A Glorified 800 Unit Apartment Complex?

[TOMAR@SSR]

We stayed @ the BCV`s this past Aug., to avoid the ongoing construction of our Home resort SSR , but it looks like it`s an unavoidable this trip! Having said that, My DH ( after touring our Home resort ) one afternoon, fell in love with his Home away from Home , and really felt alot of displeasure with the whole epcot resort experience!!! We`re not SAB people, (we like the quiet pool aptmosphere), as well as the laid back feeliing of SSR, (even though you can just look across the water to the "Party all night world of PI"!!!!!! Years ago, we spent alot of family vacations @ "the fairways, or the townhouse villas", afterwards called "Disney Institute". All of these accomadations were not your usual "Themed Resorts". They were very beautiful for alot of big families, needing more room, than ,lets say "the poly", or "CR". To us, It had the SAME magic !!!! Every DVC resort has it`s own uniqueness !!! As someone else posted, "We`d stay in a closet @ WDW, and pay for it!!!!"
thanks,
maria

 

[Dean]

if you are that unhappy call your guides. Tell them that you would like another DVC resort at WDW. they may tell you impossible - or they may work with you.

SSR doesn't appeal to me - it is too fancy - like the GF. but an apartment building.....sorry - it is pretty fancy for an apartment building.

you don't know what your guide will say until you talk to her/him. but try it if you are this unhappy what have you got to lose.

I agree, you have nothing to lose. However, once it's a done deal, they have no options to buy back and sell you something else.

As for no affect on reservations, I'm not sure that's true. We don't have data, plain and simple. And SSR is only a fraction of what it will be, 832 units or so I believe. Anyone who buys in and doesn't at least consider the affect of the many points at SSR, OKW, HH and VB, is not rational. Buying in and assuming it will all work out fine is not reasonable UNLESS one is content to stay at their home resort most trips. That doesn't mean owners at the other resorts won't have opportunities at BCV, VWL and BWV, only that those opportunities are already reduced and will become even more so over time. That is the mathematical reality, no way around it. It will make the need for planning in the home resort window and at the 7 month window paramount unless you want a non GV at SSR or OKW for WDW. VB and HH sans summer will be easier, sometimes very easy. There are strategies that will work to maximize the opportunities, we've discussed them before.

 

[ricapito]

SSR is selling very, very fast.

Yes, but how many buyers are like me or a variation thereof:

1. bought in sight unseen believing Disney would one-up previous resorts (not everyone can/will wait until they are on-site to buy despite a very good argument that you should visit before buying)

2. and then later investigates DVC a bit more, gets involved here, or sees all the resorts for themselves and devlops a nagging doubt that Disney has changed the formula it deployed before with prior DVC resorts?

 

[Dean]

SSR is selling very, very fast.

To be honest, I'm not sure that's truly accurate but time will tell. It's certainly selling slower than VWL and BCV did and I suspect it will slow down further, but we shall see.

 

[erikthewise]

Well, have they started building phase III yet? Even if they have, surely it can be dynamited! (By the builder of course. ) I agree that 800 units is too big for the comfort of owners at other resorts, but the temptation for SSR owners to book at the smaller resorts will hopefully be somewhat reduced by the higher points required to do so.

The only way to stop the building of more SSR units is to stop buying them!

This thread reminds me of jokes made a couple years ago about Pop Century becoming a "Value DVC resort". Of course SSR is several notches above that, but the open corridors no doubt give it a "moderate" sort of feel to first-time visitors.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

The only way to stop the building of more SSR units is to stop buying them!

.

exactly and it aint happening!

 

[Deep-Thots]

I agree that 800 units is too big for the comfort of owners at other resorts

Why???? The addition of SSR takes absolutely nothing away from you. To wit, you still have a four month window in which to make reservations ahead of those who own at the supposedly lesser and larger resorts. The only potential stress that the addition of SSR places on you is that you likely will have to plan ahead, being certain to make your reservations before the seven-month window elapses. But this is no different from the system you currently enjoy.

I just find this whole topic of discussion completely befuddling. With the exception of original owners/members at OKW, I'd assume (and I may be wrong here) that most owners/members read their contracts prior to making their purchases and consequently were aware of the possibility of the construction of other (even larger) resorts.

As it stands, DVC is a flexible timeshare, plain and simple. In fact, this flexibility of scheduling is precisely why DH and I purchased DVC and not another timeshare in Orlando. If people want to have the opportunity to enjoy the same type of room during the same week every year, there are other timeshares they can purchase. But DVC is not one of them -- unless owners/members are prepared to exercise the 11-month booking window they enjoy at their home resorts.

 

[rinkwide]

The addition of SSR takes absolutely nothing away from you.

I'd say it's far too early to make a definitive statement such as that.

Currently there is wide speculation (and maybe even circumstantial evidence) that the room conditions at BCV suffer from it's extreme popularity and resulting high occupancy rate. If that is in fact true, as I believe it is, it's forseeable that Beach Club and the other resorts will experience even more traffic and increased wear and tear as SSR continues it's expansion. Such a scenario is a very real possibility in the face of a projected 60% per night DVC visitor increase, especially if the newest complex proves to be less attractive to it's ownership than the other on-property resorts. If the build-out of SSR does indeed lead us down this path it will ultimately mean higher maintenence fees and less satisfying visits for current owners of other resorts.

So, in reality, the addition of SSR may well take money from my pocket and quality away from my vacation experience.

 

[erikthewise]

Why???? The addition of SSR takes absolutely nothing away from you. To wit, you still have a four month window in which to make reservations ahead of those who own at the supposedly lesser and larger resorts. The only potential stress that the addition of SSR places on you is that you likely will have to plan ahead, being certain to make your reservations before the seven-month window elapses. But this is no different from the system you currently enjoy.

I just find this whole topic of discussion completely befuddling. With the exception of original owners/members at OKW, I'd assume (and I may be wrong here) that most owners/members read their contracts prior to making their purchases and consequently were aware of the possibility of the construction of other (even larger) resorts.

I do my reservations at my home resort at 11 months to the day, but that's not where the potential problem lies. The problem is at the seven month window. If I ever want to stay at any resort other than my home resort, SSR has the potential to provide 2-4 times as much competition for those slots. This is actually a minor issue for me personally as we love our home resort and DW always says no when I suggest trying somewhere else -- so far we've spent exactly one night at other DVC resorts.

The secret fear is that SSR will turn out to be an 800-unit Vero Beach, with a large percentage of owners who bought with the intention of staying somewhere else. If that turns out to be false, and SSR owners love their resort, then no problem (or at least less of one). But if the secret fears are borne out, there is no question that it will put a strain on reservations at the seven-month window. Deep-Thots points out there is no problem if everyone else stays at their home resort; I say that applies equally to SSR owners.

In a sense the size of SSR is irrelevant, as the same thing could happen with three 250-unit resorts. But the anticipated size does lend focus to the issue. I think most of us realized that DVC would grow, the concern is that it grow in such a way that people are happy with their home resorts.

 

[mom2rb]

OK, I just got back from SSR. When we bought in Oct.2003 we were offered BCV. Some contracts had fallen through. I wanted the 12 extra years so I bought SSR instead. Now DH liked the pictures of Boardwalk and BCV. We had walked along the Boardwalk on our honeymoon and he liked the area. Next year we are going in Sept. so I didn't think it would be too hard to try a new resort. Last week we took the boat from Epcot to MGM. I asked DH which one he wanted me to try to change to. He said neither, he loved where we were and didn't care to ever stay at a different DVC onsite. We also ate at Wilderness Lodge so we have seen three others now.

I am not saying anything bad about any other resort, we just really loved where we were at. I loved putting the kids to bed, sitting on the balcony with my DH and watching the nightlife at DD. So SSR is winning people over too.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

OK, I just got back from SSR. When we bought in Oct.2003 we were offered BCV. Some contracts had fallen through. I wanted the 12 extra years so I bought SSR instead. Now DH liked the pictures of Boardwalk and BCV. We had walked along the Boardwalk on our honeymoon and he liked the area. Next year we are going in Sept. so I didn't think it would be too hard to try a new resort. Last week we took the boat from Epcot to MGM. I asked DH which one he wanted me to try to change to. He said neither, he loved where we were and didn't care to ever stay at a different DVC onsite. We also ate at Wilderness Lodge so we have seen three others now.

I am not saying anything bad about any other resort, we just really loved where we were at. I loved putting the kids to bed, sitting on the balcony with my DH and watching the nightlife at DD. So SSR is winning people over too.

I agree. Plus with the low points I think the only one that will feel the pressure from SSR is OKW . I personally would like to stay elsewhere but with my AP it makes more sence to pay the discount cash fee rather than use more points IMO. We travel in Sept and it is only 1 point a night difference but that can add up when you only own 150 like we do. We tend to take 2/3 small vacations a year and using the cash for the weekend nights. That is already 165 points in slow season for a studio. If we break it up every other year with OKW ressies it is 140 points for the same amount of time. We would wind up only having to juggle around 5 points in 2 years to get 3 weeks a year out of points/cash. Compare this to a 12 point a night resort and we would be using 180 points for the same time. IMO SSR is my favorite so if I really need 3 Disney weeks a year I could always book 2 weeks at SSR and 1 week at OKW in a studio and stay within my 150 point budget for 15 nights off season in a studio (3 5 night trips Sun-Thursday with cash Friday night)..

My reason for all thiese numbers is that I want to maximize my vacation time and by staying at the other resorts I cannot do that, unless I can get sv at BWV but I am not entertaining that thought since I believe from reading these boards that my chances are slim.

I have no idea how other SSR owners feel about it but I don't think you guys have to worry too much. You are also not taking into account how many people will trade in their points from the other resorts to try SSR.

 

[spiceycat]

Dean - my guide told me a couple of weeks ago - that SSR was selling out 15% faster than any other DVC resort.

this is not true?

I think this board under estimates the draw of DD - this place is constantly busy - to be able to walk over - vs taking a long bus drive or even worst trying to find a parking place - is a BIG draw. (my opinion)

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Dean - my guide told me a couple of weeks ago - that SSR was selling out 15% faster than any other DVC resort.

this is not true?

I think this board under estimates the draw of DD - this place is constantly busy - to be able to walk over - vs taking a long bus drive or even worst trying to find a parking place - is a BIG draw. (my opinion)

Definitely and the walk from Congress Park to DTD is nice. IMHO the resort is not this monsterous thing it is being made out to be either. We were actually pleasantly surprised with the size since we where expecting it to be alot bigger from reading the comments here. Also we expected the feature pool to be alot smaller then it was when we saw it IRL. I do wish there was a sit down service restaurant onsite. It would be nice to have both options to stay at the resort or go to DTD.

 

[beccasmom]

We stayed at SSR in August in a one-bedroom suite. We were on the first floor and had a great view of the fireworks (or so we thought – they lasted mere seconds !)

The décor is fine, but the overall styling of the resort did not come across as being very warm, IMHO. It was great to be able to walk to the Marketplace and we did on several occasions (more than we would have visited otherwise – I’m unsure whether this is a good or a bad thing! ).

However, the paucity of dining opportunities (leaving out DTD and Marketplace for the moment) is disappointing. At OKW, my home resort, we visit Olivia’s at least three times during our stays. We like taking a break in the middle of a hectic day to relax in a non-theme-park enviornment.

I’ve said before that if OKW did not exist, I doubt we would have been interested in DVC ownership. But that holds true for all the other DVC resorts we have visited – they have wonderful features and/or locations, but the overall effect is not as pleasing to us as OKW. I have a good friend who owns at BWV and is crazy about it; I think it is ok, but have no overpowering desire to stay there again. We have good-natured discussions about it all the time and she thinks OKW is “boring”; my chosen word would be “relaxing”. Different strokes!

 

[crisi]

In a sense the size of SSR is irrelevant, as the same thing could happen with three 250-unit resorts. But the anticipated size does lend focus to the issue. I think most of us realized that DVC would grow, the concern is that it grow in such a way that people are happy with their home resorts.

Not quite...

Say DVC built three 250 unit resorts instead of on SSR. One had the Upstate New York theme. The second had a European village feel to it. The third was Asian inspired (I'd kill for a resort with great Japanese gardens and shoji screens for curtains).

People who don't like the SSR theme would have two other "chances" to have resorts that appeal to them that they might switch into or book at seven months. I'm unlikely to every try SSR because neither the theme nor the location appeals to me - if I need a last minute resort and that is what is available, I'll live. But I might try to change into either of the other two resorts at seven months (or BCV or VWL or OKW) - freeing up my BW Standard View reservations for someone else.

The nice thing about DVC is that there are resorts to appeal to everyone. But when one of the resorts is bigger than the rest, it does throw a wrench into the availability of the smaller resorts - not right at seven months, everyone has the same chance with MS opens - but at five or six months (and potentially if you don't make early morning day to day reservations at seven months - which I think is what people are most concerned about). The more "themed" resorts DVC offers its members, the more appealing the "DVC offers a lot of different experiences, there will be one, or several, that appeal to you" argument becomes.

 

[rinkwide]

...when one of the resorts is bigger than the rest...

If SSR was going to be only somewhat larger then it wouldn't really be a concern but this thing is literally going to dwarf all of the other resorts. Those who have visited recently and commented that they didn't think it was all that unwieldy are going to find a much different resort developing as they visit in future years. Hopefully both owners and non-owners alike will find the completed resort attractive enough to want to stay there on a consistant basis.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

To me, unless you're dying for a DTD view, there is no 11 month advantage to SSR. Except for the GV's, there will probably always be rooms at the 7 month window, no matter what season.

We're buying HH b/c of the low cost of points, dues and proximity to where we live. We'll probably alternate summers at HH and WDW, so the 11 month advantage of HH plays a factor there. Then we plan to go to WDW in Nov or Dec each year for a long weekend.

We'd love to stay at BCV during IFWF and VWL in early December, but we realize we may have to waitlist at 7 months. But we're pretty confident we could alway get a room at OKW or SSR, and we'd be happy to stay at either.

In a few years, we may decide to buy SSR for the extra 12 years. By then, they may be plentiful on the resale market and we'll go fo the one with banked points.

 

[burnsoc]

When I visited SSR I fully expected to dislike it. I own at BCV and VWL, and the thought of this huge resort that was being put together using some existing buildings sounded unappealing to me. When I visited during MH I was impressed, especially by the GV and quiet pool/playground area. My DW and I love the DD area and visit several times each trip. We started to talk about how if we stayed here we would spend our vacation relaxing and spend less time in the parks. So SSR began to have some appeal to us and we did an add on based on getting a GV for a week every three years. I have yet to meet a DVC resort I didn't like! For anyone who hasn't seen SSR yet, here's a link to my photo album of SSR pictures... <A HREF="http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286528827"><IMG SRC="http://www.imagestation.com/images/is/community/this_album_button.gif" BORDER="0"></A>

 

[kweaver]

Out of curiosity...does anyone know how big SSR is compared to some of the other major new timeshare resorts? I'm thinking HGVC and Marriott...maybe even the newer Fairfield (though I think their Orlando property is the only one that really compares) and Starwood. Is 800 units out of the ball park compared to their major new properties? Maybe Disney is just trying to keep up with the Jones'.

We are happy to be at SSR. Well, I guess we're happy to be at a great Disney resort. I'm sure we'll stay at other properties sometimes...but we like that fact that we can have some wild, fun times at the parks...and then go back to the serenity and luxury of our villa (or the spa, or the pool) and easily go off site to do other things we enjoy. We like having simple and easy access to our car.

I guess if we had the expectation that "vacation accomodations" automatically means a massive hotel with valet, bell hops, concierge and the works...we might feel differently. However, we tend to rent houses or condos on other vacations anyway. The number of buildings or units doesn't bother us either. As long as our villa is well kept and there's room in the pool...we're happy.

I do think that if SSR had larger rooms with the same furnishings/point structures/amenities...there would be very little negativity heard from anyone. It's one of the few things that I think DVC could have done a better job with on this resort.

 

[spiceycat]

the originally plans were for a resort smaller than OKW - but the sales were so wonderful that DVD couldn't resist adding on - it is Phase III as far as selling is concerned. Phase II as building????

I think there is now plans for Phase IV?

DVC definitely listens to its members. So say you want an onsite restuarant - but don't expect one. BWV, BCV or VWL don't - they are using either the outside BW or the prior resorts restuarants.

I was surprise that they offered any food court at all - with DD so close - I expected to heard what I got told with BW - "you can't walk 5 minutes"

However another main pool on the other side of the resort I can definitely see a need for.

OKW has 2 - the main one and Turtle Pond.