I'm looking to book a 1 BR Villa in early 2017 as a cash paying guest directly through Disney. I have the page up right now for my dates and there is no differentiation by area. Until reading this post I had assumed we could book now and then request Congress Park at online check in. Please elaborate on how this change would affect our reservation. Staying at SSR is already a bit out of our comfort zone as we usually do an Epcot or monorail resort. We are not familiar with this property and are trying to gather info so that our visit is a positive one.
I admit I was only making an assumption. I thought it would be something like Bay Lake Tower where you're given choices of Standard, Lake or Theme Park views when booking. I also went into booking Boardwalk and was only given Standard View option. It's possible that they'll only offer Standard location when booking with cash, and leave the Preferred locations for DVC owners to book with points.
I also just went in an tried to book, but was only given one choice.
Does anyone know the answers to these questions about SSR?
- Is the walking path from the Congress Park area the only way to walk to Disney Springs?
-During what hours can you walk through Disney Springs (how early, how late, only while shops are open, etc.)
-Is there full daily housekeeping service?
-Are towels provided at the pools?
-In general, are the amenities in line with Disney deluxe resorts?
-Is there any adult nightlife onsite (at SSR proper, not in DS) such as an active lounge? How late does it stay open?
Let's see....
-You can get to the West Side of Disney Springs by way of a walking path that starts behind the Carriage House and follows the edge of the waterway, but when walking from Congress Park that'd be WAAAAYYYYY longer than walking to the Marketplace. If you happen to be over on the West Side and want to get back to Congress Park, it'd be easiest to take the Disney Springs water taxi that actually docks along the walkway between Congress Park and the Marketplace.
-Disney Springs doesn't physically close, there's no way for them to do so. So you can walk through at any hour (though security might question you if you'd doing it at 4am...)
-If you're paying cash directly through Disney, you'll get daily housekeeping. Guests staying on DVC points do not.
-There are towels available at all of the pools.
-I'd say amenities are generally comparable to the other DVC resorts, though with a few differences. The spa and fitness center are often said to be the best on property. SSR itself does not have a Signature restaurant, though its proximity to Disney Springs means that SSR has a vastly larger number of restaurants in close proximity.
-SSR has a lounge adjacent to the Turf Club restaurant, but it would be closer to the Belle Vue Lounge at Boardwalk and not really "nightlife". A bar, chairs to sit and chat, a pool table, etc. The DME app says that the Lounge is open 4pm-11pm (though that's the bar's serving hours. The space itself is open all day before that)