SSR opinions of non SSR owners who have stayed?

[Deb & Bill]

We have most of our points at OKW. We also own at VWL and BCV.

The things we like best about SSR are the things we like best about OKW - spacious resort, no hotel feeling, parking close to your villa, the look of a village or community. Another plus is the Spa.

What I didn't like about SSR, was the room configuration - we love the OKW rooms best of all, especially when when we bring others along for the trip.

We have stayed at SSR twice since it opened, once in a one bedroom and once in a studio.

We own at VWL for the atmosphere - we adore Yellowstone. I wanted the VWL points, so we got some there.

We own at BCV for the access to SAB - my son and husband think it's the best pool ever. Plus my husband just wanted to have BCV points when they became available.

We stayed at BWV once and didn't really care for it, so we won't stay there again.

 

[DonnaL]

We also own at VWL, but, did an add-on at SSR when the 100 point incentive was offered this past spring. I can honestly say I love them both for different reasons. I also love BWV. Not too crazy about BCV and OKW. I love VWL for the atmosphere it provides.....it's just SOOOOO relaxing to just be there. DH absolutely loves to dress down in his lounge pants and scuffs and take a book down to the lobby with some hot chocolate (we usually visit VWL in Dec or Jan) and just RELAX. However, we also love the fact at SSR you can just drive right up to your door (practically anyway) without having to walk the hallways in the hotel setup. As far as the valet parking goes we usually don't take advantage of it anyway so that's a moot point for us. So I guess it depends what you're looking for that particular vacation......when we stayed at SSR this past May it was just DH and I.....we're visiting again in Dec and staying at SSR with the rest of the family (two DS's age 24 and 16). We'll see what they think. Surprisingly, neither of them really like BWV......they absolutely love VWL and just can't seem to give anywhere else a chance.

 

[DizneyNutz]

I'd have to agree with you, as fire stations go, this is one heckuv one! I would say that is is pretty "disneyish!"

 

[DVCconvert]

tjkraz
It's good to see you! -- you seem to have been pretty quiet since the DVC CB shake-up!!! -- I'm not surprised to see you on an SSR thread!

To the OP:
I/we love OKW and BWV. We own almost 1000 points at BWV, Yet I spent a week at SSR at the end of this past June. I have to say (after having a great deal of concern about it) that I loved SSR. Granted -- not as much as my two "home" resorts -- but it's very nice. I think You'll love it too!

 

[DizneyNutz]

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!

We are LOVERS of VWL but I wanted to post to the bus service mentioned in the quote above. Before this year we have never experienced bad bus service at the VWL, until this trip!!!! We would be standing at the bus stop outside VWL and busses would come to the stops 2 to 1 for anyplace except where we were intending to go. It was very discouraging and several times I was about to approach a CM about it when finally a bus would show on the horizon. I am confident after talking with one of the drivers that this was a driver problem not a resort problem. I actually observed a bus come for us after we had just loaded onto another, so the latter bus pulled out and beat us to what was suppossed to be our next stop. The driver of our bus explained that the empty bus should have rerouted, but this is not what they like to do so they do everything they can to stay on their original route. Bottom line is this is not a resort problem, but instead a bus driver who does not want to change their initial route which would inconvienence themselves.

 

[castleri]

Just back from split stay at OKW and SSR - OKW is still my favorite - we had 1BR there - SSR was very quiet and the music by the CP quiet pool very upscale and different thatn the usual resort music. The walk to DTD was easy and the grounds are really beginning to take shape. A few more years and the whole atmosphere will be small town USA at least in MHO. I enjoyed the stay although after the king sized bed at OKW the queen at SSR seemed like a double or less. We overlooked the CP bus stop and while sitting on the balcony at night had a wonderful view of the MK fireworks. Bus service was excellent while we were there. We were offered a choice of many rooms at check in and selected the one that was nearest the CP pool and DTD although not having the DTD view. I was just happy to get in the room early in the day. We were also offered a choice of rooms at OKW at 10:30 PM so room ready worked for us.
Hoep you have a wonderful experience at SSR.

 

[Sammie]

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

You might get that view if you take a walk through the parking lot.

 

[lucky978]

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

I was thinking the exact same thing!!!

 

[mamaprincess]

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

"That's hot"

 

[nezy]

I'd have to agree with you, as fire stations go, this is one heckuv one! I would say that is is pretty "disneyish!"

My thoughts exactly!!
DH is in the FDNY and we always joke when we drive by-
comparing the Reedy Creek firehouse complete w/ giant decorative hoses spouting water or the house over by BWV that has dalmation spots all over it-to the lovely firehouses that my husband has worked at in Manhattan and NYC-very funny!
They wouldn't last a day!

 

[ErinC]

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.

Not to argue with you (but I will!) There are some Paddock buildings that do have windows and balcony's that are mostly facing Buena Vista Drive and the fire dept. Yes the parking lot is roadside, but with the way the Buena Vista Drive curves, there are road view buildings. Not many, but they are there. There might be a lake in between, but if you look out, or sit on one of these rooms balcony's you will be looking at the road and the fire station. I can't tell you exactly which Paddock building at this moment from the map, but I drove by and looked at it just this past week. Again, not many rooms, probably around 12, but again, they do exist! I'm not arguing that they are better or worse than the VWL dumpster view, BCV road view, or a few OKW villas that are completely viewable from the road, but they do exist at SSR!

 

[Sarnia]

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.

Having stayed at Congress Park I can't see how this can be seen as a long walk, it's a few minutes maximum. I don't mean to be rude, but if you think this is a long walk, and are of able body, you probably should walk it for your own health. If you think about it, how far do you walk in every park you go to, it must be miles!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Not to argue with you (but I will!) There are some Paddock buildings that do have windows and balcony's that are mostly facing Buena Vista Drive and the fire dept. Yes the parking lot is roadside, but with the way the Buena Vista Drive curves, there are road view buildings. Not many, but they are there. There might be a lake in between, but if you look out, or sit on one of these rooms balcony's you will be looking at the road and the fire station.[...]

Absolutely right! Since you brought it up, most the the SSR villas that have a DTD also face that unpleasant parking lot next to the West End! And in May, we were in a studio at the far end of VWL, and if we looked really careful-like, and ignored the magnificent trees, chirping birds and many other beautiful wonders of nature, we could sort-of see a corner of a parking spot.

Yeesh! I'm starting to think that the only thing that will make some people happy is a totally enclosed environment, like in "The Truman Show". Of course, there would then be complaints that the "Sun" rose 12 seconds late....

 

[ErinC]

Absolutely right! Since you brought it up, most the the SSR villas that have a DTD also face that unpleasant parking lot next to the West End! And in May, we were in a studio at the far end of VWL, and if we looked really careful-like, and ignored the magnificent trees, chirping birds and many other beautiful wonders of nature, we could sort-of see a corner of a parking spot.

Yeesh! I'm starting to think that the only thing that will make some people happy is a totally enclosed environment, like in "The Truman Show". Of course, there would then be complaints that the "Sun" rose 12 seconds late....

Excuse you! I really wasn't making a big deal about the view, only pointed out in my original post that your not guaranteed a DD view anymore like in the beginning with Congress Park being the only buildings offered. I just mentioned that it was big and some villas might have this view. The above quote was given in response to TJ who decided that I didn't know what I was talking about. He is the one that said he would rather have the road view(that doesn't exist) at SSR as opposed to the road view at BCV. I was just reiterating my point that there are a few villas that are going to have this view. Nothing was said that I was going to scream and rant and rave and that it would ruin my vacation. Thanks for the big dramatic response, but save it for somebody that is actually complaining! Heck, we had a standard view studio at BWV last week facing the parking lot and the entrance, DH and I both decided that the positive aspect of this view was that we would be able to see when the valets had retrieved our car without leaving the room! If I'm at DVC I'll take whatever view I get, although most folks given the choice are going to choose the DD view vs. the fire station view, JMHO! Save your flames for somebody that deserves them!