Considering Joining - SSR vs. VWL

[MikeDeeNY]

Hi All! My wife and I are seriously considering becoming DVC members, and I'm curious for your opinion...

Obviously all new shares are selling in SSR right now, but the agent mentioned that we might be able to buy into VWL. We LOVE the Wilderness Lodge hotel, and are torn as to which way to go. The facilities at SSR look gorgeous - how do the facilities at VWL compare?

Thanks for your help!

 

[slimplaw]

We have not stayed at SSR, but have visited. It is bright and new. VWL is our home resort. Everything is under one roof, so you do have interior hallways. Your door does not open up to the outside as at SSR. I get a much cozier feel at VWL than I did at SSR. The colors at VWL are darker than SSR, lots of darker greens and burgundy. I imagine the units are about the same size. If you could buy VWL, would that be a contract that goes to 2052(or 1 or 3, I forget when SSR contracts end)? VWL has more onsite food choices, unless you want to consider DTD to be close enough to SSR and count as food choices.

 

[browniemtb]

This is a great place for info for you.........Well since I see this is post #1 for you I suggest read as much as possible. Owners will have different views on everything from where to buy, how to finance and other stuff as well. Between SSR and VWL.....I personnally never stayed at either so I will give you my scenerio for buying where we did. My wife loves being connected to a theme park. So pre-DVC we stayed at all the deluxe resorts connected to the parks......that would cross out SSR and OKW. Now theres BWV, BCV, and VWL still a viable spot. BCV and VWL were both sold out and resale would have been the only way......I stayed with Disney and bought BWV. Great area...walk to Epcot and MGM.
So I will repeat what owners have said in many other posts....buy where you would most like to stay. VWL is beautiful and a quick boat ride to MK. SSR I've never even seen so I can't comment here. So read read read and ask lots of questions...there are plenty of helpful people here......
Good Luck
Brownie

 

[MikeDeeNY]

Thanks for the reply slimplaw. That's an excellent point about when the contract ends. Purchasing in SSR is good until 2054; I would have to ask about VWL. It's the warm cozy feel that we love about the WL hotel - glad to hear they carried it through to the Villas. Thanks!

 

[MikeDeeNY]

Thanks Browniemtb! I just disovered the board today and am starting to dig into all the posts. Appreciate the help!

 

[gppnj]

I faced this exact same decision this past July. You can tell from my signature what choice I made. Although that choice was definitely the right one for me, I wouldn't recommend it for everyone.

If you like VWL but would be perfectly happy to stay at SSR if VWL was unavailable, then you'd be a lot better off buying at SSR. You should also buy at SSR if you know you won't be able to plan your trips more than seven months in advance. You get 12 more years at SSR, and depending on when you buy, there's usually some sort of promotion in effect. (The current promotion gets you park tickets.)

The advantage to buying at VWL is, of course, that you can book at VWL 11 months out. Even though I own at VWL, I don't want or need to stay there every time. The reason I went with VWL is that I know myself, and I know that if I bought at SSR and decided for a particular trip that I wanted to switch to VWL when the seven-month window opened, I'd take it in stride if I wasn't able to do so the first time I tried. However, if I was unable to switch after trying two or three times, I'd become very angry, bitter, and stressed. I don't need to stay at VWL every time, but I knew I definitely wanted to stay there sometimes. Buying at VWL took away all that stress for me. If I want to stay somewhere else but am unable to switch when the seven-month window opens, I can take it in stride because I'll still be able to stay at the place I like best.

So it really depends on your tastes, preferences, and temperament. If you do decide to go with VWL, my experience was that despite my guide's initial claims that VWL was sold out, points at VWL were readily available. I didn't have to wait even a minute for my initial contract or my two add-ons. (I bought directly from Disney, though I've heard nothing but good things about all the leading resellers, including the board sponsor.)

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[MikeDeeNY]

Thanks for the advice gppnj. Your thought pattern is exactly what we're going through right now. Let me ask you some questions related to VWL...

Are the facilities/rooms up to date?
The pool area is a little smaller at VWL and there doesn't seem to be anything stopping hotel guests from using that pool (I know we have used it in the past). Any concerns there?

Thanks!

 

[abner1776]

We recently bought our first contract thru Disney and VWL is our home resort. We have an Oct UY and we got the 2005 points as well. SSR would have been less money and 12 more years, but SSR just felt too big. We have stayed at WL and we have visited SSR but not stayed there. The cozyness of WL and the VWL just carried the day. We are now empty nesters, so small and quiet is better than large and spreadout. If the additional $$$ is not an issue, then I would go with VWL, but that's based entirely on my ...opinion. Keep in mind when comparing Disney to resales, that Disney charges no closing costs which can add up to $4/point and you have instant us of your points.
And lastly, if you are not planning on traveling to WDW during the buzy seasons such as summer, school vacations, etc., then getting reservations at 7 months should not present too much a problem, which would mean that buying at SSR is the way to go. If instead you are leaning towards VWL and you will be visiting WDW during buzy season, then buying at SSR would be foolish as you will never find any availability at VWL at 7 months.
Remember that the prices are going up this Saturday from $92 to $95 at VWL...soooo...haste makes waste.

 

[gppnj]

Thanks for the advice gppnj. Your thought pattern is exactly what we're going through right now. Let me ask you some questions related to VWL...

Are the facilities/rooms up to date?
The pool area is a little smaller at VWL and there doesn't seem to be anything stopping hotel guests from using that pool (I know we have used it in the past). Any concerns there?

Thanks!

I've only been a DVC member since July. Although I have stayed at the hotel part of Wilderness Lodge in the past, I've not yet stayed at the villas. (My first trip there will be in October.) So I can't comment on the condition of the rooms, though I've generally heard good things. I'm sure the SSR rooms are in the best shape of all the DVC resorts because those rooms are so new. Of the older DVC resorts, I've heard the fewest complaints about VWL rooms (though VWL also has the fewest rooms).

There are two pools on the Wilderness Lodge property - the one that was part of the original building and a smaller one that was built when the villas were built. Both pools are for the use of all WL/VWL guests. (Other DVC members are entitled to use these pools as well.) Apparently the larger pool can get crowded during busier times because a lot of families have children who like to use the slide. I've never heard of the smaller pool being overcrowded.

Although I haven't stayed at the villas yet, I did look around when I was down there in February. I was pleased that the newly constructed villas were heavily themed and complemented the main lodge very nicely. The public areas of the property were all very well kept. And of course, the lodge isn't everyone's taste, but if it is your taste, you know how totally beautiful and magical it is. (Wow - I can't wait for October!)

 

[MikeDeeNY]

Hi Abner1776 - thanks for the great advice. You touched on some very key things for our situation. We're in our late 30's without kids and 99% of the time we vacation during the school semester. Having those extra 12 years to enjoy the DVC is also important to us. Sounds like going with SSR might be the best with an occasional "off season" stay at VWL to satisfy our love for the place.

Concerning pricing - we're definitely going to buy through Disney and since we called this week and spoke with a rep, they are extending the old pricing for another month for us.

Thanks!

 

[MikeDeeNY]

thanks again gppnj! Yes, we truly do understand the magic of the Wilderness Lodge!

 

[bobbiwoz]

and welcome!

VWL is one of our homes and we plan to stay there every other year in December. However, our DS and family asked if they could come for a first time visit with the DGC this August. I didn't have enough VWL points for all 3 rooms, (1 2-bedroom and 2 studios), 5 nights. So, I did have to use VB points, and at 7 months out I was able to get a studio for my other DS. I'm just mentioning this because it is possible to use other points at VWL.

Our guests and we have used the gym facilities at VWL and we were all pleased with the cleanliness and the equipment. I just used the showers/lockers, so can't be specific regarding equipment.

I love riding my bikes to and around FW. I love strolling the grounds of WL/VWL at night, it is my favorite on site resort.

Bobbi

 

[wingkng]

I recently went through the same debate in my head when I decided to dive into DVC. I first took advantage of the Friends and Family offer at SSR and bought 150 points, but I had always been drawn to VWL from looking at the photos and people's reports. A week after I signed the contract for SSR, I called my guide and bought another 75 points at VWL.

As it turns out, my approach fit my own vacation plans. For now I am single and will be newlywed, so we could go at less busy seasons. However, we know that in the future, when we have kids, we will need the ability to book 11 months ahead for VWL (especially for Christmas). Having 225 points allows me to use them for non-DVC vacations as well, which I would like to do occasionally. VWL would allow us to be close to Magic Kingdom when our kids are toddlers. As they get older, I imagine that we will need a bigger room, so SSR can fit that bill. SSR even has 3 BR Grand Villas that we can use if it turns out we have lots of family members wanting to vacation together. When the kids get older, I think that SSR's proximity to Downtown Disney would be a draw for us.

I also have a timeshare week at Starwood Vacation Ownership, which I plan to use alternating years with DVC, so I can take advantage of resort destinations outside of Orlando. I look at my approach somewhat like investing in mutual funds. By diversifying my vacation "holdings" (buying at multiple resorts) I can accomodate possible changes in my life and in my vacation needs in the future.

 

[Muushka]

thanks again gppnj! Yes, we truly do understand the magic of the Wilderness Lodge!

Hmmmm. Sounds like you may be a candidate for the

"My Beloved Wilderness Lodge" Club.

All kidding aside, there are a few of us on the boards (well that number is growing!) that just love it there. We waited 2 years for it to be built before we bought into DVC. THAT is how much we love it. You have a lot to think about!

 

[elijahpep]

Welcome to DISBoards Mike DEE!~

We just spent our first visit "home" at SSR last week. There are currently pools near the different buildings(leisure and theme), great activities for the kids and adults that go on all day, and the spa is also there that can offer a treat for each of you! W/D and fully furnished kitchens are in the 1BDRM and up villas. DTD is just minutes away offering you a delightful retreat to resturants and shopping at night. The view of the pools and fountains are incredible. SSR is a laid back relaxing atmosphere so that if you can, you will feel refreshed after you vacation and not frazeled .
The whirlpool tubs allow you to soak off the parks to rejuvinate yourself to enjoy at night after a big day of the parks! A plus is hearing the clip clop of horses pulling their carriages of resort folks riding around enjoying life.

To each his own, if you buy DVC you'll be a part of a huge family of folks that all love Disney. Happy Researching~

~DW

 

[crisi]

We are also in our late 30s (well, my DH turned 40 this year). By the time our BWV contract runs out, we will be in our 70s. SSR would have given us Disney vacations into our 80s. I really doubt I'm going to want Disney vacations in my 70s, and if I do, I'm willing to pay cash. We did purchase before SSR was announced, but the extra 12 years have no appeal to me.

(Men in my DHs' family are't long lived - and while I'll probably be moving pretty good through my mid-70s, if family history is any indication, it won't last too much longer than that and I won't want the walking involved in Disney).

 

[MikeDeeNY]

Bobbi - thanks for the reply and the VWL endorsement!

 

[MikeDeeNY]

Wingkng - forgive me for all the questions...so you have two home resorts SSR and VWL? And you can book 11 months in advance at either? And you can use all of your 225 points at one shot? That might be the way to go for us!

 

[MikeDeeNY]

Muuska - absolutely - we are HUGE fans of the Wilderness Lodge. Just smelling a wood burning stove or fireplace immediately takes us back there to the lobby. Thanks!

 

[twister]

You can only use the home resort points you own at the 11mth window. If you own 150pts of ssr and 75pts of vwl, only 75 pts can be used 11 mths in advance at vwl. If you are looking to own more then 150pts you may consider having a ssr contract to take advantage of the 12 years, and another contract at your favorite resort to insure you will be able to stay there sometimes.