SSR Lovers and Owners Part 2

[MAGICFOR2]

SSR is our home resort. We haven't stayed there since we first bought into DVC many years ago. On that trip, it was a one bedroom for just my DW and I. Since then we’ve stayed at non-home resorts, used our points for the DCL, and a variety of other trips, family included. Our DD became engaged at VWL, while we were on a family vacation, my now son-in-law was doing his internship at Artist Point while we were there and then they stayed at OKW for their honeymoon a couple of months later.
We’re finally headed home to SSR…this time with the whole family in tow. I can’t wait! For the first time the family will experience SSR, our two kids, DD and DS, and their families will make this coming Christmas at WDW very special. I’ve been dreaming about this for years now…a three bedroom GV. I can’t wait to educate my grandkids as to proper WDW childlike behavior. I just read something that said “Grandpas are there to help children get into mischief that they haven’t thought of yet.”
I’ll be the biggest kid out of the whole family! Watch out WDW…Pop Pop and grandsons on the loose!!!

When our kids were little and we took them to WDW for the first time, we stayed at ASM. It’s what we could afford at the time. I took on two additional part time jobs to pay for it. One day we got on the bus to go to the MK. A whole family, like the one I have now boarded that bus and I remember my DW and I saying how wonderful it was for that grandfather to make that happen for his family. I was determined to do the same. After many years of hard work that day will soon arrive. DVC has helped us to make that happen!

Congratulations and Welcome Home!!! Your post made me tear up a little, because I understand your excitement! We did the same with our kids and grandkids for the first time last Summer, and I don't think it could have been better, in spite of the rain. We did 3 studios for reasons that are listed in my TR below. It was a dream come true for me, and the memories are still fresh almost a year later! Next year we are going with just one of the families, and the other family a year later at DLR. It is good that way for individual attention, too. When given their choice of resorts for next year, they said they loved SSR so much that they just want to return to the same resort! I wish you the best of trips with your grands!!!

 

[MarkF0wle]

Seven and a wake-up for us! I can't wait to be back home at SSR.

Mark, see if you can get that rain situation straighten out by next week, please.

No problem! Way ahead of you, according to my sources it's going to be sunny & back to normal warmth tomorrow (aka Sunday). Then it is showing sunny & warm for the rest of my trip which is until the 23rd. So you should be covered!

Today at EPCOT was cold, but still had a good day. FP+ working swimmingly, used my 3 by 3pm & was still able to pick up a Test Track FP+ at 3pm. TT was down most of the day due to weather & they don't distribute FP+ for attractions that are down so I think that helped us.

 

[ziravan]

Hi there - just returned from our first trip staying at SSR. We loved it!!! It was so beautiful and peaceful! We stayed in the Grandstand section and were very happy with it. Being the first bus stop at the end of a late night in the parks is a blessing! Our room was on the first floor right on the golf course. The bus system to EVERY park was wonderful and we were there Easter week. We never waited very long for a bus and at all the parks the bus stop was one of the closest to the front. If you've ever stayed at Caribbean Beach, you know what it's like to have bus stop 32 out of 34 at the MK!! Oh and we don't own a DVC, we rented points from an owner that we met on Disboards - also a great experience. Have stayed at many Disney resorts from Value to Deluxe and have decided that SSR is one of our favorites!!! And the best news...DH went on a DVC tour and we're going to have a "serious talk" tonight about buying into VGF!!! Wish me luck

At the top of any DVC thread, including this one, there's an ad for the timeshare store. Buying direct from Disney may be the way to go for you, but at least compare what's out there on the resale market.

My wife and I have decided to buy DVC next year. We're going to stay at three different DVC resorts in Sept., then we will prob narrow down our home resort and look at resale.

 

[MarkF0wle]

For those who have been asking we drove along the road with the Congress Park -> DTD pathway & it looks pretty open to me. No obvious signage or equipment blocking the way. Saw several people walking the sideway closer to DTD but not further up towards SSR.

I saw nothing to indicate it was closed.

 

[Kimmers127]

For those who have been asking we drove along the road with the Congress Park -> DTD pathway & it looks pretty open to me. No obvious signage or equipment blocking the way. Saw several people walking the sideway closer to DTD but not further up towards SSR. I saw nothing to indicate it was closed.

Thank you!!

 

[calleger]

Where is the nearest Starbucks coffee location from SSR? DTD?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Where is the nearest Starbucks coffee location from SSR? DTD?

The closest one I know of is on 535, about a mile past the I-4 ramp. It's in the same general area as the Walgreen's, but on the other side of the highway.

On Disney property, I think the only two are the Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom and the Fountainview Cafe in Epcot.

There are two scheduled for Downtown Disney as part of the Disney Springs conversion; one in the West Side (in the old Wetzel Pretzel location), and the other in the Marketplace near World of Disney. The construction signs say "Spring 2014," but I don't think either has opened.

 

[aurora23]

Just passed ROFR for a 50 point SSR contract. I can't wait for our first trip home!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Just passed ROFR for a 50 point SSR contract. I can't wait for our first trip home!

cool! Congrats!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I have a room question - Is it better to book a dedicated 2-bdrm or a 2-bdrm lock-off. What are the differences and advantages? TIA

 

[Brenle]

A two-bedroom lock-off is a one-bedroom with a suite attached. Inside the units there's a door connecting both that can be locked from each side. One advantage of a lock-off is separate entrances, which is extremely convenient when traveling with other adults, such as in-laws. You can come and go as you please without entering the other persons room. A dedicated two-bedroom has one entrance. We like this option when traveling with teenagers. They have their own "space" but we know when they're coming and going because there's only one entrance. Hope this info helps.

 

[micheleq]

Hello everyone,

We're new DVC Owners (VGF) and will be staying at SSR in a 2 BR-lockoff for three nights at Thanksgiving! So excited! We stayed in a dedicated 2 BR several years ago in the Grandstand area and loved it.

This trip we'll be with my in-laws who will have their car, so proximity to bus stop is not important. I'd like to stay in the Paddock because I think my girls will love the pool area. It looks like if we request something in the 6000's we can walk to DTD? And it's close to the parking lot?

Suggestions?

TIA!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

A two-bedroom lock-off is a one-bedroom with a suite attached. Inside the units there's a door connecting both that can be locked from each side. One advantage of a lock-off is separate entrances, which is extremely convenient when traveling with other adults, such as in-laws. You can come and go as you please without entering the other persons room. A dedicated two-bedroom has one entrance. We like this option when traveling with teenagers. They have their own "space" but we know when they're coming and going because there's only one entrance. Hope this info helps.

Thanks for your reply! Maybe we should ask for the lock-off then. In this case we'll be the In-laws!

 

[delmar411]

Hello everyone,

We're new DVC Owners (VGF) and will be staying at SSR in a 2 BR-lockoff for three nights at Thanksgiving! So excited! We stayed in a dedicated 2 BR several years ago in the Grandstand area and loved it.

This trip we'll be with my in-laws who will have their car, so proximity to bus stop is not important. I'd like to stay in the Paddock because I think my girls will love the pool area. It looks like if we request something in the 6000's we can walk to DTD? And it's close to the parking lot?

Suggestions?

TIA!

You will want to request the building on either side of the pool. There is no sidewalk from the Paddock to the DTD area so best be by the pool and bus stop. You park outside each building so all building are by parking.

You can get on any bus at the Paddock and get off at the next stop Congress Park and then walk to DTD from there.

 

[DVCMikey]

Hello everyone,

We're new DVC Owners (VGF) and will be staying at SSR in a 2 BR-lockoff for three nights at Thanksgiving! So excited! We stayed in a dedicated 2 BR several years ago in the Grandstand area and loved it.

This trip we'll be with my in-laws who will have their car, so proximity to bus stop is not important. I'd like to stay in the Paddock because I think my girls will love the pool area. It looks like if we request something in the 6000's we can walk to DTD? And it's close to the parking lot?

Suggestions?

TIA!

We have stayed in the paddock in those areas you mentioned. It is close enough to Walk to DTD no problem. And the pool there is awesome. Its not as crowded and its nice because its zero entry if you have little kids they can play around in there.

 

[Countryrunner262]

My husband and I are planning our first SSR trip as homeowners this August. It will just be the two of us celebrating our Anniversary. This will be our first getaway without the kids in 6 years so we are pretty excited. We are only staying 3 nights and making it a non-park stay. We have reservations for 'Ohanas one night, my husbands favorite), heading to DTD, and just relaxing by the pool and enjoying the resort. Has anyone ever been to Jelly Rolls? We also read about it and were thinking of trying it out as well.

 

[DVCMikey]

My husband and I are planning our first SSR trip as homeowners this August. It will just be the two of us celebrating our Anniversary. This will be our first getaway without the kids in 6 years so we are pretty excited. We are only staying 3 nights and making it a non-park stay. We have reservations for 'Ohanas one night, my husbands favorite), heading to DTD, and just relaxing by the pool and enjoying the resort. Has anyone ever been to Jelly Rolls? We also read about it and were thinking of trying it out as well.

We have friends who own at BWV and go to jelly rolls. They love it.

If you are at SSR, I may recommend the Turf Club. Its not bad, its not anything fancy, but the food was excellent, and then maybe from there you can go out back and take a boat to DTD and enjoy DTD for a few hours.

Also, I recommend Wolfgang puck restaurant in DTD. Its pretty good and has a nice atmosphere.

 

[micheleq]

You will want to request the building on either side of the pool. There is no sidewalk from the Paddock to the DTD area so best be by the pool and bus stop. You park outside each building so all building are by parking.

You can get on any bus at the Paddock and get off at the next stop Congress Park and then walk to DTD from there.

We have stayed in the paddock in those areas you mentioned. It is close enough to Walk to DTD no problem. And the pool there is awesome. Its not as crowded and its nice because its zero entry if you have little kids they can play around in there.

Thanks everyone! Great suggestions & much appreciated.

 

[DisSmis]

Hi, we own at OKW but found $8/point deal through David's for SSR and couldn't resist a last minute trip and excuse to use our annual passes. My husband is over WDW (how is that even possible ) so doesn't want to come this time so I'm trying to recruit my mother as an extra set of hands. We typically rent a car but since I won't have DH to help with luggage etc we are going to try ME. How does luggage and grocery delivery work at the more spread out resorts? We have only done it at BLT where they bring it up to your room. Will they do that at SSR or will I have to go get everything? How about when you go to leave can you call and have someone take your luggage to the carriage house to check in to your flight? Also, any recommendations for location to request close to bus and a good pool for little kids (zero entry and very small slide a plus). Thanks!!

 

[Doingitagain]

Hi, we own at OKW but found $8/point deal through David's for SSR and couldn't resist a last minute trip and excuse to use our annual passes. My husband is over WDW (how is that even possible ) so doesn't want to come this time so I'm trying to recruit my mother as an extra set of hands. We typically rent a car but since I won't have DH to help with luggage etc we are going to try ME. How does luggage and grocery delivery work at the more spread out resorts? We have only done it at BLT where they bring it up to your room. Will they do that at SSR or will I have to go get everything? How about when you go to leave can you call and have someone take your luggage to the carriage house to check in to your flight? Also, any recommendations for location to request close to bus and a good pool for little kids (zero entry and very small slide a plus). Thanks!!

Bell Services will deliver your luggage and groceries to your room. When you leave, schedule them to pick you and your luggage at a specific time.

We use ME all the time, love that they deliver it to our stateroom for us! But if we carry it on, Bell Services will bring it with you to your room.

We have used Garden Grocers, and they deliver groceries to Bell Services, who has cold storage available. So you don't have to be at the resort at a specific time. You let Bell Services know you want the groceries delivered.

Just keep some extra cash on hand for tipping them.. we have had great services from Bell Services and gladly give them the cash ... and they gladly accept it!