BroganMc
It's not the age, it's the mileage
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 2,991
So after my one all-too brief December stay (that was far too cold for me to wander about), I indulged in a nice long 8 day respite at SSR. My goal was to see everything possible, measure those debated distances, test Disney transport to the limits, and see if the role of "SSR Enthusiast" really fit me. Here's what I learned:
The facts - I checked into a 1 bedroom accessible room with roll-in shower on Sunday May 13. We were in unit 8125 on the ground floor center of the first Grandstand building to open. (An exact replica of our December Springs unit, 3425, only with newer fixtures and a heavier door.)
1) My check-in time was 9:15am (we had driven over from our Marriott timeshare that morning). Unfortunately it was not flawless. Though I had reserved a HA room with roll-in shower months ago (which involves Special Services blocking out the room), the room blocked for us was on the 4th Floor of Congress Park with a tub. Fortunately, the Front Desk gal found us a suitable room in Grandstand (the only one in the resort available). I'm glad I checked in early so they could correct the mistake.
Sidenote: In talking to the Boardwalk front desk staff I learned a similar problem happened for a guest the week before. He was traveling with a group and they had blocked a roll-in shower room with a request to have the rooms close together. Someone fulfilled the close request and undid his HA block. Boardwalk had no rooms and had to transfer him to another resort. BWV advised we not make any other requests so HA blocks are not overlooked or overruled. I've learned to triple check all my reservations the month before to be sure this assignment hasn't been messed with.
Sidenote 2: My Marriott timeshare screwed up the same exact thing the week before. Apparently some people assume all HA rooms have showers and not tubs. Marriott front desk staff managed to find a suitable room but the view was worse. Disney gave us better accommodations.
2) The bus service is excellent at SSR. We parked our van and never used it. Our longest wait was 3 minutes at the resort. At the parks, 5 minutes during Magic Kingdom park closing. Time to boarding to making the resort circle was roughly 15 minutes (if there were pickups at each stop). Most crowded stop was the Springs. Those folks always ended up standing. Grandstand, Carousel and Paddocks folks pretty much always had seats. (Ferry service to Boardwalk from MGM was the longest wait at 10 minutes.)
3) If you're traveling with two scooters or powerwheelchairs, use the Grandstand bus stop. You'll always be able to get a spot. Wait for Springs and either it will be full or the bus will have to half empty to let you board. Busses can only take two powered vehicles. (Same with the ferries.)
4) Love bugs are the most pernicious, annoying creatures on the planet.
5) The Grandstand section has some of the prettiest sights and a private walkway to the Carriage House and ferry dock (head toward the golf cart parking lot and follow the wheelchair signs to the dock). It looks far away but it is actually closer than some of the Springs buildings. Unfortunately, since it's so new the rabbits haven't discovered it yet. They're all at Congress Park, it seems. Ducks and mocking birds abound though. And those damn lovebugs.
6) Most ideal morning routine: wake up at 6-7am, grab your refillable mug and go out for a morning stroll. Grab some coffee or hot chocolate at AP and begin a loop around the resort. (There's the Congress Park loop, Paddocks loop, and Carousel/Grandstand loop to name a few.) In an hour's time, after enjoying some bird watching on the benches, make your way back to AP for breakfast and more refills.
7) For two or more adults, buy two children's breakfast platters: one with Mickey waffles & bacon and the other with eggs & sausage. Split the contents. You get a free drink as well (OJ, Apple juice, milk). Cost is $3.99 + tax per breakfast. Have a DDE card and it's $3.20 + tax. The adult breakfast is twice that amount and doesn't include waffles, grapes or drink, just a biscuit.
8) There's a not-so obvious walkway from Carousel to the Grandstand just before the entry gate. Follow the pedestrian crossing signs. This walk winds through the golf course, is shaded by tall trees and has the feel of a country stroll. It terminates in a crosswalk by the Grandstand bus stop. It's on the map drawn as a line to the left of the road. Just look for the pink sidewalks. Golf carts only drive on black top.
9) There's another walkway in front of Grandstand building 85xx. It takes you out across the golf course with a stunning view of 85xx (looks like a mansion), as well as Treehouse Villas and finally terminates at a bridge to Treehouse Villas. The bridge is not in use (weeds are taking over) and is blocked off with traffic cones. Students on the college program live in Treehouse Villas (mostly those working Epcot) but the new SSR walkway was laid down so Disney could eventually use the TVs for guests (according to a groundskeeper).
10) The High Rock Springs has three levels of accessibility: a zero entry, pool chair and pool lift. If you want the chair or lift, ask the lifeguards to bring it out for you. I can't walk steps and I can't swim, but I loved the pool so much I ditched my last Epcot afternoon for more time at the pool. Even on a crowded Saturday, I was surprised that the water felt mostly calm. This pool is large enough to accommodate a lot of people.
11) Take the ferry to OKW, especially during the hot mid-day sun. I made the mistake of walking it after check-in and eating at Olivia's. (Olivia's is great.) The walk is not shaded and not short. I nearly did in my powerchair battery for the day.
12) Racing my mohawk-wearing 75 year old dad with my powerchair vs. his little red scooter from West Side to Grandstand at midnight was priceless. At 4.5 mph the journey took roughly 20 minutes. My hand was nearly stuck to the joystick by the time we arrived, but I won! (I believe the bellhops were taking bets on us after that. Let's just say the hourly chime at SSR is inspirational to racers.)
13) Watch that speeding around MGM. They have traffic cops on duty who will cite you. (Not the 75 year old mohawk-wearing grandpa driving the little red scooter though. I guess he just gets a pass on everything.)
14) BCV owners who get stuck at SSR due to availability have the worst times. I heard all about one family's woes on the ferry ride from MGM. (Or maybe they were just DISers I frequently encounter here?
15) Read the Horsin' Around schedule of events in your Welcome Home folder. You'll miss something fun to do that week if you don't. (Oh and if you hear the "Polish Pirates" have entered the pool trivia contest, just concede or listen closely for the answers. We surprised even the staff with a perfect score.)
16) Turf Club closes at 9pm sharp. Not 9:15 not 9:30 and certainly not the 11pm we thought our last night. Oh well, Artist Palette had even better offerings in the Chef Selections that night (seasoned meatloaf, garlic potatoes and green beans).
17) Apparently there are no luggage carts at the buildings because the owners voted against it?! They thought folks would steal them. (According to the bellhops.) Um, exactly how does one fit a 7 foot tall luggage cart in their car or airline carry-on?
18) There are playgrounds at Congress Park and Paddocks pools complete with slides and rock climbing walls. (More are needed at the other pools and Carousel.)
19) Carousel has its own private lake giving it a retreat away from the retreat feel. I really liked the looks of it. The picnic area is cute with the carousel design and there are some really nice fountains playing up the common area.
20) Don't bother ferrying up to Port Orleans for lunch unless you like cafeteria food. It's dinner or drive there for breakfast. I fear this place disappointed me. In pictures it looked pretty, but in reality it all felt a bit All Star rundown. OKW more than lives up to photos though, just remember to take the ferry there.
21) Lastly, I am a true SSR enthusiast. My magic moment happened on Wednesday when I fled the hot, crowded environs of MGM around 3pm and returned to SSR. Stepping off the bus at Paddocks, I suddenly discovered I could breathe again and hear myself think. Saying this resort is removed from it all is just the tip of understanding it's appeal. You feel like you are on some tropical island while all the rest are stuck in a crowded theme park world.
My dad and I enjoyed our stay so much, we've added on 3 extra days to our October trip to make it 9 days at SSR. We've decided 5 days is just too short.
The facts - I checked into a 1 bedroom accessible room with roll-in shower on Sunday May 13. We were in unit 8125 on the ground floor center of the first Grandstand building to open. (An exact replica of our December Springs unit, 3425, only with newer fixtures and a heavier door.)
1) My check-in time was 9:15am (we had driven over from our Marriott timeshare that morning). Unfortunately it was not flawless. Though I had reserved a HA room with roll-in shower months ago (which involves Special Services blocking out the room), the room blocked for us was on the 4th Floor of Congress Park with a tub. Fortunately, the Front Desk gal found us a suitable room in Grandstand (the only one in the resort available). I'm glad I checked in early so they could correct the mistake.
Sidenote: In talking to the Boardwalk front desk staff I learned a similar problem happened for a guest the week before. He was traveling with a group and they had blocked a roll-in shower room with a request to have the rooms close together. Someone fulfilled the close request and undid his HA block. Boardwalk had no rooms and had to transfer him to another resort. BWV advised we not make any other requests so HA blocks are not overlooked or overruled. I've learned to triple check all my reservations the month before to be sure this assignment hasn't been messed with.
Sidenote 2: My Marriott timeshare screwed up the same exact thing the week before. Apparently some people assume all HA rooms have showers and not tubs. Marriott front desk staff managed to find a suitable room but the view was worse. Disney gave us better accommodations.
2) The bus service is excellent at SSR. We parked our van and never used it. Our longest wait was 3 minutes at the resort. At the parks, 5 minutes during Magic Kingdom park closing. Time to boarding to making the resort circle was roughly 15 minutes (if there were pickups at each stop). Most crowded stop was the Springs. Those folks always ended up standing. Grandstand, Carousel and Paddocks folks pretty much always had seats. (Ferry service to Boardwalk from MGM was the longest wait at 10 minutes.)
3) If you're traveling with two scooters or powerwheelchairs, use the Grandstand bus stop. You'll always be able to get a spot. Wait for Springs and either it will be full or the bus will have to half empty to let you board. Busses can only take two powered vehicles. (Same with the ferries.)
4) Love bugs are the most pernicious, annoying creatures on the planet.
5) The Grandstand section has some of the prettiest sights and a private walkway to the Carriage House and ferry dock (head toward the golf cart parking lot and follow the wheelchair signs to the dock). It looks far away but it is actually closer than some of the Springs buildings. Unfortunately, since it's so new the rabbits haven't discovered it yet. They're all at Congress Park, it seems. Ducks and mocking birds abound though. And those damn lovebugs.
6) Most ideal morning routine: wake up at 6-7am, grab your refillable mug and go out for a morning stroll. Grab some coffee or hot chocolate at AP and begin a loop around the resort. (There's the Congress Park loop, Paddocks loop, and Carousel/Grandstand loop to name a few.) In an hour's time, after enjoying some bird watching on the benches, make your way back to AP for breakfast and more refills.
7) For two or more adults, buy two children's breakfast platters: one with Mickey waffles & bacon and the other with eggs & sausage. Split the contents. You get a free drink as well (OJ, Apple juice, milk). Cost is $3.99 + tax per breakfast. Have a DDE card and it's $3.20 + tax. The adult breakfast is twice that amount and doesn't include waffles, grapes or drink, just a biscuit.
8) There's a not-so obvious walkway from Carousel to the Grandstand just before the entry gate. Follow the pedestrian crossing signs. This walk winds through the golf course, is shaded by tall trees and has the feel of a country stroll. It terminates in a crosswalk by the Grandstand bus stop. It's on the map drawn as a line to the left of the road. Just look for the pink sidewalks. Golf carts only drive on black top.
9) There's another walkway in front of Grandstand building 85xx. It takes you out across the golf course with a stunning view of 85xx (looks like a mansion), as well as Treehouse Villas and finally terminates at a bridge to Treehouse Villas. The bridge is not in use (weeds are taking over) and is blocked off with traffic cones. Students on the college program live in Treehouse Villas (mostly those working Epcot) but the new SSR walkway was laid down so Disney could eventually use the TVs for guests (according to a groundskeeper).
10) The High Rock Springs has three levels of accessibility: a zero entry, pool chair and pool lift. If you want the chair or lift, ask the lifeguards to bring it out for you. I can't walk steps and I can't swim, but I loved the pool so much I ditched my last Epcot afternoon for more time at the pool. Even on a crowded Saturday, I was surprised that the water felt mostly calm. This pool is large enough to accommodate a lot of people.
11) Take the ferry to OKW, especially during the hot mid-day sun. I made the mistake of walking it after check-in and eating at Olivia's. (Olivia's is great.) The walk is not shaded and not short. I nearly did in my powerchair battery for the day.
12) Racing my mohawk-wearing 75 year old dad with my powerchair vs. his little red scooter from West Side to Grandstand at midnight was priceless. At 4.5 mph the journey took roughly 20 minutes. My hand was nearly stuck to the joystick by the time we arrived, but I won! (I believe the bellhops were taking bets on us after that. Let's just say the hourly chime at SSR is inspirational to racers.)
13) Watch that speeding around MGM. They have traffic cops on duty who will cite you. (Not the 75 year old mohawk-wearing grandpa driving the little red scooter though. I guess he just gets a pass on everything.)
14) BCV owners who get stuck at SSR due to availability have the worst times. I heard all about one family's woes on the ferry ride from MGM. (Or maybe they were just DISers I frequently encounter here?
15) Read the Horsin' Around schedule of events in your Welcome Home folder. You'll miss something fun to do that week if you don't. (Oh and if you hear the "Polish Pirates" have entered the pool trivia contest, just concede or listen closely for the answers. We surprised even the staff with a perfect score.)
16) Turf Club closes at 9pm sharp. Not 9:15 not 9:30 and certainly not the 11pm we thought our last night. Oh well, Artist Palette had even better offerings in the Chef Selections that night (seasoned meatloaf, garlic potatoes and green beans).
17) Apparently there are no luggage carts at the buildings because the owners voted against it?! They thought folks would steal them. (According to the bellhops.) Um, exactly how does one fit a 7 foot tall luggage cart in their car or airline carry-on?
18) There are playgrounds at Congress Park and Paddocks pools complete with slides and rock climbing walls. (More are needed at the other pools and Carousel.)
19) Carousel has its own private lake giving it a retreat away from the retreat feel. I really liked the looks of it. The picnic area is cute with the carousel design and there are some really nice fountains playing up the common area.
20) Don't bother ferrying up to Port Orleans for lunch unless you like cafeteria food. It's dinner or drive there for breakfast. I fear this place disappointed me. In pictures it looked pretty, but in reality it all felt a bit All Star rundown. OKW more than lives up to photos though, just remember to take the ferry there.
21) Lastly, I am a true SSR enthusiast. My magic moment happened on Wednesday when I fled the hot, crowded environs of MGM around 3pm and returned to SSR. Stepping off the bus at Paddocks, I suddenly discovered I could breathe again and hear myself think. Saying this resort is removed from it all is just the tip of understanding it's appeal. You feel like you are on some tropical island while all the rest are stuck in a crowded theme park world.
My dad and I enjoyed our stay so much, we've added on 3 extra days to our October trip to make it 9 days at SSR. We've decided 5 days is just too short.
Love it! Such a great mental image! I think any 75 yo mohawk wearing grandpa should be given a pass ...anywhere, anytime. 
If you did, that can be #22!
)
