SSR Lovers and Owners Part 2

[delmar411]

We are currently in the process of trying to buy in at SSR. We have never been there so we are buying sight unseen. We have only stayed at value resorts before diving into dvc. Yikes. Lol.

Does anyone have any feedback or reviews on SSR for this hopeful newbie?

It's our family's favorite resort. We choose to stay there over other resorts. I like the quiet, the relaxing calm about the place and the people there are always so nice.

I hope you love it as much as we do.

 

[js]

I love and own SSR! What I think will be SO benneficial for us in the future will be when DTD gets its makeover. I love the fact that as my children got older they could walk to DTD (as well as us) in the evenings for something to do and I love that if we want to try different restaurants, walk around or have a few drinks, go to movies, we are just walking distance or a boat ride away. I can't believe that DTD is not more of a draw for purchasing at SSR.
Oh well, better for us.

 

[Countryrunner262]

I love and own SSR! What I think will be SO benneficial for us in the future will be when DTD gets its makeover. I love the fact that as my children got older they could walk to DTD (as well as us) in the evenings for something to do and I love that if we want to try different restaurants, walk around or have a few drinks, go to movies, we are just walking distance or a boat ride away. I can't believe that DTD is not more of a draw for purchasing at SSR.
Oh well, better for us.

Being close to DTD was also a draw for us trying to get into SSR. Also with all of the crowds and running around at the parks, coming back to a relaxing atmosphere sounds great! Hoping things work out and we can call SSR "home"!

 

[Countryrunner262]

Congress Plaza or Grandstand? Which would you recommend?

 

[mickeyinjune]

I would choose Congress Park. We just came back and were in the Paddock section. Every time we walked to downtown we went through Congress Park. The quite pool and kid playground is nice in Congress Park and there are rocking chairs by the river.

Grandstand just seemed so out of the way. I walked over there one morning and was not impressed with the area. The quite pool and splash pad was nice too there. I did not like how the golf course runs through the grandstand area.

 

[Countryrunner262]

I would choose Congress Park. We just came back and were in the Paddock section. Every time we walked to downtown we went through Congress Park. The quite pool and kid playground is nice in Congress Park and there are rocking chairs by the river.

Grandstand just seemed so out of the way. I walked over there one morning and was not impressed with the area. The quite pool and splash pad was nice too there. I did not like how the golf course runs through the grandstand area.

I think from what I have seen, We will go with Congress Park.

 

[lovin'fl]

Another where to request question. We are booked for 3 nights in October (for F&W). We have WL BWV and BLT (to be nearer to Epcot for F&W) but if we don't get our WL, where should we stay at SSR (Springs, Congress Park or Grandstand)? We have only stayed there once for 2 nights and I haven't a clue what section we were in (if I had to guess it was the Paddock). It will be just DH and I and we'd prefer quiet but short bus rides. We don't have too much interest in going to Downtown Disney, though wouldn't mind the view of it at night and Congress Park would only give us 1 stop (at Springs) before heading out to parks. Grandstand would put us at the last stop when coming home from parks and maybe we could walk over to Springs in the morning to get on bus there and head right out to the park. Springs seems like it may be a noisy section with all the bus/vehicle activity. We likely won't use the pools or the dining at SSR. We will just be doing 2 days at Epcot (for F&W) and then the 3rd day at MK (for MNSSHP).

Edit to add: we too have decided on Congress Park. We may have some downtime and a walk over to DD, even though we don't absolutely love DD, might be in order.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Another where to request question. We are booked for 3 nights in October (for F&W). We have WL BWV and BLT (to be nearer to Epcot for F&W) but if we don't get our WL, where should we stay at SSR (Springs, Congress Park or Grandstand)? We have only stayed there once for 2 nights and I haven't a clue what section we were in (if I had to guess it was the Paddock). It will be just DH and I and we'd prefer quiet but short bus rides. We don't have too much interest in going to Downtown Disney, though wouldn't mind the view of it at night and Congress Park would only give us 1 stop (at Springs) before heading out to parks. Grandstand would put us at the last stop when coming home from parks and maybe we could walk over to Springs in the morning to get on bus there and head right out to the park. Springs seems like it may be a noisy section with all the bus/vehicle activity. We likely won't use the pools or the dining at SSR. We will just be doing 2 days at Epcot (for F&W) and then the 3rd day at MK (for MNSSHP).

Check FAQ #4 in this post for some pros and cons of each section. It should help you pick the section that's the best fit for your family.

 

[NJDiva]

I just returned from my first DVC exprience and I totally loved it! I stayed in Congress Park and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I had a car all week but I was right outside of the bus stop so that would have been a plus had I been using the Disney transportation. I will say that it was very quiet even though my balcony faced DTD, you really couldn't hear too much and the grounds are beautiful. the studio was awesome, and I was near the stairs and the elevator. I know a lot of people get bent out of shape because they don't have housekeeping services every day but honestly, I don't make my bed at home everyday, why is it an issue when I travel. I thought about staying at the Paddock, and honestly that would have been my second choice if I had the right building. I didn't get to explore as much of the resort as I would have liked but I know I will rent points again to stay at SSR.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

I just returned from my first DVC exprience and I totally loved it! I stayed in Congress Park and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I had a car all week but I was right outside of the bus stop so that would have been a plus had I been using the Disney transportation. I will say that it was very quiet even though my balcony faced DTD, you really couldn't hear too much and the grounds are beautiful. the studio was awesome, and I was near the stairs and the elevator. I know a lot of people get bent out of shape because they don't have housekeeping services every day but honestly, I don't make my bed at home everyday, why is it an issue when I travel. I thought about staying at the Paddock, and honestly that would have been my second choice if I had the right building. I didn't get to explore as much of the resort as I would have liked but I know I will rent points again to stay at SSR.

Yay! I'm getting excited for my July trip just reading your post. How far was the HH from where you were staying in CP. I am still unsure where to stay. It's a toss up between CP an Paddock. Just unsure because we won't have a car.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Can anyone tell me if the washers in the 2 Bdrm units use "HE" detergent or regular?
Thanks!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Can anyone tell me if the washers in the 2 Bdrm units use "HE" detergent or regular?
Thanks!

Regular. They're older-style stacked units.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thank you.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

I just returned from my first DVC exprience and I totally loved it! I stayed in Congress Park and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I had a car all week but I was right outside of the bus stop so that would have been a plus had I been using the Disney transportation. I will say that it was very quiet even though my balcony faced DTD, you really couldn't hear too much and the grounds are beautiful. the studio was awesome, and I was near the stairs and the elevator. I know a lot of people get bent out of shape because they don't have housekeeping services every day but honestly, I don't make my bed at home everyday, why is it an issue when I travel. I thought about staying at the Paddock, and honestly that would have been my second choice if I had the right building. I didn't get to explore as much of the resort as I would have liked but I know I will rent points again to stay at SSR.

Yay! I'm getting excited for my July trip just reading your post. How far was the HH from where you were staying in CP. I am still unsure where to stay. It's a toss up between CP an Paddock. Just unsure because we won't have a car.

 

[DisneyHeather]

My home resorts are AKL and VGC and I have a trip booked in December at AKL and am thinking of instead doing a split stay at SSR and BLT. It would be my first time at SSR and after seeing some of the pics on this thread and reading some info I think that I may go for it and try out a couple new resorts since I've done AKL before.

At this point it's just my son and I and he'll be 2 1/2 in December. From reading the FAQ's I'm thinking of requesting Grandstand or the Springs but then I read more comments on here and am confused if those would be good choices. We will have no car so it will all be busses for us and I'll have his stroller...would Paddock be better? I know I won't for sure get what I request but am curious as to other peoples opinions.

Thanks

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Yay! I'm getting excited for my July trip just reading your post. How far was the HH from where you were staying in CP. I am still unsure where to stay. It's a toss up between CP an Paddock. Just unsure because we won't have a car.

What is "HH"?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

(My computer is giving me fits. I can't get the quote buttons to work for some reason.)

HH...

It took me a minute, but I think IDream is confusing the Hospitality House at Old Key West with the Carriage House at Saratoga Springs. They're asking you for your opinion on the walk from your villa in Congress Park to the main pool, front desk, and restaurants.

IMO, this walk isn't far at all. (Certainly not in the context of all the walking you do in the parks.) Just don't try to walk along the water, because there's a canal you can't cross. You need to walk out past the bus stop, then along Broadway, the main street. It's about a 10 minute walk at a casual pace.

Congress Park is the stop before the Springs on the theme park routes. Getting to the Carriage House by bus is simple, because you can just hop on whatever theme park bus happens to arrive at the CP bus stop first, then hop off at the Springs. (Just don't get on a Downtown Disney bus or you'll be in for an unpleasant surprise.)

Returning requires the use of the Downtown Disney bus, and those are usually the longest wait. You also need to ride through the entire resort to get back to Congress Park, as Springs is the first stop and CP is the last on the DTD bus route.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thanks again for the info!

 

[goodferry]

I just read that the spa is closed for refurbishment at SSR, does anyone know if the gym is still open? We leave in a little over two weeks and the gym is a deal breaker for us. Thanks!

 

[ryanl81]

I just read that the spa is closed for refurbishment at SSR, does anyone know if the gym is still open? We leave in a little over two weeks and the gym is a deal breaker for us. Thanks!

My understanding is that the gym is open.