Staying @ SSR w/teens..What's to do?

[Corryn]

Hello all
I am planning our daughters' Sweet 16 trip and I was able to reserve a two bedroom villa at SSR. My girls wanted to stay at Beach Club and were looking forward to Stormalong Bay and they liked the whole idea of being in the same building as the restaurants, the shop being close by, etc.

We really know nothing about SSR. Our friend stayed there and we visited for a little while but we know nothing about it.
I have my two daughters and their two friends to entertain They're 15 and 16.

What's to do? What are the restaurants like?
How's the pool? Can we get pizza or anything delivered to the room?
I've noticed there's a lot of info on here for a lot of other resorts, but not much info on SSR.

I appreciate your responses - Thank You

 

[spiceycat]

do they like crafts?

then the community hall is great!

 

[daisyduck123]

They can walk to DTD and shop, have lunch, design a t-shirt at the new shop,...that's just a few of the things.

They can rent bicycles at SSR.

 

[Disney_Villain]

Pools: As for your question about pools, there are 4 pools at SSR. The main one - High Rock Spring Pool - is very well themed and quite beautiful.

The other pools are more serene and elegant (and quieter). You may want to take a look at a map of SSR to see the layout of the resort for yourself:

Map of SSR

Recreation: Disney's website has some info on recreation at SSR as well:

Recreation at SSR

Restaurants: Turf Club had the best dinner entrees that I've been served in all of WDW. The place has a good-sized outdoor patio near the boat dock. Artist's Palette has healthy and fresh selections for a counter-service venue, unlike most of the counter-service places in WDW. We give SSR a big thumbs up for dining options.

Artists Palette: Lunch Menu
Turf Club: Dinner Menu

Hope that helps!

 

[hakepb]

For Pizza, I think Disney will do a room delivery from POR or something like that.. But really there are much, much better outside WDW delivery of real pizza available.
1) Giordano's (one of the best Chicago-style pies available in Chicago) www.giordanos.com
2) Flippers (Some say they really like it)
3) lastly, If you really, really insist, Papa John's aparantly also does delivery

The advantage of the condo-style SSR is the outside pizza delivery places deliver straight to your room door! (unlike the hotel style DVC's that meet you in the lobby)

Warning, there have been many reports in the last year of scam artist's that slide fake pizza delivey flyers under your room door. Those flyers usually have a pre-paid cell #, they take your credit card # for their own use, and you never get food. (There may be warning stickers on your room phone) Only order pizza from a place that exists in the phone book and/or you verify with the hotel front desk...

I suppose the girls may enjoy a spa treatment or pedicure (SSR spa is the best in WDW and perhaps one of the better ones in Fla. according to some reports) , there's also a tennis court. SSR also has the golf course clubhouse if you are interested in a round

SSR on-site eating is Artist's Point (a counter service place, undersized for the large SSR. Has slightly more upscale choices (no burgers) than many WDW places which may be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your tastes) There's also Turf Club for a sitdown lunch/dinner eating. Turf Club generally gets very good reviews.

If you are not immediately going to another park, DTD has a ton more dining choices, too.

The 3 main request areas for what you mentioned. Congress Park (closest to DTD east side path, has a quiet pool and some rooms have a view of DTD.
Springs, Main area in the middle od SSR so closer to main pool food and shop.
Grandstand, as close to the main areas as Springs, has it's own pool with a pool bar/ mug refill station, first bus stop for the parks, has the best views, Closest to the DTD boat transportation and west side walking path, but farther from the east side shopping...

 

[littlestar]

They show movies at the main pool.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

We usually travel with 3 to 4 teenagers. SSR is their resort of choice. They will head to DTD almost every night...they walk the stores, browse Virgin records, listen to the music at the House of Blues etc etc.

The pools are very nice. The Springs pool is great as well the Congress Park pool is one of the nicest quiet pools.

 

[Corryn]

Wow!! Those were great responses - thank you so much
The idea of letting the girls get a manicure at the spa is a good idea, I didn't think of that
The recreation, I had no clue. I don't know why I didn't see that on the Disney site I guess I wasn't looking!
Yes, they like crafts. I'm guessing when we arrive and check in they will give us a calendar for the week listing all the activities.

We are staying on-site for six nights, park hopper for five days, MNSSHP, HHN's and Food and Wine. But these kids are constantly on the run, and this is the first time we're letting them bring friends, so they're going to be run run running and I'm sure we won't be able to keep up and they'll want some alone time. Thanks again for the responses

Now that I mentioned it, Do YOU parents of teens let your teens tour parks alone? My girls have always been with us, except for when we went down with SIL/BIL and their kids - we went to F&W and the kids' went around by themselves for an hour.

What do you guys do about that? I know they're getting older and want more freedom.... What do you think I should do? BTW, they're not obnoxious LOL

 

[Chim Chiminy]

If you feel they are responsible, I would give them a cell phone with instructions to check in at a certain time and let them in a park alone.

We have let our son do this the last two trips, since he was 14 and he always shows back up at the appointed time.
We let him roam on his own in the same park as us, not to another park.

 

[Sheribo]

Yes, we let our teens wander the parks alone with a cell phone. They must stay together and check in at certain times.

We took a friend last year and they really enjoyed renting a Surrey bike both at SSR and BWV. If you rent at BWV, you drive in a big circle around BW,BC & YC. It's a nice way to see all the shops.

They played tennis every day, watched the movies while floating in the pool. They had pedicures and then sat by the pool with virgin daquiris, letting their toes dry.

And of course, Disney Quest! Just how many times can teens play DDR?? LOL

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Letting the teenagers go alone always depends on the kid. We let ours go. They have a cell phone and they must stick together. Sometimes we drop them off at the first part, hang out for a bit and then when we are done, let them continue. They are 16 and 13. As well, when we are staying at SSR they head to DTD almost daily for a little bit.

 

[kent285]

My kids (DS17, DD17, DD21) love SSR. If we weren't in the parks at night, they went to dtd. When we were there a couple of weeks ago there was a really great DJ at the outdoor stage on the west side. A lot of teenagers were there (spring break) and they loved it! You might want to request staying in Congress Park as that is the closest building to dtd.

I would also let that age group go out alone. You might just want to let the parents of their friends know that you will be allowing this (assuming you do). Also, though, insist that they stay together as a group. Have a great trip!

 

[rutgers1]

I actually think SSR might be the BEST resort for a teenager, especially a teenage girl. They'll love the spa, and what teenage girl - or boy for that matter - doesn't love hanging out at a mall? DTD is mall-like, perhaps even better than most suburban malls. Between the pools, restaurant, spa, and DTD, their time on the premises will be fun indeed.

 

[spiceycat]

Disney will allow 14 years old and up to ride the buses.

so yes especially if they are responibile (it looks like it) - some freedom.

about the phone calls - allows some freedom there - if they are in show or on a ride - they might not be able to call you - or if you call them - they won't heard the phone - shows request that cell phone be turned off or put on silence mode.

 

[Corryn]

Thank you for all your responses and suggestions -
I forgot all about the "lure" of DTD and it's close proximity to the resort!
I also loved the spa idea and I'm sure they would appreciate a nice mani and pedicure!
I don't plan on letting my girls spend the whole vacation alone away from us. We all enjoy each others company, but I understand being a teen and wanted to stray for a little while to have some fun with friends. Meals will be spent together, no exception. Rules will be set and enforced with repercussions if broken. I truly appreciate your suggestions and stories - it's hard being a parent and letting the little girls who used to beg to get their face painted at AK, their hair braided at Blizzard Beach, the ones who screamed for their autograph book when the Princesses appeared - letting them fly on their own for a time at the best place on Earth. Waaaah!!!