SSR Trip Report

[eporter66]

Hi All - if anyone has any questions - just feel free to ask.

This was our first trip as DVC members, so I cant compare with other resorts - but we LOVED SSR!!!!

We arrived Monday around 12:30, and checked in at the Carriage House. We got a lot of "Welcome Homes" and that felt good. The people at the front desk were very friendly, and a bit nervous perhaps, as it was the first day. They were a bit slow, but just being careful I am sure.

Being from Saratoga, they had a replica of a horse carousel in the lobby wich was very nice. Also there was a picture of the Adelphi Hotel. Nice touch.

Having only one building open, the resort was very quiet. Very few people at the pools or restaurant, it was like having the resort to yourself

We walked around, as there is a very nice sitting area between check-in and the Artists Palette. The restaurant (Artists Palatte) / gift shop is very nice and the food was good. We had some of the pizza's and ate breakfast there almost everyday. I really enjoyed the breakfasts as they had a full eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes and a biscuit. There were other options ( a croisant sandwich or fruit options). We did not eat dinner there except for the pizza on Monday.

The Turf Club is behind the Artists Palette. It is a very nice upscale room with a pool table, bar, and television.

We stayed in a Studio - Room 2732, "Congress Park Buildings" and it was not a DD view, but a little inlet from the lake. We saw many cranes (or storks) and ducks in this area. There were also 2 swans that were on the SSR side of the lake. The studio was very nice - and we did not hear any noise from DD.

The staff said they are opening one building a month through August. So all four should be open soon. Construction on the next three seemed to be going pretty quick (along Broadway)

The landscaping was great too! The quiet pool was very nice, and has a hot tub / jacuzzi that we used every night. It was nice to sit in there and look over at the lights of DD.

High Rock Springs pool was done nice as well, it kind of reminds me of the Wilderness Lodge pool with all the rock formations. As I said - there were so few people it seemed like we had the pool to ourselves. The bartender we had at "On The Rocks" was a young guy named Ken. He was very friendly and we had fun sitting and talking with him.

The Spa was beautiful, and the workout facility was top notch!!!! I was extremely impressed with all that they had.

I loved staying at SSR and I would go back anytime. I liked being that close to DD. Especially since we often go at slow times of the year when the parks close early, it would be nice to head over to DD and walk around. A lot of people expressed concern that it was too "Out of the Way". I did not have that feeling at all. We rented a car, so it was no problem getting around, but the buses seemed to be coming in and out at a regular clip.

My only complaint is that the Boat Launch is a bit out of the way from the buildings. We also waited about a half hour to get a ferry over to DD. It was a nice boat ride though. That was my only issue with the resort.

If anyone has questions about SSR - just ask - I would love to answer them for you if I can.

Also - I have a lot of pictures - so if someone can tell me how to post them I will.

Thanks for reading
Eric

 

[Lexxiefern]

Thanks for the report Eric!! How cool to be the first to sleep in that room! Thanks for all the details

 

[pmcpmc]

you need to upload your photos thru the photo section of this website or other and then copy and paste alink from there.
tech board will help

 

[PamOKW]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post. I'm glad to hear you really enjoyed your stay. The photos and first-hand reports are making me very excited about eventually giving SSR a try. It's great to have another WDW option!

Did many of the CMs realize you were from "the" Saratoga? Sounds like you feel they've done a pretty good job of capturing the "essence" of Saratoga...but I'm still looking for that racetrack.

 

[wisbucky]

Great report eporter66!!!!! I have some questions that I hope you can answer.

I was just wonderng on the breakfast menu what they all had for choices?

Where is the launch area for the boat ride to DD?

What rooms (as far as numbers) face DD? Was wondering as we would like to request one when we arrive in July.

Sounds like you had a very enjoyable stay. Cant wait to see SSR for ourselves up close.

 

[Bexx]

Thanks for the report - it sounds lovely. Can't wait to have a look round a new Disney resort.

Just one question - is the boat launch very far from the bit where the Artists Palette is? We'll be staying at OKW when we visit and I was hoping we could ride over to SSR and pick up some stuff for dinner at the food court!!! Can you believe that this is something I'm really looking forward to?!? Does that make me sad, or what??!!??

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Thanks for the report!!! We are think of staying there in 2006. Sounds very nice.

Allison an associate

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

We just purchased SSR so we are very happy to read your report. Thanks a bunch!!

How long was your walk to DD?

How long did it take waiting for busses to the theme parks?

How was the food and where all did you eat?

 

[eporter66]

I will reply, best I can with what I remember:

1. I was just wonderng on the breakfast menu what they all had for choices?

answer :
Breakfast Pizza
Breakfast Sandwich - Croissant w/ eggs, cheese, bacon
Big Breakfast - scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries & biscuit
Assorted fruit (bananna's, oranges etc...) and pastries

2. Just one question - is the boat launch very far from the bit where the Artists Palette is? / Where is the launch area for the boat ride to DD?

Answer:
No. The boat Launch is actually right out front of Lake Buena Vista Golf Pro Shop. If you walk up the path you will come to the Carriage House where Artist Palatte is located.

3. What rooms (as far as numbers) face DD?

Answer : I am not really sure of this one. I can tell you that the models they are using for showing those interested in DVC were 2601, 2603, & 2607 (I think). These all had DD views, but that doesnt really answer the question. Since only 1 building was open, I dont know the other numbers. Doc's post might have more information on the numbers that face DD. Sorry

4. Did many of the CMs realize you were from "the" Saratoga?

Answer : We got into a discussion with a few of the staff members, telling them we were from Saratoga. They seemed to think it was really cool we stayed there and they were asking us if it was "authentic". It was fun to tell them stuff - like our room had artwork of the Grand Union Hotel which is in Saratoga. And - at the quiet pool they had pictures of the Travers (the 4th jewel of the triple crown - Saratoga's biggest horse race). They did have a lot of artwork reflective of Saratoga. And the design does reflect the grandstand and architecture of the track to a certain degree.


Thanks for asking - keep the questions coming, it helps to keep the thoughts of SSR alive in my head. I just left this morning and I miss it already!!!!

Eric

 

[eporter66]

1. How long was your walk to DD?

Answer : The path to DD was not open yet. It did not seem like it would be too long of a walk depending on what buildings you stayed at. My guess would be about 10 minutes.

2. How long did it take waiting for busses to the theme parks?

Answer : We rented a car, so I cannot comment on the Bus Transportation. I will say that the buses were pretty empty when I saw them going by, but it did seem like they were coming through very regularly. But thats easy to say since we did not have to wait or ride them.

3. How was the food and where all did you eat?

Answer:
Artist Palette - We had breakfast there almost everyday. I thought the food was really good. We also got pizza (1 vegie & 1 pepperoni) - which was also very good.

DD -
The Earl Of Sandwich. We had very good Roast Beef and Chicken Sandwiches (Carribean Jerk & Original Roast Beef w/ Cheddar and Horseradish sauce). I really liked it, and the sandwiches were only $5.
Rainforest Cafe - We had BBQ Wrap and Ribs. Both were very good and we enjoy the atmosphere with the fish tanks.

We almost ate at Bongo's (?) - GLoria Estefans place on West Side of DD. The menu looked really good, but we were just not in the mood for a sitdown - so we grabbed the sandwiches that night - glad we did

Epcot -
Lotus Blossum (China ) - Orange Chicken and Lo Mein. Good
Cantina (Mexico) - Love Mexican food and they always get it right here. We always have something in Mexico
Rose & Crown Pub - The inside of the pub was closed for refurbishment, but the restaurant was still serving. I always have my Fish & Chips on our WDW trips.

I will have to do a full trip report later - all the memories!

Eric

 

[MJTinNH]

Thanks for your report Eric. I am looking forward to an SSR visit, hopefully in the near future!

 

[disneycrazed139]

Thanks for the report. Glad you had a nice trip.

 

[jbwolffiv]

Thanks so much for the report! Sounds like verything is just great, I cant wait to see for myself in August! Do you know if they had any pancakes for breakfast? My DD always will eat them, but only some days will eat eggs.

 

[eporter66]

1. Do you know if they had any pancakes for breakfast? My DD always will eat them, but only some days will eat eggs.

Answer : I do not remember seeing pancakes on the menu. But, I dont like pancakes so I may not have been looking for them.

 

[lenshanem]

Is there a walkway to DTD since the ferry loading area is out of the way plus the wait?

 

[lurontravel]

wisbucky,

WebmasterDoc posted about the lay-out of SSR buildings (as far as which ones face which ways) in exact detail. I forget what he titled the thread, but it was one of the two about SSR. You should be able to find it pretty easily.

Thanks for the great report, eporter66, I wasn't too keen on SSR, but reading about it does make it seem more exciting to me. I am happy to hear about it and to be persuaded in the other direction.

L-

ETA: The thread is titled "SSR BUILDING CONFIGURATION", it also includes answers about the path to DTD and more!

 

[eporter66]

1. Is there a walkway to DTD since the ferry loading area is out of the way plus the wait?

Answer : There is a walkway to DD, but it was not open while we were there. The walkway appears to be easily accessible from the buildings we stayed at, from the drawings it looks like the path along the water of the Congress Park buildings becomes the walkway for DD.