SSR Lovers and Owners Part 3

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Ok. We are new dvc owners as of September, but our first official trip is the second week in January and we are staying at our home resort SSR. We decided on SSR without ever visiting SSR. It just made sense. I know everyone says proximity is better, but I think every disney resort is close and I personally think that have just a little separation and larger quieter resort will help with those long days in the park. Not to mention because we are so close to disney springs, SSR will have the best options for restaurants, shopping and entertainment without going to the parks. Any advice from the SSR veterans?

Hi and welcome! We love SSR. Are you a party of 2 adults or are you travelling with kids? You can put in a request for a block which might be an idea. If you want to walk across the new great bridge and into Disney Springs then Congress Park is perfect. But this is a little further from the carriage house where the reception, foods are etc. If you want to be near the carriage house then The Springs is good but not so great for buses. For us The Grandstand or The Paddock is perfect. But I am disabled. The Grandstand and Paddock both have nice pools. The Grandstand is first on bus route and not far from carriage house. I hope this helps. It's a lovely resort.

 

[dvcdream4fld]

I think I will try grandstand based on your suggestion. Any recommendations for restaurants at SSR or disney springs?

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I think I will try grandstand based on your suggestion. Any recommendations for restaurants at SSR or disney springs?

The Grandstand is a good choice We like Rain Forest cafe, Raglan Road, Earl of Sandwich. Also the new Italian Portifinos looked nice but we didn't try it. We didn't care for T rex. The surf and turf ok but we found better elsewhere at cheaper price. For a quick lunchtime bite The Earl of Sandwich a must!

 

[mevelandry]

Good morning!

DH and I are going to stay at SSR (studio)for 1 night after a cruise and I am just started getting to know the resort. A few more info:

-DH and I. No kids.

-No car... So we need to be close to the Lobby/main building/restaurants

-We'll have a reservation at a Disney Hotel the next day and don't want to take a cab, we'll walk... so we need to be close to Downtown Disney as well.

-We love pools (the pool with rocks looks awesome! In which section is it?)

-We are not visiting parks during our stay so we don't need to be close to bus stops

-We like to walk...

Based on those informations, what would you recommend?

So far, I've been looking at maps and The Springs and Congress Park seems to be the best sections for us.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Good morning!

DH and I are going to stay at SSR (studio)for 1 night after a cruise and I am just started getting to know the resort. A few more info:

-DH and I. No kids.

-No car... So we need to be close to the Lobby/main building/restaurants

-We'll have a reservation at a Disney Hotel the next day and don't want to take a cab, we'll walk... so we need to be close to Downtown Disney as well.

-We love pools (the pool with rocks looks awesome! In which section is it?)

-We are not visiting parks during our stay so we don't need to be close to bus stops

-We like to walk...

Based on those informations, what would you recommend?

So far, I've been looking at maps and The Springs and Congress Park seems to be the best sections for us.

I'd agree that Springs or Congress Park would be good options for you.

 

[mevelandry]

Thank you!! I'll see if I can add this to my requests.

 

[DisneyLover0610]

Hello!

DH and I are headed to SSR for the first time in the beginning of March for a long weekend. It's also our first visit as DVC Members
We typically stay in the EPCOT area, and purchased at VGF. For this quick trip we wanted to see someplace different, and would like to spend some time at DTD (yes, we know it's a mess).
Just to make sure I make the correct requests, I would want Congress Park for the closest walking vicinity, right? Is this via the new walking path they've created? And that spills out near the buses correct?
Another question what is the a average time from MCO to SSR via ME? We fly in for dinner time on a Saturday and I'd like to make an ADR.
Lastly, we're taking this trip to put together our pregnancy announcement! We were engaged with Cinderella watching in Toon Town, took our honeymoon in disney, and have taken countless trips together most recently purchasing DVC a few months ago. Any ideas???
Thank you so much for your help

 

[dsnydaddy]

Officially an owner now! Just received notice that our purchase closed escrow on Dec 30th. Now, just waiting for our member number so that we can make our first reservation.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Officially an owner now! Just received notice that our purchase closed escrow on Dec 30th. Now, just waiting for our member number so that we can make our first reservation.

welcome home

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Hello!

DH and I are headed to SSR for the first time in the beginning of March for a long weekend. It's also our first visit as DVC Members
We typically stay in the EPCOT area, and purchased at VGF. For this quick trip we wanted to see someplace different, and would like to spend some time at DTD (yes, we know it's a mess).
Just to make sure I make the correct requests, I would want Congress Park for the closest walking vicinity, right? Is this via the new walking path they've created? And that spills out near the buses correct?

Correct, Congress Park is the section closest to the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The path isn't new, but they've built a new bridge. It brings you into the Marketplace right by the fountain between the design-your-own T-Shirt place and the Christmas Store. So, yes, near the bus stop.

Another question what is the a average time from MCO to SSR via ME? We fly in for dinner time on a Saturday and I'd like to make an ADR.

SSR typically shares DME buses with Old Key West and the Port Orleans resorts. There doesn't appear to be much rhyme or reason as to the drop-off order, but I've never seen SSR as the first stop. It may be based on the number of people onboard for each resort. Sometimes we've gone to Port Orleans first, followed by OKW and then SSR. Sometimes, they'll do OKW and SSR first.

We're typically at the resort within an hour or so of touching down.

Lastly, we're taking this trip to put together our pregnancy announcement! We were engaged with Cinderella watching in Toon Town, took our honeymoon in disney, and have taken countless trips together most recently purchasing DVC a few months ago. Any ideas???

There's a Pack 'n Play in each room. Maybe set it up in the room and caption the photo "checking things out for our next trip."

Photo pointing to the expectant mothers sentence on a sign like this with the caption, "Guess I'm not riding this."

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

Officially an owner now! Just received notice that our purchase closed escrow on Dec 30th. Now, just waiting for our member number so that we can make our first reservation.

Congratulations Steve Welcome Home!!!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Officially an owner now! Just received notice that our purchase closed escrow on Dec 30th. Now, just waiting for our member number so that we can make our first reservation.

 

[DisneyLover0610]

Correct, Congress Park is the section closest to the Downtown Disney Marketplace. The path isn't new, but they've built a new bridge. It brings you into the Marketplace right by the fountain between the design-your-own T-Shirt place and the Christmas Store. So, yes, near the bus stop. SSR typically shares DME buses with Old Key West and the Port Orleans resorts. There doesn't appear to be much rhyme or reason as to the drop-off order, but I've never seen SSR as the first stop. It may be based on the number of people onboard for each resort. Sometimes we've gone to Port Orleans first, followed by OKW and then SSR. Sometimes, they'll do OKW and SSR first. We're typically at the resort within an hour or so of touching down. There's a Pack 'n Play in each room. Maybe set it up in the room and caption the photo "checking things out for our next trip." Photo pointing to the expectant mothers sentence on a sign like this with the caption, "Guess I'm not riding this."

Thank you so much! We're excited to check out SSR for the first time!
Love your ideas for our announcement! Definitely nothing I thought of yet, but I'm adding them to my idea list! Thanks!

 

[MsMagical]

Hi Fellow SSR Owners!

We are heading "home" in early February and I can't recall from our last stay at SSR about 6 years ago (probably because I NEVER would have used it back then...) if there is a fitness center onsite and what kind of equipment is available. I'm not a big fan of running outside (no one wants to witness that) but especially in Florida because I have this annoying little fear of snakes... trying to minimize my opportunities of encountering them... Anyway...does anyone know if there is a center and, if so, what kind of equipment is available (ex.: weights, treadmill, stair stepper, etc.)?

Thanks!!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Hi Fellow SSR Owners!

We are heading "home" in early February and I can't recall from our last stay at SSR about 6 years ago (probably because I NEVER would have used it back then...) if there is a fitness center onsite and what kind of equipment is available. I'm not a big fan of running outside (no one wants to witness that) but especially in Florida because I have this annoying little fear of snakes... trying to minimize my opportunities of encountering them... Anyway...does anyone know if there is a center and, if so, what kind of equipment is available (ex.: weights, treadmill, stair stepper, etc.)?

Thanks!!

There is an exercise room that's part of the Senses Spa (at the Carriage House). It's very well equipped -- treadmills, steppers, ellipticals, bikes, universal, weight stations, free weights. It's one of the better exercise rooms at WDW.

 

[MsMagical]

There is an exercise room that's part of the Senses Spa (at the Carriage House). It's very well equipped -- treadmills, steppers, ellipticals, bikes, universal, weight stations, free weights. It's one of the better exercise rooms at WDW.

Thank you! That is exactly the information I needed to know!

 

[MaestroTK]

Great Thread! Thank you all for the info. Heading to SSR in August! Looking forward to our first stay here!

 

[DisneyfromDeland]

We just stayed at Saratoga for the first time and we absolutely loved it! What a great resort!

 

[Cinderella1122]

We just stayed at Saratoga for the first time and we absolutely loved it! What a great resort!

I agree. We stayed at SSR the beginning of last month and loved it. We are returning for our second stay on Tuesday. 4 more days to go!

 

[TheDisneyFour]

Until this last trip January, boy do I feel dumb. I always looked to book other resorts first. We loved SSR so much! I will not make that mistake again. I'm so glad we bought here instead of the more expensive resorts that were on sale at the time.

Love SSR!