Did you buy SSR points just to book a THV?

[DizGirl20]

I am thinking that our next contract may be at SSR so we can have priority booking for the THVs. Have any of you purchased SSR just to be able to book a Treehouse at 11 months? How successful have you been? Is it impossible to get a Treehouse at 7 months if you don't own SSR points?

To be completely honest, I really don't have a strong desire to stay at SSR so we def would be buying enough points so that with banking and borrowing we could book a THV every 3rd year. Talk me into it - or tell me my thinking is flawed?! Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

Have you stayed at THV?

I would make sure that you are absolutely in love with the place before buying points to stay there. Since the THV point increase, you may see less interest booking at 7 months.

Bill

 

[juncker]

We purchased SSR resale primarily due to price/maint fees/and length of contract. The ability to get THV at 11 months was just a bonus.

We bought SSR sight unseen and were pleasantly surprised. It is a very nice resort.

We've never stayed in the THVs yet, but do have reservations for NYE this year and are looking forward to it. We made reservations online at 8:00 am and got the entire week. By 11:00 am, Saturday was not available. Since then Sun/Mon/Tue are gone. Now this was NYE so in high demand, but looking through online reservations, I do see that there is availablity. If you book today at 7 months, Sept 8th - 15th is available. Also Aug 27th-Sept 7th is available too.

I guess it matters what dates you want to travel. There does seem to be availability right at 7 months (at least right now). Searches for availability prior to then does not look very good.

 

[dbs1228]

We bought SSR resale because of price, maintenance fees and for the ability to book the THV at 11 month window. We have not stayed there yet going next week for 10 nights. We also looked at it that there will be times that we will book DVC at the 7 month mark or later and will use the SSR points for those trips. BLT points are for the 11 month window!

 

[Disneypubgal]

We bought because of the price... we have 4 BW contracts that I purchased as a cast member and needed to add on some points and the deal was too good to pass up resale!

 

[DizGirl20]

Have you stayed at THV?

I would make sure that you are absolutely in love with the place before buying points to stay there. Since the THV point increase, you may see less interest booking at 7 months.

Bill

No, I have never stayed there b/c we usually go during Spring Break and I assume we wouldn't be able to book a THV during that time of the year. But I have looked online at videos and pictures and I love the space. Also, seems like they provide a bit more privacy than other accommodations. I have seen them from the outside when we take the boat from OKW to DTD.

That being said - I think you do make a good point - about liking the place before you buy. I am just not sure if it is even possible to try out the Treehouses if we don't own SSR points! Although we bough AKV and VWL sight unseen and so far have been very happy!

 

[rascalmom]

We bought SSR because we liked the resort. At the time, we had gone to WDW for several years straight & I was very active on these boards. Resale of OKW, BWV & BC were all options to us - but we loved - and still love the style and peacefulness of SSR.

We really don't have an interest in the THV. DH & I are very used to our king bed, so it would be a big sacrifice to give that up on vacation. Our dd's are 19 and 23; the layout with just 2 bathrooms to 3 bedrooms just is not our preference. If they could change those things though, I'd stay there. I love the setting.

 

[zeferjen]

Like others, we chose SSR first on price and MF. But the treehouse villas were definitely a consideration. I wanted to be able to bring my sisters' family on some trips. Treehouse villas seemed like a great bargain for that. Now, not so much. But they still look super cool. We will probably try them out next summer (2013).

 

[jarestel]

I've booked a treehouse at 7 months (don't own any SSR points) and it's not as hard as some may believe. Of course, timing is everything and if you plan to travel during high demand periods, chances are probably not so good.

I enjoyed the privacy of the tree houses since they are free-standing individual units. No need to worry about children disturbing the neighbors simply by walking around in the rooms. Or being disturbed.

I found the walk to the Carriage House to be very easy and manageable, about 10 minutes, but for those who don't care to walk, there's a boat that runs between the tree houses and the Carriage House every 20 minutes or so. Buses are available as well. That being said, many guests may prefer to have a car available when staying at the THV.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't have many SSR points, but I did buy them because of the THV. I was able to get a THV once with a waitlist at 7 months using other points. Now that the THV cost more than SSR 2 bedrooms, I am not sure I want to book them. Our DGC, and Family members really did like them. We had 5 adults and 3 children there during our last stay and it never seemed too crowded and we did use the very convenient grill.

I've no plans for a THV in 2012.

Bobbi

 

[Mtnman44]

We purchased at SSR frankly because it had the latest exp date at the time and it was on "sale" at DVC.

Since using it for vacations, SSR has become my wife's top choice (tied with AKV Kidani). We enjoy the location, resort ammenities, DTD and Boat Docks, etc. We like getting a break from the theme park environments. When the THV units were announced, that was icing on the cake. We have since stayed in a THV and loved it. It makes for yet another change of pace choice and a great option for families with 3+ kids.

I would have to say that execpt for the THV, there isn't really a need to own at SSR in order to stay there, but we have been very happy with our choice anyway. However, we are not super picky. The only dissapointment we've had is no luck with BWV - BW view so far. Addonitis creeping in.....

 

[zavandor]

I bought SSR because it's less money to pay upfront, longer contract duration and lower maintenance fee than every other resort. Location (walking distance from DTD) helped too.

 

[DVC Dude]

We bought at several DVC locations and the THV was not a part of SSR when we originally bought.

I am very happy they added THV as it really makes up for the OVER expansion of SSR vs the original plans of a much smaller resort.

 

[Joey7295]

If booking at THV is important to, especially during peak times, I would purchase at SSR. It is also very nice that the dues are low.

 

[dbs1228]

I found the walk to the Carriage House to be very easy and manageable, about 10 minutes, but for those who don't care to walk, there's a boat that runs between the tree houses and the Carriage House every 20 minutes or so. Buses are available as well. That being said, many guests may prefer to have a car available when staying at the THV.

I was told that the Grand Stand was the best area to request to be closet to THV, is this correct? We are staying at the THV's but have other friends staying at SSR and we are trying to be as close as possible, we will have a car but they will not. The boat goes from SSR dock to THV dock - even better?

 

[jarestel]

dbs1228, that's true, the Grandstand area is right next to the THV, so it would be pretty close, 5-10 minutes walk more or less depending where in the THV you're located.

The Grandstand area is also the first stop for theme park buses into and out of SSR, so it's a good place to catch the bus if you're going to a park. We usually got off at the Grandstand stop and just walked over to the THV from there rather than transfer to the THV bus.

 

[dbs1228]

Awesome thanks!

 

[ColonialMouse]

We got a decent discount on a cash rental for a THV for Halloween last year. Seemed great since we have 2 kids and my MIL was coming, so everyone had their own bedroom. And because of that experience, we're now in the process of buying two contracts (SSR and AKV) and the kids keep asking for a bunkbed. And it's all the THV's fault...

The next time we stay there we're going to have a car---the walk is too far if you have young/old with you, and the extra bus makes each transfer over an hour.

Bruce

 

[dbs1228]

LOVED the THV and was so happy they filled our request to be near the walking path to SSR since my parents and friends stayed in the Grand Stand area it truly was a short walk, much shorter then I expected less then 5 minutes to their room. We did have a car but DD's used the buses to go to the parks in the evening and just walked to GS area to catch the bus they said it was very easy. I will stay there again with a car (but we always get a car) and a trip that we are not going to do parks everyday. Sitting on the deck having a barbeque dinner was heaven! I just wish the 3rd bedroom had 2 single beds or a double bed vs. bunk beds since none of my DD's (late teens) wanted to sleep on the top bunk and if we ever want to do an adult trip it just won't work - but the location to dtd and the space is perfect.