SSR opinions of non SSR owners who have stayed?

[Cinderella]

Am staying at SSR in December - but i have never actually seen it. My home resort is WLV and i love all the DVC resorts. I have read good reports about it from people who own there. But, how does it really compare to the other resorts? Have any of you who own elsewhere tried it out? Just want to make sure it is ok so I don't need to waitlist for everyone else.

 

[ErinC]

Okay I had typed out a nice long reply to you and my 2 year old made it disappear! So I'll start over.

We also own at VWL so I'll be glad to give you our opinion. I personally like the hotel feel better than the condo feel, but if you like all the DVC resorts you have stayed at, than you will probably like SSR. Here are the positives on my list...
1. My kids(and I) loved the large pool. Great slide, and small slide for the disabled and little ones.
2. Loved the quiet pool and the playground right next to it. The view from the quiet pool at Congress Park overlooking the DD area is just beautiful.
3. No valet parking tips to pay.(DH likes this)
4. The rooms are pretty much the same size wise and layout wise, although the master bedroom closet at SSR is a joke. VWL is much better for some reason.
5. We liked the food at Artist Palette.
6. The sofa beds are much better here unless you happen to get one that has recently been replaced at one of the other resorts.

My downfall list (negative sounds so harsh)
1. SSR is going to be really big. VWL is one of the smallest DVC resorts. We stayed at SSR in FEb. when only Congress Park was open. We had a nice view of DD. Driving by SSR last week on our way to the cruise, I noticed that some of the new villas are going to be really a pretty good distance from the main buildings. Some villas that I noticed coming down the road will have a nice view of the Reedy Creek fire Dept. (not very nice or Disneyesque IMHO)

2. The bus service at times was slow, but that might just have been my luck.

3. SSR is removed from the parks, and you have to bus everywhere.

4. No Valet parking (my side of the marriage). I don't want to see my car on vacation!

5. No sit down restaurant (not yet anyway). Not that we have ever eaten at Artist Point, but we have used Roaring Forks, and the other WL restaurant.


My personal opinion is that I like something about all the DVC resorts (at least the ones we have tried so far).And if you like all the places you have tried than you will probably be happy at SSR. December is an awesome time to visit. Make sure just to visit the other resorts and look at all their decorations. I could spend a couple of days doing just that! Have a great time!

 

[Disney Doll]

I have never stayed there, but we toured it extensively, and found it to be very nice. I liked the pool area, the food court, the rooms were beautiful. It didn't seem like you were as close to DTD as you are...I didn't get a feeling of hectic-ness(is that a word???) at all.

I own at OKW, and SSR's set-up is similar, so maybe that's part of the issue some folks have with it. If you are used to a hotel style resort (interior hallways) then a condo style (exterior walkways) may seem less desirable. I do like parking near the room though.

 

[vascubaguy]

My downfall list (negative sounds so harsh)
1. ...
Some villas that I noticed coming down the road will have a nice view of the Reedy Creek fire Dept. (not very nice or Disneyesque IMHO)

I think some might disagree... "depending on the firefighters that are at work that day!"

 

[KLEONARD]

I guess we can add the SSR fire dept view to the VWL dumpster view! lol.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Okay I had typed out a nice long reply to you and my 2 year old made it disappear! So I'll start over.

We also own at VWL so I'll be glad to give you our opinion. I personally like the hotel feel better than the condo feel, but if you like all the DVC resorts you have stayed at, than you will probably like SSR. Here are the positives on my list...
1. My kids(and I) loved the large pool. Great slide, and small slide for the disabled and little ones.
2. Loved the quiet pool and the playground right next to it. The view from the quiet pool at Congress Park overlooking the DD area is just beautiful.
3. No valet parking tips to pay.(DH likes this)
4. The rooms are pretty much the same size wise and layout wise, although the master bedroom closet at SSR is a joke. VWL is much better for some reason.
5. We liked the food at Artist Palette.
6. The sofa beds are much better here unless you happen to get one that has recently been replaced at one of the other resorts.

My downfall list (negative sounds so harsh)
1. SSR is going to be really big. VWL is one of the smallest DVC resorts. We stayed at SSR in FEb. when only Congress Park was open. We had a nice view of DD. Driving by SSR last week on our way to the cruise, I noticed that some of the new villas are going to be really a pretty good distance from the main buildings. Some villas that I noticed coming down the road will have a nice view of the Reedy Creek fire Dept. (not very nice or Disneyesque IMHO)

2. The bus service at times was slow, but that might just have been my luck.

3. SSR is removed from the parks, and you have to bus everywhere.

4. No Valet parking (my side of the marriage). I don't want to see my car on vacation!

5. No sit down restaurant (not yet anyway). Not that we have ever eaten at Artist Point, but we have used Roaring Forks, and the other WL restaurant.


My personal opinion is that I like something about all the DVC resorts (at least the ones we have tried so far).And if you like all the places you have tried than you will probably be happy at SSR. December is an awesome time to visit. Make sure just to visit the other resorts and look at all their decorations. I could spend a couple of days doing just that! Have a great time!

DITTO!!!! I know that was a lazy way!! But we also own at VWL and have stayed at OKW, SSR, VWL and VB. Its gonna be a big resort, but very nice.

 

[CarolMN]

I guess we can add the SSR fire dept view to the VWL dumpster view! lol.

Nuh uh! That's going to depend on what firefighters are working - vascubaguy said so!!.

Best wishes -

 

[jarestel]

Another VWL owner here... who likes SSR a lot. I like the neighborhood feel of SSR and walking around the neighborhoods isn't troublesome for us at all, in fact it's quite enjoyable. As one who does a lot of walking ( for the fun of it ) around the WL area when we stay there, I like the opportunities for strolling at SSR.

Dining and shopping options abound at both DTD and the Crossroads area which is a short ( minute or two ) drive away. We don't particularly care for the limited choices at the SSR restaurant, so we don't stop there often except to buy a few things from the store.

We're used to taking buses from our stays at VWL, so again, riding buses isn't a big deal to us. Most of the time they run on a fairly regular schedule and are convenient. (They are as convenient as they are at any of the other resorts.)

The rooms are well appointed and, as at OKW, parking is available in front of your building if you have a car.

We've stayed at SSR twice so far, and intend to book one of our 2006 trips at SSR as well. Give it a try, and see what you think. People do like different things, but I'm sure you'll find something nice about SSR too.

Have a great trip!

 

[m4travel]

I wonder how one goes about requesting those villas?

 

[iluvdisney]

I stayed at SSR in July and while I am not an owner at this time I wouldn't mind staying there again. I liked the layout altho it is going to be a very big resort. I found everyone there to be very friendly and the rooms were very nice too.
I only stayed in a studio but may opt for staying there again in the near future.
My home and fave DVC is OKW so I was somewhat surprised at how much I enjoyed my stay at SSR. There will be a sit-down restaurant coming in the near future to check out.

 

[Pluto 2]

i found ssr to be a nice and quiet resort.
i own at bwv, bwv of course is noisy being right at the boardwalk.
you will be in for a long walk if you dont have a car there if you stay at congress, they have bus pickup there, but if you wanted to go to the main pool or go to the convenience store or something else up that way your in for a walk. i liked the resort your right near dtd but you dont hear the noise.
from congress you have a quick walk to dtd.
the points are good at ssr

 

[StormTigger]

BCV owner here. I must say my fav resort is VWL, but I fell in love w/ SSR when we stayed there in May, esp Congress Park area over looking DTD. It's a beautiful resort w/ a very relaxing atmosphere. Not sure how I feel with the size of the resort, the size will probably be like OKW, which is great if I'm near the main building (for me), but I definitely plan on staying there again.. and requesting a Congress Park DTD view!

 

[Sammie]

We do not own at SSR and love it. I can't think of a single thing we did not like. Sure it's big, but so is OKW and many other Disney resorts.

We found the bus transportation to be very efficient during our stay. And even though it is not located near a park, the travel time is really not that much difference from those near a park.

From my SSR room in a thunderstorm or the summer heat, I will gladly take my bus ride to Epcot over walking there from BW.

The buildings near the Fire Dept will have views of the lake.

They are adding a sit down restaurant, but until then we did not miss it. We really enjoyed Artist's Palette and ate most of our dinners at other locations around WDW.

I have stayed at all the DVC resorts and our room was the quietest I have ever stayed in and we were on the first floor.

 

[Cinderella]

Thanks everyone - it sounds great and i think we will definitely keep our reservations there. I love going to downtown disney - but the bus ride is a real pain from all the other resorts, in my experience - it is always the most difficult place to get to.

 

[spiceycat]

If you love DD - then you will LOVE SSR.

from the Congress Park area you can walk over to DD in under 5 minutes.

It is a nice walk with flowers along the way.

the only bad part is when you are at DD - you are coming in behind the MP area.

my studio got a lovely view of the fireworks every night at PI.
and not a bad view of Epcot fireworks (might have been MK) off to the side.

 

[nezy]

I know this may sound silly, but one of my hang-ups about SSR is that the trees are too young!! I like OLD trees-adds character and shade!

I haven't stayed here yet-but toured. It looks great, but I will wait until it doesn't seem so "UNDER CONSTRUCTION" before I book it. I do like the theme and the decor. The addition of a restaurant would be great!

I was like this w/ BCV when they were first built-I waited awhile until the "newness" wore off. But that is not a negative to SSR, just somthing about me.

 

[tjkraz]

Some villas that I noticed coming down the road will have a nice view of the Reedy Creek fire Dept. (not very nice or Disneyesque IMHO)

None of the guest buildings face out toward Buena Vista Drive and the fire station. The room balconies face inward toward the pond in the center of the resort. The road and fire station are on the parking lot side of the guest buildings. The units do not have any windows on this side.

There may be some side units where you can stretch your neck around the side of the balcony and manage to spot the fire station, but there are not many rooms that fit this description.

IMO, it's certainly an upgrade over the 25-30% of rooms at BCV that are 15 feet away from a main road.

 

[LIFERBABE]

None of the guest buildings face out toward Buena Vista Drive and the fire station. The room balconies face inward toward the pond in the center of the resort. The road and fire station are on the parking lot side of the guest buildings. The units do not have any windows on this side.

Darn!! I was going to call at the 11 month window and request the FIREFIGHTER VIEW!!



I guess I will have to settle for the DTD View now

 

[bobbiwoz]

We had a non-park day last December when we stayed at SSR, walking along the path to DTD was beautiful in the evening, and we enjoyed the local entertainers at DTD who mostly played Christmas songs. Very wonderful experience at SSR. The pool at CP is wonderful. We didn't have DTD view from our studio, but it was very convenient to our car.

Bobbi

 

[chrissyk]

We've stayed at SSR and we don't own there. We really liked it. Granted, a lot more buildings have opened up since we stayed there, but I don't think that that's a huge problem. I do wonder if they're building enough pools for this large resort, though. We really liked the "quiet" pool that looked over at DTD. Also, Artist's Palate has a really good breakfast selection IMHO. I'd definitely stay there again.