Any regrets with SSR? First time buyer

[carli_h]

We’re looking to buy our first DVC contract resale. We took a DVC tour in December but didn’t feel CCV was right and already knew of resale. We had our first resale contract for 200 points at BLT taken in ROFR last month which was our attempt to have the points grandfathered in.

We are now leaning toward SSR and a bigger points contract 250-350. We’ve never stayed but liked the location and resort and only considering there as we like the look of the refurbished rooms and be returning until 2020.

However, we both love VGF and I love BWV and AKL but my DH does not. We chose BLT for our first contract due to the walk to MK and we like the Contemporary.

We will be staying predominantly in 1 beds. Does SSR as our home resort with more points make sense? We would like to try all the resorts, but worried that others say buy where you want to stay. We felt more points opened up room choices at 7 months, but accept at peak times this probably won’t help.

We like SSR and wouldn’t mind staying there if we couldn’t switch out at 7 months. I do have concerns on the size of the resort.

Your thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Spartan86]

Hey Carli, sorry your BLT got taken. We bought a good chunk of points at SSR resale for initial price and MF’s with the intent of using them mostly, but not totally elsewhere. We are predominately 1BR bookers and bought enough points to support that. We are very flexible and do plan right at 7 months. So far (last 18 mo or so) we have been able to book most anywhere we wanted in a 1BR at 7 mo. With that said, we do not attempt the lowest point views and are not trying to book VGF or BCV, though 1BR would be the safest bet. So, for now if 1BR is your plan and 7mo is your planning horizon then SSR could work for you. But, as always things can change. If the 2020 points charts reduce 1BR point requirements we/you will have more competition. That’s the risk we take buying SSR. We do like the resort however we primarily book elsewhere, and we have gotten some gems - BRV during Christmas season. But we don’t take it for granted and it may not last forever. Good luck with your decision.

 

[hayesdvc]

If you purchase at SSR and will be disappointed if you "have" to stay at SSR, DO NOT BUY at SSR. You may be able to get a 1 BR (easiest room type to get at 7 month) when you desire, however, my advise is buy where you want to stay. Good Luck !

 

[arminnie]

I own at BLT, SSR and just sold an OKW contract. My DH and I absolutely love SSR as our first choice on where to stay. But that is us. Not saying that is anyone else's preference.

We live in a high rise with zero green space. Staying at SSR is a nice respite with green spaces. We also drive so like having access to our car to drive off property if we want to.

We have stayed at BWI, BWV, BC, Poly, OKW, and BLT. SSR is still our first choice of where to stay. But again that is US - not necessarily you.

 

[Ginger R]

We own at BWV but we have also stayed at SSR a few times just recently and really enjoyed our time there. It is a nice resort with nice pools and just feels peaceful. But as others have said only you can really decide if it's for you. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

SSR owner here. We bought sight unseen. Turns out we love SSR! But we also love BWV, and we know that because we’ve gotten to stay there many times on our SSR points. However, we travel during non DVC peak times, and it’s been pretty easy for us to try all the resorts.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Assuming that DVC otherwise makes sense for you then since you want to try all resorts AND you feel pretty certain that you'll like SSR if you can't get a 1BR elsewhere then IMO SSR probably makes the most sense for you. No need to buy a more expensive resort if you're plan is to try and stay all over with your points. Since you'll be looking for 1BR's and are looking at purchasing enough points so that you'll have some flexibility you'll probably be fine. There are a few busy DVC times that will be more difficult to trade out such as the first 2 weeks of Dec and you're not terribly likely to get cheaper rooms like Value or standard views but neither is impossible and 1BR's are the most likely.

We do not own at SSR but I've done a fair amount of 7 month bookings and recently we've had more family coming so have needed to get another room or two at 7 months with non-home resort points. It's very probable for 1BR's, possible for 2BR's and even studios can be gotten for some locations at various times of the year.

 

[MamaBelle4]

My DH and I absolutely love SSR as our first choice on where to stay. But that is us.

Us too!

 

[carli_h]

Thank you all for your comments, they’re all appreciated and really useful.

I am in the UK and limited to our school vacation periods so not typically the peak DVC season.

We do feel DVC is right for us as we have stayed both on and offsite. Our last vacation was onsite at POFQ and we realised that as a family of 4 we cannot stay all in one room. I love my children but 2 weeks in the same room does not work for us!

Whilst a villa totally makes sense financially we love the delux resorts as POFQ was nice just didn’t hit the mark especially after visiting the deluxes and seeing the DVC rooms on the tour.

We’re are also fortunate to be in a position to buy the points outright and have travelled to Orlando 2017, 2018 and have plans for 2020. When I was younger we travelled to Florida annually not just to Orlando. I love Florida and we would like to do the same with my children visiting most probably every other year.

We’re not buying as an investment as we have no intention of guaranteeing making any of our money back. We would only sell the contract if our financial situation changed and we couldn’t afford the fees. That said we’d probably rent out the points.

 

[Louis morrell]

We purchased in Oct. 2017 at SSR. We had never seen the property at the time of purchase but the photos looked nice. We did get the opportunity in Nov 2017 during an already planned vacation to go and walk the grounds and we really liked what we saw. We have yet to stay there as we chose to switch at 7 months for the last 3 reservations.
To be fair, we would have no problem staying anywhere on property including tent camping (and we have with our Boy Scout Troop) at Fort Wilderness. So YMMV.

 

[kniquy]

Does SSR as our home resort with more points make sense?

I feel that many people want more points, so if you can get more points, don't mind getting stuck at SSR certain times of the year then it totally makes sense. Plus with SSR having the lowest MF you will be just a little happier knowing that you will be able to stay at other resorts with points that cost you less.

We like SSR and wouldn’t mind staying there if we couldn’t switch out at 7 months.

Because you are looking at 1 BR you will have better luck getting something else at 7 months. If you were going to be looking at studios then that is where the "buy where you want to stay" is more important. Be flexible and i think you will throughly enjoy the game of seeing what is open and what you can book. Variety is the key to life!

I will add that if you plan on travel between mid sept and early Jan - book SSR at 11 months and then see what is open to switch to. This way you are guaranteed a room.

 

[Louis morrell]

I keep seeing the phrase "stuck at SSR" . It sounds so negative. Time at any resort has to be better than work

 

[MamaBelle4]

I keep seeing the phrase "stuck at SSR" . It sounds so negative. Time at any resort has to be better than work

Yeah, that phrase bothers me. I mean, I get why other people love certain other resorts more, but SSR is beautiful. Even if you don't like the layout or the outdoor entrance to the rooms (which is a feature I actually love, feels more like a condo than a hotel room) or distance to the parks, there is plenty to love about SSR. The peacefulness of the grounds, the proximity to Disney springs, the pools are beautiful, etc.

 

[Wakey]

I bought SSR with the intention of staying in 1 beds. So far (summer travels) I have been able to stay anywhere no problems.
We are going at Xmas this year- it will be harder, but I knew when I bought I could have to stay at SSR when it is peak, but I suspect I will be able to get something first 5 nights OK (up to 26/12) but we will see.
In fact if the SSR refurb had been done, I would have been picking it this year, its only because it isn't refurbed.

 

[carli_h]

I keep seeing the phrase "stuck at SSR" . It sounds so negative. Time at any resort has to be better than work

It has an unfair rep. We turned down a rental at SSR in favour of staying at POFQ having read a few bad reviews. We didn’t put it on our list of resorts to check out and end up walking through it having waited for a bus to DS and taking the one to SSR instead. We both thought it was beautiful and we’re upset with ourselves that we had turned down the opportunity to stay there. I get it is not for everyone due to its sheer size, but I think once the refurb is complete things may change.

What I like about it is we could stay in the treehouses or grand villa with family and those who will not be going to the parks frequently will like it’s proximity to DS.

Thank you everyone, you’ve help us confirm that a larger SSR points contract is right for us.

 

[Wakey]

It has an unfair rep. We turned down a rental at SSR in favour of staying at POFQ having read a few bad reviews. We didn’t put it on our list of resorts to check out and end up walking through it having waited for a bus to DS and taking the one to SSR instead. We both thought it was beautiful and we’re upset with ourselves that we had turned down the opportunity to stay there. I get it is not for everyone due to its sheer size, but I think once the refurb is complete things may change.

What I like about it is we could stay in the treehouses or grand villa with family and those who will not be going to the parks frequently will like it’s proximity to DS.

Thank you everyone, you’ve help us confirm that a larger SSR points contract is right for us.

I agree SSR is beautiful resort with some of the best pools, and the restaurants at DS are best on property. The refurb also looks extremely nice, a little like Grand Floridian and the Murphy sofas will be very popular. When it’s refurbed it will be one of my go to resorts. It could do with a new bar and that area and Turf Club having a big renovation. Shame they don’t build a nice outdoor bar and restaurant, copying the one at Copper Creek in a similar vein but more horse racing theme. The quick serve is good.

 

[SL6827]

I think SSR looks beautiful from the pics I have seen and from what I have seen going by in a boat.

 

[a742246]

SSR is a nice resort located next to Disney Springs. We love it!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree SSR is beautiful resort with some of the best pools, and the restaurants at DS are best on property. The refurb also looks extremely nice, a little like Grand Floridian and the Murphy sofas will be very popular. When it’s refurbed it will be one of my go to resorts. It could do with a new bar and that area and Turf Club having a big renovation. Shame they don’t build a nice outdoor bar and restaurant, copying the one at Copper Creek in a similar vein but more horse racing theme. The quick serve is good.

Having a comfortable "sofa" bed will be moving it up for our consideration depending on the group we are coming down with.

I agree Turf Club is due for an update/upgrade. We used to venture over there for lunch now and then until they eliminated it. For dinner it is an ok option if you are staying there but wasn't enough to otherwise draw us over. We'd go to a DS restaurant in that case.

 

[Xalthon]

We pending DVC members who are in the process of purchasing resale at PVB. But I too was thinking that perhaps long-term, a 1-bedroom situation might be more preferable, so I was thinking in the back of my mind maybe adding on at some point with SSR just for the reason described by the OP. What concerns me is that if we did so and were unable to obtain Animal Kingdom or Bay Lake (only 1-bedrooms that sleep 5, I believe), then we would be "stuck" (no offense) with SSR. But SSR is listed as sleeping only 4 in both studios and 1-bedrooms. But then I saw this quote:

... and the Murphy sofas will be very popular ....

Does this change anything? Are any of the SSR rooms now going to be able to sleep 5 post-refurbishment?