Allure going, going, gone...

[Pootle]

Make no mistake, MOST people hate, despise and loathe buses;

And your evidence for this would be ......

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say this (although I don't doubt it is true for SOME), and yet you state with absolute confidence that it's a fact for MOST.

My family think the buses are great. What we don't care for is the walk from a distant car park if we've been out to eat offsite or doing some shopping - nor is DH a fan of valet parking!

 

[DVC Grammy]

Well, here we are in the minority again .
For DH and me, the WDW transportation is one of the things we enjoy. This is especially true being DVCers: our trips to WDW are more frequent and at a much more leisurely pace. Part of that relaxation is not having to drive anywhere.

 

[Starr W.]

Well, here we are in the minority again .
For DH and me, the WDW transportation is one of the things we enjoy. This is especially true being DVCers: our trips to WDW are more frequent and at a much more leisurely pace. Part of that relaxation is not having to drive anywhere.

Well put me in that "minority" too . We love riding the buses and not renting a car. Now we will rent a car when we decide to do "off site" stuff, but to take it to the parks. NO!

 

[castleri]

Add another to the "minority" - using Disney transportation is one of the perks as far as I am concerned. My family actually enjoys the bus rides and watching the excitement on the faces of small children and first time visitors and having the opportunity to just sit back and let someone else deal with the traffic. I actually spent the better part of one day just going form one
resort to another and and using just about every form of transportation that was not inside any of the parks. It was a great day.
I also do not care whether there are any fine dining options at my resort nor do I care if I see a paper the entire time I am on vacation. In fact we don't get one at out regular home - why would I want one at Disney. I prefer to keep the rest of the outside world just that outside while I am there. We do occasionally turn on the TV and catch the news while having coffee but definitely don't need that paper.
Having stayed at AKL I did not find the location to be a problem - it is just a bus ride away from anything I want to do.
I also own points at BCV and have trouble using them up as I much prefer OKW or SSR unless I have plans to spend a lot of time at SAB. Guess we will be using those to try to book AKV at the 7 month window.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

For our family flexibility and variety are some of the key selling points of DVC. we vacation with 4 teenagers and have stayed in all the resorts except for VWL. We choose the resort based on what type of vacation the group is looking for. If you asked our kids their favourite hangouts are the SSR congress park pool and the OKW Southpoint pool. To read some of the responses here those resorts have no feature drawing point. I disagree, the family vacation is the drawing point for us. DVC provides the choices.

I didn't answer the poll as we are SSR owners so I don't know the situation before SSR. We have always managed to get our desired BWV reservations for F&W during the imfamous Jersey Week crowded time. Sometimes needed a waitlist, sometimes not.

Buses....we have rode the endless bus route from Animal Kingdom to BWV and groaned at every stop. Always felt OKW had the most direct buses. Haven't tried the SSR buses as we were too busy enjoying the resort !

I really think we would be hard-pressed to find an actual "average DVC'r" ! Although there is so much good information in these Boards, sometimes it's difficult to wade through all the harsh opinions that are advertised to be those of the 'Average DVC'r'. When I realized that, we decided to take a chance on a reservation at the dreaded SSR and were wonderfully surprised to find yet another great place to stay. We joined in 2004 when there were 7 great choices and now three years later there are 8. How great is that?

 

[loribell]

BroganMc,

I fully expect AKV to be pretty popular, although it might be a bit too large. My personal opinion is that SSR is the one that will have the excess vacancies forever. Here's why:

1. The animals are really neat to see, and you can see then from right there in your resort, which is important. Most people enjoy seeing this more than once. I do think split stays will be popular.

2. Visitors to AKV will have on-site fine dining options, which is important.

3. Visitors to AKV are going to be able to walk down in the morning and get a newspaper with relative ease. It ruins a vacation not to be able to do this.

I do agree the AKV location is the pits, but the animal angle is likely to keep people coming back more than once. This resort will sell quickly and have far fewer complaints from the EPCOT/MK members than SSR has had.

Make no mistake, MOST people hate, despise and loathe buses; so any DVC which doesn't include the option of either walking to the parks or a super-quick bus, boat or monorail ride is going to be greeted with a certain amount of dread by those of us who have a walking-distance home resort. With that said, I don't think AKV is going to rouse the feelings of "we've been cheated" that SSR has caused. The size is more reasonable, the amenities are better, and it's just a place where the average DVC member would be more willing to stay, either by choice or because it was all that was available. (I personally do not expect the easy availability everyone else seems to forcast for a year or two.)

On a personal level, I'm looking forward to staying a few days at AKV. Who knows, I might even buy a few points.

So according the your statements I bolded AKV is a short term stay location? You would like to stay a few days. Others will want split stays. Doesn't sound like you think it actually has enough draw to keep visitors there for a long vacation.

Also SSR visitors have a whole lot of dining options to choose from, just a short walk away at DTD. Don't know if any of them are considered fine dining. We don't go on vacation for fine dining. We have stayed at AKL once & we really liked it but the restaurants all have a smell to them from the spices they use. My dd wouldn't even eat inside at the food court. We had to get food and eat outside.

So it ruins a vacation to not be able to walk down and get a newspaper? I could care less what a newspare has to say while I am on vacation enjoying time with my family. I wonder how many people's vacations are ruined because they can't get a newspaper?

Oh and the one time we stayed at the BCV we experienced our worst ever park transportation. The buses from there are the worst on property, IMHO. The walk to EPCOT is nice but it is a long hike to MGM, so all those people that complain about how far of a walk to get around SSR surely can't be walking to MGM. So that leaves the boat for getting to MGM. Well that one will take you forever too.

I would almost guarantee you that as soon as AKV gets going good the bashing will start there. It has happened to every resort I have been around for. There is no reason for it not to happen at AKV.

Well put me in that "minority" too . We love riding the buses and not renting a car. Now we will rent a car when we decide to do "off site" stuff, but to take it to the parks. NO!

Another family in the minority here! We ride the busses even when we have a car parked outside of our room.

 

[crisi]

Well put me in that "minority" too . We love riding the buses and not renting a car. Now we will rent a car when we decide to do "off site" stuff, but to take it to the parks. NO!

Another bus family. One of the reasons OKW and SSR have so little appeal for us is that they mean renting a car.

We've run poll after poll around these boards, and about half the people seem to ride buses. Make no mistake, anyone who LOATHES, HATES, and DESPISES buses is going to scrape together enough money to rent a cheap car rather than have to take the buses - yet lots of us take the buses.

Are they ideal - nope. Do I like it when they pull up full or when I want 25 minutes in the heat for them to pull up at all - nope. But I really don't like driving at Disney either.

 

[yitbos96bb]

To Quote Artie Lange... WAAAHHHHH. Even though I have a 4 month advantange to book my home resort, I wait until the last minute and don't get what I want... WAAAHHHHHH!

Seriously... If there wasn't an 11 month window, I might see your point. You have 4 months to book exclusively at your resort. Try planning your vacations ahead of time and you won't have this issue.

And yes, I do own at SSR. I like the resort, but then I don't have any kids and actually come to Disney to go to the parks and DTD and the Boardwalk, rather than waste away at the pool. I may think differently once we have kids. We chose to stay at BCV this time around as we try ALL of the resorts, which is our right as DVC owners. To get those, I called everyday at the Christmas Window to get my room. Do I feel sorry for any BCV owner who missed out... HECK NO!!!! They had 4 months to call.

AND Disney is built for EVERYONE, not just families... Single parent Families, Couples, DINKs, Empty NEsters, Teens, etc... THAT'S THE GREATNESS OF DISNEY!

I have been a DVC member for over 5 years and all this time I have held this to be one of the smartest decsions I have ever done. It helps that I live in South Florida and can travel to Orlando frequently; but this is also the problem.

It used to be that I could reserve BCV in the second week of September, a month out (we do a lot of our traveling at the spur of the moment). Now it is completely booked. Only chance of getting BCV is to book 11 months out (I own at BCV). There is however, plenty of space at Saratoga Springs.

Of course, having recently stayed at Saratoga Springs, I don't want to stay there again and I think this feeling is shared by most who own there and they are flocking to the other resorts filling them up even in the periods of low vacancy.

I think DVC made a strategic error with with SSR. The combination of a huge number of rooms and sub-par* facilities/location is driving huge amount of traffic to the other resorts effectively crowding them out and adversely affecting the availability. Unless SSR becomes a destination resort such as BCV or WLV, this will continue to be the case. Imagine the difference if SSR sported a pool such as Stormalong Bay or a location such as VWL (nature setting or proximity to MK) and families with kids actually flocked there.

There is another hotel in the area that is fully booked year around and commands stratospheric rates for its rooms. I am talking about Nick Hotel - everyone who stays there raves of the amenities and how much the kids love the place, the pool area, the diversions, etc. I am an ardent Disney fan, but I can tell you that my kids were not raving about SSR. Quite the contrary, they kept asking me if we were going to go to the swirly, sandy pool. I told them that yes, in September we would go. :>(

Andrew Medina


*I do not mean to offend anyone and my term of 'sub-par' reflect the needs and desires of a parent with 3 kids (namely close proximity to pools, an incredbile aquatic facility, and proximity to parks that does not require hopping in the car everyday). Being that Disney is centered around famlies with kids, I feel that this should be a priority and therefore cannot explain the lack of a spectacular pool or other amenity at SSR that would 'wow' families.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I stayed at SSR and had No issues with the Buses at all. In fact, being next to DTD, has some big advantages in getting around WDW property after park closing. If you work the bus system right, it doesn't matter WHERE you stay... its a piece of cake (although All Stars and Pop during Busy times can be frustrating).

Another bus family. One of the reasons OKW and SSR have so little appeal for us is that they mean renting a car.

We've run poll after poll around these boards, and about half the people seem to ride buses. Make no mistake, anyone who LOATHES, HATES, and DESPISES buses is going to scrape together enough money to rent a cheap car rather than have to take the buses - yet lots of us take the buses.

Are they ideal - nope. Do I like it when they pull up full or when I want 25 minutes in the heat for them to pull up at all - nope. But I really don't like driving at Disney either.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Well, here we are in the minority again .
For DH and me, the WDW transportation is one of the things we enjoy. This is especially true being DVCers: our trips to WDW are more frequent and at a much more leisurely pace. Part of that relaxation is not having to drive anywhere.

Same Here... NOW SURE, I WISH that there was a monorail all around property because Monorails are COOL!!!! But there isn't. Free transportation rules... I'd rather use the $200-400 for a car on something else... Tours, Souvenirs, Fine Dining, Turkey Legs...MMM...Turkey Legs... Drooooool

 

[loribell]

Now that would be a lot of turkey legs!

 

[yitbos96bb]

I guess I will never understand this way of thinking? I am sure Disney developed SSR because there was a demand for more vacation club resorts on property. Since SSR they have added the AKV and apparently the Contemporary will have some DVC rooms or a building.

You are in WDW, how can there be that much of an inconvience? We have a three year old and have stayed at SSR with her twice. We are thrilled that we can afford to be members and provide our family with a quality, fun filled vacation. I stayed at BWV last year, and yes it was great to be so close to Epcot, and then hop the monorail and go to MK. But, overall the fact that I am staying on Disney property in what I consider to be a very comfortable room (we usually get the 1 Bedroom), I just cant understand complaining about it.

I do understand the advantage BWV & BC have being so close, but now you will have WLV & Contemporary with rooms closer to MK, and AKV having closeness to the Animal Kingdom.

Sorry, but I see nothing subpar with SSR. I love the resort, and I see the advantage as having nice pools, being close to DTD for dinner and some extra nightlife, and a relaxing, peaceful and beautiful landscaped resort at SSR.

To each his own. I plan to stay at all the DVC resorts one day with my membership, but I cant understand how people continue to complain when they are staying at an upscale resort in WDW.

E

Because many of the DVCers on Dis think they OWN the theme parks, hotel and Disney Property and like to act like spoiled little 3 year olds who won't give up their toys and share with others. The OP got my BLOOD boiling with his complaining about not being able to call a month ahead... He should then call 11 months ahead to book and he won't have to worry about SSR or any other owners getting his precious room.

 

[tomandrobin]

We too are a bus family. After a long day, there nothing better then to relax and be driven, in a/c back to my resort. Same with the monorail, just sit back and relax.

We drive all the time, and its nice to have one less thing to worry about!

 

[yitbos96bb]

These threads have become funny.

less than 35 years from today this problem will be resolved.

If you do not understand the system or can not work with the system than DVC is not for you. If you need to stay at your home resort than you have an amazing chance of getting the room you want at the 11 month window up to the 7 months and 1 day out. If the room is not available it is other owners of that resort that booked it. If you book past this than SSR works to your advantage as it added a lot more rooms and chances of you getting a room at Dinsey with short notice most times of the year.[/QUOTE

Couldn't have said it better...

I want to do a thread...

Which DVC owners complain the most on Dis?

I'd bet BCV or BWV win, with VWL coming in third, would be my guest.

 

[disneynutz]

As DVC grows, home resort and 11 month planning becomes more and more important. DVC is becoming more of like the "other" timeshare brands with each additional property they add into the system. When OKW was built, DVC was just another timeshare resort, now its a timeshare system. I don't think DVC was planned initially to be a system, which is also part of the problem.

My Westin timeshare ownership works in a similar fashion. As the DVC system grows, it will/should become easier to book a room overall. But those small resort will become harder to secure a room. Kind of a paradox. Harborside is extremely hard to trade into, but since the second phase was added a few years ago, the trades have become easier. Same as Hawii, there was just one Westin TS resort. Now there are two, with a third opening next year. Availablity, at least internally, has become easier to obtain. Now St. John, like BCV, is a small resort that is very hard to obtain.

I don't see how it can become easier. With each new unit thousands of potential new members are added. DVD is putting sales keosks on every corner. They also have a history of building only what the can sell so they won't have extra inventory sitting around. We assume that DVC members are as educated as the DIS members. I don't think that is so. I have been amazed how many bought at a resort because that is what the Guides were pushing at the time. While at SSR last May a new Member asked me if I knew anything about a DVC property over by EPCOT. I explained that there were two. He asked me if he was allowed to stay there since he was a SSR owner. If you build it they will come.

 

[Mississippian]

Add another to the "minority" - using Disney transportation is one of the perks as far as I am concerned. My family actually enjoys the bus rides and watching the excitement on the faces of small children and first time visitors and having the opportunity to just sit back and let someone else deal with the traffic.

Don't forget the faces of small children when they don't manage to get on the bus because there is not enough room. Of the faces of everyone while they wait and wait and wait for the bus, which then takes forever to take them to the park. Or the faces of everyone who has to stand up on the bus because there aren't enough seats.

Now compare and contrast to the faces of guests who merely take a few steps and insert their passes into the turnstiles and viola! they are in EPCOT. From there a few more steps take them to the monorail where they can go to the Magic Kingdom. If you ask, they will let your children ride up front and "pilot" the monorail. Talk about seeing some happy children's faces!

 

[crisi]

I stayed at SSR and had No issues with the Buses at all. In fact, being next to DTD, has some big advantages in getting around WDW property after park closing. If you work the bus system right, it doesn't matter WHERE you stay... its a piece of cake (although All Stars and Pop during Busy times can be frustrating).

I wouldn't want to be stuck out in the Carousel and need to take a bus or that walk for the theme pool. Same with OKW - the farthest units are too far to walk to the theme pool and, as much as I don't mind buses, I'm not waiting for one for the pool or to go get a snack.

I find the walk to DTD to be too far to be convenient from SSR as well.

I base this on walking around both resorts this June.

We also supplement our bus riding with cab rides and there aren't convenient cab stands at those two resorts if your room is in the boonies.

 

[Mississippian]

Well, here we are in the minority again .
For DH and me, the WDW transportation is one of the things we enjoy. This is especially true being DVCers: our trips to WDW are more frequent and at a much more leisurely pace. Part of that relaxation is not having to drive anywhere.

Grammy,

I HATE to drive, which is why it is so important to stay at the EPCOT resorts. There are so many dining options there, and it is easy to get to the Magic Kingdom resorts by walking through EPCOT. It is virtually impossible to get from resort to resort using disney trasportation.

Just because I hate, despise and loathe buses doesn't mean I don't like Disney transportation. I love the monorail. I like the boats okay. And if the resort is placed in a reasonable location, I love to walk.

That said, I've stayed at the AKL and lived with the buses for a few days. I had a good time. I wouldn't want to do it all the time or for an extended trip.

 

[Starr W.]

Another bus family. One of the reasons OKW and SSR have so little appeal for us is that they mean renting a car.

We've run poll after poll around these boards, and about half the people seem to ride buses. Make no mistake, anyone who LOATHES, HATES, and DESPISES buses is going to scrape together enough money to rent a cheap car rather than have to take the buses - yet lots of us take the buses.

Are they ideal - nope. Do I like it when they pull up full or when I want 25 minutes in the heat for them to pull up at all - nope. But I really don't like driving at Disney either.

We stay at SSR and do just fine without a car. Plus I don't find the walk to DTD very strenuous or too far(now I find the bus from DTD back to SSR about as slow as BroganMc finds the boat ride over at Epcot/MGM). We're a family of walkers(even the boys) so it doesn't bother us.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I get what the OP is saying- although they do seem to be trying to with their negative comments about ssr.
One thing that I believe with help the situation is allowing SSR owners to book their location preferences. I can tell you that SSR with a DTD view will always be my 1st or second choice of all the rooms in the DVC system. However a room in the Carousel is probably my second to last choice of all possible DVC rooms. So everytime I book my home resort, I will be very likely to switch at 7 months because I do not want to risk getting a room at the Carousel. If MS would institute a guarantee for locations at SSR (guarantee section and also a DTD view category) many more SSR owners would be staying at their home resort. It is this game of room assignment roulette that prompts me to get on the phone day by day at 7 months to switch out of SSR.
Click on my 'booking categories' signature picture to see how to support booking categories at SSR.