DVCconvert
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
SSR Arrival Day & Review (contrast BWV/OKW)
Alrighty then; As a DVCer who only owns at BWV, but who enjoys OKW as well, heres my stab at reviewing DVCs newest.
In contradiction to what has been posted by others, my observation upon driving up to check in was that there were in fact 2 bellmen on duty. This was about 4:30 on Friday afternoon. Not needing, nor using their services I cant comment on anything beyond the fact that bell services were present and available.
On the grounds near the feature pool and check-in, music was playing that seemed to swing from classical guitar versions of Debussy to light Jazz. I guess Im unclear on how that fits the resort themeing, but then again, if you asked 100 people what music comes to mind when you say Saratoga I doubt many would have a response. It did make for a nice background ambience.
No wait for check-in which went very smoothly and quickly. I had asked for a 1st floor, smoking, DTD view 1 bedroom villa. I received a 1 Bdrm, smoking permitted villa looking directly at Pleasure Island on the 4th floor in Congress Park. Upon experiencing the villa, I am glad that I ended up on the 4th floor. Excellent view and DVD must have heard guests requests for elevators, despite the fact Im in the end of the building away from the elevators it is nothing compared to hauling a 100lb suitcase up the stairs at OKW. Parking here is much more convenient than at BWV, but not quite as close as OKW usually works out to be. Still, all in all, parking and room access is good.
I then set about to cook (as Im with a group of 16) some cold salad type dishes for lunches as we expect to be taking mid day breaks owing to the heat and or showers.
Kitchen
The layout and design is almost an exact duplicate to the kitchens found in BWV 1 Bdrm units. Keeping in mind most of my cooking experience has to date been at OKW, I will make some observations comparing stockings at SSR to OKW. If there is supposed to be a blender, its not to be found in my villa. There are no ceramic serving bowls ( there is 1 serving platter). The pitcher here is about ½ the size as the one found in OKW villas. All seem to share identical cooking pots and pans. There is a very nice glass casserole which is rectangular in shape (in addition to the round one as found at OKW) which is very nice. It may be as large as 9 x 13 but I cant tell for sure. SSR has a bigger and nice assortment of non-stick utensils than what Ive found at either BWV or OKW. I also have yet to find the cutting board here. The stove here beats the BWV old fashioned coil burners any day. The fridge is the same size as found at BWV and smaller than OKWs. I ended up with a lemon of a vegetable peeler (which I promptly broke while peeling a cucumber) so I purchased a nicer one at Winn-Dixie and intend on leaving it here.
Laundry
Similar to BWV these are over and under washer/dryer units. I have to say however, that they are not identical. While functional for sure, the washer lid while raised makes it a little difficult to get the wet wash out. Unlike BWV or OKW there appears not to be any laundry basket provided.
Closet Space
I really like the spaces found at OKW. Here, there is 1 very, very, very small closet which also is the home for the Iron, Ironing board, Electric panel, Crib and safe and bag stand. Once you put an empty suitcase or two in there it starts to get unmanageable (even to open the safe).
Balcony
Excluding the view issues Nicer than any at BWV (ex. Grand Villas or 1st floor patios). Size is comfortable for a couple people to sit, have a drink or an appetizer, but not to have a meal. OKW is the ruling king as far as balconies go in my mind.
Engineering/Décor/Furnishings
Only found here are exhaust fans in the wash/tub/shower/bathroom areas that operate by a sensor. As soon as you walk in the room, the fan kicks on kind of cool really. Room environmental controls are more advanced than at BWV or OKW (especially). Unlike OKW the living room TV is on a pull out swivel drawer which makes it nice while working in the kitchen or relaxing at the kitchen table.
SSR Kitchen & bath areas feature more elaborate tile work which works very nicely in harmony with the muted pastels of the walls. The faux granite countertops in the kitchen while no more nor less functional than whats found at BWV or SSR add a nice design element. There is a large themed table lamp in the living room, the base of which looks like a building. What isnt apparent until the light is operated is the hidden horses with mounted jockeys made into the lamp shades. The bed is very comfortable. The area lighting in the kitchen is very art-deco in appearance. Mirrors and furniture throughout shows influences of empire styling.
DTD access/Resort amenities access
I know that the cast at the Adventures Club often refer to the PI fireworks as Mediocrity-In the Sky. Truer words have not been spoken. All 17 seconds of the fireworks consist of low level mortars, no high aerials at all. In fact last night there were guests walking the side way as if from coming from the bus stop when the fireworks started I heard one comment and they started running toward the lake side of the buildings they could not get there before the fireworks had ended. I raise this just to make sure no one has any unrealistic expectations about the PI fireworks. From Congress Park it appears to be a shorter walk to Marketplace than it would be to walk to the boat dock where one would board the boat to Market place (havent done that yet). While the feature pool appears nice, I simply cant imagine that DVC can get away without building a quiet pool or two before construction here is completed. It could be quite a hike on a hot day from some places and any beneficial cooling would be long gone by the time you got back to your room in some cases. The store/food court more on this in my next report.
Ok, well, thats my observations so far. Im sure Ive given some cause to hate me, and others to think theres hope for the convert.
TTFN
Alrighty then; As a DVCer who only owns at BWV, but who enjoys OKW as well, heres my stab at reviewing DVCs newest.
In contradiction to what has been posted by others, my observation upon driving up to check in was that there were in fact 2 bellmen on duty. This was about 4:30 on Friday afternoon. Not needing, nor using their services I cant comment on anything beyond the fact that bell services were present and available.
On the grounds near the feature pool and check-in, music was playing that seemed to swing from classical guitar versions of Debussy to light Jazz. I guess Im unclear on how that fits the resort themeing, but then again, if you asked 100 people what music comes to mind when you say Saratoga I doubt many would have a response. It did make for a nice background ambience.
No wait for check-in which went very smoothly and quickly. I had asked for a 1st floor, smoking, DTD view 1 bedroom villa. I received a 1 Bdrm, smoking permitted villa looking directly at Pleasure Island on the 4th floor in Congress Park. Upon experiencing the villa, I am glad that I ended up on the 4th floor. Excellent view and DVD must have heard guests requests for elevators, despite the fact Im in the end of the building away from the elevators it is nothing compared to hauling a 100lb suitcase up the stairs at OKW. Parking here is much more convenient than at BWV, but not quite as close as OKW usually works out to be. Still, all in all, parking and room access is good.
I then set about to cook (as Im with a group of 16) some cold salad type dishes for lunches as we expect to be taking mid day breaks owing to the heat and or showers.
Kitchen
The layout and design is almost an exact duplicate to the kitchens found in BWV 1 Bdrm units. Keeping in mind most of my cooking experience has to date been at OKW, I will make some observations comparing stockings at SSR to OKW. If there is supposed to be a blender, its not to be found in my villa. There are no ceramic serving bowls ( there is 1 serving platter). The pitcher here is about ½ the size as the one found in OKW villas. All seem to share identical cooking pots and pans. There is a very nice glass casserole which is rectangular in shape (in addition to the round one as found at OKW) which is very nice. It may be as large as 9 x 13 but I cant tell for sure. SSR has a bigger and nice assortment of non-stick utensils than what Ive found at either BWV or OKW. I also have yet to find the cutting board here. The stove here beats the BWV old fashioned coil burners any day. The fridge is the same size as found at BWV and smaller than OKWs. I ended up with a lemon of a vegetable peeler (which I promptly broke while peeling a cucumber) so I purchased a nicer one at Winn-Dixie and intend on leaving it here.
Laundry
Similar to BWV these are over and under washer/dryer units. I have to say however, that they are not identical. While functional for sure, the washer lid while raised makes it a little difficult to get the wet wash out. Unlike BWV or OKW there appears not to be any laundry basket provided.
Closet Space
I really like the spaces found at OKW. Here, there is 1 very, very, very small closet which also is the home for the Iron, Ironing board, Electric panel, Crib and safe and bag stand. Once you put an empty suitcase or two in there it starts to get unmanageable (even to open the safe).
Balcony
Excluding the view issues Nicer than any at BWV (ex. Grand Villas or 1st floor patios). Size is comfortable for a couple people to sit, have a drink or an appetizer, but not to have a meal. OKW is the ruling king as far as balconies go in my mind.
Engineering/Décor/Furnishings
Only found here are exhaust fans in the wash/tub/shower/bathroom areas that operate by a sensor. As soon as you walk in the room, the fan kicks on kind of cool really. Room environmental controls are more advanced than at BWV or OKW (especially). Unlike OKW the living room TV is on a pull out swivel drawer which makes it nice while working in the kitchen or relaxing at the kitchen table.
SSR Kitchen & bath areas feature more elaborate tile work which works very nicely in harmony with the muted pastels of the walls. The faux granite countertops in the kitchen while no more nor less functional than whats found at BWV or SSR add a nice design element. There is a large themed table lamp in the living room, the base of which looks like a building. What isnt apparent until the light is operated is the hidden horses with mounted jockeys made into the lamp shades. The bed is very comfortable. The area lighting in the kitchen is very art-deco in appearance. Mirrors and furniture throughout shows influences of empire styling.
DTD access/Resort amenities access
I know that the cast at the Adventures Club often refer to the PI fireworks as Mediocrity-In the Sky. Truer words have not been spoken. All 17 seconds of the fireworks consist of low level mortars, no high aerials at all. In fact last night there were guests walking the side way as if from coming from the bus stop when the fireworks started I heard one comment and they started running toward the lake side of the buildings they could not get there before the fireworks had ended. I raise this just to make sure no one has any unrealistic expectations about the PI fireworks. From Congress Park it appears to be a shorter walk to Marketplace than it would be to walk to the boat dock where one would board the boat to Market place (havent done that yet). While the feature pool appears nice, I simply cant imagine that DVC can get away without building a quiet pool or two before construction here is completed. It could be quite a hike on a hot day from some places and any beneficial cooling would be long gone by the time you got back to your room in some cases. The store/food court more on this in my next report.
Ok, well, thats my observations so far. Im sure Ive given some cause to hate me, and others to think theres hope for the convert.
TTFN
)
