Trip Report: Starting at BWV and then to SSR

[Eeyore18]

Loved your tr and your ideas. I liked the one about using that huge building as a horse theme/game attraction area. Think you should send that one to Disney. We are SSR owners and fellow NJ's too! We have stayed at SSR 3 times since becoming owners and plan to try BWV on our next trip in July if we can. We still like SSR though-we've stayed at Grandstand and Paddock- so getting a seat on the buses wasn't too bad-I feel bad for the people at Springs- especially in the am. Hope you'll post some pic's- so I'll check back!

 

[Sammie]

Thanks for the report but I must address some of your SSR concerns.

I appreciate the fact that not everyone loves SSR. But what is with the conception that because one does not like it, it needs to be changed.

I don't care for the long hall ways at BWV, I don't care for the fact that there is no counter service restaurant, I feel the walk to the BW food areas is just as long or longer from some rooms than the walk from some buildings at SSR, I don't like the fact my car is miles away from me when I need it or I have to valet which resulted in damage to my car during my last BWV stay.

There is much about BWV I do not care for, but never would I think it need to be changed to fit "my likes". I can appreciate it appeals to others.

I love the Spa and when we where there two weeks ago it was full, no appointments were open, and everyone I talked to was staying at SSR, I love the theme and it is an insult to anyone that lives in Saratoga Springs, NY to say there is NO theme, I love the fact that Downtown Disney with great shopping, and dining is as close or closer to SSR than Epcot is to BWV.

So basically what I am saying is there is nothing wrong with SSR to many of us, just different strokes for different folks and I think some need to realize Disney does not need to please everyone with the same thing at every resort, how boring would that be.

SSR is very well liked by many, but I think possibly that those are not DISers and surely we don't think DISers are the only people staying at a resort.

In fact I spoke with a woman at the Spa that never reads internet forums and loves SSR and has never stayed at the other resorts because they are not close to a spa or golf course. She was shocked when I shared with her about this forum and the verbal dislike of SSR. She laughed, and said, "well there is just no accounting for some's taste in resorts."

I have stayed at all the DVC resorts many times until SSR opened and we have found a "home" that fits us to a tee, literally. I would never assume my personal home would appeal to everyone, anymore than I would think my "home away from home" would. I think we all need to accept the differences.

 

[ccigliano]

You've got some great ideas to make SSR a more functional resort. I prefer the resorts attached to hotel like VWL as I can use the amenities of the hotel (restaurants etc) and then go back to my villa. When I stayed at SSR, I felt removed from the action and I think your idea to make it two seperate resorts with their own amenties would work better. I actually prefer OKW to SSR and I think that is just as much spread out but it has stronger theming. The OKW rooms and balconies are so much bigger than other DVCs that it seems worth the trade off to be spread out. Enjoy the rest of your stay at Universal and thanks for taking the time to post a TR.

 

[rutgers1]

Sammie....I hope I didn't offend you. If so, that wasn't my attention. I will be the first to admit that SSR is loved by many. In fact, I met a guy on the boat last night who had never stayed anywhere else and was very happy with SSR. I also will be the first to admit that the disboards does not necessarily represent the entirety of SSR owners. However, with that said, I think there are some trends worth noting. Among those is....
1) easy availability at SSR
2) the number of SSR people who are admittedly staying anywhere but SSR
3) the number of people I met at SSR this trip who were either unhappy or just "satisfied" compared to the number of people I met at BWV who were overjoyed with their stay

I can't say that I have absolute data proving my theories, but I'll stand by them. I never said that it didn't appeal to anyone, rather that the niche that the resort serves is smaller than the number of rooms that are available. To me, that is a problem. As for why I don't ask for things at the Boardwalk to be changed, I guess that is because of the following:
1) It is right next to 2 theme parks, which appears to be the biggest selling point to DVC owners.
2) It is smaller and, therefore, doesn't have to appeal to the number of people that SSR has to appeal to.....yet it actually appeals to more, in my opinion.

In the end, I just think that, if you are going to build a resort the size and scope of SSR, you have to hit a home run. I don't think that Disney hit a home run. It was a home run if the resort was a fraction of the size, but not at the current size.

-------------------------------------------​

Back to the trip report.....We closed out our Disney stay with a day at the main SSR pool (awesome) and dinner at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney (also awesome). The burgers, ribs and sweet potato fries are incredible. Highly recommended!

Perhaps one of the most noteworthy things about Downtown Disney to me is the sheer number of people there. Walking down the path there is like walking down Main Street USA at prime time. The place is CROWDED! Disney really has a great opportunity to capitalize on that traffic and create more entertainment options. I will really be disappointed if things are the status quo two years from now. It looks like this is an ideal time to fill some of the vacant buildings with exciting new entities.

 

[MissMet]

... I feel the walk to the BW food areas is just as long or longer from some rooms than the walk from some buildings at SSR...

What?

I'm not getting into the whole debate, but seriously? You've obviously never stayed in one of the carousel buildings... that is faaaaaaar. When they have an internal bus system setup, you have to admit that it's a huge resort.

Also, if you are at the end of one of those long hallways at BW, all you have to do is use the stairs at the end of the hallways instead of walking to the elevators.

I see what you are saying, I may not agree, but I see what you are saying. I always hate to hear people's bad opinions of my fav, bwv, but that's their opinion & they don't have to like it... more availability for me.

The op was not coming against anyone, just sharing their opinion.

 

[Sammie]

What?

I'm not getting into the whole debate, but seriously? You've obviously never stayed in one of the carousel buildings... that is faaaaaaar. When they have an internal bus system setup, you have to admit that it's a huge resort.

Also, if you are at the end of one of those long hallways at BW, all you have to do is use the stairs at the end of the hallways instead of walking to the elevators.

I see what you are saying, I may not agree, but I see what you are saying. I always hate to hear people's bad opinions of my fav, bwv, but that's their opinion & they don't have to like it... more availability for me.

The op was not coming against anyone, just sharing their opinion.

I have stayed in all sections of SSR, and you did not carefully read my comment. If you are in the furthest rooms at BWV the walk to the food areas of the BW is further than say being in Springs or Grandstand to the main building at SSR. My point being at BWV you can have very long walks too. There are some long walks at SSR but not every room is that far from the main part of the resort.

And no I am not the least upset just giving a different perspective. I detest the pool at BWV, it is like being in the middle of a Stephen King horror movie to me, but never would I expect them to change it because I did not like it. That is really my point. I understand everyone will not like SSR, but I see no reason for that dislike to warrant a change to something many do like.

 

[rutgers1]

A few months ago, I used to spend a lot of time on the rumors board. That is a neat board when it is active. The activity tends to ebb and flow. There are a few people who post there who are VERY knowledgeable about the Disney corporation, particularly the history, especially as it pertains to Walt's vision for Disney World. A couple of the people tend to be very down on Disney, basically hating all things that were brought forth during the Michael Eisner reign. Their arguments tend to fall into the following categories:
1) They say that Disney is too focused on the bottom line, sacrificing Walt's vision for whatever will make a profit.
2) They say that the attention to detail (ranging from cleanliness, to upkeep, to cast member friendliness) has suffered since Eisner took over, and that continues today under Iger.
3) Basically, they say that Disney ain't what it used to be.

I read Disney War, and I will admit that I finished the book with mixed emotions about Mr. Eisner. But I have to say that this trip to Disney - my general dislike of SSR aside - only strengthened my belief that Disney is an incredible company and Disney World is like no other place on Earth. For every thing that we could have criticized, we found 20 things that we felt were truly magical. Here are just a few of the things that reaffirmed my belief in Disney over this trip:
1) I loved the Nemo show at Animal Kingdom. I sat there with my arms around my kids throughout the show, just enjoying every last minute. My enjoyment began outside of the theater as I took notice of the creative signs that led to the door. They didn't have to include those little "fun fact" signs, but not only did they include them, the signs were created with care, matching the theme of the show. Inside, my wife commented that they went way above and beyond with the stage, whereas a simple black stage would have sufficed. The kids loved the little fish tank-like bubbles that lined the sides of the stage, where an image of Nemo swam across every so often. Once again, they went above and beyond. The show was awesome, once again surpassing my expectations with the flying above stage, the singing, etc.
2) One of the things that some people complain about on the rumors board is the gift shops across Disney World. They say that they all have the same items, whereas there used to be incredible diversity in the stores at some time in the past. I didn't find that to be the case at all. I was continually amazed at how many of the shops fit different themes, ranging from the Disney sports store in Downtown Disney, to the Everest themed store in Animal Kingdom. Some items overlapped, but there was a HUGE variety of products being sold. On top of that, the stores were often themed themselves. For example, next to the Dinosaur ride in Animal Kingdom, the store had fossils and photos on the wall that gave you the feel that you were in some type of museum. At the toy store in Downtown Disney, toys moved along a conveyor belt on the ceiling, and gigantic versions of gameboard boxes adorned the outer parts of the ceiling. It was really cool.

3) I am a landscaping enthusiast, and the landscaping at Disney is absolutely incredible. There are small garden beds where I know they spent THOUSANDS of dollars for the initial planting, not to mention the larger ones. I know what it takes to maintain a garden, yet Disney maintains thousands of manicured acres.

4) Along the same lines, I love the brick, stone, and cement work all around Disney. I recently put in a paver patio on my own, and I know what it takes to do something like that. I also know how much cheaper it is to simply pour concrete. Yet Disney puts beautiful pavers in areas where they totally, totally could have gotten away with cement or blacktop. Even when they put down cement, they texturize it somehow. Last night, I noticed that the cement by the Grandstand pool is impregnated with beautiful shells and stones. Even the walkways at Animal Kingdom are made to fit the theme.

5) Cleanliness. People love to pick on that one. My father has been saying that the cleanliness has been going downhill since 1984. I am convinced he keeps saying that because he has some idealized vision of Disney that never existed. Yes, I saw the occasional wrapper on the ground, but I also saw people cleaning up like crazy. Every day, even if they are already clean, the crew at SSR uses a special machine to clean the cement hallways in the villas. Whenever I took a step back and watched the workers do their thing, I was amazed at the amount of work that was going on basically "behind the scenes." Once, while I was jogging around BWV, I noticed a crew of about 20 landscapers descend upon a garden area. Within minutes, it was restored to a pristine state. Last year, I watched as a crew ripped out a beautiful patch of flowers that were still in bloom and replaced them with an even more beautiful planting.

I really could go on and on. I have been here for 13 days, and I haven't had a single negative experience. I might not have been overly impressed by SSR, but my overall experience at Disney has been better than ever. I love this place.

My only areas for improvement are as follows:
1) I think they need more dining options.
2) I would like to see them improve SSR.
3) Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom each need about 5 more major rides to disperse visitors. I tend to agree with the argument that they are currently 1/2 day parks for many people. They both have the potential to be so much more.....and I believe they will be someday.

 

[Sammie]

Sammie....I hope I didn't offend you. If so, that wasn't my attention. I will be the first to admit that SSR is loved by many. In fact, I met a guy on the boat last night who had never stayed anywhere else and was very happy with SSR. I also will be the first to admit that the disboards does not necessarily represent the entirety of SSR owners. However, with that said, I think there are some trends worth noting. Among those is....
1) easy availability at SSR
2) the number of SSR people who are admittedly staying anywhere but SSR
3) the number of people I met at SSR this trip who were either unhappy or just "satisfied" compared to the number of people I met at BWV who were overjoyed with their stay

I can't say that I have absolute data proving my theories, but I'll stand by them. I never said that it didn't appeal to anyone, rather that the niche that the resort serves is smaller than the number of rooms that are available. To me, that is a problem. As for why I don't ask for things at the Boardwalk to be changed, I guess that is because of the following:
1) It is right next to 2 theme parks, which appears to be the biggest selling point to DVC owners.
2) It is smaller and, therefore, doesn't have to appeal to the number of people that SSR has to appeal to.....yet it actually appeals to more, in my opinion.

In the end, I just think that, if you are going to build a resort the size and scope of SSR, you have to hit a home run. I don't think that Disney hit a home run. It was a home run if the resort was a fraction of the size, but not at the current size.

-------------------------------------------​

Back to the trip report.....We closed out our Disney stay with a day at the main SSR pool (awesome) and dinner at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney (also awesome). The burgers, ribs and sweet potato fries are incredible. Highly recommended!

Perhaps one of the most noteworthy things about Downtown Disney to me is the sheer number of people there. Walking down the path there is like walking down Main Street USA at prime time. The place is CROWDED! Disney really has a great opportunity to capitalize on that traffic and create more entertainment options. I will really be disappointed if things are the status quo two years from now. It looks like this is an ideal time to fill some of the vacant buildings with exciting new entities.

Rutgers not offended in the least, just wanted to be clear especially since many people who read here are new to DVC and forums such as these. You reported your feelings and I shared mine. I never met anyone during our stay that was not thrilled with SSR. As to it being easier to get a reservation, that is only because SSR owners are trading out. But where are they trading to, might be other DVC; might not.

None of us have the percentage of occupancy for SSR versus other resorts. There might be more available rooms simply because like OKW there are more rooms. The percentage of occupany might be very similar.

And every time a SSR owner trades to another DVC resort that means for some reason an owner there did not book their home resort.

Thanks for the report and can't wait to see the photos, I just guess it seemed to me that in order for SSR to be likeable it had to be changed, and that I don't agree with. I will agree that all DVC resorts have room for improvement, none of them are without some type of minor flaw it just seems at times on this forum some thing think the flaws of SSR are major. I disagree.

I will say that during our stay which was the week of August the 9th, we had a problem with our unit and there was not a two bedroom available to move to until the weekend, they were booked. There was also not a lock out either. So SSR might be showing more availability at later dates than some smaller resorts but as long as their occupancy percentage is comparable to other resorts does it matter if the rooms were booked at 11 months, 7 months or later.


Carry on and thanks for the report.

 

[MissMet]

I have stayed in all sections of SSR, and you did not carefully read my comment. If you are in the furthest rooms at BWV the walk to the food areas of the BW is further than say being in Springs or Grandstand to the main building at SSR. My point being at BWV you can have very long walks too. There are so long walks at SSR but not every room is that far from the main part of the resort.

And no I am not the least upset just giving a different perspective. I detest the pool at BWV, it is like being in the middle of a Stephen King horror movie to me, but never would I expect them to change it.

I still don't agree when you take into account the stairs. If you are at the end of the hallway you have the stairs right there. On top of that, any time I've ever stayed at any DVC resort, I've requested "near the elevator" & have gotten it every time. My first experience at SSR was in the Springs building & still hated how spread out it was. But that's me.

BWV may have a bad pool to many, but it is almost always at full occupancy. I don't think SSR has ever or will ever be even close to full occupancy, so therefore the OP giving ideas on how Disney could improve SSR to make it more appealing to DVC members is totally correct.

SSR needs some help, yes there are some that do LOVE SSR, but there are far more DVC members who have it on the bottom of their list. Just looking back on how DVC had to discount SSR more than the rest just to sell off the rest. Also stop in any of the resale websites & see which is the resort that the majority of DVC members are selling.

 

[Jillpie]

A few months ago, I used to spend a lot of time on the rumors board. That is a neat board when it is active. The activity tends to ebb and flow. There are a few people who post there who are VERY knowledgeable about the Disney corporation, particularly the history, especially as it pertains to Walt's vision for Disney World. A couple of the people tend to be very down on Disney, basically hating all things that were brought forth during the Michael Eisner reign. Their arguments tend to fall into the following categories:
1) They say that Disney is too focused on the bottom line, sacrificing Walt's vision for whatever will make a profit.
2) They say that the attention to detail (ranging from cleanliness, to upkeep, to cast member friendliness) has suffered since Eisner took over, and that continues today under Iger.
3) Basically, they say that Disney ain't what it used to be.

I read Disney War, and I will admit that I finished the book with mixed emotions about Mr. Eisner. But I have to say that this trip to Disney - my general dislike of SSR aside - only strengthened my belief that Disney is an incredible company and Disney World is like no other place on Earth. For every thing that we could have criticized, we found 20 things that we felt were truly magical. Here are just a few of the things that reaffirmed my belief in Disney over this trip:
1) I loved the Nemo show at Animal Kingdom. I sat there with my arms around my kids throughout the show, just enjoying every last minute. My enjoyment began outside of the theater as I took notice of the creative signs that led to the door. They didn't have to include those little "fun fact" signs, but not only did they include them, the signs were created with care, matching the theme of the show. Inside, my wife commented that they went way above and beyond with the stage, whereas a simple black stage would have sufficed. The kids loved the little fish tank-like bubbles that lined the sides of the stage, where an image of Nemo swam across every so often. Once again, they went above and beyond. The show was awesome, once again surpassing my expectations with the flying above stage, the singing, etc.
2) One of the things that some people complain about on the rumors board is the gift shops across Disney World. They say that they all have the same items, whereas there used to be incredible diversity in the stores at some time in the past. I didn't find that to be the case at all. I was continually amazed at how many of the shops fit different themes, ranging from the Disney sports store in Downtown Disney, to the Everest themed store in Animal Kingdom. Some items overlapped, but there was a HUGE variety of products being sold. On top of that, the stores were often themed themselves. For example, next to the Dinosaur ride in Animal Kingdom, the store had fossils and photos on the wall that gave you the feel that you were in some type of museum. At the toy store in Downtown Disney, toys moved along a conveyor belt on the ceiling, and gigantic versions of gameboard boxes adorned the outer parts of the ceiling. It was really cool.

3) I am a landscaping enthusiast, and the landscaping at Disney is absolutely incredible. There are small garden beds where I know they spent THOUSANDS of dollars for the initial planting, not to mention the larger ones. I know what it takes to maintain a garden, yet Disney maintains thousands of manicured acres.

4) Along the same lines, I love the brick, stone, and cement work all around Disney. I recently put in a paver patio on my own, and I know what it takes to do something like that. I also know how much cheaper it is to simply pour concrete. Yet Disney puts beautiful pavers in areas where they totally, totally could have gotten away with cement or blacktop. Even when they put down cement, they texturize it somehow. Last night, I noticed that the cement by the Grandstand pool is impregnated with beautiful shells and stones. Even the walkways at Animal Kingdom are made to fit the theme.

5) Cleanliness. People love to pick on that one. My father has been saying that the cleanliness has been going downhill since 1984. I am convinced he keeps saying that because he has some idealized vision of Disney that never existed. Yes, I saw the occasional wrapper on the ground, but I also saw people cleaning up like crazy. Every day, even if they are already clean, the crew at SSR uses a special machine to clean the cement hallways in the villas. Whenever I took a step back and watched the workers do their thing, I was amazed at the amount of work that was going on basically "behind the scenes." Once, while I was jogging around BWV, I noticed a crew of about 20 landscapers descend upon a garden area. Within minutes, it was restored to a pristine state. Last year, I watched as a crew ripped out a beautiful patch of flowers that were still in bloom and replaced them with an even more beautiful planting.

I really could go on and on. I have been here for 13 days, and I haven't had a single negative experience. I might not have been overly impressed by SSR, but my overall experience at Disney has been better than ever. I love this place.

My only areas for improvement are as follows:
1) I think they need more dining options.
2) I would like to see them improve SSR.
3) Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom each need about 5 more major rides to disperse visitors. I tend to agree with the argument that they are currently 1/2 day parks for many people. They both have the potential to be so much more.....and I believe they will be someday.

Rutgers1, I have been a Diser since 2002, and I have to say that is probably the BEST, most thought out, sincere post I have ever read. I thank you for taking the time to think all that thru and so eloquently post it, well done! Those are all the things I love about Disney too.
And I completely agree with all of your comments about SSR. I've stayed there once, and never again. We got "stuck" out in Carousel, and I swear I felt like we were being punished, it was just awful and so very far away from everything. And we did not have a car. So your improvements sound excellent and the one that stuck out to me as super excellent was having the golf carts available to the guests! A big thumbs up.
An outstanding reflection on your time there, both good and bad.

 

[Doug7856]

rutgers1, thank you for a very enjoyable trip report. I've found your observations and suggestions interesting. I agree with some and not other, but that is probably what makes it interesting and enjoyable.

Our family loves SSR and our stay at BWV was good, but did not hold up to my expectations. You noted the food options, but that was an area of disappointment for us. The quick service options were very limited.

There is an entire "SSR lovers" thread and I don't see the need to defend the resort here, but I do have a few thoughts . . .

We personally like SSR the way it is and would not like to see major changes. However, I would like to see another "theme" pool like the Grandstand pool in the Paddock area, but that is more of a wish than a must have. I would change Artist Pallet and have a different check out for the merchandise. The current set up is too complicated and confusing. I think the food options are great otherwise. I would increase the number of buses serving the resort so that there would be more seats available once the bus reaches the Springs. Finally, I was underwhelmed by the Christmas decorations and would like to see a better holiday presence at the resort. I do like the idea of having golf carts available, but I'm not sure how the logistics would work.

I doubt significant changes will occur at SSR simply because the resort is nearly sold out (the addition of the THV opened a limited number of points recently). There is no incentive for Disney to make significant changes now.

I really like your list of things Disney does great and particularly agree with the landscaping and brick/stone/concrete work. There is a reason we "invest" our money and vacations in Walt Disney World. It is a magical place. Yes, there are frustrations and I think the criticisms come because we love the place so much and want to protect what we love.

 

[bz8bls]

We love SSR the way it is as well. However, we do remember when the property that is SSR sits on use to be the Disney Vacation Villas and we use to rent golf carts. I would love to have that option again but don't know if the infrastructure of SSR would make the option feasible (need electrical outlets). We actually use to drive our golf carts to the Marekt Place (there were electrical outlets available for charging the carts while you shopped).

I would think this would be a good option for those staying the treehouse villas.

This would be the only "improvement" I would want to see at SSR.

We are SSR owners and don't want to be within walking distance of a park. SSR provides the downtime environment that we need.

Lastly, the op mentioned the SPA was never at full capacity...I think the state of the economy may also contribute to that observation...people still may vacation, but will eliminate unncessary spending.

Anyway loved your TR.

 

[SLM]

Thank you for your great TR-you make some great points and I'm glad you're having such a great trip with your family. We just returned from a nine day trip with our daughter and her husband-it was one of our nicest trips-! We were sitting in the AK one morning drinking our frozen lemonades and one oif the ladies that cleans the walks started talking to us-were we having a good time? Did we see this show? We should see the Nemo show-it's fantastic, not just for kids, etc. We had so many instances like that. I told my husband no one at Hershey Park (here in PA) cares if we were having fun, the food is over priced, and the park isn't nearly as well kept. We haven't been there in years (so maybe that's changed!) but we could spend as much money there for a much lesser experience.
We spent our last two days at SSR-had a lovely villa on the water in the Springs area. My husband and I both said we could see ourselves spending 10days there (with a car) during the winter months when we retire. We'd cook more in the room and not go the parks often, but enjoy the resort. In fact, we picked out the Grandstand area!
Have a great time with the rest of your stay and look forward to your pictures!

 

[dizney4us]

We also love SSR and we love BWV. We wish BWV had counter service and SSR could use another AP (which is the best CS ever!) When we want hustle and bustle, we stay at BWV, went we want a more relaxing trip with some Disney but not ALL Disney we stay at SSR. And whoever wrote that SSR has Marriot furnishings...um, no....it's all Thomasville specifically designed for Disney alone. SSR is upscale and maybe is not a kids favorite, but I think that is why we like it. We love Disney, but after a long day we can get Disney'd out! That is when we appreciate the calm, relaxing yet upscale feel of SSR. We stayed at the Disney institute and disliked it, but we fell in love with SSR....to each his own!

 

[LindaBabe]

I've enjoyed your report, Thank you.

MISS the old Disney Institute! Their classes were fabulous and I looked forward to the day I could afford to take more of them. The day has come, but the DI is no more.

The real Saratoga Springs, 20 minutes from here, is vibrant and alive with tons of interesting shops and restaurants. Unfortunate that the DVC copy turned out to be more of a snoozer.

Thanks again for writing.

 

[photobob]

Wow, thanks so much for such an insightful trip report. One the bests I've read.

 

[Mahusky]

Agreed.... what a great trip report!!! We also just returned from a 2 week trip to WDW and VB and are simply in the Disney withdrawl depression. Reading this report picks up my spirits greatly. Hey and Im evn close to my 11 month bboking window!!!!

Currently thinking of a split stay between BWV and Kidani... only time will tell!!!

 

[rutgers1]

Thank you to everyone for reading the trip report!

We have been staying at the Hard Rock Hotel for the past two days, making frequent short walks over to Universal. Our flight home is in 9 hours, so I am savoring the last of this long and truly satisfying Florida vacation!

This was our first time at Universal, so I was excited to compare it to Disney. I had read a lot of posts on disboards about the pluses and minuses of Universal, and as you'd expect on a Disney board, the general consensus is that Disney is a much better vacation. I would agree with that, BUT I think there is a ton to like about Universal.

Thoughts about Universal:
1) Prior to visiting Universal, I was under the impression that the theming at the Universal parks was limited...and very poor compared to Disney. I didn't find that to be the case at all. Throughout much of the park, the theming is up to Disney standards. Some places better, some places worse, but overall it was in the ballpark. This is definitely not your generic theme park.

2) I tend to think that those who complain about the lack of theming aren't really commenting on a LACK of theming, rather they are commenting on a lack of theming that appeals to them. For example, if you like comic books, the comic book area is neat and well-themed, as is the Dr. Seuss area, not to mention the Jurassic Park section. However, many Disney fans have little connection to those themes, or at least they don't connect to them the way they do to Disney. But that doesn't mean that the theming is bad.

3) Universal's landscaping is very nice, but not up to Disney standards. I really fell in love with Disney landscaping during my past trips. Staying two weeks, I had more time than ever to enjoy the effort it takes to not only create the Disney garden beds, but to maintain them. Whenever someone talks about Disney cutting back and losing their magic touch, I always think about the landscaping. If they were going to skimp on something, you'd think that landscaping would be it, as it is a huge, unnecessary expense. Yet they don't skimp on it.

4) The parks were clean, but if you are the type of person who likes to point out chipped paint and scuff marks at Disney, you'll find a lot more of that at Universal.

5) Considering I am a huge Disney fan, went on my honeymoon there, and bought into the Disney Vacation Club, I obviously entered this trip somewhat hoping I could say that Disney's rides are MUCH better than Universal's. Although I enjoy a lot of Disney rides a great deal because I have such a longstanding connection to them, I have to admit that Universal outdid Disney on many things. Of course, Disney outdoes them in many things. But I guess my point is that Universal is for real and they have some exciting rides that any Disney fan would gladly welcome had those rides been created for Disney.

Case in point was Spider Man. I was told by a Universal employee that Spider Man was created by two people who were fired by Disney and hired by Universal. The person said that they simply took the idea from one company to another and themed it to Spider Man. For those who don't know the ride, you are in a car, following Spider Man as he fights crime. The genius of the ride is that you are wearing 3D glasses and EVERYTHING you pass comes to life. The car goes up, down, side to side, and spins, and you feel like you are totally, totally immersed in the action at all times. I almost liken it to a more exciting version of Soaring, as you get that same "you are there" feeling. Another ride that raises the bar VERY high is the Simpsons ride. Not only is the theming - from the exterior to the cueing area to the ride, awesome, but the ride itself is once again totally immersive. Other rides that any Disney fan would love to see on Disney property were Terminator and Disaster (would be a great addition to Hollywood Studios). Terminator mixed live action and a 3D movie.

6) Although there is enough to keep a young child (ages 5-8) happy for the day, the park is definitely geared for teens and adults. My 8 year old was afraid of most of the rides, but my 10 year old had a BLAST.

7) I think the main reason why Universal pales in comparison to Disney is that you can experience everything that you want to experience in a day or two, depending on how fast you tour. As we all know, you can stay on Disney property for weeks and still not get to every item on your itinerary. So, although Universal offers rides that many feel are better than some of the best Disney rides, you will have a better overall vacation on Disney property because there is more to see and do overall.

8) Another thing that works against Universal is the fact that our society is conditioned to fall in love with Disney. Part of it is Disney's marketing, but much of it is the love of Disney that one generation hands down to the next. Universal doesn't inspire that type of love. With Disney, that love often borders on obsession. It is tied into the fabric of America itself......I find it interesting that my two sons were DYING for Disney souvenirs, yet they didn't care much for the Universal gift shops. They spend hours watching Nickelodeon shows each week, yet they didn't flinch when they walked past Jimmy Neutron and Sponge Bob souvenirs. On the other hand, although we rarely if ever watch Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck cartoons, they have it in their heads that those characters are more "valuable" and that souvenirs from Disney shops are more desirable.

9) The Hard Rock Hotel is very nice. It has a great overall look, and the pool is absolutely gorgeous. My room was nice, but contrary to what I read online, it was no better than a top tier Disney hotel room. I liked the pool bar and restaurant a lot. Yet, as my wife and I said to one another several times, it wasn't Disney. I'm not sure what Disney is in that regard, but this hotel wasn't Disney. It just didn't have that magical feel to it. It was a nice hotel that was conveniently located (short walk to the park). We would go back in a minute, but I'd take a week at the Boardwalk over a week at the Hard Rock.

10) City Walk is really cool. I met a few friends there for drinks last night, and we had a great time. I didn't delve into it too much, but it was seemed pretty similar to Downtown Disney......with more bars and more overall drinking/partying.

11) Universal's version of FastPass (I think they call it "Express Pass" or something like that) is awesome. Basically, if you are staying at one of their hotels, you can just flash your room key and go to the front of the line. It is like having a FastPass for every ride. However, it is even better than a FastPass because you usually get on the ride within a few minutes, even on the most popular rides. It is worth it to stay at a Universal hotel just for that.....I will admit that, without having to wait on the crazy Disney lines, my trip to Universal was very stress-free and enjoyable. The lines at Disney really get to me after a while and, by the end of a trip, I often just go to the park early in the morning (before the mega crowds hit) to hit a few rides before heading back to my hotel. I didn't see a mid-day onslaught at Universal like I did at Disney. That was refreshing.

12) I don't think that Harry Potter land will live up to my - and other Harry Potter fans' - expectations. When I first heard about it, I was imagining it would be an entire section of a park, perhaps as big as a section of Magic Kingdom (for example, Tomorrowland). However, from what I could gather today, it is going to be rather small. I thought that the Hogwarts Castle would be bigger than Cinderella's castle and have the same type of visibility in the park, but it doesn't appear that will be the case. I am sure that it will be great, but not quite what I was building it up to be.

13) In the end, I am glad that Universal is there. I think that the presence of Universal adds some healthy competition to the mix and forces Disney to up its game. It also gives all of us another fun option when in Orlando for an extended vacation. This definitely won't be my last stay at the Hard Rock.

Well, that's it from my awesome 2+ week trip to Florida. I will post some photos next week. I would like to thank you all again for reading, and I look forward to your comments on this last post.

 

[tink too]

Great report - thank you for taking the time out of your vacation to post your thoughts on WDW and Universal.

We are quite recent SSR owners, so we have only stayed there once. I was a bit unsure if we'd like it after reading all the reviews, but honestly, we loved it! I do agree that another dining option would be a great addition the the resort though.

Now, we haven't stayed at any other DVC resort (yet) so we have nothing to compare it to, so our feelings may change a bit over time.

I am glad you enjoyed your stay at HRH at Universal. I am thinking of adding a night or two there during our next trip. We always visit USF when we are in Orlando, but as yet, we've never stayed on-site.

Looking forward to seeing your pics.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I enjoy these boards just for posts like yours. You've expressed you likes and dislikes and your experiences over the span of your vacation. While I agree and disagree w/ some of your opinions and perceptions, they are yours and I enjoyed reading about your whole experience. It's not about bashing one resort over another, I'm an OKW fan from the beginning and though I've enjoyed all of the Disney resorts, it remains my favorite, even if other DVC'rs don't get it. My son and his entourage prefer the Boardwalk area, I prefer OKW, some prefer SSR, that's why DVC works so well, we have all of these altenatives to choose from. Just like Universal, I love Universal, it's not Disney so I don't compare it to Disney, I judge it on it's own merits, just as I don't compare SSR/OKW to BWV/WLV. I personally really dislike the food court atmosphere, I won't step foot in Mara, so would I like to see a Mara at OKW/SSR, no it would ruin the whole vibe of the resort for me but I understand that for some it would make the whole experience. I don't think SSR/OKW need to be changed, people just need to stay at the resort that affords them the most features they want.

As a family we frequent 3 resorts, OKW, I love leaving the parks behind and entering the tropics of Key West, for Star Wars week-end it's BWV (convenient), and AKV (now that Kidani is open) every now and again, I just love the animals. Different strokes for different folks!

Thanks again!