Boardwalk Vs. SSR

[cobbler]

Have you actually made that walk, though? We thought it sounded like a good idea so we treked over to SSR from DTD on our last trip there and let me tell you, by the time we finally made it we were regretting not taking the boat!

Yes we did, many times. Wasn't bad at all, 5 minutes maybe.

We walked the path to the Marketplace and even walked the path to the West Side. That is a bit longer of a walk, maybe because we didn't really know the path and it probably took all extra long trying to figure it out. Probably wouldn't do that path much. Mostly because we don't do anything on the West Side.

 

[Cinderella]

I think it all depends on knowing where you want to stay, and i think you have to stay at each resort to really be able to judge it.

Do you truly like being in the middle of things, or do you want a more relaxing pace once you leave the parks? If you like being in the middle of things then go for a BWV resale. If you want to relax then get the 15% off at SSR.

I own at WLV and SSR. WLV was my favourite - I also like BCV - less relaxing but a more luxurious feel than WLV. When I first drove up at SSR it didn't seem like much but once I stayed there, having the lovely pool, short walk to downtown disney and especially the spa - i knew i would be staying there more than anywhere else and this is from a die hard WLV fan. But, I also love okw - and i think there are too camps on here - the ones who want to be in the middle of things, in bustling resorts, and those who want the convenience of the parks, and still go home and relax each day.

Another factor to consider is whether you like internal corridors or external.
For me - if I am staying in a villa, I prefer external - if i am staying in just a room, or studio, i prefer internal. But we intend to stay in two bedrooms much.

Also - it depends whether you want the extra 12 years. What i love about dvc is that you are not dumping an eternal timeshare on someone who may not want it or may not be able to afford it after you die. But another thing to consider is the fact that if you do decide to sell in a few years time - those contracts that have the extra years on will get more money. When a contract has maybe only 10 or 20 years on it - the lump sum will become a huge consideration. Most of us reckon we break even in 5-6 years, so you wouldn't want to be paying a lot for a contract with only 15 years to go.

Also - would you make use of the 11 month window? I am like Laura - I chop and change so much that the 11 month is not important to me. You have so many factors to consider - and i wish you luck in making the right decision.

 

[crisi]

Hands down SSR for me. I have a friend who owns at BCV and the rooms at SSR and BCV are virtually identical except for the decor. I perfer SSR's decor to BC. I also looked at pics of BWV and its nice decor but you can tell they made improvements by the time they started BCV and SSR. One is putting the toilet in a seperate room so the rest of the bathroom is functional while someone is on the can

You sure? The shower and toilet are in one room at BWV with a sink, the tub and a second sink in another room. From the room maps, it looks like BCV and SSR are the same layout. In the studios, there is a sink outside the toilet/shower area at both resorts.

The room layouts are a little different - I like the dining table better at SSR and BCV (though I haven't stayed there), but I also like the HUGE closet at BWVs.

 

[NMW]

We considered buying SSR last year because that was/is all DVC is selling, but we (mostly DH) hated the location and said it looked like a gigantic apartment complex. We BOTH hated the dining selection and the lack of a full service restaurant. For the life of me I can't understand why that doesn't bother SSR fans. Oh well, to each his own. We didn't know anything about resales. I really wanted to own DVC and I argued for SSR, even though I strongly prefer "hotel" feel DVC resorts with interior hallways. I thought SSR would "grow" on us, at least I hoped so. Then we discovered this board, learned of the Timeshare Store and started looking for a BWV or BCV contract.

The 12 years mean nothing to us, we are in our early to mid 30's and as far as I'm concerned I'd rather have even 30 years of vacations that I love than 50 years of so-so ones. Not to mention that I could be dead in 30 years! We chose BWV or BCV because the Epcot resorts were are favorite hotels to stay in. You have no idea the legnths I had to go to so I could convince DH to stay at the POLY over the BC or BWI!

We chose BWV over BCV because of the boardwalk view (which is awesome BTW) and the standard points. I'm so glad we did not buy SSR. I got a look at it while down there in Dec and I have to now agree with DH. It DOES look like a gigantic apartment complex, at least to us. DTD is something we do once, maybe twice a trip. We much prefer eating dinner in Epcot, watching the fireworks and strolling back to our resort. We also like eating dinner at an Epcot resort restaurant (I love the dining choices there) or the Brown Derby in MGM. We love having breakfast at Spoodles and getting on the boat to Epcot or MGM. I'm smiling now just thinking about it.

The bottom line is we didn't look at DVC as an investment. We just looked at where we mostly wanted to stay for the forseeable future and it wasn't SSR. Plus, I don't care what anyone says about gettting BWV at 7 mos with SSR points. It IS going to get harder to get into the smaller resorts at 7 months the more people join DVC. If they build Eagle Pines after SSR, it could be even harder. Already it is hard to get BWV or BCV during F&W, and WVL, BCV, BWV in early Dec. I was advised by CM's to book day by day for early Dec and Oct and I was calling exactly at 11 mos!! I guess if you don't mind using waitlists, you might get something the majority of the time, but that would stress me out. I like booking at 11 mos and knowing where I'm staying. Good Luck!!!

 

[cobbler]

You sure? The shower and toilet are in one room at BWV with a sink, the tub and a second sink in another room. From the room maps, it looks like BCV and SSR are the same layout. In the studios, there is a sink outside the toilet/shower area at both resorts.

The room layouts are a little different - I like the dining table better at SSR and BCV (though I haven't stayed there), but I also like the HUGE closet at BWVs.

Yeah, that is what I meant. From pics the BWV have their sink, shower and toilet in the same room where BCV and SSR have their toilet in one room, shower/sink in the other and then the sink/tub off the master.

Although there are so many doors for that bathroom/bedroom area, good golly.

I perfer the latter.

We don't stay in studios so I can't comment on that although they look like standard rooms with that kitchenette.

NMW-
They are giving SSR a full service sit down restaurant. They are re-doing the Turf Club and turning it into exactly that.

 

[Sammie]

Epcot, yes it is close to Epcot and that is fine but it isn't a huge thing for me. Its not like I have to walk to Epcot from SSR where that would make a difference. No biggie for me to hop on a bus.

Cobbler this may be my favorite comment yet.

Last time we stayed at the BCV we got stranded at Epcot due to a very severe thunderstorm with lightning so intense we literally could not leave the International Gateway and the boats were not running either.

Friends that were at SSR and left Epcot at the same time were already back at their villa while we sat at the Gateway in the storm.

The view at BW is beautiful from certain rooms, but as far as walking to Epcot or MGM I will gladly take a bus anyday. I know some may enjoy the walk to Epcot but due to jobs our extended family visits mostly in the summer and that extra walking in the heat does not appeal to me at all.

 

[NMW]

NMW-
They are giving SSR a full service sit down restaurant. They are re-doing the Turf Club and turning it into exactly that.

Yes, I've read that. I think it's a really good thing.

 

[crisi]

Cobbler this may be my favorite comment yet.

Last time we stayed at the BCV we got stranded at Epcot due to a very severe thunderstorm with lightning so intense we literally could not leave the International Gateway and the boats were not running either.
.

I'm confused why you would be able to get from the front of Epcot to the bus stops, or from the bus stops at SSR to the building, but couldn't get from IG to the BCVs. They aren't any farther away. If you were at the front of Epcot when the storm broke, it could have gotten bad enough to strand you at the IG by the time you reached it, but then its luck of the draw, had your friends and you seperated back near France, you'd have been in your room while they took shelter in Innovations.

 

[Sammie]

I'm confused why you would be able to get from the front of Epcot to the bus stops, or from the bus stops at SSR to the building, but couldn't get from IG to the BCVs. They aren't any farther away. If you were at the front of Epcot when the storm broke, it could have gotten bad enough to strand you at the IG by the time you reached it, but then its luck of the draw, had your friends and you seperated back near France, you'd have been in your room while they took shelter in Innovations.

We were leaving the Innovations area when the storm started. They went straight to the bus loading area and caught a bus and were protected from the storm. We on the other hand had to walk. It truly would not have mattered where we departed from there is no cover between the Gateway and the Beach Club so we were exposed to the elements. That was my point.

I love the views from the BW and BC/YC, but I see no great advantage in being able to walk. I much prefer to ride. I think the BW and BC has a lot to offer, I just am one that thinks the closeness to Epcot and MGM is highly over rated if one is simply comparing transportation.

 

[LisaS]

I read a really interesting observation here not long ago. I think it was posted by spiceycat and it certainly rang true for me and my DH. The theory was that people who live in urban areas who do a lot of walking in their daily lives seem to prefer OKW and SSR while people who live in more suburban and rural areas seem to prefer BWV and BCV. It's certainly true in my and my DH's case. We live in a rural area and everything we need to do requires getting in the car. We love that when we stay at an Epcot resort, we can walk just about everywhere we want to go. It's a wonderful and relaxing change of pace for us. We love having dinner in Epcot or MGM and being able to walk back to our room. We even prefer to get to MK by cutting through Epcot and getting on the monorail. I don't really mind taking Disney buses for the most part, but it is nice being able to get to two parks under my own steam, and a third via the monorail. For us, this is part of the vacation -- just being somewhere where there is so much to do within an easy walk of our room.

So I'm curious if spicecat's theory works for anyone else? I thought it was a very interesting observation!