BWV vs SSR...an unbiased experience...

[DVCconvert]

OK! Here's a thread that we can all show how Able we are to express an opinion in such a way so as not to offend others -- or, we can post things that comfirm in the minds of "normal folk" just how 'abnormal' you are!!!



I'm a dyed in the wool BWV DVC onwer (fan) with nearly 1000 pts there. Within 48 hours (by my own request ) I'll be checking into a 1 Bdrm at SSR for 1 week.

I will do so with an AP, a Car, and plans to meet friends most nights for dinner.

I have been VERY concerned about SSR (mostly due to all the negative press on the boards)....even though I've toured the model units. I have requested a first floor, DTD view unit.

I see this stay as an opportunity for the facility to convince me to buy into it.

I am trying my best to approach the stay with an open mind.

I was/am miffed that Zurg's wife was treated less than well by some fellow board members....Starting Friday.....I'll be able to give real time impressions as to my stay....are you up for that?? Considering my 'background' ??? I will honestly give my best unbiased opinions.


tjkraz - as perhaps the best know 'defender' of SSR here on the boards, I'd suggest you "keep your powder dry" untill I start to post some observations....ok?

 

[lllovell]

I didn't see things in the same light as you about that other thread (didn't feel the negativity towards the OP), but I will most certainly be looking forward to hearing your opinions about things at SSR.

I kinda stand by my "it isn't for big hotel lovers" theory, but maybe you will enjoy a change of pace and scenery.

I agree we all have different tastes, but if I stayed at BWV and didn't care for it, that is probably what I would say. I can see beauty in ALL of the DVCs and can understand why everyone loves a particular one or two as well. Its all in the presentation in my opinion.

Have a great trip!

 

[carol1231]

We're arriving to BWV on Saturday . I'll check in every now and again, just to remind you how long of a walk down the hallway I have to my room.

Have a fun trip!!

 

[jiggerj]

I do hope that you have a great stay at SSR. I have friends that are there now for their first trip home. I am looking forward to your opinions.

 

[DVCconvert]

Thank You jiggerj !!

I think I am of able mental and analytical ability to render 'unbiased' observations. The driving reason for this is that I'm just so happy to be at WDW, I don't think I could report on a minor problem as a "major" one regardless as to where I was 'sleeping' at night!

 

[DonnaL]

I agree with lllovell as to "isn't for big hotel lovers" but DH and I stayed at SSR
5/14/thru 5/20 and I thought it was very nice. Our first home resort is VWL,
which we just love and we did buy the 120 points at SSR a few months back,
so I guess you could say we have a "stake" in it. It definitely is not the same
atmosphere as VWL or BWV, but, it was very nice (for a change) to get out of our car, walk to the elevator, get off elevator and walk to our room in about 2 minutes flat!!! Especially on the way back from the grocery store!!
We were located in the middle Springs building which was perfect ....very close to theme pool, bus stop right there ( for anyone who takes the bus service).....I felt it was extremely nice ......I guess it does have an "apartment complex" sort of feel to it, but, so what.......it's an apartment complex right smack in the middle of "the happiest place on earth" and when
it's complete it will be even better.

 

[off to neverland]

Thanks DVC Convert, for posting your stay...........

What I really, really would like to see is someone who loves OKW do a report on SSR. OKW is missing that big hotel feel, and would make for a better comparison to SSR. WE stayed at OKW in January, and though I prefer the hotel feel over a condo feel, I absolutely fell in love with the place, and would love to stay again.

I wonder how SSR feels in comparison to that.

 

[OneMoreTry]

We've all read good "negative" resort reviews. I'm sure yours will be one of them.

OKW is my resort and my favorite. But I LOOOVE BWV and BCV and HH. Because of that I take all negative reviews with a huuge chunk of salt.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks DVC Convert, for posting your stay...........

What I really, really would like to see is someone who loves OKW do a report on SSR. OKW is missing that big hotel feel, and would make for a better comparison to SSR. WE stayed at OKW in January, and though I prefer the hotel feel over a condo feel, I absolutely fell in love with the place, and would love to stay again.

I wonder how SSR feels in comparison to that.

We have most of our points at OKW. We stayed there in a two bedroom in January and WE LOVE OKW. That said, we also stayed at SSR in a one bedroom in October and again about two weeks ago in a studio. SSR is a beautiful resort. And it has a lot of the feel of OKW with parking close to your villa, a community resort and a wonderful layout.

We'll be back at OKW in January with our family of three and five guests. Guess who gets the master bedroom? My husband and I. Our son gets the sleeper and our guests get the second bedroom (they have a small child and will not have a problem sharing the bed - they are used to All Stars and Pop, so this will be a real treat for them).

We love the large rooms at OKW and when we have 8 people we will surely stay at OKW. If it is just the three of us, we would stay at either OKW or SSR (or VWL or BCV, where we also have points, just not as many as OKW).

We don't plan on getting any more points because with 500 we think that's enough. We go twice a year and sometime we bring family members along with us.

I really like walking out my front door and seeing the sky and trees instead of a long corridor. I can get this at both SSR and OKW. I don't mind walking over to the main pool, it feels like I'm at home and walking to my community pool. I feel like I own the whole place!

I feels more like a home away from home than a hotel away from home.

 

[gjw007]

I'm a dyed in the wool BWV DVC onwer (fan) with nearly 1000 pts there. Within 48 hours (by my own request ) I'll be checking into a 1 Bdrm at SSR for 1 week.

I was/am miffed that Zurg's wife was treated less than well by fellow board members....Starting Friday.....I'll beable to give real time impressions as to my stay....are you up for that?? Considering my 'background' ??? I will honestly give my best unbasised opinions.

I look forward to your report. I will ask since I have yet to stay at either resort for a side-by-side comparison. In addition to SSR, I own at Orange Lake. If people think that SSR is too big, they should consider the size of Orange Lake as it is over 2 miles from the front gate of the resort to my condo. I love it, so I think I am predisposed toward the open, condo-feel of SSR. I also like DTD. Still, I can see doing VWL, BW, or BCV at some point in the future, especially if it is for a couple days at at time. Reports are great ,whether the experiences are positive or negative, but I think I will have to experience all the resorts myself.

 

[DonnaL]

off to neverland.....sorry I can't help with a comparison since we haven't stayed at OKW......for some reason the rest of my family (mainly two DS's
age 16 and 24 and DH somewhat just don't like the "feel" of OKW the several times we've been there to check it out. DH and I have eaten at Olivia's
several time and enjoyed it very much and I'm sure we will eventually get around to staying there and probably enjoy it. I really like BWV, primarily due to location ( I like being that close to World Showcase and MGM) and we all just love VWL, but, as I said in my earlier post we really liked SSR also......
I think SSR has a little bit of different feel than OKW partially since DTD is in
full view (at least from Congress Park) and it's also set up more like a small
town main street or town square than OKW. I also agree with previous post
on statement about each DVC resort offering something........it woud be boring if they were all the same.

 

[tjkraz]

OK! Here's a thread that we can all show how Able we are to express an opinion in such a way so as not to offend others...

(snip)

tjkraz - as perhaps the best know 'defender' of SSR here on the boards, I'd suggest you "keep your powder dry" untill I start to post some observations....ok?

Gee, consider that "mission accomplished" on the lack of insults in this thread.

 

[DVCconvert]

What I really, really would like to see is someone who loves OKW do a report on SSR.

Well, confession time, I've stayed at OKW (I believe) 6 times totalling about 5 weeks over the past 2 years. I have very much enjoyed OKW as well, so I'll try to offer some 'compare and contrast' observations.

OneMoreTry

We've all read good "negative" resort reviews. I'm sure yours will be one of them.

Thanks for your unbasised vote of confidence!

Gee, consider that "mission accomplished" on the lack of insults in this thread.

None intended! That comment was made in jest, I apologize if that wasn't apparent.

Good thoughts/requests/comments (mostly ) folks, Thank You!
24 hours to go. So keep thinking if there are certains aspects/questions you'd like addressed.

 

[jiggerj]

We've all read good "negative" resort reviews. I'm sure yours will be one of them.
.

Wow! DVCconvert hasn't even left yet and you are already predicting his resort review! He did say that he is going down with an open mind for this stay at SSR to give the facility the opportunity to sell him on it. Why do you forsee in the crystal ball that his review will be a good "negative" resort review?

 

[lllovell]

Wow! DVCconvert hasn't even left yet and you are already predicting his resort review! He did say that he is going down with an open mind for this stay at SSR to give the facility the opportunity to sell him on it. Why do you forsee in the crystal ball that his review will be a good "negative" resort review?

What one more was saying is that he doubts that DVC will love this resort as much as his home that he openly admits to loving (lets face it - almost all of us love a particular resort), but that he feels like DVCconvert will give a good report anyway.

Ease up everyone. Jeez - its not even Monday.

As for the OKW vs SSR comparison, the difference to me is the atmosphere (which is wonderfully different at EVERY DVC resort). OKW brings to mind the beach, tall, cold boat drinks, Jimmy Buffet and relaxing. SSR is a bit more formal in furnishing and buildings. OKW makes me want to sit on the balcony and smell the ocean every morning while drinking my coffee (which is what I do when at the actual beach). SSR makes me want to dress up a bit and go have a wonderful "adult" evening at DTD one night and then go and play for hours with my children, riding the boats, playig on the palygrounds, taking walks looking for nature the next. They both are open and have plenty for my family to explore, so SO FAR, they are both my top pics. What they ALL have is excellent services (for my family's needs) and we love the pools and different types of restaurants and other activities. I really hope that I find the other resorts to be similar in liking. Wouldn't it be wonderful to love them all?

Luckily, your mileage may vary!

 

[conciergekelly]

I keep saying this but I think that people think too much. I have never met a Disney Resort I haven't liked. I have stayed at values to deluxe. I don't go with the mind set that I am not going to like a a resort no matter what I've read.

I try to give positive responses to poster's question, after all it is just my opinion, not fact. Why make someone feel bad? As my mom always said, if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all.

 

[greenban]

Where is the love?

Where is the respect?

Shheesh I vanish for 8 weeks, and the DVC Community Board has become the DIS community bored (shudder)

-Tony

 

[kathleena]

Remember the Hanname, everyone!

 

[DVCconvert]

I think that people think too much.

Boy! You can't say that in too many places these days!

Shheesh I vanish for 8 weeks, and the DVC Community Board has become the DIS community bored (shudder)

It's OK Tony -- I promise that either way, (like SSR or not) I won't get all gooey and fluffy! (despite the Love and Respect I intend to show)

Hanname is my mantra, and it can be found at the 3rd star to the right!


Countdown to SSR -- Tminus 24h 15m

 

[gopherit]

Well, we happen to love some portion of ALL the resorts... and yes, we have stayed at both BWV and SSR (actually in the same trip). We've also stayed several times at OKW, once at VWL, once at BCV... I guess we've done the WDW DVC rounds, though perhaps not as frequently as some folks.

I would liken the comparison between SSR/OKW to that of BWV/BCV. THe property "pairs" are each together in the same basic "neighborhood", each pair has similar amenities... with prime difference in the "theme". BWV just seems (to me, anyway -- make sure you read those words -- I'm not saying ya have to agree! JMHO!) to be more glass-n-brass "high class" atmosphere, versus the more laid-back "day at the shore" feel of BCV. Likewise, both SSR and OKW have similar sprawling manicured grounds, convenient parking access, exterior halls and more "condo" style feel, but with SSR exhibiting that "spa-sential" air of refinement and OKW more of a "coastal leisure" atmosphere.

For us, I guess we're more the "laid-back" type. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/28/28_1_14.gif' alt='Hammock' border=0></a> Forced to make a choice, our nod would probably go to BCV over BWV and OKW over SSR...

Maybe that's why our family likes VWL so darn much... no kissing cousin resort to decide between!

Unless, of course, the Contemporary DVC comes true...then once again we will have a DVC pair of "City Mousehouse" <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_122.gif' alt='House 2' border=0></a> , Country Mousehouse <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNxdm801YYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_123.gif' alt='House 3' border=0></a> . Just call it "LimeGreen Acres", between the woodsy mountain feel of VWL and the modern "contempo" (or "retro" -- depending upon how you view that resort!) across the water!

Choosing between SSR and OKW -- hmm. I think if an OKW fan has become obsessed with the size of their interior accommodations, SSR and its room layout will surely disappoint them. (THink about our buddy Richyams... OKW to the core!) I think the appliances are even smaller, lol!

On the other hand, an OKW person who likes having that easy access to DTD and their vehicle and the wide open spaces -- well, SSR might just be a new love. We enjoyed staying at SSR, and yet it also reminded us of why we also love OKW!

Enjoy your trip -- we're all anxious to hear your reviews!