We are going to Disney Spring Break!!! - but will I like SSR?

[WDWorld2003]

I found good flights for my daughter and myself for Spring Break... she will miss a day of school but we will have some time together. She was invited to Hawaii but that didn't work out... we thought maybe Chicago but that would cost as much as Disney World after hotel, cabs, etc. and we need warm and sunny! We will miss the rest of our family - first trip without my DH and other DD.

I do have a 2 bedroom reservation at the BWV which I will be cancelling if I cannot rent as we cannot use all of these points for us and it's not the right days. I am going to try and rent some points out to pay for this last minute trip.

Anyway, to get to the main point... the only thing available is a studio at SSR. We've only stayed at BWV (our home resort which we love) and POR. I'm concerned as we will not have a car. Has anyone stayed here without a car and not felt stranded? Also, I'm thinking of taking one of her friends and wondered if we would feel too crowded in the studio? I really don't want to use the extra points for 1 bedroom.

Also, what is their Community Hall like? Trying to find things to do for teens as we will only spend a few days in the park and will probably hang out at the resort and Downtown Disney.

Any thoughts on SSR would be appreciated. We are so thrilled to be going!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I found good flights for my daughter and myself for Spring Break... she will miss a day of school but we will have some time together. She was invited to Hawaii but that didn't work out... we thought maybe Chicago but that would cost as much as Disney World after hotel, cabs, etc. and we need warm and sunny! We will miss the rest of our family - first trip without my DH and other DD.

I do have a 2 bedroom reservation at the BWV which I will be cancelling if I cannot rent as we cannot use all of these points for us and it's not the right days. I am going to try and rent some points out to pay for this last minute trip.

Anyway, to get to the main point... the only thing available is a studio at SSR. We've only stayed at BWV (our home resort which we love) and POR. I'm concerned as we will not have a car. Has anyone stayed here without a car and not felt stranded? Also, I'm thinking of taking one of her friends and wondered if we would feel too crowded in the studio? I really don't want to use the extra points for 1 bedroom.

Also, what is their Community Hall like? Trying to find things to do for teens as we will only spend a few days in the park and will probably hang out at the resort and Downtown Disney.

Any thoughts on SSR would be appreciated. We are so thrilled to be going!

I can't answer the part about the community hall, but DTD is so close, I would almost consider THAT to be the community hall!

You will be fine. We stayed in an SSR studio a year ago with just two of us, and thought it was nice enough. We didn't care for the door situation between the dressing area and the bathroom, but coming from BWV, you will be used to that, since it is the same layout. We thought the room was VERY well appointed, and also very quiet. OOPS! I just noticed you are talking about having 3 instead of two. As long as two of the three can sleep in the same bed, no problems except for the constant pulling out of the hide-a-bed.

I know there have been negetive comments on bus service on these boards, but we didn't find it to be so awful. It certainly wasn't as good as it is at OKW, but SSR is new, and not full all the time, so I'm sure it will only improve.

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks Diane.... not sure if I can survive a week with 2 teens in a studio but there's always the balcony. How are the walking distances at SSR? That's one of my main concerns. I don't mind walking but I've read 1/2 mile from one end to the other (Although some of those halls at BWV seem like they're a half mile!)

We really are excited to be taking this last minute trip - I may waitlist at another resort, too.

This for me is one of the great things I just discovered about DVC - I was able to book a room last minute (I know that's not always the case). I checked and the least I could get a room for at POR was $167 with AAA. Also, I feel comfortable and fairly safe there with just my daughter as I know my way around.

 

[OKWJan]

I think you will like SSR. We stayed there over New Years, and found we really liked it. OKW is our home, BCV, our second favorite, but we like SSR better than BWV and WL. It is an easy and nice walk to DD, and the quiet pools are close and very nice. Buses were great the few times I used them.

Jan

 

[LIFERBABE]

Congratulations on scoring the last minute ressie!

The most positive thing about SSR construction is that the resort is never booked to capacity because the capacity is increasing daily. When the Construction is finished and all inventory is available at 11 months, busy times like Spring Break will be difficult to get anywhere.

We really enjoy SSR. The Community Hall is great and the staff is wonderful! We spent a week at SSR over NYE week and we spent alot of time at CH. There was always an activity scheduled or a pool party or something!

We made wooden tops, decorated a really cute canvas backback, Playstation 2, computer games (no internet access), checked out equipment for shuffle board, and pool floaties. The CH is located right next to the main pool and there is a refillable mug self serve station at the main pool bar so that area is very convenient for a lot of activities.

Also at SSR, we rode the carriage ride around the resort, attended the NYE pool party, worked out in the awesome gym and spa.

Walked to DTD to visit Goofy's, the $10 shop, Disney Quest, Ghiardellis, Guest Services and Bongo's and Virgin Megastore my kids loved with all the books and music and movies. Dont forget, there's AMC movie plex there too.

We had our van, but the only time we used it, was for a grocery run and Chef Mickey's on a non park day. Other times we used the busses because it was the holidays and the roads could get pretty congested, and driving to DTD and finding a parking spot can be a huge pain!

The walk from Congress Park to DTD is a really nice walk, very pretty (I actually stopped and smelled the pink roses on the golf course path )


We will most likely choose to stay at SSR more when the boys get older because of all the non park activities in the area that dont require them to be 21 to participate in.

 

[Princess Tess]

I stayed at SSR last April and loved it! A girlfriend and myself went for a long weekend. It's not too small if you don't mind sleeping 2 in a pullout, personally I would prefer a 1 bedroom (especially for the extra bathroom) but everybody has their individual comfort zones. We were way in the back which worked out great for walking to DD but it was a good 10 minute walk to the front. I have to say I loved the atmosphere of the resort. We own at VWL and as beautiful as it is, it's just not my favorite style. SSR doesn't have a full restaurant but you are so close to DD that it doesn't even matter. The grilled pizza in their cafe was delicious!
We went to the Spa one day which was heaven! That was a big splurge for us tho'.
One of my favorite things was the DVC office. The walls were wainscoted with fabric panel inserts in them...gorgeous. For anyone that gets into decor and architecture their office is a must see!
Good luck!
PT

 

[Beca]

Just a thought....since all 2 bedrooms at the BWV are "lock-offs", have you thought of renting part of the room, and keeping the other part for you? I would think a studio, or 1 bdrm would be easier to rent than a 2 bdrm...and, you'd get to stay in your first choice of a location!!

Oh...I just re-read and saw it is not the right days....hmmm...is there any way you could make this ressie work for you?




Beca

 

[byoung]

Glad you got the late booking. Above all else you will be at DISNEYWORLD. Have a great trip.