What secrets should we know?

[djmeen]

Howdy!

Well, it's finally here - our first trip home to SSR since we joined last November, and the wife and kids' first trips to Disney World.

SO....

I was hoping all you experienced folks wouldn't mind revealing your top tips and secrets about staying at SSR, getting around to the parks, and things we really should do and try.

Our boys are 5 yrs. old and 6 months - we're planning to go to Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom and maybe MGM.

Top questions
What happens at check-in? What do we need to show them? Will we have to pay for anything for the room?

Do they have TP in the rooms and will they bring you more if you need it?

How can we get groceries to the room? What kind of selections of groceries do they have on site? How much would a cab run to the nearest grocery store?

What's the latest on the restaurant at SSR? Anyone have a favorite dish?

What other things are there to do at SSR?



Any help you can provide would be appreciated SO MUCH!!!

We're excited about this first trip home. We leave on Saturday and are counting down the days.

THANKS EVERYONE!

 

[Nikki_Mouse]

SSR is a wonderful- but very large- resort! Yes toilet paper is included. I am assuming you will have a stroller- try to a get a room on the ground floor. I was there in June with a stroller and did not see an elevator. I am sure they have them, but our room was in the front of the building. Being on ground floor made it easy for me.
If planning to go to DTD take the boat. It is found behind the resort, just look for signs for the restaurant (cannot remember the name) it is behind there by the golf course. We had a wonderful boat ride- I would advise you to enjoy the short walk to/from DTD instead of the bus! It was an awful experience- it took about 45 minutes and we were the only two on the bus! It makes many stops before heading back to SSR. There are three or four bus stops within the resort and they all look alike- make sure you know which one to get off- if not, you will have a long walk.
We were pleased with bus times to all of the parks! Quick and efficient. Have a great time!

 

[WOW]

Awwwww......the first trip is magnificent!!!! Ours was in 1985 and we remember it well. Bought into DVC (OKW) in 1994.....we were and still are definately hooked!!!!!!!

I would recommend that you take everything nice and slow and enjoy every moment. Remember now that you have DVC there will be sooo many more visits to see everything!!! I think every one of us have our little secrets, and you will find yours out along the way. They are just personal things, like exactly how the busses run, when to walk and when to take a boat or a bus. Haven't stayed at SSR but have visited and it really is a beautiful resort.

As far as groceries, we use Mears towncar and always do a grocery stop on the way to WDW.....then we fill in at the resort as needed. We do not cook, just snacks, drinks, cereal, etc. We don't do breakfast as it takes up too much time, so we have our cereal or whatever in our villa. Also there is no need to take way to many clothes as you have the washer and dryer....that is a big help. We don't do dinner reservations, as we find that if you eat a bit earlier than usual you can almost always get in to your restaurant. We don't like to get tied into planning your day around dinner.

Hope that you have a wonderful and magical trip.

 

[DVCconvert]

What happens at check-in? What do we need to show them? Will we have to pay for anything for the room?

Pretty much check in just like anywhere. No 'hidden' fees to pay. You can buy your themepark tickets at check in if you like - or put cash on your account - you'll be asked if you want charging ability onto your room key(s) if so they'll need a credit card (or cash).



Do they have TP in the rooms and will they bring you more if you need it?

Never fear and yes...if you run out they'll bring you more (remember to tip)

How can we get groceries to the room? What kind of selections of groceries do they have on site? How much would a cab run to the nearest grocery store?

Go to the members website, there you can download an order form which gives you a good idea of what's avalible in the on site store. I'd consider the selection quite limited, but I tend to cook quite often in our room. The nearest store is Goodlings at the crossroads mall - they are expensive, just up the road a short distance is a Winn Dixie with much better prices. I would guess taxi fare (not including any waiting time) would run about $30 ish.

What's the latest on the restaurant at SSR?

The Turf Club is up and functioning a getting decent reviews CLICK to LINK for menu


HTH - Have a great time!

 

[djmeen]

Thanks for the initial responses!

My wife will be glad to know about TP. It was a worry point for her!

So is there any way to rent a car while at SSR for one day? Without going to the airport?

And keep the secrets coming! We're getting soooooooo excited here.

 

[byoung]

Hope you have a great vacation.

 

[bpmorley]

Check-in is just like any other WDW hotel. Give them your name, but keep your confirmation letter handy just in case. They'll assign you a room, give you a map and show you where everything is around it. You should take a look at the map online before you go and look for spots you'd want to stay. It never hurts to ask if a certain area is available. BTW, SSR is big, but we love it.
The rooms have TP, towels, pillows, sheets & blankets.
Yes you can get groceries delivered to your room. You can call MS or there are a few places online that will have everything ready when you get there. I don't know of anything that you can't get from them. To go downtown to a grocery store would probably be at least $30 by cab. Personally we rent a car for a day or two of the stay. It's cheaper than going by cab or even a mears shuttle.
I can't help you with the restaurant @ SSR. They didn't have one when we stayed there, just the Artists Pallette.
As far as other things to do there I'm not much help.
And yes you can get a car for the day. Just go to the front desk and they'll arrange it for you. I think they use either Alamo or Budget, but don't quote me on that. They will have the car dropped off to you and picked up from the resort.

 

[thelobstershanty]

Howdy!

Well, it's finally here - our first trip home to SSR since we joined last November, and the wife and kids' first trips to Disney World.

SO....

I was hoping all you experienced folks wouldn't mind revealing your top tips and secrets about staying at SSR, getting around to the parks, and things we really should do and try.

Our boys are 5 yrs. old and 6 months - we're planning to go to Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom and maybe MGM.

Top questions
What happens at check-in? What do we need to show them? Will we have to pay for anything for the room?

Do they have TP in the rooms and will they bring you more if you need it?

How can we get groceries to the room? What kind of selections of groceries do they have on site? How much would a cab run to the nearest grocery store?

What's the latest on the restaurant at SSR? Anyone have a favorite dish?

What other things are there to do at SSR?



Any help you can provide would be appreciated SO MUCH!!!

We're excited about this first trip home. We leave on Saturday and are counting down the days.

THANKS EVERYONE!

First of all congratulations on your 1st stay as DVC members. Welcome Home, you are going to love DVC membership.
Now to your questions...
Check in at SSR is the same as any other WDW resort. You need to show them a driver's license and if you want to have charging priviledges to your room, you need to show a major credit card: Visa, Amex, MC, Discover. Actually you will need to show id when you come through the main gate and give your name to the guard. He/she will check you off on the list, look at your ID and then welcome you to the resort.
The only thing you will pay at check in is if you are purchasing park tickets or the DDP.
The SSR store is basically the same as all WDW resort stores. There is a selection of staples like milk, bread, eggs, juice, prepackaged deli meat and cheese, snacks, cereal, soup, tuna fish, snacks, frozen pizza, premade sandwiches, etc. Prices are about the same as any local convenience store is. If you want fresh meats, fruits, veggies etc., then you must go off site to a regular grocery store. There are several very close to WDW. We like Publix the best. If you do not have a car a taxi costs approx $15-$20 each way, or if you are arriving with a town car service they will make a complimentary stop at the grocery store on you way to the resort. Some people use netgrocer and a few other companies, we can not voice an opinion of them since we have never used them. Mainly we have not used them because their selection is almost the same as what the resort stores have for almost the same prices. If we want more than just the staples we just go to Publix, but we almost always have a car. If you are planning on cooking full meals, I would go offsite to a grocery store. If you just want the basics, the SSR store will be more than adequate.
SSR's sit down restaurant, The Turf Club, has just opened. It has a limited but nice menu. The menu can be seen on allearsnet.com. The Turf Club atmosphere is similiar to a pub atmosphere. We have never eaten there, since they were not yet open when we were at SSR in June, but I have read some good reviews of the food. The food court at SSR is called Artist Palette. We were a little disappointed with the food at Artist Palette. We would really like to see them have a wider selection of basic, comfort foods. The flatbreads, salads and wraps are good but we got tired of them after a few days.
We were at SSR in June and found it to be a very nice resort. We were in Congress Park and had a fantastic view of DTD, we loved our villa. The only down side is CP is far from the main pool, food court and restaurant.
The main pool is zero depth entry with a nice Donald Duck water play area. Your 5 yo will love it. There are also a lot of activites at the Community Hall and main pool that the kids really enjoy. We won the Disney Trivia game at the main pool and won a really nice electronic Jeopardy game!
Have a great trip!!!

 

[starbox]

Get the steak at Turf Club!

I'm a DDP junkie and have tried the steak at just about every non-buffet restaurant on property. The steak at Turf Club was just about the best I've had (right up there with Le Cellier). Dh got the steak and I got the pasta because I was feeling "steaked out". It was so good, I think I ended up eating half of his!

You can ask for a room request at check-in. I'd ask for either The Springs or Congress Park. Congress Park is close to DTD, the playground, and a fabulous quiet pool. The Springs is close to the main buildings. If you end up in CP, any bus will stop at the Springs before it leaves property, so you can get to everything without walking much.

Make sure to get to MK EARLY and do Fantasyland first. There is about and hour-two hours before it starts to fill up and you an ride every ride without a wait. We typically ride all the FL rides from 9-10, then go to Toon Town and visit characters as soon as it opens @ 10:00 (before there are long lines). By 11:30 we've done all the little kid favorites and it makes the whole rest of the day so much more relaxing.

There are fun kid games in the pool at SSR. You can also reserve a carriage ride if you want to. Your kids would probably love a meal at Rainforest Cafe in DTD.

Have a great trip!

 

[Deb & Bill]

SSR is a beautiful resort. We've stayed in Congress Park twice so far with a great view of DTD. And it is so easy to walk over to DTD from CP.

My son's favorite food at Artist's Palette? The chocolate cake. I think he must have had four or five slices on our last trip.

The pool at Congress Park is very nice; not as themed as the main pool, but really great.

The refrigerators take a little bit to cool down if they are turned off when you get there. Ours was warm and I called Maintenance. They arrived in less than 20 minutes, checked it out and told us it might take a little time to cool off. Sure enough, within four hours it was chillin' and pretty darn cold.

Goodings is probably the closest store over at the Crossroads, but Publix has a nicer selection and might even be cheaper. The Publix I go to is on the other side of I-4 and over near Dolly Parton's place. Not that difficult to get to unless you go at night. Then everyone is trying to get over to the Crossroads and the Outlet Mall and traffic is a bear. Go in the AM if you have a car.

One of the hotels over at DTD have a car rental place. Not sure which one since we always drive.

 

[DVCconvert]

So is there any way to rent a car while at SSR for one day? Without going to the airport?

One option - once you check in, call Alamo/National at the Car Care Center and check on avalibility. If you find a car to your likeing - they have a shuttle which will pick you up at your resort and take you to car care - also can take you back after you return the car. No charge for this, but we generally tip the shuttle drive $5

HTH

 

[bpmorley]

One option - once you check in, call Alamo/National at the Car Care Center and check on avalibility. If you find a car to your likeing - they have a shuttle which will pick you up at your resort and take you to car care - also can take you back after you return the car. No charge for this, but we generally tip the shuttle drive $5

HTH

We had the car delivered to us. they met us at the front desk and we did the paperwork there.

 

[DVCconvert]

We had the car delivered to us. they met us at the front desk and we did the paperwork there.

Even better!! I didn't know that they would do that!

 

[tiberius]

Definitely consider getting at park at opening to get the most desired rides done first with less rush. When the kids start to tire, then head back to hotel for naps/rest and a pool visit. You can always go back to the parks later in the day well rested.

If you plan on eating at the SSR restaurant, then consider getting the refillable mugs for free soft drink refills at the restaurant/general store and at the main pool. This is a great perk if you use it, plus the mugs are great for use at home later.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

So is there any way to rent a car while at SSR for one day? Without going to the airport?

Yes.

National has outlets at Car Care Center (they have shuttle service), Dolphin & at the Buena Vista Palace (this is closest to SSR). I have only used the Car Care Center once when we stayed at CR. No problems at all. We always have a car since becoming DVC.

I'm sure other rent a car companies have places at DTD hotels. If you have a favorite I would do a location search under Orlando, FL & see what comes up.

 

[Tumblwd501]

These are the rental agencies that I know of at the near-by DTD hotels (and their location codes if you're booking online):

Avis - Hilton Hotel at Disney World (LB3)
Budget - Doubletree Guest Suites (M03)
Dollar - Grosvenor Resort (MCOS01)

I just recently heard there is also car rental agency at Shades of Green, but I don't remember which company it was.

I'm not sure if all of these have a courtesy shuttle or not. But the Dollar at the Grosvenor will come to pick you up if give them 24hr notice.

Enjoy your first trip "home"!!

 

[mom2alix]

My favorite tip with young children is to get an early (8 a.m.) ADR at Crystal Palace on a non-EMH day at MK. You enter the park before they open. You'll have a great photo opportunity on Main Street before the crowds hit on your way to the restaurant and you'll fininsh your meal just in time to hit Fantasyland just as the rides open. Nothing like having the kids well-fed and getting great picutres with Pooh and then hitting all their favorite rides before the lines start!

 

[GADisneyDVC]

Congrats!! SSR is beautiful, I hope you love it as much as my family does. My favorite tip for just coming into SSR is to take advantage of the spa facilities first thing.
If you get there before your room is ready, you can go to the downstairs part of the spa where there are showers, sauna, whirlpool, steam room, etc. It is a great place to freshen up after a flight or a long drive. They even have all of the toiletries that you might need. (shower gel, shampoo, mouthwash, lotion and lots more!!) My 6 year old daughter thought it was fabulous!
You can even change into your bathing suits to take advantage of the pool right away. Make sure you pack your suits in your carryon so you don't have to wait on your luggage to get started.
Have a wonderful time!

 

[disneymagic316]

Welcome! We love SSR. We were there in April and again in August.

We had groceries delivered to the resort. We used gardengrocer.com. for the first time. They were great. They delivered our order to bell services. They have refrigerastors and freezers to keep any perishables because we had nott yet arrived when our groceries did. Whe we were ready i called Bell services and they delivered them to our room. You can order everything online. I highly recommend them.

 

[bpmorley]

My favorite tip with young children is to get an early (8 a.m.) ADR at Crystal Palace on a non-EMH day at MK. You enter the park before they open. You'll have a great photo opportunity on Main Street before the crowds hit on your way to the restaurant and you'll fininsh your meal just in time to hit Fantasyland just as the rides open. Nothing like having the kids well-fed and getting great picutres with Pooh and then hitting all their favorite rides before the lines start!

You can also do this at the other parks too. We've done all but EPCOT.