BLT or SSR -need help choosing a home resort!

[runner_princess]

We are looking at buying 125 points direct from DVC. I've read all the "how to choose a home resort" threads, and they have been really helpful. We've narrowed it done to BLT and SSR, and I would love to have any opinions that you guys have on staying at either one. Thanks!

 

[dbs1228]

IMO I would not buy SSR direct! Resale prices are going in the mid to low $50.00pp range vs. 99.00 direct. That is a difference of $5500 -$6000 which is a BIG chunk of change and at least 2 - 3 cruises paying cash.

I would suggest you visit both properties if you have not already done so. We own at both BLT and SSR. We bought SSR for THV but also to use those points when we plan a vacation under 7 months. BLT to guarantee at least once a year we are in the resort we want to be in. Location for us was the biggest factor for buying BLT. We have 3 teen DD's and it is great for them to be able to go to the MK (our favorite park) whenever they want without worries. It is also a great location for little kids because it is very easy to get back to the room for lunch, naps, pool time and then go back to the park for the fireworks. BLT has the monorail and many dinning options with all the monorail resorts. SSR has DTD right at your door step for dinning, shopping and entertainment. BLT cost more "points" for nightly stays. With that being said I think SSR "points" are a bit high for the location and what the resort has to offer. If SSR points were more in line with OKW I think you would see a lot more interest in SSR.

So far I toured all resorts, stayed at AKV, BLT, and OKW and loved all of them for different reasons. We are staying at THV in Feb. cannot wait!

Good luck in your decision!

 

[CMOORE185]

I own at SSR but in my opinion if buying direct I would go with BLT. SSR will be much easier to book at 7 months, unless you are counting on THV's. BLT will also hold its value much better than SSR in case you ever need to sell. BLT has lower MF's, though it is possible that could change. And finally you will have BLT for more years, SSR ends 2054, BLT ends 2060.

 

[juncker]

We were looking at the same choice a couple of months back. We ended up buying SSR resale which ended up being about 1/2 the initial cost of BLT direct from Disney. The bonus was that all 2009/2010/2011 points were banked/available, so we just finished a big trip in a 2-bedroom SSR room. It was great! We stayed in the Springs area and it was convenient to everything. DW and I discussed that we could do a week there without ever going to the parks, especially with DTD right there. Lots of restaurants to choose from.

The downside is that it will be harder to get a BLT room in the future by not having the extra months head start. The other downside to resale is that you will have about 2 tough months of waiting for everything to go through, but if you're talking thousands of dollars, it's worth it.

If you wouldn't be happy with staying at SSR on a regular basis though, I would certainly spend the money on BLT. You might consider resale on that too. The new perks that they just took away for doing resale really aren't worth it in my opinion.

Good Luck deciding!

 

[Sandisw]

We bought in to DVC in 2009 because they built BLT. We had been going to Disney for years, but most often stayed at the CR, because MK is our favorite park and the ease of walking could not be beat.

When they build BLT, we knew DVC was now for us. We did consider buying SSR resale because the price difference was about $5000, but in the end, we knew that location was a key to our vacations so we went with BLT.

We love the feel of BLT as we feel as though we are on vacation. We like the hotel feel and since we had always loved the CR, the contemporary decor works for us.

We find the walk over to CR for food, monorail, etc easy (5 minutes). We have also stayed at BWV, BCV, and VWL and find that being able to walk to the parks is very important so BLT and BWV or BCV will be the resorts for us during our summer trips.

There is nothing like leaving the MK on a crowded night only to be back in my room 15 minutes later. Good luck!

 

[sweetdana]

Agree with PP if you are buying SSR go resale.
100%. If you really like both resorts SSR is much cheaper.


Also with a small contract like 125 points unless your goal is every other year or adding on this is not many days at BLT.
If you were intending to add on later, or go every other yr, I think direct I would go BLT.

 

[runner_princess]

I think BLT would be the better home for us - DH loves CR, and though we don't kids yet, I can see that being that close to MK would make have little ones a lot easier. Thanks so much for all the advice!

 

[DenLo]

Not only is BLT more expensive to purchase direct or even resale, staying there costs more points. As in real estate it's a situation of location, location, location. It's more expensive to stay near MK.

Do you and your family spend more time at MK than the other parks? - SSR
Do you have young children that a 10 minute walk to MK would be ideal? - SSR

Do you like to take walks or runs around your resort? - SSR
Do you want to be within walking distance to DTD? - SSR
Do you want the home resort advantage for a THV? - SSR

Will you be wanting to stretch your points as far as they'll go? The average stay per night for BLT is higher than a similar sized villa at SSR. The standard view points at BLT is close to SSR's rate (still higher) but only 10% of BLT rooms are standard view. So you can't guarantee that you'll get a standard view every time to save points.

There are more villas at SSR than BLT. So if you might still be able to get into SSR at a later time (7 month or later) that at BLT.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I would not pay Disney's prices for BLT, but I find it the least desirable resort out there. I really do enjoy my stays at SSR.

If you have your heart set on staying at BLT then buy there, but if you aren't in love with it look elsewhere IMHO

 

[JimMIA]

I personally would buy SSR or OKW resale in the $50's, and use those points and low dues to stay wherever I want at 7 months. BLT is a medium-sized resort, about the same size as BWV and you'll be able to get lake view there most of the time at 7 months.

And I'm another one who would not pay $130 per point for BLT when BLT resales are selling for considerably less than that. Quick comparisons:

BLT direct - 125 points @ $130 = $16, 250.00 (I don't believe there are any incentives for 125 points)

BLT resale - 125 points @ $90 = $11,250.00 ($5000 savings) (lowest recent price was $86)

SSR resale - 125 points @ $55 = $6,875.00 (lowest recent price was $48)

OKW resale - 125 points @ $53 = $6,625.00 (lowest recent price was $45)

My resale price estimates above are mid-range buying prices, not listing prices. Some contracts have sold for considerably less, but I wanted to keep it realistic.

 

[Plutofan]

If you buy direct I would go with BLT. I would think it would hold it's resale value better than SSR.

 

[Havana]

IMO I would not buy SSR direct! Resale prices are going in the mid to low $50.00pp range vs. 99.00 direct. That is a difference of $5500 -$6000 which is a BIG chunk of change and at least 2 - 3 cruises paying cash.

I would suggest you visit both properties if you have not already done so. We own at both BLT and SSR. We bought SSR for THV but also to use those points when we plan a vacation under 7 months. BLT to guarantee at least once a year we are in the resort we want to be in. Location for us was the biggest factor for buying BLT. We have 3 teen DD's and it is great for them to be able to go to the MK (our favorite park) whenever they want without worries. It is also a great location for little kids because it is very easy to get back to the room for lunch, naps, pool time and then go back to the park for the fireworks. BLT has the monorail and many dinning options with all the monorail resorts. SSR has DTD right at your door step for dinning, shopping and entertainment. BLT cost more "points" for nightly stays. With that being said I think SSR "points" are a bit high for the location and what the resort has to offer. If SSR points were more in line with OKW I think you would see a lot more interest in SSR.

So far I toured all resorts, stayed at AKV, BLT, and OKW and loved all of them for different reasons. We are staying at THV in Feb. cannot wait!

Good luck in your decision!

This is the exact same approach we took also. We have BLT points for when we WANT to stay there. And SSR points for trips that are planned under 7 months.

 

[kenny]

We owned SSR and sold them for BLT. Both are great resorts for different reasons.

For us, BLT was just the place we wanted to be.

I agree with everyone in that if you go SSR, buy resale unless the few trade outs you get with direct you don't get with resale are important. I would say they are not, but that is just me.

However, I am going to through something out there that no one has yet. If you are buy 125pts, that does not go very far at BLT. Since you don't have kids you could get a studio now but with kids you'll need at least a 1br. That a lot more pts. Not sure how often you plan to visit but you get more visits out of 125pts at SSR.

Yes you can own BLT and just book SSR at 7 months but if you are doing that often I would buy SSR and get the benefit of the HUGE $$ savings. Just a thought.

 

[DVC Dude]

We are looking at buying 125 points direct from DVC. I've read all the "how to choose a home resort" threads, and they have been really helpful. We've narrowed it done to BLT and SSR, and I would love to have any opinions that you guys have on staying at either one. Thanks!

If you are going to BUY DIRECT, then there really is no choice here as BLT is the obvious choice.

If you are going to BUY RESALE, then I would probably go with SSR as the prices are so low.

 

[ssnelle]

BLT all the way, they will be more valuable as the years go on.

 

[crisi]

I think BLT would be the better home for us - DH loves CR, and though we don't kids yet, I can see that being that close to MK would make have little ones a lot easier. Thanks so much for all the advice!

Remember that the kids are only little for a very short time in terms of contract ownership. Don't spend a ton of money you don't need to only because your kids will be in strollers for six years or so.

If you LOVE the Magic Kingdom area yourselves, or you LOVE the Contemporary Resort, than BLT is a great choice, but don't do it because you are visualizing toddlers and pre-schoolers in your "someday we will have kids" plan. The kids will be teenagers eventually. Its been a blink and my kids don't spend any time in the MK anymore.

 

[JimMIA]

The resale selling price on BLT, the newer resort, is currently $35-40 below Disney's direct price for 125 points.

The resale selling price on SSR is currently $40-45 below Disney's direct price, and AKV's is $50+ lower.

None of the resorts in active direct sales are poster children for holding their prices.

 

[ilikedvc]

I won both and much prefer BLT to SSR. to me it's all about the location and you cannot get any closer than BLT.

 

[hope3702]

I own at Saratoga and love it...i just got back from BLT and loved the location. I do like SSR better as a resort but I really don't see the need to but at SSR since you will always get a reservation at 7 months out and even much longer. I see a big advantage to owning BLT for the 11 month privilege. If I had to do it over again I would but at Beach Club since I can never get what I want there but would likely be able to at 11 months. Good luck with decision.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If you buy direct I would go with BLT. I would think it would hold it's resale value better than SSR.

Why? It's already selling for $30 to $40 less then Disney is asking.

Seriously do NOT buy a timeshare (and DVC is a timeshare) thinking you will get your money back out of it. Assume it's a "sunk cost" and if you do sell and recover any cash that's a "bonus"