SSR thread, again...

[ricapito]

I bought SSR sight unseen last March and I have been trying to get down to see the place before our full-family vacation week this coming January. I had never been in any DVC resort before at all. Anyway, I was able to get a BCV 1BR and a OKW Studio for this past weekend with my daughter. I also walked through VWL and did the same at SSR as well as use the SSR pool. Here are my thoughts...and concerns on SSR. They are not new, but where else can I sound off?

What's not to like about BCV and SAB? Wow!

SSR didn't feel cozy, warm, or dare I say "homey" ... IMO it needs needs some more "character." It has an industrial feel to it almost, sorta like a movie set facade. The check-in area lacks something, it needs some more plants or chairs or something...again it just has an industrial feel to it.
The other buildings are beautiful, but some of them need a few more detailed touches in spots to cut down on the expanses of vinyl cladding, especially the rec hall. A third color might help on some of these buildings perhaps...

The landscaping is nice, but far more trees are needed so it doesn't feel like a corporate office park, which is how it feels right now. Perhaps they are coming, but a lot of trees, and tall ones, will be needed to break up what will be a sea of high-rise units.

I'm not sure how anyone can say the contstruction doesn't get in the way of enjoying the place...it does.

On a Sat in mid October at 3pm the pool was busy, not packed, but busy. This pool will be utterly overwhelmed once this resort is done and when peak usage times coincide with nice weather. Where they would put another themed pool that will be convenient is beyond me due to the layout though.

The Spa is beautiful to be sure. The pool is beautiful too. If they could just super-size it... Being close to DTD is great.

These are my miscellaneous musings (rants?)for now. All can be remedied, nothing is fatal. But as of today a few imagineers efforts might help the place before it becomes a sea of high-rise units that feels like a corporate office park. I know it's new, but I had hoped for a more cozy and personal feeling environment.

I can tell you if they don't remedy the above issues (maybe I'm the only idiosyncratic person with these thoughts?) I will be THAT person looking to make reservations at BCV or VWL at the 7 month window.... and I doubt I will be alone... and it will overwhelm the smaller DVC's if I'm part of a much larger group that feels the same way.

I apologize in advance for the seemingly negative candor, but it is just how I feel. SSR was not the highlight of my trip...

Bryan

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by ricapito
SSR didn't feel cozy, warm, or dare I say "homey" ... IMO it needs needs some more "character." It has an industrial feel to it almost, sorta like a movie set facade.

That is part of the theming of the resort. I believe it was Dr. Tomorrow who dug up a great quote regarding the architecture used in the actual city of Saratoga Springs NY. I'm not going to do his comments justice, but the gist of it was that much the city of Saratoga Springs grew from the remnants of post-war airplane hangers.

Personally, I think it's to DVC's credit that the resorts are varied in their theming. Of the DVC properties, I really don't care the slightest bit for the Wilderness Lodge. If that was the only resort DVC was selling at the time we decided to purchase, we either would have gone for a resale or just waited. That whole backwoods feel just doesn't do anything for me.

But, I make those comments with the understanding that VWL has many, many fans, and I'm glad there is a resort to suit their tastes.

Regarding the construction...I think if I were paying cash to stay there, I'd be a little upset. As an owner, it may impact one or two of my stays in the next 12 months, which IMO is no big deal. And, as the father of a 3yo son who's been known to pout whenever our driving route does NOT take us past the nearby road / bridge construction project, we'll be lucky if we can get him on the bus or in the car each morning.

 

[ricapito]

I've been to Saratoga Springs...and I agree that some of the theming is indeed an appropriate likeness. And I too love the idea of having a few resorts with different themes to choose from. But I want the Disney varnish thank-you, with a healthy splash of imagineering. I'd argue the "likeness" they have recreated so far isn't what makes Saratoga such a great place. I may be alone here...but I want to feel at Home. I paid to feel at Home.

As of now the place seems to have been designed by MBA's to be a profit center ....lots of units (and of course go higher rather than spread out to cut construction costs and save $$$ and land space), smallish pool for the resort size, small restaurant, small check-in lobby compared to the size. A resort this big deserves some grandeur somewhere, some defining architectual spots, a memorable entrance....something!!!!

Bryan

 

[laceemouse]

Bryan, look at it this way.....we own 160 points at BCV and are in the process of buying 250 VWL points (passed rofr, YEAH!) We stayed at OKW last week and visited SSR during our stay. It was beautiful, and we would love to stay there in the future! We will book at 11 months at our home resorts, and stay there when we want to. But sometimes we will switch at 7 months. We want to try ALL of the DVC resorts! So I am not worried about my smaller resorts being "overwhelmed." Of course if I don't plan early, I may not get my first choice, or one of my "homes," but that will be okay too. We feel that each resort has plusses and minuses (those OKW units are HUGE!) I also think you should give it some time. The construction will end eventually and the landscaping will mature. JMHO......enjoy planning your next trip Lacee

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by ricapito
...smallish pool for the resort size, small restaurant, small check-in lobby compared to the size. A resort this big deserves some grandeur somewhere, some defining architectual spots, a memorable entrance....something!!!!

Oh, I don't think you need to worry about that.

As a matter of perspective, when the SSR project was approved, the only buildings to be constructed were the four that are open now. I, for one, certainly felt that there would be more buildings to follow. But Disney was making conservative decisions in the post-9/11 world. They were taking a big hit in the theme park unit, and I don't think it was a foregone conclusion that folks would continue to pour $15k+ into prepaid vacations.

Now that Phase 2 is approaching completion and Phase 3 is on the drawing board, DVC clearly has an opportunity to enhance the original conservative design of some resort amenities.

All of the common area buildings were converted / refurbished from the Disney Institute. If memory serves, the DI had about 600 guest rooms, which is comparable to the Phase 1 + Phase 2 plan for SSR. The question nobody can answer (yet) is how they will tweak the resort as a whole to accommodate Phase 3.

But I'm not going to play Amateur Architect--I'll let the pros worry about that one.

I do think it's only a 50/50 prospect as to whether they will construct another themed pool. But, take comfort in the fact that the DVC Sales Center will be at SSR for the next decade. The last thing they need is for a potential customer's first glimpse of SSR to be overcrowded pool and dining areas.

As for dining, I have mixed feelings. In another thread I made some personal observations on why a table service restaurant might not succeed at SSR. And, WebmasterDoc chimed in with an even more compelling argument--Disney had a full service establishment there when the property was the Disney Institute, and they could never find a way to make "Seasons" work. You could blame that on mismanagement. But you also have to allow for the fact that some diners would choose a DD restaurant over SSR, plus the reality that every single guest room has a kitchen.

I was personally disappointed by the size of Artist's Palette when I visited the resort. But that disappointment had more to do with the size of the facility than the quality. Since then I've read some very encouraging reports about the quality, and have yet to hear any speculation that the size is inadequate for the resort as a whole. I'm hoping to try at least one meal there myself in December.

 

[poohj80]

Originally posted by ricapito
The landscaping is nice, but far more trees are needed

After riding out Hurricane Jeanne at SSR, I would like to add that the area lost a LOT of trees in the three recent hurricanes and I think all of WDW property will be dealing with landscaping issues for quite some time.

 

[DrTomorrow]

For a few seconds after reading the OP, I almost put on my "Sir Tomorrow, Defender of SSR" armor. But that passed, and I realized that's his opinion, and a reasoned one at that.

People love the Grand Floridian - yet when I go there, I get an overdose of sterility and filligree. The Contemporary gets a lot of criticism for its out-dated look, yet I love the place (primarily, though, due to the fact that I spent time there as a child with my parents right when WDW opened). I would have never thought that I would enjoy the leafy, tropical feel of the Polynesian, but we stayed there a year ago, and I was hooked. So - no amazing revelation here - different people like different things. It's funny, in a way; there's a thread that says that BWV, BCV and SSR themes are too similar....

Two things I do want to point out:

1. We were there in May, and it did feel homey to us. Walking from the Carriage House, past the Spa, the Fish Fountain and the DVC Sales office, near the water and to our room, we felt like we were in a "real" resort - not the Las.Vegas.giant.hotel type, but the many.buildings.spread.out.over.lots.of.land type. We could easily feel that the stables were just around the corner, near the boat docks and the lake....

2. Simply put, the landscaping needs time to grow. No doubt that there are visual gaps that need to be filled in by leafy trees and full-grown shrubs; but remember, SSR is the resort with 50 years to go - and grow!

Well, we're in the upper-40s in the countdown to our next trip to SSR - and our dear friends finally booked their flights!!! - so we'll see if it still feels like "home" to us.

 

[LIFERBABE]

The pool size continues to be an issue at SSR, but it is not an issue at any of the other resorts.

BWV's pool is not that large, nor is VWL's. They service approx. the same amount of units now that SSR will have in the future.

SAB is rarely packed and it services 3 resorts. Yes it is huge in comparison but one would think it would be overrun with guests at all hours of the day.

I have stayed at SSR twice now since May 2004 and came away with a very different feel for the place, so I understand that it is subjective. I do appreciate you posting your view and love reading about all DVC resorts good or bad.

Since BCV or VWL dont have Grand Villas and many people purchased with those units in mind, or toured the Resort prior to purchasing, these issues won't deter them from staying there.

 

[Geyser Gazer]

We spent a couple afternoons at SSR last week and felt that the quiet pool at Congress Park was a gem. We enjoyed the lake view, being able to walk to DD for a meal, and the cool jazz playing in background. We realized however that future quiet pools will not have this much of a lake view and will have no DD view. The music at the quiet pool enhanced the "casual elegance" of the resort. Disney has already figured out how to get away with a smaller themed pool despite the eventual size of this resort. The techno/dance beat, beat, beat, beat at the main pool is a migraine in the making, and will drive those who did not take just the right combination of designer drugs to other venue's. Seriously, an easy upgrade in theming for SSR would be to fill our ears with music that matches the environment like OKW, VWL, and even Blizzard Beach does.

 

[ricapito]

Nice point on the music. The driving techno beat was quite apparent this past Saturday as well. It is misplaced.

To be clear....I don't "hate" SSR...nor do I regret my investment overall in DVC.

Perhaps I was expecting too much?

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by Geyser Gazer
Snip....
The techno/dance beat, beat, beat, beat at the main pool is a migraine in the making, and will drive those who did not take just the right combination of designer drugs to other venue's.

Too funny.

Although I have never actually visited SSR, I look forward to it.

 

[tjhsr]

I went to visit SSR in may to see for myself what it would be like before we joined DVC. Joined right then. Stayed in a two br. in oct. We love the place. Did the 130 pt add on before we left. Already have feb and may resv done.And when the 11 month window opens for oct 05 will do those. Cant wait to get back.I think the buildings look very good.landscaping will fill in as time goes on.I even said to my son while we were at the quiet pool that once the trees grow some they will provide some nice shaded areas around the pool.I payed no attn. to the construction.Look SSR might not be for everyone but for us there is no place like Home.

 

[DiznEeyore]

We're just back from WDW and toured SSR (we own at VWL and BWV). I was *positive* I wasn't going to like it, but our whole family thought it was very appealing! The weird "concrete hallways" didn't do much for us (sort of an upscale housing project feel to them) but the villas and common areas are lovely.

I'm so glad there are now 5 DVC resorts at WDW to choose from -- it gives us a nice variety of choices and we'll never get bored!!

 

[kdonnel]

Originally posted by ricapito
SSR didn't feel cozy, warm, or dare I say "homey" ...

I felt like the rooms them selves where more homey then the beach club. The dark furniture looked more like the furniture at my home.

After our visit to SSR it is now our favorite. We really loved the location.

Of course our favorite tends to always be whatever hotel was our last.

 

[pwoodham]

We stayed at SSR in September and I loved it. I don't share your opinion, but I certainly honor your right to have it. We own at BCV and BWV. What would be really nice is if we could work a deal so the next time you want BCV instead of SSR, we could "swap" our 11 mo windows!! I'm anxious to show SSR to the rest of my family and I'd LOVE to stay at one of the truly gorgeous Grand Villas there.

 

[jjpenguin]

I have only toured SSR at the member homecoming and it appeals to me, because it is built like a little town. Not a hotel but a resort. People rave about BCV, but that didn't do anything for me.

I think the main pool is quite small, but could it be extra crowded now because the OKW pool is under construction? I'm staying at OKW in a couple of weeks and hope to check out the SSR pool!

jjpenguin

 

[poohj80]

Originally posted by pwoodham
We own at BCV and BWV. What would be really nice is if we could work a deal so the next time you want BCV instead of SSR, we could "swap" our 11 mo windows!!

I'd definitely take you up on that offer as we have talked about wanting to stay at BWV or BCV next since we are new to DVC and would like to try them all.

PJ

 

[ricapito]

Well, thanks for the responses and the PM's. The general consensus is that it takes time for character to develop and it is far too early to make a judgment when the place is still under construction and all the kinks haven't been worked out. I agree. I have left my reservation alone for the first week of January and will spend some QT at the resort and see if I warm to it. I sure hope so....

Bryan

 

[Muushka]

I hope so too Bryan. I remember your initial post with purchasing questions and I think we all were hoping you the best with whatever you decided to do.