SSR Lovers and Owners Part 2

[AirGoofy]

Just booked SSR for July - it'll be our first time at this resort. The CM at member services suggested the "springs" - and I said OK - after reading here, I'm worried now - as I've read that this is the last bus stop, crowding, etc... - should we request a different area. I'd like to be close to the check - in, community hall, pool, dining area, but also close to the bus stop - also, any other info we need to know? OH - she also mentioned the boat to DTD? Is this another travel option? Can you take the boat to DTD - then a park? Is that easier?

Thanks!!

Well, you have half of what you want. The Springs is closest to everything you referenced. As for the bus stop, I have not been in July. But, the buses have never been as crowded as the All Star or Pop buses.

As for the boat, it is a great ride; however, it would more than double your transportation time. The boat ramp at DTD is at the old Pleasure Island stop, and then quite a walk to the bus stop. You could probably walk to DTD bus stop than the boat ride & walk, but that still would not be faster than the bus from the Springs. So, enjoy the boatride for DTD fun, but don't try to use it for a theme park transportation.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Just returned from a wonderful stay at SSR. Though OKW is my favorite resort I must admit that SSR now runs a close second. In our past 2 visits we had been put in the Carousel area so this time I requested Congress Park. We had a lovely 2 bedroom unit, #2601/03, 2nd floor, with a beautiful water view of Downtown Disney, at night it was even more stunning. The villa was clean, fresh smelling and comfortable. We were a party of 7 and everyone new to Saratoga fell in love with the resort and it's amenities. We had dinner at the Turf Club (also a favorite), good prime rib and lamb chops. We took the boat to DTD and later walked back to SSR. On this trip we did TL, BB, and actually took a side trip to Busch Gardens (only 1hr 15min away). Also took in a day of shopping at the outlet malls. A nice start to summer for our children who just got out of school, just a really fantastic trip!

 

[mamaprincess]

Where can I find a cute SSR banner for my avatar? Do I just save it from someone else's or something?

Yep. That's how I got mine.

 

[FigmentLady]

Yep. That's how I got mine.

Thanks! I like yours the best so far so I'm stealing it.

 

[Dizny Dad]

BEASLYBOO - Great to hear you had a great time!

 

[AshleyMWC]

We are BWV owners, and we had an awesome Boardwalk view studio booked for the last week of August. We have had to change the dates of our trip to the middle of August and BWV was no longer available. In fact, the only studio available for all 8 of our nights was SSR. I am excited, as I have always wanted to stay there, but that was an AWESOME view we had to give up! We have requested Congress Park since it is the closest to Downtown Disney. We don't know much at all about SSR, so we are looking for some pointers.

How is the Congress Park location for two 30 year olds who like DTD?

Are there any good views in Congress Park?

As we would really like to have the walking option to DTD, if Congress Park isn't available, is there a second choice we should ask for?

Is there a hot tub near all the different areas, or just at the main pool?

I welcome any other comments/suggestions/comments that might help us!

Thanks guys

 

[BEASLYBOO]

How is the Congress Park location for two 30 year olds who like DTD?

Are there any good views in Congress Park?

As we would really like to have the walking option to DTD, if Congress Park isn't available, is there a second choice we should ask for?

Thanks guys

Not an SSR expert but I requested Congress Park and our 2 bedroom had an excellent view of the water with the hot air (?) balloon to the left of us, villa #2601/03 so one of those was the studio. We love DTD and we took the boat to and returned to SSR by the well lit walkway at night when it's cooler. The kids only wanted the main pool so we never went to the quiet pool but we walked by it (on the way back from DTD) and it had a jacuzzi. We love to walk so we also walked at night from COngress Park to the main pool, the resort is lovely and well lit at night. If I could not get COngress Park I would have requested Grandstand to be near the main pool. As far as suggestions, the Turf Club is a very good place to eat and the Artist Pallette has really good salads and sandwiches that you can take out of eat in. I hope you enjoy your trip as much as we enjoyed ours!

Good luck with the view!

 

[wdwjan]

Subscribed. I'm so happy that I found this thread! I wondered why I wasn't getting any updates from the other one! This feeds my addiction. Thanks for all the wonderful pictures!

Jan

 

[Dizny Dad]

wdwjan - Welcome!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

wdwjan - Welcome!

So, Dizny Dad, what's you're favorite SSR area? I have to say, hereforward it's Congress Park for me!

 

[nukker7]

I was wondering why some other user tend to crack on SSR from time to time. There are no negative remarks in this thread but I have noticed people state that they had to "settle" with staying at SSR. I have never stayed there yet but I am looking forward to getting there as soon as possible. It looks beautiful and I will be a SSR owner soon.

 

[Dizny Dad]

So, Dizny Dad, what's you're favorite SSR area? I have to say, hereforward it's Congress Park for me!

We have never stayed in an SSR area we found distasteful, but we do enjoy Grandstand (next to the pool) the best. Congress Park used to be on top, but we enjoy Grandstand so much, and with the Boats to DTD being right around the corner, it has made for a great location for us. But to be more specific, the pool and hot tub at 6:30 AM is MY personal favorite area - private swims, soothing hot water, birds singing, the sun up, just getting ready to go to it! And of course, that 20 minutes in the hot tub make one feel 30 again! (for about 20 ft out of the tub, then it’s back to 50)

I was wondering why some other user tend to crack on SSR from time to time. There are no negative remarks in this thread but I have noticed people state that they had to "settle" with staying at SSR. I have never stayed there yet but I am looking forward to getting there as soon as possible. It looks beautiful and I will be a SSR owner soon.

I think that the rumor of SSR being the last choice of dog in the fight is just a rumor that has a life of its own: it is still walking the halls in an old bath robe, unshaven, cigarette in mouth, beer in hand - it just won’t go away! I used to ask the same question, and answer those on the DIS that ask the question, but have finally come to realize that the rumor is my friend; it keeps many away from SSR, and me alone in the hot tub at 6:30 AM.

 

[nukker7]

I think that the rumor of SSR being the last choice of dog in the fight is just a rumor that has a life of its own: it is still walking the halls in an old bath robe, unshaven, cigarette in mouth, beer in hand - it just won’t go away! I used to ask the same question, and answer those on the DIS that ask the question, but have finally come to realize that the rumor is my friend; it keeps many away from SSR, and me alone in the hot tub at 6:30 AM.

I like the way you think brother. Gossip on folks!

 

[AirGoofy]

I was wondering why some other user tend to crack on SSR from time to time. There are no negative remarks in this thread but I have noticed people state that they had to "settle" with staying at SSR. I have never stayed there yet but I am looking forward to getting there as soon as possible. It looks beautiful and I will be a SSR owner soon.

I think I heard from a bus driver that it was us SSR Owners that started the rumor and encouraged its growth. That way, we always have dibs on the room and location we want.

 

[mamaprincess]

I think I heard from a bus driver that it was us SSR Owners that started the rumor and encouraged its growth. That way, we always have dibs on the room and location we want.

Bus driver!

As far as the amount of criticsm that SSR receives, IMHO, it's a matter of numbers to some extent. SSR has 4 times the rooms of a few of the resorts and almost twice as many as the other larger resorts. I think when folks have to work really hard to get something (a room at a resort) they tend to appreciate it more than if it was available at all times because there is a huge supply. I also think that location plays into it. A lot of people really want to be right next to a park. I personally need to be able to come back and feel like I am on vacation after hectic days in the parks, I need the room decor to be beautiful, dining choices to be abundant and easy to access and I need to be able to get off campus with ease, so SSR is THE resort for what my vacation needs are. Anyway I've heard much criticism about all the resorts. Everyone has that resort that is right for them for specific reasons and those reasons may make another resort the wrong choice for them. Opinions are personal.

 

[kikiq]

I think that the rumor of SSR being the last choice of dog in the fight is just a rumor that has a life of its own: it is still walking the halls in an old bath robe, unshaven, cigarette in mouth, beer in hand - it just won’t go away! I used to ask the same question, and answer those on the DIS that ask the question, but have finally come to realize that the rumor is my friend; it keeps many away from SSR, and me alone in the hot tub at 6:30 AM.

As well as your rocking chair by Congress Park.

For some they don't like the "condo" feel of SSR and prefer the "hotel" feel of BWV or AKV. As Dizny Dad says, it has taken on a life of it's own. Some who have not stayed here like to "run" on about how the many SSR owners are trying to stay at other resorts or just the "sheer" numbers have affected the quality of DVC.

The only timeshare we ever stayed in before DVC that had a "hotel" feel was in Keystone Colorado. Otherwise, most of the non DVC timeshares we've rented have been the condo type. I'm the only one in my family that wants to stay in other WDW DVC resorts. Even the extended family loves SSR and wouldn't consider staying anywhere else.

 

[Dizny Dad]

As well as your rocking chair by Congress Park.. . . . . . .

Oh, gosh! People must be reading this stuff!

(I would hate to think that people would start to approach everybody in the Rocking Chairs or in the Hot Tub at 6:30 AM and ask "Are you Dizny Dad?")

I fell asleep once in a chair in the Lobby Lounge once. It was nice, cool, soft, and a place to wait for the ME.

I think everybody should approach those asleep in those wonderful chairs (or couches), wake them up and ask if they are Dizny Dad.

 

[Flyerfan]

I was wondering why some other user tend to crack on SSR from time to time. There are no negative remarks in this thread but I have noticed people state that they had to "settle" with staying at SSR. I have never stayed there yet but I am looking forward to getting there as soon as possible. It looks beautiful and I will be a SSR owner soon.

We've stayed at a couple of the "hotel-style" resorts but we keep coming back to SSR. Not that we wouldn't stay at the others again, we just prefer our "home". We love the proximity to DTD and the wide open spaces. It's all what you like.

 

[AirGoofy]

. I also think that location plays into it. A lot of people really want to be right next to a park. I personally need to be able to come back and feel like I am on vacation after hectic days in the parks, I need the room decor to be beautiful, dining choices to be abundant and easy to access and I need to be able to get off campus with ease, so SSR is THE resort for what my vacation needs are.

That's one of the reasons we bought in as well - the location. I like having the boat transportation and access the DTD. We picked our DVC resort based on what we want to do. When we stayed at SSR, we did not do any theme parks and had a nice, relaxing vacation with the pool, water slide, pool movies, and great dining at Turf Club and DTD. Last week, we did a trip so we could watch the animals. So, we stayed at Kidanni Savanna view, and then only went to AK park. When we get over to BLT, we will to MK a lot that trip. But, when the dds (8,6) outgrow theme parks, we will enjoy many many years of relaxing vacations at SSR.

 

[notaclue]

Newbie here. We just bought in to SSR. How long is the walk from Congress Park to the Turf Club? I remember that the Grandstand is close to the restaurants but I got the impression it was more kid-oriented than some other areas and our kids are grown so we're more into convenience now. Which would be a good area to request? TIA