FWIW: I stayed at SSR two weeks ago, in the Paddock section in the building closest to the pool/Paddock bus stop. I walked to Downtown Disney/Marketplace every day (sometimes multiple times), as I had a business conference at the Buena Visa Palace right across the street...it took 7-8 minutes, strolling (in business attire)...could have done it in five if I'd been in a hurry...
So, while Congress Park is closer (buildings w/villas starting with the number 1 are closest to the bridge over to Marketplace), Paddock isn't very far...
Also, if your friend wants to walk to West Side (Cirque, House of Blues, DisneyQuest, etc.) rather than Marketplace, Grandstand and some Spring section buildings are closer...destinations near what used to be Pleasure Island are about equidistant from the Congress Park bridge versus the walkway behind the Turf Club...
But bottom line is nothing is really very far away...even Carousel dwellers can access DTD by walking over to Paddock and out that way in less than 10 minutes...
Good luck...