Will Disney Springs boost SSR interest?

[anna08]

We will definitely do a SSR stay after the bridge is complete. We love doing "different" things on every trip, and if it includes a nice walk, all the better. I do worry a bit about the "park at DTD and walk to SSR busses" crowd. I don't think I would want to have a villa along the footpath to the bridge, in case it is busy.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I think it looks impressive.

Here is more on the new plans and video from the announcement with Tom Staggs.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs video

And you and I both know we've been here before. In all fairness, this is in the interest of promoting the RETAIL space so it will likely come to fruition, but you can probably appreciate my pessimism.

 

[DonnaL]

I do like SSR and have since the beginning.....we added on 120 points shortly after the grand opening...can't remember what it was billed as.....but there was a great grand opening celebration lasting a few days with all sorts of entertainment, special MK night open only to DVC members, special dessert party at Epcot for DVC members, etc. However, one thing that has always concerned me about SSR is the easy access from DTD. With the exterior hallways it just makes it too easy for just ANYONE to stroll over the path and have access to those buildings......I've always said if I were traveling alone I would be very hesitant to stay at SSR for that reason. For some reason, I just feel a little safer at the resorts where access is at least somewhat restricted. There have been problems for years at SSR with outside food delivery/pizza delivery services slipping menus under the doors.....it's just too easy to gain access IMO.....I know other DVC resorts have had the same problem.....however, it just seems it happens with much more frequency at SSR and I also noticed that last time we stayed at the Kidani the same thing happened with a menu under the door. However, it just seems there are more places for someone to lurk at SSR with all of the outside shrubbery, trees and it just makes me uncomfortable to the point that I would not stay there if I were traveling alone and possibly coming back to resort later at night by myself.

 

[michelleiada]

I think that this may boost interest in SSR if they do something more than make it another outdoor shopping mall. If they add evening entertainment and shows, fireworks, etc...it could quite possibly be very good for SSR.

 

[tjkraz]

It certainly won't hurt demand for SSR.

However, the resort is so dramatically overbuilt that nothing sort of an adjacent theme park would every truly change the DVC dynamic. SSR is nearly twice the size of OKW and AKV...three times the size of BLT...five times the size of BCV...NINE times the size of VGF.

Psychologically Disney Springs may help soothe those who are "stuck" staying at SSR due to lack of availability elsewhere. But I don't think we're going to see SSR starting to fill up faster than OKW or AKV. It's just too big.

And I say all of this as an owner and fan of SSR. If the resort were 300-400 rooms, Disney Springs could be enough to start shifting some established trends. But not at 900 units.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Could you please share what size room you stayed in as well as which section and proximity to all? Thanks

We were in room 5823, a 4th floor studio in the Paddock section. 30 seconds to the pool and bus stops, 45 seconds to the bridge to walk over to the Carriage House and a 10 minute walk to Downtown Disney.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

We were in room 5823, a 4th floor studio in the Paddock section. 30 seconds to the pool and bus stops, 45 seconds to the bridge to walk over to the Carriage House and a 10 minute walk to Downtown Disney.

Sounds wonderful! How was the view from your balcony? Distance from boat to DTD?

Sorry for so many questions. I had to cancel my very first DVC trip to this Easter due to emergency gallbladder surgery. We were originally booked at BLT but SSR is my home resort and I am looking forward to staying there in July.

 

[Disfanx4]

If they put a locked gate at the Saratoga side like they have at certain pools where you need your card to gain access this could potentially deter people from crossing for bussing purposes

 

[Sammie]

I really don't see Disney Springs making SSR more desirable. It's still the largest, most spread out and the farthest from any park. All negatives in some people's eyes. For us that is a win/win because we like it there already and Disney Springs will just be a plus.

That is not true though, in mileage it is the DVC resort closest to all parks. Is it closest to one park or even two; no.

But when you look at the distance from BCV/BWV to MK: SSR is closer.

When you look at the distance from VWL/BLT to Epcot, Studios, and AK: SSR is closer.

It is closer to Epcot, Studios and MK than AKV

It and OKW are the most centrally located resorts to all 4 parks, water parks and Downtown Disney. So actually it has a great location.

I will agree it is a very large resort as to units. Being spread out, yes in comparison to other DVC resorts but in comparison to the moderates which are very popular, not so much. We love the wide open spaces.

 

[Sammie]

If they put a locked gate at the Saratoga side like they have at certain pools where you need your card to gain access this could potentially deter people from crossing for bussing purposes

We can hope.

 

[Doug7856]

That is not true though, in mileage it is the DVC resort closest to all parks. Is it closest to one park or even two no.

But when you look at the distance from BC/BW to MK, SSR is closer.

When you look at the distance from VWL/BLT to Epcot, Studios, and AK, SSR is closer.

It and OKW are the most centrally located resorts to all 4 parks, water parks and Downtown Disney. So actually it has a great location.

I will agree it is a very large resort as to units. Being spread out, yes in comparison to other DVC resorts but in comparison to the moderates which are very popular.

I also find the bus service to/from SSR to be faster than other resorts -- probably because it is dedicated service and doesn't share with other resorts.

 

[DizBub]

That is not true though, in mileage it is the DVC resort closest to all parks. Is it closest to one park or even two; no.

But when you look at the distance from BCV/BWV to MK: SSR is closer.

When you look at the distance from VWL/BLT to Epcot, Studios, and AK: SSR is closer.

It is closer to Epcot, Studios and MK than AKV

It and OKW are the most centrally located resorts to all 4 parks, water parks and Downtown Disney. So actually it has a great location.

I will agree it is a very large resort as to units. Being spread out, yes in comparison to other DVC resorts but in comparison to the moderates which are very popular, not so much. We love the wide open spaces.

I totally agree with you on all points. We find SSR a wonderful resort but unfortunately it's a really hard sell to some people. Especially the ones who think they must be able to walk to 2 parks.

That's ok, more room for us.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Sounds wonderful! How was the view from your balcony? Distance from boat to DTD?

Sorry for so many questions. I had to cancel my very first DVC trip to this Easter due to emergency gallbladder surgery. We were originally booked at BLT but SSR is my home resort and I am looking forward to staying there in July.

Our balcony view was of the pond towards the Carriage House. 7ish minute walk to the boat.

 

[rutgers1]

If this is nothing more than a resurfacing of the old, then it won't inspire me to visit any more often. There are many malls within a short drive from my house, so I don't need to visit Disney to visit another one.

All along, I think they should have split SSR into two different resorts, similar to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. If they had done that, it would have been fine.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

If this is nothing more than a resurfacing of the old, then it won't inspire me to visit any more often. There are many malls within a short drive from my house, so I don't need to visit Disney to visit another one.

All along, I think they should have split SSR into two different resorts, similar to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. If they had done that, it would have been fine.

Interesting. I have never heard that before and never thought about it but that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

Our balcony view was of the pond towards the Carriage House. 7ish minute walk to the boat.

Sounds perfect! Thank you!

 

[Chuck S]

If this is nothing more than a resurfacing of the old, then it won't inspire me to visit any more often. There are many malls within a short drive from my house, so I don't need to visit Disney to visit another one.

All along, I think they should have split SSR into two different resorts, similar to Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. If they had done that, it would have been fine.

Port Orleans was never really "split" into two resorts. It is actually made up of two separate resorts that were combined into one resort.

Port Orleans French Quarter was originally the Port Orleans Resort.

Port Orleans Riverside was originally the Dixie Landings resort. They were combined a few years ago into the Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside we see today.

 

[lilpooh108]

I remember them combining the resorts. Why did they do that?

 

[DizBub]

I remember them combining the resorts. Why did they do that?

I could be wrong but I think it had something to do with "political correctness". Something about the word "Dixie" is offensive to some people.

If this is the case, I don't know why they didn't just rename that part of the the resort. I don't look at that section and think about New Orleans at all.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Port Orleans was never really "split" into two resorts. It is actually made up of two separate resorts that were combined into one resort.

Port Orleans French Quarter was originally the Port Orleans Resort.

Port Orleans Riverside was originally the Dixie Landings resort. They were combined a few years ago into the Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside we see today.

True. I forgot that.