The Springs or Grandstand?

[jacesmommy]

My sister and I (with our munchkins) are heading down to SSR March 19. I put in a request for The Springs but the more I read the bus situation can be less than desirable. We do want to be close to the main pool, etc. Is the Grandstand still fairly close but have a better bus situation?

 

[FindTheMickeys]

The Grandstand is not really close to the main pool. It does have it's own pool. If you have little ones, you'll do better at the Springs. I stay in the Springs almost every visit and have yet to have a bus issue. Enjoy!!!

 

[Mjkre]

We stayed at Grandstand 3 years ago. At the time, it was the first bus stop in the resort for drop off and pick up. The quiet pool is really nice, with its own hot tub and has a great water cannon area that my kids loved. From one of the buildings in Grandstand, you can see fireworks. We walked to main pool from our unit. It took about 5 minutes to walk. It is far enough that you are not going to want to run back to your room if you forgot something but it really was an ok walk. (There is a short cut through the back of the grandstand units which takes you across (or under?) a bridge to the front of the main pool area. We would go to the main pool and then sort of transition them out of the pool by saying they could go in the quiet pool on the way back to the room. My kids were 4,6 and 8 at the time.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

In 2008, we stayed at both the Grandstand and the Springs. I enjoyed the Grandstand so much better! It was much quieter, and being the first on the bus stand was great! We used the main pool even on the days we stayed at the Grandstand. It was a very short walk. The Springs was so noisy. In fact, a beeping truck backing up woke me around 6 a.m. the first morning there.

 

[quirty30]

A wise CM once advised me to request anything in the 2 Grandstand buildings closest to the main building ...the best of both worlds, so to speak : )

 

[Sammie]

Love the Springs area.

 

[HsvTeacher]

We've stayed in both the Springs and Grandstand areas, and the Grandstand is our favorite.

 

[Havana]

I hope to stay at SSR soon. What building would I request for the best chance at a Downtown disney view?

 

[Carl'n'Ellie'sDad]

For the OP, jacesmommy, I'd probably recommend the Springs if your children are school-age. There is a significant walk from the Grandstand to High Rock Springs pool, and the Grandstand pool might not be as cool for your little ones as HRS. I haven't stayed in the Springs myself, but I did enjoy the Grandstand area.

For Havana, Congress Park is the section by the lake with Downtown Disney views.

 

[hakepb]

The 2 (near the pool) Grandstand buildings are the same distance from the dining (AP) as the springs buildings. And I really don't get others saying the distance from the main pool being much farther. Although there are 2 far Grandstand buildings...Incredible/quiet golf course views, but distance would seem to be a bigger issue.

But then again there's close, middle and I think far Springs buildings, too..

Overall I prefer Grandstand as I'd use the bus more than trips to the pool, and by the time busses get to the Springs busses can often be standing room only.

 

[delmar411]

Grandstands is the location for us due to a number of reasons:

it's the first bus stop

because it's the first bus stop if you just miss the bus, by even 2-4mins, you can still catch that same bus by getting to the Springs bus stop (hustling fast)

it has a water splash area at the quiet pool

the quiet pool has a refill station and full bar (when it's open)

the area is very quiet and away from any main area noises

you can walk very quickly and easily to the main house, the quick service area, the main pool and the boats

and you can do the above w/o crossing any streets


We always stay in the 8500-8800 building;8500's are the 1st floor, 8800's the 4th...the 10's rooms are closest to the main house, the 30's are at the other end of the building.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I hope to stay at SSR soon. What building would I request for the best chance at a Downtown disney view?

Some of the rooms in Congress Park overlook Downtown Disney. It's also a really quick walk over there from Congress Park.

 

[RDP]

Some of the rooms in Congress Park overlook Downtown Disney. It's also a really quick walk over there from Congress Park.

Our View from Congress Park!

 

[Hunclemarco]

Another vote here for the Grandstand.... but Congress Park was almost as good in our opinion.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Grandstand - hands down!

 

[RobPickles]

When we stayed at SSR we first got a room in the Grandstand. We arrived late at night and the walk to our room was horrible in the dark. It was super quiet and even creepy at night and then my wife jumped when they shot off the fireworks in DTD for the last night of Pleasure Island.

I think we had a view overlooking the golf course and she was creeped out. We like to be in the thick of things I guess near the main lobby or areas when we stay anywhere and so we called up the front desk, had a very funny conversation with them about the whole thing and they moved us to the Springs.

I think we were much happier there and because of it really liked our stay at SSR. I would not mind going back again for an extra trip other than our normal summer vacation at AKL/BLT.

 

[maciec]

We stayed at SSR in October. I have a 7 and 10yo and I was 5 months pregnant. We stayed in one of the Grandstand buildings that is futher back. We didn't mind the walk up to High Rock Springs at all. The kids never complained. Being the first bus stop was wonderful. We never had to stand leaving to go to the parks. We did stand on the way back a couple of times, but we were fine. The path to our building was very well lit. We didn't find it creepy at all. It is very quiet though.

We are going back to WDW this October. The kids want me to try for BCV, but if we can't get in there they want to stay at SSR. I think that if we stay at SSR, it will be in the Paccocks section by the new feature pool hopefully!

 

[lisa3635]

I've never stayed in Grandstand, but we stayed at the Springs last week (room 3232) and it was really close to everything.

 

[Kerchak]

We've stayed at SSR twice. First timed at Congress Park, second at The Springs. Both were gr8, but The Springs for location was our fave. It is close to the main pool, restaurants and bus stop. Also take a short walk across the bridge (from which you can view otters and turtles at play) and you can enjoy a more relaxing time at one of the smaller pools. Have a great time and Welcome Home

 

[Fatalbie]

With little ones you can't go wrong in either location. I have stayed in both and never experienced bus issues. We tend to travel off season a bit though.

The kids may find the water cannon area at the GS pool very entertaining.

Either way you are a very short walk from GS to Springs or vice versa.

You can try them both in the same visit!!
Jim