SSR's Prior Life

[Wes]

In looking at the pictures in the latest "Vacation Magic", I am trying to figure out what Saratoga Springs Resort's area was used for before it became SSR.

Was it Dixie Landing or the Disney Institute?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Disney Institute.

 

[Sammie]

The area was the Disney Institute and some public buildings have been rehabbed. The buildings for the rooms are all new.

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

I vacationed at DI twice over the years and although it was dump, we still enjoyed it. In fact, one of our fondest memories of vacationing is at DI and hanging out at DD.

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

I vacationed at DI twice over the years and although it was dump, we still enjoyed it. In fact, one of our fondest memories of vacationing is at DI and hanging out at DD.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The residential buildings at SSR are brand new. Eventually, there will be 12 residential buildings. None of the old Villas at Disney Institute were reused. The old Villas actually dated from the early 1970s.

The non-residential part of SSR (such as check-in, restaurant, spa, and DCV sales office) is the former campus of the Disney Institute. It's less than ten years old, and was designed by a renowned architect, Thomas Beeby.

The new SSR residential buildings were designed to blend well with Thomas Beeby's campus.

 

[4407mark]

I attended The Disney Approach to Leadership Excellence at the Disney Institute in October of 2000 and thoroughly enjoyed the class as well as the accommodations. I hated to see the DI close - I thought their programs were wonderful and I loved the "feel" it had....

just my .02

 

[Pa@okw95]

Dixie Landings is still there where it always was with a name change to go with its sister resort, POR. Dixie landings was the largest resort at WDW and POR was right next to it. Now they are both know at POR but with POR-Riverside for the old Dixie Landings. Disney Institute is located where SSR is now.

 

[JimC]

I've attended two DI conferences there:

Leadership in December 1999
Operations in November/December 2000

The last two DI conferences I have taken have been at CSR, which is also a nice conference center, but its not the same as the Campus!

My wife and I also stayed there for non Disney holiday.

Too bad the concept did not make it as I enjoyed the location and the accommodations. Nothing like having your own personal golf cart to get around in parked right outside your unit.

The new feature pool is on the site of the old amphitheater.

There were also Grand Vista homes on the site - across from the Welcome Center on Fairway Drive. If I remember correctly they were sample homes for a concept of having on-property resident owners (separate from the RCID residents). I guess it was the precursor to Celebration and DVC.

PA - I don't know about you but I liked the two resorts with their old names better (Port Orleans and Dixie Landings). But then I still call those little boats "Sprites"! CMs chuckle when I walk up and request one. They often ask if its been that long since I last rented one or if I am a traditionalist

 

[Pa@okw95]

I am with you. I still call Dixie Landings, Dixie Landings and the sprites, sprites. I really can not remember the names of both POR resorts as a general rule, was surprised I came up with Riverside today.

 

[FLYNZ4]

I must be a traditionalist too... because I still use the term "sprites" as well as Dixie Landings/Port Orleans.

/Jim