We did a cash stay last month. We had a one bedroom preferred location. When doing online check in, I was allowed to choose two requests form this list:
Congress Park, Grandstand, Close to Carriage House, Close to Bus stop, Close to Pool.
I was pretty confused. This was our first time at SSR and I've always heard that Preferred meant Congress Park or The Springs. I had thought the Grandstand rooms were Standard. I checked back on the cash reservation page to see the actual wording and for Preferred it does say, 'Close to Disney Springs or to The Carriage House".
I ended up requesting Congress Park and left the second request blank. When we arrived we had not received a room ready text so I checked with the front desk. They asked me what section I wanted to be in and I said Congress Park (I'm never sure what online check in accomplishes). I was told that they couldn't guarantee that, but if we wanted to wait they would try. I mentioned that I paid for Preferred to be close to DS or CH but was told that it's a request and never guaranteed.
We loved our stay at SSR, but for future stays I don't know if I'd pay the extra $80+tax per night if a preferred location isn't guaranteed. At first the resort seemed huge and while waiting for our room assignment I was really apprehensive and worried that we made a big mistake. I even considered asking to switch my reservation to any deluxe resort with availability (I would have paid the difference). My husband convinced me to just chill and see where we ended up. We did get Congress Park. However, by the second full day there, after a lot of exploring, I really fell in love with the entire property. I don't think I'd find any location to be "bad". I probably would put The Carousel at the bottom of my list since we fly, don't rent a car, and go to Disney Springs frequently, but other than that, every area seemed to have benefits.
Sorry this got so long. I really just wanted to say that Preferred wasn't what I thought it would be, and although we ended up getting what we wanted this time, in the future I would take a relaxed attitude, probably save the $ and do standard, and enjoy being surprised by what we get. I feel like at Disney the only times I'm disappointed is when I try to control too much.