Am I Missing Something - SSR vs. OKW?

[lat]

So far, we have not stayed at OKW. However, when looking at the point chart, I am a little turned off (originally thinking about doing an add-on):

If OKW and SSR are around the same vicinity, why would I want to get smaller rooms, more pts to stay at SSR while I can have OKW?

What is the draw for SSR? Newer rooms, fancier pool(s), shorter walk to DD?

Do you think since it will be larger than OKW, the dues will eventually be less than OKW's?

Just trying to figure out the justifications of staying there or buying SSR pts. Yes, I know it has an additional 12 years of pts. But realistically, if I were making reservations for my trip, looking at the pts, I would either choose BWV std view rooms or OKW, why SSR?

Can someone please help? Am I missing something?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I must say, I had some similar thouhts to yours, but I LOVE OKW, so I wouldn't do it either. For someone just coming into DVC though, I think the extra 12 years would be the draw.

 

[Beth]

A lot of people chose BCV over BWV simply because of SAB.

Perhaps the planned theme pool at SSR will draw some people away from an OKW resale?!?

 

[dianeschlicht]

That might be true for folks with kids, but the theme pools mean nothing to me. I would be more inclined to do it for the spa.

 

[JimC]

The pool, spa and 50 year contract, availability of grand villas, and lower points (except for OKW) will all be draws for different members.

I wonder if the layout of the SSR will be as interesting and private as OKW (what I call the courtyard community condo style) or if it will be more downtown like (large buildings along streets) with separate open spaces.

My view of the future (full of speculation, but here goes...)

With BCV and VB selling out shortly, SSR is likely to be the only open inventory for some time. Any meaningful growth in membership is going to come from SSR. I suspect that the resales will continue to do well, but that there may be fewer members looking to sell in a few years -- my reasoning -- many selling today are a combination of the extended bad economy and early adopters who are cashing out at a significant profit. The economy will eventually rebound and there are a limited number of early adopters among us. DVC will continue to buyback using ROFR to meet waitlist demands until its ability to resell at its then current list price becomes impaired by too few remaining years on the contract. That is when our point values will start to decline.

But as a prepaid vacation, the value remains as long as we are healthy enough to go home!!

 

[Richyams]

SSR looks like a poor deal to me also.....especially the GVs.

The point on everything else are somewhere near the middle of OKW and BCV, all except for the GVs, the GVs are way closer to BWV GVs, yet ne chance of a BW view.

I guess they needed the extra years to sell this loser.

 

[Disney Doll]

We just got back from WDW, and saw SSR under construction from across the water at DD. It does not appear to have the town-like feel of OKW. It apears to be a big building, kind of more like a hotel style, rather than a condo style. Some of what I believe were the old units from the DI are still up, so I don't know if they are going to be part of SSR, or if Disney just hasn't gotten them torn down yet. It seems to me though that they usually tear everything down that needs to be torn down before they start to build. The Treehouse Villas, which are around the same vicinity, are also still there, but empty and getting over-grown looking.

My guess is that the longer end date, the proximity to DD, the pool, the spa, and the proximity to the golf course will be the selling points. I know that the main pool at OKW, while certainly very nice, is not one of the "premier" pools at a DVC resort(a la SAB, or the clown pool at BWV). For those people to whom a pool is a very important feature, a nice pool at SSR might be a selling point. There are also those folks who love to buy in a brand new resort, rather than an older resort.

Again, the beauty of the DVC is that there is something for everyone.

 

[Dean]

The biggest draw for SSR will simply be that it is all that DVC is selling, at least for a few years to come. It will have a great pool it appears and is the first resort in a while to have a GV option.

 

[lat]

I am still not set on whether I would do an add-on or not.

However, I think the more SSR pts are sold, it will just make the other resorts harder to book within the 7 months window. I can see initially maybe many members would like to to stay at SSR and just try it out. But many SSR owners eventually will be competing with others to book OKW for lower pts or other resorts for locations.

Also, given it will be larger the OKW, it may become the easiest resort to book on-site, which defeats the purpose of buying SSR pts to get the 11-month window privilege.

 

[SlyHubby]

I think Dean's hit it right on the head of the nail. Clearly, this is why they've been pushing over the past few months to get rid of all the other inventory - extra points at BWV, the magical beginnings offers at HH and VB. They were clearing the books so that SSR would be all that they have available to sell.

SSR is no bargain in my mind. Even with the "extra" years.