Just Back from SSR Trip #4

[Rumblebuffin]

We have just returned from a week at SSR. A few observations:

1) Like all of you told me - DME worked flawlessly! Within an hour and a half of arriving at MCO, we were frolicking in the main pool. The return trip was equally as perfect. No problems what-so-ever.

2) Check-in went perfectly as well. We had a two BR all week, with a studio for five of the days. Both were in Congress Park, per our request, and were directly across the hall from each other.

3) The Flying Fish is a new not-to-miss destination for us. Food and service were impeccable.

4) Also, the California Grill continues to be a family favorite. We loved yet another evenng there.

5) All of your reviews of the Hoop-tee-Do Review were on target: corny, crazy, and surprisingly very enjoyable. The food was down home good. The hokey & happy atmosphere was a great way to start our week.

6) Epcot was beautiful!

7) An Alamo rental, pick up and drop off at the Dolphin beats doing it at MCO hands down!!!

8) The Pizzafari in Animal Kingdom provided welcomed relief from counter service burgers and fries.

Now our complaints:

1) The 2 BR sleeps 8, but there were only enough dishes for seven.

2) Unsupervised kids at the quiet pool! :mad:

Three youngsters (ages 2 - 11 or so) spent two hours Friday morning, unsupervised at the Congress Park quiet pool. One was pulling down the other's trunks, giving all present a shot of the moon for several excruciating minutes. This game went on for fifteen minutes. Also they played in the small spot of bird doo near the pool, until someone finally expressed concern. Dad finally arrived around noon...

The next time we observe unsupervised kids at a quiet pool, I think we will call security.

3) People-without-a-clue-of-common-courtesy at the quiet pool. :headbange

A man and three children arrived very loudly and with much fanfare one morning while the pool man was cleaning the pool. We had all been sitting waiting for him to complete his work and turn the frogs back on. However, he kids in this group hopped in one corner, some in, some out of the water as the pool man was scrubbing the sides of the pool. When he got to the corner where this group was, the pool guy just stopped and waited for about 30 seconds. When the man in charge of the kids made no attempt to move the kids so the guy could do his job, the pool guy skipped by them and proceeded to scrub the rest of the pool sides. He then returned to the corner where these kids were congregated and waited to finish cleaning the pool side. Again he waited for about 30 seconds directly in front of the man who was with the kids. When there was no response from this guy I piped up to him and politely told the young man that I thought the pool guy was waiting to finish his job, and could he move the kids for just a second. He grabbed his group and marched to an opposite corner without as much as an "Excuse me" or "I apologize".

The pool man finished and thanked me - twice.

An additional observation: There were rental scooters EVERYWHERE!! I have been doing to the World since it opened and have NEVER seen so many rental scooters!!! I know this is judgmental, but a number of scooter renters appeared to be as able-bodied as this 56 year-old.

Becoming DVC members is one of the best moves we have made. We can't wait for our next trip.


:blueflowe

[jnegamble]

I agree with the Flying Fish! Food is unbelievable! Staff is great and you can watch them grill your meal.

[AZDVC]

[QUOTE=Rumblebuffin;143895]We have just returned from a week at SSR. A few observations:

Now our complaints:

1) The 2 BR sleeps 8, but there were only enough dishes for seven.



That's strange! I wonder if someone took a place setting as a souvenir? Did you ask mousekeeping for another place setting????

Patsy

[NorweJenNY]

Check-in went perfectly as well. We had a two BR all week, with a studio for five of the days. Both were in Congress Park, per our request, and were directly across the hall from each other.
:blueflowe

Glad your check-in went well.

We're going to stay at SSR in a studio in June. What part of the resort are studios located in, or are they in all parts? Is there a particular part of the resort that is more favorable for transportation or general location reasons? Anybody know?

[Colorado Belle]

Glad nearly everything was magical!

Re the scooters: I too wsa amazed at the number of scooters zooming around. But there is another side to this story that I had to learn for myself.
My sister is 7 years older and overweight. I have longer legs and my 'normal' walking pace tends to be fairly fast. (In fact, B'rer Karen is the only person I've met at WDW who walks faster.) So my poor sis wears herself out trying to keep up with me, and we tend to get late starts so 'go' until long after midnight. She has some foot and hip problems to boot. So midweek on one trip, she couldn't get out of bed until noon and then suggested that she rent a scooter. I was SO embarrassed, thinking that scooters are meant for handicapped people, and tried my best to talk her out of it. But I was wrong. I soon learned that if she got to rent a scooter midweek, that she could handle the rest of the week without complaint...Her body just needed a mid week day off. When I posted about the scooter sitch here, several people told me that they too had rented a scooter rather than limp uncomfortably through the parks. I've learned to look at the scooters in a different light and last trip, I even suggestged that my sis rent a scooter midweek. It's still hard at times to navigate through scooters and strollers...maybe there will come a day when the rest of us get to travel by Segway!!!!!

[Rumblebuffin]

Glad your check-in went well.

We're going to stay at SSR in a studio in June. What part of the resort are studios located in, or are they in all parts? Is there a particular part of the resort that is more favorable for transportation or general location reasons? Anybody know?

Studios are in all sections of SSR. We like Congress Park because it's just a short walk to DTD. MO posts lean toward staying in Grandstand since it's the first bus stop in SSR, and is a short walk to the Carriage House, among other reasons. Congress Park is next-to-the last stop.

[Rumblebuffin]

Glad nearly everything was magical!

Re the scooters: I too wsa amazed at the number of scooters zooming around. But there is another side to this story that I had to learn for myself.
My sister is 7 years older and overweight. I have longer legs and my 'normal' walking pace tends to be fairly fast. (In fact, B'rer Karen is the only person I've met at WDW who walks faster.) So my poor sis wears herself out trying to keep up with me, and we tend to get late starts so 'go' until long after midnight. She has some foot and hip problems to boot. So midweek on one trip, she couldn't get out of bed until noon and then suggested that she rent a scooter. I was SO embarrassed, thinking that scooters are meant for handicapped people, and tried my best to talk her out of it. But I was wrong. I soon learned that if she got to rent a scooter midweek, that she could handle the rest of the week without complaint...Her body just needed a mid week day off. When I posted about the scooter sitch here, several people told me that they too had rented a scooter rather than limp uncomfortably through the parks. I've learned to look at the scooters in a different light and last trip, I even suggestged that my sis rent a scooter midweek. It's still hard at times to navigate through scooters and strollers...maybe there will come a day when the rest of us get to travel by Segway!!!!!

:howudoin:

Colorado Belle, I am not heartless. Three of my six siblings are seriously overweight as well, and have had knee replacement surgery. All of them would need to rent scooters should they visit the World.

My point is one I have read in other MO posts: some folks blatantly take advantage of the ready availability of scooter rentals - some to the point if being outrageous (like the teenagers we saw jumping on and off a scooter as they eased on down the road in Liberty Square.) Patrons legitimately requiring assistance are certainly being well-served by the plethora of scooter rentals available.

[wdw1972]

Thanks for the report - sounds like a nice trip despite the few negatives. I agree 100% with calling security when there are unsupervised kids. :iagree: I don't want to deal with their antics, but more importantly - it's dangerous for them to be there without a parent or an adult who's responsible for them. Unfortunately, it sounds like the parents aren't too swift, if that's how they treat their kids.

As for the scooters - I'm saddened by the #of people who put themselves in the position of needing them (the grossly overweight folks killing their knees, hips, etc & unable to walk & play with their kids/grandkids). Sometimes it seems like between the scooters and the strollers, the people walking are the minority at WDW :jawdroppi It'd be nice if there was a way to prevent the cheaters from renting one, but I don't see Disney coming up with a way to ensure that without making it difficult for some people who really do need one. I guess the key is if you definitely need one, consider having one delivered from an off-site rental place so you're sure you have it for the length of your stay (since the parks can sell out of them).

[NorweJenNY]

Studios are in all sections of SSR. We like Congress Park because it's just a short walk to DTD. MO posts lean toward staying in Grandstand since it's the first bus stop in SSR, and is a short walk to the Carriage House, among other reasons. Congress Park is next-to-the last stop.

Thanks for the info... very helpful!