SSR Review!Where is the magic? I could have had this view at home...

[disnefile]

if SSR was the only DVC resort we would not have purchased. Tree houses are only redeeming quality. Small rooms and high points. OKW is so much better.

Pete

 

[kikiq]

barlitz - sorry about your BWV stay - we loved it there!!

Decor has a lot to do with it! It is just those little extras that go along way with me. At VWL the rocking chairs with the fireplace, lots of cool places to walk, awesome lobby, nice playground, great themeing! BWV, just happy fun place, good people watching etc.

But see there's something for everyone...you don't care for SSR and my DH actually dislikes VWL, a little too much outdoors for him and don't even talk the log cabin look. I can't figure it out, we both love the Arts and Crafts look, but neither of us is into the VWL feel. Look at this way, one less person looking to make a change at 7 months. We're happy at SSR.

 

[kikiq]

Sammie - I meant of the parking lot . I can tottaly see how some people could like SSR - just not me.

I hope your stay at AKV suits you better. What type room did you book for AKV?

 

[DVC Mike]

nothing special about it compared to other resorts. The theme, or lack of one, just didn’t get me. Ya, the resort is pretty – it is fine just doesn’t seem like Disney. It isn’t special! I honestly felt like I was staying offsite – and might as well of – other then the busses. It felt to me like a normal ‘timeshare’. We have stayed at RCI/Fairfield resorts before and that is how this felt – just fine, but not special! How this hotel can be called a deluxe and compared to VWL, BCV, BWL, BLT or AKL is beyond me!

I feel that the subdued theme of SSR just lacks that "WOW!" factor you get at some of the other resorts. Still, the rooms have a great decor and you are at Disney!

 

[jamie&Greg]

LA2KW - Just giving my review of SSR.

Kaffinito - You will have a great trip - you are still in Disney afterall! The busses were actually really good!! That is one thing I have to say! We NEVER had to wait more then 5 min. or so. And as I said the pool was VERY nice!

Disneyfile - that is exactly what I am saying!

We have visited AKL many times and I am really looking forward to staying there! The size wasn't the main factor for not likeing SSR - as I said it just wansn't special - you could get that anywhere. Where else can you see animals from your room or near the pool arear etc.??

BWV is also another fave of ours and we are trying BCV in Oct!

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Cee]

I love SSR because of it's lack of "Disney" theming. After a long day at the parks, I'm often "Disney'd out". Coming "home" to SSR gets me away from for a little while and then I'm ready for more tomorrow!

 

[Cee]

I'm sorry I used so many quotation marks in that last post.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

As far as SSR not having a Disney feel...

Does that mean you never stayed on the first floor in the garden wing at the contemporary, with a beautiful view of the parking lot, or the dumpster view at the Wilderness Lodge?

We've had both.

I've not stayed at SSR, but surely the view is better than the views that we've had at deluxe resorts before joining DVC.

 

[MikeyNS]

I enjoy all posts about people's experience, but then again *I* know what I like and if someone doesn't like the resorts I like, then oh well. As I've mentioned many times before we will never be returning to the Beach Club, which seems to be a favorite resort to some.. people have different opinions of what they like. No biggie, and definitely nothing we're not used to see being posted here before.

 

[CMOORE185]

I love something about every resort. I bought most of my points at SSR because IMO it was the most cost effective. And because I love every resort I have no problem booking a room at the 7 month window.

 

[pilferk]

We love SSR for the location to DTD and because its so open, its kind of quiet and relaxing.
We liked AKV but as soon as it gets dark there's not much to do, we haven't stayed at Kidani yet though so that may have changed.
BWV was great for its location to Epcot and its restaurants and I'm sure we'll stay there again but we always seem to go back to SSR, we're hoping to try a tree house villa next Spring, that's what makes DVC so unique, almost every resort has something somebody will like.

Just by way of info:

There are a bunch of child friendly, hotel run activities that run throughout the day at Jambo...and by the preview, it looks like there will be more at Kidani.

Jambo hosts an arcade, pool, and playground that are much more "relatively close" to even the furthest flung DVC units than the same amenities at units furthest from them at SSR. You also have the "fire pit" stories at dusk (something it looks like they will continue at Kidani, given it, too, has it's own fire pit).

Kidani will host a water play area, tennis courts, basketball courts, shuffleboard (I think), a community hall area (with computer games, board games, etc), a library (which isn't, really....but will host those aforementioned activites), and it's own arcade.

All that AND the lure of watching the animals from the different public viewing areas OR your balcony. The nightvision goggle experience is something that I'd rate as a "must do" at AKL, as well. Our kids look forward to it every trip.

I've never stayed at SSR...so I'm certainly not going to say "there's nothing to do" because I haven't had to look. And I'm not trying to make a this for that comparison between the two resorts, either. But we've stayed at AKL a bunch of times, and we usually have a "resort day" smack dab in the middle of our stay. We've never had a problem finding stuff to do with our kids, there...and that was BEFORE Kidani.

 

[pilferk]

I'm sorry, but this is hilarious. Great, but hilarious. Do they serve cigars or something? Poker tables? Do they spray you with aftershave?

I have not stayed at SSR, but one thing I think I'd like is being able to walk to DTD.

Man, that's a GREAT idea for a resort! Put it right next to the ESPN sports complex.....run some fantasy sports camps, there....and you'd make a mint!

 

[Greg K.]

After years of staying at the BC and BW, my wife and I decided to try SSR last June.

I admit: it lacks that "certain something" that other Disney themed resorts have. You don't feel transported to different time or place, and it certainly doesn't feel like a special "vacation home," the way the other resorts do. The rooms are not connected to the lobby of a hotel, so there's an entirely different energy to the place. You don't get the hustle and bustle of people coming and going, making plans for the day, gathering for dinner, etc. Much more low key. The theming around horse racing doesn't lend itself to Disney whimsy, either; the one big attempt at playfulness -- the hourly sounding of a racing trumpet -- feels like a lame effort to replicate the hourly geyser eruption at WL. And the rooms could be the rooms at any high-end chain hotel. Nice, but nothing special.

(On a side note: I was surprised that Artist's Palette opened relatively late - 7 am - when the parks were opening at 8, and you needed to give extra time to get around because of the buses. I imagine families with young kids might find that a challenge.)

Having said that...the place IS very pretty, and restful. I think you just have to adjust your expectations. I get the impression the place was conceived with older vacationers in mind. Would I stay there again? Maybe. My wife and I are trying OKW later this summer, which has some similarities with SSR in terms of size and layout. It will make for an interesting comparison.

 

[jamie&Greg]

Actually we did have the famous Dumpster view at VWL which is also the furthest room away from the elevator and I would take that room any day!! As I said it wasn't just one thing - the view, the walk, the buses etc. it was that there were no redeeming benefits for these!

Also, when I say Disney I mean all the special attention to detail that they put into everything. Like another poster said – some of the resorts ‘transport’ you to a different time and place and maybe SSR does that for some – just not me

 

[MissyDVC]

We couldn't disagree more..we absolutely LOVE SSR (our home resort). We love the feel, the colors, the relaxed atmosphere. We have stayed at other DVC resorts and, just recently, spent 10 days at OKW and really disliked it and even tried to move to SSR but it was all booked. That is what is great about the DVC, something for everyone. And secretly, I always chuckle a little when I hear someone doesn't like SSR because I think "more room for us!".

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

SSR and AKV are both very large but they are very different----SSR is more a "condo" resort while AKV is more a "hotel" resort.

After staying at Jambo House during Tropical Storm Faye last August, we will never again stay at a DVC or Disney resort that requires us to go outside to get to food or activities! After dealing with the heavy, hard and sometimes sideways rain in the parks during the days and evenings, it was VERY nice for the kids to be able to run down to the Mara or to join in one of the scheduled activities inside Jambo House.

 

[wdw4life]

We couldn't disagree more..we absolutely LOVE SSR (our home resort). We love the feel, the colors, the relaxed atmosphere. We have stayed at other DVC resorts and, just recently, spent 10 days at OKW and really disliked it and even tried to move to SSR but it was all booked. That is what is great about the DVC, something for everyone. And secretly, I always chuckle a little when I hear someone doesn't like SSR because I think "more room for us!".

ITA! My last vacation I decided to do a split stay so did AKV/SSR. AKV was nice, I liked it well enough, but I didn't feel like I was "home" until I pulled through the gates at SSR. Love walking around the grounds and being away from it all. In fact, one of the things I enjoyed most was getting up early and walking to DTD on a power walk. Looking forward to doing that again on my next trip! I personally love the theme and I totally get it. I have never needed an in-your-face theme to be able to enjoy a resort. SSR is a great fit for me. Can't wait to go back!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

The color
schemes are not too "fru fru" either -

Interesting! I agree that SSR is maybe intended more for grown-ups, my opinion only.

I would not compare AKV & SSR and assume that if you don't like one you won't like the other.

There are 2 types of DVC resorts:

The Hotel like feel of BWV, WLV, AKV(Jambo) etc (mOST, Close to the parks)
The Condo like feel of OKW, SSR, AKV(Kidani)etc. (More remote, away from the parks)

It's every ones right to try each and every resort and have their opinion about what they like and don't like. Poster, you won't know if you like AKV till you try it, just like you didn't know what SSR was like till you stayed there.

I've tried them all, I love OKW (hands down favorite, when I'm at the parks all day, I want lush, tropical surrounding when I get home, nor do I want to trudge 10 bags of groceries down the twilight zone hallway), I'll only stay at SSR if there is nothing else available, BWV only when we want to do Epcot and Star War's Week-end and AKV when we take new friends and family to experience the savanna.

IMO, you didn't trash SSR, Thanks for the post!

 

[starbox]

Actually we did have the famous Dumpster view at VWL which is also the furthest room away from the elevator and I would take that room any day!! As I said it wasn't just one thing - the view, the walk, the buses etc. it was that there were no redeeming benefits for these!

See this cracks me up - WL is the only DVC resort that made me feel stir crazy at night. I've got a family of night owls - even as toddlers, my kids would stay up till midnight if they could. I'm the lone morning person among them.

Needless to say, I insited we did parks in the morning - we return to the resort afternoon, head back to the park or to dinner around 5 and are at the resort around 9-10pm - but NOBODY in my family is ready to sleep. We've got to have access to low-key activities from 10-12am.

SSR was PERFECT because we could walk around DTD until the kids were ready to call it a night. OKW at least has a boat to DTD. BWV/BCV is also great - although it would be better if EPCOT was open late. AKV has all night savanna-viewing and the pool is open 24 hours.

WL felt totally dead at night. There was no place to walk around or get a snack/drink. Did not work at all for us.

 

[Starr W.]

See this cracks me up - WL is the only DVC resort that made me feel stir crazy at night. I've got a family of night owls - even as toddlers, my kids would stay up till midnight if they could. I'm the lone morning person among them.

Needless to say, I insited we did parks in the morning - we return to the resort afternoon, head back to the park or to dinner around 5 and are at the resort around 9-10pm - but NOBODY in my family is ready to sleep. We've got to have access to low-key activities from 10-12am.

SSR was PERFECT because we could walk around DTD until the kids were ready to call it a night. OKW at least has a boat to DTD. BWV/BCV is also great - although it would be better if EPCOT was open late. AKV has all night savanna-viewing and the pool is open 24 hours.

WL felt totally dead at night. There was no place to walk around or get a snack/drink. Did not work at all for us.

We weren't crazy about VWL either, the main pool is rather small for the size of the resort. Both boys thought the slide was "babyish". DH constantly on the lookout for FW guest over to use the pool(thanks for the info from the VWL groupies thread).

SSR is the family favorite at WDW, kids refuse to let me try for another resort at Thanksgiving(it will be our 4th stay Turkey trip there, 1st in a GV). "Our MLK or May trips are for other resorts!" Which is when we did VWL/BCV and BWV.

But since we are going to HI for 2 weeks in 2010, decided to cut back to 1 DVC trip next yr. The boys(12 & 8) would rather do Vero Beach for Spring Break than WDW for Thanksgiving.

The triumph of the boogie board over the parks.