Wait list fail, staying at SSR. Couple questions

[Iggipolka]

I booked SSR and attempted to get BWV or BCV by waitlisting. I knew it was a long shot, but I had hopes. Ahh well.
So, now I'm facing my 1st stay at SSR and I'm trying to be positive about it. SSR has never appealed to me, too big, no shade, bad bus service the time I was there for a spa treatment and no real "Disney" feel.
However, this is a solo trip and I'm going more for R&R than intense WDW experience. I'm hoping that once I get there, I'll like SSR better than the times I've just visited.

Couple questions, on average, how long of a bus ride is it to the 4 parks from SSR?
Any unique activities or things I shouldn't miss at SSR?

Anyone else had a negative opinion about SSR that was turned around by a good stay?
Heck, it's Disney..can't be that bad!

 

[ACDSNY]

Personally I really enjoy the peace and quiet of SSR it's one of my favorite resorts. I've never timed the bus rides, but we've had better luck with our bus rides at SSR than when we've stayed at Yatch Club or BWV.

 

[jrsmom]

SSR is our home resort we like the grandstand section. We were very close to both the bus stop and the pool. The grandstand is the first bust stop on the way out and the way in, we never had a problem with the bus service. It was a quick 5 minute walk to the hospitality house and dining and main pool. We enjoyed the pool at the grandstand area, it had a beverage station and was pretty quiet.

 

[dopeygirl76]

SSR is our home also and the first DVC we stayed at. We loved the resort - the quietness, the quiet pool was amazing for winding down after a day in the parks. LOVED the quick service flat breads etc. I will say bus service was our biggest complaint. 20-25 minutes to MK would be my estimate - I can say we rarely waited more that 15 minutes for a bus. It was the rides that seemed LONG!!

Since then we have stayed at VWL - with HORRIBLE bus service. BCV where the resort loop - IMHO - is much worse than the internal circle of SSR, and OKW which is comparable to SSR. We also have rented a car and thought we had struck gold in it is only about 8 minutes from SSR to MK - however you have to park at T&TC then monorail or boat to MK so the trips are a wash as far as time.

Honestly having done both and been a big complainer to bus transpotation- I have found that the problem was more with me and my expectations. If you look at it as an air-conditioned break, it goes much better. And knowing that truly it takes about 20-25 minutes to get into a park once you are in transportation it will be better.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Congress Park is a great place to stay if you like to walk back and forth from Downtown Disney. The quiet pool there is awesome and has a great view of DTD.

Last few times we have stayed at SSR the bus service was great. I find the actual ride shorter than when we stayed at BWV.

Turf Club is a great place to eat. Artist's Palette has great quick service food.

Hopefully you will enjoy it. We always have.

 

[jekjones1558]

We did a last minute trip and stayed at SSR. I wasn't sure how I would like it. Something about those concrete hallways just puts me off. But we had a great room in the Springs overlooking the pond. It was close to the pool, food, etc. We liked the convenience of being able to park close to our room. I liked the bathroom better than BWV where we usually stay. While I still prefer BWV, I certainly did like SSR and am glad that I now know it is a viable option for future stays. Enjoy your trip!

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Treat yourself to a spa treatment...massages are lovely. Enjoy a good book at the quiet pool in the morning as SSR wakes up...listen to the wild life and watch the birds and bunnies. (If coffee is a requirement, don't forget to pack it and a filter ) Take a walk or the boat over to DTD and enjoy an adult beverage at the Irish bar -- Or spend time in the Turf Club.
Re: buses -- I have to say that we don't mind the trips...on the way out we play bus roulette...whatever shows up first (with the exception of the Water Parks), we get on and go. Leaving from the parks, I find the rides home to be a time to "transition" from park excitement to "going home."
SSR is a great resort...it has its Disney aspects, it just doesn't hit you over the head with them. If you are doing a solo trip for R&R you did better to land here then at the Epcot resorts IMHO.
Enjoy!

 

[cvjw]

While SSR is our least favorite of all WDW DVC resorts (we have stayed at all except OKW), it wasn't as bad as we were expecting. We thought the bus service was outstanding. We were in the Congress Park section, and could walk to the food court and main pool. Our boys loved the pool and the CM's who ran the pool games did a great job every day. We were mostly disappointed in the rooms - they seemed small and very outdated - and the resort is relatively new. We would stay there again - it would just never be our first choice.

 

[tomandrobin]

We have stayed at all the resorts, except OKW. Overall, we find the bus service the most reliable at SSR. Artist Pallet is one of the best quick service restaurants in Disney. The "size" is not as bad as it is perceived and getting around is fairly easy. The only exception to that is the Carousel section.

 

[lisaviolet]

When are you leaving?

You know about the under seven days free for all, right? Where no one has a WL and that anything could come in at any moment and you can call whenever you want. If you call one minute and nothing is there for you - it could still pop in the system a minute later. You just never know. So don't give up with a no. Seven days of fun. (Do not mention your waitlist to them - its not relevant - no one has priority - just call for availability)

Just mentioning it b/c I've snagged some great finds in that last minute time period - AKV Savannah when it was just Jambo and not a lot of imventory, BCV, BWV Standard twice, VB OVIR, SSR during a sold out period (early December) - it's surprising how many DVCers cancel at the last moment. And although you can phone whenever you want - 90% of my finds were with the first phone call.

 

[Greyhound22]

My bet is you'll really enjoy your stay. It may not be your favorite. But, like you said it is Disney. Our first stay was at SSR and it was wonderful. Quiet, big and spacious, very spread out (so you don't feel like you are in a hotel). We stayed at the Grandstand and loved the location. Right on the golf course, close to the lobby area (but you wouldn't know it), first on and off of the buses, your own pool area. I would really recommend that area for sure. A ferry to DTD. I kind of went in with a bad attitude also and like I said -- it wouldn't be my first choice. It was a very enjoyable stay.

 

[delmar411]

we really enjoy SSR. It's very quiet, nothing is too far of a walk from your room.

We stay in the Grandstand section since it's got it's own pool w/ a splash play area for the kids plus a pool bar and refill station. It's also the first bus stop (coming and going) and if you've just missed the bus you can beat it to the Springs stop.

It's also very close to the main house with the feature pool and restaurants/shops, plus a quick walk to the boat dock.

I prefer the condo style setup over the hotel style setup though.

 

[katejay]

lisaviolet When are you leaving?

You know about the under seven days free for all, right? Where no one has a WL and that anything could come in at any moment and you can call whenever you want. If you call one minute and nothing is there for you - it could still pop in the system a minute later. You just never know. So don't give up with a no. Seven days of fun. (Do not mention your waitlist to them - its not relevant - no one has priority - just call for availability)

Just mentioning it b/c I've snagged some great finds in that last minute time period - AKV Savannah when it was just Jambo and not a lot of imventory, BCV, BWV Standard twice, VB OVIR, SSR during a sold out period (early December) - it's surprising how many DVCers cancel at the last moment. And although you can phone whenever you want - 90% of my finds were with the first phone call.


Could I still do this if I have all redy done on-line check in and check in is tommorrow? TIA

 

[lisaviolet]

Could I still do this if I have all redy done on-line check in and check in is tommorrow? TIA

Checking in tomorrow is NOT a factor/problem. As for the already having completed the online check-in - I'm sure MS could figure that out for you - I would think it would just be a call to the back office (real front desk) of whatever resort you are checked into at this point. I would call for availability only at frist and go from there. Sometimes during this period the CMs put you on hold. This a great thing! Usually they are checking something right at the front desk of a given resort - there must be something on the screen that alerts them that they might have open points/rooms but it's not in MS inventory/screen.

Are you less or more points (or the same) for the possible switch? Just asking because less would mean some points in a holding account if a few are left over.

Regardless, have a wonderful vacation.

 

[LSchrow]

SSR and OKW do get a bad rap just b/c they are too big sometimes.....i always wondered if they were smaller more people would love them simply because smaller means they would be harder to get into, and more exclusive
we really enjoyed our stay at SSR. we found the bus service excellent (one of the best), and loved the quiet walks around the resort, and to DTD (we saw an eagle, and lots of small wildlife). just looking out off your balcony or the cool corridors gives one such a feeling of tranquility - all the stresses of real life seem to melt away.
SSR has sooooo many places to sit back and enjoy the less hectic side of WDW, without the constant "people noise" (conversations, crying, yelling ), and visual overload (huge movie icons, overly bright colors, etc) of many other resorts.

it feels like more of a spa resort....very laid back, quiet, a place for relaxing in beautifully serene surroundings.
turf club is a great hidden dining treasure also

go in expecting a great place for real rest and relaxation, and i doubt you will be disappointed

 

[mom2rb]

I love strolling the grounds at SSR. It is so peaceful. I think you are going to like it.

 

[mello]

For a R&R trip, SSR cannot be beat! Take a walk around the grounds, it's beautiful, quiet and relaxing, and there's lots of wildlife to see. Take a boat over to DTD (or walk there), to enjoy lots of good dining choices and get some action if that's what you'd like. It's also fun to take a boat over to Olivia's at OKW for dinner. Artist's Palette is imho one of the best counter services places in all of WDW (next to Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD). The pools are some of the nicest on property. And be sure to take advantage of the spa.

Believe it or not, we actually choose to stay there because we love how relaxing it is!

As for the bus rides, we actually find them shorter than lots of the other resorts. (That loop around BCV, Swan, Dolphin and BWV, for example is soooooo laborious - not bashing, I love BCV, just sayin...) And there's the added bonus that it's easier to get from SSR to any of the other resorts for dinner reservations - just go by way of DTD.

Unless a person is absolutely adamant that only high-rise hotel-style accommocations will do, then I suspect most people would be pleasantly surprised by SSR.

 

[smjj]

SSR we found to be OK but just not to our liking. It is very larger and the food court is way, way to small for the amount of people staying there. We stayed in the Congress Park area and that was nice to look out on DTD and walk there but as I mentioned, it is just not for us...smjj

 

[Candy Orlando]

Walt Disney loved horses. He was a great polo player. Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa is a reflection of him. He would be proud of it. The theme is perfectly elegant. Of all the Vacation Club Resorts, it is equal to the Grand Floridian because of it's chosen theme and decor.

 

[Princess&CowboyMommy]

I can understand your hesitation, as when we were first looking at DVC in 2006, it was the only resort available to us for points. I honestly had NO desire to buy into that resort based on what we had seen of it in person as the Disney Institute on our honeymoon in early 2000.

We even were told, over the phone when I was making Dec. 2006 reservations that if we joined SSR, we could immediately use our points at SSR for that trip. I wanted nothing to do with it, so we paid out of pocket and stayed at OKW for a week. We loved OKW so much that we decided to go ahead and take the in-person SSR DVC tour, even knowing that SSR was the only one available at that point. Turns out, we really liked the rooms/resort (albeit, my hubby more than me - he LOVED it), so we bought into the resort.

We've stayed there a few times since buying into DVC and have never been disappointed. I wouldn't say it's my favorite - I'm a WLV girl, but I definitely like it. And we would have probably stayed there on our upcoming trip on the middle portion had it not been for it being the holidays/Christmas (and I didn't want to have to deal with transportation to 2 of the 4 parks then). Plus, they are building a huge new themed pool with slide that won't be finished until 2011, so we are looking forward to staying there in 2011 to try it. We like to rotate resorts, so this worked best for us.

But, I will tell you that my hubby LOVES SSR. It's probably his 2nd favorite, tied with OKW. I think it's because he feels more relaxed there and he also says it has one of the best pools for kids.

hope you have a fabulous trip!!