SSR Treehouses ... Any Tips/Suggestions

[disneymath]

We are contemplating a mid-summer trip and the current plan is to spend the first part in a Treehouse (have never been to SSR before) and the second part at BLT (where I own).

As the title suggests, I'm looking for any tips or suggestions regarding a treehouse stay.

Here's some background info ... party of 8 ... 2 young at heart seniors, 3 adults, 3 boys aged 8 & 10 ... all multiple trip WDW veterans ... we won't have a car ... we don't plan to do any parks while at SSR, just enjoy the resort, Disney Springs (and maybe a waterpark) ... we will either have groceries delivered or a few of us will take a taxi to do a grocery run.

Thanks in advance.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Summer, trees... Bring Plenty of Bug Spray imho.
I'm not particularly a fan of the tree houses...not much in the way of amenities, creatures, bugs and did I say Bugs?! Stairs ok for seniors each day? Kinda secluded and not very immersed in Disney feel either. I just don't get the "draw" of it ..too me it's like camping... so that's a no-no lol

 

[nvsnot]

My family and I stayed at the Treehouse Villas in 2011. We had a fabulous time and welcomed the seclusion while we were away from the parks. Transportation wasn't a problem either. We were a short walk from the bus stop that brought us to the main villas. The walk to the main villas was pleasant and most days we walked to the main villa bus stop in lieu of catching the bus at the Tree houses. We really enjoyed our stay.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

2 young at heart seniors, 3 adults, 3 boys aged 8 & 10 ... all multiple trip WDW veterans ... we won't have a car ... we don't plan to do any parks while at SSR, just enjoy the resort, Disney Springs (and maybe a waterpark)

EDITED WITH UPDATED SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS...

Hmmm... Your party seems too big to me to enjoy the villa. There is a queen bed in the master, let's assume the two seniors go there. There is a queen in the second bedroom, let's put two of the adults in there. Let's put two boys in the bunk beds. Now you've got one adult and one boy left for the sleeper sofa and sleeper chair? This seems terrible to me. I wouldn't want to have anyone sleep in my living rooms space, especially not a kid that might need to go to sleep earlier than the adults. Anyway you slice it you have an adult in a bunk bed or a sleeper sofa. Is that adult going to be okay with that?

Okay, beyond sleeping arrangements, the villas are really in the middle of nowhere, a good 15 minute walk from the springs pool, add another 5 to get to the paddock pool. To me, if I want to go swim, the last thing I want to do is hike 15 minutes first with my boy. The walking made our stay there miserable last time, but our son was only five, and walking was the end of the world to him back then. So be aware that you may have a trek to get to anything in SSR worth enjoying. Some tree houses are a lot closer to grand stand SSR section, but ours was not! The tree house pool is pretty bland, but will most likely be deserted, so it may be just what you are looking for.

 

[keaster]

We stayed in the treehouse villas in August 2013 and didn't have a problem with bugs. Our treehouse was also, I believe, just one house away from the boat dock, so very easy transportation wise. The ferry horn noise may be an issue but it wasn't for us. But as previous poster said, the sleeping arrangements may be a bit awkward for your party set up!

Personally I loved it...it's definitely my idea of camping

 

[Hopefully]

Hmmm... Your party seems too big to me to enjoy the villa. There is a king bed in the master, let's assume the two seniors go there. There is a queen in the second bedroom, let's put two of the adults in there. Let's put two boys in the bunk beds. Now you've got one adult and one boy left for the sleeper sofa? This seems terrible to me. Anyway you slice it you have an adult in a bunk bed or a sleeper sofa. Is that adult going to be okay with that?

Okay, beyond sleeping arrangements, the villas are really in the middle of nowhere, a good 15 minute walk from the springs pool, add another 5 to get to the paddock pool. To me, if I want to go swim, the last thing I want to do is hike 15 minutes first with my boy. The walking made our stay there miserable last time, but our son was only five, and walking was the end of the world to him back then. So be aware that you may have a trek to get to anything in SSR worth enjoying. Some tree houses are a lot closer to grand stand SSR section, but ours was not! The tree house pool is pretty bland, but will most likely be deserted, so it may be just what you are looking for.

Your sleeping arrangements description isn't accurate.
Master is a Queen not a King. Living Room has a Queen Sleeper and a single chair bed. No one needs to share the sofa.
We loved the Cabin. We would definitely recommend them

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Your sleeping arrangements description isn't accurate.
Master is a Queen not a King. Living Room has a Queen Sleeper and a single chair bed. No one needs to share the sofa.
We loved the Cabin. We would definitely recommend them

Well that definitely makes things a little better.

Still though, they should consider if there a way to arrange things so the kids can go to sleep and the adults can stay up later and everyone will still be comfortable.

 

[disneymath]

Thanks all for the replies so far ... we live up in Northern Ontaro, Canada (black fly and mosquito country), so we're used to bugs ... would not have thought to bring spray to Florida though, we will now though. We're intrigued by the idea of "camping" in an "above ground cottage".

As for sleeping arrangements, we typically stay in 2BRs, so this actually spreads us out more in that the boys parents won't have to share a room with them. I typically get the pullout couch and the thid boy gets the chair, so it's all good on that front. Speaking of the pullouts, are they similar to the ones at BLT or Kidani?

Stairs aren't an issue, but excessive walking might become one. Are their any treehouses that are fairly close to transportation (bus or ferry) and the treehouse pool? (Themed pools are great, but sometimes a regular, uncrowded pool is even better.)

 

[quirty30]

Request a Treehouse close to the path to the Grandstand. We were in 7032, which was right next to the path, with a bus stop right in front. The pool was a few Treehouses away in one direction, and the boat dock a few Treehouses away in the other direction. It was an ideal location. I had rented a car, just in case our request didn't pan out. We would have been fine without it.

I had no issues with bugs - it was August of 2013 when we stayed there.

 

[disneymath]

Request a Treehouse close to the path to the Grandstand. We were in 7032, which was right next to the path, with a bus stop right in front. The pool was a few Treehouses away in one direction, and the boat dock a few Treehouses away in the other direction. It was an ideal location. I had rented a car, just in case our request didn't pan out. We would have been fine without it.

I had no issues with bugs - it was August of 2013 when we stayed there.

Good to know ... that sounds like an ideal spot! (I realize requests are just that, but it's nice to have a good idea of what to request.)

 

[ssxa]

We stayed in the treehouse villas with 4 adults and 5 kids. It fit all of us comfortably. Bugs were not a problem, and it's still one of my sons favorite Disney stays.

 

[juncker]

Big Treehouse fans. They aren't for everyone, but we love them.

We've done them with 9 people before. It can be a bit crowded, but not unmanageable if you have kids in the party. Know that the bunkbeds are about 6 inches shorter than most beds, so only target kids (or short people) for them.

I definitely agree with requesting a Treehouse close to the path to the Grandstand area. Especially if you plan to use the buses. It's much faster to walk across the golf course to pick up the actual buses to the parks than to transfer buses with the internal Treehouse shuttle. Each Villa is only supposed to have 1 vehicle too. Overflow is supposed to park at the Grandstand area. We never had issues getting a spot, but if you can't, parking it at the Grandstand isn't as big of a deal if you're at the south end.

... and while the main SSR pools are nice, don't ignore the THV pool. We used it numerous times, and most times we had it to ourselves. How many times can you say that at a WDW resort? Being close to the Grandstand path also puts you close to the THV pool.

 

[disneymath]

Well, we booked yesterday ... 3 nights in a Treehouse followed by 4 nights in a 2BR at VGF - also a first for us. Talk about going from one extreme to another! This will be quite the trip of varied resort experiences I think!

 

[William Ades]

Check out #9 of the SSR FAQ's from the SSR Lovers and Owners #3 thread a few threads up in this forum. I 100% agree with his Pros and Cons assessment, and will give you a good heads up as to what to expect.

 

[disneymath]

Check out #9 of the SSR FAQ's from the SSR Lovers and Owners #3 thread a few threads up in this forum. I 100% agree with his Pros and Cons assessment, and will give you a good heads up as to what to expect.

Thanks for mentioning that thread ... fortunately, many of the cons on that list aren't a huge concern and the pros are definitely pros for us!

We won't have a car, arriving by ME ... assuming bell services will deliver luggage as they do to the other DVC resorts when you use ME?