Woohoo! SSR in November!

[roselark]

I was not planning on a trip this year for various reasons, but primarily because of the outrageous cost of airfare. On a whim, I decided to check prices and after a little adjusting, I was able to get a great deal in November! RT from Madison for $247 (including taxes and fees)! Considering the cost has been hovering between $400-$500, this was awesome! After a quick note to my hubby, he told me to go ahead and book it (I think I have been driving him crazy with my planning for the May 2009 trip). Called MS and SSR was availble for the entire stay and now I am booked 11/13 to 11/18 for my very first solo trip and very first trip as a DVC member!

I am really looking forward to this trip. I have always wanted to try a solo trip where I could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted

I am thinking about requesting either Grandstand or Congress Park. After looking at the map, I like the location of Congress Park, but I am concerned about the busses. Since it is the next to last stop, will it be standing room only by the time it gets to me? How is the Grandstand location? My two biggest concerns right now are transportation and ease of getting to and from Artists Pallette/Front Desk area.

Any suggestions on either location or must dos for a first solo trip?

 

[hakepb]

I do not think there'd be a big bus worry in Nov. (Of course I never used the first bus in the am for early EMH)
Location-wise Grandstand offers a lot. The close buildings (near the pool) of Grandstand are about as cloose to AP as any other area of SSR (because you walk into AP from the side and do not have to walk the length of the main pool.)

 

[BroganMc]

I am thinking about requesting either Grandstand or Congress Park. After looking at the map, I like the location of Congress Park, but I am concerned about the busses. Since it is the next to last stop, will it be standing room only by the time it gets to me? How is the Grandstand location? My two biggest concerns right now are transportation and ease of getting to and from Artists Pallette/Front Desk area.

Any suggestions on either location or must dos for a first solo trip?

I can only tell you my personal preferences given my frequent stays at SSR. It is by far my favorite resort.

Now I've only slept in Grandstand and Springs but I do inhabit all the neighborhoods. Congress Park is really only fantastic (for me) if I plan on visiting Marketplace a lot, and early in the AM or late at night (outside the ferry schedule). It feels like a bit too long a walk for popping over to Artist's Palette or HRS pool for mug refills.

Springs is the last bus stop but using a wheelchair I always have a seat. My only issue would be with an overcrowded bus and no room for wheelchairs. That really only happened one time and that was when two other guests were waiting at the Springs stop with their ECVs. (My dad and I used our van instead and ended up going through the gates with the ECV users.) Early in the AM, you may very well encounter standing room only by Congress Park. When riding the Grandstand busses I notice it starts getting crowded after Paddocks. Certainly Springs will give you the SRO. Keep in mind though that if you take the next bus (they run more frequently at park opening) or wait an hour the demand significantly drops off.

Grandstand has a few advantages if you are not planning frequent early walking trips to Marketplace. It is closer to the ferry dock; has more direct access to the walking path to West Side; has a mug refill station at its pool; is the first bus stop (good for early morning runs, so-so for afternoon evening with drop-offs filling the bus already); and is deceptively close to Carriage House (especially if you stay in the buildings by the pool).

Keep in mind, if you envision having breakfast at Earl of Sandwich or hitting the stores before the crowd arrives at 10am, Grandstand is a hike to Marketplace. (1 mile hike to be precise.) Ferries don't start running until 11am.

Perhaps the only place I don't really want to stay are the eastern-most buildings of the Paddocks (the two nearest Congress Park). Reason: they seem a hike to the nearest pools and bus stops. Beautiful water views but a bridge to Springs is really needed there to shorten the distance. Also, they have been known to have some firestation views.

Oh, considering the views: if you're idea of beautiful is to gaze over the twinkling lights of a city and hear the distant rumbles of its lively inhabitants, then Congress Park is the best. You feel like you have a penthouse suite overlooking Manhattan but with the noise removed enough not to bother (and completely shut out when the balcony doors are closed thanks to soundproofing). It's fantastic for the special events they host at NYE and July 4th. If you're idea of beautiful is to wake up in the country with long vistas of nature and the sound of mocking birds, then Grandstand is your special retreat. If you like the in-between view of a small lakeside town with lots of water views, nature and the intermittent rumblings of people then Springs, Paddocks and Carousel are for you.
Have fun! Solo Disney is great.

 

[iluveeyore]

I'll be there at beginning of Nov. with my DSIS for her first stay at SSR, and I requested Congress Park as we plan to spend lots of down time (only 1 park day for 5 day trip), and I love to walk to DTD from there.
I took my first solo trip this past March, and if I was independently wealthy, I'd take one every month for my sanity's sake
It was absolutely wonderful, I had my AP then and enjoyed doing whatever I wanted whenever I wanted - pure Heaven!
So enjoy, take each moment in because it will fly by.

 

[PutnamDS]

I am thinking about requesting either Grandstand or Congress Park. After looking at the map, I like the location of Congress Park, but I am concerned about the busses. Since it is the next to last stop, will it be standing room only by the time it gets to me? How is the Grandstand location? My two biggest concerns right now are transportation and ease of getting to and from Artists Pallette/Front Desk area.

Any suggestions on either location or must dos for a first solo trip?

My family stayed in Congress Part for 10 days from 6/29-7/9, and while this was a busy time at WDW, we had no problems with the busses at SSR. I do not recall one time when the bus was too full to fit the three of us. If it was not a problem during the July 4 holiday, I would not expect it to be a problem in November. IMHO

By the way, we LOVED it at Congress Park and walked to Downtown Disney several times (mostly for ice cream at Ghiardelli's).

Deb

 

[roselark]

Thank you so much for all the responses!

The crowded bus/standing room only problem was a huge issue when we stayed at WL this past December, so it is still pretty fresh in my mind. I feel much better about SSR now.

Thanks for the great info about the different locations BroganMC. I am thinking Grandstand is sounding best for me. I really only plan on hitting DTD once during my trip, so being within walking distance isn't very important. Though that view sounds amazing so I may have to try that on a future trip. But, of course, even if I request Grandstand, it isn't guaranteed, so I will keep Congress Park as my second choice...

 

[Sheribo]

Oh, considering the views: if you're idea of beautiful is to gaze over the twinkling lights of a city and hear the distant rumbles of its lively inhabitants, then Congress Park is the best. You feel like you have a penthouse suite overlooking Manhattan but with the noise removed enough not to bother (and completely shut out when the balcony doors are closed thanks to soundproofing). It's fantastic for the special events they host at NYE and July 4th. If you're idea of beautiful is to wake up in the country with long vistas of nature and the sound of mocking birds, then Grandstand is your special retreat. If you like the in-between view of a small lakeside town with lots of water views, nature and the intermittent rumblings of people then Springs, Paddocks and Carousel are for you.
Have fun! Solo Disney is great.

Very nicely put.