Warning about walk from Cirque Parking to SSR Path

[CRSNDSNY]

At night it is very dark and poorly lit once you get out of the Cirque parking lot on the West Side of DTD and make your way onto the SSR path leading you to the boat launch and golf club house section. A lot of shrubbery and a little spooky.

We didn't have any incidents or anything, but be careful.

 

[Pa@okw95]

It is not the place to walk at night. You are better off walking the other way through PI and DD then to go that way at night.

 

[wdwstar]

we were at MH and on thursday, the day of our picnic, dsis and i drove to SSR to buy an add on , the guard at the shack at SSR wouldnt let us in , even when i told him i was buying an add on and it was still the founders deay picnic, he said fine park by Cirque and walk back to SSR.

i told him that i was not doing that and i was calling my guide.
the guard didnt care what so ever...

 

[DisneyPhD]

We wanted to see SSR before leaving Orlando after our VB resort, we had around 30 min or so before we should head out tot the airport so we also drove over to SSR (this was May 7th)

Gaurd at the gate told us the same thing. We told him by time we got back there, parked the car and got back over we would be late for the airport. He didn't care in the least bit and didn't let us in either. It seems like a strange set up. Cirque parking is all the way on the other end of DTD west side, and SSR the far end of DTD shopping. Is there some kind of short cut? I know the boat lauch is still near RFC and that seems closer.

 

[SimbaCub]

After reading the post I rembered my little drive over to SSR. . . I was visiting the resort with some friends of mine who had a room there and I was in the car behind them. I had my BCV parking permit in the window but the guard demanded a photo ID and wanted to know my specific reason for driving into SSR and who I was visiting right down to their room number. I told the guard they were in the car ahead of me and they told me they were going to tell the guard I was with them but he didn't care. That's not very "welcoming" when you go to someone's room as their guest. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. I do realize parking is at a premium due to the layout of the resort and the construction right now but do they have to act this way?

How else are we supposed to be able to access SSR if we are visiting guests there and in our own vehicle? Or if we want to eat at the restaurant or visit the spa? If they want members to park and take a bus/boat then DVC needs to put out information informing us of an official policy, even if only temporary until more room is available for parking at SSR.

As for walking the route described above, is it as "rural" looking as parts of the walk from BWV to MGM? I'm not sure I would like to walk along the path alone after dark or near dark for that matter.

SimbaCub

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
It is not the place to walk at night. You are better off walking the other way through PI and DD then to go that way at night.

Can you please explain this? What 'other' way? I thought there was only one path right now?


BTW -- to answer Simbacub's question, I've now done both after dark and I think the DTD/SSR walk is scarier. Everything seems much more narrow and 'rural.'

 

[DaveH]

Here are my guesses why the guard said no way. It is folks who are trying to avoid paying Disney for paking and parking at SSR and using the busses to the park. This is one of the things I have been wondering aboujt. Is how to let the folks actually staying at SSR be able to enjoy the services and such without being over run by others just trying to get over. Disney did stop running busses to and from the parks to DTD for this reason. Alot of folks would park at DTD and then take the busses to the parks to save money. That would be a good excuse is I am buying points today, let me in. I am assuming your guide should be able to do something to get you in.

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by CRSNDSNY
At night it is very dark and poorly lit once you get out of the Cirque parking lot on the West Side of DTD and make your way onto the SSR path leading you to the boat launch and golf club house section. A lot of shrubbery and a little spooky.

We didn't have any incidents or anything, but be careful.

Did you share your observations with the front desk CMs or any other CM at SSR? This is the type of feedback CMs need to hear to make improvements,changes, etc.

Years ago I had several issues during a stay at the then Dixie Landings. I had a very pleasant conversation with a resort manager who listened attentively. He let me know that many of my comments were shared by other guests. I did observe some changes on a later visit & with the opening of new resorts. Incidentally one of the issues was with lighting on pathways & marked directions on pathways.

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by wdwstar
we were at MH and on thursday, the day of our picnic, dsis and i drove to SSR to buy an add on , the guard at the shack at SSR wouldnt let us in , even when i told him i was buying an add on ...

Last Wednesday when I was discussing transportation options with a DVC CM , she specifically said we should park behind Cirque, not at SSR. I didn't even know there was parking there . I would imagine parking was limited at SSR itself on Thursday. Hopefully your guide was able to hlep you add-on. We ended up taking the first boat from OKW to SSR & to get back we took a DD bus.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by DisneyPhD
We wanted to see SSR before leaving Orlando after our VB resort, we had around 30 min or so before we should head out tot the airport so we also drove over to SSR (this was May 7th)

Gaurd at the gate told us the same thing. We told him by time we got back there, parked the car and got back over we would be late for the airport. He didn't care in the least bit and didn't let us in either. It seems like a strange set up. Cirque parking is all the way on the other end of DTD west side, and SSR the far end of DTD shopping. Is there some kind of short cut? I know the boat lauch is still near RFC and that seems closer.

If you park at the far end of the Cirque lot, you would be literally less than a 200 yard walk from the DVC Preview Center. That lot extends all the way up to the practice green for the golf course. The bridge is right there and you can see the tennis courts and Preview Center from the same spot.

The SSR boat dock is located next to the golf cart bridge (directly across the canal from the practice green and Cirque lot).

The problem with visitors for the Preview Center is that there is not enough parking available. They do have parking for the golf course and for the Spa (and, of course, for SSR guests), but apparently don't want guest, golf or Spa parking taken by those wanting to see the models. Thus, the Cirque lot is the solution they've chosen. The fleet of blue DVC vans is maintained nearby for those on-site guests who have made reservations for the DVC tour.

Too bad they haven't prepared a simple map for the SSR security guards to offer to anyone wanting to visit. That would simplify the process and clearly show the location of the access they want people to use.

Once the walkway opens, the walk from SSR to DD will be shorter, but if you want to park at DD and walk to SSR, the shortest plan is to use the Cirque lot at the west end of DD.

Enjoy!

 

[jctwizzer]

I find that described access/guard problems contrary to our experience during the same period...we were in and out three times during those time periods with no problems...said we were going in for tours....we did not try on the Wednesday of the homecoming festivities because we knew it would be a mob scene. During our tours, we were told the walkway to DD was not open yet so we didn't try it.

 

[WDWguru]

We stopped by Saturday on our way to the airport to our SSR as well. We still had our BWV parking pass in the window and DH had his DVC polo on. We told the guard we were DVC members and wanted to tour the new resort. He checked our ID and -- for some weird reason -- asked for our on-site property key (again, our parking pass was in the window under his nose). He wrote down DH's name and let us through.

 

[Sammie]

I would agree that this procedure at the Guard shack is to prevent people from parking there and walking to Pleasure Island or Downtown Disney. Parking at DD and PI can be horrible at times. Also I am sure it has to do with the safety issue for the guests of SSR, which I appreciate.

Sadly those with legitimate reason to be there are hurt by those that are not and use that excuse to get in. We all know that many love to share how to get around the policies. I am sure many would say I am there to visit someone, add on, etc. and not be the true reason.

Of the areas of WDW, DD and PI have had more than their share of safety issues and possibly Disney does not want that to overflow into SSR.

 

[RoutemanDan]

They wouldn't allow us in on the 27th until after 2pm because of the party.We returned the next day and were let in without a problem.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Originally posted by WDWguru
We stopped by Saturday on our way to the airport to our SSR as well. We still had our BWV parking pass in the window and DH had his DVC polo on. We told the guard we were DVC members and wanted to tour the new resort. He checked our ID and -- for some weird reason -- asked for our on-site property key (again, our parking pass was in the window under his nose). He wrote down DH's name and let us through.

Hubby also had DVC shirt on, we had a parking pass (to VB) in the window and had our DVC and room key cards, no luck no exceptions (of course the resort was not offically open, just previews at this time.) We were disapointed and felt it wasn't very "welcome home" at all. We could clearly prove we weren't looking for free parking. They did allow handicap parking, but being 6 months pregnant wasn't good enough for the gaurd either. (men!, a women would of let us in.) I have never had a problem visiting a resort before, we want to see it before we stay here.

Thanks for the discribtion WebmasterDoc, I am still having a hard time pictureing it. There is a bridge across the water conecting West side of DTD with SSR? I guess I will have to wait until March 2005, our next trip.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by DisneyPhD
Thanks for the discribtion WebmasterDoc, I am still having a hard time pictureing it. There is a bridge across the water conecting West side of DTD with SSR? I guess I will have to wait until March 2005, our next trip.

The bridge is right by the boat launch which connects over to a portion of the golf course. After crossing the bridge, you are led by path through the golf course to the parking lot of Cirque. The path continues around the perimeter of the parking lot. A majority of the path you are walking on is considered the golf cart path.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Simba Cub: Actually, there's plenty of parking by the Congress Park buildings. The lots for two buildings are complete and accessable, even though only one is open. They must be restricting access for other reasons - I agree with DaveH.

RoutemanDan: Guests at SSR were informed that traffic would be restricted between 12 and 2 on 5/27, due to the Founder's Day Parade.

In general, as someone staying at SSR, I'm glad that they're being a little cautious about access. I really don't want our home resort to become the Downtown Disney Annex Lot. I do think that there should be a way for those with legitimate business to get in - and buying an add-in is something that every DVCer understands! ::grin::

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by DisneyPhD

Thanks for the discribtion WebmasterDoc, I am still having a hard time pictureing it. There is a bridge across the water conecting West side of DTD with SSR? I guess I will have to wait until March 2005, our next trip.

The only bridge over the canal in that area is the golf cart bridge from the LBV Clubhouse (at SSR). That bridge is about 50 yards from the Cirque/West Side parking lot. (...but it's still about 400 yards to Cirque from the parking lot!)

The other walkway (not yet fully open) will access the sidewalk along Buena Vista Drive right near the bus entry to the first DD bus stop. There is also a bus that goes to/from DD.

Enjoy!