Delima on resorts - BCV or SSR

[yekcoh_99]

I want the BCV and my husband thinks that SSR is the better deal. We are looking at 150 points and we figure we would save about $2,200 (possibly more) on the initial purchase if we go with SSR. In addition, SSR would give us 12 more years. BCV end date would put us at 70 and 72 years old. I realize the bargain we may be passing up, but I'm just not sure how happy I would be at SSR and I keep reading "buy where you want to stay." I'm not normally that picky, but if we're going to invest in the DVC I want to be excited when we go, even if we have to go to our home resort. I can't honestly say I would feel that way about SSR. We have 2 toddlers and SAB looks terrific. Not to mention the pictures of BCV are wonderful and are more appealing to me than SSR. And I like the location better. I've not read one bad thing on BCV and I can't say the same for SSR. We plan on visiting each resort during our WDW trip in Sept., but we're anxious to move on joining the club and are on the fence about whether to wait. One question I have is if we buy into SSR and want to book at BCV during the Feb or April school vacations, how hard would it be for us to get in there at that time if we book at 7 months? I realize it's a popular time. I have heard of people never having to stay at their home resort, but I'm not that optimistic and don't think I would always be so lucky, especially for when we will be using the bulk of our time there - once the kids are in school. Also, has anyone heard if the BCV will be offering extensions like OKW did? Your opinions are greatly appreciated and I'll be happy with any of your honest opinions. Thank You!

Anxious to be a DVC member!

 

[disneynutz]

Buy where you love to stay. If you haven't stayed there yet, rent points and try them out.

It doesn't make much sense to buy a little better deal if you don't end up liking the resort.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

BCV has held it's value much better than SSR...which is something to consider if for any reason you need to sell your membership down the road.

 

[Deb & Bill]

BCV is a smaller resort and usually harder to get into at 7 months out. SSR usually is not too difficult to get at 7 months out. But SSR has grand Villas and BCV does not.

If you made a reservation at your home resort at 11 months and at 7 months couldn't change your reservation, would you be content to stay at whatever you choose for your home resort???

 

[littlestar]

Have you stayed at either one yet? BCV is a more busy feeling vacation because you're in the thick of things. SSR is more laid back and sits on a golf course. I like both, but for very different reasons.

If you will need school vacations (which it sounds like you will in a few years) and you know you want the Beach Club, I'd probably buy there.

We gave our BCV points to my mom and dad (to keep some BCV points in the family) and we bought some SSR points (after selling our BWV and VWL points). When we want hard to get times at BCV, I have my mom book using the 11 month window. For SSR treehouse bookings, we use my SSR points (of course).

As far as Storm a Long Bay, it's kind of hard to keep track of little kids in that pool - it's huge. I'm actually pretty watchful and careful whenever we have small kids there. I feel better when I make them stay in the kiddie end and play in the sand.

SSR has a zero entry main pool with a water pop jet play area at the main pool. The Grandstand pool also has a water play area.

 

[blondietink]

We have owned at SSR since 2005 and haven't stayed there once. The points now are really well priced and we are thinking of adding on there because of the price. I usually make a ressie at SSR 11 months out, and then switch at 7 months or less and I have never had a problem getting another resort. I was even able to make a ressie 5 weeks out last summer and got AKV. I also had my choice of 2 other resorts. Now that there are many more rooms in the system, I think there should be even more availability at 7 months out than previously. JMHO.

 

[Mississippian]

Although some people love SSR, the fact is that it is not a terribly popular resort. It is horribly spread out, it has a small restaurant, the counter service in the morning is so small that it can't possibly serve everyone. If you get unlucky with room assignment you will have a 20-minute walk to get to the main building; so if it's raining you will have to walk 40 minutes in the rain to get your morning newspaper.

BCV is almost located INSIDE of EPCOT. It's that close. The pool is not much fun while your kids are toddlers. You will have more fun walking over to BWV and letting them use that pool. But they will LOVE Stormalong Bay when they get a little older, and you get a little more confidence in their swimming ability.

The real key is that if you own at BCV you can book there at 11 months and then can almost certainly switch to SSR at 7 months. The chances of switching into BCV at 7 months are often quite slim. So if you don't buy at BCV, you are likely going to end up stuck staying somewhere you don't want to stay.

 

[toniosmom]

I stayed at SSR in March -- alone with a 4 year old. The main pool was closed for refurbishment (a big disappointment), but my son could have cared less. He was just happy to have a pool (as small as it was) close to our room that he could use. For that reason, we LOVED SSR.

BUT....and it's a BIG BUT.....I agree with another poster that the counter service restaurant (Artist's Palatte) leaves a lot to be desired. The resort is way too spread out for you to get there easily and then it is quite small. I was very surprised considering that I had stayed at All Star Movies the year before and their counter service place was huge. I ordered groceries for the SSR trip and we ate all meals in the room. I couldn't imagine having to trek over to the Artists Palette and wait forever. They have a TERRIBLE system.

I'm praying that AKV Kidani has a better system, although I think on our trip next year we will be ordering groceries and eating in the room again. There is nothing worse than dealing with an impatient child while trying to juggle a stroller, your wallet, and a tray of food.

 

[HeffalumpB]

If you like BCV then buy there. It is very hard to get into if you don't own there. It also has way more resale value. SSR is big and almost always available to stay in.

Deed extension- not yet but I bet Disney will offer extensions for other resorst in the coming years.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Although some people love SSR, the fact is that it is not a terribly popular resort. It is horribly spread out, it has a small restaurant, the counter service in the morning is so small that it can't possibly serve everyone. If you get unlucky with room assignment you will have a 20-minute walk to get to the main building; so if it's raining you will have to walk 40 minutes in the rain to get your morning newspaper.

BCV is almost located INSIDE of EPCOT. It's that close. The pool is not much fun while your kids are toddlers. You will have more fun walking over to BWV and letting them use that pool. But they will LOVE Stormalong Bay when they get a little older, and you get a little more confidence in their swimming ability.

The real key is that if you own at BCV you can book there at 11 months and then can almost certainly switch to SSR at 7 months. The chances of switching into BCV at 7 months are often quite slim. So if you don't buy at BCV, you are likely going to end up stuck staying somewhere you don't want to stay.

The one small counter service at BC/BCV is smaller than the one at SSR, serves both the BC and BCV and the next closest one is over at the Boardwalk Bakery - usually extremely busy and crowded in the AM. Or you can walk completely through Epcot and maybe find something open a little bit later in the morning - but not to get breakfast food.

Most members will get their breakfast food from a table service restaurant or their own kitchen I'd bet.

 

[florep1]

We are at BCV now and I love the theming and the location. However, DH and DS are whining everyday wishing they were at SSR. We stayed at SSR last Christmas and we all loved it. Artist's Pallette is bigger and has more food options than Beach Club Marketplace. It is also more convenient to walk to DD then catch another resort bus for dining. While I do love the proximity of BCV to Epcot and HS, the menfolk hate walking from Futureworld back to the resort. SAB is nice, but the lack of a Community Center and CS options is driving them nuts.
We're looking forward to AKV next week. My longterm goal is stay at each DVC resort once but if there is no availability anywhere, we'd all be perfectly happy with SSR.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I personally would buy SSR and put the $2200 towards the next add-on

We are just back and it is hot!!! It is nice to have an inside Community Hall to hang out in during the day when it sooooo hot. They love Ping Pong and SSR has a table inside. Lots of activities in CH and it is close to the pool mug station. We didnt even stay at SSR this trip. We stayed at AKV concierge before cruise then BCV and VWL after the cruise. We still spent about 3 days of our vacation visiting SSR.

Also we own multiple resorts, but the fact that BCV does not have Grand Villas is the reason we own more SSR points than BCV. I can bank and borrow and stay at BCV when I want. Now that SSR has added the THV, I am soooo happy we have alot of points at SSR. We are staying in a THV over Christmas for 2 weeks and for not much more that we normally spend in a 1 bedroom.

 

[robinb]

If you want to stay at BCV just about anytime when school is out, then I would buy there. It used to be fairly easy to get into there over the summer. With the influx of all the SSR, AKV and BLT members into the system it's next to impossible.

The advise "Buy where you want to stay" means even more now.

 

[Sandisw]

I was tempted by the cost savings of SSR until I really started to think about whether or not I would be happy if that is the only place I could stay.

I only just bought into DVC because of BLT. We toyed with the idea for years but it always came down to the fact that we really loved being at the CR and wouldn't want to be at the other DVC resorts.

Once we knew BLT was an option, we knew it was for us. I think if you will be disappointed if you can't stay BCV, then I would buy there. Or, at the very least, try to take a trip and stay at SSR and see how you feel. That way, you will know whether or not being there will be okay.

My BLT probably cost me an extra $4000, but in the long run, I know that I will be happy every time we go.

 

[Disney_Villain]

I would take the extra 12 years with SSR as opposed to BCV. We've turned down opportunities to buy BCV and get longer contracts at other resorts instead (like SSR and BLT) - and to get a better price.

We have no regrets with these decisions (we've been able to stay at BCV now and then, but have no desire to go to BCV frequently). To a large extent, "points are points". If you aren't travelling in high-demand seasons, you can use them to stay at any DVC resort.

As you indicated that you are aiming for some higher demand seasons, you may not get BCV predictably. If that's OK with you (and I suspect it is), you'll be fine with owning at SSR.

As for "BCV has a higher resale price" being an argument, I find that very weak. What will happen to BCV contracts as they near 2042? They will sell for a lot less than SSR contracts that still have many years on them. I am sure that you aren't planning on selling your contract immediately after you buy it, so why focus on the current resale values? That makes no sense.

SSR also has excellent counter service at Artist's Palette. The food choices are much healthier than other resorts' counter service venues - and we found their checkout system to be very fast.

 

[DVC Mike]

I would choose BCV over SSR in a heartbeat. I would much rather be happy staying at BCV than saving a few bucks.

 

[Disney_Villain]

I've not read one bad thing on BCV and I can't say the same for SSR.

Hmm ... I can think of a few bad things about BCV that my family and I agreed on:

Dingy hallways, hallways that echo with noise, noise from towel carts motoring at high speeds on the walkways, lousy views from most rooms, tiny balconies (SSR has much bigger balconies), lousy counter service options.

There, you've now heard some bad things about BCV. Don't get me wrong. BCV is a pretty resort, but it isn't the be-all and end-all of DVC. Scratch the surface.

 

[yekcoh_99]

Thanks everyone. We went with BCV and can't wait to go.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks everyone. We went with BCV and can't wait to go.

Are you saying you've bought into BCV?! If so, Congratulations!!!

When the treehouse villas came into being, I seriously considered an SSR add on, but we didn't, we added 25 more points to our BCV collection.

Bobbi

 

[DVC Mike]

Thanks everyone. We went with BCV and can't wait to go.

Good decision! Congrats!