SSR - Initial Observations

[BigRedDad]

We have been here for 3 days/2 nights already. There are a few things I would like to point out for anyone interested in staying here to be aware of and my thoughts on the resort.

Before taking too much of this as negative, they may seem negative, but for us they are not. We absolutely love the resort, love the amenities, and love the proximity to DtD. We would definitely stay here again with similar deals that we received for this stay.

1. Room Buildings: The buildings are not really "deluxe" buildings. The corridors are open air. I call this a glorified moderate building. The doors open to a corridor wall and not to the public.
2. Amenities: SSR has all of the amenities of a Deluxe resort. The counter service and store are very small for a resort of this size. I assume the other places at some of the other pools help offset this. The close proximity to DtD also helps offset this. This is not an issue for us, but something others may have issue with.
3. Buses: I despise the Disney bus system in general. SSR has not changed that belief either. We are in the Grandstand building room 8203. There are literally only 5-6 rooms closer to the bus stop than ours. Our car is only about 100 feet from the bus stop. We tried the bus system 3 times now. The CM asks where we are headed and we let him know. After 10-15 minutes of no bus, we get up to go to our car. He asks why we are leaving. I tell him in the amount of time waiting, we could already be at the park.

 

[DarthVader]

My wife doesn't like the busing system, but for the most part, its decent. 10-15 minutes isn't giving them enough time however. They run (generally) on a 20 minute cycle.

I'm curious (and I don't mean this as a slam) but what do you consider a deluxe disney resort? What amenities, or services defines a deluxe disney resort in your mind?

I qualified deluxe disney resort, but because deluxe outside of the property means one thing, but I think it may not have that same connotation in WDW. For instance a deluxe hotel may mean a suite with a gigantic bathroom and Jacuzzi, in Disney you get none of that by default.

 

[lostpro9het]

I agree with your bus sentiment. Another point I would make is the parking convenience. Both SSR and OKW allow you to park very close to your door which can be a pretty decent advantage especially if you drive to the parks and such.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

We have been here for 3 days/2 nights already. There are a few things I would like to point out for anyone interested in staying here to be aware of and my thoughts on the resort.

Before taking too much of this as negative, they may seem negative, but for us they are not. We absolutely love the resort, love the amenities, and love the proximity to DtD. We would definitely stay here again with similar deals that we received for this stay.

1. Room Buildings: The buildings are not really "deluxe" buildings. The corridors are open air. I call this a glorified moderate building. The doors open to a corridor wall and not to the public.
2. Amenities: SSR has all of the amenities of a Deluxe resort. The counter service and store are very small for a resort of this size. I assume the other places at some of the other pools help offset this. The close proximity to DtD also helps offset this. This is not an issue for us, but something others may have issue with.
3. Buses: I despise the Disney bus system in general. SSR has not changed that belief either. We are in the Grandstand building room 8203. There are literally only 5-6 rooms closer to the bus stop than ours. Our car is only about 100 feet from the bus stop. We tried the bus system 3 times now. The CM asks where we are headed and we let him know. After 10-15 minutes of no bus, we get up to go to our car. He asks why we are leaving. I tell him in the amount of time waiting, we could already be at the park.

1. Why do you think a "deluxe" should be like a normal hotel? We have stayed in several deluxe resorts at other places, and many had outdoor corridors. A MicroTel has indoor corridors and I certainly wouldn't consider that "deluxe".
2. The Paddock also has a QS restaurant, so the resort has 2. It pretty much splits the crowd, but I do agree that Artist Palette could be larger. Even though we own at SSR, and stay there often, we rarely eat any meal there. Though when we do, the food has always been good.
3. We love the buses even when we drive our car to the resort. Why? Because I don't want to drive. And waiting 10-15 or even 20 minutes is really not that huge a deal. You are on vacation. Relax. Oh, and why would you want to drive to the TTC, instead of a bus that drops you off almost at the front?

 

[anchorman314]

I'm staying at SSR for the first time this October, and I'm a little confused about the description of the corridors being "open air". Are they like the VWL OKW, or some combination of the two?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'm staying at SSR for the first time this October, and I'm a little confused about the description of the corridors being "open air". Are they like the VWL OKW, or some combination of the two?

OKW.

To the OP, remember that OKW and SSR aren't supposed to be "Deluxe" resorts in the traditional sense. Every unit at each of these resorts is designated as a Deluxe Villa. Every guest has, at minimum, a kitchenette, and most have a full kitchen. The home-away-from-home nature of the resorts is a big reason behind the unique parking, neighborhood-style layout, relative lack of F&B, and (frankly) lower price. Not all "deluxes" are created equal. You're not paying Grand Floridan prices so you're not going to get Grand Floridian amenities.

 

[BigRedDad]

Its not a negative, but an observation. All DVC resorts are suppose to be Deluxe. With that in mind, I assumed the buildings are like hotels and not motels like all other Deluxe and DVC resorts. For us it doesn't matter. We are Value resort people.

As for the buses, I understand giving them 20+ minutes. The problem is when you see DHS bus, DHS bus, DHS bus, DHS bus all while waiting for a bus somewhere else, it is broken. Also, when you have a car, waiting more time than it takes to drive there yourself is a waste as well. While waiting, you start to think how much farther back you get as more people are already getting there. This is not just an SSR issue, but a Disney issue.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

As for the buses, I understand giving them 20+ minutes. The problem is when you see DHS bus, DHS bus, DHS bus, DHS bus all while waiting for a bus somewhere else, it is broken. Also, when you have a car, waiting more time than it takes to drive there yourself is a waste as well. While waiting, you start to think how much farther back you get as more people are already getting there. This is not just an SSR issue, but a Disney issue.

Has there been a cast member at the bus stop(s) with a tablet, evaluating the situation as the busses come and go? They had them at AKL in April but I'm not sure whether it was a test or something they'll be rolling out across the board.

 

[BigRedDad]

Yes. When we told him where we were going, he said one would be here in a minute. After 10 minutes, we told him we were driving because we would already be at the park. He jotted the statement down.

Not sure what WDW will do. It is simple in the mornings and night. Have 2 buses at the stop for the rushes before they start. There is a lot more that can be done outside those rushes as well.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Its not a negative, but an observation. All DVC resorts are suppose to be Deluxe. With that in mind, I assumed the buildings are like hotels and not motels like all other Deluxe and DVC resorts. For us it doesn't matter. We are Value resort people.

I'm still not understanding how you think that just because a resort doesn't have rooms with inside corridors, that it isn't a deluxe resort. LOTS of RESORTS have outdoor corridors for their rooms. Whether it is inside or outside makes no difference to whether it is deluxe or not. Only the amenities present in the rooms and at the resort itself determine that.

 

[Tuvalu]

Has there been a cast member at the bus stop(s) with a tablet, evaluating the situation as the busses come and go? They had them at AKL in April but I'm not sure whether it was a test or something they'll be rolling out across the board.

College interns with tablets have been have been at resort bus stops for a couple years. We have found that they are there to provide encouragement ("The bus will be here shortly") rather than actual information. Never once have we witnessed one make contact with someone in transportation (even one morning at WL when we were at the bus stop for 45 minutes before an Epcot bus arrived. Nothing more than, "It should be here soon.") We have seen the interns at POR, POFQ, GF, AKL, Poly and WL.

 

[BigRedDad]

I'm still not understanding how you think that just because a resort doesn't have rooms with inside corridors, that it isn't a deluxe resort.

You can define it any way you choose. I choose to define it like this....
Deluxe = Hotel = Interior corridors
Moderate = Motel = Exterior corridors

I would NEVER pay for this resort as a DVC and I would definitely never pay what Disney charges on their best discounts. The amenities are Deluxe, the buildings are not. We are perfectly fine staying at Pop Century. We can enjoy all of the amenities without staying at the resort.

Would we stay here again? Yes, when we get a 1BR for $1,250 for 7 nights vs Pop Century for $1,100. Would I drop $2,500 - $3,500 for this place for a week? Not in my life time.

 

[slappy magoo]

So if SSR were exactly the way it is now, but the walkways were enclosed and wallpapered/carpeted, would that make all the difference?

 

[RedDad]

I'm still not understanding how you think that just because a resort doesn't have rooms with inside corridors, that it isn't a deluxe resort. LOTS of RESORTS have outdoor corridors for their rooms. Whether it is inside or outside makes no difference to whether it is deluxe or not. Only the amenities present in the rooms and at the resort itself determine that.

This is something that only applies on property at WDW. All of the deluxe resorts on property (save OKW and SSR, which are DVC only) have doors that open onto interior corridors, while the values and mods have doors that open onto outdoor walkways like a motel. It's actually considered one of the "benefits" of staying at a deluxe resort - more privacy and *supposedly* quieter, and most definitely cooler walking to your room in the AC.

The Disney definition of "deluxe" is markedly different than what you find anywhere else in the world, so it's the little things that count...

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

You can define it any way you choose. I choose to define it like this....
Deluxe = Hotel = Interior corridors
Moderate = Motel = Exterior corridors

Google's definition of "motel:" a roadside hotel designed primarily for motorists, typically having the rooms arranged in a low building with parking directly outside.

Is that how you would describe SSR?

It seems to me that you don't see the value in paying so much money for a resort when you are perfectly comfortable in a value. Which is fine. I'm used to staying in values as well, and it's even difficult for me to justify shelling out extra money for a moderate. But that doesn't make it any less of a deluxe resort.

 

[slappy magoo]

It's actually considered one of the "benefits" of staying at a deluxe resort - more privacy and *supposedly* quieter, and most definitely cooler walking to your room in the AC.

I know the Unofficial Guide did a study a while back (the results might be different now than when I read that particular edition), and determined most of the WDW resorts with exterior walkways were better soundproofed than the rooms with interior walkways. The reason being the weather-proofing. Since the interior walkways have air conditioning throughout, there's not as much weatherproofing on the door because all the cool air is circulating throughout the same giant interior. Whereas the rooms in resorts with exterior walkways, they try to insulate around the doors and windows more to keep the cold air in the room, and it's that insulation that buffers the sound outside.

Of course, the flip side to that is that you're more likely to encounter noisy situations outdoors than in an interior corridor. YMMV, but it seems most people make an effort to be quiet in the interior hallways to and from their rooms, saving their volume for the elevators and the lobby or common areas.

 

[Jon81uk]

So if SSR were exactly the way it is now, but the walkways were enclosed and wallpapered/carpeted, would that make all the difference?

I actually think that would make it worse as it is still separate buildings. I also didn't really like SSR, too spread out and too quiet, personally I prefer POR.

I think the problem is Disney's classification of putting all the DVC on cash bookings in a "deluxe villa" catagory. If SSR and OKW were classed as Villa and then the villas at GF, PR, CR, AKL and WL were classed as deluxe villa it might be clearer.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You can define it any way you choose.

No. You can't. Words have meanings. You can't just make them up to suit your fancy if you ever hope to have meaningful conversations with people in the world who use words as they're commonly understood.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

If SSR and OKW were classed as Villa and then the villas at GF, PR, CR, AKL and WL were classed as deluxe villa it might be clearer.

The price tag serves that purpose, IMO.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Of course, the flip side to that is that you're more likely to encounter noisy situations outdoors than in an interior corridor. YMMV, but it seems most people make an effort to be quiet in the interior hallways to and from their rooms, saving their volume for the elevators and the lobby or common areas.

I disagree strongly. You might have four or five units on your floor at Old Key West (less if they're two bedroom units), while your corridor at somewhere like AKL has hundreds of rooms side-by-side. AKL is my favorite resort but idiot children sprinting through the hallways at midnight is a huge turn-off.