SSR Lovers and Owners Part 3

[DonMacGregor]

Well I've been a DVC member since 1996, have been visiting Disney parks every single year of my life since 1971, 3-5 trips a year since the early 80s - the only years I missed going to Disney World were when I lived in L.A. from 1990-1994, when I visited Disneyland multiple times a year. My DIsney days probably number in the thousands over 53 years...and I never did rope drop once. Honestly, likely never will either - on vacation, I just can't bring myself to get up that early and go squeeze into a crowd waiting to get in.

Exactly.

 

[DisLaw]

Question! Has anyone done a stay with kids on air mattresses in the main rooms in a 2 bedroom? We are considering a stay in a 2 bedroom villa with another family. We are two adults with two kids as are they. I know there’s plenty of bedding in common area but we’d like to keep that clear so we can put the kids to bed at night and then hang out. My spouse and I don’t particularly want to sleep in the common room ourselves so we were thinking of putting our kids in the room with the king with a couple of twin air mattresses (or even one kid in the king with us). We LOVE Saratoga but it’s been a few years since we had a 2 bedroom there. Does anyone remember if there’s enough room for a setup like this? The 3 bedroom grand villa is just WAY too many points for us to justify for 8 of us. Thanks for any help you can give!

I think this would work! There was room at the foot of the bed and on either side of the bed, especially on the far side. I've managed to fit air mattresses in all sorts of rooms over the years with my kids and we always make it work! Just have to be careful where you walk when you get up at night if you do! Otherwise, you should be good to go! And worse case you or the kids could sleep a couple of nights in the common area using the pretty comfy pull down beds.

 

[Blerghityblergh]

I think this would work! There was room at the foot of the bed and on either side of the bed, especially on the far side. I've managed to fit air mattresses in all sorts of rooms over the years with my kids and we always make it work! Just have to be careful where you walk when you get up at night if you do! Otherwise, you should be good to go! And worse case you or the kids could sleep a couple of nights in the common area using the pretty comfy pull down beds.

Awesome, thanks so much!

 

[miksicnarf]

We had to be inside prior to 7am for rope drop Hollywood Studios to attempt the VQ for Rise of the Resistance when it was new. It was still dark and we were exhausted the whole day. We do not ever want to rope drop again.

I also rope dropped to get the RotR VQ, but once I got my boarding group I went back to my resort and relaxed, had breakfast, etc. before heading back. I'm a 60+ year Disney parks guest on both coasts and can probably count on 1 hand the times I've rope dropped. Most recently I'll do it if I tag along with my grown kids and grandkids, IF I get myself up and ready in time! I go solo mostly, though, and I get there when I get there.

 

[karmacats]

Hi all. DH and I splurged on a 1 BR for a milestone anniversary in a couple of weeks, and will probably be sleeping late and spending a lot of time in the suite during the days since it's supposed to be hotter than the surface of the sun outside. Is there somewhere we can request that might be a quieter area (for sleeping in) and/or have nice views (for when we're stuck inside to keep cool)?

We're not in a preferred area, and we have a car so aren't too concerned with proximity to bus stops, DS walkway, or pools. I just want to be able to relax, and have something pretty to look at rather than the parking lot. Thank you!

 

[zackiedawg]

No specific section request needed for the views - more like just ask for a room with a view when checking in - the Grandstand rooms mostly look out over golf courses, and Paddock rooms (the best ones) will have a view over the main lake - so those would probably be the most relaxing ones to request (the Paddock buildings closest to the Paddock pool are on the main lake).

 

[RuntheMouse]

Hi all. DH and I splurged on a 1 BR for a milestone anniversary in a couple of weeks, and will probably be sleeping late and spending a lot of time in the suite during the days since it's supposed to be hotter than the surface of the sun outside. Is there somewhere we can request that might be a quieter area (for sleeping in) and/or have nice views (for when we're stuck inside to keep cool)?

We're not in a preferred area, and we have a car so aren't too concerned with proximity to bus stops, DS walkway, or pools. I just want to be able to relax, and have something pretty to look at rather than the parking lot. Thank you!

We just got back from SSR. We were in a 1 bed in the Paddock section, room 5203, right next to the pool but overlooking the lake. It was a great room! Close to everything with a great view.

I requested near pool in MDE, that’s it. I figured that would keep us safe from the Carousel section! We also love the Grandstand section, it’s very quiet over there.

 

[CastAStone]

Does anyone know what came of the treehouse refurbishment permits that were filed in January?

It seemed like “hey this is happening now!” And then they started redoing some of the exteriors, but I haven’t heard a word about anything being completed on the inside. Has anyone else?

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

For quiet, I like the Grandstand sections closest to the Treehouses or the Carousel. Neither sections are near pools so no noise.

 

[dbprimeaux]

SSR is our favorite of all the resorts

 

[disland7]

VGC and BLT veteran here. We are going race weekend and the week before (Dec 31-Jan 12). The 7th month window wasn't too open (surprise ) so I'm planning on staying for 11 nights in 2 bedroom at SSR standard view. I honestly don't know very much about this resort and am in need of ALL the recommendations about SSR (what room should I request? not to miss amenities? transportation, etc) Recommendations about general trip is welcome too. Thanks awesome Disney family A little about our party. DH and me, 5 kids (ages 17, 14, 12, 10, 8) and my mom. We are planning on renting a minivan. My mom has a bit of trouble walking all that is required at Disney World and has rented a scooter before but doesn't normally do so. DH is doing the dopey challenge. DD10 is running the 5k, DS12 and I are running the 10k, DS14 and DS17 are running the 1/2 marathon. This is our 1st marathon weekend. Normally we go to the park at rope drop, come back midday where we eat "dinner" and rest/nap. Then we go back to the park for the evening where we either bring snacks/"lunch" or eat out. We tend to do a few awesome dining or extras (this trip will have at least bippity boppity and I hope the character breakfast at RIV).

 

[Cinderbrella1]

Our family had several marathon runners in the 2022 WDW Marathon, and we had 2 two-bedroom villas in the Grandstand section (we have always requested this section for prior trips, too). We had a rented suburban to use throughout the trip, so I drove our crew to their waiting area in the wee hours of race day, with no issue. Disney also had excellent transportation from the resorts on race mornings, too. After the race we took a Disney Marathon bus back to our resort, and they had a nice area set up for racers to get selfies and water. Our runners then hit the hot tub at the main pool. It was a wonderful trip, and you will love staying at Saratoga! The two- bedroom was one of the nicest that we've stayed in!! Have fun planning your trip!!

 

[CarolynFH]

SSR standard view

At SSR, Standard and Preferred relate to neighborhood location, not view. Standard villas can be in Grandstand, Carousel or Paddock neighborhoods - see map linked below. The nicest thing about SSR is that you can park right in front of your building, making for a short walk to/from the minivan for your mom. All buildings have elevators, too.

Many guests like to request Grandstand, because it's the first bus stop when traveling to/from the parks, and if you're lucky enough to have a villa in the 8101 or 8501 buildings it's a short walk to the main building, Carriage House, where the front desk, the feature pool (High Rock Springs), store, QS, and TS restaurant are. Grandstand also has a nice pool.

Others prefer Paddock to be close to its pool, which has a slide (the Grandstand pool doesn't, but the feature pool at Carriage House does). The bus stops there are the second and third to be picked up on the way to/from the parks.

Carousel is disliked by many because it doesn't have a pool, but it's very quiet, and the walk to/from the bus stop (2nd on the route) is really not far at all! We stayed there once, and our view was onto a peaceful parklike area.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/SSMap.pdf

 

[Crescent_Lake]

Many guests like to request Grandstand, because it's the first bus stop when traveling to/from the parks

@CarolynFH can you clarify this please? Grandstand is first both ways? We have spent three weeks at SSR so far this year and we still don't have the bus stop order figured out. Every time we ask a CM we end up even more confused
For the parks, we just get on the correctly labeled bus but it's a mystery how many other stops we will be making before our destination. Internally, we've given up and just walk everywhere no matter how far it is.

 

[tidefan]

@CarolynFH can you clarify this please? Grandstand is first both ways? We have spent three weeks at SSR so far this year and we still don't have the bus stop order figured out. Every time we ask a CM we end up even more confused
For the parks, we just get on the correctly labeled bus but it's a mystery how many other stops we will be making before our destination. Internally, we've given up and just walk everywhere no matter how far it is.

To the parks it's: Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park, Springs.

To DS I believe that it's: Springs, Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park

 

[Crescent_Lake]

To the parks it's: Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park, Springs.

To DS I believe that it's: Springs, Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park

Okay, but @CarolynFH said that Grandstand is first coming both ways, to and from the parks. What is the order coming back? I thought it was just the reverse but obviously not if Grandstand is the first stop in both directions.

 

[CarolynFH]

To the parks it's: Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park, Springs.

To DS I believe that it's: Springs, Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, Congress Park

Yes, the route to/from the parks is as above. The bus uses the SSR entrance nearest to Grandstand and makes the loop, exiting via that same entrance.

The route to/from DS might be Congress Park, Springs, Grandstand, Carousel, Paddock, based on the location of the entrance to SSR that the DS bus uses. We never rode the bus to DS, so I’m not sure.

 

[CarolynFH]

Okay, but @CarolynFH said that Grandstand is first coming both ways, to and from the parks. What is the order coming back? I thought it was just the reverse but obviously not if Grandstand is the first stop in both directions.

It’s a loop - see my post above, and look at the map too.

 

[tidefan]

Okay, but @CarolynFH said that Grandstand is first coming both ways, to and from the parks. What is the order coming back? I thought it was just the reverse but obviously not if Grandstand is the first stop in both directions.

Just a note... If you are wanting to go to DS, it's better, IMHO, to take the bus to Congress Park and walk over from there as opposed to taking the bus to DS. The bus, instead of taking the exit right by DS on the north side of Congress Park, goes out the front entrance, past OKW, then takes 2 lefts and it takes awhile to get there. From the CP bus stop, it's maybe a 5-10 minute walk.

 

[Crescent_Lake]

I'm giving you both the "like" thumbs up for trying to explain, but honestly it still makes no sense. We will stick with SSR for trips where we are skipping the parks and just doing things at SSR and DS. We will continue to book preferred, request Congress Park and just walk everywhere