my requested area... it never seems to work out for us, but it's ok, we don't mind the walking to the front... we were as far back as you get at CSR and had a great time!

I agree about the one bedroom... I'm afraid we're going to be spoiled forever once we get into a villa! Uh-oh...

Thanks everyone for the insight! We will make sure to check out Community Hall... it should be good for my folks who will be babysitting our kids for a few hours while DH and I attend a wedding.

Oh, and to the PP who is going soon also, check out the SSR Lovers thread onthe DVC- Mousecellaneous board. They have great info to get you excited about going!