A Glorified 800 Unit Apartment Complex?

[spiceycat]

instead of having banked or current points - these contracts don't have any points until 2006.

 

[Sammie]

How are the hallways at SSR any less attractive than the outside entrances to OKW?

I really do not understand the complaint about this. You can not compare them to a hotel situation such BCV, VWL or BW as it is not the same.

Certainly one might prefer inside corridors which would be the same as those that do not like the Moderate resorts or Value resorts for the same reason.

But to imply there is anything actually wrong with them implies that for outside entrances they are in some way defective.

As far as the view walking from SSR to DD I found it more attractive than what you see below your balcony when you get that prized Epcot view at BCV.

 

[kweaver]

Sometimes I wonder if the troublesome issue of outside hallways is due to the fact that they are just not standard in a large part of the country. Many people are not used to them.

I grew up in the midwest, and when I moved to Atlanta I had to get used to all of the outside hallways. My first apartment here, while it was very nice, had outside stairwells and hallways...and to be honest it kind of creeped me out for a while. Now that I've lived in and travelled throughout the South, I've gotten used to them. They are very typical here, along with outside escalators, etc. Almost every apartment complex near me has "outside" entrances similar to OKW or SSR.

It makes sense, economically, to have outside hallways here. The weather is great 9 months out of the year...no need to heat/cool them.

I agree, they are not as plush as some inside hallways. Then again, I remember visiting a friend from high school in suburban Chicago after I'd been here a year. Walking through the dreary hallways of her apartment building reminded me more of a college dorm floor during summer break. I was really thankful for my brand new, squeaky clean, upscale apartment then...even if it did have outside hallways! I was only paying $635 a month...probably a heck of a lot less than she was paying too.

I do think SSR could spruce up their hallways a bit. They need some plants/planters...maybe a different color for the concrete stain (or some decorative painting)...some nice outdoor plaques or a decorative *something* to spruce up the blank wall spaces. They have done a great job landscaping around the buildings...but the hallways look a bit blank.

 

[tjkraz]

It seems that only the cinema, and the top of the DVC preview center is made out of that corrugated steel. If I was in charge of DVC sales... I would be screaming bloody murder to change the siding to something more upscale looking. Most of the other buildings are really fairly nice, but these couple of buildings really drag down the entire appearance in my humble opinion.

AFAIK, that was a design decision made by the Imagineers. It has been posted previously that many of the buildings in Saratoga Springs NY are post-war airplane hangers with the type of corrugated steel construction you see displayed in areas of SSR.

Taken out of context, I can see how that type of construction may seem out of place at a high-end resort complex. But it's simply part of the design theme of the entire property--much the same way that cob webs and layers of dust are part of the theming of Tower of Terror.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Thanks for the update on the corrugated steel buildings. I still think it is a mistake (from a purely biz sense) for DVC to use construction techniques that are not considered visually appealing by most people.

For example... after recently taking a trip to the south pacific islands... I can guarantee you that WDW uses some discretition in choosing which elements to bring into the Polynesian resort. They could have made a much more authentic property... that nobody would have wanted to stay in. I think they should have done the same with SSR.

Before you feel that I am too negative on corrigated steel buildings... I happen to be a proud owner of a fine hangar for my plane that is made with this material... It works ok on my hangar... but I would not want it on my house, nor on my vacation property... regardless of the theming objectives.

Like I said in my original post... the SSR cinema makes the common area look like the MGM backlot. I think this is one imagineering decision that should be reversed.

/Jim

 

[NMW]

We bought a BWV resale because we like the Epcot location. We found out about resales on our own through the web. I have to say, I think SSR seems pretty nice. I don't think the hallway thing would bother me. In fact, if it wasn't for this board, I don't think I would have thought twice about them! Having stayed at both the BC and YC, I think SAB is nice, but I can't understand the hoopla about it on this board. In fact, if I had never seen it and only read about it this board, I think I'd be a little bummed when I got there. Don't get me wrong, it's really nice, but so are a lot of other pools in WDW. The Poly, BW, AK, CSR are all really nice. The pictures of the SSR pool look really cool. I love those rocks. I really like the pool at BWV but when we stayed on the Inn side in 2002, I thought it was too crowed for a resort that size. (I knew very little about DVC and pool hopping at the time). I guess that and crashers could explain the crowded thing!
I think some underestimate the appeal of being close to DTD. We love to go there at night and the bus ride from the other resorts really stinks. My DH can't wait to stay there for that reason. Probably our 3rd DVC trip will be at SSR.

 

[FLYNZ4]

I think some underestimate the appeal of being close to DTD. We love to go there at night and the bus ride from the other resorts really stinks. My DH can't wait to stay there for that reason. Probably our 3rd DVC trip will be at SSR.

I agree that the convenience factor for DD is going to be great. Even in the summer, the evenings/nights are great for a walk. The west walkway is really nice through the golf course.

/Jim

 

[Sammie]

Sometimes I wonder if the troublesome issue of outside hallways is due to the fact that they are just not standard in a large part of the country. Many people are not used to them.

I grew up in the midwest, and when I moved to Atlanta I had to get used to all of the outside hallways. My first apartment here, while it was very nice, had outside stairwells and hallways...and to be honest it kind of creeped me out for a while. Now that I've lived in and travelled throughout the South, I've gotten used to them. They are very typical here, along with outside escalators, etc. Almost every apartment complex near me has "outside" entrances similar to OKW or SSR.

It makes sense, economically, to have outside hallways here. The weather is great 9 months out of the year...no need to heat/cool them.

I agree, they are not as plush as some inside hallways. Then again, I remember visiting a friend from high school in suburban Chicago after I'd been here a year. Walking through the dreary hallways of her apartment building reminded me more of a college dorm floor during summer break. I was really thankful for my brand new, squeaky clean, upscale apartment then...even if it did have outside hallways! I was only paying $635 a month...probably a heck of a lot less than she was paying too.

I do think SSR could spruce up their hallways a bit. They need some plants/planters...maybe a different color for the concrete stain (or some decorative painting)...some nice outdoor plaques or a decorative *something* to spruce up the blank wall spaces. They have done a great job landscaping around the buildings...but the hallways look a bit blank.

Isn't the concrete already stained a color? I don't remember it being just concrete, it was painted or stained.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Sammie,

Yes, they are colored and I think they look OK.

An advantage of this setup is that each building has an "entrance side" toward the cars, and a "view side" toward the water. I think this is better than ending up with 1/2 the units with good views, and the other half with parking lot views. At the same time, you still get lots of privacy with private decks and balconies. This is very different than the "motel style" entrances of CBR, PO, or CSR where the public walkway, door into the unit, and view are all along the same wall.

The biggest downside that I can imagine with SSR walkways is controlling mosquitos getting into the units when opening the unit doors. With interior halls, this generally is easy to control. The advantage of SSR is that you do not have stale cooking smells lingering in the interior hallways like you do in some of the other resorts.

/Jim

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Thanks for the update on the corrugated steel buildings. I still think it is a mistake (from a purely biz sense) for DVC to use construction techniques that are not considered visually appealing by most people.

DVC did not specifiy the construction techniques. Disney Vacation Development (DVD) took over existing buildings. At SSR, only the residential buildings are new.

The buildings of the SSR public area are left over from the old Disney Institute campus. Esteemed architect Thomas Beeby designed that campus. (Michael Eisner likes to hire "name" architects.) See http://www.hbra-arch.com/resort_files/disney.html

You're not supposed to mess with works of great architects, just like you're not supposed to mess with the paintings of great artists like Renoir or Picasso. (Actually, the location of the feature pool at SSR infringes on the site design, but that's another story.)

The whole upsate New York theme of SSR was dictated by the decision to reuse Thomas Beeby's campus.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Sammie,

Yes, they are colored and I think they look OK.

An advantage of this setup is that each building has an "entrance side" toward the cars, and a "view side" toward the water. I think this is better than ending up with 1/2 the units with good views, and the other half with parking lot views. At the same time, you still get lots of privacy with private decks and balconies. This is very different than the "motel style" entrances of CBR, PO, or CSR where the public walkway, door into the unit, and view are all along the same wall.

The biggest downside that I can imagine with SSR walkways is controlling mosquitos getting into the units when opening the unit doors. With interior halls, this generally is easy to control. The advantage of SSR is that you do not have stale cooking smells lingering in the interior hallways like you do in some of the other resorts.

/Jim

Mosquitos probably aren't as bad as you may think. Alot of WDW properties have outside entrances and I would think they would stop building them if guests were having many problems.

 

[pumpkinboy]

...
2) Buying sold out from DVC is now more expensive than buying SSR.
...

Au contraire, mon ami! When we did a double add-on in August, we bought the 130 SSR points (to get the APs) and another 60 BWV points (available thx to more aggressive ROFR) from DVD. The SSR points were Phase I, and came with full 2004 points (Feb UY), and ran $95 less $5 incentive for $90 each, again with all current points (a very good deal IMO). The BWV add-on ran the standard $89 a point (with current UY points of course). So in our case, the SSR points were $1 more expensive than the BWV points.

 

[LeftCoaster]

I do think SSR could spruce up their hallways a bit. They need some plants/planters...maybe a different color for the concrete stain (or some decorative painting)...some nice outdoor plaques or a decorative *something* to spruce up the blank wall spaces. They have done a great job landscaping around the buildings...but the hallways look a bit blank.

This is exactly how I feel about the outside walkways at SSR. I do prefer the outside walkways but at SSR, they're just a bit too bland. Find "Something" to break up the monotony of the walkways. The rest of the resort, I thought was beautiful and it'll only get better once the landscaping matures.

 

[timC]

The biggest turn-off for us was the "under-construction" feel it had, when we took a look this past summer... Of course the construction will end, the landscaping will mature, etc.

After that, It'll become a sprawling resort complex, in the disney tradition of OKW, CBR, CSR.

I'm a VWL & BWV owner.

 

[TDC Nala]

I can get my BCV home for Food & Wine time and maybe in December. Any other time I think I'll be thrilled to stay at SSR for fewer points and access to Downtown Disney (although I think the bus returning from PI is still easier to take when going to OKW).

 

[HUFF590]

If you run really fast, or close your eyes a little you wont hardly see or notice the hall ways, but if you sleep in them, or stop to see what color they are, you might get bit or scrape yourself on the concrete.imop

 

[Macmonster]

The biggest downside that I can imagine with SSR walkways is controlling mosquitos getting into the units when opening the unit doors. With interior halls, this generally is easy to control.

Being a long time OKW, and HHI visitor, owner I do not have any issues with the outside entrances as they have done them there. Very convenient to move in and out of and after staying at the FAR end at BWV near the parking lot once (and only once) the advantages outweigh any downside.

We have stayed during all seasons at OKW and HHI and we have encountered more mosquitos (small rapidly moving critters running up and down the halls) at BCV than any where else. Just being sarcastic now that it is just the two of us able to travel!!! YAHOO!!! Although I can not wait to take our future "grand-mosquitos".

We will be at OKW in two weeks and have planned to visit SSR to check out the spa and general look and feel. Each resort has it's own flavor with pros and cons...I just wish I could own points at all of them!!!

What I want is a DVC cruise ship!!!

 

[mamaprincess]

That was hilarious!

 

[Deemarch]

When we read all of the disappointment in the hallways we were a bit nervous and when we saw them we were perplexed. The hallways looked great! They were wide, open, bright, clean and we just loved the "Welcome Home" door mats! Again, a matter of opinion and we just didn't get what people had a problem with.

Denise

 

[LIFERBABE]

In my opinion the pools at VWL are way to small to handle the guests of the lodge, the villas and the pool hoppers from the campground. The only food options are Whispering Canyon, (which can get old real quick on a daily basis), Artist's Point, (very expensive), and Roaring Forks which is no larger and the selection is not any better than Artist's Pallete just different choices.

After staying at VWL and SSR, I totally agree. Name one main DVC Pool onsite that is larger than SSR's besides SAB. And yet no one ever complains about the sizes of these pools. VWL has the main pool and the VWL quiet pool. That is it.

I agree about the dining choices too, Artist Point was not in the budget, we've done WC and Roaring Forks was just as limited if not more than Art Pall.

We enjoyed our stay at VWL but I won't be fighting to get in at 7 months as MK is not our favorite thing in the world to do. I am more than happy to stay at SSR and if we have family along we will definitely stay at SSR in a GV as opposed to OKW or BWV for the DTD location and direct bus service.

BCV does not have GV and honestly if it werent for our love of B&C and SAB, I wouldnt fight to stay there either. I own there and I know the importance of the 11 month window. I do like Hurricane Hanna's serving Hot food and has lots of choices.

We like BWV and the service was excellent but wish the feature pool had more features. And I agree about the dining options for fast choices. There are alot of sit down restaurants and room service but you are pressed to find something quick without going into Epcot.

So yes they all have positives and negatives, but SSR is very comprehensive and meets our needs. I love our G800UAC! And will be more than happy to stay there and take my f&f too!

Oh Dee! Thanks for reminding me about the WH doormats! LOL The interior hallways don't have doormats!